by Risner, Fay
Peter snickered. “That whop on the bottom is just what Stella Strutt has deserved for a long time, but no one has tried to do it. I am not sure how Moses puts up with her. The rest of us just avoid her as much as possible.”
“Still I hate that I caused such a disturbance in the church service over a spider,” Tootie declared.
Peter stopped at the pen fence that adjoined the back of the barn. His gaze didn't budge from her face. “That was not the first disturbance you made over a spider as I recall, and I doubt that it will be the last.”
Tootie started to ask what he meant by that remark, but he turned his attention to the pen and whistled loudly. A red mare and leggy colt lifted their heads to find the source of the whistle. The mare took one more mouth full of hay from the manger and came running.
Peter stuck his hand through the fence to let the mare nuzzled it. The colt stretched its neck and sniffed Peter's hand.
“It's amazing that the colt isn't scared of you,” Tootie said quietly.
“He was not born with fear. We want to keep him gentle, and at his age, he is naturally inquisitive.”
Tootie stuck her pale smooth skinned hand through the fence beside Peter's larger calloused hand, darkened by years of work in the sun, with twisted arthritic fingers. The colt sniffed her hand and licked it. Tootie giggled.
“You used to like kittens. We have a litter. Want to see them? They are just big enough to open their eyes and be sassy,” Peter said.
One more peculiar statement from this man, but Tootie didn't want to dwell on why he kept assuming what she liked and disliked. She clapped. “I do love kittens. Show me.”
Peter pointed to a side door on the barn. “We can go in there, Dolly.”
Tootie wouldn't have had any trouble finding the noisy kittens by herself. The mother had left them to take a break, and they didn't like her being gone.
Peter opened a horse stall. “There they are.”
The six fuzz balls were crawling over and under each other in the loose straw as they cried for their mother. Tootie bent down and picked up a hissing kitten speckled with every color a cat could be. “This is certainly a brightly colored one. He's so pretty.”
“That is a she,” Peter said, stroking the fussy kitten on top the head with one gentle finger.
“How do you know that?” Tootie said, doubting him.
“Calico cats are always females,” Peter said.
“Really! I didn't know that,” Tootie declared.
“Now you do, Dolly.”
Tootie put the kitten gently back in the pile of churning fur. “I should go to the house. When my family can't find me, they might be worried. I didn't tell anyone I was going for a walk.”
As they stepped out of the barn, Tootie wanted to tell Peter she enjoyed their walk. She felt a flutter in her stomach that stopped her from speaking.
Peter gave her the most intense look as if he was reading her mind. “Maybe we could do this again sometime. We used to enjoy long walks together.”
Tootie wasn't sure why this man thought she liked to take walks with him, but he knew about calico cats, didn't he? Maybe Amish men just sensed things about others. No matter. She knew she was born a romantic, but she was too old to be doing anything about it. “Thank you for showing me the colt and kittens. I must go now. This has turned into a pleasant afternoon indeed thanks to you.”
“Sure, now I will get back to my chores.” Peter walked away.
Cooner Jonah and Anna walked with the Lapp family to their buggies. Soft spoken Anna said to Hal, “Next Wednesday is Peter's birthday. We are having him a small celebration that evening. Just cake and homemade ice cream. We would like your family to come and bring your company. That should be enough visitors to make it look like we are celebrating Peter's birthday.”
“Sounds gute,” Hal said. “We accept.”
“Nothing more fun than a birthday party,” Nora said.
Tootie smacked her lips. “With homemade ice cream.”
That night after supper, Noah got out the battleship game for Daniel and him to play.
Jim said in a low voice with his eyes on the kitchen door, “John, how soon do you think my horse will be ready to pull my buggy? Is he learning anything tied to the road fence every day?”
“We will not know until you try him and find out. When you do we will put blinders on him which should help,” John said.
“I want to use my own horse. I think tomorrow I'll try him out by myself, or maybe one of the boys would like to ride with me. I don't dare ask Nora to go with me until the horse knows what he's supposed to do,” Jim whispered.
