The Thorn (39 page)

Hen awakened early on washday to tend to her laundry before helping Rose Ann and Mammi Sylvia, too. Once the week's washing was out on the line, she checked on Mattie Sue, who was sitting and playing with her dollies close to Mom's wheelchair in the kitchen, near the cookstove. "I'll be back in a bit," she told them, hurrying to the little house next door.

Taking out some writing paper, she began to write her thoughts to her husband.

Dear Brandon,

Would you like to meet for coffee whenever it's convenient? There's a little cafe not far from the fabric shop where I work, near Quarryville. I'd be happy to meet you there.

Also, Mattie Sue talks constantly of you and Wiggles. She would like to visit you and see the puppy, too, if that's all right. We can talk more about that when we get together for coffee.

I'll look forward to hearing from you.

With love, Hen

As she signed her name, she suddenly felt more hopeful. And when she ambled to the mailbox, she relished the soothing sounds of the country around her.

Raising the flag on the wooden mailbox, Hen happened to see the bishop's wife up the road, also mailing a letter. She waved to her, knowing it was too far away for her to hear Hen call a morning greeting. But Barbara did not see her, and head down, she walked slowly back toward their house. She looks awfully sad, thought Hen, praying all was well.

Nick was distant and brooding that afternoon, keeping to himself in the corner of the stable. Away from me, thought Rose, second-guessing her resolve in the ravine. Had she made the right choice, dismissing her best friend?

He would not even allow her to catch his eye. He was either furious with her or had sunk back into a state of despair. In many ways Nick's sullen expression reminded her of his first troubled months here, after the bishop brought him here to live. No wonder, she thought sympathetically. All this time, he missed his fancy life. Like a maverick wandering in the woods ...

When Rose could take it no longer, she slipped over to him. Checking first to see if anyone was watching, she touched his arm. "Nick ... can we talk?"

He frowned. "What's left to say?"

"I don't want you to go."

His face softened. "Have you changed your mind about - "

"No, but ... I don't want you to leave like this. The way things are ... between us, I mean." She choked back tears. "I don't know how to make you understand."

"Understand what, Rosie?" He leaned toward her, then glanced about furtively. "We can't talk here."

She nodded. "I know. But somewhere ... before you do anything rash."

"Leavin' here's rash?"

"Yes."

Dat came into the barn just then, and Rose ducked down to hide. Nick walked away, taking his shovel with him, and she held her breath, hoping her father had not seen them standing so close, her face wet with tears.

Later that afternoon, as Solomon approached the bishop's horse barn, he spotted Christian and Nick scuffling near the corncrib, their faces almost purple with anger.

Suddenly Christian shoved Nick hard against the wall and demanded he get on his horse. "Now!" Christian shouted. "Let's go!"

The two were clearly unaware of Sol. Stunned at the fury in Christian's voice, he realized their flared tempers had gotten completely out of hand. "Fellas ... stop!" he called to them, but they paid Sol no mind. It surprised him, and he was further amazed when Nick obediently mounted Pepper and followed Christian, who was already on his own horse, galloping off toward the road.

Riveted to the spot, Solomon wondered, Where are they going at this hour? Surely their chores weren't finished for the day. He watched them head clear out to the road and turn west toward the main thoroughfare, shaking his head.

Making his way into the barn, Solomon wasn't sure whether to say anything to his good friend, the bishop. But, as it turned out, Aaron was equally flustered. "I'm mighty fed up ... the way those two are treating each other." Sol let Aaron blow off steam. ,,with all the horseback ridin' they do, they might as well be drivin' cars!" Then Aaron added quietly, "I fear Nick's goin' to get himself one."

Sol had seen Nick and Rose Ann head off together on driving horses through the back meadow just yesterday. The sight had made him heartsick, yet he'd told no one. Especially not Emma ... the dear woman had enough on her mind lately, what with Hen living apart from her husband.

"Nick wants a car?" Sol asked.

Bishop shook his head. "He's certainly savin' up for something big. I can't get him to contribute to the house anymore."

"Nothin' at all?" Solomon was shocked, because he'd been so generous with his pay to Nick through the years.

"The boy's out of control."

"And Christian. . . what about him?" asked Sol.

"He's mighty upset, to tell ya frankly." Aaron drew a long sigh. "And between you and me, the ministers have been here yet again, urging me to set things right with my own household ... so I can serve the Lord and His People more effectively."

Sol suspected what that signified. The two preachers and Deacon Samuel had to uphold the traditional qualifications for bishop, which meant all of Aaron's adult children were required to be church members for him to continue in the office.

"Christian insists Nick be baptized."

"Well, how can that help?"

Bishop brushed his brow with the back of his hand, then wiped the perspiration on his work trousers. "Christian's adamant that Nick owes me, so he's twistin' his arm, so to speak."

"To join church against his will?"

The bishop nodded.

