by Beth Wiseman
Sadie’s eyes grew wide. Her jaw dropped. “What? Are you joking with me?”
“I’m not joking. I’m sure I heard that, read that, somewhere. I—”
Eli’s words were interrupted by a movement in the distance. His heart leapt to his throat. He grabbed Sadie’s hand and tugged her.
With quickened steps, he turned and moved toward the road. Partly because he believed it could be true, but mostly because he’d seen a look of fear in Sadie’s eyes. He wanted this to be a fun day. He guessed that scaring Sadie out of her mind wasn’t her idea of fun. Her fingers tightened around his.
They moved side by side until Sadie pulled her hand from his grasp and rushed past him. Another noise like the sounds of rumbling within the brush sounded, and he expected her to cry out in fear as she ran down the hill. Instead, laughter spilled out of her mouth.
“Run! C’mon, Eli.” Her kapp strings trailed behind her, and she giggled as if she was ten again. He followed, and couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t slow down until they reached the dirt road.
When Eli caught up with her, Sadie was bent over, hands on her knees, breathing heavily. His stomach did a flip seeing her there, not because he’d been worried about a bear, but because he realized this moment changed everything.
Over the last few weeks he’d told himself they were just friends. Even as they were planting the garden together, Sadie had been kind but she’d kept her distance.
Maybe the best way to help Sadie get over her grief is to remind her how beautiful life can be, laughter can be.
“Eli.” She glanced up at him, tucked a few strands of blonde hair back in her kapp.
“Ja?”
“I have a question for you. A serious one.”
“What is that?”
“Do you have any idea how fast a bear can run?” She glanced back over her shoulder as if she expected the cub to be following them.
“Does it matter?” he asked. Then he started jogging again, picking up speed. “Just as long as I can run faster than you!”
Her laughter rang out then, deep from the pit of her stomach. Harder than he’d ever heard her laugh, and as Eli paused to let her catch up, his mind wasn’t on the bear cub, their picnic lunch, or strolling over to Alkali Lake. Instead, all he could think about was making Sadie laugh tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after.
THE BUDGET—West Kootenai, Montana
Down a winding dirt road that is full of potholes is a small lake. I’ve heard it said that the locals often go there to view wildlife. A friend and I sat for an hour quietly watching the lake, but we didn’t see one creature, not even a bird. An hour before that, though, we saw the famous bear cub, Goliath. Sometimes what matters is not what you go looking for, but rather what you find when you’re not looking. That’s what my time here in Montana has been like. I’m eager to see what tomorrow brings.
We’ve had a whole mess of rainy days, and that caused the local youth to move their Sunday singing into the Kraft and Grocery. Some of us visiting bachelors sat around and watched them, humming along. Mostly we were there for the pie that was passed around.
At church last Sunday, Jared and Elizabeth Brubacher and family were visiting from Ohio. Lester and Wanda Coblentz came from Dorado Springs, MO. Sad that their vacation was spent indoors keeping dry. As soon as they headed back on the train, the sun came out. Go figure.
The book of Ecclesiastes speaks of sunshine being sweet. Getting up this morning, I have to agree it is. Of course, a few verses later, there in chapter 11, it says that people ought to enjoy every day of their lives. So today I’m also thankful for the rain.
—Eli Plank, the bachelor scribe
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sadie kneeled beside the row of carrots and shook her head. She glanced around at the fencing, wondering what had gotten in and how. Something had been having lunch in her garden!
She heard a whistling behind her and recognized one of the hymns from the youth sing a couple of weeks ago. Sadie tried to push her annoyance to the side for a moment and just enjoy the smile on Eli’s face.
“Why, someone’s sure happy today,” she called to him.
“Ja, I am. Opa called my work and left a message. I just got off the phone with him. Today is my grandparents’ anniversary, and he got me a gift.”
She stood and opened the gate for him, smiling wide. “It’s their anniversary and you got a gift?”
“Ja, my grandmother bought him a greeting card and inside was a train ticket to Montana. He’s coming in a few weeks, and there’s something even better than that.”
“What’s that?”
“My grandmother told him to look for a small cottage while he’s here, someplace to spend the summers. It would be great to have them around, even if it’s just for a few months a year.”
“Have them around?” Sadie fingered the metal of the fence. “Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Well . . .” Eli cocked his head. “Have I given you any indication that I’m going somewhere?”
“Ne, but that’s what you do, isn’t it? As the Amish bachelor, you travel from place to place.”
Eli removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, that’s what I’ve done, but things can change . . .” His voice trailed off.
Sadie sat there for a moment, still. Breathe, Sadie. She bit her lower lip. Did Eli’s desire to stay have anything to do with her?
She was about to ask when movement by the back door of the house made her pause. An Amish woman stepped out of the back door and set a large jar with tea bags on the porch railing for sun tea. Even from this distance the woman’s movements were familiar. She was taller than her aunt and thinner too. Sadie sucked in a breath. Her oldest sister had followed through with her threats! Carol had come to Montana. And she hadn’t let Sadie know she was coming. Had Aunt Linda known? Why had they kept it a secret?
