Secret at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  “You mean from last year?” Jonah inquired.

  “Mm-hmm.”

  Eli’s father chimed in. “Between the four of us, we caught over thirty bass and croppie. ’Course, William was here with us.”

  “I wish Daed could have come,” Jonah added.

  “We probably set him behind schedule with the Beachy cabinets.”

  When the two companions regarded him with curiosity, he explained, “He knew we were rushed for Jessica’s cabinets. And he was kind enough to move us to the front of his queue.”

  “And that’s what friends are for,” Jonah said in a confident tone.

  “Hopefully, he’ll be able to relax this evening and enjoy our efforts.”

  “Jah,” the oldest son of William and Rebecca agreed. “I can already taste the first bite. It’s going to be some dinner.”

  To Eli’s chagrin, the conversation continued. And they wonder why they haven’t caught anything.

  “There’s not a woman in the good old US of A who wouldn’t die for the batter our mothers came up with together.”

  The statement prompted Eli to recall a recent conversation with Maemm. Still eyeing his line, he spoke in a barely audible voice. “The fish have migrated to another part of the lake.”

  Jonah ignored the statement. “It was when they were at Old Sam’s. When they were kids. Annie was eating sponge cakes with Sam while Maemm worked next to her on a dried floral arrangement.”

  When Levi’s line moved a little, Jonah stopped talking. But some time later, the movement proved to be a false lead.

  Jonah chugged some water from his Arrowhead bottle before screwing the top back on and placing it next to his tackle box.

  To Eli’s chagrin, he went on. “From what I recall about the conversation, my mother said that Old Sam was reminiscing about the days when Esther used to make her grandmother’s recipe for fish batter. He insisted that no one could ever match the taste of the secret recipe.”

  Jonah pulled in his line to re-bait the hook. With one fluid motion, he positioned the reel behind his back and flung the line into the water.

  “Good toss,” Levi commented. “You’ve got yourself quite an arm. So did they ever find the recipe?”

  Jonah shook his head. “No. And they never will.”

  Eli and his father glanced at him to go on.

  “It was a family secret. In fact, it may not have even been in writing. But”—Jonah chuckled—“You thought that was the end, didn’t you?”

  Eli rolled his shoulders and smiled a little. “Obviously, it’s not. Go on.”

  “When our mothers were canning tomatoes together, they tried to replicate Esther’s recipe. Maemm had been in Esther’s kitchen when she measured ingredients for the fish batter.”

  Eli cut in. “So she remembered what was in it?”

  Jonah nodded. “Some of it. But after Esther went to the Lord, Maemm and Annie tried on numerous occasions to combine their memories to recreate Esther’s special batter. And what they came up with might not be identical, but it’s got to be the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  Eli lifted a brow. “Of course, no one cooked like Esther. At least, that’s what I’m told. Too bad she didn’t let anyone in on her secret.”

  Jonah agreed. “Jah. Because she surely wouldn’t have wanted Old Sam to be without her good meals.”

  “It just goes to show you that life’s short, and we can never take anything for granted. Especially a great fish batter.”

  Eli considered the statements and swallowed an emotional knot. Life was short. And that made it even more important that Jessica know the Lord before she returned to Missouri. He couldn’t bear the thought of her not becoming a Christian. He grimaced.

  Long moments passed while the three remained silent. It had become obvious to Eli that he hadn’t had as much as a bite since this talk had started. Even though he enjoyed chatting with his best friend and his daed, common sense told him it was time to relocate.

  He reeled in his bait. As he did so, his father and Jonah directed their gazes to the line.

  “Hey, watcha doin’?”

  Eli caught the line with his hand and grinned. “I’m going to find where the fish went.”

  “But we’ve got to catch up.”

  “’Bout what?” Eli responded, gathering his gear.

  Jonah chuckled. “About how the Beachy house is coming along. I helped on the cabinets. Did his niece like our work?”

  Eli didn’t respond as he watched Jonah’s line move. Something toyed with the bait. Eli stood very still until he realized that whatever had teased Jonah’s bait had left.

