Shelter in the Storm

by Laurel Blount

  He opened his eyes to find his brother studying him. The skin above Caleb’s new-married beard was pale, and his eyes glistened icily. “His gun jammed, Joseph. You can read Gott into it all you like, but that’s what the police say happened. Trevor would have killed our little sister, too, but his father’s pistol jammed on him, and he couldn’t do it. You forgive him, bruder, if you can. Me, I’m going to find him, if I have to go to the ends of the earth to do it.”

  A horn blared from the direction of the road. “That’s my driver.” Caleb moved toward the door, and wordlessly, Joseph stepped aside to let him pass.

  There was nothing more he could say. Caleb still wore the Plain shirt and trousers Mamm had made for him, but there was nothing Plain about the look in his eyes or the tilt of his chin. Their common ground, what little there’d been left of it, had crumbled away, leaving a gaping pit between them. Joseph saw no way to bridge it.

  His brother paused with his hand on the door latch and spoke without turning his head. “I’ll come back in a week or two, once Rhoda’s had time to calm down. While I’m gone, she should give careful thought to what she wants to do. Will you tell her this?”

  “I will tell her.”

  There was a short, hard silence. Caleb still didn’t turn, but his shoulders flexed, as if he were fighting some inner battle.

  “Look after her.” The words came out stiffly. “You and I . . . we don’t see eye to eye, maybe, and I haven’t forgotten you had your own feelings for Rhoda. Even so, I’m asking you this as my brother.” He hesitated then added roughly, “Please.”

  Joseph had to clear his own throat before he could answer. “I will look after your fraw, best I can, as if she was Miriam or Emma.”

  Caleb nodded shortly. Then he pushed through the wooden door, leaving it swinging on its hinges.

  Joseph stood alone in the musty coop, the impact of Caleb’s decision settling heavily in his gut. He didn’t bother to look out the small window to watch his brother leave. In the most important way, Caleb had been gone before he’d even showed up this morning.

  If Daed had been here, he’d have found some way to make his younger son see reason, but Joseph had failed yet again. That didn’t bode well, because now, with Caleb and Emma gone, even more responsibilities had fallen upon Joseph’s shoulders. Miriam, the store, this farm, and now, to some measure at least, Rhoda were all left to his care.

  His mind went back over the memory of Rhoda stumbling toward the house, blind in her grief over her husband’s decision. And small wonder—Joseph flinched at the choice Rhoda was facing. If she followed Caleb away from the church, she’d be shunned by her own family. If she chose to remain, Rhoda’s future would be bleak. Although still bound to her husband, she wouldn’t be allowed to accept any support from him. She’d have to rely on her parents and the charity of others until she figured some way to earn a living for herself.

  Joseph sighed as he leaned over to retrieve the egg basket she’d forgotten. He’d carry it into the house before he went back to the workshop to finish the rocking chair.

  When he entered the kitchen, Naomi was at the sink, rinsing a soiled fabric square under a stream of water. A basket of quilt pieces was tumbled sideways on the table, and the chairs were askew, as if people had risen from their places in a hurry. Miriam and Rhoda were nowhere in sight.

  More trouble. Joseph felt a wave of weariness as he set down the basket. He had a sudden desire to throw a couple eggs just to see them smash.

  “What happened here?” he asked, dreading the answer.

  Naomi glanced over her shoulder. Tiny worry lines creased the corners of her eyes, but the smile she offered was sweet. “A little setback, that’s all. Nothing to worry over. Only, someone stepped on this quilt square Miriam made and smudged it. I’m just washing it out.”

  Joseph went to stand beside Naomi, watching as her nimble fingers massaged the dirt out of the pretty fabric. Miriam had always loved quilting. Surely the fact that she’d taken her needle up again was a good sign. A tiny spark of hope sputtered in the darkness of his heart as he studied the dainty square. “Will it be all right, do you think?”

  “Ja, sure. With some work and a bit of patience.” Naomi’s gray-green eyes met his with a quiet certainty that steadied him. “Everything will be all right, Joseph.”

  He knew she wasn’t only speaking of the quilt square. As he looked into her face, her gentle smile grew, warming him.

