Plain and Fancy

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Though Laura had been to church a few times in her life, she wasn’t particularly religious. In fact, the whole church scene made her feel kind of nervous. Nibbling on the inside of her cheek, she merely nodded in response to the man’s giving credit to God for his abilities.

  “Are you looking for anything special? I also have some wooden flowerpots and ornamental things for the lawn.” He lifted one for her inspection.

  Laura stared at the small, decorative windmill in his hand, and her gaze traveled up his muscular arm. Below his rolled-up shirtsleeve, his tanned arms were feathered with light brown hair. She moistened her lips and brought her wayward thoughts to a halt. “I ... uh ... live in a dorm room at the Lancaster School of Design, so I really don’t have a need for birdhouses or whirligigs.”

  His dark eyebrows drew together. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard of that school.”

  “I’m learning to be an interior decorator,” she explained, drawing her gaze to his appealing face, then back to the items on the table.

  When he made no comment, she looked up again and saw that he was staring at her with a questioning look.

  “My job will be to help people decorate their homes in attractive styles and colors.”

  “Ah, I see. So do you live around here, then?”

  She shook her head. “I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I’ve already studied some interior design at one of our local community colleges, and I’m here to complete my training.”

  There was an awkward silence as they stood staring at one another.

  “Eli, well, there you are! I thought we were supposed to meet for lunch. I waited outside, but you never showed up so I figured I’d better come looking.”

  A young, blond-haired Amish woman, dressed similarly to the Plain women Laura had seen earlier, stepped up to the table.

  “I’m sorry, Pauline,” he said. “I got busy talking with this customer and forgot about the time.” He considered Laura a moment. “Is there anything you’re wantin’ to buy?”

  “No. I ... uh ... was just looking.”

  “Eli, if you’re finished here, can we go have lunch now?” Pauline took a few steps closer, brushing her hand lightly against Eli’s arm.

  “Jah, Pauline.” Eli glanced back at Laura. “It was nice chatting with you, and I wish you the best with your studies and all.” He turned away, leaving his wooden items unattended.

  Laura shook her head. That man is sure trusting. And how in the world could someone as simply dressed as him be so adorable?

  ***

  As Eli and Pauline exited the building, he glanced over his shoulder. The young English woman still stood beside his table. She’s sure a fancy one. Fancy and very pretty. I wonder why someone like her would be interested in birdhouses?

  “Eli, where do you want to eat lunch?”

  Pauline’s question and her slight tug on Eli’s shirtsleeve brought his thoughts to a halt.

  “I thought you carried a picnic basket,” he said peevishly.

  “I did, but I wasn’t sure where you wanted to eat it.”

  He shrugged. “It makes no difference to me.”

  “Let’s go to the picnic tables out back.”

  When Eli gave no response, she grabbed his sleeve again. “What’s wrong? You’re acting kind of naerfich.”

  “I’m not nervous. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”

  Pauline slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. “After you’ve had a few bites of fried chicken, you won’t be thinking about anything but my good cooking.”

  Eli feigned a smile. “Kissin’ wears out, but cookin’ don’t.” Truth be told, he wasn’t really in the mood to eat just now, but he was sure Pauline had worked hard making the picnic lunch, and he’d promised to eat it with her. Besides, a few drumsticks and a plate of potato salad would probably make him feel a whole lot better.

  ***

  Pauline smiled and set the wicker basket she’d filled with chicken, baked beans, cut-up vegetables, and chocolate cake on the picnic table. “You’re right about cooking never wearing out. My mamm and daed have been married twenty-five years, and Dad’s still complimenting Mom on her great cooking.”

  Eli’s only reply was a quick shrug. Then he bowed his head, and she did the same. When their silent prayer was over, Pauline opened the basket and set out the food, along with paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware. “I brought a jug of water for us to drink,” she said. “I hope that’s okay.”

  “Jah, sure; it’s fine for me.” Eli helped himself to a couple of drumsticks and some baked beans, and Pauline followed suit, only she added some cut-up carrots to her plate.

  “I was sorry to learn that you hadn’t taken the membership classes this summer so you could be baptized and join the church a week from Sunday,” she said.

  He gave a noncommital grunt and kept on eating.

  “Will you take the classes next summer?”

  “Maybe. It all depends on how I feel about things by then.”

  Pauline pursed her lips. “You’re twenty-three years old already. Haven’t you had enough rumschpringe by now? Don’t you think it’s past time for you to join the church and settle down?”

