by Reid, Ruth
Ben shook his head. He had to cast those thoughts out of his mind. Reminiscing about the past was only beneficial if there was someone to reminisce with.
A woman carrying a wicker basket entered the shop and looked around.
“That’s Mattie.” Grace sprang off the chair and went to greet the woman.
It took half a second to register that Mattie was the woman who made the special tea. Ben hoped she hadn’t brought more tea. But as the woman unloaded what appeared to be lunch from the basket, Grace and her chatted, leaning close together. The women both smiled, then Grace bowed her head. Mattie glanced in his direction and grinned. He looked down at the sawdust-covered floor. Now his neck and face were heating.
“What did your letter say?” Toby plopped on the chair next to Ben.
Ben shrugged. “The Mullets had family visiting from Lancaster. Sunday service was held at the Knepp family’s haus. Nothing that couldn’t be read in the Budget. What did your letter say?”
“Same stuff.”
Ben took another drink of his coffee. Toby’s letter was multiple pages, more than the same stuff. But for some reason Toby didn’t want to share, nor had he offered any information about who had written to him from Indiana.
His friend leaned with his elbows on his knees and twiddled his thumbs. Something was on his mind. “Who sent a letter from Indiana?”
Toby’s face turned an ashen shade. “I, ah—mei mamm sent me money.”
Ben studied him a moment. Did he really think he was being sly changing the subject? He and Toby had been friends for years—but something had changed. Ben sighed. “Jah, mei mamm sent money too.”
Toby unfolded his hands and glanced up from his hunched position. “She did?”
“You don’t have to look so shocked.”
“Nay, I think it’s great,” he said with rising excitement. “We can leave Monday.”
Grace scooped a shovelful of cedar shavings off the shop floor. “I wouldn’t care if he left tomorrow,” she said as she emptied them into the empty grain sack Mattie was holding.
Mattie smiled.
Grace had already told Mattie what had happened at the river, but it bore repeating. “I asked you to mix one of your special teas so Ben wouldn’t catch pneumonia because he was carried downstream by the river current. I was concerned about him, but don’t mistake concern for infatuation.”
Mattie’s smile remained. “I was glad to help.”
“And I appreciate it.” Grace filled the shovel with another load of shavings. “I learned that lesson from Philemon. I mistakenly believed his friendship meant more.”
“I’m sorry how that worked out. I thought you two would get married.” Mattie pressed the cedar shavings down in the bag to make room for more.
“Me too.” Grace recalled when Philemon shared his engagement plans. She could hardly congratulate him without her voice breaking. It was best not to think about those things.
Grace tied the grain sack. “This should stuff several dog beds. Did I tell you the pet store in town wants to sell them?”
“That’s wunderbaar.”
“I have orders for over three dozen. Everyone seems to like that I fill my pet beds with cedar shavings instead of foam. The cedar helps control fleas. That and I sprinkle the wood with boric acid powder like you told me.”
“Gut, I’m glad it’s working.”
“It works to eliminate wet-dog odor too.” Grace pinched her nose. “Why anyone would want an indoor dog is beyond me.” Her dog slept outside on a mound of hay.
“Just be thankful they do, or you might nett sell many pet beds.”
“True.” Grace gathered the last of the wood shavings off the floor. This would keep her busy for a while. As it was, after prewashing the quilted outer coverings this morning and hanging them on the line to dry, she counted ten more she still needed to make in order to fill the current orders, and she wanted to satisfy the orders before she moved to Ohio.
“I have some news to share.” Mattie’s smile grew larger. “I’m expecting a boppli.”
“That’s wunderbaar!” Her friend had been praying for a baby since she got married three years ago.
Mattie leaned closer and lowered her voice so that only Grace could hear. “I just found out yesterday. Please don’t say anything yet. I want to wait until Andy returns from camp before I share the news with anyone else.”
