Chapter 2

 

Paper rustling noises came from the back seat. Nora scolded, “Tootie, are you eating another candy bar? We'll be eating supper with Hallie and her family soon. You know how much food Hallie and Emma feed us. Can't you wait?”

“I'm not eating. I'm reading, and I don't like what I just read. If we weren't so far from home, I'd make Jim turn around and take me back. You didn't tell me before we started I'd have to work on this trip. Come to think of it, I didn't know I'd have to work the last time either. Look how that turned out.” Tootie made protesting, tisking noises. “I'd say this visit is going to be worse.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Nora asked.

Tootie droned, “Many hands are needed to prepare mountains of food for a wedding. A woman, especially adept to baking, was asked to make four hundred doughnuts. Aunts on the bride's mother's side make most of the cookies and wedding nothings also known as Knee Patches. Those are thin, sweet fried pastries sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.

The bride's mother is responsible for orchestrating the work before the wedding, but she appoints an organizer, usually a close relative to be in charge on the wedding day.” The elderly woman stopped to take a breath before she said, “Close relatives to Emma are you and me, Nora. Let me tell you, I don't know nothing about making Wedding Nothings. You're on your own when they ask for fried pastries.”

“How do you know this stuff?”

“I'm reading it.”

“You didn't bring that old Amish book with you?” Nora snapped.

“Not the one you mean. I bought a book on Amish weddings so I'd know what happens. It's called The Amish Wedding and other special occasions of the Old Order Communities. It's a good thing I did. Now I know what we're in for since we're the bride's Aunt and Grandma.”

“For goodness sakes! A little work won't hurt you. Don't you know doing nothing will wear you out faster than keeping busy?”

“Says you, Sister. Anyhow, I see nothing wrong with being informed about the Amish customs. After all, we'll be rubbing elbows with a bunch of Amish at the wedding,” Tootie defended.

Nora huffed in annoyance.

Jim said, “Now, Nora, I don't see what bringing that book with her will hurt.”

Tootie perked up. “Thank you, Jim.”

Nora threw Tootie's words back at her. “All right, I'm outnumbered. Let me tell you this. If you get that book out in front of Hallie's family, it should only be for a short time and very infrequently.”

For the rest of the trip, Tootie stayed quiet in the back seat. Nora peeked over her shoulder several times to see if her sister was awake. Tootie chose to keep quiet and occupy herself by staring out the window.

Jim turned off the pavement onto a gravel road south of Wickenburg. He drove past picturesque farms, rolling pastures and forests now familiar to them. As he drove by the turn off to Bender Creek road, Jim announced, “Passing Lover's Lane. We'll be at the Lapp farm shortly, ladies.” He glanced at his wrist watch. “Four o'clock. Just in time for me to help with milking.”

When at last they reached Hallie Lapp's home, Jim pulled into the driveway and parked. The family's cream colored dog crawled out from under the enclosed buggy in the lean-to and raced to meet the car. He stopped at the edge of the lawn and turned toward the house. His head lifted high, he howled one of his finest baying alerts to the Lapp family to tell them company had arrived.

The dog wanted to do some greeting of his own. He ran to the car, jumped up and peered in the back window at Tootie. She gasped when his head came so close even though glass was between them. The dog gave her a toothy grin and smeared the window with his wet nose, trying to get at her.

“Look how big that dog has gotten. He sure has grown since the last time we saw him,” Jim declared.

“I hope the boys get out here soon and hold onto him. If he's loose, I'm not getting out of the car. He might knock us down,” Tootie grumbled.

“Now, Tootie, don't complain about that dog. Hallie's family likes him, but I must admit Jim the dog is too big to let jump on us,” Nora admonished.

Tootie gave the dog her meanest glare as she slapped the window, trying to scare him into getting down. “Jim, when he was a puppy, I liked him, too. Now not so much.”

“I'll ask the boys to keep the dog away from the car so you two can get out,” Jim growled. As the Lapp family gathered at the edge of the driveway, he climbed out and greeted them. “Hi, folks.” The dog brushed against his leg. Jim bent and patted his head. Satisfied he'd had his share of attention, the dog trotted over to stand by Noah and Daniel.

“We're so glad you made it safely,” Hal cried, giving him a big hug, which included hugging blonde haired Beth in her arms.

John shook hands with Jim while Redbird wiggled in his arms, trying to get down. Jim patted Redbird on her red head. “Hello, sweet thing.”