  “Now you sound like my mamm.” Eli frowned. “Maybe one of the reasons I haven’t made the decision yet is because she’s always hounding me about it.”

  Pauline flinched, feeling like he’d thrown cold water in her face. Eli obviously thought she was hounding him, too.

  Eli reached into the plastic tub filled with chicken and retrieved another drumstick. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not refusing to join the church because I have any ideas about leaving the Amish faith. I just can’t see the need of joining when I’m not ready to get married yet.”

  Pauline felt as if her heart had sunk all the way to her toes. If Eli wasn’t ready to get married, then he obviously had no thoughts of marrying her. But he’d taken her home from a couple of singings, and he’d agreed to meet her for lunch today. Didn’t that mean anything at all? Wasn’t that a ray of hope worth clinging to? Pauline knew she would have to be careful not to push Eli too hard, but if she had her way, by this time next year they’d be planning their wedding.

  ***

  When Laura returned to her dorm room later that afternoon, she placed the Amish quilt she’d purchased on her bed, making it a definite focal point in the room. For some reason, the quilt reminded her of the young Amish man who had been selling wood-crafted items. As Laura sat at her desk, trying to study, she found herself wishing she had bought one of his birdhouses.

  She drummed her fingers restlessly across the desktop. As ridiculous as it might seem, she’d been attracted to the man. It was stupid, because she knew they were worlds apart. Besides, the young woman he’d been with had seemed awfully possessive, and Laura figured she might be Eli’s girlfriend or even his wife.

  Fighting the urge to fantasize further, she forced herself to concentrate on the monochromatic swatches of material on her desk. It wouldn’t be good to get behind in her studies because of a passing fancy with someone she would probably never see again.

  CHAPTER 2

  For the next several weeks, Laura was kept busy with classes and what seemed like never-ending homework. She hadn’t ventured into Amish land since her trip to the farmers’ market, but since it was Saturday and most of her homework was done, she had time to have fun.

  Since Laura was so fascinated by the Plain People, she decided to check out a few gift shops in one of the nearby Amish communities. This time she made sure she brought her camera along.

  Laura drove the small car she had leased for the months she would be living in Pennsylvania and headed to the town of Paradise. The first store she entered was a gift shop filled with excited tourists. It had numerous shelves full of Pennsylvania Dutch trinkets and a rack of postcards with photos of Amish and Mennonite farms, Plain People, and horse-drawn buggies. Laura bought several with the intent of sending them to family and friends back home.
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  Her next stop was a variety store, which was stocked with more gift items, groceries, and snack foods.

  Laura wandered toward the back of the store. To her amazement, the shelves were lined with oil lamps, bolts of plain cotton material, women’s black bonnets, men’s straw hats, boxes of white handkerchiefs, and several pairs of work boots. Another section was stocked with various-sized shovels and other gardening tools, as well as a variety of flower and vegetable seeds.

  The Amish must do some of their shopping here, she thought. I wonder if I’ll see any of them come into the store while I’m here.

  Laura hung around for a while, looking at various items and keeping an eye out for Amish people. She soon got tired of waiting, so she bought a few more postcards and left the store.

  Outside on the sidewalk, she spotted two little Amish girls walking hand in hand behind their mother.

  They’re so cute—I just have to get their picture. Laura pulled her digital camera from her purse, focused it on the children, and was about to snap the picture when someone grasped her shoulder.

  “Would you mind not taking that picture?”

  Laura spun around. A pair of penetrating blue eyes bore down on her, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the same Amish man she’d met at the farmers’ market a few weeks ago.

  “I remember you. You were at the market, looking at my birdhouses, right?”

  Laura nodded and offered him what she hoped was a pleasant smile. “Why did you stop me from taking those little girls’ pictures?”

  “The Amish prefer not to have their pictures taken.”

  “Oh? How come?”

  “We believe it’s a form of pride, and some in our church say it goes against Bible teachings reminding us not to make any graven images.”

  “What about all the pictures on postcards?” She withdrew one from her purse. “Isn’t that an Amish man working in the fields?”

  “Some folks don’t care how we feel about being photographed, and they just snap pictures of us anyway,” he said without even glancing at the postcard. “And some people use close-up lenses so they can take pictures without us knowing. I’m sure the man in the postcard didn’t actually pose for the picture.”

  “Well, you don’t have to worry about me offending anyone.” She slipped the camera back into her purse, then held out her hand. “I’m Laura Meade.”

