by Mary Ellis
When he entered his kitchen, after rubbing down, feeding, and watering his horse, Jonas nearly jumped a foot into the air. Nora stood at the sink, peeling and slicing potatoes.
“Hello, Jonas,” she said. “Did you forget about me?”
“I didn’t expect to see anyone. If I get home on time, I usually read Scripture for an hour before my fraa arrives.” He hung his hat and coat on a peg.
“She let me go early to start supper. How about a cup of coffee? I made a fresh pot.”
“That’s gut, but I’ll get it myself. I don’t allow anyone to wait on me except for my wife.” He laughed at his favorite joke.
“Emily says you’re the helpful, indulgent one in the family.” Nora dumped potatoes into a pot of water.
“I suppose we do tend to pamper each other.” Jonas took a sip of strong, black coffee. “This will taste good after my shower, danki.” He was halfway to the bathroom before she called to him.
“Jonas, may I speak with you a moment?” Nora set the pot on a burner and then dried her hands. “You own Gingerich Lumber, jah?”
“That’s correct.” He swallowed another gulp.
“That means you have say-so in the hiring and firing?”
“Don’t tell me Emily fired you on your very first day. She usually shows more patience than that.”
Nora smiled after a moment’s pause. “Not to my knowledge. I believe my position is still intact.” She picked up the coffeepot to top off his mug and then her own. “An old friend from Maine stopped by the bakery today. He’s out of work and needs a job.” She leaned against the counter, reluctant to meet his eye.
Jonas stroked his beard. “A friend has already found you in Paradise?”
“I was quite surprised when he walked through the door of Grain of Life to buy cookies. Two types in fact.”
“Tell him to stop by and fill out an application for the next time there’s an opening.” Assuming the matter was finished, Jonas strode to the doorway, eager for a muscle-relaxing hot shower.
“But he needs employment now,” she persisted, her voice following him. “Isn’t there some way you can use him? He worked hard with lumber back in Maine. At least that’s what I heard from Thomas Detweiler.”
“Who is this old friend?” Jonas turned back to their house-guest, curious.
“Elam Detweiler.” Nora wrapped both hands around her mug.
He tried to recall what Emily had mentioned about her sister’s brother-in-law. Something about him still being on rumschpringe and unable to commit. But as half of Jonas’s employees were English, that wouldn’t be a problem. “He lives here now, in Missouri?” The question probably was superfluous but he asked it anyway.
“Jah, but if he doesn’t find work soon he may become homeless.” Her green eyes grew very large.
Jonas had never heard of a homeless Amish person, and so he had no choice but to grant her request. “Tell him to come to my office. I’ll hire him for a trial period. If he works hard, then the position will become permanent. But if you’ll excuse me, Nora, I want to finish my shower before Emily gets home.”
“Danki, Jonas.” She turned back to the stove, smiling brightly.
As he left the room, he had the strangest feeling Nora had asked her question just now because Emily wasn’t home yet.
THREE
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Most women weren’t so eager to get to work, but most women weren’t Nora King. She couldn’t wait until she flipped the sign to “Open” and slipped on a clean apron. It was her third day of employment. She may have sore feet, but she now slept like a baby and hadn’t suffered a single migraine since arriving in Missouri.
Besides, today was Saturday—the bakery’s day for tourists. Nora loved to see what English women wore to sightsee, shop, and run errands. She also hoped she would have her first date with Elam that night. Just thinking about him sent shivers of anticipation up her spine. When he had touched her face, she almost came out of her shoes.
“Maybe a woman like you can help me make the big decision.” What had he meant by that? How could she influence his choice to remain Amish or turn English? Could he possibly be in love with her?
Nora set kindling atop newspaper and lit a fire in the stove. Just now she had no time to contemplate the affections of Elam Detweiler. Emily had sent her to the shop early to start baking, using the written recipes and explicit instructions left on the table last night. She would arrive in the buggy later after she stopped at the home of Violet Trask. Apparently, Emily and Violet’s mother were friends. When Emily arrived, Nora would have an answer to the note she had written to Violet.
