Little Wild Flower, Amish Romance/Amish Fiction/Christian Romance
Page 5
I glanced at my mother, unsure of whether I was in for a lecture or the surprise she looked eager to share.
“I’m in kind of a hurry, Mamma, I forgot to get the eggs outa the hen house this morning’.”
“I got them after you left for school, and you can have a few days off until your ankle heals. Now come sit down—this is important, Jane.”
I plopped down on the coffee table, realizing by the look on Naomi’s face, she didn’t think it proper to sit the way I was or address my mother the way I had. A twinge of worry passed through me, but only because I didn’t want her telling Elijah; so I stood up and spoke to my mother in a more polite tone.
To my surprise, she presented me with a long dress that resembled the one Hannah had worn the day before. I was so thrilled that I twirled with a limp around the room, holding the dress up against the front of me. I couldn’t wait to wear it tomorrow to school. Then I thought of Elijah, and wondered if he would approve.
Of course he would. This would give me just the opportunity I needed to show him how adaptable I was to his way of life.
Nadine entered through the front door at that time, and protested the dressmaking. Lucy and Rachel admired their new dresses, and Molly modeled hers for us. We all laughed, save Nadine, when Molly’s chubby little frame curtsied.
“I don’t wanna dress this way, mother,” Nadine said loudly.
Any time Nadine was angry, she referred to our parents as “mother” or “father” with disrespect in her tone. “Anna, you really shouldn’t let her speak to you in that tone,” Naomi said.
You tell her Naomi. Nadine needs her mouth washed out with soap.
“Nadine, you’ll get used to this sort of dress. Besides, all the girls at school will be dressed the same, so you won’t risk being teased.” My mother’s tone was gentle despite Nadine’s disrespectful undertones.
“Mam, please don’t make me wear that stuff.”
It always amazed me how quickly Nadine could change her tone when she wanted to win an argument. Sometimes she could be so conniving and disrespectful. I don’t know why my mother put up with it.
“I won’t force you, Nadine,” my mother said. “But I hope that you’ll reconsider.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. The fake fight they were having for the sake of Naomi was making me sick.
“You’re so spoiled and ungrateful, Nadine.”
“Stop yelling at me, Jane. Just because you happen to like your dress, doesn’t mean that I have to like mine. I just don’t like wearing dresses. I’m not Amish and I’m not gonna dress like I am.”
“You don’t like wearing dresses because you're really a boy, Nadine.”
“Take that back, Jane, or you’ll be sorry.”
“Stop trippin’, Nadine. Maybe you need to wear a dress. Since you cut your hair so short you look even more like Mitchell. The two of you could be twins.”
“Take it back Jane, or I’m gonna cut your hair in your sleep. Then we’ll see who looks like a boy.”
“I don’t have to take anything back, Nadine. I ain’t afraid of you. You need to be thankful instead of being so hateful. I like my new threads because it beats wearing Cousin Shelly’s old hand-me-downs any day.”
By this time we were shouting and I immediately regretted acting like that in front of Elijah’s mother, fearing she might tell him everything.
My mother stood between us. “Now, girls. Stop your bickering. I’m sure we can work this out somehow,” she said calmly.
Though I could see how annoyed my mother was, having her treat us with patience was something I was still getting used to. Back when she would drink, she’d usually hit us before we even got a chance to argue. But at this point, I wasn’t sure if the only reason she was holding back was because we had company. Either way, I was done listening to Nadine’s spoiled tantrum, when it was obvious to everyone how much my mother was trying to make amends.
Nadine ignored my mother’s plea for peace and stamped her feet as she ran off bawling. Naomi gave my mother a stern look, causing her to apologize for our un-lady-like tones.
****
In the morning, I heard Elijah arrive at the side door with Eli as I finished fastening the pale green calico dress that my mamma had so lovingly made for me. I had to admit that I appreciated my mother’s efforts at trying to make up for what she’d put us all through—it was really nice having a mother again.
The clip-clop of the horse’s hooves sounded louder than yesterday, but I didn’t think much of it. The house was quiet since my mother and younger siblings were still asleep, and my father had left for work nearly an hour before. When I opened the door, I discovered what all the commotion was from; there was another boy and another horse waiting with Elijah and Eli.
“Jane, you look wonderful gut in that dress,” Elijah said.
His face turned a slight shade of red as his eyes looked toward the ground.
“Ach, I really didn’t mean to encourage vanity or anything,” he said in his defense. “It’s just that you could almost pass for an Amish girl, jah!”
He stared at me for just a minute, then, seemingly caught himself.
“This is Benjamin Lapp. He’s Hannah’s older brother.”
Benjamin moved forward and tipped his hat at his introduction.
“I would like to take Nadine to school if she’ll allow me to escort her. Is she still here?” Benjamin asked slowly.