  “Hey, why don’t you ask Old Sam’s niece to join us tonight.”

  Eli smiled a little and nodded. “Maemm already did.”

  Eli would never forget when they’d met. She’d been wearing a dress and high heels. At his new spot, he set up his pole and tossed his line again. It hadn’t taken long for her to convert to blue jeans, T-shirts, and tennis shoes. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d found time for the crosswords she’d brought with her.

  And at first, she hadn’t displayed an interest in the outdoors. Now, she was attempting to nurse a dying rosebush back to health. She’d really taken an interest in the Amish and in learning what she could about her great-uncle. Not to mention that her vivacity captivated him. She made him feel special. Needed. All of that was fine. The problem was, he liked her. A lot.

  To his dismay, he was growing attached to a girl who was way out of bounds, not only because of her lack of faith, but also because soon, she’d be gone.

  It was obvious that he had to stymie his interest in her. And right away.

  “Earth to Eli.” His father’s voice interrupted.

  “Daed?”

  Levi rolled his eyes. When he spoke, his voice hinted at combination of amusement and frustration. “Don’t take it so seriously, Sohn. You’re focusing way too much on the fish and too little on the camaraderie.”

  Levi lifted an inquisitive, challenging brow. “That’s what’s going on here, right?”

  Eli gave a half nod, knowing he avoided the truth because there was no way he was going to admit to his best friend and his father that he harbored a romantic interest in Jessica Beachy. It would cause great concern in their community. And talk.

  He drew in a low breath at what he’d just admitted to himself. That he was enamored of Old Sam’s great-niece. A woman who would be leaving the state in just a few weeks.

  At that moment, Jonah shouted in excitement. “Got one!”

  Eli and his father immediately rested their poles on their respective spots and stood on either side of Jonah, who was reeling in what appeared to be the biggest bass that Eli had ever seen.

  “You’ve got ’im!” Eli said in a combination of encouragement and excitement.

  “Easy does it!” Daed’s voice continued to coach Jonah as he reeled in the catch. When the struggling fish was within reach, Eli and his father helped Jonah remove the hook from the large mouth and toss the flopping fish into the styrofoam container with the other fish.

  “It’s your turn next, Daed!”

  *

  That evening, Eli’s mother embraced Jessica before motioning to the others in the room. “Willkommen! Jessica, meet William Conrad.”

  A tall man with a light brown beard stepped toward them, extending his hand in a warm greeting. Jessica shook his rough, callused hand, quickly noting his broad shoulders.

  A couple tiny freckles on his face gave him a youthful appearance. But despite his long sleeves and his broad-fall pants, it was hard not to notice his muscular arms that tried to push out of his shirt.

  She took advantage of the opportunity to thank him for redoing her cabinets. “They’re absolutely gorgeous! Of course, they’ll look even better when they’re installed and off of the floor! When I planned how I wanted them to look, never in my wildest dreams did I expect such ornate detail.”

  He dipped his head. “We do our best.
So glad they meet with your approval.”

  Still conscious of the eyes on her, she went on. “Not only that, but you put me at the head of the queue, and I’m so appreciative.”

  He smiled. “It’s the least I could do for Sam’s kin.” His eyes moistened. Jessica’s heart warmed. She felt a bond with the owner of Conrad Cabinets.

  “Old Sam was like part of our family. I can’t count the number of times he came to our aid. And helping you is a small way to thank him for bringing so much to our lives.”

  Softly, she said, “Thank you for that, William.”

  He glanced down at the floor before meeting her gaze again.

  The woman with a pretty face stepped up to speak. She had a creamy complexion and chestnut-brown hair that was tucked up neatly under a white kapp.

  “When I was young, and even after I married William”—she waved a hand at the handsome cabinet maker and smiled—“there were times when things happened in my life, and I didn’t know what to do. Like when we went to Indiana to help William’s father.” She wagged a dismissive hand. “That’s a story for another day.” Jessica noted that William lifted a brow while he smiled in amusement. “But Old Sam …” She closed her eyes for a moment and gave a gentle lift of her shoulders. “He always steered me in the right direction. In fact, he played a large role in how William and I ended up together.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded. “And your great-uncle was so wise: He must have known every proverb in the book. And he could always fix whatever was wrong.”

