Letters to Katie (4 page)

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while,” Johnny said.

“Guess I thought you’d want my advice when you bought your first place.”

“The opportunity came up—”

“And you took it.” His father’s gaze stopped on the barn, which leaned to one side
and was missing more slats than it possessed. “I’m concerned about how you’re going
to make this work.”

“Glad you have such faith in me.” He couldn’t keep the bite out of his tone. Normally
his father wasn’t so negative.

“I have faith in you,
sohn
. I just hope you’re putting your faith in the right place.”

Johnny frowned. What did that mean? Of course he had faith. Faith in God, in the church
he joined when he was seventeen. “The land was cheap. It was as if God dropped it
in my lap.”

“I see.” His father’s gaze strayed. “Do you reckon to move in right away?”

“Tomorrow.”

“So soon?” He raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t seem like a safe place to live right now.”

“It will be fine.”

“The door is hanging off the frame.”

“I’ll fix it.” His fingers clenched, then released. “I already checked everything
out. It’s better inside than out. Wanna take a look?”

His father paused. Shook his head. “If you say it’s safe, I’ll take you at your word.
But,
sohn
—”

“Ya?”

“Why don’t you wait a few days. A week at least. Caleb and Micah and I can come over
and help you get the place in decent shape.” He glanced around again. “Or some kind
of shape.”

“I appreciate the offer. And I’ll take you up on it, the construction part. But I’m
moving in tomorrow.”

His father sighed. “So eager to be out on your own?” He pressed his lips in a half
smile. “I remember feeling the same way when I was
yung
.”

Johnny exhaled. Finally his father understood. “Once I get the farm going, I’ll be
able to help you and
Mamm
.”

His dad’s eyes narrowed. “We don’t need any help. We do fine on our own.”

“But I want to. You’ve spent almost twenty-one years taking care of me. I can give
something back.”

Daed
chuckled. “Why don’t you wait a little longer? Like twenty more years. Your
mamm
and I aren’t useless yet.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know what you meant. And I appreciate the thought. But I feel the same way. We
would have helped you buy a better place, as much as we could. You could have paid
back any money you borrowed.”

“Would you have let me?”

A ghost of a smile flitted across his
daed’s
face. “Probably not.”

“Which is why I didn’t ask. I’ve been working for Bender since I was fourteen, saving
my money, waiting for an opportunity.”

“For a farm.”

“For a business. It’s hard to make a living farming. But raising horses?” Johnny grinned.
“That’s a mare of a different color.”

“It will still take hard work.”

“Which I’m willing to do.”

“And time.” His father’s gaze intensified. “Are you willing to give it time?”

Johnny nodded. The tension he had been holding in his body began to release. His father
was coming around. “I’ll give the business as much time as it needs to become successful.”

Daed
clapped Johnny on the back. “Well, if sheer enthusiasm
counts for anything, I’d say you’re off to a
gut
start. Now show me this
haus
you’re so eager to move into.”

Johnny exhaled heavily as he led his father toward the small, shabby structure he
had optimistically referred to as a “house.”

Enthusiasm, his
daed
said.

He might present a good bluster to his father, but he was walking a razor-thin financial
tightrope, and he knew it. This purchase was a bargain, but it had wiped out most
of his savings.

God willing, with enough sweat and determination, he would make this work. Even if
he had to live on peanut butter sandwiches for the next six months, he would force
this business to thrive.

He had made the commitment and declared the desire to see it through. He couldn’t
turn back now.

Even after the workday was over, Katherine couldn’t get out of her mind what Chrystal
had said about Isaac. Had he been flirting with her? She didn’t have much experience
with flirting. He did give her an extra tip, but he wasn’t her first generous customer.
He also kept smiling every time she passed his table. Maybe he was just being friendly.
Still, she couldn’t stop wondering.

Katherine didn’t feel like going home, so instead she turned down Mary Beth’s street.
Summer was just beginning, and the evening sun dappled the lush green leaves on the
trees. June was a perfect month, when the days weren’t too hot and the nights sometimes
held a bit of chill.

She arrived at Mary Beth’s and knocked on the door. No answer. Mary Beth’s husband,
Chris, worked for a construction company that did a lot of jobs in Cleveland, so he
probably wasn’t home. She was just about to knock again when she heard a scream come
from the back of the small house.

She dashed into the house, the door slamming so hard behind her it bounced back on
its hinges. Another wail reached her ears.

