Planted with Hope (7 page)

J
onas Sutter rolled up his sleeves and walked to the chalkboard at the front of Golden Coast Amish School, wiping off the day's lesson and preparing to write up tomorrow's. His first day of teaching had gone well. The older students had been respectful and interested in this farmer from Kentucky. They'd listened and done their assignments, but that didn't stop him from thinking about his farm. Thinking about all he'd left behind back in Guthrie.

“Four months,” he muttered under his breath. “Just four months and I can get back to the farm.”

He'd repeated that same thought on the ride to Pinecraft from Kentucky, sitting in the back of a full van driven by an Englisch driver. He'd repeated that thought as he'd chatted with friends, old and new, at the New Year's gathering at Pinecraft Park. But after Saturday evening—and the visit to the Miller's house—the idea didn't seem as urgent. Would the days go by fast? Would he have enough time to get to know Hope Miller before he left? For
the first time since Sarah's passing, he'd found someone worth getting to know better.

Unlike most public schools that went until June, the Amish school in Pinecraft finished at the end of April. One reason was they didn't take as many holidays as public schools—for Columbus Day, President's Day, or Thanksgiving. They also took a shortened Christmas break. When other public school students were still finishing up testing and their studies in May, most Amish children were already helping around farms, which was exactly what he'd planned for Emma.

Last year, if someone would have told him that the beginning of the new year he'd be living in Florida and teaching school to two dozen children, he never would have believed it. It had been a hard two years since losing Sarah. And an even longer three years before that as he watched the illness strip his wife of her mobility, finally taking her life. He'd always imagined he'd stay in Kentucky his whole life, but his oldest sister's need had drawn him here.

Jonas had read Ruth Ann's note at least ten times when it first arrived, and he thought of it again now.

Jonas, you know I wouldn't ask unless it was urgent, but Hannah's pregnancy is delicate. She's moving into one of our extra rooms until the twins are born. I'd promised to teach school this year, until a new teacher can be found, but I'm needed by my daughter's side. I know you, out of anyone, will understand. Can you come? Emma will love it here.

Love, Ruth Ann

Six sentences jotted off on a piece of typing paper was all his oldest sister had written. Older by twenty years, Ruth Ann seemed just as much as a mother as his own Mem. Two sentences replayed in his mind again: “I know you, out of anyone, will
understand” and “Emma will love it here.” Both were true, but the latter sentence sealed his decision. Emma
would
love Pinecraft—the sunshine and the ability to play outside most days. His daughter needed that. She'd spent too much of her life inside with him as he'd cared for Sarah. Even though Jonas wasn't confident in his teaching, he was confident that he'd do what he could to help Emma return to the cheerful, carefree little girl she'd been before his wife's illness. He wanted that more than anything.

As if on cue, the schoolhouse door burst open and Emma rushed in. The warm afternoon breeze followed her in, and he could see Ruth Ann waiting by the gate to the school.

Emma was tall for eight, and thin like he'd been as a child. Strands of wispy, light brown hair—the same color as his—fell from her kapp and framed her face. She paused before him and her dark brown eyes sparkled, looking so much like her mother's. Jonas no longer had Sarah, but he had a glimpse of her every time he looked into his daughter's eyes.

“Dat? Can I go with Aenti Ruth Ann to Lapp's Bike Shop? She said we're going to find a bike just my size to rent.”

“
Ja
. That'll be fine. Just be back in an hour or so. I'd like to spend some time with you this afternoon.” Jonas kneeled before her. “I'm used to having my little sidekick by my side,
ja
?”

Emma nodded. She offered him a quick hug.

When she released her arms around his neck, he walked to the open door and waved to his sister. Then he turned back to Emma, placing a hand on her shoulder. Sarah had been the tender one, always hugging their daughter, always taking her hand or brushing her fingers on Emma's cheek. He'd tried to do his best to take over that role, but his attempts were stiff and awkward, or at least that's how they felt to him. Still, Emma didn't seem to mind. She smiled up at him and turned back to the door.

“And maybe later we can ride down to the park?” she called over her shoulder. It was half a question and half a statement.

“
Ja
, of course… ” He was going to add
As long as your chores are done
, but changed his mind. Living in Ruth Ann's house for four months meant Emma wouldn't be able to get away with anything. Ruth Ann had raised seven children and believed that play only followed hard work. Hannah was four years younger than Jonas. She'd always had delicate health and being pregnant with twins was taking a toll on her body—but caring for her on top of everything else was nothing that Ruth Ann couldn't manage. If anything, his oldest sister was determined and capable. If Ruth Ann set her mind on something it would get done. And his hope was that Ruth Ann would be able to help him tame Emma's independent streak. The little girl had been left to her own devices more than he wanted to admit. That was why he couldn't blame her when she'd wandered down to Phillippi Creek. Jonas was just thankful that Hope Miller had been there.

He'd tried not to look at Hope too many times at church yesterday. She'd been sitting on the long wooden bench next to her sisters—just a row in front of where Emma had sat with Ruth Ann. Emma had given Hope a quick hug after service was over, and they'd been chatting about something. Jonas hadn't tried to interrupt. Instead, he'd sauntered outside with all the other men to talk about the weather, who was due to arrive on the Pioneer Trails bus, and any news that they'd heard about their friends and their family from back home.

He smiled and pushed thoughts of the pretty redhead out of his mind. First, he had to prepare tomorrow's lessons. Only after could he let his mind wander, thinking of her. He scanned the room. Work came first.

The classroom doors were opened, pressed against the walls.
The building was quiet, which hadn't been the case just a few hours before. The window shades had been lowered to block out the sun, but now Jonas moved to them and lifted them to the top. He'd no doubt regret it later when the room grew too warm from the heat of the sun, but for now he'd enjoy the golden, slanted rays. One only experienced sunshine like this during the summer months in Kentucky. He'd enjoy it while he could.

