Allison's Journey (14 page)

Allison waited anxiously to see what Aaron would do and was pleased when he followed Katie and Joseph.

“Did you bring your fishing pole along?” Aaron asked Allison as he took a seat on the edge of the quilt near her.

She shook her head. “Katie and I just came to eat and visit.”

“Then we showed up and ruined your picnic.” Joseph winked at Katie, and she swatted him playfully on the arm.

A stab of jealousy pierced Allison’s heart. Katie and Joseph obviously cared for each other, and Allison longed to have someone look at her the way Joseph looked at Katie, with love and respect.

“How’s your little sister doing?” Katie asked Aaron. “Is she still in the hospital?”

He nodded. “She’s doing well and will probably be home soon.”

“I’m glad she’s going to be okay,” Allison spoke up.

“Me, too.”

“Will either one of you be at the barbecue Allison’s aunt and uncle are having tomorrow evening?” Katie asked.

“I thought I might go,” they said at the same time.

Joseph grinned at Katie. “You’ll be there, too, I hope.”

She nodded. “Definitely.”

“Glad to hear it,” Joseph said as he helped himself to some potato salad and chicken.

Katie extended the container of chicken to Aaron. “How about you? Wouldn’t you like to try a piece?”

He shook his head. “I’m still full from supper.”

“Who’s watching things at home while you and Joseph are here?” Allison asked.

“Paul came home from Springfield and left Mom to stay with Emma,” Aaron replied. “Since I’ve been taking care of things in Paul’s absence, he said Joseph and I could go fishing for a few hours this evening.”

“That was nice of him,” Katie said.

They continued to visit while Joseph ate. When the food was put away, the men invited the women to join them at the pond.

Aaron squatted beside Allison and extended his pole. “Would you like to fish awhile?”

She smiled and eagerly reached for it but pulled her hand back in time. “I’d better just watch.”

“How come? You fished the other day and even baited your own hook.”

“That’s true, but if my aunt Catherine had seen me do that, she wouldn’t have approved.”

“Why not?”

“She thinks fishing isn’t very ladylike.”

“That’s lecherich. My mamm likes to fish, and she’s a lady. Of course, she doesn’t go fishing as often as she used to now that my grandma and grandpa need her help so much more.”

“Don’t you have other family to help with their care?” Allison asked.

“My brothers and I try to help out as much as we can, just like we’ve been doing while Emma’s in the hospital.” Aaron
wedged his pole between his knees, leaned back on his elbows, and lifted his face toward the sky. “Ever wonder what heaven is like?”

“Sometimes.” Allison thought about heaven a lot, wondering whether she would ever get there. Even though she’d attended church since she was a baby, she’d never felt as if she knew God in a personal way. For that matter, Allison didn’t think God knew her, either. She envied people like Aunt Mary, who read her Bible every day and seemed to walk closely with the Lord. She often wondered how her mother had felt about spiritual things when she was alive.

“I know there’s supposed to be streets of gold in heaven,” Aaron said, “but I’m hoping there will be fishing holes, too.”

Allison smiled and was about to reply, when Aaron leaned forward and hollered, “Hey! I’ve got a bite!”

She watched with envy as he gripped his pole and started playing the fish. “I think it’s a big one!” he hollered.

“Don’t fall in the water like my cousin Dan did.”

“I won’t; don’t worry.” Aaron moved closer to the edge of the pond, reeling in his catch a little at a time. Soon a nice-sized bass lay at his feet, and he knelt beside it with a satisfied smile.

Allison knew it would sound silly, but she almost offered to remove the hook. She caught herself before the words popped out. She glanced over at Katie, who sat beside Joseph with a contented smile. Katie didn’t seem the least bit interested in fishing, but she could cook, and if that’s what a man wanted in a wife, then Allison would need to learn to do the same.

Aaron extended the pole toward Allison. “Now it’s your turn.”

“What?”

“I know you like to fish, so quit trying to fool me and fish.”

