––––––––
Mary poured lemonade and put a platter of cake on the table with several plates and forks. She cut it as Annie began to talk.
“Daed, mamm, something happened today,” Annie said, turning around to show them the back of her dress, stained with spilled food. “Yes, I will go change, but first, I have something to ask you. When I told Ruth and Jenny my news today, Barbara Kurtz was walking behind us and she spilled her food on our backs. She didn’t say anything, only walked away – and she was mad. I don’t know for sure, but I think she was the one who talked to the school board. I think she was the one who told them all those lies about me. I didn’t want to say anything during lunch or the sing, Mark. That’s why I was so quiet. I don’t know that there’s anything I can do – I just wanted to let you know what I figured out today.”
“Annie, I’ve been taking you to my parents’ for our visits. I think we should stay here this evening. If you are right, Barbara Kurtz will be afraid to show her face outside tonight,” Mark said.
Annie thought. Agreeing with him, she nodded. “Ya, you’re right. We can stay here.” After she told them of her fears and suspicions, she and Mark walked outside and sat on the porch swing, talking quietly. At the end of the evening, the light began to fade as Mark stood and smiled down at Annie.
“I would like to speak with your daed before I leave, if you’ll call him for me,” Mark said.
“Ya, one minute,” Annie said, walking to the living room and calling her father.
The two men walked toward the barn to talk. Mark had some concerns and questions he didn’t want to air in front of Annie.
“Sir, I am growing very close to your daughter. I would like for the two of us to get to know each other getter before we discuss . . . any other plans. Besides, she is still to be baptized,” he said. “Her news tonight worried me. Barbara Kurtz’ reaction when she learned that Annie had been cleared was – troubling. I told Barbara several weeks ago that I am not interested in her. I was very blunt. It was shortly after that that Mr. Kopp and the school board received the allegations against Annie. I don’t think it’s coincidence – I believe Barbara was the source of those allegations. I am worried for Annie. I think Barbara could potentially be a danger to her, because she is still so angry,” Mark said. His customary smile was completely absent.
“Ach. I have been having some of the same concerns. Here at home, I will make sure that, if Annie goes out, she is with someone at all times. Concerning your visits and courting – continue meeting and getting to know one another. I will be watching out for Miss Kurtz and I will do everything I can to stop her. I believe I can talk to her father and ask him to talk some sense into her. If you are courting my daughter, and you are, she should not be attempting to distract you. When Annie is with you, I expect you to be completely alert. Protect my Annie and protect yourself,” John ordered.
Mark nodded silently. Knowing that the older man had the same concerns and had admitted to them made him feel both relieved and more worried.
“I am going home now. I need to think about what you have told me, and I need to think of how I can protect her. Goodnight,” Mark said. Though he felt a little better, his worry still showed on his face.
***
A few days later, Mark had picked Annie up to take her to his parents’ farm for a visit. They weren’t aware of it, but far back, Barbara Kurtz trailed them in her family’s buggy. She had decided she needed to find out what they were talking about and planning. Taking a road she knew of, she tethered her horse to a tree that was at a distance from the Stoltzfus house. She tried to walk as quietly as she could, but rapidly regretted marking so far away from the house – she grew breathless as she walked.
Finally, she crept up to the side of the house. Grateful for the thick grass that grew underfoot, she slowly approached the wide front porch, warily eyeing the picture window at the side of the house. She positioned herself so she could hear what the couple on the swing was saying, but so she could not be seen. Holding her breath, she forced herself to get control of her breathlessness so she wouldn’t give herself away. Tipping her kapp-covered head, she eavesdropped.
“Do you know when you will be baptized?” Mark asked.
“The minister spoke with my daed, mamm and I yesterday. I gave him my statement that I am able and willing to live within the Ordnung and signed it for him. So, it looks like I will be baptized soon. The ministers will be letting us know when this will happen,” Annie said with a smile.
“Gut! You are ready to live the Plain life?”
“Ya. I am.”
Barbara took the news as a punch to her gut. Placing her hand tightly over her mouth so she wouldn’t inadvertently make a sound, she backed up slowly and began to walk back to her buggy. Reaching it, she pulled herself up into it and slowly guided her horse back home.
Her emotions were in turmoil – she knew well that baptism could be the precursor to an agreement to marry. You don’t have much time! Annie’s about to be baptized! Think, Barbara, think! What can you do to get Mark’s attention away from her and on you – where it should be?
