[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (52 page)

Effie said thank you, and holding the cat to her chest, she skipped to the other side of the barn.

Titus rolled the piece of twine into a ball and put it up on a shelf so none of the other cats would end up in a mess like Fluffy had been.

Eager to get to the house and speak with Suzanne, Titus rushed out of the barn. He’d only taken a few steps, when a horse and buggy pulled into the yard. He waited to see who was driving, and was shocked when Phoebe climbed down and secured the horse to the hitching rail next to Lightning.

“Not this again,” he mumbled. “What are you doing here, Phoebe?”

“I needed to talk to you, and since I figured you were going to see Suzanne, I borrowed one of the Beilers’ horses and buggies and came here.”

“I thought I’d made clear the way I feel when I talked to you earlier.”

“You did, but I need to tell you what happened after you left.”

Titus crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently. “What happened?”

“After talking to Esther awhile and listening to her quote some verses of scripture, I realized what a terrible person I’ve been, and I—I gave my heart to the Lord.” She smiled. “From now on, I want to start living for Him.”

“Are you saying that to impress me, in the hope that I’ll reconsider and take you back, or is this for real?”

“I’m not trying to impress you or get you back. I really did confess my sins and ask the Lord to take control of my life.”

“If that’s true, then I’m glad for you, but it doesn’t change anything between us, Phoebe.”

“I understand that, and I didn’t come to stir up trouble. I came to say that I’m sorry for everything I’ve said or done to hurt you. No matter how bad things were for me in California, I shouldn’t have come to Kentucky uninvited.” She paused and flicked her tongue over her lips. “But I’m really glad I did, for if I hadn’t come here, I might never have found a personal relationship with the Lord.” She stepped toward him and smiled. It seemed like a genuine smile. “I know what I need to do now.”

“What’s that?”

“I need to go home and make things right with Mom and Dad. So if your offer to give me money for a bus ticket is still open, then I’ll gladly accept it with much appreciation.”

Titus could hardly believe Phoebe had found the Lord, but her attitude did seem to have changed, and he was more than happy to give her the money she needed in order to go home. He reached into his pocket and handed her several bills. “I wish you all the best.”

“I wish the best for you, too.” Phoebe slipped her arms around his waist and gave him a hug. “Thanks for the money. I appreciate it a lot.”

Hearing voices outside, Suzanne went to the living room window and peered out. She gasped, shocked by what she saw. Titus and Phoebe stood in the front yard, hugging each other!

“Guess that’s all I need to know,” Suzanne muttered as she turned away from the window with a heavy heart. Titus and Phoebe were obviously back together. But did he have to hug her right here on their property where Suzanne could see? Was he deliberately trying to hurt her?

Tears coursed down Suzanne’s cheeks, and she did nothing to wipe them away.
I was a fool for letting myself fall in love with Titus. He only pretended to like me because I reminded him of her
.

She’d just taken a seat on the sofa, when she heard the back door open. A few seconds later, Titus entered the room.

Suzanne leaped off the sofa and rushed toward the stairs, unwilling to hear what she was sure he was going to tell her.

“Where are you going?” he called.

“Upstairs to my room.”

“Please, don’t go. We need to talk. I want to tell you what I’ve decided about Phoebe.”

she whirled around to face him. “I already know what you’ve decided. I saw the two of you outside, hugging.”

“It’s not what it seems.” He moved toward her, and she took a step back.

“How is it then?

“Phoebe came over because she figured I’d be here talking to you—telling you what I’d decided.”

“That you love her?”

“No, it’s not that at all.” Titus motioned to the sofa. “Let’s sit down so I can explain things.”

Suzanne seated herself on one end, and he sat beside her. “Phoebe came over here to tell me that she’s confessed her sins and has found a personal relationship with the Lord,” he said, looking at her intently.

“Did she think that would make you see her in a different light and take her back?”

“No, she wanted to apologize for all the things she’s done to hurt me, and when she said she wanted to go home to Pennsylvania, I offered to give her the money for a bus ticket. She was grateful and hugged me, that’s all.”

“I’ see.”

Titus took hold of Suzanne’s hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “I’ve spent this past week thinking, praying, reading my Bible, and seeking God’s will for my life.” He smiled at her in such a sweet way that her heart nearly melted. “It’s you I love, Suzanne, and if you’re willing, I’d like you to marry me sometime next year.”

