Never Far From Home (The Miller Family 2) (14 page)

“You wouldn’t have to move to Columbus,” James Sr. said. “The OSU Agricultural Extension is in Wooster, not that far away—less than an hour. You could probably schedule your classes into four days, and come home to the farm for long weekends.”

“Take a look at the catalog, Jamie. There are many courses that sound fascinating,” Barbara added, double-teaming him with her husband.

James leafed through the catalog and paused on one page of course listings. He grinned as he found what he’d been looking for. “Entomology of Indigenous Flora Subspecies, Engineering Technology, and Applied Sciences of Agricultural Natural Resources. Do those sound interesting to you?” James asked, rolling his eyes. “They sound like a remedy for insomnia to me.”

His dad’s dimple deepened slightly in his cheek, but his stoic demeanor soon returned. “Well, don’t sign up for those, but there are plenty of other classes that’ll help you become a better farmer. You’ve got a lot to learn, son, and I’m not the one to teach you. I’m old school. If you want to survive as a farmer with the challenges out there in the twenty-first century, you’ll need help. And if you’re serious about taking this place off my hands so I can retire someday, then prove it to me.”

James knew he couldn’t argue with anything his father was saying. And the silver in his dad’s hair, the slight limp to his walk, only underscored the fact that James Sr. wouldn’t be able to run Hollyhock Farms forever.

James Jr. exhaled a pent-up breath. “I’ll look over the catalog, but don’t plan on me going away for four years…maybe two. And that’s if I can stay awake that long.”

The joy on his parents’ faces was undeniable.

Honor thy father and mother.
God commanded it, and James wished to comply more than anything. His folks had always been more than fair while he was growing up. And they had never asked for anything in return. How could he deny them this? Even if it meant going to school for two or more years, he knew he would do it to please them.

And what about sweet Emma Miller of Winesburg? He was young and she was even younger. Would she be willing to wait for him to finish agricultural college?

He knew that Amish girls married young—or at least began courting seriously by eighteen. They had only just met, and now he would be stuck up in Wooster most of the time. The only encouraging thought was that Winesburg was on his way to and from the college.

“I’ll read this through tonight,” he said, realizing his parents were watching him intently.

“There’s a website where you can complete a preliminary application online. Then they’ll send the rest out in the mail,” his mom said. “Do it tonight, Jamie. It’s already June. Time’s a’wasting. They’ll close enrollment, or some of the good classes might fill up. Then you will be stuck with Entomology of Indigenous Flora Subspecies.”

Both his parents laughed while James felt like a bull fenced up in a tiny pasture. They had gone from “at least give it some thought” to “fill out the application tonight and email it in” within the space of fifteen minutes.

His dad put his cap back on and headed outside to chores. James dug around in the refrigerator looking for a soda and the bag of carrots for his horse.

“I thought you were going for a trail ride,” Barbara said without looking up. She had already returned to her Sunday school preparations.

“I am, but there’s something I wanted to ask you after Dad left.”

She peered at him over her reading glasses.

“Amish people,” he continued. “They’re Christians same as us, right?” He popped open the soda can, trying to look casual.

Barbara thought for a moment before answering. “Yes, son. They have a slightly different approach to obtaining salvation that emphasizes earthly good works and self-sacrifice, but they use the same Bible and believe the same fundamentals.”

“Okay. Thanks.” He started for the screen door feeling immensely relieved.

She lifted an eyebrow. “Why do you ask, Jamie?”

He glanced back at her. “I was just curious. You know I have a good friend, Sam Yoder, who’s Amish. And I ran into an Amish girl at the volleyball party. I just wanted to know what they believed.” He hurried out to where he had tied his gelding before she could ask him more questions.

Or before he revealed something he couldn’t even admit to himself.

Emma knew it was wrong to use the term “miracle” to refer to something most people would dismiss as insignificant. Miracles should be reserved for witnessing the hand of God in a manner that defied the logical outcome. But to Emma, that was exactly what seemed to have happened in her life.

