Planted with Hope (4 page)

“Thank you for saving her. I'll wait over the hill.” The man backed away, refusing to meet Hope's gaze. “Emma, thank the lady and then come. We must get you home.”

Emma whimpered and pressed her cheek against Hope's chest. Hope gave her a quick squeeze. “Go on now. Your dat is waiting.”

The woman—her Aenti Ruth Ann, wasn't it?—cleared her throat. “Didn't your dat say to thank Hope?” Her voice was stern, and Hope had no doubt that young Emma would hear more from her aunt after she got home.

“Thank you, Hope.” Emma pulled away. She struggled to stand, and Hope helped her to right herself.

As Hope stood, she looked down at herself and heat rose to her cheeks. She was thankful that the boat ramp sloped downward so no one could see her from the park.

She was a dripping mess. Her dress and apron clung to her. She crossed her arms over her chest, unsure of what to do. Unsure of how she was going to get home. The park was full of people, and she'd have to walk right through the middle of them to get out of the park.

Ruth Ann must have been wondering the same thing. She took Emma's hand and eyed Hope.

Then, just as Hope decided she would hide out and wait until the crowd left, a voice called out.

“Ruth Ann, can you come for a minute?” a man's voice called.

Hope couldn't see Emma's dat, but she could tell he was just over the hill.

“Just a minute, Jonas.” Ruth Ann walked up the boat ramp and paused near the top. A smile filled her face. “What a good idea,” she said. “Emma, go with your dat, and I'll help Hope.”

Ruth Ann disappeared for a moment and returned with a thin quilt.

Relief poured through Hope, and she gladly accepted it. “Thank you so much. Where did he get this?”

“Jonas said that Elizabeth Bieler from the fabric store brought it with her. She said there's always more people than seats, and she thought someone might be able to use it.”

Hope took the blanket from Ruth Ann's hands, unfolded it, and then wrapped it around herself. “I'm so thankful that she did.” It was a light quilt that had seen many years, many picnics. Thankfully there was enough room for her to wrap it around herself and hold it tight in front. Hope let out a soft sigh, feeling hidden once again.

“Would you like me to walk with you—at least out of the park?” Ruth Ann said.

“
Ja, danke
, but let's walk around the edges. I want as few people seeing me as possible. I don't want to make a big deal out of this.”

“No, of course not. I'll try to keep you out of view. I'm sure that everyone will be so busy socializing and talking that they won't even notice.”

Hope breathed out a sigh of relief. “I hope so.” She stepped
forward, her bare feet on the rough concrete. Her flip-flops were somewhere in the creek, but thankfully it wasn't much of a walk to get home.

She moved from the boat ramp into the grass, and it felt cool under her feet. The quilt around her shoulders smelled of spring and sunshine, but Hope also could still smell the fishy, salty odor from the brackish water. A shiver ran down her spine when she replayed Ruth Ann's words in her mind. Nearly as soon as a visitor got off the bus in Pinecraft they'd hear about Phillippi Creek, especially the sharks or alligators that were spotted every now and then in the murky waters.

As she continued forward, water dripped from her dress and squished between her toes, yet a prayer of thanksgiving rose in her heart.
Thank You, Lord, for protecting Emma and protecting me. Thank You for leading me to the creek at the right time.
A shudder moved up her spine.
I hate to think of what could have happened if I wasn't there.

They neared the park, and Hope attempted to steer as far away from the crowd as possible, but it wasn't to be. As she neared the gathering, most of the eyes were on her. In the middle of them stood Jonas with Emma on his hip.

“There she is. There is my Hope.” Emma's voice rose above the din of voices. She pointed. “She saved me from sinking!”

Grace pushed through the crowd and rushed forward. Mem and Dat followed, and soon Faith, Lovina, and Noah rushed up, circling around her. The only one who was missing was her sister Joy. Joy was working at the quilt shop, filling in for Elizabeth Bieler so the older woman could be at the gathering at the park. Hope's shoulders straightened as she tucked the quilt tighter under her chin. The muscles in her neck tightened, and she wished she could disappear into the blanket's folds.

Grace stopped in front of her, grasping her shoulders. “Are you all right?”

“
Ja
, I'm fine.” She forced a smile, wishing she were anywhere but there.

“That little girl said that you saved her. She said she fell into the creek and you dove in and pulled her out.”

“
Ja
, I did… Well, it was more wading than diving.” Hope took a step back. The press of people caused her chest to tighten, and their stares nearly stole her breath. “It really was not a big deal. I'm just thankful I was there. I should get home… ”

“I'm thankful too.” Jonas stepped forward. “I still don't know how to thank you.”

