Chapter Nineteen

Zeb woke up early again. He rolled out of bed, thinking about what Emma was doing, wondering if she was safe. He didn’t even care that she was with Caleb. He would actually be glad to hear it. At least he’d know someone was looking after her.

Communication with the outside world was difficult, he understood, but any word would be appreciated. The thought of her in a place with so many strange people, crime, and unsafe environments zipped through his mind.

He dressed quickly and scrubbed his face and teeth, ready to start his day. He’d heard bits and pieces of information from parents whose children had gone on the trip but nothing of any significance—just that they’d arrived safely.

When he opened the door, he smelled bacon, and as he made his way down the stairs, he heard it sizzling on the stove.

The haus had a masculine feel considering there were three men and his mamm. They took precedence. Their hunting gear was supposed to be locked in the mudroom, but was frequently left out for cleaning. A calendar and a welcome sign in German hung on the walls. A table for four was all they needed, as they infrequently had guests. Mamm enjoyed her kerosene glass lanterns and used one in most every room.

Mamm didn’t look up from the skillet. “You’re up early.” Her tall yet sturdy frame was much like Zeb’s, as was his father’s, but Merv was stouter. She turned quickly to glance at him. “You have bags under your eyes.”

“Nothing a little nap under the maple tree won’t cure.” He ignored her studying eyes. It was obvious he wasn’t sleeping and why. He didn’t need to be told.

“Except that there’s snow on the ground.” She grinned at him, but it didn’t cheer him up.

“Daed still asleep?”

“Jah, he’s an old man. I say let him sleep.” She cracked a couple of eggs, turned the gas down, and poured him some coffee. “You’re going to be before your time if you don’t get things in order with Emma.” Her tone was matter of fact.

“She’s doing what she feels is right. She’ll be back soon.” He hoped. The time spent away seemed to vary when the youth went on that trip. He never could understand why the deacons didn’t keep it more restricted. The youth could just as easily do their adjusting close to home. Sometimes Zeb felt their community was giving up too many of the old ways.

Soon there will be phones and big, blue buggies approved.

He finished his breakfast and made his way to the barn. With so many cows, milking was a major production. They had a system that worked well. It was just time-consuming, even with the gas-powered machines doing some of the work. As soon as one group of cows was done, they were sent out to pasture and another set were hooked up. Zeb had finished one group and was just ready to hook up the next round.

“You’re making me feel lazy.” Merv’s voice was welcome. “Can’t sleep?”

Zeb frowned. His mamm must have said something, the way mothers do. “Did she tell you to check on me?”

“Jah, of course. You know I don’t care one iota.” Merv grinned. “But you might give me a bit to go on so I have something to tell her.”

“Tell her everything’s fine. She’s just itching to get me married off.” Which was true in a way, but Emma’s resistance to spend time at his farm had his mamm worried. There was no way to explain it to her or to himself, as far as that went. And now he was more concerned than ever. He didn’t need anyone else worrying with him. “You gonna pull that wagon over from the Zimmermans’?”

“Jah, sure. If you got this handled.” Merv seemed happy to do something other than milk cows. He was half Zeb’s age, and Zeb tried to remember that when there were chores to be done. Zeb had talked his daed into purchasing a wagon due to the number of Holstein they had. It made good sense, and took half the time to make hauls. What they’d failed to do was make sure the wagon purchase was approved by the deacons.

When Deacon Reuben had found out, he’d threatened to tell the bishop. Now Zeb’s hands were tied. Did he go to the bishop, confess that he hadn’t disclosed the information, or wait until it was found out and deal with it if and when that happened? He didn’t know whether it was against the Ordnung, but not knowing would be his fault, as well.

“Zeb.” Merv’s voice rang in his ears. “Where have you been? Thinking of Emma?” He grinned.

“Nee. Actually I have a lot on my mind. Only some of it is about her.” Which was the truth. He thought about telling Merv, but then he might be held responsible, as well.

“I’m gonna go.” He pointed toward the barn doors with both thumbs over his shoulder. “See you at the noon meal.”

“Danke, Merv.” That was one thing off his mind, but without Merv’s company, he’d sit and brood over things he didn’t want to think about, and the milking would take longer.

But soon enough it was time to eat, and Zeb was ready for a break. He’d finish with the last of them after the noon meal. As he walked to the haus, he heard loud voices—Merv’s and his father’s. He jogged to the back door, kicked off his boots in the mudroom, and entered the kitchen.

