“This storm has done a lot of damage. The railroad bridge is out, and Highway Fifty-Nine is closed, leaving us to stay put until they can clear the roads. Once the Chase River is under control, we’re back in business.” Eli was starting to show signs of fatigue, rubbing his tired eyes.
“Rain from the hill country’s what got it coming down this way,” Mose added. “It was more than they expected.”
“There are a lot of buildings that will need repair.” Esther gathered the dishes, and Abby got up to help, thinking about her comment and how they didn’t have flood insurance or any insurance, for that matter. She knew they would rally together and help each other with the costs, but with so many homes hit by this disaster, she wondered how they would pull it off. That was a different way of thinking, one she wasn’t used to.
“We should try runoff irrigation,” Mose suggested, and Eli turned to him with interest.
“That would be a gut suggestion to tell the bishop. There is a gathering at the school haus later tonight. We should all go to see what the restoration plan is.”
Abby was glad to hear Eli include everyone. This affected every single person in the community, so it was only right. When she looked over at Mose, he was watching her. Dark circles under his eyes made her wish he could sleep for a while, but she knew better than to even suggest it. The answer would be no, there was too much to be done.
They examined the water damage and found most to be in the barnyard. The barn had barely been affected, and the house wasn’t too bad. The most damaged was the crop. All they could do was pray for a lot of sun and wind to dry up the moist ground.
There was a lot of work ahead of them, but the community meeting came first. Abby admired the way they worked on fixing the problems together instead of each family fending for themselves. If her own family would have had that kind of support, they may have had an easier time during the hardships they had endured.
Although Eli’s buggy was big enough for all of them, Mose asked if he could ride in the two-seater with Abby. Eli half smiled and nodded. But once they got in the buggy together, they were too tired to talk.
Mose slowed the horse and looked over at Abby. “What are you thinking about?”
“Jim. I’ve thought him from the time I left, but after all that’s happened, I’m worried.” She looked down in thought. “I’m so conflicted as to what to do.”
“What would your mamm have done? She seemed to know how to handle him, or is that too far gone for him to appreciate?”
Abby liked Mose’s question, but she couldn’t see Jim appreciating anything. He seemed to lose his love for anything, including Abby. “He is a bitter man, but he is still my father. I should find out if he’s all right.”
“If he needs anything, you know you can bring him here, although it doesn’t sound like he would.”
“No, he wouldn’t. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. He has ill feelings about the Amish.” That was watered down as far as Abby could make it. Jim had a hatred for the Amish, one Abby couldn’t understand. It was if they had done something awful to them, but what, Abby didn’t know.
“That’s hard to understand, but there must be some reason for it. He’s not the only one who doesn’t appreciate our ways. And then there are others who want to become Amish and appreciate our way of life. Like you.” He smiled and glanced at her, as if needing confirmation.
“For the most part, but then I think the Amish are cordial people, usually welcoming.” She remembered some people in town commenting on the Amish, how they weren’t always friendly, but now she could see that it was more that they kept to themselves. It was not to be rude—it was just their way.
“If you decide to see your daed, tell me and I’ll take you there.” He didn’t move his eyes away from her as he spoke, letting her know he meant what he said. But if Jim saw an Amish on his place, there would be trouble, so Abby didn’t respond.
When they drove up to the schoolhouse, they had a hard time finding a place to tether the horse. It seemed that the entire community was there. The bishop was talking about restoring the buildings and gathering the stranded animals. Mose offered his ideas about the runoff irrigation and building greenhouses to grow some crop. Once they delegated and found out what needs individual families had, they were sent their own way until the morning. It would be a long day, week, and maybe even months before they got back on their feet.
The bishop spoke to the minister, who stepped forward. “Before we depart, let’s say a prayer for Henry and his family.”
Abby watched every head bow as Rachel and her brothers went forward. The minister laid hands on them and prayed. His heartfelt words stirred Abby’s heart. No matter how tragic it was to lose Henry, this community would make it as bearable as possible.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MOSE RUBBED THE back of his neck as he tried to explain his idea about building a greenhouse to his daed. The stubborn old man was in a cross mood, so Mose didn’t know whether to push the subject or come back to it later. Everyone was still on edge, but they needed to start making things right on their own farm as well as helping others. This was a bigger disaster than they’d gone through before, so the protocol wasn’t clear.
“I don’t know the first thing about building a greenhouse,” Eli told Mose as Abby walked into the kitchen after a nice walk from Becca’s.
Mose waited for her to look over at him, and they both smiled, distracting Mose momentarily.
“You two are starting early.” She grinned and took a pan Esther had washed that needed drying.
“Danke.” Esther gave Abby a long look. “Mose thinks we should build a greenhouse to make up for some of the crop we lost.”
“So I hear. Why doesn’t Eli let Mose do it?” Abby continued to dry as Esther washed.
“That’s what Mose is trying to talk him into.” She shrugged. “I don’t know why he’s so stubborn. Anything new makes him jumpy.” Esther smiled and drained the sink. “I’m going up to the school haus later, if you want to go. Everyone’s bringing food for those who got hit hardest by the storm.”
