A Plain Man (32 page)

“Did he sleep in the same room with a smudge pot?”

“He had planned to, but I insisted he bunk in with Tobias.” Caleb rolled his eyes. “Albert made Elijah carry the nest far from the house. When the last stragglers flew out the window, I boarded up the opening until I can get new replacement glass. And the yellow jackets now reside in a pine tree in the north woods.”

“Amazing,” said Eli. Although the word was inadequate for what was happening on that dead-end road.

“That's not all. Elijah had a black snake living under his bed, sort of like his pet. It would eat any mice that lived upstairs. He or she—hard to tell with snakes—came and went through a hole in the wall to a tree outside the bedroom.”

Eli held up his hands. “Enough. Perhaps I don't need to hear every detail of the Sidleys' former existence. I trust you also found a new home for the snake?”

“Now he lives in a rotted log near the river.” Caleb released the horse from the ties and returned him to the stall. “The snake seemed happy when he slithered off, but Elijah was sad to see him go.”

A shiver ran up Eli's spine. “When the house is done, maybe he can adopt a dog from the shelter. I'll donate a fifty-pound bag of chow. In the meantime, let's go inside so you can eat. You've had quite a week. Did it get too late to drop off the plumbing supplies? I noticed them still in your buggy.”

Caleb closed the barn door behind him. “No, I left in plenty of time, but I saw Josie in Shreve and decided to go to the Yoders.”

“All the way by road? Why didn't you just talk in town?”

“Because she was having coffee with an
Englisch
beekeeper.” Caleb climbed the back steps and toed off his boots.

“A
beekeeper
? You've lost me.” Eli scratched his head. “Are you sure this isn't part of the Sidley story?”

Caleb opened the kitchen door for him. “I couldn't figure out what she was doing with him so I followed her home. She got a notion to raise bees and sell their honey. She thinks I want her to earn an income.” He walked straight to the fridge for a Coke.

“And you don't?” Eli set the kettle on for a cup of tea.

“Not at all, but how can I discourage the idea?” His son drank half the can in several swallows.

“Bees will be good for their peach and apple trees. I read in
The Budget
that it's difficult to get one hundred percent pollination of blooms.” Eli selected a chamomile teabag from the metal canister.

“What if she invests her money but doesn't like tending the colony?”

“She could sell the hive to someone else.” Eli stood at the stove as though watching a kettle made water boil faster. “What did you think of the former beekeeper? Was he covered in suspicious-looking red welts?” He tried his best to suppress a chuckle.

Caleb didn't appreciate his humor. “I didn't go inside the diner. I sat in my buggy, watching the door until Josie left to go home.”

“Why on earth didn't you speak to this
Englischer
? Then you could have judged for yourself how difficult or dangerous her new undertaking was. Josie might be biting off more than she can chew.” The moment the whistling began, Eli removed the kettle from the heat. His
fraa
and
dochdern
could be asleep upstairs by now.

Caleb carried his supper plate to the table and peeled off the cover. Under the foil were two pork chops, a mound of green beans, mashed yams, and an ear of corn. He picked up a piece of meat. “
Mamm
won't be happy until she fattens me up.”

Eli waited several minutes until Caleb devoured his first chop and put a dent in the side dishes. Then he repeated his question. “Why
didn't
you join them for coffee, son?”

“Because I didn't realize it was a business meeting. I thought my girl
was on a date with another man.” Caleb tipped back his head to finish his soft drink.

“But you said he was an
Englischer.
”

“
Jah.
What does that have to do with it?”

“Plenty. I've known Josie Yoder from the day she came into the world. She would never court someone
Englisch
.”

“Then I guess you know her better than me.” Caleb bit into the second pork chop.

“You're almost midway through the membership classes, preparing to join the Amish church and pledge your lives to Christ. Yet you assumed she was sneaking around behind your back? I thought you two would soon speak to me about intentions to marry this fall after your baptism.”

Caleb dropped the bone onto the plate. “I know that, but I didn't like seeing her walk into Cup-of-Joe with another man.”