At home, she ran to her room upstairs and shut the door. Not wanting interaction with any of her family, she took care to close the door slowly so it wouldn’t slam. Throwing herself forward, she landed on the soft mattress of her bed. Scrubbing her hands over her face, she forced herself to think calmly. Okay. You can only go to him and tell him how you feel. Tell him that you are supposed to be with him. Don’t lose courage. You are supposed to be Barbara Stoltzfus. Period.
Having decided this, Barbara was able to calm herself to the point that she could go into the kitchen for a snack. It had been too long since dinner and she was starving again.
“Sarah, have you done your homework?” she asked her younger sister.
“Ya, but it’s hard with my cast. I can’t wait to get it off,” Sarah said.
“Okay. Just finish your homework,” Barbara said, forgetting she had been the cause of her little sister’s broken arm.
In the kitchen, she poured herself a tall glass of milk and cut a large slice of her mother’s cake. Sitting at the table, she forked large bites of the cake into her mouth, washing them down with the milk. In her fear, she still felt hungry. As she cut a second large slice, her mother walked into the kitchen. Seeing so much of the cake already gone, she raised her hands.
“Barbara, what are you doing? That cake was for tomorrow’s dessert!”
“But, mamm, I am hungerich!” Barbara shouted.
Mrs. Kurtz grabbed the plate of cake. Barbara gripped her edge of the plate and engaged in a tug-of-war with her mother.
“Nee, Barbara! I want you to put that cake back on the platter for tomorrow. It looks like you’ve already had enough! Why are you so hungry? I made a large dinner. We had stroganoff, two vegetables and potatoes. Then we had the cake. Why are you so hungry? Tell me!” Mrs. Kurtz used her imperious voice on her daughter.
Barbara didn’t want to admit that her fear had driven her into the kitchen. As they pulled the dessert plate back and forth, she decided that the only way she would get the cake would be to shock her mamm.
“Okay, okay! I just came home from the Stoltzfus farm. I overheard Annie and Mark talking about her baptism. Mamm, you know that’s a step toward the wedding season! He’s mine! I’m going to go tell him that he’s mine – later this week.” Barbara’s admission worked – her mother let go of her side of the plate so suddenly that Barbara stumbled backward heavily. As the leading edge of the plate hit her rounded stomach, she stumbled over her feet and landed heavily on her big bottom, the plate of cake falling out of her hands and hitting the floor. As the plate hit the floor, it shattered, depositing the cake on the floor.
“You had better to talk to him, Barbara! He is supposed to marry you, not the Fisher girl! When you have talked to him and gotten him to see that he has to marry you, then you let me know what you talked about.” Mrs. Kurtz’ eyes widened, revealing the thread of madness she normally hid so well.
“Ya, mamm, I will.” As Barbara gazed back into her mother’s mad eyes, her own seemed to reflect the madness right back at her mother.
The next day, Barbara stayed at home, working on what she wanted to say to Mark. She was nervous and helped her mother with the laundry and family meals. The next day, Mr. Kurtz left before daylight, telling Mrs. Kurtz it would be after dark before he returned. Knowing this, Mrs. Kurtz hurried through the day’s chores with only one thought on her mind – develop the best plan possible so Barbara would succeed in convincing Mark Stoltzfus to court her, not Annie. After their lunch, she sat down with Barbara, giving her detailed instructions. By the time it was time for them to make dinner, Barbara was ready to explode at her mother, but knowing she needed her support, she forced the anger back with effort. Instead, she took it out on her younger brothers as they worked on their chores in the barn.
***
The next day, Barbara cleared the supper table and washed the dishes quickly. Returning to her bedroom, she removed her kapp and combed her gleaming black hair, capturing it in a neat bun once again. Looking at her plain blue dress, she nodded in satisfaction. It was clean and she was presentable. Hurrying to the barn, she hitched Brownie quickly to the buggy. Climbing into the buggy, she started her trip to the Stoltzfus farm. At the farm, she spotted the couple, swinging and chatting on the porch swing. She got out of the buggy and walked quickly to them, before she lost her courage.
“Mark. Mr. Stoltzfus. I need to talk to you. It’s . . . very important,” she said in a whining voice.
Mark looked down at Barbara, seeing her pink face with a bead of sweat rolling down one fat cheek. He sighed heavily.
“Miss Kurtz, I told you how I feel. I told you this several weeks ago. Remember? I told you that I am not interested in you. I do not want to court you. I am courting the woman I want to be with. Now, leave,” Mark said firmly.
