Promised to Another

by Laura Hilton

  “This is usually done in late summer,” Isaac said. He stood beside Joshua, supervising. “Now, we have to be careful to leave enough for the bees to feed on to make it through the winter, so we won’t take as much honey as we normally would. Three strings per comb will be enough to secure it. Then, you put it in the box. You probably didn’t know that the bees must visit two million flowers to produce just one pound of honey. They work hard, ain’t so?”

  Joshua nodded. “Interesting.” He looked up and saw Annie crossing the fields on her way home from school. Did her way of walking betray her reaction to the school board’s decision? Joshua was not yet aware of the conclusion they’d reached, but he’d seen Samuel Brunstettler driving his buggy toward the schoolhaus after the scholars had started for home, and he’d assumed he was going to deliver the news. Yet her posture told him nothing.

  Beside him, he sensed Isaac stiffen. The older man put down the frame he’d been holding and looked in Joshua’s direction, but their eyes didn’t meet. “She’s worried about her job.”

  Joshua nodded. “Jah.”

  “You were at the meeting last nacht?”

  “Nein.” He studied the ground at his feet. “Well, jah, I eavesdropped a little. Just long enough to find out what she’d done to get everyone so upset. None of my teachers was ever put on probation.” Though some of them probably should have been.

  “Ach. Silly stuff, really. People, they just like to complain about something, anything. Annie joined the church without taking much time for a rumschpringe. She knew she wanted to be a church member, so she passed up a lot of opportunities the other teens took advantage of. Her mamm and I were thrilled at the time. But, in hindsight, she should have taken a longer rumschpringe—experienced the world a little—because, when she went running around with her friends to Englisch places after joining the church, she disobeyed the Ordnung, and so she had to kneel and confess before the church. Some parents with school-age kinner were worried that such a ‘worldly’ teacher would be a bad influence. That field trip was not such a gut idea. You see how protective bees are of their honey. Parents are the same way with their young kinner.”

  “Have you ever been there? To the battlefield?”

  Isaac shook his head. “Nein, but she told me about it.”

  Joshua turned to the haus and watched Annie climb the porch steps.

  “Care for some tea or koffee?”

  Joshua attempted a nonchalant shrug. “Jah. Sounds gut.”

  “We might even get something sweet. Think my frau mentioned wanting to make custard today.”

  Joshua’s stomach rumbled in response, and the older man chuckled. “Let’s finish up here so we can enjoy it.”

  ***

  Annie washed up at the kitchen sink and then got out five potatoes to peel for supper. Preparing for the evening meal had fallen on her shoulders ever since Mamm’s accident in early September, when she’d been thrown from the buggy. Her recovery had been steady but slow, and she was still in a lot of pain and tired quickly, especially as the afternoons wore on. After working with the home therapists, nurses, and aide, usually right after lunch, Mamm took to her bed, worn out. She’d nap awhile, or sit in the living room and alternate between sleeping and sewing, mending, or reading.

  In the mornings, Annie’s sister, Cathy, did the laundry and helped with the baking before fixing herself a light lunch and going to work at the Amish grocery store for the afternoon. She came home about the time Annie was ready to serve dinner.

  Annie spread out the daily newspaper on the countertop nearby and then reached for the peeler. She’d made just one cut in the first potato when the door opened. Daed and Joshua came in.

  Annie stepped aside so that Daed and then Joshua could wash up at the sink. While Joshua scrubbed his hands, Daed cut two generous slices of the custard pie Mamm had made and set them on the table. “Care for a slice, Annie?” he asked.

  “Nein, danki.” She tried not to stare at Joshua. “You’re going to ruin your appetite.” She hoped neither one noticed the slight breathiness in her scolding voice.

  Daed chuckled. “Ach, Joshua and I are just having dessert first, ain’t so? Is there any hot water for tea?” He looked over his shoulder at Joshua. “Or do you prefer koffee?”

  “Tea would be gut.”

  “I’ll get it.” Annie put the peeler down and pulled two mugs out of the cabinet, followed by a selection of tea bags and the sugar bowl, all of which she brought to the table. “Have a seat.”

  “You’ll join us, ain’t so?” Daed’s chair scraped on the floor.

  “I need to get supper ready.”

  “That’ll wait a few minutes. Get a mug for yourself.”

  Annie shrugged and retrieved another one. With the other hand, she carried the teakettle. She filled each mug with steaming water, set the teakettle back on the stove, and returned to sit down.

  Joshua and Daed had already selected their tea. Annie chose her favorite, a black tea flavored with ginger and peach, and ripped the package open. She dipped the teabag into the water and studied Daed. It was unusual for him to come inside the haus for a break, especially just before supper. “What’s up?”

  Daed leaned back in his chair. “Does something have to be ‘up’ for a man to have a slice of pie and a cup of tea?”

  A grin played at the corner of Joshua’s mouth. He pulled his teabag out of the darkened water in his mug and laid it on the edge of his plate.

