[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (14 page)

Suzanne stepped in front of Titus and planted both hands on her hips. “If you didn’t leave your cans lying around, she wouldn’t have gotten herself into such a fix.”

“I didn’t. Don’t know where that can came from. She probably got it out of the garbage.” As Titus thought more about the whole situation, it suddenly seemed kind of funny. “Stupid critter put on quite a show for us, didn’t she?” he asked with a snicker.

Suzanne glared at him a few seconds; then she looked down at what was left of the can and started to giggle. “She did look pretty silly with her head in that can.”

Laughter bubbled in Titus’s chest, and he leaned his head back and roared. Soon they were both laughing so hard tears ran down their faces as they held their sides.

Finally, Titus got control of himself and bent to pick up the can. “Sure hope nothin’ like that ever happens again. That was downright stressful!”

She gave a nod. “I appreciate the fact that you took the time to free Callie—especially when you don’t even like her.”

“Couldn’t let her spend the rest of her days wearin’ a can on her head. Regardless of what you may think, I’m really not mean.”

Before Suzanne could respond, he hurried into the trailer and shut the door.

Paradise, Pennsylvania

“Hi, Mom, how’s it going?” Samuel asked as he entered the kitchen, where Fannie sat working on a crossword puzzle. “We’re fine here. How are things with you and your family?” “Everyone’s doing well. The older kinner are looking forward to getting out of school at the end of April.”

“That’s just a few weeks away.” Fannie motioned to the stove. “If you have the time, help yourself to a cup of coffee.”

“Think I will.” Samuel poured himself some coffee and took a seat beside her at the table. “Where’s Dad this morning?”

“He had a dental appointment, so he headed to town right after breakfast.”

“I’m surprised you could get him to go. Dad’s always hated going to the dentist.”

“I know, but he lost a filling the other day, and I talked him into going before the tooth started hurting.” Fannie took a drink from her cup and filled in the next word on her puzzle.

“Have you heard anything more from Titus?” Samuel asked.

She shook her head. “He left a message for Timothy a few weeks ago, but he’s only left one message here, and that was the day he got to Kentucky. I’ve written to him a few times already, but he hasn’t answered any of the letters.” She sighed. “Guess he’s either too busy or is trying to prove that he’s independent and doesn’t need me anymore.”

Samuel placed his hand over Fannie’s. “I’m sure it’s not that. Most likely, he’s keeping busy.”

“I thought I’d feel better about his move if your daed and I went to Kentucky so I could see for myself that Titus is doing okay.” Fannie slowly shook her head. “But your daed says he’s too busy right now with the spring planting and such.”

The back door swung open, and Timothy rushed into the room with one-year-old Mindy in his arms. His face was red and beaded with perspiration.

“What’s wrong, Timothy?” Fannie asked. “You look
umgerennt
.”

“I am upset. Hannah’s outside in the van with our driver and is hurtin’ real bad with contractions. She started bleeding awhile ago, too, so we’re taking her to the hospital.” Timothy moved toward the table. “Hannah’s mamm is going with us, so I was wondering if you could keep Mindy while we’re gone.”

“Of course.” Fannie held out her arms, and the child went willingly to her. “Please call as soon as you know something.”

“I will.” Timothy leaned over and kissed his daughter’s forehead; then he turned and hurried out.

Fannie sighed. “I hope Hannah’s going to be all right. The
boppli
‘s not due for several more months. I sure hope she won’t lose it.”

A
s Titus ate breakfast that morning, he thought about Suzanne and how much she resembled Phoebe. He knew it wasn’t fair to compare the two women when their personalities weren’t the same, but it was hard to look at Suzanne without thinking about Phoebe, which only reminded him of her betrayal. Titus wondered if the ache in his heart would ever heal. He wanted to settle down and get married someday, but would he ever find a woman he loved as much as he had Phoebe?

He added a spoonful of sugar to his coffee and stirred it around.
I’ll never find a wife if I don’t get a grip on my anger toward Phoebe. And I won’t make any points with Isaac if I don’t start being kinder to his granddaughter
.

Yesterday, after Suzanne had come into the shop and made a nuisance of herself, he’d stupidly said something to Isaac about his granddaughter being a pest. The elderly man had shaken his arthritic finger as he looked Titus in the eye and said, “Suzanne may be a
pescht
sometimes, but she’s my
grossdochder
, and I’d appreciate it if you kept any negative remarks about her to yourself.”