“I won’t breathe a word.” Grace motioned to Mattie’s hand resting on her belly. “But everyone’s bound to figure it out. I don’t think you’ll fool anyone that you have indigestion. They’ll see your face glowing and know.”
Mattie touched her face and giggled. “I have the glow?”
“I was going to ask you what kind of tea you were drinking. I wanted some.”
“Your day will kumm.”
Grace opened her mouth to rebuff the comment but stopped when Becky Lapp, the woman who stole Philemon’s heart and Grace’s future, approached.
“I thought I would come over and say hello while the generator was down,” Becky said.
A barking cough from across the room gave Grace a reason to look away. Ben still sat, shoulders slumped and hugging himself like he was cold. He was miserable and it was her fault. If she had not gone through the cow pasture and cut their own trail through the woods, she wouldn’t have gotten them lost. She couldn’t tell north from south once they were deep into the woods. Trying to prove the Florida man wasn’t a woodsman had opened her eyes to her own deficient skills.
Chapter Fourteen
Is everything all right at home?” Ben studied Toby’s expression. Calm. Toby wasn’t worried or he’d be pacing.
“Jah, why do you ask?” Toby removed his hat and a mop of dark curls sprang to life. He brushed his forehead with his shirtsleeve, pushing the curls to one side, then slapped his hat back in place.
“We haven’t been here a week and your parents want you to come home already?”
“I asked if I could kumm home in mei letter. You said you were sent money too.”
“Spending money.” Ben turned and coughed into his fisted hand. The exhaust from the generator had turned his throat to sandpaper. “Five dollars doesn’t buy much.”
“Oh, I guess I assumed . . .” Toby batted a wood shim between his boots.
“Mei father isn’t as forgiving as yours.” Ben doubted his father knew that his mamm had sent him spending money. He would expect Ben to earn his way back—earn his father’s respect and love. But could a black sheep ever look clean in his father’s eyes?
“I probably have enough for both of our tickets,” Toby said. “That is, if you want to go back.”
Did Toby really think Ben may want to stay in this tundra with people he didn’t know? His gaze trailed across the room until it stopped on Grace. If he stayed . . . well, he wasn’t going to stay. Ben rubbed his irritated eyes. “I’d pay you back, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Toby handed him a bandanna from his coat pocket. “Tie it around your face and it’ll stop some of the fumes. Plus it’ll stop you from breathing in the fine particles of sawdust floating in the air.”
“Danki.” Ben held the cloth up to his face, took a few filtered breaths, then pulled it away. “Can you keep the ticket purchase between us? I’d rather mei father think I earned mei way back.” He lowered his head. “Maybe he’d have more respect for me.”
“Jah, I won’t say anything.”
Bishop Yoder dropped a piece of lumber on the stack, then came up to Ben and Toby. “You don’t sound much better, Ben. I’m surprised Mary let you out of the haus.” His smile reminded Ben of his grandfather’s.
“I thought some fresh air would be gut,” Ben replied.
“Please don’t feel obligated to help if you’re nett feeling well. This wedder is a big change from Florida. It’ll take some getting used to, isn’t that right, Toby?”
Toby nodded. He made eye contact with Ben a moment, then motioned to the pile of lumber. �
�I should get back to work.” He walked away without any signs of his ankle still hurting from twisting it at the river.
While Toby seemed to be fitting in, Ben couldn’t shake the awkwardness of not having anything to do. He wasn’t opposed to hard work; his hands weren’t soft. But Bishop Yoder must have thought he was a slug. Ben’s father would, if he knew about him staying in bed for four days. Even Toby had looked at him curiously when Ben blamed the tea for having knocked him out. When he did wake up, Mary insisted he drink more.
“Is there something you would like me to do, Bishop Yoder?”
The elderly man stroked his beard, then motioned to Grace, Mattie, and another woman, who were all squatting in a circle next to the wall. “A few of the women are cleaning up the wood shavings from the floor. You could help them.”