She’d heard from Sarah after preaching service that many young people were going on a canoe trip on the Mohican River in Loudonville. The all-day social event would involve mostly older courting couples and their English friends. Since the town of numerous canoe liveries was too far to go by horse and buggy, and considering the length of the canoe ride, they depended on
Englischers
to take them in cars and vans. Her parents never would allow her to go on such a trip…or so she had thought, and that’s why it seemed like a miracle.

After services Mrs. Hostetler had mentioned to
mamm
that she was permitting Sarah to go. Also the bishop’s daughter would attend with her young beau. His daughter was two years older than Emma, and everyone expected them to wed in the autumn. Even so,
mamm
had originally said no when Emma had asked.

“But if the bishop thinks it’s suitable for his girl, then I see no harm in it,”
daed
had declared. And the matter was settled.

Emma found herself counting the days and holding her breath for fear she’d say or do something to change her parents’ minds. She had pitched in with even the most onerous of chores and helped Leah with dinner when not her turn. She’d weeded the garden without being reminded and darned her
bruders’
socks to spare her mother’s arthritic fingers. And she’d stayed out of her father’s path as much as possible, since the sight of her bangs still rankled him.

Now that the day had arrived, Emma was so excited her shoes barely touched the ground when she walked. She’d heard from Sarah that James would be canoeing with Sam Yoder. Sam was the reason Sarah was willing to climb into a wobbly boat, perch on a hard wooden seat, and paddle downriver on a hot June day, swatting at mosquitoes all the while. The girl feared water most other days.

Funny how a heart plays strange tricks on a girl’s mind.

Canoeing had always sounded like a silly pastime to Emma, but today she couldn’t wait to see what fascinating sights waited along the riverbank. She’d begged her mom to let her walk to Sarah’s so the English driver wouldn’t have to make so many stops. The Hostetlers lived about a mile away, across the road from Aunt Hannah. Emma could easily hike the back path.

“
Jah
, sure,” Julia said, “but you make sure the driver brings you all the way home. I don’t want you walking through the bog after dark, even with your flashlight.”

Emma readily agreed. With any luck, a tall blond-haired man would bring her home in his shiny green truck. That thought instantly made her feel guilty and deceptive, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong…yet. Emma tried to tamp down her enthusiasm. Sarah might be wrong about James, since his responsibilities at the Hollyhock Farm might keep him from an afternoon of fun, but for some reason she didn’t think so. At the volleyball party, he’d looked at her differently than the other girls—as though his face were glowing.

Her Plain upbringing wouldn’t allow her to look at him that way, but she felt the same on the inside. “Bye,
mamm
,” she called, feeling another pang of guilt.

“Don’t upset the canoe and fall in the river,” Julia hollered. “Sitting around all day in wet clothes won’t be very comfortable.”

Emma nodded, waved, and hurried toward the path. That was certainly true. Taking extra clothes was out of the question since changing facilities wouldn’t be available. Ducking into the shrubbery wasn’t proper for a modest Amish girl. Her
mamm
said she could take off her shoes and socks in the canoe but made no other allowances for hot weather. Her dress reached to her shins and her
kapp
was to stay in place at all times. But Emma didn’t care; she wasn’t ashamed to be Amish. She enjoyed feeling part of a larger community that loved God and worshipped Him with their whole lives.

The gorgeous June day wrapped around her during the walk to Aunt Hannah’s. The warm air hung over the tranquil beaver pond as eagles and turkey vultures soared effortlessly on wind currents. Bumblebees buzzed from one tall flower to the next, while insects emitted a hum that amounted to near cacophony. Maybe it was her imagination due to her good mood, but Emma thought she glimpsed the elusive beaver lifting his head above the surface of the water.

Reaching her uncle’s farm, she waved to him in the cornfield and then craned her neck to see if Aunt Hannah was working in the vegetable garden. But she had no time to go looking for her as she crossed the road and started up her friend’s driveway.

