Never Far From Home (The Miller Family 2) (30 page)

Everyone began talking at once—what they had heard from other farmers, what the grain dealer had explained, and what they had read in English newspapers. A large surplus of Ohio corn, coupled with a recent drop in oil prices, had reduced interest in ethanol production and triggered a price free fall.

Seth listened to one man after another and then moved to a different group, where he only heard more of the same. His mouth went dry as he felt the burn of stomach acid working on Hannah’s chicken soup. He glanced at the chalkboard once more before walking onto the loading dock, feeling lightheaded and disoriented.

He had no choice but to join the queue of wagons and deliver his low-weight corn. The price he would get made it hardly worth his investment in extra seed corn and fertilizer. And he realized his crop not only didn’t produce the windfall that the community fund needed, but he had to go home and face his brother and wife with his well-deserved shame.

“
Mamm
, are you awake?” Emma asked. She crept into the front room, looking around as though seeing it for the first time. The sofa had been moved out to the porch and covered with plastic. The chairs remained, but they had been grouped around the bed for visitors. Julia’s sewing projects had long ago been turned over to Leah, who had arranged a table under the window with her notions.

Julia’s eyes fluttered open, focusing on her daughter. “
Jah
, I was just dozing. Your pa insists I take extra pills, but they only make me sleep too much.”

“I can come back later if you prefer,” Emma said softly from the doorway.

“Nonsense. I’d like to visit with my girl.” Julia patted the side of the bed. “Sit by me. Tell me about your trip to Sugar Creek. We were happy you kept your curfew, early by twelve minutes, I believe.” She smiled, looking briefly as though pain didn’t cloud every day of her life.

Emma hurried in and perched on the edge of the mattress. She began talking about the yodelers, the Grand Parade, the assortment of food, and the costumed dancers. She mentioned riding the Ferris wheel, Sarah’s accurate selection of the pageant winner, savoring a taste of the championship Swiss cheese, and the scenic train ride to Baltic.

Julia smiled during the narration but asked no questions and offered few comments.

Emma did not mention James’ kisses or holding hands as they left the station, or how happy she felt when they were together. She also kept quiet about his grandiose plans for a big house and wedding trip. No sense causing a fuss over things unlikely to happen.

“Say little to your
daed
about this date unless he asks you, especially not the train ride,” Julia cautioned. “Even though he won’t stop you, he isn’t happy about this courting.”

Emma nodded. “They’ll be no more dates for a while. James has left for college and must stay on campus to catch up with homework.”

Julia patted her hand. If the news pleased her, she hid it well. “You have a long life ahead of you, Emma. Don’t rush things. Since he will be busy, I’d like you to start going to Sunday singings. Don’t miss the activities other Amish girls will be enjoying.”

Emma had always looked forward to Sunday singings before she met James. Now, however, wouldn’t the young men there think she was interested in courting? And wouldn’t that make her fickle or a phony? Each passing day brought no clarity, only more confusion.

“Do this for me, Emma. I’ve not asked many things of you before.”

When Emma looked into her
mamm
’s moist brown eyes, the answer was clear.
Isn’t James going off to school to please his parents? Don’t I love my mother just as much?

“
Jah
, I’ll go to singings. Sarah mentioned there’s one this week.”

“
Danki
. Go meet new people—boys and girls. You only get one
Rumschpringe
. Enjoy it. Don’t look back on this period of youth with regret. Even if you choose not to follow our path, you’ll at least understand exactly what you gave up.”

There it was. Not in so many words, but her
mamm
acknowledged that she might someday turn English. How difficult that must be for the woman who had changed her diapers as a baby.

By the time the three-hour preaching service was over on Sunday, Emma was looking forward to the singing. Sarah’s family was hosting the evening get-together, so Emma had planned to walk until Matthew insisted on taking her, even though he wouldn’t be able to attend for another two years. Emma baked a batch of Apple Betty bars for the snack table—the kind James had so loved at the bonfire. She felt a bit disloyal, but unlike Leah, Emma had few special recipes up her sleeve. She knew how to bake pie, cornbread, cookies, and muffins, but a variety of treats to impress new friends was beyond her experience.

Matthew drove the pony cart pulled by Emma’s new horse. She hoped her
bruder
wouldn’t pester her with endless questions about James on the way, but she needn’t have worried. The boy prattled on endlessly about the Appaloosa he’d been training with excellent results.

James had brought the filly back the very day he received Emma’s letter explaining her parents’ decision. He’d accepted her down payment, produced a bill of sale, and agreed to the payment terms all under Simon’s watchful eye. Emma named the new pony Maybelle to honor her predecessor. Belle now contentedly grazed in the high pasture, preferring to sleep outdoors in mild weather rather than in her stall.

“Here you are, sister,” Matthew said, bringing the pony cart to a smooth stop with only a light tug on the reins.

“
Danki
. I’ll be able to get a ride home,” Emma said. “Several in the district pass right by our farm.”

“I could wait for you,” he suggested while helping her step down. “I could hang out with Sarah’s
bruders
in the barn.” He tipped his hat back and grinned.

“No,
daed
gave you no such permission. Help yourself to something from the snack table and then go on home. You’re time will come soon enough.”

He tied the reins to the rail and ran off, leaving Emma alone to walk to the Hostetler outbuilding. Suddenly, she felt like an outsider, as though everyone would know she might someday leave the Plain community. But soon Sarah spotted her and enveloped her with warm friendship. She introduced Emma to the people she didn’t know and then sat down beside her.

