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Monday morning sunshine poured down upon Ruby’s shoulders as she walked to David’s house to begin the end of September paperwork. They paid the workers on the last day of the month. Then she sent in the tax information. They did not pay into Social Security as that was a government program, but taxes were another story.
Dan and Sarah were waiting for her by the office. Ruby held the office keys in her hand, ready to open the door when Dan reached out and took her hand.
“Nee, don’t go to work yet. Sarah and I have a surprise we want to share with you.”
They went out the front door that Ruby just came through, down the steps off the porch, and made their way around the rambling house.
The kinner were so excited they pulled Ruby along at a fast pace as they raced in front of her. She could not stop the giggles, enjoying being with the twins. They were great kids and growing so fast.
“Oh my, I need to catch my breath, hold up a second.” Ruby bent over and held her knees to revitalize herself.
Sarah popped up in front of her giving her a smile from ear to ear. “We are almost there; we can walk slower with you.”
“You are both so happy, and you make me feel wonderful. Now, let us keep going to see your surprise.” Ruby took the hands held out to her, one on each side. She swallowed her laughter over the care on both their faces.
Together they started down the hill towards the creek. They were not running but practically skipping.
Dan spoke up when they reached the tree line. “Now close your eyes, we will keep hold of you.”
“All right, they are closed.”
The kinner were whispering back and forth, making Ruby’s suspense build.
Dan said, “Okay, we are here to see the surprise.”
She could feel them watching her as her eyes adjusted to the shade. Then, she saw what they wanted her to see. “Oh goodness, I have never seen any pumpkin this huge. How in the world did you grow this? I am amazed.”
Ruby turned to both the kinner her heart filled with joy that they shared the marvelous achievement.
They showed her the watering system that they made from the creek leading to the pumpkin patch. And the two of them took turns telling her how they took care of the pumpkin.
“How in the world did you keep this a secret all these months?”
Dan stepped forward, saying, “Every day all summer, we would come this way to water. The plant takes a lot!” Daed and Mrs. Guthrie knew, but we realized we had not told you. We are going to win the prize for biggest pumpkin at the state fair!”
Ruby felt certain that Gott would ignore the pride in their beautiful happy faces. “I have heard of your pumpkin, Goliath, but of course, I have not seen it. I am so impressed by both of you for your diligence. Your father should be proud of you both.” They would probably wear their happiness all day.
“Yes, I am very proud of them for growing and taking care of this pumpkin patch. It has been a tremendous amount of work.”
Ruby jumped at the sound of David’s voice, and her heart began a rapid staccato behind her chest bone. Whenever he was near, she reacted like a schoolgirl with her first crush. She told herself she must stop this silliness, but her emotions would not behave.
David came to stand beside Ruby, and she hoped he couldn’t hear the rapid beat of her heart. When he placed his arm over her shoulders, Ruby swore her face turned beet red. “They have another surprise. Are you ready to show Ruby the biggest pumpkin ever?”
A bigger pumpkin? The kinner’s happy answer and excitement filled her with joy and was sure David felt the same.
A little further down the creek bank and then closer to the creek, she and David followed the kinner. David kept hold of her hand and helped her down the bank. Ruby was glad everyone looked busy and did not see how flustered she felt.
Under the trees and closer to the creek bed sat the king of all pumpkins.
“This is Goliath, not the first one.”
“Wow, it is huge!” Everyone turned and looked at her. Calm Ruby was not known for dramatics. With nervousness melting away, they all started to laugh. Ruby decided she might as well join them and laugh at herself.
Ruby coughed to clear her laughter, “It is perfect.”
“Jah and Goliath is going to win at the state fair.” Sarah looked to Dan to take over, telling them of the kinners’ dream for their pumpkin.
“I have a question, though. It is getting colder out, and we have had snow. I see the dead leaves, but are the pumpkins ok?”
“Jah, the thick skin protects it, and the meat becomes heavier because it does not lose water from the heat.”
David took hold of Ruby’s hand and led her around the great pumpkin. “I think it is a whole person higher than you are, Ruby.”
“I cannot see the top standing beside it. I am still overwhelmed by all the kinner accomplished, and to keep it a secret, that had to be very difficult.”
“It certainly was.”
“Daniel took care of the tape measure until both of us were needed to measure it weekly for the growth and width. I kept a book for each of them. Everything followed the rules that they wanted for the judging.”
“I like your smile, Ruby. We ought to keep you wearing it and the big smiles on kinner as well.”
Ruby took the time to look in David’s eyes. He truly meant his words. They were for her, and he did not care who might hear. “As long as you smile as well, David.”
She would remember this day for the rest of her life.
Just as she could reply, they all caught sight of someone moving down the riverbank. All they could see was a blue dress.
“I know its Susan. We always watch to make sure she didn’t follow us here, Daed.”