Sadie sat back on her heels. She didn’t know what to say. What to do. The best thing was to just pretend that Eli was a friend and that her heart didn’t race whenever he was near. Then—after her sister left—she could explore her feelings further. She’d never be able to open up to Eli with her sister watching her every move.
She gingerly leaned forward and tugged at a weed, trying to act natural. Trying not to feel like the child she always felt like in her sister’s presence.
“Sadie?” Eli cleared his throat. “Are you okay?”
She forced a smile. “Ja, why?”
“Your face—it got all pale. You’re not feeling ill, are you?”
“Ne . . . I—” She leaned forward again to tackle another weed. How could she explain that her life was not her own? Even all the way in Montana, her oldest sister had come to check on her . . . and no doubt check on her tomatoes too.
She returned to their conversation. “That’s wonderful about your grandparents’ anniversary. Do you know how they met? I always love hearing those stories.” She prayed she sounded convincing. She hoped he couldn’t tell that her stomach was tied up in knots.
“My grandfather said he was nine years old when he saw my grandmother for the first time. She was thirteen, a grown woman in his eyes.” Eli chuckled. “Her brother was marrying his sister, and the most exciting part about the wedding was knowing that he’d probably see her more at family events.”
“My mem and dat met at a volleyball game.” Sadie offered a sad smile. “They’d both gone with someone else but caught each other’s eyes. They died on the way back from a volleyball game, too, many, many years later . . .”
“I’m sorry about that. I read about the buggy accident in The Budget.”
How many times had she heard the words I’m sorry?
In her opinion, people were awfully sorry about things they couldn’t control. Yet the people who should be sorry for selling the farm without asking her—her siblings—hadn’t offered an apology once.
“Sadie, I . . .” Eli looked into her eyes and then fell silent.
; A lump filled her throat, and she attempted to swallow it away. She didn’t know what he could say to make things better.
“You don’t need to say anything, and thank you for caring. I’m glad you’re here because I need your help. Can you take a look at the fence? Maybe there’s something I’m missing.” She needed other help too. But how could she explain her sister? Her siblings?
Eli looked around, puzzled. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Something’s been chewing the tops off the carrots.”
He bent down and looked at them, shaking his head. “The little varmints.”
She rose and led him around the eight-foot chicken wire fence. “This fence works for keeping the deer and bears out, and I can’t imagine squirrels and rabbits being able to get in. I don’t see any holes where they could’ve dug under. At the store, I talked to that rancher lady, Millie Arnold. She said that she uses an electric fence.” Sadie cocked an eyebrow. “But that’s not possible here. And Edgar offered to give me some extra galvanized hardware cloth that he had, but it seems like so much work. These few plants aren’t worth it.”
Eli nodded, but she could tell he didn’t believe her. She knew it wasn’t the truth either. The plants meant she was carrying on her heritage. She jutted out her chin, happy that she’d be able to show the beautiful plants to Carol. She and Eli had worked hard. She just hoped that a few hungry creatures wouldn’t ruin everything.
He studied the fence for a while and then looked up at the wide Montana sky as if trying to formulate a plan.
“Those tomatoes are worth a lot, Sadie, and we both know it.” Eli tapped his chin. “I have an idea . . .”
She cocked her head. “What?”
“You promise not to laugh, ja? I mean, your mem was an expert gardener, and what I’m going to suggest isn’t very traditional.”
“I promise I won’t laugh. Well, as long as you don’t tell me to put up a scarecrow.” She fingered her sleeve, curious. “I’ve never liked them, ever since one of my older brothers dressed up as one and jumped out and scared me. Serves me right for being the youngest.”
“Not a scarecrow, but close . . .” Eli crossed his arms over his chest. “Pinwheels. This place gets a lot of wind. The movement will keep any pesky critters away.”
She placed a hand over her mouth, holding back a laugh.
Eli feigned a frown. “I told you not to laugh.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t help it.”
“Will you try it?”
She shrugged. “I might.”
“If I buy them for you, will you put them up?”
“Only if you help me,” she said.
“Ja, okay then, it’s a date.”
Eli stepped forward and reached out a hand, as if he were going to place it on her shoulder, then dropped it again. “What? Would you like me to plan something more romantic?”
A shiver raced up her arms, and she suppressed a smile. The kids were home from school, her aunt was cooking dinner, and her sister was no doubt watching them through the kitchen window, critiquing their every move.
“Eli, I’m thankful that we are friends.” She glanced up, and her eyes fixed on his. Their green depths penetrated her. “But—”
He took a step closer and a chill of excitement traveled down her spine, but she refused to allow herself to respond.
“But? But what, Sadie?”
Instead of answering, Sadie swallowed. “Pinwheels, you say?”
His lower lip curled down, an obvious sign of his disappointment. She wanted to explain, but how could she? She didn’t know why her sister was here or what her agenda was. How could she ever plan her future when there was always someone who’d go out of her way to step in and try to plan it for her?
Eli released a heavy sigh. “I’ll see if someone can take me to Eureka—or even Kalispell—to pick up the pinwheels.”
She pursed her lips as she looked up at him. “Why, that’s a very tender gesture, Eli.”