Hal motioned toward the car for Nora and Tootie to join them. They shook their heads no. “Why aren't Mom and Aunt Tootie getting out?”

Jim snickered. “They're afraid of the dog. He took a liking to Tootie already. Tried to kiss her through the window. Boys, do you still call your dog Biscuit or have you given him another name?”

Noah ducked his head sheepishly.“ Nah, he is still Biscuit.”

“Good enough. Could you distract Biscuit until we get those two old ladies in the house?”

“Sure, Dawdi,” Daniel said, grinning. He walked into the driveway, called and patted his leg. “Here, Biscuit. Come.” The dog loped toward him. Daniel grabbed him around the neck. “Now what do I do with him?”

“Shut him in the barn for awhile,” John suggested.

Noah followed Daniel so he could open the barn door. He whispered, “Aendi Tootie should not complain about our dog. Her kisses are just as wet as Biscuit's.”

As soon as Daniel shut the barn door on the dog, Biscuit howled in protest. The boys walked back to stand with the others, and Hal beckoned the women in the car with her hand. Nora and Tootie rushed from the car and hugged Hal and John. Nora gave Redbird and Beth a kiss on their out turned cheeks.

Tootie did likewise. Redbird giggled. Beth frowned slightly. Both girls instantly wiped their cheeks with their chubby hands.

“Give me a hug, bride-to-be,” Nora said, throwing her arms around Emma.

“Me next,” said Tootie, standing right behind Nora for her turn.

“My word,” Nora said, inspecting Noah and Daniel. “I can't get over how much you boys have grown since the last time we were here. Noah, you are so tall. Are you eighteen yet?”

“Jah, Mammi,” Noah said, giving her a bashful smile.

Jim patted Noah's shoulder. “Say, how is the courting buggy holding up? I figure you might be giving it a good workout by now.”

Noah blushed. “Ach, nah, I share with Daniel. For the singings, we go together and take turns driving. The courting buggy is fine.”

“Depends if Noah has a date or not, whether we go together,” Daniel added unenthusiastically.

Jim put his arm around Daniel's shoulders. “Ah, ha. Well, by the next time we visit, I predict you'll be using the buggy for dates, too. How's my horse?”

“Mike is gute, Dawdi.”

“Jah, we use him all the time. Mike pulls all recht now,” Noah added, referring to the horse's traffic fright when Jim first bought him.

“You boys suppose I could put in my bid to take the buggy out now and then while I'm here?”

“Sure, any time you want,” Noah said.

“Use it as much as you want, Dawdi,” Daniel added. “Just say the word, and we will hitch it up to Mike for you.”

Jim winked at them. “Good deal. I figured I'd take you grandma for a ride in it one of these days.”

Tootie frowned at the barking noises coming from the barn. “Thank you, boys, for shutting up your dog. I just didn't want him to bounce on Nora and me. He might knock us down.” She searched the area around them. “Where is that overly friendly turkey right now?”

Hal laughed. “No way to tell. He shows up when we least expect it.”

“That's what I'm afraid might happen,” Tootie said, causing them to laugh. “We better get inside before Tom appears unless you boys want to shut him up, too.”

Company meant fixing extra food for meals. While the women worked in the kitchen, most of the talk was about the coming wedding. That evening, Tootie washed the dishes, and Emma dried. Hal put away the leftovers, and Nora washed off the counters and tables. It was as though Nora and Tootie had never left. They settled so easily into their old routine.

“Are you giving up teaching school now that you're getting married?” Tootie asked as she rubbed a plate with the dish cloth.

“Nah, I will teach, but I need the month of September off for the wedding and about two weeks of visiting which is our way. I hope Ellen Miller will substitute teach for me. She was the teacher before me so she is not a stranger to the job.”

Tootie asked, “Emma, have you picked your bridesmaids yet?”

“Jah, if you mean my newehockers?”

“I don't know. Do I?” Tootie asked, looking at Hal for help.

“They aren't called bridesmaids. The two couples in the wedding party are called attendants in English,” Hal explained.

“One of my attendants is Katie Yost and the other one is Jenny Yoder. Do either of you remember my friends?” Emma asked.

Nora said, “Yes, I do but I'm sure they've grown up just like you and the boys. I probably wouldn't recognize them now.”

“Jah, they have grown up. Sunday is the next worship service. I will introduce Aendi Tootie and you to them after I ask them to be my attendants,” Emma said.

