CHAPTER FOUR

 

Three weeks later…

 

 

Trey Peachy cleaned out the loft of the old barn and remembered his father.  They had always cleaned the loft out together, and they’d always set in the loft and looked out the square loft window to watch the animals play on the sprawling two-hundred acre farm. 

His mouth watered for the thick Colby cheese sandwiches, always on good-sized slices of Sourdough bread, creamy ranch coleslaw, and the fresh mint tea that they’d always drank to wash the good food down.

A lone tear traveled down his tanned face, and he kneeled in reverence to Someone Higher than Him, “God, please make Esther Schwartz fall in love with me, and please don’t let her find out that I bought the lake.”

He swallowed a knot in his throat, and he drank the last bit of the zesty mint tea.  Somehow it didn’t taste as good as when he’d shared it with his father.  He bit his lip and thought that he’d done the right thing by purchasing the lake.  In the back of his mind, he’d done it to protect his future fraa and his future kinner, and he knew it; he wanted to own the lake that his future children would play by when they’d be visiting their grandmother.  If they’d known that a convicted child molester had owned the lake, he knew that Esther’s parents would have moved.  Why does society keep such offenders at bay?  Was it this man’s money?  Had he paid someone off? 

Truth be told, he secretly wanted to learn more about the Amish, and he knew that he’d sell his big tractors and his beloved blue Ford pick-up truck in a heartbeat in order to join such a beautiful woman in her faith and her life.  He’d wanted to visit and have dinner at her place, but he hadn’t been invited yet, and he wondered why she hadn’t offered an invite.

The rake, empty lunchbox, and thermos were thrown into the back of the Ford pick-up before he jumped through the driver’s side window.  As he cranked it up, he wondered if she wanted to drive his truck again.  He’d love to be in the truck with her instead of hidden behind a row of tall corn fighting off bugs from his face.

He glanced around the farm and saw a light mist of rain escaping from the blue sky.  The light, chilly rain got harder, and the earth’s smell bounced up from the ground as little mud puddles sprouted up around the lane between the tall, heaven-reaching stalks of corn.

Several deep, drawn out sighs of relief exited his deep lungs as the pick-up moved at a snail’s pace between the rows of Peaches and Cream corn.  His left tanned arm dangled loosely against the outside of the faded blue truck door, and his thick black hair lightly resisted the swaying wind as his head rested on his left shoulder.  Rain smacked him in the face as he gently tapped the gas pedal, but he didn’t care, for he was in awe of a moment like no other that he’d ever experienced. 

Sounds of strong corn husks opening up to receive new life from the sky’s water echoed through both sides of the windows, and the hungry crows could be heard as they flew in rain-kissed circles above the tall stalks.  Headlights slowly glimmered through the storm’s sudden downpour as the Ford pick-up made its way between the corn swerving every so often as the driver learned a slower way of life.

The rain poured off his saturated black hair and down the collar of his blue button-down shirt, but he didn’t care, and he actually looked forward to riding in the soaking wet truck with its muddy floorboard again, for he’d experienced something that she’d experienced, and he wanted to become more and more of her life.  He felt it, and he had to admit it: he was falling in love.

“What on earth?”  Linda shook her head, and she started to unbutton her son’s dripping wet shirt.  “You had the windows down on the truck in a storm?  Esther does that, and I’ve set in the dining room and watched her through the window.  She is always part of the rain; she jumps out and twirls and twirls under the gazebo’s shelter.  It takes her about thirty spins to get rid of all of the water.  She then takes towels out of the buggy to wipe your leather seats down.  She just loves the rain.”

Trey grinned as the water ran down his tanned chest.  “You let her drive my truck?”

“Why sure, when it’s your turn to do the local wholesale route,” Linda took a towel and rubbed it over her son’s dark hair.  “It’s only once a month, Trey.”

Okay. It sounded like you’ve watched her a lot,” He said, and she nodded and smiled. 

“Over the years, I have watched her a lot.”  Linda took the towel and ran it over his head again. “I don’t want you catching a cold.”

Trey’s manly velvet eyes glowed with the excitement of new love and curiosity about this blonde-haired Old Order Amish woman.  “I find her fascinating, and you know that I have a tough immune system, mother.  How many colds have I had my whole life?  I’ve had two colds; that’s all.”

“Sit down, and I’ll warm us up a good slice of rhubarb coffee cake.  Some good warm tea with fresh lemon and honey will stop a cold in its tracks.”  Linda smiled, and she was excited about his new attraction to Esther Schwartz.