Cleanup. “Sure, but don’t you need help cutting the lumber?” He might not know how to run the table saw, but he could help Toby move the boards. Even sick, he could work faster than many of the women combined. At least he shouldn’t be demoted to cleanup duty without having the chance to prove his worth.
The bishop shook his head. “If you could load the grain bags the women are filling, that would help. And when you’re finished, I think you should go back and rest.”
“You don’t have other work? I don’t feel that bad.”
Bishop Yoder placed his hand on Ben’s shoulder. “I’ll have plenty of work next week. But you’ll need to be rested up for the task.” He patted Ben’s shoulder. “It sure is gut having some strong men to help out.”
Ben forced a smile. Telling the bishop they were going back to Florida would be difficult. This was Saturday, Sunday was a day of rest, and the following day, Toby wanted to catch the bus home. Today was the only day Ben could help.
“Isn’t there anything I can do today?” The dryness in the building irritated Ben’s throat and he coughed.
“Kumm with me. I’ll make arrangements for someone to give you a ride home.” Bishop Yoder took a few steps without Ben and stopped.
Ben eyed Toby near the lumber pile. If he could get Toby’s attention and wave him over, they could tell the bishop together that they would be leaving on Monday.
“Do you have a rebellious spirit, sohn?”
Ben groaned under his breath. Just the opposite was true. He appreciated everything the bishop and his wife had done. “I’d like to earn mei keep. Even the Bible has something to say about a man who doesn’t work.”
The bishop nodded. “You’re right. But God also expects you to mind your elders. Nau kumm with me before these women leave you without a ride home.”
Ben obeyed.
“I thought that would change your mind.” The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. “We have a truck coming at the end of next week to pick up a lumber order for Cedar Creek, but after that I’ll teach you how to drive a buggy so you don’t have to be dependent on the women.”
Not knowing how else to respond, Ben nodded. After Jasper nipped his shoulder, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be that close to another horse. His worries were a moot point. The day after tomorrow, he would be on a bus heading back to Florida. Not soon enough for him. Even though he was wearing another man’s winter coat, chills had reached his bones. Springtime in Florida meant green grass and the citrusy scent of orange blossoms in the warm air and not having to wear cumbersome clothes.
“Excuse me,” Bishop Yoder said, approaching the women. “Would one of you kindly drive Ben back to the haus?”
Ben lowered his head, feeling ten years old again.
“Grace and I will be leaving as soon as we load the wood chips into the buggy. He can ride with us,” Mattie said.
“Danki.” Bishop Yoder turned to Ben. “I know you would rather stay and help, but I think you would be better off resting another day. If you’re feeling too restless, I’m sure the women will find you an indoor task.”
Grace said, “That won’t be a problem.”
For a split second, Ben’s heart leaped. He might like spending the afternoon with her.
“Do you know how to sew?” Grace smirked.
This was a strange district. Just because women worked in the lumber barn shouldn’t mean he was expected to do women’s work. He would be laughed out of Pinecraft. Toby was probably laughing right now.
The bishop turned to Ben. “I need to get back to work, but I’ll see you at supper. Mary likes to eat around six.”
“Okay.” He would make a point to be back from fishing by then. Even if the ice hadn’t melted completely, he would rather cast a line than have to worry about keeping stitches in a straight line. And with all the rain, he shouldn’t have a problem finding worms.
Once the bishop walked away, another maedel in the group stepped forward. “I’m Becky Lapp. I saw you at the bishop’s haus during the meeting the other nacht, but I didn’t have a chance to welkom you to Badger Creek. I’ve been working with Toby the past few days. He said you two are from Florida.” The round, freckle-faced girl had a sweet smile.
“Jah.”
“Are you getting used to the wedder? Falling into the river must have been a shock to your system.”
Falling into the river? Someone who fell into the river wouldn’t have time to remove his shoes. He shouldn’t let that concern him, but it did.
“We’re a small community, so word gets around fast.”
“So you say.” He tightened his lips into a smile.
Grace made a knot before looking up. Her forehead wrinkled. “Were you saying something to me?”
