by Beth Shriver
Yonnie peeked into Elsie’s basket even though his plate was full of food. “What ’cha got in there?”
“Don’t tell me you want more.” Elsie smiled and sat down on the picnic blanket then passed around the egg sandwiches she made. Yonnie stuffed one in his mouth just as Beverly sat down next to him. Gideon was glad to have a moment to talk with Elsie alone.
“Are you still interested in visiting Will and Ruby?”
“Jah, I’ve already told them. They said they would like you to come for dinner.”
“I bet you miss him.”
She sighed as if she didn’t want to be reminded. “It’s as if there’s a hole in my heart for each person who’s left.”
“A lot has changed in a short period of time. It’s understandable you feel that way.”
“That among other things.”
“You still don’t feel settled after a year’s time?”
She shook her head, perhaps out of frustration. He tried to read her expression. Maybe there was something she couldn’t tell him. “It doesn’t feel like home yet.”
“Give it more time. It’s hard not to compare a place where you were born and raised—your home—to a new place that’s unfamiliar.” He smiled. “But it must be familiar, in some ways.”
“I spoke out of turn.” She gestured broadly. “This is that place for you. This is home.” She let her gaze drift away from him. “It doesn’t feel like we should be here.”
“Well, I’m glad you are, Elsie Yoder.” He waited until she turned toward him, caught her eyes, and smiled again, playfully.
“There is one gut thing about being here,” she said warmly. “If we hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have met you.” She turned around to see if anyone heard her. Then, as if embarrassed, she began to clean up the food, packing it away in a large basket.
Gideon didn’t want to further embarrass her, so he didn’t respond, but he wished he could tell her how much she meant to him. But he sensed she wasn’t ready to hear it. “You’re here for a reason. You just don’t know what it is yet.” He glanced over at the older men who were sitting together, laughing and eating their fill. “Your daed is quite a fellow.” Solomon belted out one of his thunderous laughs, confirming Gideon’s words.
She grinned. “My mamm thinks the smaller community is better for us down here.”
He watched as Elsie scanned the area filled with children playing and women talking and hoped she would someday agree with her mamm, enjoying the laughter and conversation filling the air.
The men started to get back to their planting but were diverted by a game of Eck ball, which was simply avoiding getting hit by a handmade ball wrapped with twine.
Some of the more conservative groups felt that sports destroy one’s sense of modesty and emphasize pleasure. Gideon hadn’t seen or heard of anyone from Elsie’s group speak against it, so thought he’d join in. “I’ve got to get on the team against Yonnie.”
“If you want me to encourage you, I can’t. Where I’m from this is considered prideful.” Elsie turned away, making it clear she was finished talking about the matter. She answered his question, but he was unsure how to handle the situation.
Gideon stood when Yonnie called his name. He stared him straight in the eyes and almost laughed at Yonnie’s serious expression. That alone proved Elsie’s point, but he still didn’t think a simple game together caused any harm.
The game wasn’t being played in a barnyard covered with hay like when they were boys. The spring grass had come in, but the ground would be hard when you went down after a spin to dodge a throw.
Spectators made up of older men, women, and children gathered around to watch. The men reminisced about the days they were young and agile enough to play the game. The women grimaced when a ball hit a player too hard, and the young children imitated their own game with a hardened piece of manure that was quickly taken away by a nearby mamm. He caught a glimpse of Elsie, her face unreadable, but he had a good idea of what she was thinking.
The sting of a few hits and the hard ground began to work the pain around until Gideon felt like his whole body hurt. He watched until Yonnie was struck out and ran to the side like he didn’t have a single ache. If that wasn’t pride, Gideon didn’t know what was. “Good game, friend.”
They shook, and Yonnie gave him one of his slaps on the back that hurt more than usual. “Jah, we haven’t played that game for a while. That’s the last time I play without a layer of hay under my feet.”
“No doubt about that, or maybe not play at all.” Gideon was beginning to lean toward Elsie’s rationale, if for no other reason than to avoid the pain. “I’m ready to be a bystander.” Gideon glanced over at him. “You don’t seem to be hurting like I am.”
“I’m tougher than you.” Yonnie grinned. “But if we ever do play again, it’ll be with tomatoes.” He squeezed Gideon’s shoulder and limped away just as he caught sight of Elsie walking away in the other direction.
Chapter Six
GIDEON JUMPED UP into the wagon bed and made a rough count of the chairs. The men were lined up from where he stood to the front doors of the Yoders’ home, passing folded chairs to one another for church service. Although families usually took turns holding the services, Omar offered to have it at the Yoders’ place again this Sunday. Their house was the largest of the twenty or more families who attended church, so the women and children were able to gather in a separate room from the men. This led Gideon to believe there was something out of the ordinary to be addressed.
John directed the men to where the chairs needed to be set up, and Annie guided the women and children into the side of the house they would be meeting.
“Gideon.” John nodded and guided him to a corner of the room. “What’s this I hear about Elsie Yoder?”
