by Laura Hilton
“I’ll wait until you have a ride, then. Or till you accept one from me.” Judging by the obstinate set of Joshua Esh’s jaw, refusing was no longer an option.
She pulled in a deep breath and then nodded. “I guess I can let you drive me. Danki.” It hurt to say that. If only he had asked her first, because he wanted to, instead of asking out of a sense of obligation.
Annie followed him outside and then climbed in the backseat of the buggy behind Rachel and Joshua. His was an open buggy, not one for courting, and the two sat with a good foot between them—a respectable distance. Annie reached for the folded quilt on the seat beside her and pulled it close, wanting the comfort. The security.
Joshua glanced over his shoulder at her. “Cold?”
“Nein.” It was a bit breezy. The scent of autumn filled the air, though only a few leaves had started to turn. There was no good reason for wanting the quilt, other than her insecurity. She wrapped her arms around it, cuddling it like she would one of Mamm’s quilted throw pillows when company came and she wanted to hide but had to be physically present. Not that the pillow hid her, but it made her feel more at ease. And this quilt certainly wouldn’t hide her, either. She glanced down at it. Maple leaf pattern. It was beautiful.
Joshua turned around once more and studied her, open concern in his hazel eyes. The horse snorted and tossed its head, as if to show its impatience to be off. Annie squirmed, again wishing someone else had asked to take her home. Well, someone had. Luke. She winced, her stomach suddenly churning. An ex-beau or Joshua and his girl of the day: a lose-lose decision.
“I’ll take Rachel home first, then you,” Joshua said. He clicked his tongue to the horse.
“Nein, take me home first.”
Joshua shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. We’ll kum to Rachel’s haus before yours. If I take you home first, I’ll have to backtrack to drop her off and then again on the way to the haus where I’m staying.”
Annie frowned. “But—”
“I hate backtracking.”
She pulled the quilt closer, crossing her arms over it.
Joshua glanced at Rachel before looking ahead at the road again. They hadn’t spoken, but Annie was sure they’d communicated nonverbally. Probably a mutual acknowledgment of the unwelcome third party in the buggy. She’d never know.
“We got a lot done at the Kropfs’ haus last week, ain’t so?” Rachel turned sideways in the seat so that she faced Joshua and could see Annie. “You did a great job painting in the kitchen, Annie. It looks so much brighter with a fresh coat of white paint. Those brown water stains on the wall were nasty.” She glanced at Joshua. “You were working upstairs, ain’t so? Helping the other men put on a new roof?”
He nodded.
Annie sank into the backseat, glad that Rachel filled the silence with chatter. But still, she didn’t need any more proof that her presence had put an awkward spin on things. What would she have to say to Joshua after Rachel was gone and they were alone? She supposed she could apologize for ruining their evening. She studied Joshua’s profile when he glanced at Rachel, wishing for the thousandth time that he’d asked to take her home because he wanted to. She hugged the quilt even closer.
Rachel still babbled nonstop. “I heard that the floorboards upstairs were rotted, too.”
“Jah. We had to be careful where we stepped. Should be as gut as new now.”
“I think it’s a shame that Amos Kropf let his haus fall into such a bad shape. Don’t you?”
Joshua voiced appropriate responses to her comments, and, soon, their conversation was a vague drone in Annie’s ears. Yet, all too soon, he pulled the buggy into the drive that led to Rachel’s haus. It was a tidy stone place that looked hardly big enough to house her entire family. It didn’t need to, of course, since all of her siblings but one were grown and married. Her younger brother, Esau, was fourteen, so this was the last year Annie would have him in class. He was one of the big buwe, but he hadn’t caused her any trouble. He was as sweet as his sister. She’d actually miss him, she realized.
“I’ll be right back.” Joshua glanced at Annie, then vaulted out of the buggy and came around to walk Rachel to the door. They talked too quietly for Annie to make out what they said. All she heard was the muffled sound of voices.
The horse raised its tail and made a deposit. Annie glanced away, readjusting the quilt on her lap.
Too soon, Joshua was back. He climbed into the buggy and twisted around to look at her. “Move up here by me. I’m not a chauffeur.”
“Jah, that’s exactly what you are.”
He hesitated, studying her. “Either that or a taxi service, jah?”
She smiled, in spite of herself. “Jah.”
He grinned back. “Get up here.”
After a moment, she laid the quilt where she’d found it, smoothing the wrinkles. Then, she climbed over the buggy seat, settling in next to him. Closer to him than Rachel had sat. “Danki for taking me home.”
His grin liquefied her knees. Good thing she wasn’t standing. Had he smiled at Rachel that way? He reached for the brake, released it, and clicked his tongue. Seconds later, they were back on the road.
“Did you have fun at the singing?”
“Jah.” It had been okay, until Luke had shown up.
“Gut. You haven’t kum to many singings in the past few weeks. Just on occasion.”