Suzanne blinked. “Are you sure about this? You’re not just saying it because you feel sorry for me?”

He shook his head. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I was verhuddelt when Phoebe first showed up at my place, but my head’s clear now, and I realize that the love I thought I’d felt for Phoebe was nothing more than infatuation. I think I only wanted her because she was a challenge and her rebellious spirit excited me. Now that I’ve matured and am walking closer to the Lord, I want a woman I can trust—someone who thinks of others, not just herself.”

“Do you think I’m that woman?” she dared to ask.

“I know you are.” Titus leaned toward her and lowered his head so their lips were almost touching. “Is it all right if I kiss you, Suzanne?”

She nodded. He pulled her close and gently kissed her lips. When their lips parted, he whispered, “I’m so thankful God brought me to Kentucky, and even more thankful He brought you into my life.” Then he kissed her again.

That evening, as Phoebe stepped onto the bus, she thought about the things she’d learned during her brief stay in Kentucky. She realized what a selfish person she’d been and realized she needed time to grow and learn how to live her life for the Lord instead of herself. She also needed to seek God’s will about His choice for a husband for her. As Esther’s mother had said to her before she’d gotten on the bus, “Fulfillment doesn’t come from marrying someone, but in a relationship with the Lord.”

Phoebe took a seat and closed her eyes.
Help me, Lord, to remember all that I’ve learned, and when I see Mom and Dad, I pray that they won’t criticize or lecture me for leaving, but will welcome me home instead
.

When Titus returned home, after spending the evening at Suzanne’s, he went out to the phone shanty to call his folks and leave a message, letting them know that Phoebe was on her way home, and that he and Suzanne were together as a couple.

He was about to make the call when he decided to check his messages first. He discovered one from Mom.

“Something horrible has happened, and we need you to come home right away. Elsie was carrying a basket of dirty laundry down the basement stairs, and she tripped over something and fell.” There was a pause, and then Mom started crying. “When Elsie hit the bottom of the stairs, she broke her neck.” Another pause. “She’s dead, Titus. Elsie and the boppli she was carrying are both dead. The funeral will be in three days, and we hope you’ll be there.”

Titus sat, too numb to move. All the joy he’d felt over his relationship with Suzanne had been replaced with a deep ache in his heart for his half brother Samuel. Phoebe wouldn’t be the only one heading home this week. Titus would be going now, too, only he’d be arriving for a funeral.

When the numbness wore off enough for Titus to think, he picked up the phone and called his folks’ number. Then he left a message letting them know that Phoebe was on her way home to her folks, and that’d he be there for Elsie’s funeral and would leave as soon as he could secure a ride.

W
hen the bus stopped at the station in Lancaster on Monday morning, Phoebe picked up her purse and the book she’d brought along to read and stepped off the bus. She’d just gotten her suitcase from the compartment on the side of the bus, when someone called her name.

She looked to the right, and her heart started to pound. Mom and Dad were heading her way, waving their hands.

“Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?” she asked as they hurried toward her.

“We hired a driver and came to pick you up,” Dad said. “How’d you know I was coming?” “Fannie told us. She’d gotten a message from Titus.” Mom threw her arms around Phoebe and gave her such a forceful squeeze that it nearly took Phoebe’s breath away. When Dad hugged her, too, Phoebe knew without a doubt that her folks were as glad to see her as she was to see them. She felt like the prodigal son in the Bible, returning home after his rebellion, to welcoming arms.

Phoebe explained that she’d come home to stay, had sought God’s forgiveness for her sins, and was ready to take classes so she could join the Amish church.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” Mom said tearfully.

“What about Titus? Will he be staying in Kentucky?” Dad asked.

Phoebe nodded. “I ruined things between us when I ran off to California, and now he’s found someone else.”

Mom put her arm around Phoebe’s waist as they walked toward their driver’s van. “It obviously wasn’t God’s will for you and Titus to be together.”

“That’s right,” Dad agreed. “Someday when the time is right, you’ll find someone else.”

Phoebe didn’t answer but kept walking.

“Did you hear about Samuel’s Elsie?” Mom asked Phoebe when they reached the van.

“Samuel Fisher?”

“Jah. Elsie was killed on Saturday when she tripped while carrying laundry down the basement stairs. She fell to the bottom of the stairs and broke her neck. Both she and the boppli she was carrying died.”

Phoebe gasped. “That’s baremlich!”