She dared to look at him now. He wore a beard, evidence of being a married man, and she wondered where his wife was. Maybe she'd stayed home today? If she were here she could have done a better job watching the young girl than he had.

Anger mixed with embarrassment, and it was directed at him. If this man, Jonas, had been paying better attention to his daughter none of this would have happened. She wouldn't be standing in the midst of this gathering, a dripping mess, hiding under a quilt.

Hope shot him what she hoped was an angry glance, but the emotions in his gaze caught her by surprise. Appreciation filled his gaze, but there was something more. Hope sucked in a breath and took another step back. She'd only seen that look in a man's eyes a few times before, but never so intense. And from a married man of all things. Jonas Sutter should be ashamed of himself!

Hope turned toward Grace and fixed her eyes on her sister. “Would you walk home with me? I don't want to walk by myself.”

Grace wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “
Ja
. Of course.”

Hope leaned forward and whispered in her sister's ear. “I—I just want to be alone. Get me out of here.”

Even though Grace was the youngest, she had a boldness the other sisters didn't have. With Grace by Hope's side, no one would get to her.

Grace waved her hand in the direction of the crowd. “Please let us by. My sister is shaken up. I'm sure you understand.”

“Hope, we can walk with you too.” Mem's voice behind them held a note of concern.

Hope paused and looked over her shoulders. “
Ne
, Mem. Please stay. Please enjoy yourself.”

Mem nodded, but she didn't seem happy. They continued on, Grace leading the way, motioning people to give them room. Before them the crowd moved to both sides, just like the parting of the Red Sea.

When they were nearly out of the park, a hand touched her arm. Hope paused and glanced over her shoulder to see the young girl.

Emma's lower lip quivered. “Dat telled me to say that I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause so much trouble.”

Hope leaned down so her face was close to the girl's. “I know you didn't mean to, but please be careful from now on. I don't want to see you hurt.”

Emma nodded, and then gave Hope a quick squeeze, which was gladly accepted.

“Dat also said we can stop by later to see if you are all right.”

Even though she did not look back, Hope could feel Jonas's presence behind her. “Well, please tell your dat that isn't necessary. I am fine.”

Emma jutted out her chin. Determination narrowed her gaze. “But I caused trouble. I need to make sure… ”

Hope sighed. How could she make the girl understand? The real trouble was the way Emma's dat had looked at her—in a way
no married man should. That wasn't anything she wanted to be a part of.

“I'm sure I'll see you around town. Maybe we'll run into each other at the pie shop. I can show you the new flowers I planted. Will that work?”

Emma nodded, but her lips curled downward in a frown. She clung to Hope's arm as if Hope was her mother and she didn't want to let go. Compassion filled Hope's heart.
Poor thing, she must not get much attention from her parents.

Hope supposed not every young girl had what she had growing up—lots of love, lots of attention. Hope made a mental note to offer the young girl all the attention and affection that she could… just as long as her father wasn't around. The type of look he'd given her would not get past her
mem
, Regina, or any of the other women. And then they'd try to solve the problem by finding Hope a suitable husband.

The whole community prying into the matters of her heart was the last thing she wanted. Hope was someone who wanted to be left alone in the quiet of a garden. Someone who would rather be hidden than seen. Someone who felt perfectly happy with her own thoughts, her own plans.

Hope walked home with determined steps, happy to never talk to Jonas Sutter again.

 

Sunshine Pie

A pound of patience you must find

Mixed well with loving words, so kind

Drop in two pounds of helpful deeds

and thought of other people's needs

A pack of smiles, to make the crust

then stir and bake it well you must,

And now, I ask you must try,

the recipe of this Sunshine Pie.
^*

^*
“Sunshine Pie.”
California Cultivator and Livestock and Dairy Journal
20 (January 16, 1903):45.

Chapter Three

There are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who have no idea what happened.

A
MISH
P
ROVERB

H
ope sat down at the small desk in the bedroom that she shared with Lovina. Even though it was after six, the sun had not yet set. It just didn't seem right, and the day didn't feel like New Year's Day. Yes, they'd served sausage and sauerkraut at the park—the traditional New Year's meal among the Amish—but the day itself was all wrong. If she were in Walnut Creek right now there would be a fire in the woodstove. She and her sisters might be playing Chinese checkers—a favorite game since their childhood. Dat would be done with the chores in the barn, and there'd be the sound of buggy wheels traveling down the road in front of their house—evidence of young men going to call on their sweethearts.