He’d noticed her? Annie fought the urge to smile. “You’re new in town. I go to all the singings. Well, almost all of them.” She had missed a good number after Mamm’s accident.
“I’m not that new. I’ve been here since the end of June. Four months. And I would have noticed if you were there all the time. Believe me.”
He’d noticed her enough to miss her? Then, why hadn’t he asked…?
“Sorry I tagged along on your ride with Rachel.”
He glanced at her. “I don’t mind giving you a ride. It’s a pleasure. As for ruining the evening with Rachel, don’t worry. I might decide to visit her later this week.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
Annie’s heart sank. She leaned back in the seat, shifting away from him as far as she could. Not that she’d been sitting indecently close. She did have a reputation to uphold. Such as it was.
He glanced at her again. “So, heard that you are meeting with the school board on Monday to discuss some things.”
Tomorrow. She shut her eyes briefly. “News does get around.”
“Heard you rented a van to take the students on a field trip to a Civil War battlefield. Without permission.”
She fought the urge to bow her head in shame. Instead, she held steady, tightening her lips, glad that he didn’t have any kinner in school and would have no reason to attend the meeting.
But then, he lived at the haus where the meeting would be held. With Luke’s family.
Jah, he’d be there, to witness her humiliation firsthand.
Chapter 2
Joshua led the big draft horse pulling the wagon toward the field. Henry Schwartz had told him the horse’s name was High Clyde—Hi-C, for short. Joshua’s chore for the day was to start clearing rocks from the south pasture in preparation for planting next spring. The boulders had to be hauled away to another spot, where they would lie free for the taking. Someone would likely use them to build a stone haus or a fence. He worked alone, since Henry and Luke had gone to the leather shop, a place Joshua wasn’t welcome. The family business. He didn’t care much about leather, but it still galled him that he’d been excluded from the shop since his arrival in Seymour.
He didn’t really need to find a job here, except for the desirability of having cash. After all, he was just killing time, unlike the ten other men who’d come to Missouri in the swap. But, to avoid suspicion, and to keep from appearing lazy, he’d figured he should probably do something productive.
The wagon wheels jolted over the rocks. Afraid of breaking a wheel, Joshua released the reins and started filling the wagon with ro
cks—a task that quickly appeared endless. It looked as if God had taken all of the rocks left over at the creation of the world and dumped them in the Ozark Mountains.
After he’d worked a couple of hours, he took off his straw hat and wiped a sleeve across his brow. Still morning, and already it promised to be a hot day. He wasn’t used to the end of October being so warm. Sometimes, in Pennsylvania, they’d already had their first snow by now.
As he replaced his hat, he glanced across the field toward the south side of the neighboring farm. The Beilers’. Several men in unusual clothing worked around the odd-looking wooden boxes in the field, but there was no other sign of activity anywhere on the farm. He’d noticed the boxes before but had never seen anyone near them. He’d asked Henry about them once, and he’d told him what the boxes were called, but the term escaped him right now. Joshua hadn’t wanted to appear dumb in front of his host, so he hadn’t pressed for more information.
He figured Annie was at school right now. The schoolhaus wasn’t visible from this vantage point, which was probably just as well. He’d be distracted by gawking at the pretty teacher. None of his teachers had been like Annie, as far as he could remember. Otherwise, he would have been a straight-A student, as well as the teacher’s pet. He would have been more than happy to arrive early to help build the fire and to stay late to clean the chalkboards—anything to be in her presence.
The image came to mind of Annie gathering straw in the corner of the Stoltzfuses’ barn last night. He chuckled at the memory. And then, she’d called him her chauffer…he sure had enjoyed their banter. Annie could give as good as she got. He gathered a few more rocks and carried them to the wagon.
As much as he wanted to ask Annie to go home with him after the next singing, he thought maybe he’d better wait. Keep an eye on her. With Luke back in the picture, there was always the chance he and Annie would pick up where they’d left off. After all, Annie had already been baptized into the church—the first step toward marriage. And, at the breakfast table this morning, the Schwartz family had talked as if Luke’s prolonged absence hadn’t changed anything. They’d even discussed how he could make up the membership classes he’d missed by joining another district and then marry Annie this wedding season, as originally planned. Of course, the bishop would have the final say.
Annie’s feelings hadn’t factored into the conversation. Maybe everyone assumed she would, of course, go along with their plans to resurrect the relationship. After all, she’d already agreed to marry Luke before he’d jumped the fence.
Joshua picked up a soccer-ball-sized rock and threw it harder than necessary into the back of the wagon. It landed with a satisfying thump. With a startled whinny, the horse took a couple of steps. Joshua drew in a deep breath. “Sorry, Hi-C.” He turned and lifted another rock, then paused, again noticing the activity on the other field, where those strange-looking men worked.