“But . . . but . . . we’re supposed to be together! We’re supposed to be . . . My mother and I talked, and she told me that we’re supposed to marry each other! Please!”
“No. I don’t know how else to tell you, other than being honest. I chose to court Annie Fisher. She and her parents consented and we have been courting ever since.”
“Mark! I . . . I love you! I want to be with you! You’re the perfect Amish gentleman. You are courteous and polite. You deserve to be married to a well-bred, dignified Amish woman. Please!” As Barbara talked, she seemed to be forgetting that she always tried to present the image of dignity as a Plain woman. She was desperate and frantic, beginning to perspire more heavily as she tried to convince Mark Stoltzfus to change his allegiance from Annie to her.
Mark, seeing the strain of madness beginning to reveal itself on Barbara’s face and in her blue eyes, grew alarmed. Turning to Annie, he told her to stay on the porch. He desperately wanted to get his father’s attention, but he knew that he was still in the field, plowing and planting more seed. Growing breathless with fear, he tried to position himself in between Annie and Barbara, who seemed to be descending swiftly into delusion and madness.
His heart pounded and adrenaline flooded his system. Staying on the porch, he moved in response to Barbara’s erratic movements. As she paced, first to one side, then the other, Mark followed her, always keeping himself in between her and Annie. He dared to take a quick look at Annie, to reassure himself that she hadn’t moved. He looked at her wide eyes – she had realized that something was seriously wrong with Barbara, and she was just as frightened as he was.
“Don’t move,” he whispered.
“I’m not,” she responded. She kept her brown eyes trained on Barbara, reminding him to return his attention to the fat woman pacing back and forth on his front lawn. He moved quickly so he was once again between her and his beloved Annie. That realization slammed into his chest like a strong gust of wind. He realized he needed to do everything he could to keep the madwoman below him away from Annie. Keep her away from Annie. Just keep following her steps. Watch every movement she makes and don’t let her get to Annie. That’s the most important thing you can do right now – until daed gets back from the field.
Pace several steps in one direction. Pause. Try to reason with a woman who would not be reasoned with. Pace several steps in the opposite direction. Heart hammering madly. Pace back. Realize that his daed had been right – Barbara Kurtz was a self-centered woman with a strong sense of entitlement, and she was bound and determined to get him. Keep pacing. Look toward the field –
AHHHHHHH!” Barbara screamed and, looking all around, spied a large branch that had fallen out of the tree in the yard. Picking it up, she swung it like a sword, all around her head.
Mark backed up, raising his hands to keep Annie back. He kept his desperate eyes on Barbara, not wanting to lose track of her movements.
“Stay back, Annie! Don’t move!” he whispered over one shoulder.
“Nee, nee! I won’t!” As Annie responded, Mark finally heard a response from inside the house.
“Mamm, stay inside!”
“Mark what is . . . Mark!”
“Mamm! Go get daed! Now!”
“Ya, ya.”
“Mark! Mr. Stoltzfus! I am talking to you!” Barbara bellowed.
“Ya, I am listening! What? What do you want to say?” Mark said, trying to keep her from losing her tenuous grip on her control.
“I have known for years that we are to be together. You have to know that, too. I was speaking to my mamm. She lost the man she loved and married someone she does not love.” By now, Barbara had nearly lost all grip with reality. That she was airing this particular piece of dirty family laundry had escaped her broken mind. “She directed me not to make the same mistake she made. To make sure that I let you know exactly how I feel and what is to happen. That you are to court me. She told me that you could get permission from her and my daed to begin courting me. Once a suitable amount of time has passed, we can choose a wedding season, after harvest is over. And then . . .” Barbara’s pace changed and she began to walk as if on the arm of an unseen man by her side. She continued to hold the large stick in one hand, swinging it perilously back and forth. Mark felt beads of perspiration rolling down both sides of his face and down his back. Daed, mamm, get back here! Fast! I need help – I cannot deal with a madwoman by myself!
Barbara’s pacing had sped up and Mark sped up with her. It felt like an odd dance as he tried to keep the fat woman on the grass away from his Annie. His senses felt heightened and he was fully aware of Annie standing stock-still behind him, even as he kept his eyes fully trained on Barbara. His heart fell as he saw the stick begin swinging faster. He heard it whistling through the air as she continued swinging it, faster and faster.
“Please, Mark. Can we just . . . talk? Please? Come to some kind of an agreement?” Barbara whined, forcing a rictus of a smile onto her face.
Mark heard the back door open and shut. Exhaling because he knew help was near, he nodded. Anything to get her to stop swinging that stick!