Unbreakable (5 page)

“And what is the question, Daughter?”

“If . . . if someone you loved was in danger, would you resort to violence to protect them if there was no other choice?”

His eyes widened before he looked away. I waited in silence for his reply. Finally he cleared his throat. “In truth, Hope, I cannot answer you. I have been brought up to believe we are to live in peace with every man, and when assaulted, we should turn the other cheek. There is nothing wrong with
resisting evil, but to use physical force against another human being?” He shook his head. “You are my daughter. I would lay down my life for you. That is all I can say.”

“Thank you, Papa.” He hadn't really answered my question, and it bothered me.

As we stepped out onto the wooden sidewalk outside our shop, we greeted quite a few friends who were already making their way to Cora's Corner Café. When it first opened, many in our town had shunned the small restaurant. Our former elders hadn't approved of a female selling food, stating that it was a woman's duty to stay home and prepare all the meals her family required. But its original owner, Cora Menlo, had seen a need for the many single men and women in our community. And although business had begun slowly, eventually most of the town embraced Cora's. It even took the place of some of our church suppers, becoming a popular gathering spot where residents could spend time fellowshiping without all the work a large supper entailed.

After taking over the restaurant from Cora, Lizzie kept the name, even though several of us had suggested she change it. But her love and appreciation for her old employer prevented her from removing Cora's name. Last month, Cora came for a visit and chided Lizzie for not repainting the large wooden sign that hung outside the red and white building. Secretly, I believe she was touched by Lizzie's devotion. Cora, who had given Lizzie and her daughter, Charity, a place to live when they needed help, left Kingdom when her sister in Oregon became ill. She sold the restaurant to Lizzie for much less than it was worth and went to care for her sister. Now Lizzie and Noah were able to make a good living because of her generosity.

As Papa and I walked through the front door, Lizzie saw us and hurried over. “Hope and Samuel, I'm so glad to see you both!” She put her arms around me, hugging me fiercely. “Aaron told Noah what happened on the road, Hope. I'm so grateful you're all right.” She let me go and peered into my eyes. “What if you'd been really hurt?”

Touched by her concern, I smiled. “I'm fine, Lizzie. Really. Just a little rattled. It's still hard to believe there are people out there who care so little for other human beings.”

She nodded. “I was saying the same thing to Noah.” Her dark eyes were wide with concern. “I saw so much violence when I lived in Kansas City, but Kingdom seems so far away. So remote. It makes us feel this kind of evil can't touch us.”

“Well, it almost touched us today,” Papa said. “We will all have to be much more careful.”

“There's an elders' meeting tonight at the church,” Lizzie said. “They intend to talk about the situation and try to figure out what to do. Noah suggests that we keep our people off the main road. Maybe those of us with trucks can run any necessary errands for a while.”

“I agree,” Papa said. “I will be praying that God will guide our pastor and our elders as they search for wisdom.”

Lizzie patted Papa on the shoulder. “Thank you, Samuel. I know they'll appreciate your prayers. Now, let's get you both some supper.” She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “You look hungry, Hope.”

I laughed. “Actually, I'm starving, and the aromas from your kitchen aren't helping a bit.”

She grinned. “Good. That means maybe you'll clean your plate for once. You eat so little, sometimes I get concerned.”

“As do I,” Papa said. “Hope has the appetite of a small bird.”

I shook my head. “You two worry too much. If you had your way, I'd have to let out all my dresses.”

“Wouldn't hurt you a bit,” Lizzie said, smiling. She finally took her attention off me and looked up at Papa. “Samuel, it's been a little over a week since you joined us for a meal.”

“Now, Lizzie,” he said, “does that mean you have missed me?”

She chuckled. “Now that you mention it, what was I thinking? How could I miss a feisty old codger like you?”

Papa shook his head and sighed. “I wonder why I keep coming here when all I get is abuse.”

I couldn't hold back a giggle. Normally my father was not a joker, but Lizzie seemed to bring out a side of him I rarely saw. They had a very special relationship, and I was grateful for it, since Lizzie was the closest thing to a sister I've ever had.