Ach, his curiosity was getting the best of him. He was glad Hi-C was rein-trained, so that he could just drop the reins to the ground and the horse would stay. He was also glad he worked alone. He wouldn’t have to feel guilty about abandoning his job and wandering off. He tossed the rock into the wagon and headed across the fields toward the activity at the Beilers’ farm.
Joshua called out a greeting, but no one immediately responded. Maybe they hadn’t heard him. A strange buzzing sound filled the air, like a bunch of miniature airplanes. Ach, beekeepers. That would explain the suits with the pant legs tucked into high boots, the heavy gloves, and the netted masks covering their heads.
He started to turn away, not wanting to interrupt their work or to risk getting stung, but the men looked up before he made his escape. Joshua took off his straw hat and waved away a few bees. “I don’t mean to be nosy.”
“Ach, nein problem, Joshua. We’re beginning to collect the honey,” the younger man said. “A bit late. It’s normally done in September, but….” He shrugged.
“You’re welkum to watch,” the older man said. “There are extra coverings in the barn. We don’t want you to get stung. Bees notice dark-colored clothing, not this light stuff.” He turned to the younger man. “Aaron, take Joshua and get him set up. Danki.”
Joshua nodded and then glanced back at the pasture where Hi-C was waiting. He suspected he’d been sent out there just to give him something to do. If the Schwartzes had been really serious about wanting to turn that pasture into a field, they would have been out there working, too. As long as he had something to show for his time, he’d be fine.
And this would be an opportunity to get to know the Beilers better. Maybe find out a bit more about what made Annie tick.
It certainly wouldn’t hurt anything to get on her daed’s good side.
***
Later that evening, Annie gulped and looked around at the expressions of condemnation on the faces of the parents whose children she taught. They’d each had a chance to shoot accusations that ranged from petty grievances, such as the rail breaking off of the stairs—even though no one had fallen, and the board was responsible for maintenance—to complaints that she’d allegedly given one of the scholars a meat pie for lunch but had not offered anyone else anything. Meanwhile, the little girl who’d taken the pie food hadn’t had a bite to eat at the noon meal. So, of course, Annie had given her all she had—and gone hungry herself. Hardly grounds for dismissal. She’d explained away every issue as it was brought up, but she’d still felt the collective condemnation.
This next item on the table, though—she knew it could be serious. Her throat was dry, but she didn’t dare reach for the pitcher of water on the table, afraid she might choke on even the smallest sip.
When every parent had voiced his or her complaint about the infamous field trip, the oldest member of the school board, Samuel Brunstettler, studied her with eyes narrowed.
“What have you to say for yourself, Annie Beiler? Why would you take the scholars on a field trip, and to see a Civil War battlefield, of all places?”
He made it sound as if another destination might have been acceptable. But the meat of the matter was, she’d taken the students without obtaining their parents’ permission.
Annie shifted on the wooden chair but couldn’t find a comfortable position. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement in the doorway to the other room. Turning her head ever so slightly, she saw Joshua standing there, leaning against the doorframe. How long had he been watching? She hadn’t noticed amid the barrage of accusations. Now, it was impossible not to notice that his gaze was locked on her.
She swallowed and looked at Samuel Brunstettler. “We were studying American history. Wars are a big part of that, but they’re foreign to most of us, as conscientious objectors. I thought it would be worthwhile for them to see a battlefield up close. Wilson’s Creek isn’t that far away, and the war museum there is really interesting. I think the scholars learned a lot.”
“About fighting?” Samuel Brunstettler grunted. “About war?”
Annie shook her head. “The museum had some interactive displays about how both armies moved, but we mostly read about the generals and other officers who served during the war. We also walked around the grounds of the haus that was turned into a field hospital for the injured solders.”
“And you stressed what?” Seated across the table from Samuel Brunstettler, Bishop Sol fingered his beard and eyed her sternly. She wasn’t sure why he was present. He wasn’t on the school board. Maybe they figured she’d need some counseling after this.
They might not be wrong.
“I explained the two sides—the reasons they were fighting, why they believed what they did. We also discussed how they might have found an alternative way to deal with their differences instead of fighting and killing others. War, though we don’t sanction it, is a part of history. Even Amish history. Timothy Hostler served as a conscientious objector in the Second World War. He worked in a field hospital.” She dared a glance toward Joshua. He still stood in the doorway, l
ooking as nonchalant as before. Still watching her.
“Are you planning any more of these field trips we should know about?”
Annie shook her head, still wondering what the verdict would be about the battlefield outing. This could cost her job. Why hadn’t she considered that before she’d scheduled the trip?
“Nein. That was the only one.” Well, almost. She’d harbored hopes of taking her scholars to the Bass Pro Shop and its Wonders of Wildlife facility, which was located near the battlefield. A driver had mentioned the popular store and museum in a casual conversation with Annie, and it had piqued her interest, especially when he mentioned that it showcased wildlife native to Missouri.