  Annie studied them both, confused. Then, she threw up her hands. “You saw Samuel Brunstettler drive by, jah? And you want to know what happened, ain’t so?” When she lowered her arms, she hit the funny bone of her left arm on the edge of the chair. Her eyes watered from the sharp pain.

  Daed shrugged and set his teabag on the side of his plate, too, then picked up his fork. “Ach, he came by?”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “You know he did.” She inhaled deeply and rubbed the tingling spot on her elbow. “I’m not allowed to take the scholars on any field trips without prior approval. I’m still under probation. They decided to show grace.”

  Daed nodded as he sliced into the flaky crust. “Gut. Glad to hear that.”

  “Me, too.” Joshua followed her daed’s example. He slid a piece of pie into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully for a few moments. Then, he swallowed and glanced at Annie. “Ser gut. Did you make this?”

  She shook her head. “Mamm and Cathy do the baking in the mornings. Cathy makes a much better pie crust than I do.”

  “Ach, yours are okay,” Daed said with a grin. “Cathy just bakes more than you do. You’ll feel more confident when you have to do it regularly.”

  Annie shrugged. “Maybe so.” She was conscious of Joshua’s gaze resting on her. Did he think she couldn’t cook? She took a sip of her tea, testing it, then stood. “I really do need to get supper started. Are you going to join us tonight, Joshua?” She silently willed him to say “Jah.”

  He hesitated, glancing at Daed. “Nein, I think not.”

  Daed shook his head. “You’re welkum to join us. You’re earning it, anyway. I planned to give room and board to one of the men in the swap, until my frau was injured. What are your sleeping arrangements at the Schwartzes’? Do they have room for you now that Luke’s come back?”

  Annie stilled. Had Daed suspected her crush on Joshua? Did he think maybe having him under the same roof would bring them together? It had worked for Annie’s best friend, Becky Troyer, after all. She’d be marrying Jacob Miller in five short weeks.

  Joshua’s eyes slid downward, and he studied the fork in his hand. “Ach, they emptied a drawer and provided a cot. That’s gut enough.”

  “Can’t be very comfortable. I can do better. I have a spare bed. A whole spare room, actually, now that I have only three kinner left at home. Just the two girls and Aaron.”

  And Aaron would be getting married in a few months. Daed didn’t tell Joshua that.

  Having Joshua under the same roof…would that make the
m kind of like siblings?

  That was the last thing she wanted.

  Chapter 6

  Joshua stared at Isaac, speechless, before his gaze darted to Annie. She seemed frozen to the spot, her mouth gaping open, her eyes fixed on her daed. She didn’t display enthusiasm about the prospect—but then, he didn’t see signs of repulsion, either. The only clear emotion he could read on her face was shock.

  The same expression he probably wore.

  Living under the same roof as the girl he was most attracted to…that did appeal. But, on the other hand, so did the ability to keep an eye on Luke.

  He’d rather keep his eye on the prize, not the competition.

  But wouldn’t it be better to keep his distance and not tempt things? If Annie did marry Luke—they had been promised to each other, after all—then it would mean heartbreak for him if he’d ended up falling in love with Annie.

  On the other hand, living with the Beilers, he might be able to win her away from Luke.

  Joshua drew in a breath and glanced back at Isaac. A smile played around the edges of the older man’s mouth. And Joshua thought he saw a gleam in his eyes. Ach, matchmaking. A favorite pastime of the Amish. But Annie was taken. Or was she?

  After what felt like an awkward period of silence, Joshua rubbed his chin, trying not to squirm under the scrutiny of Isaac and Annie. Did he really want to live with a blatant matchmaker? That would get uncomfortable. Fast.

  Unless they were in agreement with each other.

  Isaac looked away. Finally. “We can talk to the Schwartzes before we make a decision. But you’re still welkum for dinner.”

  “Danki.” But he wasn’t sure whether to stay or not.

  “What’s for dinner, Annie?” Isaac picked up his mug and took a sip of his tea.

  “Beef stew. I thought I’d make corn bread to go with it.”

  “Sounds gut.” Isaac smiled at her, then finished off his pie. “About ready to get back to work, Joshua?”

  “Jah.” He swallowed the last of his tea and stood. “Stew sounds gut. Maybe I will stay for dinner.”

  “Gut.” Isaac patted his shoulder. “Excuse me a moment. I’ll be right back.” He headed into the other room.

  Annie sucked in a deep breath. “You can’t stay.”

  Joshua raised his eyebrows at her. “Excuse me?” She was taking back Isaac’s dinner invitation?

  “Daed’s offer for you to move in. You can’t stay here.”

  “Ach, I’m sure he had his reasons for asking me.” Joshua shrugged.

  “Jah, sure he does. Aaron is getting married. Daed thinks he can’t be without a bu at home.” She tangled her hands in her apron. “It’d just be you and me and Cathy here, then, and I don’t want you to be my brother.” Her face turned a pretty shade of pink.

  “We wouldn’t be siblings.” About the farthest thing from it.

  “I also think Daed has matchmaking on his brain.”

  So, she’d caught that, too.

  “Cathy is seeing someone,” she went on. “And we both know you don’t want me.”