The gossip kept things turning even though there wasn’t usually much to tell. Gideon was sure he and Elsie were big news, but no one was supposed to ask, John being the exception. “You would be the one to ask.” Gideon smiled.
“You know me well enough. I’ll ask to your face, not behind your back.” He leaned against the wall, but his eyes shifted toward Annie, who was making room for more benches. “I gotta go help, so make it quick.”
“You’re going to be disappointed to know there’s nothing to say.” Gideon shrugged and John frowned. “Believe me, I wish there was more to tell.”
“Well, hurry things up. Elsie’s better off with you.” One of his little ones ran between them, causing John to grin. “Our kids need to grow up together.”
Gideon nodded in agreement, but it only made him wonder if Elsie felt the same way. She’d spent a lot of time with Jake, and at times he wondered if there was anything more than friendship between them.
Minister Miller, Zeke, and Omar seemed deep in conversation at the far end of the entry room. Gideon tried not to stare, but his curiosity got the best of him. The minister’s serious expression and crossed arms gave away his anxiety. Omar, however, seemed calm, nodding slowly as the other man spoke. Gideon hoped there was not a problem involving Omar, a man he trusted and held in high regard.
Mose strode in carrying three chairs, whereas most of the other men could handle only one or two. He was a strong, cocky one in Gideon’s mind. He instantly chastised himself for his negative thoughts toward Mose, knowing his disapproval stemmed from the knowledge that Mose took Elsie home the other day unattended by a chaperone. Not that this was unheard of, but usually permission was expected from the parents.
Mose arranged the chairs and then turned to Gideon. Their eyes locked until Mose nodded and went out to get more chairs. The tension was there, and Gideon wouldn’t let it go. He was never one to avoid conflict. As it was written, however, a believer must approach the person they have wronged, and they must work it out together. That is what he set out to do.
When the chairs were unloaded, Gideon walked over to Mose, who stood talking and laughing with some of the other men. Gideon tapped his shoulder, and Mos
e turned to face Gideon without surprise. The others continued their banter as the two men stepped away.
“I wondered how long it would take you to feel the need to talk to me.” Mose stared straight ahead, his eyes narrow and chin lifted.
As soon as he said the words, Gideon scorned himself for taking the liberty to question Mose about the situation. He was too involved in Elsie to be impartial. So he diverted. “How is everyone getting along with Jake gone?”
Mose frowned at him before he responded. “I thought you were going to ask me about Elsie.” He gave Gideon a sideways glance. When Gideon didn’t answer, Mose continued. “We’re making do, just like the Yoders.” Mose stopped and turned to look at Gideon full-on. “That’s what we talked about the day I took her home.”
Gideon knew he deserved this. Mose should know better than to think Jake was on his mind instead of Elsie. He let out a long breath, caught in his misguided intentions. “I guess I’ve become protective of Elsie.”
“You guess?” Mose chuckled and shook his head.
Gideon smiled as well. “It’s more obvious than I realized.”
Mose glanced at the sun rising above the acres of land, silos, barns, and white clapboard houses. “You have to understand we have a certain bond between us with our siblings going off the way they did. Married by now, I suppose.”
Mose didn’t bat an eye when he said it, but Gideon flinched at the word. “You sound sure of this. Do you really think they would marry outside the community?”
Mose shrugged. “I sure hope so. Living together would ban them from the community in a heartbeat. Coming back legally joined might get ’em back in.”
His refreshing honesty surprised Gideon. No one was brave enough to talk about them, let alone speculate what their situation might be. “I hadn’t thought about it that way.” Gideon squinted into the sun with Mose.
“That’s because you’ve been too occupied with Elsie,” Mose said coolly.
“You might be right about that too.” He turned to Mose. “But she also accepts my company.” Gideon hated the way that sounded, justifying Elsie’s feelings for him. He felt intimidated by Mose, unsure of the man’s intentions when it came to Elsie. “But then she may accept yours as well.”
Mose scoffed. “If that’s true, we’ll never find out, will we?” He didn’t do Gideon the honor of looking him in the face as he made the remark, but Gideon took the bait.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you suffocate her. If you stepped away and let her breathe, she might finally come out of her shell.” Mose’s voice rose with frustration.
Gideon took a minute to lower his temper down to a simmer. “Are you saying this because you really believe it would help or because you don’t like to see us together?”
Mose grinned. “Both.” With that he strode away. Gideon didn’t have a chance to answer, but when he thought about it, he didn’t have an answer. His only recourse was to ask Elsie herself.
He watched Elsie talk with his mamm and daed and tried to push back the thoughts Mose just put in his head. The service started, and verses were read and hymns sung. Elsie sat with the other women and Gideon with the men, so he didn’t get a chance to talk with her.
The minister stood and quietly looked over the congregation, his face crimson and full of emotion. He turned his head, and when he scanned the room again, his face relaxed. “I have news, both gut and bad, but more for the gut.” He smiled, and his confidence seemed to grow. “There are more communities who have moved down this way, which I’m sure you know about. They are in the beginning stages of settling in and need some direction. I have been asked to tend to this flock so they can grow and be plentiful.”