At a singing, boys sat on one side of a long table and girls on the other. The young people visited and caught up with news while the songbooks were passed out.

“
Guder nachmittag
, Miss Miller.”

Emma’s head snapped up. She’d been studying notches carved into the walnut surface of the table.

“Hello. Joseph Kauffman, right?” she asked politely. “You live over near Berlin.”

“
Jah
, that’s right. Nice that you remembered me.” His clean-shaven cheeks flushed to a shade of bright pink. “That is my sister, Elizabeth,” he nodded to the girl sitting next to Emma. The girl smiled shyly.

Emma remembered the very bashful boy from a few weddings. Tall and thin, his jacket cuff revealed quite a bit of wrist, an indication that his poor
mamm
’s sewing probably couldn’t keep pace with his growing. “Your father is the harness maker, right? My
daed
bought new harnesses from him a few weeks back.”

Joseph’s blush deepened to cherry red as he leaned forward and whispered, “I didn’t think it right what my pa told yours, but I know he didn’t mean to cause trouble.” He settled back on the bench.

Emma had no idea what Joseph was talking about, but the singing was about to start, so any explanation would have to wait. Within a few minutes Emma forgot Joseph’s odd apology and relaxed into the evening. They sang all her favorites in German and a couple new songs that were fun to learn. They even sang one gospel-type song in English. Many girls and boys exchanged secret looks, because singings often led to courting for many young people, but Emma refused to think about courting or entertain any romantic notions of her beau, James Davis. Whatever he was doing on the campus extension of Ohio State was sure to be far different than this.

Sarah clutched her hand tightly several times, smiling. In between songs, Emma asked her why Sam wasn’t there.

“Only our district and the next one to the west were invited,” she whispered. “No New Order districts.” Yet that fact didn’t appear to trouble her. She seemed to glow with an inner joy and contentment. It was impossible not to be uplifted in her company.

During the last few songs, Emma noticed Joseph stealing glances at her. Each time she met his eye, he blushed and glanced away. Perhaps he was fascinated by her choppy bangs, which had grown out long enough to hang in her eyes. She constantly kept tucking them under her
kapp
.

When the singing concluded, everyone milled around the snack table, helping themselves to desserts and cups of cold cider. With a jolt of horror, Emma noticed not one of her Apple Betty bars had been taken from the plate. A woman’s worst nightmare—to go home with your food contribution untouched! Taking one for her plate would only draw attention to her embarrassment.

Then Joseph and his sister walked up to the table. He selected one chocolate chip cookie and two Apple Betty bars, while Elizabeth did the same. Emma felt her back muscles relax while she fixed a small plate of cut-up vegetables and Rice Krispies squares. She glanced around for Sarah but saw no familiar faces in the crowd.

“Miss Miller, would you like to sit with us?” Joseph asked from over her shoulder. “We saved some hay bales outside with our coats. It’s nice out tonight.”

Emma craned her neck to scan the crowd, but she still saw no Sarah. “
Jah
sure,
danki
.” She followed them out of the barn and shared a hay bale with his sister.

Elizabeth Kauffman was also tall and thin with a lovely smile and dark brown eyes. Both siblings had silky, shiny black hair. Most of Elizabeth’s was hidden beneath her
kapp
, but it definitely was Joseph’s best feature.

For several minutes the three sat quietly eating their snacks and enjoying the nighttime serenade of owls, crickets, and tree frogs.

“I love those sounds,” Emma said when she had finished the snack on her plate.

“Very soon the world will become silent again. The first frost is coming,” said Elizabeth with sadness edging her words.

“Good. I’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep without all that racket,” said Joseph, not sharing their sentiments. “Say, did you make these, Miss Miller?” He bit into his second dessert bar.

“Why do you ask?” Emma returned the query. “Did you break a tooth?”

He laughed and then shook his head. “No, I think they’re the best I’ve ever tasted.”

Emma snickered. “They’re okay if you have plenty of cider to wash them down. I think they’re a little dry.” She tipped up her cup and drained the contents.

“I’ll get us both refills.” Elizabeth sprang to her feet and grabbed Emma’s cup without hesitation.

Once the girl disappeared into the barn, Emma asked the question that had been bothering her. “What were you saying about your pa not meaning to cause trouble?”

Joseph studied her and seemed to choose his words carefully. “He told your father that you had an English friend—one who wasn’t female.”

The night chorus crept in around them as though even the creatures waited for her reaction. “I see. That’s how my
daed
found out about James. He’s another sheep farmer from Charm.” She tried to remember the conversation with her father that night to no avail.

“This is your
Rumschpringe
, Miss Miller, same as it’s mine. You’ve got a right to make new friends, even if they’re English.” He set his empty plate on the ground. “How will you ever know what you want if you don’t know what’s out there?”

Emma nodded in agreement, but she doubted her folks saw things the same way.

Elizabeth was headed back from the barn with two brimming cups of cider. Joseph spoke in a low voice only Emma could hear. “I hope we can be friends, Miss Miller. It would be nice to talk to a gal that ain’t my sister.” His earnest brown eyes met her gaze.

Emma noticed that his olive skin was sallow and his long limbs seemed out of proportion. But there was something endearing about his bashfulness, as though he would be incapable of deception. “All right, Joseph. I don’t have many friends either. And a person can always use one more.”

His grin made his thin face seem a bit fuller. She offered a tiny smile too and then said, “So I guess you should start calling me Emma.”