Where Love Grows (43 page)

“You wouldn't have been talking with Menno now, would you?” Deacon Ray asked, staring at Steve.

“No,” he said, looking a bit puzzled. “Susan came to me this morning about this, and we came straight here. I haven't seen Menno since the day before yesterday.”

“And you, Susan?”

“
Daett
and
Mamm
spoke to me this morning about the license, but I'm not sure I know what you're getting at.”

“Did Menno advise you about what you should say or do?”

“Beyond destroying the license and coming to talk to you, neither
Daett
nor
Mamm
gave specific instructions.
Daett
said I would know the right thing to do,” Susan told Deacon Ray while looking into his eyes.

“
Ach
, then I am ashamed of myself.” Deacon Ray lowered his head. “Menno is indeed a better man than I am. You see, there is a matter I have never confessed publicly either. Menno and I were working together in St. Louis, putting in our time of service for the government. While there, I not only obtained a driver's license, but I purchased an
Englisha
automobile, hiding it at a friend's house. Your
daett
knows this, Susan.”

Susan stared at him nervously. “
Daett
told me nothing of this.”

“Menno is a
gut
man,” Deacon Ray said. “Perhaps we had better follow what I think his advice would be and forget some of these things that are done when we were young. The ones that harmed no one, at least. Those we will confess to
Da Hah
and forsake in our hearts.”

“I think that would be a wise plan,” Steve said. He cleared his throat.

“What about you, Susan?” Deacon Ray was looking at her now.

“I have forsaken the world in my heart,” Susan said, taking Steve's hand.

Deacon Ray smiled. “Then we will leave the matter as it is. Please tell Menno he has my highest respect.”

“
Yah
, okay then.” Steve was still holding Susan's hand. “We thank you for your time this morning, Deacon Ray.”

He turned and helped Susan into the buggy. He untied Toby, threw the reins into the front, and climbed up. Deacon Ray was walking to the house as they pulled out. He turned to waved from the front porch.

“I think you cracked his heart a little,” Susan finally said as Steve drove onto the main road.

“He's a soft-hearted soul,” Steve said. “It's just not always easy to see.”

“You didn't grow up around him. He terrorized all of us. I've never seen Betsy sweat like the time Deacon Ray came over to speak with her about the length of her dresses.”

“We'll be glad for people like him when our own children begin to think wild thoughts.”

“Our children…” Susan nestled against him.

“
Yah
,” Steve said, smiling down at her. “If
Da Hah
wills it so.”

Susan suddenly sat up. “We need to talk with
Daett
and
Mamm
today.”

“Really?” Steve glanced sideways at her. “Why?”

“We need to tell them about, well, what we talked about earlier.”

“About you becoming my
frau
?”

“Don't say it!” Susan said. “You are making me turn red all over.”

“Okay, I won't say it. I'll just think it,” Steve said with a laugh.

“There are so many plans to be made, and most of them
Daett
and
Mamm
will be involved in. We can't keep this from them a second longer than we have to.”

“You'll have to kiss me first. Then we'll talk all you want.”

“I will not. You'll have to wait for the wedding vows. You've had enough kisses. They're getting dangerous.”

Steve groaned.

“There is the
dawdy haus
to think of,” Susan said, plunging ahead. “And the farm. Plus the expense of another wedding so quickly. We really have to talk to them.”

“Okay, okay! We're almost there. I'll behave myself.”

“I can't wait, Steve!” Susan said. “When can we get married?”

“Maybe the year after next.”

Susan stared at him and Steve roared.

“You really are a tease, you know that?” she said. “Am I going to have to put up with this for the next fifty years?”

“And then some,” Steve said as he pulled into the driveway. He stopped at the hitching post and stepped out of the buggy. He tied Toby as Susan climbed out and waited for him. Together they walked to the house. They entered through the front door and hung up their coats. Steve put his hat on the floor by the door.
Daett
was in his rocking chair reading
The Budget. Mamm
was sewing on the couch. Both looked up at their entrance, their faces showing their anxiety about what had happened with Deacon Ray.

Daett
looked at Steve. “You went with Susan? That was awfully nice of you.”

“It's okay,” Steve said. “It was the right thing to do.”

“So everything turned out all right?”
Daett
asked.

Steve smiled. “Deacon Ray remembered a little something that you apparently know all about. He decided that some things done in one's youthful folly are best left private, provided they affected no one else and that one repents and makes a private apology.”

“I see,” Menno said. “I'm sure Deacon Ray has made a wise choice.”

“What are you talking about?”
Mamm
asked, standing up. “You sound like Solomon dropping hints.”

