Strasburg, Pennsylvania
“Come on, Domino. You need to get moving, or we’re gonna be late for my brother’s birthday party.” The firm set of Vic’s jaw let Eleanor know he was irritated with his pokey horse this evening. It was unusual for the black-and-white gelding to amble along at a snail’s pace. Normally, it was all Vic could do to hold Domino back.
“Maybe there’s something wrong with your horse,” Eleanor commented, looking over at her handsome husband. “He might be sick or could have thrown a shoe.”
“I checked each of Domino’s hoofs yesterday morning while cleaning them.” Vic’s brows furrowed. “He’s been eating well and hasn’t shown any sign of being sick. Guess I’d better pull over and check his hooves. Sure don’t want to make him run if he has lost a shoe. He could have some missing pieces of the hoof wall, and any cracks or nails embedded in the hoof will need to come out.”
Eleanor sighed. “That’s one of the downsides to using a horse for transportation.”
Vic waited until they came to a wider spot in the road and guided his horse and carriage over as far as possible. Handing the reins to Eleanor, he said, “Hold him steady while I check his hooves.”
Eleanor did as her husband asked and sat quietly while he got out of the buggy and went to examine Domino’s hooves.
A short time later, Vic got back into the buggy and took the reins. “You were right—he lost his right front shoe. I’ll take it easy with him, and when we get there, I’ll see if Dad’s neighbor Abe, who’s a farrier, is free to come over and replace the shoe.” He took the reins from Eleanor. “If Abe’s not available until tomorrow, I’ll leave Domino in my daed’s barn and borrow his horse, Buster, for our trip home.”
“Are you sure he won’t mind?”
Vic shook his head. “Since Dad’s shop is right there on his property, he usually sticks close to home, unless he has to make a run into town for something or meets up with his best friend, Lloyd Zook, for coffee someplace. If that should happen, he can use my mamm’s horse, Polly. Mom sticks around home most of the time anyway, unless she has some of her quilted items to deliver, and then she often will hire a driver.”
Eleanor wasn’t keen on using a horse they weren’t familiar with. Even though the horse belonged to Vic’s dad, there were no guarantees that it would behave itself. The whole idea bothered Eleanor as she thought about how sometimes animals acted funny with a stranger in charge of them. What if Buster decided to act up on them? I’m sure if I press Vic concerning my uneasy feelings about using that horse, he’ll dismiss it. But I’ll try, even though he will do what he wants.
“Why don’t we borrow your mamm’s horse instead of your daed’s?” Eleanor questioned.
“No way. Polly’s about as slow as sticky molasses being poured from a jar. Dad’s horse has some get-up-and-go, and he’ll get us home a lot quicker than Pokey Polly.”
Eleanor drew in a couple of short, quick breaths. She would much rather travel home at a leisurely pace then race down the road with a rambunctious horse.
As if he could read her thoughts, Vic let go of the reins with one hand and reached over to touch Eleanor’s arm. “Now, don’t you worry. If we end up taking Buster, I’ll have no trouble keeping him under control. He just needs a firm hand and a little reminder of who’s boss.”
When they arrived at the Lapps’ farmhouse, Vic led his horse into the barn while Eleanor got their gift for Eddie out of the buggy and headed for the house. She wished Vic had chosen to ask for his mother’s horse to borrow for their return trip home, rather than his dad’s. But then, she reasoned, Vic must feel that he can handle Buster or he wouldn’t have mentioned that he might ask if he could borrow the horse.
Letting her thoughts go with the wayward wind that had picked up, Eleanor stepped onto the front porch and rapped on the door.
A few seconds later, Vic’s eighteen-year-old sister, Kate, answered her knock. “It’s nice to see you.” She gave Eleanor a hug, and when she looked past, Kate blinked her brown eyes in rapid succession. “Where’s Vic? I don’t see him or his gaul.”
“Domino threw a shoe on the way here, so Vic took him to your daed’s barn, where he’ll end up spending the night if we can’t get a farrier to come out this evening.”
“That makes sense. I’m sure Dad will let Vic borrow one of our horses for your trip home after Eddie’s party.”