Katherine burst into the back bedroom. “Mary Beth?”

Her best friend lay on the bed, writhing in agony.

“The
boppli
!” Mary Beth gasped, sweat pouring down her face. “It’s coming!”

“But it’s too soon!” Katherine gripped the door frame.

Mary Beth clenched her teeth as another contraction overtook her. When it subsided,
she leaned against the pillows. “I know.” She started to cry. “Please. Get
Mamm
.”

C
HAPTER
3

Katherine sat on the couch in Mary Beth’s tiny living room, her hands clasped together,
elbows resting on her knees. The house was so small she could hear every sound, and
she flinched and prayed at each wail, each cry of pain coming from the bedroom.

Mary Beth was in good hands—her mother had been a midwife for the past five years.
But Hannah Mullet hadn’t been able to hide her concern when Katherine told her the
baby was coming.

Another agonizing cry. Mary Beth had been in labor for five hours now. Katherine looked
outside the picture window into the black night.

“Katherine?”

She turned at the sound of Hannah’s voice. “The
boppli
?”

Hannah shook her head. “It’s breech. I think I can turn it around, but it’s going
to be a long night. Do you mind staying?”

“Of course not. What can I do to help?”

Mary Beth cried out again.

“Pray,” Hannah said. “Just keep praying.”

For the next half hour Katherine paced the room, continuously praying, yet feeling
helpless. Just as Mary Beth was screaming through another contraction, the door opened
and Chris walked in. His tanned face paled. His tool belt hit the floor with a heavy
thud.

“Katherine?”

She went to him, forcing herself to remain calm. God was in control, no matter what
happened to Mary Beth or the baby. “It will be okay, Chris.” She explained the situation.
“Hannah is with her now.”

Chris nodded. He picked up his tool belt with shaking hands and slung it over his
shoulder. “Got to check on the animals.”

Katherine nodded. His reaction wasn’t unexpected. If he’d tried to see Mary Beth,
Hannah would have told him to leave. She turned as the door clicked shut, paced again,
and resumed her prayers.

Late for supper again.

Johnny sighed as he turned in the driveway. At least his parents knew why he kept
coming home late. But this would be the last time they would have supper together,
at least here, for a long time. He’d taken the day off work and moved his few belongings
to the new house. He thought his boss, Gideon Bender, might give him a bit of a hard
time about it. An exacting business owner, Bender ran his small machine repair shop
with the same precision he used to make repairs. But since Johnny hadn’t asked
for a day off in months, Bender must have decided to cut him some slack.

As he pulled into the driveway, Johnny noticed an unfamiliar buggy parked in front
of Mary Beth and Chris’s house. He pulled into his parents’ barn and unhitched his
horse. When he went inside, he expected to smell supper cooking. Instead he saw Caleb
making a sandwich for Eli.

“Where’s
Mamm
and
Daed
?” Johnny hung his hat on the peg in the mudroom next to the kitchen. When he met
Caleb’s worried eyes, his stomach dropped to his knees. “What’s going on?”

“Eat your sandwich, Eli.” Caleb put the bologna sandwich in front of their younger
brother.

“Yum.” Eli picked up the sandwich and took a huge bite.

Caleb motioned for Johnny to follow him to the living room. When they were out of
earshot of Eli, he said, “Mary Beth is in labor.”

Johnny gaped. “Isn’t it early?”

Caleb nodded. “That’s what
Mamm
said when Katherine came to get her a few hours ago.”

“Katherine’s here?”

“
Ya
. She found Mary Beth.” Caleb swallowed. “Chris is home by now, I’m sure.
Daed
had a school board meeting tonight, so he doesn’t know what’s going on. Probably
best that way. Micah’s at a friend’s house.”

“Have you talked to
Mamm
?”

“
Nee
. I’ve been praying, but that women’s stuff—” Caleb shuddered. “It’s best left to
them.”

“I’ll
geh
find Chris.” Johnny said a quick prayer as he left the house. He and his twin had
always been close, but Caleb was right. His mother and Katherine were taking care
of Mary Beth and the baby.

He found Chris in the barn, on his knees. A faint shrieking sound reached Johnny’s
ears. Was that his sister?

Johnny cleared his throat. Chris looked up. His Adam’s apple worked in his neck, as
if he were trying to swallow and failing at the attempt. He closed his eyes and shook
his head.