After applying for a job at the lumberyard, Elam stopped at the bakery yesterday and brought her flowers from the grocery store. Jonas had hired him, giving him the position of pulling morning orders. Because he had a driver’s license, Elam would also fill in making truck deliveries. While Nora’s face had been buried in the bouquet, Elam had asked her out. At first she declined, but then she reconsidered when she heard it would be an Amish social event. What better way to meet other young people than at a cookout and volleyball game? She’d agreed with one condition.
Now her entire future hinged on her new friend, Violet.
Just as Nora slid a second batch of cookies into the oven and started rolling out a third, a breathless Emily entered through the back door.
“Whew, it’s warm already. I tied the mare to a tree away from the road on the longest rope we own. She should graze contentedly for a few hours.” Emily hurried to the cupboard to change her apron.
“Well, what did she say?”
“Can’t a woman wash her hands first?” Emily rolled up her sleeves, while Nora took several deep breaths to tamp down her impatience.
Finally Emily joined her at the work table. “Violet would love to go the cookout so you’re not alone with Elam. She can be ready at six o’clock.” Emily nudged Nora to the side and selected a ball of dough from the bowl. “Are you sure you want to go out with him even with Violet along?”
Nora opened the enamel oven door to peek at the cookies. “Jah, he and I are old friends. This way I can meet folks and make new friends in the district. And, if Elam picks us up, Violet won’t suffer from a jarring buggy ride. Her leg braces become uncomfortable when she’s cramped for long periods.”
“Elam has no business driving a car.” Emily issued a dismissive snort.
“He won’t buy a horse and buggy until he’s baptized.” Nora carefully removed the pan of molasses crinkles with a pot holder.
“What if he never joins the church?”
“By then I will have met other men to court.” Nora angled a smile in Emily’s direction. But in her heart, she couldn’t imagine any man in her life but Elam. “Did you say six o’clock?” she asked, trying to remember Violet’s message.
“Jah, don’t worry. You may drive the buggy home at four. I don’t mind walking. Then you’ll have plenty of time to shower and dress.”
If your mare were a race horse, she thought. “Excuse me a minute.” Nora slipped outside and pulled her cell phone from an apron pocket. She kept it charged up in the barn. Jonas ran the generator every other day to charge his phone for business purposes. She dialed the number Elam had given her, left a message, and then returned to baking cookies with a grin.
“Cell phones are only for emergencies,” said Emily, furrowing her brow. She held the rolling pin aloft as though a club.
“I’ll keep that in mind, I promise. Please don’t whack me with that thing. It would have been rude not to tell Elam my answer and have him drive over for no reason.”
“Sorry.” Emily lowered the rolling pin. “I haven’t whacked anybody in years. Just don’t whip out that phone and call for a pizza if they run out of food tonight.”
Nora relaxed as the bell signaled their first customer, avoiding more questions about her date. With the steady stream of people and plenty of baking, the day passed quickly. Soon
she and Emily’s slow-but-steady horse were on their way home. Before she had a chance to fully dry her hair, Elam pulled into the driveway.
Nora pinned her damp hair under her kapp and answered the door on the second knock. “My, you look almost Amish.”
“Thank you, I think.” Elam entered the kitchen with his usual swagger. “I would have brought flowers, but you got some yesterday. It’ll be a while until my next payday.”
She stared at his appearance—Plain shirt and trousers, suspenders, straw hat, and work boots. And he had shaved every bit of stubble from his face and chin. She’d never seen him clean shaven.
He noticed her appraisal. “I didn’t want to make trouble for you, Miss King, since we’re both new. First impressions mean a lot. Ready to go?”
“I am.” She grabbed her purse and a basket of cookies she had brought home from the bakery. “We’ll have plenty of time to pick up the friend I told you about. Here’s her address and directions.” She dug a piece of paper from her bag.
