Two Suitors for Anna Page 5

  “I love Noah, but love may not be enough to overcome our differences.” The words hit her like a thunderclap. Her head began to throb. Losing Noah would be like losing a loved one to Heaven.

  * * *

  Customers strolled into the store, and Anna went to greet them. She bit her tongue to not rush the short, indecisive Englisch woman dithering over whether to purchase the wedding ring or the pinwheel quilt. Glancing at the clock, Anna hoped the woman would choose her selections before the clock struck five.

  At closing time, the woman chose the pinwheel quilt and passed Anna the correct change with a smile. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

  “I’m glad you’re pleased with your purchase.” Anna wrapped the package. “You’re wilkom in our shop anytime. Good day.”

  Anna listened for the door to close behind the customer. “Ready to go, Leah?”

  She missed their usual closeness and comfort before Butch destroyed it yesterday. Leah had been quiet and avoided her all day. Her heart ached at the tension between them.

  Leah nodded, stepped outside, and waited for Anna to lock the door.

  Pointing, Leah squinted. “Mamm’s waiting at the livery.”

  They met Mamm, climbed into the buggy, and headed home. They discussed their workdays at the General Store and dry goods store and what to have for supper.

  Anna couldn’t shake the guilt of holding back Leah’s transgression from Mamm.

  After pulling up to the barn, Anna waited for them to climb out and open the big, rustic, white barn doors. She drove the buggy in.

  Beth walked over from Mrs. Hochstetler’s and greeted her family. “Mrs. Hochstetler taught me a different knitting stitch today.” She held up her needles and a small patch of knitted yarn. “She let me bring it home to show you.”

  Mamm smiled. “I’m glad you like knitting. Your stitches are perfect. I’m proud of you.”

  Beth blushed. “Danki. I worked on it all morning.”

  Leah touched Beth’s sample. “I like the dark blue yarn you chose.”

  “Me too.” Beth grinned.

  Patting Beth’s shoulder, Anna beamed. The sun shone bright on her schweschder’s full cheeks and freckles across her small nose. A red curl escaped her kapp and hung above her eye.

  She pushed the hair back in her schweschder’s kapp. “You’ve got the most beautiful hair.”

  “Danki, Anna.” Finished securing the horse in a stall, Anna fetched water for drinking, while Mamm and her schweschders went inside the haus to prepare their evening meal. Anna strolled inside and she set her pan on the counter. She wiped her forehead with the back of her sleeve and listened to her family discuss Beth’s fascination with the new fuzzy chicks in the chicken coop while she washed and cut the vegetables. The discussion of everyday events took the edge off her troubles. If she left Berlin, she’d miss these special times with her family. The joy in their voices and the way they used their hands to aid them in telling their stories were just some of the things she loved about being around them.

  Time had gotten away from her. Beth was ten already. Leah was sixteen, and she’d be considering a man for a potential husband soon. A twinge of apprehension whipped through her at the thought Leah might choose an outsider. She shuddered. Butch Winter came to mind. She couldn’t stomach the thought of Leah’s considering him. She loved her schweschders so much, and she wanted them to choose husbands who would respect and love them. If she left Berlin, she’d miss out on what was to kumme in her schweschders’ lives. The thought sent chills up her spine.

  The table set, she helped carry full dishes of ham, vegetables, and potatoes to the table. Quiet, she finished half her food and pushed her plate aside, distracted from the conversation around her, thinking of Noah. She loved him, but their wants and desires seemed too different to ignore. She hugged herself and a gloom of sadness enveloped her.

  Leah carried the dishes to the dry sink. “I’ll wash the dishes tonight.”

  Beth popped up. “I’ll dry them.”

  Mamm hugged her dochder. “Danki, I could use a rest.”

  “Go lie down, Mamm. I’m going to take a stroll before turning in for bed.” Anna held the door open and breathed in the heavy scent of honeysuckle.

  Going toward her room, Mamm grinned. “Danki, my thoughtful girls.”

  Anna stepped on the porch. The warm air and slight breeze fluttered her sleeves and skirt. Serene, the picturesque crystal-clear pond lined with trees and the worn white barn against the bright orange sun calmed her.