Mumbling buzzed around the room. Omar stood and gently moved his outreached arms with palms down so they would quiet. He began to sit down, but Minister Miller held up a hand to stop him.
“Omar, along with Zeke and the deacons, will be here for you during my time away. Please stand with us.” He nodded at the men who, along with Omar, served the community when there were times of need or prayer. “Minister Zeke will be taking my place while I’m gone.”
The volume level grew as the congregation buzzed at the news Zeke would be head minister, and not favorably. Annie and John were just two of the many who had run into difficulties with him in the past.
“I know you will be in gut hands, God’s hands and these men who are here to serve you.” Minister Miller dismissed them with prayer.
Gideon knew something was in the works, but he didn’t expect this. The continuing migration of Amish to build new lives in the south continued to grow. The land was cheaper here, and when a man had three or more sons to parcel his land off, it wasn’t enough in their former community. His thoughts changed to those of appreciation that he had settled here almost two years ago and finally felt it was home. He needed to help these new families feel that same sense of stability.
A touch to his arm brought him back, and as he turned, he knew it was Elsie. “Did you know about this, Gideon?” Her brown eyes lifted to his, flustering him momentarily.
“Nee, he didn’t mention anything to me.” She didn’t seem to believe him, which both surprised and amused him.
“I can see the need for it. You all helped us out when we moved down here.”
“Jah, I wonder how Minister Zeke will do in his place. Our elders are gut men. I suppose they will lead us for the short time Minister Miller is gone as well.”
“I wonder how long he will be gone.”
“As long as it takes the newcomers to get settled. As you mentioned, you remembered when you came here not long ago. There are a lot of differences to get accustomed to, and the settlers can adapt faster if some of us help them.”
She nodded reluctantly. “Who all are leaving?”
“I’ve heard that one more may go with the minister.”
She seemed to tense up, and Gideon started to console her, but then he remembered Mose’s words and thought maybe he did coddle Elsie too much.
“Jah, he wouldn’t travel alone.”
Gideon shook his head. “There may be others who want to go.” The thought of being away from her brought back the familiar knot in his belly he so often felt when he was around her. But this was for a different reason.
“Gideon, may I speak with you?” Omar motioned for him to come outside with him. He nodded to Elsie and pulled at his whiskers.
“I’ll be right back.” When Gideon turned to Elsie, he could see anxiety in her strained face. “Don’t worry.” He touched her cheek lightly and followed Omar. The older man stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the ground.
“Gideon, how are you, son?” His smile was barely visible under his gray beard, as were his twinkling blue eyes.
“I’m well.” Gideon always enjoyed his talks with Omar, and he felt the same appreciation coming from him.
“It’s a gut plan with the newcomers moving down this way, more every year.” After a few seasons of not enough crops to make ends meet, more and more made the trek to Texas. He tried to think about his own family’s struggle so he could have the compassion to help them if needed.
“Would you be interested in going with the minister?” He rested his folded hands on his stomach as he picked his words. “Minister Miller should have someone with him as he travels to the new community and see that the new minister gets adjusted there. I thought it would be better to send someone without family to tend to.”
Gideon’s heart beat double time. “But won’t you need help here with the minister gone?” He knew better than to ask. He had been told what was needed and thoughtlessly responded for his own benefit. “But then if that’s what you needed, that’s what you would have asked for.”
Omar smiled. “It might be wise for you to meet the new folks and help them settle.”
“You may be right.” Gideon nodded. “But I’m concerned about what rules to follow. Those of us who originally planted here who ar
e of the New Order have learned to compromise with the group from Virginia being of the Old Order, but not without disagreements. I can’t imagine how much more confusion there will be with this group of newcomers who are among the more progressive groups.”
“That has been on my mind as well. I’ll talk with Minister Miller on the matter and see what he thinks needs to be done.” He tapped the flat brim of his felt hat. “But there are needs to be filled here as well. I’ll see what those are if that’s your preference.”
Gideon said a quick prayer for wisdom and strength. “I will go where you need me.”
The men took off their hats, and Omar stepped to his place up front. Gideon went to find a seat on the right part of the home, and the women sat on the left with the children. The minister selected songs from the Osbund, and when he preached the sermon, he moved his gaze from one side to the other so all were addressed.
After the sermon the men took the chairs and placed them in rows to sit and eat the noon meal together outside. Tables were brought out, along with plates and silverware. Elsie brought a platter of Salisbury steak. The tender beef slices smothered in garden fresh stewed tomatoes, green peppers, and onions with gravy caught Gideon’s eye. “Your favorite.”
“Did you make it?” Gideon was touched she remembered. And there was plenty. Living in a house with all brothers, getting your share was a big issue when it came to food.
“With a little help from Mamm.” She set it on the table with the rest of the food that was enough to feed the lot of them and many more.
Rachel pulled a hand towel off of the whoopie pie she’d made and wiggled her eyebrows. The chocolate cake with crème filling was always a special treat. “Save room.”
Elsie grinned. “You know I will!” She placed it on the table next to the steak. “This is all I need. Mamm’s steak and Rachel’s pie.”