Jonas moved to the blackboard, rolled up his sleeves, and began erasing the day's math lesson. The swish of the eraser on the board reminded him of the swish of a tail on a barn wall, but he pushed those thoughts away. He'd first kissed Sarah in her dat's barn with such a sound in the background.

“Good day, Jonas!” The voice interrupted him.

His heart leaped, but he pasted a smile on his face as he turned.

“Good afternoon, Clyde.”

His brother-in-law wandered in with a pleasant smile on his face. The older man was broad shouldered and extra wide around the waist. Clyde hadn't been that way when he and Ruth Ann had married, but her good cooking, matched with the years passing by, had increased his waist size.

Clyde's smile was just as wide, and he'd no doubt just spent the last hour meeting those who'd arrived on this afternoon's Pioneer Trails bus—welcoming the snowbirds and telling his fill of big fish or alligator stories.

Clyde pulled up a chair in the back of the classroom, and Jonas forced a smile. Clyde was a woodworker. He always had a project or two in his shop, but his greatest talent was his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. Jonas just hoped that whatever Clyde had on his mind wouldn't take long. He had a classroom to ready for the next day and lessons to prepare, and he wanted time this afternoon with Emma.

“Ruth Ann came home a bit ago with a piece of pie from that pie shop. Orange pie. I never had that before, but it was good.”

“Really? Orange Pie, you don't say.” Jonas put down his eraser and then flipped through pages in the math book. “I might have to try it next time I go by.”

“You'll have to do that. I like that place. It's really brought some fun to our village. I wouldn't want to guess how many pies they go through a day with all the customers—the Amish here, and all those Englischers who've been showing up in their fancy cars.”

Jonas crossed his arms over his chest, knowing he'd never be able to write up math equations on the board and chat at the same time. He leaned against the wall. He eyed the winter mural on the wall behind Clyde's head, realizing he should have taken that down after the New Year. Then he smiled, deciding to leave it up. After all, that was the only “winter” these kids would experience.

“You know, they did a nice job with that pie shop, but it's just a shame that they haven't done much with the lot,” Clyde continued. “Ruth Ann mentioned it to me the other day. There's a half acre in the back of the building, you know. Seems to be a shame that it's not being used. All that space is valuable. Especially since most folks around here have tiny yards. And that's another thing that's bothering Ruth Ann. These kids growing up in this area don't know what it's like to live on a farm or grow a garden. What if one of these young girls in our school grows up to marry an Amishman from up north? What will happen when she moves up there and doesn't know how to garden and such?”

Jonas nodded and rubbed his head, wondering if this was Clyde—or rather Ruth Ann's—way of hinting about Emma needing a good role model in her life. At least three times since they'd moved her here Ruth Ann had talked to him about opening his heart up to love again, about finding a wife. About finding
a woman who could guide Emma into adulthood. Their conversation had been as recent as last night.

“A young girl needs a mother to teach her how to care for a garden, a family, a home,” Ruth Ann had said.

Jonas had teased her. “That's what I have you for, Ruthie. And I believe you should start tonight. How about Emma begins by learning how to make peanut butter pie?”

Ruth Ann whopped him with her dishtowel, but she had the same determined look in her gaze as Clyde did now.

“
Ja
, I suppose you're right,” Jonas said, taking the bait and wondering what Clyde was leading to.

“That's why I think you should talk to Lovina Miller who owns the pie shop. Maybe see if you can make a garden plot out back. Emma can't stop talking about starting a garden in May back home, but why wait? I bet you could help get one up and running. You always did a
gut
job with your garden back home after… ” Clyde's voice trailed off, but Jonas knew what Clyde had been about to say:
after Sarah died.

In Amish communities the garden was a woman's place, but after Sarah's stroke Jonas had stepped in. He had to. The food raised in a garden was necessary to make it through the long winters, but did he really need another job beyond teaching school and being the sole parent of a mischievous young girl?

Curiosity turned to frustration, and frustration tightened Jonas's throat. He balled his fists at his side and felt his shoulders tense. Wasn't he doing enough to help his sister by just being here? And now this? They wanted him to take on more?

“A garden plot? And when would I have time to tend to that? Did my sister forget that I'm teaching school full time? And that I have Emma.” The words came out sharper than Jonas intended, and he pressed his lips together.

Clyde stroked his long beard that fell to his second button and chuckled. There were few things that fazed Clyde, and obviously Jonas's crisp tone wasn't one of them.

“That's the point. You make it part of school. Kids don't need to sit in a stuffy room all day. They can get out and get some fresh air and learn about gardening.” Clyde pointed to the books in the bookcase closest to him. “I'd guess there're some good biology texts that you could tie in.”

Seeing Clyde's smile, Jonas's shoulders relaxed. The idea did sound appealing, taking his students out into nature instead of sitting inside a stuffy classroom all day. Even though they had two electric fans to move the air he missed Kentucky's cool breezes. But would that just add to his work? He guessed it would. It'd take work, take planning.

“I'm sure there are some good lessons I could incorporate. It's something to think about. Nothing that needs to be decided today.”

Clyde lifted one eyebrow that told Jonas he didn't agree. “Or if you'd like I can head over and talk to Lovina Miller. Or actually, Ruth Ann said she'd be happy to mention something—”

“No!” The word escaped Jonas's lips. “Just give me time to think about it.”

“
Ja
, well, of course.” But even as Clyde rose from his chair Jonas had no doubt that he wasn't going to let things lie. Word would get to Lovina somehow. And then he'd really be stuck having to do what Clyde planned. He had to act first, or Clyde and Ruth Ann would take over and volunteer him for who knows what.