  Bowing her head, she prayed. “Dear Heavenly Father, please guide me in the path You would have me go concerning Noah. Is he the one You would have me to marry? My heart is torn. Danki for Your loving mercy and grace. Amen.”

  Later, she went to her room. She turned her head to a noise that startled her. “Beth, you scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” She frowned and sat. “I need to talk to you.”

  Something was definitely wrong. Beth’s sad eyes and worried face sent her heart racing. “Beth, you can tell me anything. What’s bothering you?” Beth was pensive and tense. Way out of the ordinary for her schweschder’s usual disposition. Beth was positive and cheerful most of the time.

  “Leah thought I was asleep when she climbed out our bedroom window last night. After she was outside, I peeked out. In the light from the lantern she carried, I saw a young man dressed in a red shirt and wearing a fancy hat waiting for her. They disappeared into the woods.”

  Gripping her apron and fighting to control the volume of her voice, Anna sat quiet. Butch Winter was most likely the man her schweschder had met. The boorish Englischer had lured Leah to the woods. Her stomach churned with angst. He could have forced himself upon her. She was innocent and would’ve trusted him. How many times had Leah and Butch met?

  She had to put a stop to Leah’s meeting with him, but how? “Do you have any idea how long Leah was gone?”

  “I fought to stay awake until she came back, but I fell asleep. I was frightened she wouldn’t return. When I woke up, she was in her bed.” She crossed her arms. “I’m afraid she’ll sneak out and meet him again.”

  Leah’s behavior was out of the ordinary. In the past she’d obeyed and was eager to please God and their mamm. Anna couldn’t imagine what attracted her schweschder to Butch. “I’ll talk to her, but don’t mention this to anyone.”

  Shaking her head, Beth raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t we tell Mamm?”

  “Let’s not tell Mamm yet.” She rested her hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Let me talk to Leah first.”

  Beth put a finger to her lips. “I won’t say a word.”

  Anna gently squeezed Beth’s shoulder. “Danki for telling me. Go to your bedroom. I’ll go speak with Leah.”

  Drawing her mouth in a grim line, Beth walked through the open doorway.

  Anna couldn’t believe Leah had put Beth in such a predicament. She was foolish to think her little schweschder wouldn’t wake and find her missing. Leah’s actions were thoughtless and reckless. She went to the kitchen. Leah was there, wiping off a dish. “Would you please kumme to my room?”

  Wiping her hands on a towel, Leah didn’t meet her gaze. “What do you need?”

  Deceitfulness hung in Anna’s mind. “Kumme to my room, and we’ll need to shut the door. We need to talk.” She couldn’t tell what was going on with Leah. A fire ignited inside her and fueled her anger. She glared at Leah. “Beth told me you climbed out the window last night. She peeked out and noticed you meeting a young man. Were you with Butch Winter?”

  Face red, Leah’s chin trembled. She nodded. “Jah, but don’t worry. I’ll not have anything to do with him again. He scared me. Oh, Anna, I’m full of guilt. I wouldn’t want to leave our Amish community. I was foolish to let myself get carried away with an Englischer in the first place. I’ll marry an Amish man when the time kummes. Please forgive me.”

  “Why did you agree to meet him? How reckless of you! I can’t be
lieve you went with him to the woods at night alone!”

  Sitting next to Anna, Leah stared at her lap. “The day he came to the shop, he asked me to meet him in the woods after dark so we could get better acquainted. I didn’t think of being in danger. His broad shoulders and confident way about him sent my heart in a spin. He was so handsome and pleasant. I trusted him.” She bit her trembling lip. “You were right, Anna. He’s not a gentleman.”

  Something had happened to change her schweschder’s mind about Butch. What had he done? She shivered and crossed her arms against her chest. “How many times and where did you meet him?”

  “Twice behind the apothecary before he and his mamm came into the store to shop. Last night was the only time I left the haus at night to join him.” She dabbed the tear escaping her eye with the corner of her apron. “I’m sorry I deceived you. I’ve prayed and asked God to forgive me. Please, Anna, please forgive me.”

