Allison's Journey (5 page)

Aaron’s mind drifted from the sermon Bishop John was preaching as he glanced at the women’s side of the room and spotted Allison Troyer staring out the open barn door. Would she rather be outdoors, or was she bored with the service? As much as Aaron hated to admit it, Allison had his full attention. Maybe it was the fact that she’d mentioned yesterday how she liked the smell of leather. Aaron smiled to himself.
Or maybe it’s because—

Aaron felt a jab to his ribs, and he looked over at his
brother Joseph and frowned. “What’d you poke me for?” he whispered.

“Church is over,” Joseph said with a smirk. “You looked like you were off in some other world, so I figured I’d better bring you back to this one.”

Aaron grunted. “Very funny.”

A short time later, Aaron followed the men up to the house, where the common meal would be served. He’d no more than taken a seat when he felt another sharp jab to the ribs. He glanced to the left and saw Gabe sitting beside him. “What’d you prod me for?”

Gabe snickered. “I was wondering why you’re making cow eyes at that new girl, Allison.”

“I’m not!” Aaron bit off the end of a fingernail and was about to flick it over his shoulder onto the floor, when Gabe grabbed his hand.

“That’s a nasty habit, and we’re not outside, so you’d better not do that.”

“You’re right.” Aaron slipped the sliver of fingernail into his pants pocket.

“Are you ever planning to quit that awful habit?” Gabe questioned.

“Maybe someday—if I feel like it.”

“Falling in love might make you give up your crude ways.”

Aaron elbowed his friend. “A lot you know; I’m not crude.”

“Jah, well, I know a man with a crush when I see one.”

“I don’t have a crush on anyone. I barely know her.”

“Who?”

“Allison Troyer. That’s who we were talking about, right?”

Gabe put his finger in the small of Aaron’s back. “Since you
barely know her, why don’t you remedy that by going over and talking to her? Or are you too much of a chicken?”

“I’m not scared of anything.”

“Then prove it.”

Joseph, sitting on the other side of Aaron, nodded his blond head in agreement. “I think it’s about time you took an interest in some nice young woman.”

“Just so you two will get off my back, I will go speak to Allison,” Aaron said, his jaw tight. “But it’s not because I have an interest in her.” He hopped off the bench and strolled across the room, heading for the kitchen. He stopped a few feet from the table where Allison and Katie were serving a group of men. His heart hammered so hard he feared it might break through his chest, and he took in a couple of deep breaths in order to steady his nerves. He couldn’t march right up to Allison and start yammering away. What would he say? What if she thought he was trying to make a play for her? Then again, he didn’t want Gabe and Joseph to think he was a coward.

Aaron took a step back and bumped a table leg, jostling Bishop Frey’s glass of water.

“Whoa there! What do you think you’re doing, boy?” the man asked as he blotted the table with his napkin.

“S–s–sorry, Bishop. I didn’t realize you were behind me.” Aaron glanced around. Everyone in the room seemed to be staring at him, including Allison.

Oh, great. She probably thinks I’m a real klutz
. Aaron slunk away, knowing he would probably be in for more ribbing from Gabe. He figured a little teasing from his friend would be better than facing Allison and feeling more foolish than he already did. No, he wasn’t about to start up a conversation with her now.

Allison watched from the sidelines as a group of young men got a baseball game going in the field behind the Kings’ place. She longed to join them but figured, since she was new here, it would seem forward if she asked to be part of the game. Besides, none of the other young women had joined the fellows.

“What are you doing over here?” Katie asked, stepping up to Allison. “I figured you’d be up on the porch with some of the women, visiting and sipping iced tea.”

Allison shook her head. “To tell you the truth, I’d like to play baseball, but since the next best thing to playing the game is watching, I decided to stand here by the fence and watch.”

“If you’d rather play ball, why aren’t you?”

Allison shrugged. “I wasn’t invited.”

“Me neither, but I’d play if I wanted to, invited or not.” Katie grinned. “Who do you think is the cutest fellow here today?”

“I. . .I haven’t given it much thought.”

Katie leaned closer to Allison. “Can you keep a secret?”

“Jah, sure.”

“I think the cutest fellow here is Joseph Zook.” Katie pointed across the field. “He’s the one with curly blond hair. That’s his brother Aaron with dark hair. They don’t look much alike, because Joseph looks like his real daed, and Aaron takes after his mamm.”

Katie rushed on. “There’s going to be a young people’s gathering tonight at the Kauffmans’ place. Do you think you might attend?”

“I guess that all depends on whether Harvey’s planning to go.”

“I’m sure he will; he usually does.”

“Tell me about your family,” Allison said, changing the subject.

Katie smiled. “Let’s see now. There’s me; my younger sister, Mary Alice; and my older brother, Elam, still living at home, and I’ve got three other brothers who are married and out on their own. What about you, Allison?” she asked. “How many
kinner
are in your family?”

Allison opened her mouth to reply when the ball
whooshed
toward her. Instinctively, she reached up and caught it.

“Wow, that was
wunderbaar
!” her cousin Harvey exclaimed. “Never knew a girl could catch a ball so well. And with only one hand.”

An eager smile sprang to Allison’s lips. She wondered if she should tell Harvey she was an expert ballplayer or let him think she had caught it by accident. If she had remembered to pack her new baseball glove when she’d left home, she’d probably be even more anxious to join their game.