“I understand,” John said knowingly.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, cleanup went as usual. Before Hal could get back from the barn, Nora and Tootie were on the couch, waiting for Hal to join them. Hal was giving the slop bucket more of a scrubbing than a slop bucket deserved.
Emma heard Adam drive in to take her to the youth singing. She threw her dish towel over the line, said good bye to everyone and rushed to clamber into the buggy. “I could hardly wait for you to pick me up.”
Adam flicked the lines over his horse's back. Once they were on the road, he wavered his hand.
“It is a mad house at our place with company around,” Emma replied. Adam raised an eyebrow at her. “Oh, do not get me wrong. I like Hallie's folks and aunt, but it is different when they are there all the time. I never know what is going to happen.” She paused then blurted out, “Take the slop pail.”
Adam's head jerked back as he stared at her.
“Silly, I did not mean you should take it home with you literally, but if you want to rescue my sanity, it might come to that to get some peace at our house. Hallie and Aendi Tootie are feuding about who should wash the slop pail. Aendi Tootie wants to wash dishes, but she does not want to wash the nasty pail. She hurries through the dishes while Hallie empties the pail to the cats in the barn. Aendi is on the couch looking innocent by the time Hallie comes back, all worn out from running.”
Adam grinned.
“I would not find this funny if I were you. Especially if it is Hallie telling you this story. Let me tell you, she is not too agreeable recht now when it is time to do dishes,” Emma said. She tipped her head back and welcomed the faint breeze over her face and neck. “That is not all that is wrong. Dawdi Jim and Mammi Nora are having words over that courting buggy Dawdi bought. She does not like the buggy at all. She would be even more upset if she knew what was wrong with the horse that came with the buggy.”
Adam raised his eyebrow again.
“The first time Dawdi drove the buggy, he found out he did not buy the best horse for road driving. The horse stopped every time traffic went by him on the highway. Noah had to get out of the buggy and get the horse going each time then hop back in the buggy. Daed thought it might help if he tied the horse to the road fence so it got used to the traffic.”
Adam wavered his hand.
“We do not know if it helped. Dawdi has not tried the horse yet. He has been using one of our horses. When the time comes, Daed is going to loan him a pair of blinders. We are all hoping that the horse works well soon. Mammi noticed the horse tied to the fence, but so far she has not realized something is wrong,” Emma related. “So help me enjoy our evening at the singing. Cheer me up before I have to go home and face whatever comes up next.” She looked sincere then she giggled.
Adam grinned back as he turned into the Rogies driveway. The golden light slid slowly below the horizon. The glow tinted the grass and parked buggies. The rays dotted the laughing and chattering teens, waiting for everyone to arrive. Two hours later the singing ended, and all the Plain teenagers left for home.
Adam let his horse go at a slow walk, prolonging their evening together, while Emma and he enjoyed the pleasant ride. When they neared the turn off for Bender Creek Road, Adam turned onto the dirt road. The deeply shadowed trees flickered past on both sides of the buggy until Adam stopped. He took Emma in
his arms, gave her a hug and a gentle kiss.
“Denki, Adam. I needed that,” Emma said softly.
That same evening, Redbird and Beth crawled over by John's rocker, pulled themselves up and jabbered at him. John swept them up on his lap and rocked them.
Jim offered wistfully, “I could rock one of them babies. Wouldn't be any trouble at all.”
“I know,” John said. “But they like me to do it every night before they go to bed. He hummed Sweet And Low. Soon the girls drifted off to sleep.
Hal brought a chair from the kitchen and placed it beside the couch. She sat down with a sigh.
“You look tired, Hallie,” Nora surmised.
“For some reason I feel tired. I think Sunday is the hardest day of the week. Makes me tired doing nothing. Noah, do you need to soak that ankle again tonight?”
“Nah, the swelling has gone down. It's just a little stiff so no need to bother. I'll walk the stiffness out of it.”
“If you say so,” Hal said.
Nora commented, “That Adam sure is a nice young man. Emma got herself a fine pick.”
“We sure like having him around,” Hal agreed.
Tootie mused, “Too bad he can't talk.”