“Nothing but the best for you, Sadie.” He winked. “Speaking of which, my grandfather also mentioned that he’d love to see your garden when he gets here. He’s willing to help however he can.”
“I’ll appreciate the help,” she answered, wondering if Carol had come for the same reason. “This is the first time I’ve grown tomatoes in a greenhouse, and the first time I’ve tried to grow them in this colder climate. The soil is different. I’m not sure why I didn’t think of all those things before planting.” A weariness came over her, and she wondered why she’d ever come to Montana. No matter how far she went, she’d never be able to leave behind her grief. And she’d never get beyond her role as the youngest one in the family.
“Sometimes I wish I would have just stayed in my old community,” she said. “It might have been easier to just live the life I already had, as hard as it may be, than to forge a new one.”
“Do you really think that, Sadie? Because I’ve been watching the care you receive from your aunt and uncle. And it seems to be reciprocated.”
“Ja, I do, but I just wish I knew where I belonged.”
“And where would you like to be? What kind of place would you like, Sadie?”
“It may seem silly, but one just like that one.” She pointed to the house next door. “Just a simple place with a garden spot and a greenhouse. A place where I can watch my children walk to school, where my husband would work close enough to sit at the table with me for every meal, and a greenhouse out back—with light and a heater—so no matter how cold it is outside, or how the snow piles up, I can still have something growing inside.”
“I love that.” Eli smiled. “I love how you nurture life.”
“It’s when I feel closest to God, I suppose. I get a glimpse of the joy of those days of creation when life bursts forth from the soil.”
She also liked being part of something her family started, something she was honored to carry on. Sadie opened her mouth to say that, but stopped when she saw Eli’s eyes focused on the house next door.
“And what type of place do you want to settle down in?” she wanted to ask him. “And most importantly, with whom?”
Sadie tried to act surprised as she and Eli entered the house and she found Carol standing at the sink peeling potatoes.
“Carol!” Her voice rose, and she offered a quick wave. “You’re here. I didn’t expect it.”
Her Aunt Linda cleared her throat. “Neither did I. I heard a knock at the door and there she was.” She turned to Sadie, her eyes widening, mimicking her expression. “Your sister even hired a driver to pick her up in Whitefish.”
Carol put down her vegetable peeler and hurried to Sadie, wrapping her arms around her sister’s shoulders for a quick hug. “I guessed you’d try to talk me out of it, but some neighbors were coming this direction, and I tagged along. I knew you wouldn’t want me to come all this way, but I miss you, I really do. And I just wanted to check to see if everything was all right.”
Sadie took a step back. “Everything? Like the tomatoes?”
Carol clicked her tongue. “I wondered if you were all right.” She glanced over to Eli.
He stood at the threshold of the kitchen, waiting to be welcomed into the conversation.
Sadie quickly introduced him, and Carol acknowledged him with a quick nod. “It doesn’t seem right that I’ve learned more about what my baby sister is doing through The Budget than I get in her letters. I was her age when she was born, and I’ve always felt like a second mother.” She lowered her chin and peered down at Sadie. “I suppose being written about comes when you’re . . . friends . . . with a scribe.”
Sadie wrapped her kapp string around her finger. “I’ve written you—”
“You’ve written, but I’ve lived on this earth long enough to know that what one doesn’t say matters more than what they do.” Carol glanced over at Eli. “Isn’t that right, Mr. Plank?”
“Ja.” He ran his hand down his smooth face. “That’s an honest assessment. But you have to as
k the reason why.” He looked over at Sadie. “Sometimes one’s trying to hide the truth, but other times one’s just waiting for the right time to reveal it. After all, once words are spoken, it’s hard to take them back.”
Carol’s eyes widened, showing her surprise at Eli’s response.
“I know I’d regret it if I didn’t invite Eli for dinner,” Aenti Linda cut in.
“Actually, I think I’ll head home and get some things done around the house. I have another Budget report that I need to send in too.”
“Is it hard?” Carol moved toward the doorway as if this was her house and it was her job to usher Eli to the door.
“Is writing the report hard? Ne, not really. I just pretend I’m writing home to a friend.”
“Not that part. I mean, is it hard that everyone knows about your life? Have you ever considered how hard that would be on a family someday?”
Sadie stood fixed in the kitchen as if her feet were glued to the floor. On one hand, she couldn’t believe her sister was so bold with her questions. But on the other hand, she understood. Carol had come because if Sadie opened her heart to Eli, then all of her life would be open to the world. It was something she hadn’t thought about, but obviously Carol had.
Before Sadie could reprimand her sister for her bold words, Eli stepped through the front door. “I’d like to say I know what I’m doing, but I can’t say I do. I don’t have a wife. I don’t have children—although I want them someday.”
“Ja, that’s what I thought.” Carol returned to the kitchen and began peeling potatoes again. Sadie wished the floor would open up and swallow her. Even if she did have feelings for Eli, it didn’t matter now. Who would want to marry into a family with someone so confrontational? Then again, in just a few minutes’ time, her sister had brought up questions Sadie hadn’t thought to ask.
Maybe Eli will always just be a friend, she told herself. It was enough work just keeping on top of the garden. Now with her sister here, how could she test her feelings for Eli too?