"That's a terrible idea."

Bishop exhaled loudly. "Must sound thataway to Nick, too."

Solomon clasped Aaron's shoulder. "I'll keep this quiet ... and in my prayers."

"Denki, Sol."

Hearing this so soon after having seen Rose Ann and Nick ride off together left Solomon painfully aware there was much to beseech the Lord God for, indeed.

A few of the bishop's grandchildren were sitting out on the front porch telling stories when Rose Ann headed over there after supper. Nick was nowhere to be seen, which was just as well, since she had been stewing all day about what to say to help soften the blow of her rebuff.

As was often the case, the older boys were taking turns outdoing each other with their various tales, and several of the younger girls shivered with fright as the setting once again became the ravine.

For Rose, that location would now always be taboo. Nothing good could happen deep in a chasm like that. A dangerous path away from the real world.

She trembled as she recalled Nick's caresses, so inappropriate considering she was nearly engaged to someone else. Even though she'd found Mamm's money tin, she deeply regretted having gone to such a secluded place with Nick.

Thinking back on his impulsive declarations, she worried she might have led him on simply by being there. To think he'd said right out that he'd loved her first!

The twilight was very still, without a hint of a breeze. The smaller girls edged closer, till she had her arms around two of them on each side of her. "Just remember, it's all make-believe," she whispered to them, no longer convinced she herself believed that.

Rose looked at the sky and took in the changing shades and colors. Within minutes, the first star of the evening appeared as the sky grew darker.

The children were clad in coats or woolen shawls, but she knew it wouldn't be long before they went inside to Mammi Barbara to get warmed up with hot cocoa and to sit near the woodstove. Soon, too, the outdoor storytelling would become a faint memory as another year slipped away.

Glancing across the field to her house, Rose was glad Mattie Sue had stayed put with Hen and Mamm. Even though her niece would've enjoyed seeing the children gathered here, Mattie Sue was much too young for the foreboding tone the older ones seemed to enjoy giving their "tellings."

Then, looking back at the sky, Rose saw a falling star.

"Ach, Buck enrol datt! -just look at that!" several of the children said in unison as it streaked a white line down to the horizon and was gone.

"Someone's going to die tonight," one of the boys said.

"Well, sure they are," said another. "People die all the time."

"No, someone nearby," an older girl piped up. "My Mamma says so.

Rose suddenly felt cold. "Maybe we should go inside now," she said, and the girls scrunched up next to her nodded and quickly stood up.

"That's the silliest thing I've ever heard," said the boy who'd had his story interrupted, but even he followed the rest of the children inside.

Rose Ann decided to accept Barbara's kind invitation to stay and have hot chocolate and some fresh brownies, a favorite treat. In short order they were all talking and sitting around the table, along with the bishop and Verna, and the twins, Anna and Susannah, whose husbands had all gone together on an errand.

"Your Dawdi Aaron's got something for each of ya," Barbara was saying.

Bishop wiped his mouth with his handkerchief. "It's time I gave ya some of your inheritance," he said with a quick smile as he pulled out a handful of silver dollars. Amidst their oohs and ahs, he presented each of the eight children there with one bright and shiny coin.

Rose heard a horse whinny outside, and turned to glance through the window behind her. She gasped. Coming up the driveway were the bishop's sons, Christian draped head down over Pepper and being steadied by Nick, who led his brother's horse behind his own. Blood covered nearly all of Christian's head and face.

"Ach, no," she whispered, tears springing to her eyes. "Hurry, Bishop . . . go outside right quick!" she said, pointing to the window.

His eyes registered panic. "Was is letz? - what is wrong?"

Swiftly she rose to pull down the shades, instructing the children to stay in the kitchen as their grandfather rushed out the back door. She could see curiosity in their eyes, though they were obedient when Barbara suggested they all go quickly upstairs.

Nick trudged into the kitchen a few seconds later, struggling to carry his brother into the house. The bishop directed him to lay Christian on the table, where he stood over his unconscious son. Then, as if a light had gone on in his head, he pressed his fingers into Christian's neck, checking for a pulse. " 'Tis awful weak," he uttered, shaking with emotion. "Nick, what happened?"

Nick's face was as white as last winter's snows, his mouth turned down severely. He looked dreadfully guilty. "He fell," Nick muttered.

Barbara and Verna had gotten a bowl of cold water, the water rippling as their hands shook. With a cloth, Barbara dabbed at the gash still gushing blood from Christian's head. His face was deathly white and his chest did not rise and fall as before. Rose stood stock-still with horror ... not knowing what to do.

She looked again at Nick, who'd slumped back against the wall, leaning as though he might collapse without its support.

Then, she saw it - his long hair had been cut roughly, as if someone had taken a knife to it. His short, dark locks fell forward, cropped off just below his ears. Nick's breath came in a short gasp, and his arms hung limp.

Did he lose his temper?