Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace) (10 page)

It had always been comforting knowing she was just a field or two away doing the same chores he was, almost in sync, as if they were one. Just the way he imaged them once they were married. He chuckled that he’d fallen for an oldest girl. They were almost like second mothers helping their mamms raise their siblings and skillful at the duties to run a home.

John stopped and looked across the way toward the Beiler acreage. Although it hadn’t changed in the few short days since Annie had left, it seemed lonely and cold. He shoved his hands in his pockets as the chill and wind made him shiver. He planned to keep himself busier than usual over the next few weeks or however long it would be until she returned. He tried to keep from being impatient or judging her, but it was difficult sometimes, especially when he was alone.

As soon as he walked in the door, the commotion began. “Gabriel, let Robert be.” His mamm and only sister, Mary, made lunches for the youngest two boys to get them out the door for school.

John rested a hand on Gabriel before they got riled up with one another. “Off you go,” he told them in a firm voice. The two boys responded and made their way out the door with Mary, leaving him and his brother, Isaac, to have a quiet breakfast.

When his daed sat down, his mamm brought out the sausages and placed the dish on the table with the eggs, bread, and coffee.

John took a bite of sausage. “I noticed some weevil in the northwest alfalfa field. Soil nutrients must be out of balance.”

His daed frowned with discouragement and waited for John’s advice on the harvest.

“The rotation may finally pay off this year. The increased grazing pastures have improved. The soil’s rich for planting in the spring. Isaac, pass the bread.”

John’s brother surrounded himself with the platters of food. He was heavier than most for his sixteen years of age and became reticent at mealtimes. He tore off a hunk from the warm loaf and handed the rest to John.

“What’s the weather supposed to be like for the week?”

It pleased John that his daed checked the forecasts but depended on his guidance more.

“The tobacco will be ready soon, but I do have a
gut
feeling the barley fields are ready. The sun’s beginning to hide a bit more, so today is as good as any.” They all knew those three days of sunshine were necessary to cure the barley in order to store it properly for the winter. His daed nodded, and Isaac didn’t disagree, so the next few days would be busy even into the night, with rests to grab a bite to eat at lunch and dinnertime.

“I hear some upstate are buying their corn from one of the seed corporations. They say it’s near half the price the Doeblers charge.” Isaac shoved a mound of scrambled eggs in his mouth and scooped up more with his fork.

John shook his head. Fortunately Isaac lived a life where physical work was required; if not, his body wouldn’t be able to handle his appetite.

Elam looked over at Isaac. “We farm the way we do because it supports the community. That includes people as well as land and wildlife.”

“And also, buying from the farmers helps preserve genetic diversity of the corn,” John added, but not to Isaac’s liking.

“How do you know?” Isaac actually stopped eating long enough to shake his head at John.

“I just take notice.”

John’s interest in the weather and the advantage it made with the crop was taken by many as boastful instead of helpful. Isaac was one of those people. In his struggle to find a balance, John had decided to only offer his knowledge when asked, which his daed always did. Sometimes it was not enough for Isaac.

“Well, then, that’s more important than saving a few dollars,” Isaac stood. “I’m finished, so I’ll meet you two slowpokes outside.”

John chuckled and looked at his daed, who was grinning. “Guess we should stop eating so much and get to work like Isaac.”

Elam and John stepped out the front door just as Hanna rode up with Amos in a wooden wagon, pulling three mules that were tethered to the back—just what they needed to add to their team to keep their three wagons in motion. Their neighbor, David, was the eldest of four brothers and had come to help. With their muscle they had the needed manpower. The additional mule power would even things out.

“Morning, Amos, Hanna.” David stepped closer to the wagon and shook Amos’s hand. He jumped down from the wagon, and they began a conversation about the weather.

Hanna jumped off too and walked straight to John, who was untying one of the mules. “You’ll want to stay clear of that one’s back hooves.”

“He’s a kicker, eh?”

John took the lead rope and turned so they were hidden behind the mule. “Hanna, I’m glad you stopped by.”

She smiled and stepped closer. “You are?”

He nodded, “Jah, you’ll be doing a lot of what Annie usually does.”

Hanna tilted her head. “I suppose so.”

“Helping your mamm with all the extra chores.” He continued as if he hadn’t heard her, thinking of the void he felt for Annie. “Filling in for her.”

She brightened suddenly, almost glowed, as if something had shot off in her mind.

John noticed but couldn’t make sense of it. “Have you heard whether Annie made it safely?”

Hanna stopped beaming, but still there was a gleam in her eyes. “No, John. I haven’t.”

John looked out at the field of barley they would soon be cutting and stripping for a good part of their days. It hadn’t been long since Annie had left, but he knew she was around modern communication and that Abraham could get the call at his shop in town and let them know she was at her destination. He’d never wished for the use of such things, but in this case he’d make an exception. If she wanted to be left alone during the rest of her time there, that was fine, but he at least wanted to know this much.

Hanna touched his arm, and he turned his attention back to her. “I’m sure she’s fine, John. We’ll just have to make do without her for a while. You know how she is when she gets something into her head. There’s no changing her mind.”

He grinned and grunted his understanding. That much was true. Annie Beiler wouldn’t stop until she finished what she set out to do.

