The store stayed busy right until closing time. Gossip spreads faster than the wind and people had heard about the break-in and the arrest. There were several just looking, but most of them purchased something. One English couple purchased a full bedroom set that Jacob had made. Charity was thrilled for him, and for her store. Word would be spread and others would come in to look and buy.
A half hour before closing, Aaron Perkins, who worked for David Bolling, came in and installed a new window. He refused payment, so Charity gave him two loaves of bread and some ham to take with him. She was very firm in not taking charity.
Richard was back just as she was closing. They only stood a minute or two talking when Joseph came with his prize high-stepping Hanoverian pulling the carriage. Jeremiah was with him.
Jeremiah hopped off the carriage with bug eyes looking at Richard.
“Who are you?”
“Jeremiah. Do not be rude. I am going to introduce you. Joseph, this is Richard Longbow. He came to my aid this morning and captured the fourth criminal. I am taking him home for the night. Joseph is my youngest brother and going into rumspringa. This is my disobedient son, Jeremiah.”
“Joseph, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I’ve heard so much about Charity’s family. Hello, disobedient son. You are not really are you?”
“Yes, I am her son. I am the man of the house and take care of my mamm,” he answered with his chin stuck out as if he were ready to fight.
“No, I know you’re her son. What I meant was, are you really disobedient? You don’t look like a boy who would be.”
Jeremiah hung his head and did not answer. Joseph laughed. “Get in the carriage. It would take a week to tell you all he has done that he should not have.”
Joseph was courteous but he couldn’t keep from worry about his sister taking this man home with her. What would the church think? He knew she was a righteous woman, but Amish, especially women, were expected to conduct themselves above reproach.
“Are you truly a real Indian?” Jeremiah asked when they were in the house and Charity was preparing supper.
“Jeremiah, do not be rude.”
“Oh, that’s okay. He isn’t being rude, just curious as all little boys are. Yes, I’m a full blooded Indian, a Shawnee. My father and mother are both Indian and I grew up on a reservation.”
“Where is your bow and arrow, your tomahawk and feather head piece?”
“Jeremiah, that is still being rude, and how did you know about all that anyway. I know you do not study it in school.”
“That is something else. Tell your mamm, Jeremiah, where you have been sneaking off to after school. He thinks he is in rumspringa already. We warned you about not disciplining him.”
Richard broke in. “Excuse me for intruding, but what is this rum thing you keep talking about?”
They took a few minutes to tell him of the year that seventeen to twenty year old Amish youth have the privilege of living as the English do. If they decide to stay away and be English, they are no longer welcome in the church or community. They are not baptized until they come to the church and ask to be baptized and taken as a church member. That only happens when they are old enough to understand what they are doing and what baptism really means.
“Now, my dear son. I have not forgotten. What are you doing after school?”
“Nothing,” he mumbled and hung his head.
“Jeremiah, tell the truth. You want to be the man of the house, then act like one,” Joseph told him.
“All right,” he said defiantly, “sometimes, not every day, but sometimes I go into the sports bar and play pool and watch television.”
“And they let you in?” Charity gasped. “Surely they can see you are too young.”
“Jimmy Monroe and I walk down the alley and go in the back door. The men that are playing pool, in the back room, think it is all right for us to play. They ask me a lot of questions about Amish and I tell them the truth.”
“What do they say?” Richard asked.
“Not much. They mostly just laugh. I like watching television. That is how I know about the Indians.”
“That was the Indians many years ago. Today we are just like you. We live in houses, hold jobs, marry and have children. We go to school and mind our parents.” Richard showed Jeremiah his badge and ID. “I had to go to college and make good grades to do what I do. I have put little boys like you in jail many times because they were in places they had no business being. I also arrested the men that let them in those places and they are still in jail. Did you ever think you would go to jail because you are breaking the law?”
Jacob had quietly come in and heard Richard’s statement. He sat down near Charity.
Jeremiah looked at Richard with a sneer. “No I am not going to jail and it is none of your business.”
Joseph jumped up. “Charity, I told you he was going to get out of hand and be in trouble.”
Jacob reached and grabbed Jeremiah on his lap. “Grandson, we do not hit and fight as Amish, but we sure spank our children when they need it.” With that he turned Jeremiah over his knee, and with his open hand, gave him several whacks on his bottom.
Charity was shocked. She put her hand over her mouth with tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally she was able to speak. “Jeremiah, go to your room and stay there until I can come talk to you.” He didn’t cry; just stomped out of the room and ran up the stairs, slamming his bedroom door.
Jacob put his arm around Charity. “That is the trouble. You have just talked to him. He is strong-headed like you and also has some of Adam’s willfulness. He needs a man around the house. You have been a widow almost ten years now. It is past time you find a husband.”
“But daed,” she cried, “I do not want another husband. I still love Adam and my heart can not hold more.”
“We will talk about this another time. I assume you are the man who saved my daughter today.” Jacob reached to shake hands with Richard.
“Yes, sir,” Richard stood up. “Well, I don’t know how much saving I did, but everything turned out all right. Thank God for that.”
“Ja. Danki Gott. I must apologize for having a family problem in front of you. As the Grandfather I feel it is my place to set the standards. Jeremiah is too young to be baptized and join the church, but he needs to know how to conduct himself as a Christian Amish. I love my daughter, maybe too much, but she has been too easy on him, and he takes advantage of her.”
Jacob turned to Charity. “You listen good, young lady. You tell him he is not to go anywhere, or do anything, with this Monroe boy. If he goes in the sports bar again, I will give him a really good spanking and then take Sheriff Fleming in to have a serious talk with the owner. In fact, I think I will talk to him anyway.”