“If you two are finished, I'm ready to order dinner,” I said.

Lizzie took my father's arm and led him over to his favorite table in the corner. “Why don't you two sit here.” She crossed her arms and frowned at Papa. “Now, let me see. I suspect you came for my incredible meatloaf, didn't you, Samuel? Or my beef stew?” She gazed up at the ceiling. “Yes, that's it. Beef stew. I'll get it right away.”

“Very funny,” he said, taking off his wide-brimmed straw hat and putting it on the empty chair next to him. “You have been frying chicken all day just to tempt me. Your efforts have been successful. Bring me a fried chicken dinner, woman. And be quick about it!”

Lizzie was aware that Papa loved her fried chicken, yet she
teased him the same way every time he came in. I laughed at the both of them.

“I suppose you want the same thing?” Lizzie asked me.

“Oh yes. Please. I can't watch Papa enjoy your chicken and not have some myself. The spirit is willing—”

“But the flesh is weak? I'd hate to think I'm corrupting you, but you have no need to worry about your waistline.”

“Then I will enjoy my meal without concern,” I said with a smile.

Lizzie leaned over and lowered her voice. “You should both know that everyone's talking about Hope's narrow escape. Jonathon Wiese is getting together some men to guard the town. He feels Kingdom needs to be prepared in case we're attacked. Noah's asked him to wait until after the elders' meeting, but Jonathon doesn't seem willing to do that.”

Papa's right eyebrow arched. Not a good sign. “And how does he plan to protect us?” he snapped. “Surely not with weapons of violence.”

Lizzie shrugged. “I really have no idea, Samuel. But if we become targets, we have to defend ourselves.”

Papa's eyes narrowed as he stared back at her. “Mennonites do not condone violence, Elizabeth. You were brought up here. You know that.”

Lizzie put one hand on her hip and matched Papa's stare. “I know what I was taught, Samuel, but that doesn't necessarily mean I agree with everything. Having a relationship with God means you should be led and guided by His Holy Spirit. Not by men. I know what the Mennonite church in this town teaches, but when it comes to defending the life of my daughter, I'll do whatever I think is best.” She glanced at
me. “Are you trying to tell me that if someone tried to hurt Hope, you'd stand by and do nothing?”

Papa's face began to flush, and I cast a warning look toward Lizzie. She saw it and quickly gave him a forced smile. “I'm sorry, Samuel. That's not a fair question. I know you're a good man and that you work hard to honor your beliefs. I guess all I'm trying to say is that the issue isn't settled in everyone's mind like it is in yours.”

Papa's color started to fade, and I breathed a sigh of relief, although I was bothered that this was the second time he'd been asked the same question, and he still hadn't answered it. Children look to their parents to keep them safe, even when they become adults. Would my father actually allow someone to harm me in defense of his convictions?

“I understand your confusion,” he said after taking a deep breath, “but I must choose peace and forgiveness. It is the way I was raised and the way I brought Hope up. We believe it is the way God would have us respond.”

Lizzie frowned at him but didn't challenge his statement. Papa included me as if he knew my thoughts, but I certainly had questions. However, I had no intention of telling him that. For now, I'd bide my time and pray about it. At least Papa knew about Jonathon's group, and I wouldn't have to be the one to tell him. I wondered how many others there were in Kingdom who didn't agree with Papa. We had just weathered one huge storm of controversy, and we didn't need another one with the power to cause an even deeper divide.

“Is Noah here tonight?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“He was for a while, but Jonathon was kind enough to
pick up lumber for us while he was in Clay Center. Noah's trying to get some work done before the meeting.”

Noah had been really busy lately. Besides helping his wife in the restaurant from time to time, most of his attention was geared toward fixing up the old Strauss farm outside of town. Deserted by the Strauss family after the death of their daughter, Ava, it sat abandoned for twenty years, falling into disrepair. Lizzie had fallen in love with it, so they bought it, determined to renovate it and make it their home.

“I'd better get you two some fried chicken before it's all gone,” Lizzie said, wisely letting the previous debate drop.