 
Chapter Nine
 

T
HE LITTLE BRICK
house didn’t prepare Annie for the energy inside. Rudy introduced her to his family. His daed, Levi, a stocky construction worker with gentle eyes, rose from his chair to meet her, unlike his daughter, Essie, who narrowed her eyes at Annie, arms crossed over her chest. Annie walked into the small kitchen to see Rudy’s mother, Elizabeth, cooking a scrumptious meal that smelled of cinnamon and spices.

Elizabeth stirred a sauce in a flat pan and reached for the lid from an overflowing pot just as the timer went off. “Oh, Annie, I apologize. I’m running late with dinner.”

“Let me help.” She walked over to the timer and studied it.

“It means the rolls are done in the oven.” Elizabeth placed the lid on the counter from the pot as the sauce began to bubble. “I didn’t time things too well, especially with you coming in.”

Annie took the rolls out of the oven and set them down on a pot holder. She went to the stove and turned down the heat to the sauce. “Maybe that will help.”

Rudy walked in and grabbed an apple. “Looks like you’re a natural,” he said with a smirk.

Annie shrugged. “I’d like to help out while I’m here.”

“That’s good, since Essie doesn’t.” Rudy rubbed the apple on his sleeve and took a bite.

Essie sneered as she walked into the room. “I suppose you’re going to tell me you like doing chores.” She pushed one foot out and leaned back.

“Leisure and chores don’t compete. They’re both a natural part of life.”

“Give me a break.” She shook her head.

Annie felt as if she were speaking in another language. “I try and do everything with the same mind-set. It’s one’s spirit that makes the difference.”

“There’s some truth in that.” Elizabeth gave Essie a look before turning back to her sauce.

Levi returned and sat at the table. “How long will you be staying with us, Annie?”

“I’d like my room back as soon as possible.” Essie glared at her brother. “I didn’t appreciate you just dropping our ‘guest’s’ suitcase in my room.” Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

“She’ll stay for as long as she needs to, Essie.” Levi lifted his chin a notch.

Annie didn’t know when to speak, but with the first bit of silence since she’d walked in the door she thought she’d clarify her plan. “I just need to take care of some things, and then I’ll be on my way.”

“You’re welcome here, Annie.” Levi took a drink and set the glass on the wood table.

She glanced at Essie. “I’ll just see how things go.”

Essie grunted and left the room.

Rudy stepped forward. “Ignore her.”

“It’s fine,” Annie said, trying to put aside her doubts about sleeping in a room with someone who held such anger toward her. She hadn’t come with a timeline in mind; just whatever it took to try and get the necessary paperwork done and possibly make a connection. But maybe that was asking too much.

“If you want to unpack, I can kick Essie out of her room for a while.” Rudy gestured toward the stairs.

“I’ll wait until later.” She continued to help Elizabeth with dinner. Annie could look Elizabeth in the eye when they talked, which felt strange after looking up to her tall mamm.

Levi called them to gather as Annie set down the steaming glazed carrots on the table. “Rudy, bring over another chair for Annie,” Elizabeth requested and then sat across from Levi.

Rudy set the chair next to his and sat down. Annie folded her hands in her lap while they waited for Essie. “You have a nice home.”

Levi shrugged. “It’s not surrounded by a hundred acres like your daed’s, but it’s home.”

The television droned the evening news. She tried not to watch but was fascinated with the constant talk and pictures moving quickly from one topic to another. People spoke in irregular tones and smiled while telling of unfortunate events. Their lack of emotion bothered Annie. She didn’t understand how a person could inform people of tragedies without expressing sympathy.

Levi called out to Essie for the third time and nodded to Elizabeth to bow her head. Essie appeared and slid into her chair, her expression daring anyone to protest her tardiness. As they all prayed in silence, Annie sensed Essie staring at her instead of bowing her head like the rest of them.

“Don’t make us wait, Essie.” Levi told her as he took a bite of his pork chop.

Annie pushed the cinnamon apples around on her plate while they argued. The aroma caused her empty stomach to growl, even though the tension in the room made her feel queasy.

Essie’s fork clattered onto her plate. “If you’re gonna start on me, I’m leaving.” Her blonde curls twitched with her frustration as she tossed her head.

“Eat your food, Essie,” Levi said and then took a long drink from his iced tea.

The meal couldn’t be over fast enough. The parents tried to have a conversation, but Essie’s alternating rude comments and sulking made the dialogue drag or cut short. Rudy continued to eat in spite of it all and left the table as soon as he finished.

Rudy placed his plate in the dishwasher, which Annie admired but refused to use. She helped Elizabeth rinse off the dishes and clear the table, but then asked to unpack to avoid using the machine. She wasn’t sure of the rules she should follow but thought it best to just do what she did at home and no more.

Annie’s day had been a long, unpleasant, and uncomfortable one. As she got ready for bed, she told herself tomorrow could only be better. At least she hoped so.

Essie’s room was a plethora of posters, pillows, bright colors, and noise. Annie couldn’t imagine where Rudy had put her suitcase, let alone where she would sleep. She was sitting in an overstuffed chair with her handbag on her lap when Rudy came in.

He scanned the room. “Worse than the last time I was in here.”

“I can’t believe that.” Annie was still taking in all the pictures on the walls and lyrics of the song playing. “Is this normal?”