“Okay.” He slid into the chair and watched the pouring rain sway the tree’s heavy bough. Like the tree, he needed swayed into the close-knit Old Order Amish community, but he didn’t know how to go about doing it.

“Here’s a clean warm shirt. I’ll pop the cake in the microwave.  I bet she misses you today.”  Linda swung open the cherry cupboard door and took out two flower-covered saucers and matching tea cups. 

She poured hot water over the tea bags and let then steep as she sliced a lemon into wedges.  “I think a whole lemon wedge is needed to knock out this cold.” 

“I haven’t gotten a cold, mother,” Trey shook his head, and he gazed at his mother’s soft smile.  She was a truly caring mother, and he knew it, but she sometimes was to caring, like when she asked his late father to give Esther the apple orchard.

She poured the orange blossom honey into the tea and mixed in ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.  She had used this formula since she was young, and it had never failed in stopping a cold dead in its tracks.

“You know that your grandma and your cousin Loretta were Old Order Amish?  They left during Rumspringa.” Linda set the antique tea pot down in the middle of the table, and she looked at her son for a happy reaction.

“That’s so cool! I can sell the farm equipment tomorrow.  Let’s be Amish!”  He clapped his hands in front of him and shook with excitement.  He couldn’t believe that this was happening, for he’s expected it to be a battle to try to become Amish.  “What do you know about the culture?”

“I know a great deal, for I used to visit my cousin Sharon and her husband Henry.  I can run an Amish farm if I had to, but I am not for sure how her mother will take this news, for she’d secretly asked me to not let her get too close to you.”  Linda’s head dropped as she poured the tea into the crème-colored cups.  “I think that she wouldn’t be happy if her daughter married an Amish man.  Since Ruth’s murder and her husband’s death, she is glued to Esther.”

“Well, she can’t stay little forever.  She has to stop being selfish.” Trey took a sip of the hot tea and thought that it hit the spot. His eyes gently closed as the honey-coated lemon remedy swished around in his cold mouth and medicated his sore throat. “I’ve had a sore throat for a week now,” He said as he grinned at his mother.

“That was before the rain! I’m glad that I made the tea or you may have been bedridden with a fever.” Linda smiled as she got up and got the cake out of the microwave. She sprinkled some cinnamon sugar on it and set it on the table. “I think that this is the moistest cake that I’ve ever made, Trey.”

Trey took his fork and slid a large piece off the serving platter and onto his plate.  He took a bite and savored its buttery rich texture and smooth rhubarb taste. “It’s very good. You know that I’ve always loved rhubarb.”

Trey savored another bug bite before his mind returned to Esther Schwartz. “Is there extra cake?  I thought that it would be a lovely gesture to take Esther and her mother a piece.”  He swallowed the sweet delight and licked the excess brown sugar off of his lips.  “We could take the warm van and not the wet truck.”

Linda smiled as she sipped her hot tea.  “As long as we ride dry, that will work.” She knew that Trey didn’t know that one of her Amish cousins lived next to Esther’s house, and although she’d never told anyone, he’d just preached her late husband’s funeral.

*****

 

Ralph Schwartz watched his wife Naomi gently rock their son Graham to sleep.  As a father and the sole provider for his place, he was supposed to be in charge of the running of the household and its finances; he was not.  It had been like that ever since Graham had gotten a mysterious illness, one that was wreaking havoc in his tiny body.

“I shouldn’t be yawning since I just had a nap,” he admitted as he took another drawn-out yawn.  His grey hair was puff as were the patches under his weary eyes.

“I see.” Naomi grinned, for she knew that the only nap that her husband had had was a quick fifteen minute siesta, which had been interrupted when he’d woken up thinking of Graham.

“There’s ten head of cattle that they’re adding in as a bonus if someone buys by Saturday,” She repeated that her husband had told her over the dinner table.  “That’s a pretty good deal.”

“Ya!” He leaned and watched Graham’s chest rise and fall.  He loved his son and wanted the unknown disease to go away. “Have you heard about how family can help heal a body? I heard Dr. Drake talking about an article that he had read in a magazine.”

“They can write anything, but who knows; maybe it’s right?” She leaned down and lightly pecked Graham’s hot face.  She’d broken his fever earlier, but it was now back.

“I was thinking that my mamm has that whole empty house, and Esther works all the time. Maybe we can move in there and help her on the farm?” He looked at his wife for an agreement, and she studied him but didn’t respond.