A verse from Proverbs 15 that Titus had heard at church last Sunday popped into his head: “A
soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
He knew he’d been unkind to Suzanne several times, and he owed her a thank-you for the flowers she’d planted for him.
If she’s still outside, I should probably speak to her before I leave for work
, he decided.

He pushed his chair aside and opened the back door. Suzanne’s horse and buggy were gone. “Should have come out here sooner,” he mumbled. “Shouldn’t have let her leave without saying thanks.”

When he got to work, he’d stop by the Yoders’ house first and talk to Suzanne.

Titus returned to the kitchen and halted. Callie was perched on the table, lapping milk from his bowl of cereal.

He clapped his hands and shouted, “Get down from there, you stupid katz! I should have left you trapped in that soup can.”

Callie leaped off the table and raced outside. That’s when Titus realized he hadn’t shut the door when he’d gone out to look for Suzanne.

He groaned and set his bowl in the sink. This was not starting out to be a good day. Hopefully things would go better after he’d spoken to Suzanne.

When Titus arrived at the Yoders’, he put his horse in the corral and went up to the house. Suzanne’s mother answered his knock.

“Guder mariye,” she said. “If you’re looking for Nelson or my daed, they’re already out at the shop.”

Titus shook his head. “I’d like to speak to Suzanne.”

“She’s not here. Left right after breakfast. Said she was taking some primroses over to your place to plant. Didn’t you see her there?”

He nodded. “She did come by, but she left before I did. Figured she’d be here by now.”

“She may have stopped at the Beilers’ store on her way home. Said something about needing a few things from there, too.”

“Guess I’ll have to wait and speak to her later on then.”

“Maybe you can talk to her when she brings lunch out to the shop around noon.”

“Okay. I’d better get to work now. Sure don’t want to be late.” Titus turned and sprinted to the shop.

He’d just entered the building, when Nelson rushed up to him and said, “There was a message for you at the phone shanty from your mamm.”

“What’d it say?”

“Your sister-in-law’s been taken to the hospital.”

“Which sister-in-law?”

“I think she said it was Hannah. I didn’t erase the message, so you’d better go out and listen to it yourself.”

Titus opened the door and raced down the driveway to the phone shanty. Once inside, he took a seat and listened to the message.

“Titus, it’s Mom. I wanted you to know that Hannah’s in the hospital and may lose the boppli. Timothy left Mindy with us, and he’s at the hospital with Hannah. He seemed pretty upset when he was here earlier. Please say a prayer for them, Titus.”

Titus dialed his folks’ number and was surprised when someone picked up the phone.

“Hello. Who’s this?”

“It’s Samuel. Is that you, Titus?”

“Jah. What are you doin’ in Mom and Dad’s phone shanty?”

“I dropped by the house this morning to visit with Mom and was on my way out when I heard the phone ring.” There was a pause. “How are you? Is everything going okay with your new job?”

“Other than a few cat scratches on my chest, I’m fine, and so’s the job.”

“How’d you get the cat scratches?”

“Never mind. It’s not important right now.” Titus slid his fingers along the edge of the table. “I just listened to a message from Mom. She said Hannah’s in the hospital and might lose the baby. Do you have any more information?”

“Not really. I was here when Timothy brought Mindy over. We haven’t heard any news yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we do.”

“I appreciate that.” Titus frowned. “Sure wish there was a phone shanty at the place I’m staying. It’d be easier than having to check messages and make calls from the Yoders’.”

“You ought to see about having one put in, or you might consider getting a cell phone.”

“You’re right; I’ll do one or both.”

“Is everything else okay?” Samuel asked. “You sound kind of down.”

“I’m fine; just tired is all.” Titus heard a buggy coming up the driveway and glanced out the open door of the shanty. The rig pulling in belonged to an Amish man Titus hadn’t met.

“I’d better get back to the shop. Looks like we’ve got a customer coming in.”

“Okay. Good talking to you, brother. We’ll keep you posted.”

Titus hung up and said a prayer for Hannah and Timothy. He knew how excited they were about having another child and was sure they’d be very disappointed if she lost the baby.

When Suzanne entered the Beilers’ store, she found Esther behind the counter, waiting on Mattie Zook, who was married to Enos, one of the ministers in their church.

Suzanne found the items she’d come to get, stepped up to the counter, and waited for Mattie to leave.

“I’m surprised to see you here so early,” Esther said when Suzanne placed two spools of thread and a container of straight pins on the counter. “Did you get up with the chickens this morning?”