And the best day of her life thus far just got better. James Davis stood in the Hostetler yard with Sam Yoder.

“Hi, Emma!” he shouted upon seeing her.

“Hello, James. Hi, Sam,” she called, too excited to be nervous.

“Are you all set? We’re planning to paddle all the way to the Ohio River.” James grinned as she approached.

“I’m as ready as I ever will be.” Emma headed toward the house where Sarah was standing on the steps.

Mrs. Hostetler walked onto the porch, letting the screen door slam behind her. “Sarah, take this along,” she said, handing her daughter a soft-sided cooler. “It’s full of Cokes and snacks for later. Hello, Emma.” She offered Emma a pleasant smile. “You girls make sure the driver is careful and don’t distract him. And no speeding.”

“
Jah,
we’ll be careful.” Sarah took the cooler and walked toward Emma with smile. “I’m so glad you were allowed to come.”

Emma waited until Mrs. Hostetler went inside before she spoke. “Me too,” she said, “but where’s Martha? Still getting ready?”

“She’s not coming,” murmured Sarah. “Only courting couples are going today.” Sarah slanted her an odd look while Emma began to feel panicky.

Only courting couples? So that’s what this is—my first date?

She grabbed Sarah’s sleeve to talk before joining the others. “I didn’t know that. I thought we would stay in a big group.”

Sarah patted her arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll be together, but a canoe only holds two people. That’s why it’ll be mostly courting couples. Sam asked me the night of the volleyball party.” Sarah’s face flushed with pleasure with the admission. “You had already gone home or I would’ve told you.”

“But James didn’t ask me to come, you did,” said Emma. Her uneasiness grew by the minute.

Sarah whispered conspiratorially. “He was afraid to. He thought it better if I asked and he just showed up, hoping for the best.”

“Are you girls ready?” Sam called. “The river is waiting.”

Sarah squeezed her hand. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

As much as Emma wanted to spend the afternoon with James, she didn’t like deceiving her parents. But then again…it was her
Rumschpringe
.

James approached wearing a look of concern. “Is everything all right, Emma?”

“Everything is okay, I guess.” She said nothing about her misgivings. After all, this date could be nothing but a fix-up by Sarah.

“Let’s get going,” Sam said, opening the truck doors. “We still have to get two more people along the way.”

Once the shiny green truck picked up the other couple, Emma sat back for the drive to Loudonville. Because they would be jammed together, the three females sat in the backseat while the men were up front. This separation didn’t surprise the Amish fellows, but James looked a bit disappointed.

Emma caught him stealing glances in the rearview mirror more than once. Figuring out what she should do was hard enough, but with James being English it became nearly impossible.

Once they arrived at the livery, they met others from their district in line to buy tickets. She somewhat relaxed seeing how many others were taking the trip. But once they were handed paddles and life preservers and walked to the water, some of her confidence fled. A very swift current carried the canoes away from the dock the moment people got in. When their turn came, James jumped down into the canoe and reached for her hand.

Inhaling a deep breath, Emma stepped in gingerly and settled herself in front, careful to not rock the boat. “Don’t make it tip over,” she cautioned. “I’ll get mad as a hornet.” She was too nervous to look back at him.

“You have my word. I’ll keep you safe and dry.” His words drifted up on the breeze.

She chanced a smile over her shoulder as he paddled the canoe toward the middle of the river. James deftly dipped his paddle on one side and then the other. Although Emma had her own paddle, she seldom used it. After a while James needed only to steer, since the strong current from recent rains easily carried them downstream. Other couples bobbed in and out of sight. Sometimes it seemed they were alone on the river. Other times they rounded a bend and joined a log jam of boats. Emma leaned back and lazily watched the riverbank lined with willow and sycamore trees. Odd how ordinary scenes looked different when viewed from a passing boat.