Eli continued to dunk his teabag in the cup far longer than necessary. “So you followed her home in your buggy. Once at the Yoder's, Josie explained her idea to sell honey?”

“Jah.”
Caleb didn't lift his focus from the meal. “She explained why she went to Shreve. Then she sent me home, all but slamming the door in my face.”

“Women, or men for that matter, don't like to find out they're not trusted. You can't blame Josie for being angry.”

“I don't, but if this situation were to happen again, I wouldn't do anything different.” Caleb balled up his paper napkin and tossed it into the trash.

Eli's years of studying Scripture, along with leading the district as their bishop, momentarily failed him. He didn't know the right words to say to a troubled young man. “Even when your distrust had been misguided?” he said. “Josie had only been buying a beehive, of all things, which you would have discovered had you not stewed in jealousy out in your buggy.”

“I understand, but I couldn't tolerate that
Englischer
laughing and talking with my girl. The man even shook her hand!”

“If you keep up this kind of behavior, she might not be your girl
much longer.” Eli had spoken more to himself, but his son heard him nevertheless.

“A man wants to protect those he loves and keep them safe. Josie is an innocent babe in the woods. She has no idea what kind of men are out in the world. I do know. I saw plenty in those Cleveland bars.” Caleb carried his empty plate to the sink.

“Maybe you shouldn't have been in those bars in the first place. You too could have remained oblivious of things Amish folks don't need to know.”

“Maybe not, but I can't do anything about it now.”

“You need to study the
Gelassenheit
tonight and focus on implementing those principles in your life. Once you've learned resignation, detachment, and calmness of mind, then jealousy won't be an issue nearly so often.”

Caleb met his gaze and nodded. “All right,” he said.
“Gut nacht.”

But as he headed upstairs, Eli felt he might as well be trying to teach geometry to a goldfish.

15

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love

C
aleb slouched at the breakfast table, not in the best of moods. The thumb he'd hit with the hammer twice yesterday was swollen and throbbing. The steady rain thrumming on their steel roof meant little work would get done on the Sidleys' back porch that day. They had already burned the rotted, warped boards from the previous porch in a bonfire, the sparks and flames shooting twenty-five feet into the air. The shower enclosure he'd ordered had yet to be delivered, stalling progress in the bathroom. But at least Albert and his brothers had a new flush toilet and pedestal sink, even if cold water was their sole option. Two days ago
Daed'
s foreman stopped after work with his plumber friend. Within a few hours, Bob and the plumber had installed both fixtures, to Elijah's utter amazement. The boy watched over their shoulders the entire time. Caleb had been amazed by the number of questions Elijah asked.

But it wasn't the rain delay that had Caleb down in the dumps. A full week had passed since his spat with Josie and they were no closer to mending fences. He'd seen her the next day, but she offered no more than a half-hearted smile...one more of pity than affection. After preaching, Josie insisted she needed to sit with her grandmother during lunch.
Grossmammi
Yoder had trouble eating with her new dentures. Then she and her family drove off while he'd been occupied with a debate over soybeans versus more corn next year.

Three times Caleb had walked the back path to the Yoders' after supper to make amends. The first evening he took wildflowers, which
her
mamm
didn't appreciate: “Truly, Caleb, these should remain where God planted them.” But at least Margaret promised to deliver them. Josie had gone to town for ice cream with her sisters. During his second ill-fated visit, he tried to entice her outdoors to view the first harvest moon of the season. The yellow aura surrounding the moon had always intrigued him, but it failed to draw Josie away from her needlework. His third unsuccessful trip ended with a closed kitchen door in his face. Jessie, her younger sister, informed him that Josie had gone to bed early with a headache.

Was
he
the headache in her life—the thorn that had buried its tip just beneath the surface, refusing to be removed with needle or tweezers? How he missed her sweet smile and pretty face. Thus, when Sarah bounded down the stairs, Caleb wasn't ready for unmitigated cheeriness.