Allison drew in a deep breath, savoring the musty aroma of the pond and the fishy smell of the bass he’d landed. Oh, how she longed to grip that fishing pole and throw the line into the water. It would feel so satisfying to snag a big old bass or tasty catfish. “I’ll just watch,” she mumbled.

“Okay, suit yourself.” Aaron cast out his line once more, and they sat in silence.

Allison could hardly contain herself when Aaron reeled in another bass, followed by a couple of plump catfish. Her fingers itched to grab hold of the fishing pole and cast her line into the water.

“Hey, Joseph,” Aaron called to his brother, “I’ll bet you can’t top the size of my last fish!”

“I’m not tryin’ to,” Joseph shot back. “I’ve got three nice catfish, and I’m not a bit worried about their size.”

Aaron chuckled. “All my brother worries about is trying to make an impression on Katie Esh.” His face sobered. “Speaking of the Esh family. . .Katie’s cousin James isn’t coming to your barbecue tomorrow night, is he?”

“I don’t know who all my aunt and uncle have invited.”

“It would be just my luck if James was there.” Aaron bit off the end of a fingernail and spit it onto the ground.

Allison wrinkled her nose. “Do you have to do that? I think it’s
ekelhaft
.”

Aaron examined his hands and frowned. “You’re right. It is a disgusting habit, but I do it whenever I’m nervous or upset.”

“Would you be upset if James came to the barbecue?”

“Guess I would, but it’s not my decision who comes.”

Allison wasn’t sure what Aaron had against James, but she didn’t think it was her place to ask.

A
llison didn’t know why, but thinking about the barbecue that would begin in less than an hour made her feel jittery as a june bug. Could it be because she was excited about seeing Aaron again? Or maybe she was worried over who else might be in attendance.

If James shows up, how should I act around him?
Allison asked herself as she sliced tomatoes.
I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I’m really not interested in having him court me
. She grunted. “Guess I’ll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.”

“What was that?”

Allison whirled around. She’d thought she was alone in the kitchen. Aunt Mary had gone outside to see if Uncle Ben had the barbecue lit. Sarah and Dan were supposed to be setting the picnic tables. Walter was outside somewhere, too. She’d certainly never expected Harvey to come into the kitchen. But
here he was, looking at her like she’d taken leave of her senses.

“I. . .uh. . .was talking to myself,” she mumbled, quickly turning back to cutting the tomatoes.

He chuckled. “No need to look so flustered. We all talk to ourselves sometimes.”

Allison smiled. She still couldn’t get over how easygoing this family seemed to be. If Aunt Catherine had caught Allison talking to herself, she would have made an issue of it.

“I came in to get the hamburger buns,” Harvey said, moving toward the ample-sized bread box.

“Have any of the guests arrived yet?” Allison asked.

“Not that I know of, but I’m sure they’ll be here soon.”

“And you don’t know who all is coming?”

“Nope. Just heard that Mom and Dad had invited the Hiltys, Eshes, Swartzes, and Hertzlers.”

“Which Eshes?”

Harvey shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“So you don’t know whether James was invited?”

“Nope.”

Allison went to the refrigerator and removed a jar of pickles. “I guess we’ll know soon enough.”

Harvey stared at her in a strange way. “You’re not interested in James, I hope.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, I know he brought you home the night of the last young people’s gathering, and Clara said she saw James in Seymour one day and that he’d mentioned that he might ask you out.”

Allison shook her head. “He hasn’t.”

“That’s good to hear.” Harvey started across the room. “Oh, Mom said to tell you to bring out the stuff you’re cutting up
as soon as you’re done.”

“I will.” Allison turned back to her chore as Harvey went out the back door.
Now if I can just relax and have a good time. It’s plain silly for me to get all worked up over who’s coming and who’s not
.