Tootie stopped washing a pot to stare at Emma. “You mean they don't know yet?”

“Not yet. Hallie and I just finished making a list of wedding plans. Telling my attendants is next on the list. They will need time to make their dresses as soon as I buy the material. We do not discuss the wedding with anyone else for a couple of months yet,” Emma warned.

“Why not, dear?” Nora asked.

“It is our way. The bishop will not let the deacon publish the wedding announcement until the Sunday worship service in September two weeks before our wedding date. My father will invite everyone at that service. Once that is done, we can talk about the wedding and ask people to help us,” Emma said. “Until then we will be spending the time getting ready for the wedding by ourselves.”

“Oh, dear me. I need to get my Amish book on special occasions out and start reading again,” Tootie exclaimed. “There's so much about how an Amish wedding works I don't understand yet. Nora, you better read the book, too.”

Nora hung her dishcloth over the line behind the stove to dry. “No thanks. I think I'd rather ask questions. I'm finding out enough that way to suit me.”

Tootie made a huffing sound.

Emma felt sorry for her. Mammi picked on her sister too much, and Tootie just wanted to help. “Maybe I should read your book, Aendi. I hate to think there is something I missed while we are planning this wedding. I want everything to be just recht.”

Tootie was all smiles at that suggestion.

Nora slipped close to Emma and hissed, “You shouldn't encourage her. You will be sorry.”

“Where will you live?” Tootie asked.

“Adam plans to remodel the open area above his shop into an apartment. That is only three miles from here so we will always be close by.”

“Sounds handy, Adam that close to work, and you near your family,” Nora said.

“Sure,” Emma said.

She'd been busy working on wedding plans with Hallie, and today, she'd enjoyed visiting with her grandparents and aunt. All of a sudden at the mention of Adam, Emma wondered why she hadn't seen him since the last worship service over a week ago. She was surprised Adam didn't come for supper tonight to visit her company.

The rest of the week passed without seeing Adam. Emma was anxious for the next worship service so she could spend the afternoon with him. She hoped he hadn't become ill from so much work and not enough sleep.

The service was at Moses and Stella Strutt's farm. While the young women were waiting their turn to go inside, Emma told Katie and Jennie she wanted to talk to them. She led the way to a quiet spot in the yard, well aware the other young women watched them leave. They would be very curious now and trying to guess among themselves what was going on.

“Was ist letz?” The tall, willowy built girl's blue eyes seemed troubled as she looked down at Emma.

Emma giggled. Her tan face reddened, making her freckles darken. “Jenny Yoder, nothing is the matter. I have some gute news for both of you, and something I want to ask you where none of the others can hear me.”

That made Katie Yost big blue eyes twinkle “What?”

“Adam and I are getting married in September on my birthday,” Emma said softly.

The excited girls did a three way hug.

“We are so happy for you.” Katie's pale cheeks flushed at the news as she added, “And I am a bit jealous.”

“Why should you be? Levi Yoder is a great man,” Emma said.

Jenny added, “I will agree with that since he is my brother.”

“Jah, but sometimes, I worry I will end up a maidel before Levi decides to propose,” Katie said.

“At least you have a sweetheart. I have yet to find me one,” Jenny quipped.

Emma looked toward the house. The men had started to walk inside, and Adam was among them. “We have to go in soon. Before we do, I want to ask both of you if you will be my attendants.”

Katie clapped her hands. “Oh, jah.”

“Jah, sure I will.” Jenny was all smiles.

As soon as the fellowship lunch was over, Emma caught up with Adam. “Our company arrived as I am sure you saw already. Want to say hello?”

Adam followed her through the crowded room. Nora and Tootie gave Adam a big hug, and Jim gave him a hearty handshake.

They moved over along the wall out of the way while men rearranged the benches.

Adam ducked his head bashfully when Nora said, “We're so glad to hear the news.”

Tootie elbowed her. “We can't talk about it. Remember?”

“Sorry.” Nora frowned at Tootie. “Can I at least say I'm happy to see Adam?”

“Don't see why not,” Jim interrupted. “Cause I'm thinking that same thing myself.”

From behind them came am excited, booming voice. “What news do you know? What news?”

Out of the corner of her eyes, Emma saw a stout figure, dressed in black, had slipped up behind them. As heavy as Stella Strutt was, Emma couldn't figure out how she walked so quietly. Especially, when her feet were always so swelled, causing them to spilled over her black oxfords. “Stella, Mammi was talking to Adam about their visit with us.” She turned to Nora. “Mammi, that is recht, ain't so?”