I let out a whoop, then, checked myself by placing a hand over my mouth. I was so excited at the possibility that I could be rid of Nadine, that I was certainly ready to hand her over to this other boy.
“If you’ll excuse me for a minute, I’ll go see if she’ll accept an escort today,” I said, using my best manners.
After excusing myself, I limped back into the house to look for Nadine. I found her checking her hair in the mirror above the piano in the front room. I stood waiting for a moment, then, approached her cautiously.
“There’s a boy outside with his horse. He’d like to escort you to school—his words, not mine,” I said, trying to keep from laughing.
“Elijah’s here for me?”
“You can wipe the smile off your face, because it ain’t Elijah—he’s here too, but he ain’t here for you,” I said harshly.
“Who is it, then?”
“He’s Hannah Lapp’s older brother, Benjamin,” I said.
“Is he cute?”
“Is that all you care about, Nadine?”
“Well, is he?” she insisted.
“I suppose he’s sorta cute, but Dad wouldn’t approve of you being so shallow. Besides,” I said. “He’s not nearly as handsome as Elijah.”
After making that statement, I realized how foolish it was to encourage Nadine to see Elijah in the same manner I did, so I quickly tried to retract my statement.
“You might think Benjamin’s a total fox. You know we usually have different taste in everything—why should our taste in how cute a boy is be any different?” I asked, trying to recover from my previously foolish remark.
Nadine eagerly took the bait and followed me to get a look at her would-be caller. I opened the door and she stuck her head out so I could introduce her to Benjamin.
“Uh—excuse me just a minute, I’ll be right back,” she said, then, ran abruptly into the house.
I wondered what she was up to, but kept silent as I allowed Elijah to boost me up onto Eli. It was a more difficult task than it had been the previous day, due to having to ride sidesaddle because of my long dress. Elijah then mounted the horse behind me, and we waited to see if Nadine would return. When she did, she had on the dress that Mam had sewn for her, instead of her favorite pair of worn trousers. My mouth hung open in amazement at the sight of Nadine in the pale blue dress with the starched, white collar.
It’s too bad Mamma ain’t awake to see this because she would really get a kick out seeing Nadine flaunting the dress she swore she’d never wear. I can’t wait ‘till she gets a good look
at her after school.
My mother had never been a morning person, but lately the increasing girth of her pregnancy kept her in bed most mornings until well after eight o’clock.
“I hope I didn’t take too much time in getting ready,” she said, giggling in Benjamin’s direction. “I’d enjoy having you escort me, thank you.”
Her sudden politeness was enough to make me ill, but I held my tongue, not wanting to cause her any more embarrassment—she was already doing a fine job of it herself. Benjamin helped her onto his horse as she pretended to be helpless. He didn’t get on the large beast with her, but merely clicked a command to the horse and walked along beside her.
Since Elijah and I were riding together, we went ahead of Benjamin and Nadine; which suited me just fine. I was certain I wouldn’t be able to hold my tongue any longer if I had to continue to listen to her schoolgirl giggling.
****
A dense fog filtered through the tall grass and intermittently scattered itself among the trail. The air was crisp, though not cold enough to give me a chill. Once again, I allowed myself to lean into Elijah’s chest as we rode along, though not as much as the previous day. I tried convincing myself I was just trying to keep warm—or maybe I was already creating an alibi in case Elijah questioned me.
Elijah startled me by touching the back of my hair. His hand caused me to shiver as he ran his hand underneath my hair and touched my neck softly. He lifted the back of my hair with his free hand and pushed it to the top of my head.
“Your hair would be beautiful up on your head. Maybe with little curls falling alongside your face,” he said.
His touch and his words made me feel suddenly very impulsive. I wanted him to kiss me, but I tried to keep my feelings in check. I preferred my hair down. Allowing it to fly in the breeze as the horse galloped along made me feel very free. I was, however, willing to wear it in a fashion that would please Elijah.
“Maybe I’ll pin it up tomorrow—just to see how it looks,” I said enthusiastically.
“Ach, you don’t have to do that for me. If you did, though, it would almost make you seem like you were my girl—more like my maidel.”
“There you go again, using foreign words I don’t understand,” I said, poking his ribs with my elbow.
He smiled. “It means a girl that’s not married. Which would make you available.”
I didn’t know what to say. I felt both confusion and excitement, but I didn’t dare question his meaning. I didn’t want him thinking I was incapable of comprehending his seemingly simple statement. He said I was his girl, and I would accept it at face value—even though it did sound cooler in a foreign language. I merely sighed and leaned a little further into his broad frame. Elijah cradled me gently in his arms as he slowed the horse a little. Then we veered off the trail and Elijah hopped off the horse to pick some wild flowers. When he handed them to me, I blushed slightly, then, fumbled a comment about getting to school before the bell rang. It seemed unreal to me that I could feel this deeply for a boy that I’d spent only a few days with, but I knew I already loved him.