  She stopped and grinned. “By the way, in case you haven’t guessed, I’m Rebecca Conrad.” She laughed. “Sorry for the delayed introduction.” She extended her hand in a kind greeting. “It’s so nice to meet you.”

  “I call her my better half,” William interjected with a chuckle.

  Rebecca’s fingers were warm when Jessica shook them. When their gazes locked, she took in the woman’s flawless complexion. But to Jessica, her most striking feature was her generous smile. Jessica didn’t know William and Rebecca yet, but without a doubt, they loved each other. She could tell by the way they looked at each other.

  Rebecca pointed to the door. “Our clan’s outside; they’re anxious to meet you!”

  Jessica followed Rebecca out the back door, where the delicious scent of grilled fish made Jessica’s stomach growl. It was then that she realized she’d skipped lunch.

  After Jessica met their five boys, a young girl, who looked to be sixteen or seventeen, joined her mother, fondly taking Rebecca’s arm in hers and leaning toward her with affection.

  “This is my only daughter, Mary.”

  The girl lowered her lashes in shyness, but when the corners of her lips finally curved upward, her contagious smile immediately warmed Jessica’s heart. Mary shoved a loose strand of hair back under her kapp and adjusted her thick glasses before shaking hands.

  “Rebecca! I need you in the kitchen!”

  Rebecca squared her shoulders and lifted a hand in farewell.

  “Duty calls!”

  Jessica was left alone with Mary. She smiled at the girl, wondering what to ask an Amish teenager.

  “How’s the flower bed doing at Old Sam’s?”

  Mary’s softly asked question surprised Jessica as she took in the girl’s serious expression. Light brown hair was neatly tucked under her kapp, and tiny freckles spotted her rosy cheeks. Because of the thick lenses, Jessica wasn’t able to glimpse her eye color.

  Surprised that Mary knew about the beautiful garden, Jessica smiled a little. “The coneflowers are doing well. So are the black-eyed Susans.”

  “How about Sam’s special rose?”

  The question gave Jessica pause. “You know about it?”

  Mary offered a big nod. “’Course. Maemm and I were good friends with your uncle.” She lifted a curious brow and looked Jessica in the eyes. “Did you know that my mother even used Old Sam’s barn to dry flowers?”

  At that moment, Jessica recalled that Rebecca was one of the three who’d taken Old Sam under their wings after Esther had passed, and Rebecca had been the girl who’d picked him fresh flowers.

  She took a deeper interest in what Mary had to say. “Yes! I’m glad you reminded me. Since I’ve been here, Mary, I’ve learned a lot at once, and now I’m starting to sift through everything.”

  Mary beamed. “Of course. I’m actually a lot like my mother, you know. She has her own floral business; her specialty, really, is weddings that the Englisch have. The Amish aren’t as much into flowers, I guess. Anyway, I help her; in fact, Maemm has a special garden for plants she uses just for arrangements. And right now, she’s letting me work with her on an upcoming wedding. And some day, Jessica …” She closed her eyes and breathed in. Then she opened her eyes and smiled with excitement. “I’d love to have my own home and a large garden just like hers!”

  Jessica’s heart warmed at her enthusiasm. Jessica had just met her, but already, Mary’s excitement for plants was obvious.

  “I’m sure your mother’s happy that you take an interest in what she does.”

  Mary offered an eager nod. “Jah.” Then she said in a confidential tone, “You wanna know a secret?”

  Jessica replied with a quick nod.

  “Someday, I’d like to have a greenhouse.”

  “What a nice dream!”

  Jessica considered the dying rosebush and suddenly realized that Mary was the obvious person to go to for help.

  “Mary, you’ve got a green thumb. And I’m really concerned that Esther’s special rosebush won’t make it.”