A mix of mouthwatering flavors drifted out the door. One was the faint, sweet smell of chocolate cake, and the other Eleanor recognized as savory chicken baking in the oven. She couldn’t wait to eat, since she’d only snacked for lunch. “Speaking of your little brother …” She held up the gift bag in her right hand. “Where would you like me to put this?”
“I’ll take it to the living room, which is where we’ll all gather after we’ve eaten supper.” Kate gestured to several brass hooks on the wall, above a long wooden bench. “You can hang your purse and sweater there if you like, and then join me, Clara, and Mom in the kitchen.”
“Where’s the rest of your family?” Eleanor asked.
“Dad’s in the shower, and Stephen went to the barn with Eddie to look at the batch of busslin that were born early this morning. They got a look at them after breakfast, but then Mom went out and reminded Eddie that he needed to get his lunch pail and head for school, and Stephen should go straight to Dad’s shop.”
Eleanor smiled, remembering the joy she had always felt when she’d seen new life that had been born while growing up on her parents’ farm in Indiana. She was tempted to run out to the barn right now and take a look at those kittens but didn’t want to be rude. Vic’s mom and sisters might need her help in the kitchen. Holding back a wistful sigh, she hung up her sweater and purse.
Vic had just gotten Domino situated in one of the empty stalls when he heard the sound of laughter coming from the other side of the barn. Certain that it must be his two brothers, he left the stall and hurried to see what they thought was so funny. He found both fifteen-year-old Stephen and eight-year-old Eddie holding a black-and-white kitten against their faces.
When Vic knelt on the concrete floor beside them, Eddie showed him the kitten he held. “I’m gonna keep this bussli, and call it Gebottsdaag, ’cause it was born on my birthday.”
Vic struggled to keep from rolling his eyes. “The Pennsylvania Dutch word for birthday is a pretty long name for a kitten, don’t you think? And it looks too little to be away from its mother.” Vic’s gaze went from Eddie to Stephen, and then he pointed at the tiny, meowing kittens. “You both should put those busslin back in the box. You can play with them when they get a bit older and stronger.”
Vic was tempted to lecture Stephen, because at his age, he ought to know better. But Vic chose not to say anything more on the topic as he watched his brothers return the little critters to the box where four other kittens burrowed against the mama cat’s belly.
“Well now, birthday boy,” Vic said, “should the three of us head on up to the house and see if Mom’s got supper ready? The sooner we eat, the sooner you can open your presents.”
Eddie bobbed his dark brown head. “And we’ll eat some cake and ice cream too, right?”
“Absolutely. I’m sure Mom baked a chocolate cake for you, and she might even have bought your two favorite flavors of ice cream.”
Eddie’s pale blue eyes seemed to light right up. “Schocklaad and aebeer?”
Vic nodded.
“Don’t you get sick of chocolate and strawberry all the time?” Stephen bumped Eddie’s arm with his elbow. “You know, you could be satisfied with vanilla for a change.”
“No way!” Eddie gave a firm shake of his head. “Vanilla’s boring.”
“No it ain’t. You can put strawberries, chocolate syrup, nuts, or whatever you want on top.”
“I know what I want, and—”
Feeling the need to put an end to this discussion, Vic stepped between the boys and put one hand on each of their shoulders. “I’m getting hungerich, so let’s go to the house now, okay?”
“Jah, sure, ’cause I’m hungry too.” Stephen made a dash for the barn door, and Eddie was right behind him.
Vic chuckled as he brought up the rear. Seeing the interaction between his two young brothers made him think about his childhood days when he and his sister Clara, who was five years younger than him, used to squabble about the pettiest things. When things got out of hand, Mom would have to separate them for a while, which usually meant that they were given some chore to do on opposites sides of the house, or else Mom would send one of them outdoors and keep the other child in the house with her. Vic didn’t care for that at all back then, but as an adult, he could now understand why their mother did what she did and said what she meant. It was good parenting—plain and simple.
I wonder how it’ll be when Eleanor and I have children. Vic thought as he stepped outside and closed the barn door. What goes around comes around, Mom’s always said. So I won’t be one bit surprised if two of our kinner end up pestering each other.