“Of course, that was it. Nice to see you again, Stella,” Nora replied and changed the subject. “We're so glad to get to visit with everyone today that we met on our last trip to Wickenburg.”

“I am glad you are having a gute time. A gute time.” Stella studied them closely, obviously wondering if she'd missed something newsy they didn't want her to know.

From the kitchen doorway, Roseanna Nisely called, “Schwestern Stella, come show me where you keep this bowl?” When Stella turned her back to Emma, Roseanna had a twinkle in her light brown eyes as she winked.

Emma nodded that she understood and mouthed denki.

Nora patted Adam's arm. “Tootie and I better get into the kitchen to see if we can help with cleanup. We will talk to you again soon. Come see us as often as you can.”

Adam nodded and smiled.

When Nora and Tootie disappeared through the kitchen door, Emma lamented softly, “Adam, I want to add I would like you to come see me as often as you can. It has been a long two weeks for me without seeing you.”

Adam nodded agreement as he patted his chest and pointed at her.

A smile kindled in Emma's eyes. “Are you interested in a walk with me on this fine day?”

Adam flashed a smile that danced up to his eyes as he followed her out of the house.

Emma clasped her hands behind her back while they walked down the driveway. “I hoped sometime this last week you would come visit my gross eldra and aendi and me.”

Adam wrote on his notepad. “Sorry. Swamped with work.”

Emma teased, “That so? I worried you were trying to put off getting close to Aendi Tootie.”

He grinned and scribbled,“I am up early. Making an order of furniture for a new house in the mornings, and work at the Weber sisters in the afternoons. By night, I am too tired to visit.”

“What are you building for the Weber sisters?”

“A kitchen.”

Emma frowned. “Ach! They are remodeling their kitchen recht now. I hope you get the job done in time for them to bake my wedding cake.”

“I am not remodeling the old kitchen. I am building a new kitchen,” he wrote.

Emma's eyes widened in concern. “Now of all times. What's wrong with the one they have always used?”

Adam rolled his eyes toward the sky.

“That is not gute news. They might not be able to take baking orders or serve meals for some time,” Emma worried.

Adam wrote, “They will. They still have the old kitchen to cook in.”

Emma was confused. “You lost me.”

“When I get done, they will have two kitchens.”

“Why?”

Adam shrugged.

Emma opened her mouth to ask another question. She lost her train of thought as she watched a new family walking toward their buggy. A thin woman in a faded blue dress and three skinny boys, wearing patched trousers, followed a lanky, weathered man. Each of the boys was a head taller than the next one. “Wonder where they live? This is the first time I noticed them in church.”

Adam wrote, “They just moved in. My neighbors.” He poked her arm to get her to look at the note.

“Neighbors. Where?”

At the old compound,” Adam wrote.

Emma felt fearful at the mention of that compound, and the Hostellers that once terrorized the neighborhood. Her hand flew to the lump forming in her throat. “They are not part of the Hosteller family, are they?”

Adam shrugged.

“They should have stayed to join in the fellowship. That is the best way to get to know all of us,” Emma criticized. Under her breath, she added, “And for us to find out more about them.”

Adam nodded in agreement.

“We do not want Hostellers to move in and take over again. Come with me. We need to talk to Daed and the bishop. Maybe they know something about that family.” Emma grabbed Adam's hand and headed for the house.

A group of men, John Lapp and Bishop Elton Bontrager among them, were at the screen door as Emma opened it. “Coming out on the porch?” Emma backed up. As soon as the screen door shut, she said, “Adam and I are wondering if any of you talked to the new family that was at the service?”

“I greeted them when they first arrived, but they just nodded and moved away,” John Lapp said.

“Anyone else talk to them?” Fear dropped from Emma's throat and tighten her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Bishop Bontrager asked, “Emma, what is this all about?”

“Adam just told me the family is living at the Hosteller compound. I am worried they might be Hostellers. Nah, I am not just worried I am scared to death.”

Hamish Manwiller spoke up sharply. “We went through too much at the hands of the Hostellers to wilcom them back again. If that is who they are, I want them out of this neighborhood.”

The rest of the men nodded their heads, and a few uttered soft jahs.