  Mary pressed her pointer finger against her chin. When her glasses slipped down her nose, she quickly pushed them back up. She frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  Jessica explained the state of the plant. After she’d finished, she shrugged. “I don’t want to lose it, but so far, it’s just not responding to my TLC.”

  “Sounds like Old Sam’s rose needs more than TLC, Jessica. What it needs is doctoring.”

  The more Mary talked about the plant, the more she amused and intrigued Jessica. She wasn’t sure what the majority of Amish girls talked about, but she suspected it wasn’t plants.

  Finally, Jessica gestured with her palms up. “What should I do?”

  Mary pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “I can think of several things to remedy this dilemma. For starters, you want to cut off the dead cones before they begin infecting the healthy ones.”

  “Okay.” Jessica continued to listen with interest.

  As they talked, they started making their way to where Levi and Eli were grilling fish. Focused on her conversation with Mary, Jessica lifted her hand in a wave to the men, and they waved back.

  “And of course, a little mulch around the base of the plant will help to keep moisture in. Think of it as a blanket that keeps a baby warm.”

  Jessica nodded in understanding, still amused and impressed by the advanced maturity level of this young girl. If she couldn’t see Mary in person, she would have believed she was talking to an adult.

  “That sounds like good advice. But I think it’s in dire need of something stronger. In fact, the window of opportunity to revive it may already be over. Is there a quick fix? I don’t expect miracles overnight, but is there something we can do to expedite its recovery?”

  Jessica waited while Mary stared at her black shoes. When she finally met Jessica’s gaze, she snapped her fingers as if she’d just figured out what to do.

  “Hmm. Sounds like it’s time for me to give it my special medicine.”

  Jessica lifted a surprised brow. “Medicine?”

  “Jah.” Mary grinned. “That’s what I call it. I’ve experimented with my own roses, and I’ve come up with a combination of bone meal, blood meal, fish meal, Epsom salts, and a few other ingredients to do resuscitations.”

  Jessica smiled at the girl’s mannerisms.

  “That’s never let me down. If you like, Jessica, I can take a look at the bush myself
, and do what I can to save it.” She paused. Seriousness edged her voice when she continued. “Did you know that was the last rose Old Sam planted in memory of Esther?”

  Jessica’s jaw dropped.

  Mary nodded. “And that’s why we’ve got to keep it alive. It would have been important to Old Sam. Don’t worry, Jessica. I’ll fix Esther’s rose.” She followed with a confident lift of her chin. “But you need to help.”

  “How?”

  “Pray.”

  When the families gathered around the picnic tables and lawn chairs, Levi raised his voice. “Hey, everyone! We’re blessed to be here together. Let’s bow our heads and thank the good Lord for our blessings.”

  Jessica did like the others. As she listened to Levi bless the food and ask help to serve God, Jessica wondered how a God, if indeed there was one, could even hear a prayer. Especially with all of the other prayers that must occur at the same time. The thought was mind-boggling.

  “And we thank You, Lord, for bringing Jessica to us. If she still wants to sell once her place is fixed up, please bring a nice family to Old Sam’s. A family to make new memories at Pebble Creek. And will You please bless Old Sam’s great-niece with love, joy, and true happiness that can only come from You. Amen.”

  A unanimous “Amen” followed.

  Annie nudged Jessica to start the food line.

  “Oh, I can’t!”

  “Jah. You must. We’re celebrating that you’re here. When God takes something from us, he always gives back something in return. He’s taken Old Sam, but he’s given you to us.”

  Slightly embarrassed, Jessica started the line. She considered Annie’s theory and felt slightly ashamed. Because it wasn’t quite true. Yes, Old Sam was gone. But Jessica wasn’t here for good. And she couldn’t hold a candle to her great-uncle.

  In a voice that was heard above the talk and laughter, Annie said, “You’ve got to try out my fresh creamed peas. Straight from the garden. So are the strawberries and asparagus. There won’t be much more till next year.”

  At the outdoor table, Mary made herself comfortable on Jessica’s left. Annie sat on her right, and the other adults sat at her table with the kids filling up the other one and the lawn chairs.