Sarah came and leaned into Ruby over the fear in her brother’s voice. Ruby wrapped her arm around the girl and hugged her against her side.
David turned to them, saying, “this is going to stop, and I mean now.”
If Ruby ever wondered if David grew angry, she now faced what she never wanted to see in him again.
*~*
“THAT’S IT! I HAVE HAD it with Susan Lantz!”
“But, David, how will we manage? Glenna cannot deal with her either. I am at a loss over what to do with the woman,” the bishop’s words came out shakily. He opened the front door to his house and let his angry friend enter.
“I have had it with her. Now she is following the twins around spying on them, and I saw it for myself this morning. It is entirely too much, Ruben. I want her gone, and the sooner, the better!” David swallowed hard, trying not to show his temper. “Send her home, write to the districts, and see if anyone will accept her. If there is an empty house to put her in and let her fix it up, make it a project as far away from here as possible.”
The bishop cleared his voice. “David. Stop. You know we cannot do that. I will contact the Bishop of the district from where she came. It will be up to their district as to what to do with her.”
“Great, but how do you know this district? She's lied so much about it,” David said under his breath. If Susan pulled half the stuff she had done around here, they were probably glad she left with her brother. He felt terrible saying this to his friend, but he needed that woman away from his family.
“I have worked on this since her brother’s death. I only found the district yesterday when, in the mail, was a letter from a Bishop in Ohio.”
David stared at him, blankly. “You did not tell me and have put my family through all of this for nothing?”
Bishop Eischler’s face became white as his beard. “Nee, it was only yesterday. I have written back to him, but we will have to wait for his reply.”
Looking at the ground and then back to his friend, David said, “I am sorry I jumped to conclusions. This woman is driving me verhoodled.”
“Here is another thought. I do have the right to suggest a couple marry. What about Silas Adams? He needs a wife, and his children are grown. Susan might not make such a mess of his life if his love of his kinner did not threaten her.”
“Ha! That will only work until the grand boppli comes.”
“Let us be optimistic, David.”
“Speaking of marriage, I am courting Ruby if she agrees.”
David watched the man's reaction and wondered if the bishop expected him to want Susan. The prospect made him feel sick.
“Ruby? Jah, I think that is a fantastic idea. I have seen you and Ruby together, and it does not surprise me. She looks at you like a woman in love. The same way you look at her.”
Excitement surged through him at the bishop’s words. Worry about how Ruby would react to his question kept him awake at night. Could the bishop be right?
“I will speak to Silas about Susan, though I do not think he will be interested. At one time, I knew the man favored Ruby.”
David’s heart sank to the floor. Silas and Ruby? No. Just the knowledge that another man could be interested in her made him sick. He could not lose her. Knowing this, he had to act immediately.
“Ruben, I should go.”
“To speak to Ruby about courting her?” The bishop chuckled.
David narrowed his eyes as he gazed at his friend Ruben. He might be the district’s bishop, but their rapport and friendship were the first he had in the community when he arrived from Ohio.
“Let us go and tell Susan she is no longer working for you. Will she be at the dawdi haus? Or working at your home?”
“She was headed in this direction when I saw her leave the pumpkin patch.”
“Then we had better hurry to catch her before she returns to your home.”
“Will you tell her she can never step foot in my home again?”
“Nee, that would not be advisable. We can let her go, but let us not be mean about it. We are walking on thin ice as it is with that woman.”
David followed the bishop out the door. His stomach did a flip at the prospect of meeting with Susan. They strode around the house with their sights fixed on the dawdi haus as they went.
In moments, they were there. David stood behind Ruben as he knocked on the door. He heard footsteps, and his heartbeat sped up in time with the quick steps.
Susan threw open the door. Surprise registered on her face, and then her eyes danced with joy when she saw him standing there.
“Willkum!” She moved the door open wide to allow them to enter.
The Bishop hesitated before following her into the house.
“Would you like some kaffe? I have some made.”
“Nee, we will not be here long. We have come to tell you that you will no longer be working for David, in any manner. I will be contacting your prior Bishop about sending you home...”
“Nee! I cannot go back.”
David saw her face fade to white, and he stepped forward. “I am sorry for your problems, but that is none of my business. What is my concern is the happiness of my kinner, and they are upset with you in my household.”
Tears filled Susan’s eyes, and then suddenly, her face took on a mask of hatred. “Get out of here then. I do not want to say something bad, but it is your spoiled kinner who are making up tales about me. All I have ever done is try to show you how much I care for you, David!”
The bishop suddenly moved in front of David to keep him back. “Your perspective, Susan, is so far from the truth it is sad. We will be leaving.”
David backed two steps to the door, turned, and opened the door. The fresh air felt good on his heated face. He filled with anger at Susan talking about his twins as if they were the problem. They had done nothing to make her speak so vile about them. He should not have let this continue so long, but he tried to give the situation a chance.