Knowing that their checkbook was at one-hundred dollars, she finally drew a smile of relief. Just hours before she’d quietly kneeled down and asked God for a sign.  This was the sign, and she knew it, and she planned on acting on it immediately, “Let’s move back, but I want to make sure that his fever is broken for at least twenty-four hours before we leave. I can get the Yoder twins to help us pack, and their brothers can lend their drivers for the trip.”

He smiled as hope entered his mind, a hope for a reuniting of family and bonding of a grandmother and her grandson, and a grandeur desire for a miracle to cure Graham. “I’ll get the horse and ride over to Miller’s to call her neighbor from the phone shanty.”

“Doesn’t Miller’s sister live next to your mother?”  Naomi asked as she cuddled Graham.  The heat from his little breaths swirled against her chin.

“No, she moved, but the bishop lives next to her now.  He can relay the message.” He smiled as he got up and took his hat off of the hat rack. “I’ll be back shortly.”

*****

 

“Esther, get the door. I’m getting the turkey out of the oven!” Mary Ann called out as she leaned over the black wood- burning stove and positioned the handmade mittens to avoid getting burned.  The poultry’s piping hot juices waved under her nose making her mouth water and her stomach growl. The smell of sage dressing and cinnamon apples splashed her in the face and teased her palate. She placed the honey-glazed turkey on the counter next to the stove.

“We have dinner guests, Mamm!” Esther’s face glowed as she walked in with Trey and Linda Peachy.

Mary Ann wiped her hands of her black apron and smiled, “I see that you brought dessert.” She eyed the clear container of cake and got an instant craving for sweets.  “I am making cinnamon apples and have some Poor Man’s Pies cooling on the other counter.” Mary Ann pointed to the three pies that set on the counter.

“Poor Man’s Pie is one of my favorites. Mother used to make it when I was little.  Her recipe has been passed down through several generations.  Some of mother’s family is still Old Order, and we will be selling all of our farm equipment and returning to a simpler life.” Trey spoke admiringly as he eyed the three pies. 

“It’s Esther’s favorite pie, too,” Mary Ann announced.

Trey grinned and looked straight into Esther’s vibrant baby blues, “I am very fond of your daughter.”

Mary Ann jerked her attention to her daughter before responding, “Actually, you’ve never mentioned any men before, and I think that you’ve been enjoying Trey’s company on the orchard.”  Mary Ann stared at Esther for a quick answer, but she only started back at her.  The information had clearly embarrassed her daughter.

Slowly and hesitantly, Esther smiled back and turned to Trey and Linda. “I enjoy your help in the orchard. It’s been a lot more work that I had anticipated.”

“Yes it is, but you will get the hang of it. Once my mother and I go through instruction class, we will have our Amish cousins to help you.” Trey gently smiled, and she smiled back.

“Amazing how God works things out, I see the bishop cutting through the wet field in the backyard.  Maybe there’s a spot in this fall’s class?” Mary Ann assumed, knowing that she’d love to see Trey become Amish because he was such a hardworking, polite young man.

“Go ahead and have a seat. I’ll get the bishop’s hat and coat,” Mary Ann warmly offered, and they accepted as they each took a seat around the oblong cherry dinner table.

“Come on in for a hot meal Bishop Yoder.” Mary Ann took his hat and coat and placed them on the racks that rested on the wall to the left of the back door entrance.  “Go ahead and have a seat.  I just have to spoon the food into dishes and put it on the table.  The storm brought an overcast sky, and bone-chilling wind, didn’t it?”

“We needed the rain badly. It will help the crops,” the Bishop replied as he slid in to a wooden chair at the out of the hand-carved dining room table.

“Esther, go get another lantern to make it lighter in here while we enjoy good company,” Mary Ann asked, and Esther nodded and left the kitchen in search of the battery-powered lantern.

“Bishop Yoder, I hear that Linda and Trey want to join the church; her cousins are Old Order,” Mary Ann blurted as she spooned the cinnamon apples into the white oval serving dish. “Do you think that they can get into instruction class this fall?”

“That will be no problem; Linda and Trey have family that is already part of our community.” The Bishop smiled at Trey and Linda, and they smiled back.

Esther brought the lantern in and set it on the kitchen counter.  Linda placed the dishes of food on the table as Esther poured the mint tea into the tall drinking glasses.  The old farmhouse was finally feeling like a home.