  Joseph couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from hers. He was oddly reminded of the time he’d ventured out to the county fair with a bunch of other youngies and had been enticed onto some sort of twirly ride. He’d never experienced anything like that before, and he’d felt awful grank. Just in the nick of time, he’d discovered if he fixed his eyes on the metal pole in front of his face, the crazy spinning didn’t bother him near so much.

  Looking down into Naomi’s eyes, he felt the same grateful relief as he had back then. The ugliness whirling around him blurred, and he was almost able to believe that what she’d just told him was true.

  That somehow, someday, his life would come right again.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Holding her breath, Naomi flicked the reins on Titus’s back. The gelding walked forward obediently, and the buggy bumped out of the drive and onto the two-lane road. Not a car was in sight, and she sent a fervent prayer heavenward thanking Gott for that mercy.

  She was an uncertain driver on the best of days, and she didn’t need traffic to deal with. She’d finally convinced Miriam to venture into town, so she had more than enough on her plate as it was.

  “Isn’t it a perfect day?” she asked brightly. “Hard to believe it’s the end of December. Such sunshine, and the air’s just cold enough to nip your nose but not cold enough to make your toes ache.”

  There was no answer from the other two occupants of the buggy. Rhoda was hunched beside her on the buggy’s bench seat, staring blankly at the lovely morning. Two weeks had passed since Caleb had left Johns Mill. Rhoda had continued coming faithfully to the farmhouse to help out, but lately Naomi found herself dreading the other woman’s arrival. With every passing day, Rhoda grew more silent and withdrawn, and Naomi had caught the worried glances Miriam was giving her sister-in-law.

  Having Rhoda to fret over wasn’t helping Miriam’s situation. On the other hand, Rhoda was hurting just as much as Miriam was, and she needed just as much sympathy and understanding. Naomi understood that, but the two of them were a lot for one person to handle.

  Today, though, was all about Miriam. This trip was a milestone for her, and it had been slow in coming. Miriam hadn’t set foot off the Hochstedler farm since she’d been brought home from the hospital. Over the past couple of weeks, Naomi had coaxed her into staying in the kitchen longer and longer, mostly by sewing quilt squares with her. Tedious as that was, she would have cheerfully hand-sewn miles of seams to keep Miriam from hiding in her bedroom.

  At least Naomi’s stitching had improved with all the practice, so that was something, too.

  A few days before their quiet Christmas, she’d talked Miriam into venturing outside to the woodshop to see what Joseph was working on and to bring him some ginger cookies they’d baked. The expression on Joseph’s face when he’d looked up from his lathe to see his sister had given Naomi a touch of spring right in the middle of the sodden winter morning.

  The gratitude in his eyes had made her bounce on her toes with joy. She’d walked back to the house arm-in-arm with Miriam, aglow with thanksgiving. Gott had answered her prayers. She was truly making a difference.

  Since then, she and Miriam had taken a treat to Joseph in the middle of each morning, and Miriam had grown more relaxed each time. She’d even stopped glancing at the road, since there were no reporters there to see anymore.

  Now she was making this trip to town, to visit Mary Yoder’s fabric shop. It was a big step fo
r Miriam, and Naomi intended it as a surprise for Joseph. He’d gone with Aaron to an auction, and he wouldn’t be back until late afternoon. He’d given Naomi permission to take the buggy into town, and she knew he’d be delighted to hear that his sister had gone along.

  “This sunshine is nice, ain’t so, Rhoda? Such a welcome change after all the rain we’ve had.” When Rhoda didn’t answer, Naomi glanced over her shoulder. “You’re in the shade back there, Miriam. Are you keeping warm enough? I put an extra blanket in if you need it.”

  “I’m fine.”

  The two words were barely audible, but at least they proved that Miriam was still capable of speech. Her eyes were wide as a frightened colt’s, but she was breathing okay.

  So far, so good.

  Still, Naomi swallowed a sigh of relief when she turned the horse into Katie Lapp’s drive. Talkative Katie and sweet baby Sarah would fill the silence in the buggy and cheer everybody up.