  He seemed kind of hesitant at first, but then he shook her hand and smiled. “My name’s Eli Yoder.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Eli.” She laughed, feeling suddenly self-conscious. “I guess we did meet before—just no formal introductions.”

  He motioned toward a wooden bench in front of the building. “Would you want to sit awhile? I’ll take my birdhouses inside; then we can have a cup of cold root beer. That is, if you’d like one.”

  Laura nodded eagerly. Of course she would like a root beer—especially when it would give her more time to talk to this good-looking Amish man. She dropped to the bench and leaned forward with her elbows resting on her jean-clad knees, as she watched Eli head to the parking lot, where his horse and buggy stood waiting. He made two trips into the store, shouldering large cardboard boxes. When he emerged for the last time, he held two Styrofoam cups full of root beer. He gave one to Laura and sat down beside her.

  “I noticed your buggy is open—sort of like a carriage,”

  she remarked. “Most of the Amish buggies I’ve seen are closed and kind of box-shaped.”

  Eli grinned. “That’s my courting buggy. My daed gave it to me on my sixteenth birthday.”

  “Your daed?”

  “Jah, my dad.”

  “Oh. So what’s a ‘courting buggy’?”

  “English boys get a driver’s license and sometimes a car when they turn sixteen. We Amish get an open buggy so we can start courting—or dating, as you Englishers like to call it.”

  She smiled. “Have you been dating very long?”

  “Are you wanting to know my age?”

  Laura felt the heat of embarrassment creep up her neck as she nodded. She did want to know how old he was—and a whole lot more besides.

  “It’s okay. I don’t mind you asking. I’m twenty-three, and my folks think I ought to be married already.” Eli lifted the cup of root beer to his lips.

  So, he’s single and just a year older than me. Laura wasn’t sure why, but that bit of information gave her some measure of satisfaction. “How come you’re not married?” she ventured to ask.

  “For one thing, I haven’t joined our church yet, and that’s a requirement before marriage.” Eli shrugged. “I haven’t met the right woman yet, either.”

  Laura thought about the Amish woman who had been with Eli at the market. She’d seen the way that Plain girl had looked at him.

  Eli smacked his lips. “ Umm ... this is sure good root beer. Thomas Benner, the store owner, makes it himself.”

  Laura took a sip. “Yes, it is very good.” Her gaze traveled across the parking lot. “Your buggy’s sure nice-looking. Does it ride well?”

  Eli rewarded her with a heart-melting smile, and his seeking blue eyes mesmerized her. “Would you like to find out?”

  “Oh, I’d love that!” Laura jumped up; then, thinking he might have only been teasing, she whirled around to face him. “Would it be all right? It’s not against your religion or anything?”

  Eli’s smile widened, causing the dimple in his chin to become more pronounced. “There are some other Plain sects who offer buggy rides to tourists. So if someone should see us, they’ll probably just think you hired me for a ride.”

  ***

  Eli helped Laura into the left side of the open buggy; then he climbed up on the right and gathered the reins. With a few clucks to his faithful horse, they were off.

  A slight breeze caught the ends of Laura’s golden bronze hair, whipping them around her face. Eli’s chest constricted. This English woman is sure appealing. Why, it’s almost sinful to be so beautiful. I’m wondering why she would want to be seen with someone as plain as me.

  Eli felt a twinge of guilt for allowing himself the pleasure of admiring her beauty, but he couldn’t quit thinking how much fun it would be to get to know her better.

  “This is so awesome! I never would have dreamed riding in a buggy could be so much fun.” Laura’s tone revealed her excitement, and her green eyes lit up like a sunbeam.

  He glanced over at her and grinned. “Jah, it’s wonderful good.”

  When they had gone a short distance, Eli turned the buggy down a wide, dirt path, where there were no cars, just a carpet of flaxen corn on either side.

  “Where are we going?”

  “There’s a small lake down this way.” Eli flashed her another smile. “I think you’ll like it there.”

  ***

  Laura leaned back in her seat, breathed deeply of the fresh air, and drank in the rich colors of the maple trees lining both sides of the dirt road. “I think the temperate hues of autumn make it the most charming, loveliest time of the year,” she murmured.

  Eli raised his dark eyebrows. “Such fancy words you’re using.”

  She laughed. “Should I have said it’s ‘wonderful good’?” “Jah, sure.” Eli pulled the horse to a stop in a grassy meadow near the small lake. “Here we are.”