I gave her a small nod, signaling my appreciation for her willingness to appease Papa. I knew it wasn't easy for her to walk away when she clearly believed she was right and Papa was wrong. She did it more for me than for Papa, and I loved her for it.

“Where's Charity this evening?” I asked before she had a chance to leave.

Lizzie's seven-year-old daughter, Charity, was usually in the dining room when we visited. Charity was almost a carbon copy of her mother, with blue-black hair and dark eyes. But her widow's peak and turned-up nose came from her father. She sometimes stopped by the quilt shop after school so I could help her with homework, and we'd become fast friends. I loved her unbridled eagerness, even though she seemed to have an unending list of questions. Many times her curiosity focused on our faith. I tried to answer her inquires the best I could, but lately I'd noticed she'd been rather quiet and introspective. I sensed that something was bothering her but decided to wait for her to bring it up. I wasn't willing
to overstep our friendship and hurt the easy trust we'd built between us.

Charity's biological father was currently incarcerated in a state prison. Lizzie had chosen not to tell her daughter the truth about him, but I'd begun to wonder if Charity knew more than her mother suspected. People talk. Could Charity have overheard something? Her behavior made me wonder if she was dealing with feelings she didn't know how to handle. She seemed to be growing up so quickly, but in truth, she was still just a child.

“She's with her grandparents tonight,” Lizzie said. “She has some worksheets to do, and it's just too noisy here for studying.”

“She's really an exceptional student.”

Lizzie nodded. “Charity's made great progress this year. You and Leah have really helped her.” Although her words were delivered lightly, there was a look in her eyes that concerned me. “Well, I'd better get going,” she said. “It's going to be a busy night.”

With that, she turned and left, stopping by two other tables to take orders before heading into the kitchen. I gazed around the cozy dining room. The dark wood floors shone, as did the wood paneling that went halfway up the walls. The upper walls were covered with brightly colored red-checked wallpaper, although not much of it was visible, since almost every space was adorned with gorgeous quilts, hand-stitched samplers, and beautifully painted plates. The tables and booths were covered with red-checked tablecloths that matched the walls. In the winter, a fire crackled in the fireplace, but even without the inviting flames, the room exuded warmth. A large
ceiling fan moved slowly overhead, circulating the crisp spring air throughout the dining room. I loved this place almost as much as I adored my quilt shop.

As a few other people filtered in for supper, I was relieved to see Callie Hoffman hurry in, going straight for the kitchen. A few minutes later she emerged, wearing an apron and holding an order pad. Besides caring for her sick father, she worked as Lizzie's right-hand girl at the restaurant. In her spare time, she assisted Leah in Kingdom's one-room school.

“I do not like this talk of guns and vengeance,” Papa said suddenly. I was so deep into my thoughts that the sound of his voice made me jump.

“I know, Papa,” I said, “but unfortunately, these incidents throughout the county appear to be getting worse. I'm praying that the police will apprehend the people responsible before anyone else gets hurt.”

Papa reached over and took my hand. “I pray the same thing, Daughter. I have to admit that I am angry you were put in danger today, but we must find a way to forgive. We must also pray that the hearts of these men are changed. Obviously they are very unhappy people who need the love of God in their lives.”

I immediately felt ashamed that the same idea hadn't occurred to me. “You're so good to think of that, Papa. I'll certainly pray for them.”

He nodded absentmindedly. “There is something else I need to talk to you about, Hope. It is about all the time you spend with Jonathon Wiese.”

I felt my face get hot, and I withdrew my hand from his. “I don't spend an inordinate amount of time speaking to
Brother Wiese,” I said a little too quickly. “We are friends, Papa. Nothing more.”

His eyebrows knit together, making them look like one long, hairy caterpillar. “You are betrothed to Elder Miller. I am concerned that you may be developing inappropriate feelings for Brother Wiese.”

“Papa!” My shock at his charge was matched only by my dismay at the truth behind his words. “Is that why you were so rude to Jonathon? Because you think I have feelings for him? I'm completely aware of my betrothal, and I look forward to becoming Ebbie's wife.”