  “We do?” Joshua frowned. The exact opposite was true. Thing was, he needed to figure out why she believed differently. And how she’d reached that conclusion. “And just how do we know that?”

  She waved her hand dismissively. “Ach, I’m not going to spell out all the reasons. You know them better than I do, anyway.”

  ***

  She didn’t want to see him leave to go visit Rachel or whoever happened to be his girl-of-the-day. And, if they lived under the same roof, he’d never get around to asking her out again.

  Not that she planned on accepting another ride home from singing, anyway.

  She’d just like to be asked.

  Joshua picked up his empty mug, glanced inside, and strode over to the stove. He lifted the teakettle and refilled it, then walked back to the table, picked up his used tea bag, and dunked it into the hot water. “Perhaps, you’re the one who doesn’t want me.”

  He thought he was a mind reader, did he? She gazed at his tea bag, floating on the surface of the water in his mug, and felt a sudden kinship with it. She was in hot water, too.

  “After all, we both know that you’re Luke’s girl,” Joshua added.

  She couldn’t identify the tone in his voice. Something dark. She shuddered. “I’m as much Luke’s girl as I am yours.” Translation: Not at all. She glanced up at Joshua, and something flashed across his face. Pain? He winced.

  “And that’s why the Schwartz family has your upcoming wedding all planned out, ain’t so?”

  The way he said it made it sound like impending doom. As if marrying Luke would prove fatal.

  Maybe it would.

  There was no “maybe” about it. Not with Luke’s drinking. His sudden bouts of violence. His hot temper. Anybody else would be a better choice.

  But no one else wanted her.

  Joshua stepped nearer, just enough to cause her slight discomfort, but not close enough to be in her face. “Maybe that’s why Luke felt the need to warn me to stay away from you.”

  Annie caught her breath. “But…but things have changed. Luke left. I have nein guarantee he’ll stay. And I’m…I’m….” And she was attracted to Joshua.

  “Maybe it’d do you both gut if I did move in here,” Joshua mused. “Luke wouldn’t presume to tell me where to go, what to do, who I can or can’t see. And you would see that there are men other than Luke.”

  She knew there were other men. The problem was, they didn’t notice her.

  His comment the night of the singing about being “the thorn in her side” came to mind. He was more right than he knew. Anger flooded through her. “You just think you’re God’s gift to women, ain’t so, Joshua Esh? Kum down here to Missouri, and you’ve got all the girls eating out of your hand—all except for me—and you just can’t stand that. I wish you’d go back to Pennsylvania.” Realizing she’d raised her voice, she snapped her mouth shut. Mamm was in the next room, and she wouldn’t tolerate her being unkind.

  His jaw clenched tight, and Annie could see he was trying hard not to bark back. After a moment, he spun on his heel, leaving his steeping tea on the table, and headed outside. “Tell your daed I’ll be in the shop,” he said without turning around.

  Annie sighed. Her ugly attitude had surfaced, much to her chagrin. She had to face facts. She wanted Joshua to stay with her family—she liked his looks and enjoyed having him around—but, at the same time, she didn’t want him here, since he wasn’t for her. He’d been like a wasp invading a beehive right from the start.

  She wished he’d get on the next bus out of town.

  On second thought, she wished he’d come back inside and…what? Declare his undying love for her? After the showdown they’d just had, that was the last thing she ought to expect.

  Tears burning her eyes, she reached down and picked up the wrapper from Joshua’s tea bag. Vanilla coconut. So, he liked dessert teas? She thought she was the only one. She crumpled the bag in her fist, then smoothed it out again and slid it into her apron pocket.

  She picked up his mug, inhaling the warm aromas of vanilla bean and coconut. With a glance toward the doorway to the next room, she made sure no one was coming, then raised the cup to her lips. The closest her mouth had ever come to Joshua’s. Pathetic, she knew.

  She closed her eyes, sipping the tea and savoring the moment. Seconds later, the door creaked open, and she lowered the mug—too late, she realized as Joshua crossed the room and took the mug out of her numb fingers.

  With a smirk and a raised eyebrow, he walked out again, this time with the mug.

  ***

  The machine shop was quiet, the air heavy with the smells of gas, oil, turpentine, dust, hay, and fresh-cut grass. A faint musty odor also permeated the room. Joshua set his mug of tea on the counter and stepped back to survey it. Had Annie Beiler done what he thought she’d done? Jah, he knew what he’d seen, for certain.

  She wasn’t as indifferent
as she wanted to seem.

  This could get very interesting.

  His thoughts wandered back to Luke. He’d jumped the fence once, and she wouldn’t be surprised if he left again. Did Annie feel the same way about wanting to stay here, close to her family? And would it be fair for Joshua to even begin a relationship with her that was doomed to fail from the start? He fully intended to return home to Pennsylvania in time to help with the sugar mapling. It was what he wanted, what he had always planned. And it was expected of him.

  And Annie’s daed would come to expect him to join him with the beekeeping, which Joshua found unusually fascinating, and in his small engine repair shop—a place that did provide an outlet for tinkering, something he enjoyed doing from time to time.