Elam accepted it without much enthusiasm. “No problem. I know women worry about their reputations. I’m glad men don’t have to concern themselves.” He opened the door and offered an elbow.
Nora ignored his arm and walked toward the car as though she were Cinderella from her childhood picture book. “No hanging on to each other. That’s one of my rules.”
He followed at a leisurely pace. “Like I said, no sweat.”
And apparently Violet joining them wasn’t a problem. Elam entertained both of them with amusing tales all the way to the social. “And you should have seen my friends’ faces when I showed up in Pennsylvania driving a car. One of my cousins asked if I stole it and if the sheriff’s department was in hot pursuit.”
Violet laughed. “They probably watched for flashing lights and blaring sirens during the entire visit.”
“How long did you stay in Mount Joy?” asked Nora, feeling a pang of homesickness for her sisters and grandparents back in Pennsylvania.
“About a month. That was enough of a taste. It’s sure more crowded and more expensive than I remembered. A man could go through plenty of money eating out in Lancaster.”
“It’s a good thing there are no restaurants in Paradise. A person won’t go broke at the local diner in Sturgeon.” Violet glanced at Nora over her shoulder.
“You said a mouthful, Miss Trask.” Elam took another cookie from Violet’s basket. “And these are the best I’ve ever tasted.”
“What about Nora’s?” Violet sounded nervous as she fidgeted on the seat. Nora had insisted Violet sit up front because the backseat would be difficult with leg braces and crutches.
“Those would be the best molasses cookies I’ve ever tasted.” Elam met Nora’s eye in the rearview mirror as she leaned forward.
“You could get hired as a diplomat if the job at Gingerich Lumber doesn’t work out.”
“The lumberyard will work out just fine.” He winked at her as they pulled up the stone driveway of the hosting family. Buggies were lined up in the grass on both sides. His would be the sole car. Elam parked as close to the picnic tables as possible, jumped out, and then ran to the passenger side. “Your amusement awaits, ladies,” he said, offering Violet a hand.
“Are you sure you don’t need your wheelchair?” whispered Nora. Rosanna Trask had insisted on stowing it in the trunk.
“Absolutely not. I’m headed to those seats there.” She pointed with one of her crutches. “Go take a stroll with Elam. I’ll be fine.”
“No, we’re sticking together.” Nora moved at Violet’s pace across the lawn, but Elam had to keep stopping while they caught up. Long legs were a problem she did not have. After Violet lowered herself to a bench, Nora took both baskets of cookies from Elam. “Try to stay out of trouble while I take these to the buffet table.”
“You are truly a nice person, putting up with the extra work.” Elam materialized at her side.
Nora frowned. “What extra work? Violet is a sweetheart. I’m lucky to have her friendship. Besides, she needs to get out more.”
Shouts from the volleyball game drew their attention. They paused in the grass to watch the spirited competition for a few minutes. “Care to play, Nora?” he asked. “I see you wore appropriate shoes.”
He pointed at the scuffed sneakers she’d brought from Pennsylvania, which she hadn’t worn even once in Maine. “I don’t intend to sweat after standing near a hot oven all day. You go ahead while Violet and I judge whether you’re any good. You’d better score plenty of points, Mr. Detweiler.”
“Your wish is my command.” Elam swept off his hat and bowed low.
Nora caught a faint scent of spicy aftershave and noticed he’d tied his long hair back with a thin strip of leather. But he still hadn’t cut a fringe of Amish bangs. After delivering their cookies, she returned to Violet with her heart pounding and her palms clammy. Why did he affect her so? His presence made her giddy and nervous at the same time.
“I’m the reason you moved to Missouri, right?”
She had avoided answering his question truthfully. He was the reason she came to Missouri. Whether that decision had been wise or foolish remained to be seen.
“A penny for your thoughts,” said Violet as Nora sat down.