He shook his head.
“I was asking Ben how he was adapting to the wedder.”
“Oh.” She lifted her brows at Ben. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
“I was just going to ask Becky if she had heard anything about mei missing shoes.” He faced Becky. “I took them off at the river when I jumped in and nau they’re missing.”
“Nau that you mention it, I did hear something about the missing shoes. But they haven’t turned up—nett that I’ve heard anyway.”
“I’m sure word will get around when they do.” Apparently, his sarcasm went over her head because she returned his smile.
The generator roared to life.
“I better get back to work,” Becky said above the noise. “I’m sure I’ll run into you at Sunday service tomorrow.” She joined the other workers.
Ben tapped Grace’s arm, then motioned to the grain bags. “Are you taking all of these?”
“Jah.”
He grabbed the bags, two in each hand. They weren’t heavy. He could carry more if they weren’t so bulky. “I’ll kumm back for those,” he told Grace when she bent to pick up the remaining two.
She grabbed the bags anyway and headed to the door with Mattie at her side.
Ben tagged behind the two friends, feeling like a fifth wheel.
“Mei buggy is over here,” Mattie said, directing them to the corner of the barn.
The temperature had dropped at least ten degrees since they came inside the barn. Now he wasn’t so sure fishing was a good idea. But sewing with women? What could he possibly add to the conversation as they stitched whatever it was they stitched?
Grace sat on the buggy bench shoulder to shoulder with Mattie on one side and Ben on the other. A tight fit, but that couldn’t be helped as the sacks of wood shavings took up the back section of the buggy. Grace tried not to think about the closeness, but her thoughts circled in a maddening way. Earlier, Ben had accused her of luring him into the woods. She could only imagine what he thought of her suggesting he sew with them. She shouldn’t have teased him.
Ben stretched out his legs and ran his hand down his thigh as though he were releasing tension from his muscles. “So, do you use a buggy in the middle of the winter too?”
“We have sleigh runners that mei husband, Andy, mounts on the frame when the snow gets too deep,” Mattie said.
“Other than Widow Klem, who relies on others to take her places, I think e
veryone uses the iron runners,” Grace added.
“What keeps the horse from slipping on the ice?”
“Borium. It’s welded to their shoes for traction.” Grace sucked in a breath and braced for the turn onto the dirt road, which led to her house. As her body swayed in the turn, she grasped the edge of the bench. So did Ben. His large hand covered hers, sending fire shooting through her veins. He didn’t move his hand after the buggy straightened. Ben’s brave attempt to cross the river to search for Mitch had affected her heart. It wasn’t until he grinned that she realized her mouth was agape.
“I’m so thankful this road is no longer flooded,” Mattie said.
“Filling the holes with rocks made a big difference,” Ben said.
“Toby and the boys worked nonstop for two days on it.” Grace had prepared a big lunch for them the first day, and the young boys her nephew’s age ate as much chicken and dumplings as Toby had.
“Jah, Toby mentioned repairing the road and digging new drainage into the creek.” Ben stared out the side window and sighed.
Grace marveled at how effective the new drainage was. “Toby said he learned about drainage working in landscaping. He said he could fix—”
“Toby, Toby, Toby,” Ben muttered under his breath.
Grace paused. “Did you say something?”
“Nay, go on,” he said, continuing to look out the window.
“I was just going to add that the bishop was pleased. Our road has never been dry this time of the year.” Had she said something wrong? This was the most disengaged she had seen Ben.
Mattie pulled into the driveway and stopped the buggy next to the porch. “Grace, if you don’t mind I’d like to skip sewing today.” Mattie patted her belly. “I’m nett feeling so gut all of a sudden. I think I’ll go home, fix a cup of tea, and rest.”
“I don’t mind. I hope you’re nett coming down with a cold.” Grace suspected it was early-pregnancy queasiness, but many of the women had recently come down with the flu from all this wet weather. Their April showers could drown any hope of May flowers.