“Allison wants to be part of your game,” Katie spoke up. “She told me that she’d rather play ball than visit.”

Harvey tipped his head and grinned at Allison. “Is that so?”

She nodded and handed him the ball. “I’ve been playing baseball with my brothers since I was a little girl.”

“Maybe you’d like to be on Aaron Zook’s team. He’s one player short, and if you don’t mind playing with a bunch of rowdy fellows, we’d be happy to have you.”

Allison looked over at Katie. “Would you like to play, too?”

Katie shook her head. “You go ahead. I’ll stand here and cheer you on.”

Allison followed Harvey across the field to where Aaron
stood. Harvey explained the situation.

Aaron’s dark eyebrows drew together, making Allison wonder if he disapproved.

“You can play left field,” he finally said.

For the next hour, Allison caught several fly balls, hit three home runs, and chocked up more points for Aaron’s team than any other player.

When the game ended, she headed toward Katie, but Aaron stepped in front of her. He swiped a grimy hand across his sweaty forehead. “A lot of women I know like to play ball, and they do okay, but I’ve never met anyone who could catch the way you did today.”

She grinned at him. “I’ve always liked playing ball.”

He shuffled his feet in the dirt. “I. . .uh. . .guess I’ll go get myself something cold to drink.”

Allison nodded. “I worked up quite a thirst out there, so maybe I’ll do the same.”

Aaron hesitated and stared at the ground. “Maybe I’ll see you tonight at the young people’s gathering.”

“Jah, maybe so.”

I
am glad you were willing to go with me tonight,” Harvey said as he helped Allison into his open buggy. “It’ll be a good chance for you to get to know some of the other young people in our district.”

Allison nodded. “I did get acquainted with Katie Esh after church today, as well as some of the fellows who were involved in the ball game.”

Harvey chuckled. “I still can’t get over how well you played. I’ll bet Aaron Zook was glad I suggested you be on his team.”

“I don’t know about that, but I did enjoy playing.”

They rode in silence. The only sounds were the steady
clippetyclop
of the horse’s hooves and the
whoosh
of the wind whipping against their faces.

“Seemed like you and Katie Esh hit it off pretty well today,” Harvey said, breaking the quiet.

Allison nodded. “Katie seems real nice.”

“Several of the guys would agree with you on that. Some I know of have been interested in Katie ever since they were in school.”

“I can understand that. Katie’s very pretty.” Allison stared down at her hands. Her friend back home was being courted by Peter, and her new friend here had a boyfriend, too. If only some young man would take an interest in her, she might not feel like such a misfit.

“Think you might get up the nerve to ask someone to ride home in your buggy tonight?” Joseph asked Aaron as the two of them entered the Kauffmans’ barn.

Aaron shook his head.

“If you were to ask someone, who would it be?”

“I just said I wouldn’t be asking anyone.”

“You never said that; only shook your head.”

“Same difference.”

“But if you were to ask someone, who would it be?”

“That’s my business, don’t you think?”

Joseph pulled off his straw hat. “Aren’t you the testy one tonight? I was only making sure you aren’t interested in the same girl I am.”

“I’m not interested in Katie Esh, so don’t worry. You’ve got the green light to ask her yourself.”

A wave of heat washed over Joseph’s cheeks. Could his older brother read his mind? Aaron had always been able to stay one up on him when they were boys. Maybe things weren’t so different
now. “How’d you know I was interested in Katie?”

“It doesn’t take a genius to see that you’re smitten with her. You act like a lovesick
hund
every time she’s around.”

“I’m no puppy dog.”

“But you are lovesick, right?”

Joseph wrinkled his nose. “If you’re not willing to tell me who you’d like to take home tonight, I’m not willing to say how I feel about Katie.”

“Suit yourself, because I’m not telling you a thing. Besides, I already know how you feel about Katie.” Aaron sauntered off toward the refreshment table, leaving Joseph alone.

When Joseph glanced across the barn and saw Katie sitting on a bale of straw, he began rehearsing what he should say to her.
Should I come right out and ask if I can give her a ride home tonight, or would it be better if I dropped a couple of hints to see what she might be thinking?

Drawing in a deep breath for added courage, he made his way to Katie’s side. She looked up at him and smiled. “I’m glad to see you made it, Joseph. I saw Aaron over at the refreshment table, but I wasn’t sure if you were here.”

He took a seat beside her and decided to plunge ahead before he lost his nerve. “I. . .uh, came in my own buggy tonight, and I was hoping—” A trickle of sweat rolled down Joseph’s nose, and he reached up to wipe it away.

“You were hoping what?”

He licked his lips and swallowed hard.

“Do you need something to drink?”

“No, no. I’m just feeling a little nervous, is all.”

“How come?”

You. You’re the reason I’ve got a passel of butterflies tromping around
in my stomach
. Joseph drew in a quick breath and plastered a smile on his face. His mother had always said a friendly smile was the best remedy for a case of nerves. “I. . .uh. . .was wondering. . .”

Katie leaned a little closer to Joseph. “What were you wondering?”

“Would you be willing to ride home with me in my buggy tonight?”

Her eyes widened. “You want me to go to your house after the gathering?”

“No, no,” he stammered. “I’d like to give you a ride home to your house. That is, if you’re willing.”

Katie’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “Jah, Joseph. I’m more than willing.”