  She set the brake on the buggy, and half turned on the seat so she could face both women. “Wait here, ja? I’ll run in and help Katie bring Sarah out.” When Rhoda made a move to climb into the back, Naomi put a gentle hand on her arm. “I think Katie would best sit beside Miriam, don’t you think? That way Miriam can help with the baby. I can’t do that while I’m driving.”

  Rhoda nodded dully and settled back on her seat, but Miriam, Naomi noticed, perked right up.

  “I’ll move everything so there’s plenty of room,” the younger woman said. She picked up the blanket and the neatly folded cloth shopping bags and stowed them on the buggy floor.

  “Gut!” Naomi turned aside to hide her smile. Miriam was really looking forward to seeing the baby, and hopefully Sarah would keep her pleasantly distracted for the rest of the trip.

  When Naomi hurried into the kitchen, she was relieved to see Katie standing there pulling on her gloves, her black bonnet and shawl already in place.

  “I heard you driving up,” her cousin said cheerfully. “We’re both all ready to go.”

  “That’s a blessing! I don’t dare leave Rhoda and Miriam alone too long.” Sarah, bundled to the tip of her nose, squirmed happily in her pink cloth sling seat on the table. Naomi leaned down and kissed the little girl’s forehead before unfastening her and lifting the infant into her arms. “Come on, sweetie-pie. You’re just the tonic Miriam needs. And for goodness’ sakes, Katie, once you get in that buggy, talk.”

  Katie laughed, the sound delightfully normal after the strained drive. “Nobody ever has to tell me to talk, Naomi. To hush, maybe, but not to talk.”

  Naomi smiled, but she couldn’t quite find the breath to answer. Sarah suddenly seemed very heavy. “Here.” She handed the baby to Katie. “Maybe you’d best carry her.”

  Katie’s eyes sharpened as Naomi pressed one hand on the table to steady herself. “Are you all right? I haven’t liked to say anything, but you’ve seemed exhausted lately, and you’re going to bed mighty early these days. I’m getting worried. Is helping at the Hochstedlers’ turning out to be too difficult for you?”

  “Nee,” Naomi answered quickly. “I’m fine. I just don’t like to drive on the road. I’ve never had much practice with it, and it always makes me shaky.”

  That was true enough, but Katie’s questions worried Naomi a bit. She’d been feeling more tired than usual, but she’d told herself it was simply because she was coping with so much just now . . . running a household, struggling to help Miriam past her fears, and trying to comfort Rhoda as she pined for her stubborn husband.

  Then there was Joseph. The weary sorrow in his eyes when he looked at his sister and at Rhoda made Naomi long to comfort him, too. She tried her best to make his life easier, but there seemed so little she could do.

  Still, when he thanked her quietly for her help or for a particularly good meal, or for bringing a cup of hot kaffe out to his woodshop on a chilly, rainy afternoon, she felt as if she’d at least done something.

  Her heartbeat was slowing back down, and her breath came easier. Likely what she’d told Katie was the truth. Managing the buggy on the road and dealing with the two unhappy women had just stretched her nerves a little. She was fine.

  Katie laughed again as she tucked Sarah’s blanket around her. “You’ve always been such a nervous Nelly about driving. Me, I love it! Aaron fusses at me sometimes for going too fast. Do you want me to drive today?”

  Naomi shook her head. In her private opinion, Aaron was right about Katie’s daredevil driving. Naomi didn’t think her nerves were up to that this morning, and she didn’t want Rhoda and Miriam unsettled, either.

  “I’ll manage, denki. I need the practice, and the traffic’s light now that all those reporters are gone.”

  Katie frowned. “They aren’t all gone. Aaron took his turn minding the Hochstedlers’ store yesterday, and he said a few were still hanging around, taking photos. I know that won’t bother you, nor me, either if we bump into one of them, and I doubt Rhoda would even notice, poor girl. But what about Miriam?”

  A feather of worry tickled across Naomi’s shoulders, but she shivered the feeling away. “I think it’ll be fine. We won’t go anywhere near the store, so nobody’s likely to bother us. Even if a reporter does try to speak to us, you and I will straighten him out quickly enough. Anyway, it’s important for Miriam to do this. Her fears about town are starting to settle in, Katie. Once they do, she’ll find it much harder to break free of them.”