“Tootie, I declare, you know what not to say and just go ahead and say it anyway,” Nora scolded. “Your brain is as scattered as ashes blowing in the wind.”
“It's all right, Mom. Aunt Tootie, Adam has been that way since birth so he's not bashful about it. Besides if you noticed, he communicates just fine with all of us. Emma has been with him so much I think they can read each other's mind,” Hal said.
“I noticed that,” Nora agreed.
“Their's is a sign of true love if I ever saw it,” Tootie added dreamily.
“Tootie, are you feeling all right?” Nora asked.
“I'm fine. Why?”
“You have been so different this evening. Quiet and sort of … .” Nora searched for the right word. “Well, out of it.”
“Guess I'm tired,” Tootie excused.
The boys gave up their game and went to sit on the floor by John and Jim in the rockers to listen to their father read the bible for devotions.
When John closed the bible, Noah said, “Some of the boys are going tomorrow night to practice with their coon hounds. Daniel and me want to go.”
John stood and put his bible on the shelf above his rocker. “Where do you plan on going?”
“Bender Creek timber. Should be coons prowling in there all the time. We figure Dog ...,” Noah paused, rolled his eyes toward the ceiling and amended, “Biscuit should start his training.”
Jim smiled at Noah's slip in front of Hal and rubbed his chin. “Gonna be good and dark in that timber. Don't you worry about getting lost, or better yet what might be out there in the dark with you like ghosts or boogie men?”
“Nah, not us,” bragged Daniel. “We do not believe in such things.”
“Good thing you live this far away from the timber that's near my farm,” Jim baited the boys.
“Why is that?” Noah asked.
“I could tell you the story of old Jasper Newcomb, but are you sure you want to hear it?”
Nora scolded, “Maybe you shouldn't be telling such things to these boys.”
“We want to hear, ain't so, Noah?” Daniel said eagerly.
“Don't say I didn't warn you. This story isn't for the weak hearted,” Jim warned.
“Maybe I'll take the girls upstairs and put them to bed before you start,” Hal said.”
Nora asked, “Can I help with one of them?”
“Sure you can. They're a load to carry up the stairs at the same time. I usually have Emma here to help me.”
As Hal and Nora left with the sleeping girls, Jim commenced with his tale. “Well now, old Jasper said he didn't believe in ghosts just like you boys did. His very words a matter of fact.
Everyone in our part of the country knew that two hundred acres of timber was haunted. Plenty of folks talked about glowing lights bobbing around when hunters weren't in the timber. Some folks claimed on full moon nights, human like figures, dressed in white, appeared out of no where and stood in the moonshine for a spell. They disappeared before folks' eyes. Jasper laughed when they talked about it.
Finally, a friend of Jasper's, Andy Brown, and a bunch of other coon hunters dared Jasper to spend the night in the woods by himself if he was so brave. If he stayed until dawn, the men said they would buy him a cart load of watermelons. Jasper was delighted. Watermelon was his favorite fruit. He accepted the dare, packed some matches, his pipe, and a bedroll. He went right to the middle of the timber to camp for the night.”
Jim looked around the room. He had everyone's attention. Poor Tootie scrunched down with her arms folded over her chest. Her skittish mind filled with thoughts of what it was like out in that dark timber among spirits. Jim could tell she was all ears. The effect his story had on her tickled him, and he was just getting started.
Hal and Nora came downstairs as Jim leaned forward. He folded his arms across his legs so he'd be closer to Noah and Daniel. In a lowered voice, he said, “Jasper started a campfire, lit his pipe, and settled on a stump by the fire with yesterday's newspaper. As he read, he heard a creaking sound close to what a tree frog might make. He looked around right quick. He saw a gnarled little creature with glowing red eyes on the log beside his stump. The creature had showed up without Jasper hearing him. This critter had a long, forked tail, two horns on its head, claws where fingers should be at the ends of its hands, and sharp dirty teeth.
'What are you?' Jasper asked in a quivering voice.