  “I have trusted you when you left the shop to run errands. I’m livid you’ve been meeting Butch, knowing it was wrong. What you’ve done was thoughtless and risky.” The fire inside her dwindled. Leah’s plea for forgiveness tugged at her heart. Her pledge never to have anything to do with Butch again eased her mind. Keeping a constant watch on her would’ve been difficult for her or Mamm if she hadn’t agreed to not have anything to do with him again. “Why your sudden change of heart toward him?”

  “He held my hand and walked me to an area where we could spread the blanket he carried. We put our lanterns down and talked. He grabbed my arms so tight they hurt and kissed me. I pushed him, and he fell back. I ran home as fast as I could. He didn’t follow me.” She held her deeply flushed face. “I’ve never been so frightened.”

  Anna closed her eyes tight and shook her head. Unspeakable things could have happened to Leah. Emotional and physical scars could’ve damaged her schweschder forever. She was certain God had his hand of protection on her schweschder. Especially after meeting Butch and observing his disrespectful behavior. “He could’ve harmed you. You have more sense than to meet a man in the woods at night.” She placed her hands on Leah’s shoulders. “You have defied God and our family and gone against Amish law. I’m ashamed of you. You hid your transgression by acting like you hadn’t met Butch before he came to the shop with his mamm. I’m hurt and angry you deceived me.”

  “I’m sorry, Anna. I feel terrible for what I’ve done. Please, please, don’t tell Mamm. Discussing my foolish behavior with you and facing your wrath is hard enough, but Mamm will insist on informing the bishop. She wouldn’t want to chance that someone may have seen Butch and me together and told him. We were careful. I’m confident no one paid attention to us. I don’t want the bishop to find out and think less of me. He may suggest I be shunned for a period of time for my indiscretion.”

  Anna stared at her hands in deep thought. Leah was right. Bishop Weaver wouldn’t be happy her schweschder had invited trouble from an Englischer. Amish did their best to avoid any unpleasantness from Englischers. If he insisted she be shunned for her transgression, they’d have to ignore her, and she’d have to sit at a separate table for meals. No conversations, no advice, no interaction. She scanned Leah’s face. Her quivering lips and trembling hands showed her sincere remorse. They could keep this secret among the three of them. There would be no need to upset Mamm. The risk of the bishop telling the members in church and asking Leah to stand before them and ask forgiveness sent shivers through her. Her schweschder should be held accountable for her actions in this way, but she just couldn’t do it to her. She’d protect her.

  “Anna, please say something.”

  “Do you agree to never meet him, or any man, in secret again?”

  “Jah, I promise.”

  “If you consider an Amish man for a friend or potential husband, you are to tell me about him first. Understood?”

  “I promise. Does this mean you won’t tell Mamm?”

  “I’m not going to tell her for my own selfish reasons. I’m afraid she’ll tell the bishop, and I couldn’t stand to ignore you for whatever length of time he’d impose. I’m hoping Butch will stay away, but I’m fearful he’ll show up at the shop again. He doesn’t seem like the type of man to accept rejection well. If he does, we’ll have to tell Mamm.” Her mamm would expect her to share Leah’s transgression with her. A wave of guilt passed through her. She’d given Mamm a reason to distrust her for the first time.

  Leah hugged her. “Danki, Anna. I’ll not dishonor you or our family again. Are you confident Beth will keep our secret?”

  “I’ll speak with her again. If she expresses any opposition, we’ll have to tell Mamm.”

  “May I go with you?”

  Anna nodded.

  They went to the bedroom Leah and Beth shared.

  Anna folded her hands and squeezed them tight.

  Beth stood and crossed her arms. “I had to tell Anna you snuck out the window to meet a strange man. I was afraid he would hurt you.” She narrowed her eyes. “Besides, you were wrong to sneak out like you did.”

  Leah held Beth’s gaze. “I was wrong. I should never have done such a thing. I regret my actions. Forgive me?”

  Beth nodded and relaxed. “I do forgive you, but don’t ever sneak out of our window for any reason again.”

  “I won’t.”

  Anna’s chest swelled with relief. The three of them shared a special bond. Leah’s foolishness had threatened to rip them apart. Nothing was worth severing their close relationship.