“I’m thinking I’m hungry already. Let’s hope this game is worth postponing supper for.” They shifted the bench to improve their view as Elam took a spot on the disadvantaged side—the one with more females. To their amazement, he blocked serves, scored points, and assisted weak hits that otherwise wouldn’t have cleared the net. His months spent logging timber, after years of farming, had made him muscular and agile. Warmth began to slowly build in Nora’s belly as she watched him bend and stretch—sensations totally inappropriate for a first date.
After twenty minutes of the game, Nora scrambled to her feet. “Let’s eat. Shall I fix your plate and carry it back?”
Violet shook her head. “No way. You’ll probably load me up with succotash and pickled beets like my mamm. Because my parents aren’t around, I want nothing but burgers and junk food.” She hobbled to the buffet, surprisingly adept with her crutches.
“In that case, no health food for either of us.” Nora carried their plates while Violet loaded them up with an assortment of treats.
They had only taken their first bite when Elam appeared. “Save me a seat with you two lovelies. I’m always ready to eat.” He sprinted toward the barn.
“Something or someone must be more fascinating than a volleyball game.” Violet winked at Nora before attacking a pile of potato chips.
“Apparently so.” As other people joined their table, Nora worried what subjects Elam might bring up in conversation. She hoped he wouldn’t reveal her missteps back in Harmony. But when he returned with a plate piled high, he concentrated on eating, not revealing secrets from Nora’s past.
Violet nudged her under the table. “When do you suppose he ate last?” she whispered.
Nora giggled behind her hamburger, but her laughter faded as she watched him. He devoured the meal as though starving. He’d joked about being close to eviction. Could he also be out of grocery money? Is so, why had he bought all of those cookies at Grain of Life? She waited until he finished his meal before asking the questions she’d been holding in since he came to the bakery. “Where else did you stop after leaving Lancaster?”
Elam dabbed his mouth with a napkin and crumpled it into a ball. “I saw sights you would have loved, Miss King. I left the freeway at Wheeling, West Virginia, and followed a road along the Ohio River. It was slow going even in a car, but I saw such beautiful countryside. Lush, green, and fertile—the river must overflow often enough to deposit nutrients back into the bottomlands.”
“Spoken like a true farmer.” The young man across the table raised his soda can in salute.
“Former farmer,” he said, stretching out his hand. “Elam Detweiler.”
“Josh Shelter.” The two men shook hands.
“Wher
e did you sleep along the way?” asked Violet. “In hotels?”
“Couldn’t afford them, but there were town parks along the river. I would spread my sleeping bag under the stars, right on the grassy levee. And if you looked hungry enough, Englischers would share their picnic supper.”
Nora felt pity for a man forced to rely on handouts from strangers. But Elam viewed the trip as some grand adventure—anything different equaled something desirable.
“It took me three days to reach Maysville, Kentucky, where the road left the river and ventured inland.” Elam closed his eyes as though reliving a pleasant memory. “But before I did, I saw an old-time paddle wheel boat bound for Cincinnati. I would love to ride on one before they fall into the scrap heap.”
“Lots of Plain folks have settled in Kentucky,” interjected the man who had introduced himself as Josh.
“That’s true. I drove through several communities. Each district pointed me in the direction of the next—with free food and haylofts or back porches to sleep on.” Elam drained his glass of iced tea and rose to his feet with the grace of a bobcat. “Why don’t I bring back a plate of desserts to share? You’re in for a treat if you sample either Nora’s or Violet’s cookies.” He directed this praise toward Josh.
Nora stared as he walked away, his back muscles bunching under the thin cotton of his shirt. What a different experience his trip had been compared to her cross-country bus ride. What would it be like to be married to such an adventurous man? Suddenly, the sharp sting of a pinch grabbed her attention. “Ouch!” Nora complained, rubbing her arm.
“I said, how do you like your new job at the bakery?” whispered Violet in her ear. “Don’t worry. He’s coming back. You won’t die of loneliness.”