“Now just a minute,” Elton said. “We do not know anything about these people yet. They might be innocent of what you are thinking. Remember judge not lest ye be judged. Maybe the women know something if the wife talked to them while she helped in the kitchen. I will ask. Wait here.”

John patted Emma on the shoulder. “Elton's recht. Best not get worked up until we have some answers.”

Bishop Bontrager came back with Margaret Yoder, Preacher Luke Yoder's mother. He swiped the sweat on his red face with his white hanky as he said, “Schwestern Margaret says the wife helped her with the table settings.”

The chunky, elderly woman folded her arms and rested them across her chest. Her brown eyes grew serious as she noted the concerned looks. “What is this about?”

“We did not get a chance to find out about the new family,” Elton said. “Adam says they live on the Hosteller farm.”

“Jah, Ada Jostle told me that while we worked.”

“Are they kin to the Hostellers?” Hamish Manwiller demanded.

“I do not think so,” Margaret said uncertainly. “Their last name is different.”

“That does not mean a thing,” Hamish declared.

“Hamish is right,” Moses Strutt said. “The woman might be a Hosteller kin.”

“They might have changed their last name so we would not know they are Hostellers,” Preacher Luke Yoder suggested.

“I hear too much guessing. You cannot go off half cocked. We should wilcom the family to the community and find out more about them,” Elton said.

Deacon Enos Yutzy shook his head. “Now, Bishop, how are we going to do that if they do not talk to us. I greeted the man when he sat on the end of the bench for the service and introduced myself. He said his name was Jake Jostle. That was all he said. I noticed during the service he looked down at his hands most of the time.”

Abram Beiler's frizzy, gray beard moved up and down as he shook his head. “I agree. The man did not want to get acquainted when I greeted him.”

Bishop Bontrager held up his hand. “Come morning, a committee of us will go visit the Jostles and make them wilcom. If we take the first step, that might make them feel more like talking.”

“That sounds like a gute idea,” Preacher Luke Yoder nodded his blond head in agreement.

“Meet at my house around ten,” the bishop told them. “Now we are here to spend this afternoon in fellowship. We should do just that. Bruder Abram Beiler, wie bischt du this fine Sunday?”

Abram rubbed his beard as he spoke in a slow drawl, “Ach, Bishop, I am slow in all things and getting slower by the minute.”

That brought a laugh from the other men.

Elton quipped, “I know how you feel, Abram. Anymore, it is harder to tell which one is faster, me or the box turtle in my yard.”

Emma whispered in Adam's ear. “You are the one I want to have fellowship with. Let's take that walk you promised me.”

They walked away from the house toward a dense windbreak of tall evergreens. Once they were behind the trees, Adam wrapped his arm around Emma's waist and squeezed her side.

His warm smile and adoring eyes caused Emma to answer, “I am glad to hear that, Adam Keim.”

Adam raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes, teasing her to explain.

“It is gute to hear that you love me.”

Adam's smile widened as he nodded yes.

That evening, Adam and Emma went back to the Strutt farm for the singing. On the way home after the singing, Emma said, “This morning, I asked Katie Yost and Jennie Yoder to be my newehockers. Have you decided who you want for newehockers?”

Adam handed her the lines and wrote, “I asked Levi Yoder and Noah.”

Emma held the paper in close to her face to make it out. She squeezed Adam's arm. “Ach, that is perfect. Katie and Levi are dating. Noah would like to take Jennie out, and she is wanting to date someone. This makes a good excuse for them to get together. You could not have made better picks.”

Adam patted his shoulder, boasting about his good idea.

“Take it easy. Only my rooster, Abraham, is allowed to crow,” Emma scolded playfully and handed him back the lines.

Soon they were at the Lapp farm driveway. Adam pulled back on the lines to stop Sophie when the buggy was even with the Lapp house.

Emma asked, “Will you have time to visit my grandparents and Aendi Tootie this week? They are wishing you can come for supper soon.”

Adam wavered his hand back and forth.

“This week is going to be busy, too?”

Adam nodded, leaned over and kissed her cheek.

“Sure, I understand, but just remember I will miss you very much,” Emma said as she climbed out of the buggy.

Adam nodded, patted his chest over his heart, snapped the lines to start his horse and left.

Emma stood on the edge of the driveway and waved at Adam until he was out of sight. If wishing made it so, they would already be married as far as she was concerned. That way Adam would be at home with her every night, and she wouldn't feel so lonely the minute he drove out of her sight.