Eleanor sat quietly at the supper table, listening to Vic engage in conversation with his parents and siblings. Although she didn’t know all of them very well yet, Eleanor could tell they were a tight-knit family who enjoyed each other’s company and liked to crack jokes and tell humorous stories of things that had happened in their area recently. It was nice to hear their laughter, but Eleanor thought she would enjoy listening to some topics that didn’t necessarily involve humor. It wasn’t that she liked hearing bad news or listening to unpleasant stories, but life was not a piece of cake with a dollop of ice cream on top. It was full of ups and downs, and hearing of other people’s problems gave an opportunity to pray for those situations.
Eleanor had always been a strong believer in prayer. Many places in the Bible instructed people to pray and even told them what to say, such as in Matthew 6:9–13: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
“Would you like some more chicken?”
Clara’s question caused Eleanor’s thoughts to change direction. “No thank you,” she said to Vic’s younger sister. “I’ve already eaten more than my share.” She took the offered platter and passed it on to Vic.
“I’ll have another drumstick, but that’s enough for me. I need to save some room for a hefty piece of my little brother’s birthday cake.” Vic looked at Eddie, who sat across the table from them, and grinned.
The boy smiled back at him and smacked his lips. “I can’t wait for that.”
“Can you hold off until you’ve opened your gifts?” his mother asked.
Eddie responded with a quick nod. “I hope I got the pony I’ve been asking for.”
“You’re too young for a pony.” Stephen bumped his brother’s arm. “I didn’t get mine till I was twelve.”
Ethan, the boy’s dad, spoke up. “Don’t worry, son, Eddie won’t be getting a pony until he’s old enough to take care of it and can be trusted to stay out of the road with his pony and cart.”
Eddie shook his head vigorously. “I’d never go in the road, ’cause that wouldn’t be safe.”
“You’re right,” his mother interjected, “and that goes for you too, Stephen.”
“I’ve seen other kids with their pony carts riding along the shoulder of the road,” Stephen responded.
“That may be true, but it’s dangerous, and it’s my job as your daed to protect you.” The boys’ father pointed at their plates. “Now please finish your supper so we can move to the living room and Eddie can open his birthday presents.”
“Okay, Dad,” the brothers said in unison.
Vic leaned close to Eleanor and whispered, “See what we have to look forward to when we have kinner someday?”
She nodded and put her index finger to her lips, shushing him. This was not a conversation they should be having with family present.
“Wasn’t that a nice evening we had with my family?” Vic asked as they traveled home around nine o’clock with his father’s horse pulling their buggy.
“Jah,” Eleanor agreed. “Supper was good, the cake was delicious, the strawberry and chocolate ice cream were real tasty, and Eddie seemed happy with all the gifts he got.”
“I think he liked ours best, though, don’t you?”
She shrugged. “Maybe. His eyes did seem to light up when he saw the box of Legos you had chosen for him.”
“He’s a creative kid. I bet he’ll build a lot of neat things with that big set of pieces.”
They rode in silence for a while. Then Vic commented, “You seemed kinda quiet during supper.”
“I was listening. Your family had a lot to say, and I could hardly keep up with all the humorous stories your daed shared.”
“He does tell some whoppers.”
“You mean they weren’t true?”
“They really happened all right, but he likes to exaggerate a bit.” Vic laughed. “Ever since I can remember, my daed’s been quite the storyteller.”
Eleanor thought about her own father. He’d always been the more serious type and didn’t crack jokes very often. On the rare occasions that he did, it had always taken her by surprise. Even without all that humor, he was a good man who cared about Eleanor’s mother, as well as Eleanor and her brothers.
A vehicle whizzed by, going in the opposite direction, and the driver blew his horn a couple of times. Buster clearly didn’t like it, for he whinnied and took off in a fast-paced gallop.
Vic pulled back on the reins, but Buster kept running at what felt like lightning speed.
Eleanor’s heart pounded. She hoped and prayed that her husband could get the horse under control. Otherwise, they might end up in an accident.