Abby grinned. “Sure.”
Mose noticed Abby’s eyes flicker in thought. “What are you thinking about?”
She lifted her head and stared at him. “Oh, nothing…” She turned to Eli. “I hear you’re building a greenhouse.” She changed the subject, but that wouldn’t stop Mose from finding out what was on her mind.
“I guess so. I just hope Mose knows what he’s doing.” Eli scrunched his forehead with skepticism.
“What I don’t know, I’ll find out from Joe. But for now there are a couple of hauses that need tending to.” He turned to Abby. “Wanna go with me to the Lapps’?”
“What happened to their house?” Abby was already walking with him to the back door.
“Water damage. Probably need to replace some boards and whatnot. It shouldn’t take long, but there are plenty others that need repair.”
“See you at dinner then,” Esther told them more than asked. His mamm and daed still wanted them to be under watch, and Abby reluctantly relented, feeling she was too old to be told what to do.
“Jah, Mamm.” Mose opened the screen door for Abby to walk out first, and then looked down the path that led to their haus to see someone walking toward them. Mose took the stairs two at a time, and Abby followed. The tall trees created a large overhead of shade that made it hard to see their face.
“Who is that?” He heard Abby’s voice, but he was too intent on seeing who the person was to answer. Then it clicked. He knew who it was. He’d know that confident stride anywhere. As the person got closer, he walked slower, like he was trying to make out who Abby was.
“He looks like you.”
Abby was right about that, but only in appearance; they were nothing alike in any other way.
“Hallo, little brother.” Jake held out a hand that Mose reluctantly shook. “You look surprised.” He chuckled and looked over Mose’s shoulder at Ab
by.
She came around in front of Mose. “I’m Abby, a friend of Mose’s.”
Jake lifted his brows. “Just a friend?” Jake winked, and that was all it took.
Mose took the three steps between them at full force. He hit Jake in chest, knocking him to the ground. Mose stumbled, trying to keep his balance.
Abby moved her hand away from her mouth. “Mose!”
Mose regained his composure and bent over to catch his breath.
“That’s some greeting.” Jake stood and slapped Mose on the back, hard. “He’s missed me.” Jake told Abby. “A little protective of this one, are you?” He pointed to her.
“You never did know how to treat a lady. I’m sure it’s just gotten worse since you’ve been out there.” Mose nodded with his head to the lane Jake just walked down.
“I came to help, but you obviously don’t want me here. I’ll go to Henry’s.”
Mose shot off a prayer for patience so fast, he said it again just to give himself time before he said or did something he’d regret…again. “Fine.” He walked past Abby but couldn’t look at her. He knew he was being a jerk, but what Jake had done to his bride and unborn child was more than Mose could find in him to forgive.
He heard Abby talking to him and stopped.
“You can’t stay at Henry’s, Jake. No one’s seen him since before the flood.”
Mose heard Jake scoff and turned around to face him.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Danke for telling me, Abby,” Jake said to her, but he was staring at Mose.
“You were gonna let me go over to their house without telling me?” Jake shook his head then looked around the farm. “Looks like most of the corn made it through the storm. How’s the rest?”
“Cotton’s gone, at least most of it.” Mose couldn’t help but talk crop, even with him. “There’ll be enough to feed our family and make some on the corn.”
“Mose is building a greenhouse to help make up for the loss.” Abby seemed proud, but Mose didn’t appreciate her telling Jake. He’d figure out some way to make it negative.
Jake folded his arms over his chest and grinned. “A greenhouse. Really?” His sarcastic tone increased Mose’s distrust of him.
When Abby stepped forward, Mose did too. She placed her hands on her hips and locked eyes with his brother. “I don’t know you, Jake, but I don’t like the way you’re treating me or your brother, so I’m going to go get the horse and hitch up the buggy.” She brushed past him, making Jake smile, and walked to the barn.
Jake watched her go. “She seems like a bit of a spitfire.”
Mose shrugged, not sure what Jake meant, but sure he probably didn’t want to.
“So, there’s still no water running under that bridge between us.” Jake’s words stung. It was the Amish way to forgive, but how could he when someone was so incredibly wrong?
“I’m not going to lie to you, Jake. You should have done the right thing and stayed with Katie and Solomon.”
Jake nodded. “She named him after her dad?” He stuck his hands in his pockets and turned away.
Mose wasn’t sure what to say or do next. He’d let his anger get the best of him. Half of the problem was that Jake liked to pop up out of nowhere. A little warning would allow people to be prepared. When Jake was around, the pot was always stirring. Mose couldn’t help but wonder if he was there to help after the storm, or if he was there to make one.
Jake’s emotion over his son he’d never seen surprised Mose. It had been months since Jake left the community, leaving the mother of his child, and Mose figured he was gone for good. It wasn’t often Jake lowered his defenses. But that was because he was usually doing something out of order. No way was Mose going to let his guard down.
“You think it was easy to walk away? I’m not gonna stay some place where I have to follow a code that I don’t believe in. I am doing the right thing, for me.”