“Why are you still home?” she asked.

“Look outside. It's raining.”

“Ahh, you'd planned outdoor work at Albert's. Would you like me to fry ham and eggs while you wait for the skies to clear?” Sarah poured coffee to the rim of her mug.

“No,
danki
, cornflakes will be fine.” Caleb didn't glance up from his perusal of a dried blob of jelly on the oilcloth.

“Suit yourself. I'll eat with Mrs. Pratt after we serve last night's guests.” Sarah rummaged around in her purse. “Where are my keys to Country Pleasures? Lee Ann sometimes runs to the market for more fruit while her guests sleep, as long as Roy is awake.” She dumped her purse contents onto the table. “There they are.” Sarah grabbed the ring from the clutter.

As fate would have it, a slip of paper landed faceup amid the sprawl. Like a hummingbird drawn to the next succulent flower, Caleb focused on Josie's name.

“What's this?” he asked, reading aloud. “1230 Mercy Drive NW, Canton.”

“It's the address of Timken Mercy Medical Center in Canton.” Sarah swept contents back into the purse and slung it over her shoulder.

“I know where that hospital is. What does this have to do with Josie?” An uncomfortable tension tightened his belly.

“I don't know why exactly. I'll get the full story from her tonight after work.” Sarah busily filled an aluminum water bottle at the sink.

“Tell me what Josie said to you, Sarah. Stop being evasive. Is she sick or injured?”

“Goodness,
bruder.
Why would you jump to such dire conclusions? I'm sure she's fine. She probably wants to visit someone in the hospital.”

“Who?” In a few sort strides, Caleb blocked his sister's exit. There would be no mad dash out the door until he had answers.

“I have no idea. Josie left a message on the Country Pleasures' answering machine. She said she needed the address to give her hired driver. I was to leave the address on her
daed'
s machine out in his barn, which I did. All I know is she's going today.”

“Hired cars know where the Canton hospital is.” Caleb felt the vein in his neck start to throb.

“True, but driver's love the exact address to punch into those locator machines. Then they'll know about traffic jams ahead of time.” Sarah pursed her lips. “Right now I need to get to work. Rebekah is staying home because she doesn't feel well.” She pushed past him in the doorway, leaving the scrap of paper where it lay. “Why don't you find out the whole story tonight and then tell me.”

For no apparent reason, Caleb tucked the slip into his pocket. It would be a long, worrisome drive to Albert's house, because once again Josie decided to be secretive and sly.

Despite the rain, indoor work at the Sidleys' continued. All morning they filled holes and cracks in the plaster walls with spackling. Once the compound was dry, they sanded in preparation to paint the upstairs bedrooms. Even Josiah pitched in, although he never caught on that a light touch worked best when patching cracks. The walls in his room would forevermore undulate like ocean waves, but they would be clean and free of critter access. After all, the Amish didn't open their homes to decorator magazines anyway.

Caleb's spirits lifted when the paneled van for Dave's Plumbing rolled up the driveway. Dave Wilhelm, Jack's best friend, climbed out with his usual cheeriness.

“How's it going, Albert, Cal? Guess what I've got in the back of my truck?” Dave resettled his ball cap backwards.

“A pepperoni pizza?” Elijah asked with wide-eyed eagerness.

Albert nudged his brother with an elbow. “We're fine, but we don't know what's in your van.” Albert never could relax with
Englischer'
s mannerisms and redundant questions.

“Your new fiberglass shower enclosure. I went to Shreve to pick up my order for a job in Mount Hope, but mine hadn't arrived yet. Some kind of computer glitch—typical, no?”

Shrugging, Albert looked to Caleb for the appropriate response.

“That happened once on the Ashland office building too,” Caleb answered on behalf of the Sidleys. “Will this glitch impact your completion date?”

“Not enough to worry about. Anyway, although my order wasn't in,
yours
had just been delivered. It was still sitting on the loading dock. I told them I would bring it out if they would deliver mine for free when it came in.”