  “Maybe you’re right. My grossdaddi always said the best thing to do was get back on the horse that threw you as soon as you were able, or you’d be fearful of him from then on.”

  Just as Naomi had hoped, once Katie and Sarah were settled in the buggy, things improved. Katie chattered merrily, telling tales about new motherhood that had everybody laughing. Out of the corner of her eye, Naomi even caught Rhoda smiling a time or two. More important, Miriam held baby Sarah on her lap for the rest of the drive into town. She was so absorbed in cooing at the infant that she didn’t glance up when Naomi turned the buggy off Main Street in order to avoid coming within sight of Hochstedler’s General Store.

  Sooner or later, Miriam would have to face that place, too, Naomi suspected, if her recovery was to be complete. But not today.

  Naomi secured Titus carefully in the parking area beside the brick building that housed the local fabric shop. The other three women clambered out of the buggy, passing the baby off one to another as they did. As they headed toward the sidewalk, Naomi positioned herself behind Miriam, scanning the street for anyone who looked remotely like a reporter.

  She didn’t see anybody except ordinary folks, mostly Plain, going about their morning business, and she breathed a grateful sigh. If they managed to complete this errand in peace, it would be another big step forward for Miriam.

  When Naomi stepped into the cozy store, she was instantly overwhelmed by all the colorful bolts of material arranged by shade on the walls. Naomi’s lack of quilting skills extended to shopping for fabric. She didn’t see how anybody made decisions with so many pretty things to choose from.

  Clothing was more straightforward. If you needed a new dress, you looked at the few solid colors approved in your district. You compared prices and chose a bolt of decent quality in a shade that you hadn’t recently had and that, hopefully, looked reasonably nice on you. And that was that. Simple.

  This process was anything but simple, but Naomi could see right away that this trip was exactly the right thing to do for Miriam. The younger woman’s eyes lit up, and she hurried to the bolts of pink and green fabric arranged on the right-hand wall.

  “Here, Katie,” Naomi offered. “Let me hold the baby while you go help Miriam choose the fabric for the border of the quilt. You know a lot more about all this than I do.”

  Katie smiled. “You won’t have to offer twice. I love shopping for quilting fabric. Isn’t it lovely in here with all these beautiful c
olors? It’s like we left winter outside and walked into a flower garden!” She transferred Sarah into Naomi’s arms then joined Miriam. Soon the two were gathering samples from the swatches offered beside each bolt and comparing them, heads tilted together.

  Rhoda sank onto one of the wooden chairs in the corner, a spot usually occupied by elderly shoppers who needed to rest their aching feet. She stared down at her clenched fingers, her narrow shoulders slumped, oblivious to Miriam and Katie’s enthusiastic chatter.

  Naomi shifted Sarah’s soft, warm weight in her arms. Given that little spell she’d had in Katie’s kitchen earlier, it was probably wisest for her to sit down herself. She settled in the chair next to Rhoda.

  “You don’t want to look at any fabric?” she asked, nestling Sarah more comfortably on her lap. Now that Miriam was safely occupied, maybe she could manage to spark some interest in Rhoda’s lifeless eyes as well.

  Rhoda shook her head. “Not today.”

  The unseasonable December sunlight beat through the large window behind them, toasting Naomi’s back pleasantly. It was so nice and warm in here. She began freeing Sarah from some of her outer clothing. “My goodness, Katie has this poor boppli wrapped up as if we were in the middle of a blizzard. No wonder her cheeks are pink! I’m not much of a quilter, but I might look at some new dress fabric while we’re here. The sign over there says they’re having a sale. What do you think? Should we take a look?”

  “I’ve no need of a new dress, and I must watch my budget carefully just now,” Rhoda said quietly.

  Naomi’s hands faltered, with only one of Sarah’s plump arms out of her little coat. How could she have been so thoughtless? Of course Rhoda would be watching her spending. Caleb had said he’d be back in a week or two, but that time frame was already past. With her husband gone, so was Rhoda’s means of support. She’d have to rely on her parents financially until Caleb returned and made his full repentance before the church.