Charity looked at her daed, whom she loved dearly, and with tear-filled eyes answered, “He is still my son. You did a wonderful job of raising us, but Jeremiah is my responsibility.”
Joseph came to stand by Charity. She was surprised at how tall he had grown. He was her little brother and she had thought of him that way. She suddenly realized that he was a grown man and taller than she was. “You are my big sister and I love you dearly, but I know how some of the other boys have gone off, down the wrong path, and broke their families’ hearts. Jeremiah is very headstrong and unless he is taught properly, he will break your heart even before he is old enough for rumspringa.”
“Danki, Joseph. I know you love me and Jeremiah, and I know you mean well, but please don’t undermine my relationship with my son. I promise that I will talk seriously to him and from now on, he will give up something he really counts on if he gets out of line. Yes, he needs to learn self-discipline and responsibility.”
“Richard,” Jacob addressed him, “are you staying the night? You will be welcome at my house.”
“Thank you, sir, but I will stay here with Charity. It looks as if she needs a friend.”
“Daed, please ask Alicia to come stay the night. She will be enough chaperone. Would you both like to stay for supper?”
“No, thank you. We will go on home. I do love you dearly and love Jeremiah. Your mother would be heartbroken if she could see how smart mouthed and willful he has become.”
“You are blaming me for that?”
“Who else has been responsible for him? We have helped you all we can, taking care of him when you were at work and having him work with us.”
Joseph hugged her to show he still loved her.
Jacob quoted, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” (Proverbs 13:24) “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Joseph, like Charity, had started through rumspringa and decided it was not for him. He had been baptized and was a church member. He was not ready to get married and settle down, but he was preparing for it. Like Charity, he was concerned about Alicia. She was such an innocent and had not had the experience of doing much on her own. None of them worried about Maeve. She was like their mother, a hard worker, gentle and easy-going. Alicia was older than the usual Amish girl for rumspringa.
Jacob and Joseph left with the promise to send Alicia over. Charity fixed ham, fried potatoes, green beans, salad, heated yeast rolls, and made coffee.
She poured milk for Jeremiah and called him to supper.
“I do not want to eat.”
“It is supper time. Please come to the table and be part of the family.”
“Am I really part of the family? Everyone thinks I am so bad and no one likes me any more.”
“Jeremih, you know that is not true. You did not act like a true Amish and your Grossfadder spanked you; only because he loves you and wants you to be responsible for your actions. Come on to the table. I do not want to hear any more of this.”
“You did not hear me. I AM NOT COMING TO SUPPER.”
“You are going to get mighty hungry before breakfast.”
There was silence, so Charity, very sad, apologized to Richard and sat down to eat with him. She was surprised when he bowed his head and prayed aloud. She must have looked surprised for when he raised his head and looked at her, he gave a puzzled smile.
“Don’t you pray before meals?”
“Ja. Before and after, but we do not speak out loud. We go by the verse in Matthew 6:6 When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray. Do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Your Father knows what you need before you ask. And then we have Deuteronomy 8: 10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God. We feel that pray is of the heart between you and God and no one else needs to hear.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that. We do pray aloud. Should I apologize?”
“Nee! No. It is fine. You do what you have been trained to do. I am pleased that you believe in God and in prayer.”
“Charity, I couldn’t have lived through some of my work if I hadn’t prayed for help and guidance.”
“Gut. Here, eat yourself full.” He laughed in astonishment.
“That I’ll do. Everything looks good and smells so good. Thank you for allowing me to have a home-cooked meal and a place to stay. I’ll be out of your way tomorrow.” He looked solemn. “I wish I was here long enough to work with Jeremiah. Your father is right. Nothing against you, but he is a headstrong boy who needs a man in the house.”
“He has been so good up until now.”
“He is older, observing more of the world around him, and being influenced by boys in school and town. Let your father and brothers help. They love both of you and want him to become a good man.”
“I know,” she said bowing her head. “They love us and mean well. It just feels as if they think I am not a good mother.”
“I’m sure you’re a wonderful mother. Some children just need a stronger hand when they have such an independent spirit.”
“Ja. I know what you are saying and I know it is the truth. It is just that I have missed my husband so much and have been too easy on my son to make up for him not having a father.”
“I can understand that, but it hasn’t been good for Jeremiah. Now where do you want me to sleep? I don’t need to butt into your business.”
“I will show you the guest room, and do not feel you are butting in. You are a welcome guest. I want you to feel free to stay with us in the future, if you come this way again. Oh, here is my sister, Alicia, who will stay with me tonight. Alicia, this is Richard Longbow and I know you have heard the news of the day by now.”
“Ja. I have, and right worried I have been. Do you think it is safe to have a store in town?”
“There is nothing wrong with having a store in town. Those bad men just happened to find our town by accident, or so they said. I doubt that I will ever have any more trouble. Have you eaten?”
“Ja. Danki. I will wash the dishes and clean the kitchen. Then we will go to bed and talk there. Mr. Longbow, it is nice to meet you.”
Richard went up to bed quietly and thankfully. He read the Bible that he carried with him and prayed for Charity and Jeremiah. He thanked God for allowing him to capture the criminal with no shooting or bloodshed.
In her room, Charity was crying and asking God to direct her how to deal with Jeremiah. Why was he so angry? What had happened to her happy, smiling boy? Should she really be thinking of marrying again so that a man could guide Jeremiah? No, she had men folks in her family who were all willing to help with him.
Alicia came up to bed and hung her dress on a peg on the wall. She placed her shoes neatly on the floor on her side of the bed and put on a gown that Charity had made. She said her prayer and then turned to Charity. They talked quietly for a few minutes and then both women drifted off to sleep to awaken at five the next morning.