  “Beth, we’d prefer to not tell Mamm what Leah’s done. Will you agree to keep this from her?”

  “I don’t want to tell her, but if she finds out we’ve kept this from her, she’ll be angry.” She pushed her pencil above her ear. “Leah, please don’t ever put yourself in danger again. I’d be heartbroken if anything happened to you.”

  Leah slumped on the bed next to her little schweschder. “I’m sorry I put you in this position. Rest assured I’ve learned my lesson.”

  Anna stepped closer to them. “We are fortunate to have one another. Let’s not take our relationship for granted. We must always trust one another. If any of us has a concern, we are to discuss what is on our mind among the three of us. No matter how embarrassing or difficult the subject matter, we mustn’t keep secrets. Agreed?”

  Beth and Leah nodded and reached for Anna’s hands. The three of them stood in a circle and bowed their heads.

  Leah prayed, “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being disobedient and disappointing You and my family. Danki for Your mercy and Your grace. Amen.”

  Unclasping her schweschders’ hands, Anna hugged and wished Beth and Leah good night and went to her room. Again, shame took over her mind. Not sure if she’d made the correct decision by not informing Mamm about Leah’s behavior, she plopped on the bed and pictured herself shunning her schweschder. No, she couldn’t risk being told to ignore Leah. She’d stick to her plan.

  * * *

  Daniel gazed out over his newly painted white fence Friday morning and grinned. Thursday he’d mucked the stalls, mended his own fence, and repaired his neighbor’s roof. Standing back, he scrutinized his work. Sturdy and strong, the stakes should withstand the weather for years.

  He shrugged on clean clothes, secured his wagon, and whistled on his way to visit Anna at the shop. She had lingered in his mind since the day he met her. He chastised himself over and over for entertaining thoughts of her, but his mind wouldn’t cooperate.

  The newspaper boy had a stack of papers sitting at his feet. “Read President Theodore Roosevelt’s speech on preserving our natural forests!”

  He smiled at the boy. Pushing the dry goods shop door open, he beheld the woman who had captivated his thoughts the last few days. “Good morning. Did you have a chance to ask Mrs. King if I may repair the roof leak?”

  “Daniel, danki for coming in. Grace visited me the other day. She would be obliged if you would give us an estimate. You’re wilkom to use the ladder we have in
back.”

  “Jah, I’d like to inspect the damage if you don’t mind.”

  Leah came in from the back room. “Good morning, Daniel. Would you like a cup of coffee? I threw in fresh firewood and lit our stove a short while ago. The coffee should be ready.”

  He’d take any chance to linger with Anna. “Danki. I’ll take a cup. I cleaned out Jonathan’s and Adele’s drawers and clothespress. I’d like to donate them. Where should I take them?”

  “After church services, we have tables for the meal and one table for things people are giving away. You can put the donations there after the next service.”

  “Good suggestion. Most of the clothes are in good condition. I’m hoping they can be of benefit to people in need.” Accepting the mug from Leah, he glanced at the front door clanging open.

  A young man, head cocked back with a sly smile, strode in. The Englischer had a demanding attitude. Anna and Leah paled and stepped back. The man’s bold stature and shrewd dark eyes alarmed him. The women apparently didn’t feel safe.

  He moved next to Anna. “Sir, may we help you?”

  “I’m Butch Winter. Leah’s my woman. Tell ’em, Leah.”

  Daniel gaped at him. Was Butch out of his mind? He couldn’t imagine gentle Leah having anything to do with such an impolite man, and he was an Englischer.

  Red-faced, Leah gasped. “No! I’m not your woman. Go and leave me alone.”

  Butch scoffed at her. “You gonna be angry over a little kiss? I don’t understand why you rushed off from me after our special time together in the woods.” He moved closer to her. “Don’t be coy. You want me to kiss you again. Don’t you? Come on over here. I won’t bite.”

  Temper at its highest peak, Daniel stepped between Leah and Butch. “Leave and don’t ever bother Leah or kumme here again.”

  “Leah doesn’t want me to leave. She’s being a typical woman. She’ll be angry for a while, but she’ll be mushy for me later.” He chuckled, pulled a toothpick from his pocket, and held the skinny stick between his teeth.