His father and brother scowled as they turned his way.

“What is it?”

“Ask your brother.” Daed came over to the dark wood table and sat down.

Merv’s pink face and pinched forehead spoke without words. “I got pulled over.”

The words weren’t familiar and muddled in Zeb’s mind. “You mean the police?”

That irritated Merv even more. “Yeah, the officer said I couldn’t haul the wagon or be on the road with either vehicle that has steel wheels.”

“I told you to watch your back.” Zeb shook his head. “They gave the Beliers a hard time of it down south.”

Merv’s cheeks reddened. “He would have said the same thing to you.”

“Nee, Merv, I would have found another way to move the wagon.”

“What were you hauling it for in the first place?” Daed’s face was almost as red as Merv’s. He lifted his elbows and placed them on the table, waiting for an answer.

“I needed to haul off some of the cow dung. With so many cows, we have too much to spread come planting.”

“Well, it needs to be done then, and we’ll explain things to the police department. I remember something about this down in Kentucky with an Amish farmer, something about the steel wheels tearing up the roads. We’ll have to make a visit to the church board before we go.”

Zeb tensed, wondering how much would come out of this meeting. If Reuben was there, a lot more could be divulged. He felt he was already in the hot seat. “Let’s not waste any time. The rumors will start flying as soon as word gets out.”

Mamm, who had been quiet through the conversation, jerked back. “I don’t know that to be true. Who would know, and why would they bother?”

Zeb was spinning a web that could get him snagged if he wasn’t careful. The possibility of gossip wasn’t likely but would be a way to lessen some of the blame on him. “We don’t all need to go.”

His daed, who was halfway out of his chair, sat back down. “The more of us, the better to explain.”

His daed’s confused expression filled Zeb with more guilt. “Merv will go with me. There are a few cows that need milking, anyway, Daed. If you can manage.”

With that he turned and walked out, not leaving room for any objections. His hazy mind, full of deceit, held answers to questions that he might be asked. He wanted to go alone, but they would need Merv’s account of what happened. He kicked at the dirt clods beneath his boots and stuck his hands on his hips to keep from hitting something.

Merv hitched up the buggy as he came around the barn, and Zeb helped him along. He took the driver’s seat, pushing Merv to the passenger’s side. It irritated Merv, but Zeb didn’t care at the moment. When they got on the main road that led to the bishop’s farm, Zeb took a right to the highway instead.

“Where are you going?” Merv frowned.

“Show me where you went down the highway.” Zeb tensed, but try as he might, he couldn’t get his heart to stop thumping in his chest. The only other time he’d felt this way was when he was with Emma, when he could get her alone. But that wasn’t worrisome like now.

After a couple of miles Merv pointed. There’s the spot, right over there, before those oak trees.”

“Stay here.” Zeb jumped out of the buggy and examined the roads, walking a good way down and back. “I don’t see any damage, so that much is good. Hopefully, there won’t be a big fuss.” Merv’s eyebrows pinched together, making his baby face appear chubbier than usual. “I thought we were going to the deacons.”

“They don’t need to be bothered. We can take care of this.”

They weren’t more than a few miles from Lititz, but it would take over an hour to get there. That was a whole lot of time to think.

They didn’t talk much, but when they got to the courthouse, Merv started in. “Can we just walk in and do this?”

“You got the warning he gave you?”

“Jah.” Merv tapped the straw hat that had seen better days. But Merv wasn’t prepared for this today, and neither was Zeb. Nevertheless, he felt responsible, and couldn’t rest until he’d had a chance to plead his case.

Merv tried to keep up with Zeb’s long strides, tagging along behind. The tall building with a sharp, red roof stood boldly in the center of the town square. Statues of politicians or other noteworthy individuals who’d led the city stood on either side of the sidewalk leading to the front doors. When they got there, Merv pulled on the handle. It didn’t budge. Zeb gave it a yank and scowled, and then looked at a sign on the door. “They’re locked.”

“Why’s it locked? It’s early enough.”

Zeb shook his head and leaned over, placing his hands on his knees. Church was every other Sunday for Amish, but every Sunday for the folks in town. “It’s Sunday.”

Merv groaned, and Zeb shamed himself for being so rash, driving them all the way to town before stopping and thinking about it. If he’d been a cursing man, that’s what he’d be doing about now.