As we trotted along, the schoolhouse came into view all too soon and I felt disappointment as he took my hand to ease me off of his horse. Benjamin and Nadine had beaten us there and were standing in the shade of the big oak tree in the schoolyard. They seemed to be keeping a joyful sort of conversation between them and this pleased me. Elijah led Eli around to face the opposite direction, as he promised me his return after school. His clutch on my hand lingered as our eyes locked, but I knew our time together had ended.
With the clanging of the bell that hung on the outside of the schoolhouse, he hopped back on Eli and rode away at a fast gallop. Hannah met me at the bench that we shared in the large schoolroom. Her kindness made me wonder why I’d been so reluctant in making friends when my family first moved to the rural community. I’d disliked the idea of leaving the friends I’d had all my life, and initially I resented my parent’s decision to move me so far away from civilization as I knew it. But looking at Hannah made me realize that the purity of this lifestyle was something I’d been craving all my life. Mitchell had been right in saying that I needed to put my energy toward the friends I now had instead of mourning over the ones I’d lost in the move. Things were moving fast and for the better, and I was beginning to feel grateful for the change in circumstances.
Hannah nudged me out of my thoughts.
“How are you getting along with my cousin, Elijah?” she asked.
I felt warmth rising in my cheeks as I thought about Elijah, but I tried desperately not to let it show.
“He’s every bit a gentleman—and he has a beautiful horse.”
I didn’t dare say any more for fear that I would give away my true feelings.
“My brother, Benjamin, says that you are all Elijah talks about these last few days. I think he wants to court you.”
My hands shook and my heart beat faster as she stared at me, waiting for a response. I wasn’t prepared to share my true feelings about Elijah with anyone yet.
“I’m afraid I can’t have a real caller ‘til I’m seventeen, and I’m only fifteen now,” I complained.
“When will you be sixteen?”
“Not ‘till next month—October fourth.”
Hannah gasped as though I’d said something wrong, and I looked at her, waiting for her to explain.
“Elijah’s birthday is October fourth,” she said with wide eyes.
“Wow, that’s cool. That means he turned one year old when I was born! That is so cool that we have the same birthday!”
Won’t he be surprised when I tell him after school?
****
The school day slowly came to an end, and I could hardly wait for my ride home with Elijah. When I walked out of the school, though, he wasn’t waiting for me outside like he had the day prior. Worry rose up in me that he’d changed his mind about his feelings. I sat down on the steep wooden steps that led into the school, determined that he would eventually show up. With a sigh, Hannah sat down beside me.
“You want me to wait with you?” she asked.
Nadine walked out of the school just then, and it seemed that she was looking for Benjamin also.
“Nadine can wait with me, but thanks for the offer, Hannah. I’ll try to come over later and work some on shucking corn if you’d like me to.”
“Sure could use the help. Denki. I’ll see you later if you have the time, Jane.”
She walked slowly toward the lane that led to her farmhouse. I wasn’t sure I wanted to shuck corn, but I was certain I wanted a friend, and I hoped I’d get the time to go over to her house and help her.
Nadine flashed me an impatient look, as though she wanted me to get rid of Hannah—and fast.
“What gives?” I asked.
“What do you mean—what gives?”
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “You know exactly what. What do you want?”
“Look, Jane, I know we haven’t been getting along too good lately, but I really need to talk to you.”
She was almost in tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“Benjamin asked if he could call on me,” Nadine blurted out. “What should I do, and how should I answer him?”
Nadine seemed to be in a sort of panic.
“Gee whiz, those Amish boys don’t waste any time, do they?”
“This one didn’t. What am I supposed to do, Jane?”
“Do you think you're interested? I mean, if you court him, you probably have to marry him when you're done.”
My words sounded final—even to myself, and Nadine looked a little pale after I said it.
“I’m confused. I mean, no offense, Jane, but yesterday I thought I wanted to steal Elijah from you, and then this morning when I saw Benjamin—oh, he’s so cute, and very nice. I even wore this dumb dress to impress him, but I don’t wanna marry anybody. Not right now, I’m only sixteen,” she said, sounding a little desperate.
“That’s not funny, Jane. Don’t tease me.”
“Don’t freak out at me for telling the truth. Just be cool and think about this logically as Dad would tell you to do.”
Nadine furrowed her brow. “This is a tough one to answer. He’s seventeen already, and he’ll be expecting me to marry him if I let him call on me.”
I leaned in toward her. “So what did you tell him?”
I was almost too curious to wait for an answer.
“I told him I couldn’t officially court for another ten days when I turn seventeen, hoping that would buy me a little more time to get to know him before I make up my mind. Do you think we’re too young and immature to get married so young like these Amish boys are used to?”