“Jah, for you.” Mose shook his head again. “You always did have a different way of thinking.”
“Just because I don’t follow silly rules that don’t matter to me doesn’t mean my faith is any less than yours.”
Mose didn’t like his words, but he understood. Jake was judging just like he felt judged. He hadn’t been in the community long enough after their move from Virginia to honestly know the differences they’d made versus the Old Order ways up north.
But there was a part of Mose that understood what Jake was referring to. Sometimes there was a reprimand from an elder over something Mose thought unimportant. There were ongoing discussions over indoor toilets, lamps instead of gas or battery, and limits on technology. It was still questionable for an Englisher to drive an Amish in their community. The new group by Beeville was more progressive, which meant even more decisions to make. For once in a very long time, Mose felt akin to his brother, and even though he didn’t completely agree with Jake, he understood his meaning. “Then why are you here?”
Jake lifted his head as the wind rustled the leaves on the tree above him. He studied the fields and house. “Just thought it was the right thing to do.”
“Is that all you brought with you?” Mose pointed to the duffle bag lying on the ground in front of Jake.
“It’s all I left with, and all I’m bringing back.”
Mose grabbed it and started for the house. When Jake didn’t follow, Mose turned around to see him staring, eyes squinted. “You coming?”
“Jah, I guess I am.” He didn’t try to make up the distance between them but kept a steady course to the house. It couldn’t be easy for him, but Jake had to have known that before he came.
Mose still wasn’t happy about him being there, no matter how good his intentions might be. And he really wasn’t looking forward to seeing the family’s reaction, especially Katie. “Is the flooding the only reason you came back?”
Jake was silent so long Mose wondered if he heard him. “No, I wanted to check in on the baby.”
“Almost a year old.”
“Yeah, I know.”
As they walked in the back door, Mose had second thoughts. Maybe he should have had Jake lie low until he could prepare the family that he was there. But knowing Jake, he wouldn’t want to wait. He’d be gone before they knew it, anyway.
“We have a visitor.” Mose laid the duffle bag on the floor in the kitchen and waited for the fireworks.
Mamm had her hands full of hamburger for a dish she was making for lunch. “I haven’t put up the blueberry pancakes from breakfast yet.”
Daed downed the rest of his coffee, looked over to them, and then sat back in his chair. “Well, I’ll be.”
Mamm turned to see what caught Daed’s attention. She dropped the meat in a pan and wiped her hands on her apron. “Jake, we weren’t expecting you.” She stumbled over her words, worried about what his daed would say more than why Jake was there.
“What are you doing here, son?” Daed’s tone was difficult to read. His wide-eyed expression was almost as intense as Mamm’s.
Jake took a step forward into the room. “I heard about the flooding around these parts and thought I’d come down to lend a hand.” He was less confident around Daed, but he held his composure. “And I’d like to see Solomon.”
“We call him Sol,” Daed corrected him quickly. His pride for the youngster’s name was evident.
Jake smiled slightly at Daed’s reaction. “Sorry to hear about Henry.”
“Jah, it’s a sad time for the Kings, with no parent to guide them.” Mamm shook her head slowly but still held tight to a rigid posture, uncomfortable, as were the rest of them.
“They’re all grown by now. They’ll get along.”
Mose cringed inwardly. He’d known that as soon as Jake joined in the conversation, something would start.
“What would you know about that, with you being gone?” Daed didn’t blink, waiting for Jake’s response. “You don’t know this place or your own son.”
The conflict between them started later than
Mose had expected, but he knew it would come. The disappointment Daed felt concerning his eldest son would not change, couldn’t change. Daed had disowned Jake in his mind, and nothing could alter that. Jake had done the unspeakable by leaving his family after a baptism.
Jake reached for his bag. “I think it best that I be going.”
“Nee.” Mamm moved forward and looked at Daed and then to Jake. “Jake, you’ll stay here.”
“Jah, I don’t want you bothering the Yoders. It’s up to Katie if she wants to see you.” Daed stood to his full height, which was a couple inches taller than Jake, and walked out the back door. His boots sounded louder, and the screen door hit the frame with a sharp slap as he walked away.
Mose wrestled with his emotions. He’d felt the same way his parents had when he first saw Jake, but after seeing all he’d already been through, Mose wondered whether he was regretting coming back yet. If he wasn’t, he probably would be. He caught Jake’s eye and let out a sigh. “You sure you want to stay here?”
“I expected this, but it isn’t the hardest part.”
“What if Katie doesn’t want to see you?” That could be a definite possibility. She was as stubborn as he was.
“Then at least I tried.”
“Is that the real reason you came back?”
“When I heard how bad the storm had hit you all down here, I had a strong conviction to come back whether I wanted to or not.”
“Sounds like seeing Sol came in second.” Mose had never been able to discern Jake’s true intentions, even with something of this magnitude, and he wanted to know the truth.
“It’s been hard knowing I have a baby and not knowing anything about him. I didn’t even know if it was a boy or girl.” He grabbed the duffle bag. “The storm was an excuse to come see my boy.” And with that he marched up the stairs, leaving Mose standing in the kitchen alone.
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