Aaron clucked to his horse to get him moving faster, then glanced over at Joseph, who sat on the seat beside him. Bessie was in the back of the buggy and had been practicing her yodeling ever since they’d left home. Earlier today, she’d mentioned that Gabe’s wife, Melinda, had been teaching her some special yodeling techniques. Aaron figured Bessie had a long way to go before she could yodel half as well as Melinda.

His thoughts shifted gears. He was glad Emma had come home from the hospital today and that Mom and Paul hadn’t minded him and Joseph escorting Bessie to the barbecue. It meant he would see Allison again, and that thought pleased him more than he cared to admit. He’d never met anyone like her before. If he weren’t so set against marriage, he might even want to court her. Since Allison would be returning to Pennsylvania at the end of summer, what harm could there be in them doing a few things together? Surely she wouldn’t have any expectations of love or romance.

Aaron gripped the reins tighter.
I wonder if James will be at the barbecue tonight
.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Joseph said, breaking into Aaron’s thoughts.

“It’s kind of hard to talk with Bessie in the backseat, cackling away.”

“You’re right.” Joseph glanced over his shoulder. “Our little sister seems determined to master the art of yodeling.”

Aaron nodded. “She’ll need a lot more practice.”

“Melinda started yodeling when she was a girl, and she sure does it well. In time, Bessie will get the hang of it.”

“Maybe so.”

“I don’t know about you, but I’m sure looking forward to the barbecue and all that good food.” Joseph gave his stomach a couple of pats.

“More than likely what you’re really looking forward to is spending time with Katie.”

“Jah, that, too.”

“You’re not thinking of marrying the girl, are you?”

Joseph’s ears turned pink. “Uh. . .I’d sure like to, but—”

“Maybe someday, when you’re both a little older?”

Joseph nodded. “I’ll probably need to find myself a better job before then.”

“You’re not happy working part-time at the Christmas tree farm and working the fields for our neighbors when you can?”

“Not really. I don’t think I’d want to spend the rest of my life flagging trees, pulling weeds, or traipsing through the dusty fields behind a pair of stubborn mules.”

“Noah Hertzler has worked at Osborn’s Christmas Tree Farm for several years, and he seems happy enough. Maybe Hank Osborn will hire you full-time.”

“Jah, well, one man’s pleasure is another man’s pain. I’m not really looking to work there full-time.”

“You hate it that much?”

“I don’t hate it. Just don’t like it well enough to keep doing it forever.” Joseph looked over at Aaron. “I need something that
provides more of a challenge—the way your work in the harness shop does.”

Aaron frowned. “You’ve never shown any interest in working in the harness shop before.”

Joseph bumped Aaron’s arm. “I’d just like to find something that’s more of a challenge for me.”

“The harness shop can be challenge, all right.” Aaron drew in a breath and released it quickly. He hoped Joseph didn’t want to work at the harness shop. If he did, Paul might decide to turn the shop over to him when he was ready to retire, and not give it to Aaron, the way his real dad had wanted. Of course, there was always Zachary and Davey to consider. One of them might want in on their real dad’s shop. If that proved to be the case, where would it leave Aaron? “Maybe you should consider carpentry or painting. There’s always a need for that,” he said.

“Naw. Those jobs don’t interest me, either.”

“Maybe you could go to work on a dairy farm. That’s what Allison’s daed does for a living. He runs the farm with one of his sons.”

Joseph shook his head. “I don’t think so. Cows are too smelly for my taste.”

“Oddle-lei-de-tee! Oddle-lei-de-tee!” Bessie’s shrill voice grew louder and louder, until Aaron thought he would scream.

“Would you quiet down back there? I can hardly think, and all that howling is giving me a headache!”

Bessie finally quieted, but Aaron figured it was only because she was afraid he might head back home if she didn’t.

A short time later, they pulled onto the Kings’ property, and Aaron parked the buggy near the barn. “I’ll get the horse put in the corral and join you and Bessie up at the house,” he said.

“Jah, okay.” Joseph grabbed Bessie’s hand, and they sprinted across the yard.