'I'm called Sneak Upon, because I sneak upon humans that trespass in my territory. Ain't nobody here tonight except you and me. You're trespassing,' the creature informed old Jasper. Sneak Upon's voice gave Jasper the creeps. It sounded like the hiss of fiery flames coming from a saline torch.
Poor old Jasper's heart nearly stopped with fright. He leaped to his feet and backed away from Sneak Upon. 'Ain't going to be nobody here but you in a minute,' he told the gnarled creature. Jasper leaped over the fallen log and hightailed it through the trees lickety-split. He ran so fast he overtook two rabbits being chased by a coyote. The animals all veered out of his way, but it wasn't long before Jasper heard little hooves pounding back of him.
The ugly creature caught up with him and stayed right behind him. 'You're making pretty good speed for an old man,' taunted the creature.
'I can run much faster than this if I'm of a mind to,' Jasper told Sneak Upon. He took off like a bolt of lightning, leaving the gnarled creature in his dust. As he past his friend house, Jasper hollered as loud as he could. Andy came outside to see what was wrong.
'Never mind about buying me them watermelons. You can keep them,' Jasper shouted without breaking his stride. He ran all the way home, locked his doors and hid under his bed for the rest of the night.
After that, he was a firm believer in ghosts and spooks. He refused to go anywhere near the woods at night to coon hunt unless some of his friends were with him.”
Daniel gave Noah a wide eyed look. Noah scoffed, “Dawdi, that sounds like a real wild tale but a gute one. I do not think we will ever see one of those Sneak Upons this far south so we have no need to worry when we are in the timber.”
John teased, “I think it might be time for the two of you to go to bed while you are still all in one piece.”
“Ah, Daed,” Noah scoffed.
“Maybe we all should call it a night,” Nora suggested. “I agree with Hal. It does seem like it has been a long day.”
“Do you lock the doors at night?” Tootie asked in a shaky voice.
“Not usually,” Hal said to her. “Why?”
Tootie gave a sniffle. “I just wondered is all.”
Daniel said, “Do not worry, Aendi Tootie. We know there are no Sneak Upons around here.”
“Could we lock the doors tonight just to be on the safe side?” Nora asked, watching her jittery sis
ter.
“Mom, you don't actually take that story Dad told seriously do you?” Hal exclaimed.
“No, I've heard it many times before, but I should have sent Tootie to bed before Jim told it. It doesn't take much for her to have nightmares. That brings on the sleepwalking. I'd hate for her to get outside and wander away,” Nora said.
Daniel commiserated, “You are just like me, Aendi. I used to sleepwalk, but I outgrew it.”
“I think it's too late for me to outgrow it, Dear,” Tootie groaned.
“Jah, we will lock the doors tonight.” John went to the front door. “I will do it right now, Aendi Tootie.”
“Thank you, John,” she said. “That makes me feel better.”
After John and Hal were in their bedroom, they heard Nora in the spare bedroom scolding Jim. “What were you thinking when you told that awful story in front of Tootie? We're in for a sleepless night I'm afraid.”
“Sorry,” Jim's hushed voice answered.
John climbed into bed and put his hands behind his head. “Hal, have you paid any attention to Peter Rogies lately?”
Hal slipped her nightgown over her head before she answered. “Nah, is something wrong with him?”
“His mind is failing fast. This afternoon, Peter walked along the driveway talking to himself. Cooner Jonah says it is his dead horse and dead dog he is talking to. He does it all the time. Peter thinks he is taking his horse to pasture, and the dog is walking along with him. The strange way he acts must come and go. Peter was walking with Aendi Tootie, and he seemed fine. At least, Aendi Tootie was smiling,” John said.
“I wonder how that happened. My Aunt Tootie went for a walk with Peter. Really?”
“That's what I said. Just thought you being a nurse, you might be able to help him,” John said. “I think the Rogies family might be a little bashful about asking since it embarrasses them when Peter says the wrong things in a gathering.”
“I know how they feel. I feel the same way with Aunt Tootie.”
“Hal, Aunt Tootie is not so bad,” John defended.
“I guess. Now I understand why Anna didn't want a big gathering at Peter's birthday party.” Hal hung her dress on a wall peg.