“Don't worry,
Mamm
,” Susan said. “Everything's fine.” She hugged her. “Now would you please sit down and quit wringing your hands? We have lots of plans to make because Steve and I are getting married this spring! Soon after my baptism.” Susan couldn't hold back her smile any longer.

“Well
Da Hah sie lobb!
”
Daett
exclaimed.

“I'm glad someone told me when I'm getting married,” Steve said, but no one paid him any mind.

Mamm
leaped to her feet again and grabbed Susan in a tight hug. “It's finally happening! Susan's getting married!”
Mamm
waved her hand in front of her face. “Why is it so hot in here? Menno, will you turn the heat down?”

“Sit down,
Mamm
, and take a deep breath,” Susan said. “There are lots of things to discuss. But first of all, can we afford another wedding so soon? And then there's the
dawdy haus
to build. And is it okay if we live on the farm? We need a place to stay that's our own. Steve can take over the farm in the spring, if that's okay. That shouldn't be a problem…”

“Hold it a minute!”
Daett
interrupted with a laugh. “One thing at a time. Actually, one thing first, and then you women can do what you wish. So Steve, do you want to take over the farm?”

“If you will sell it to me,” Steve said. He named a price without missing a beat. “If this isn't acceptable, you have time to ask the other girls and their husbands if they're interested. If someone wishes to pay a higher price, I would consider going up with my offer.”

Susan stared at Steve. The sum he mentioned was more than fair. And Steve had spit out the huge number just like that. He must have thought the matter over often, she decided. But then he'd known he wanted to marry her. She sat down on the couch, trying to catch her breath.

“I'm sure no one will match that price,”
Daett
said with a smile. “Besides, I want you to have the place. You will take
gut
care of the fields, and I can rest easy with you in charge.”

“Thank you,” Steve said. “So we're done then?”

“You're not done,”
Mamm
said. “I want to know where I'll be living if you're selling the farm out from under me, Menno.”

“In your
dawdy haus
, of course,” Susan said.

“I don't see a
dawdy haus
,”
Mamm
said. “And spring will be here before we know it.”

“Don't worry, it will be built by then,”
Daett
said. “We'll start when the weather breaks. And you can have it made however you wish, providing it's plain.”

“I know that,”
Mamm
said. “But it must have a basement. I won't be without a basement. That something I've always said.”

“A basement but no upstairs,”
Daett
said. “And Susan is correct. We can easily finish it before the wedding as long as you don't get fancy ideas into your head.”

“Come on,” Steve said, taking Susan's hand, “let them talk things out.” He led her upstairs to her room, where they sat side by side on the bed.

“You know I should be downstairs making plans,” Susan protested. “There are all the couples to pick out, and we should start cleaning the barn this afternoon. And…”

“All that can wait,” Steve told her. “I want to look at you…at my future
frau.
”

“There's just so much to do. Can't you look at me downstairs while we plan?”

Steve held up his hand. “I have to tell you something, and then we can go.”

“What is it? You do have a secret!”

Steve smiled. “
Yah
, the secret is that I love you.” He stood up and bent over to kiss her. She lifted her face to meet his. She pulled back moments later, gasping. “You tricked me, you naughty boy!”

Steve laughed. “You wouldn't kiss me any other way.”

“Well, that's not going to work again,” she said. “I'm wise to you now.”

“Oh, I'll think of something else,” he said, a sly look on his face.

“Steve Mast, you are the most frustrating man I have ever met.”

“And the sweetest, I hope.” He came close again.

“That's not going to work!” Susan said. She jumped up, ran out the door, and headed down the stairs, laughing all the way.

Mamm
looked up when she burst through the doorway, Steve close behind.

“I think we need the wedding vows said for these two—and very soon,”
Daett
said with a twinkle in his eye.

“But my house has to be built first,”
Mamm
said, grabbing
Daett
's arm as if she could pull the house out of his shoulder.

“With that, I think I'd better be going,” Steve said. “I'll unhitch Toby and put him in the barn. Then I'd better head back to Ada's. It's a beautiful day for a walk.” He picked up his hat and put on his coat.

Susan followed him to the front door. “I'll help you with Toby!” She put on her coat.

They went outside and walked to the buggy holding hands. When they reached the horse, they stood together for a long time, reluctant to part.

Finally Toby nickered and nudged Susan, pulling her out of her reverie.

With a laugh, Steve said, “I guess Toby also wants some breakfast!”

S
usan rode in the back of the surrey, while
Mamm
and
Daett
rode in front. Behind them, Ada and Reuben's buggy followed, staying close. Ahead of them other buggies were coming out of the side roads, all heading to Mose Stutzman's place for Baptismal Sunday.

Today Bishop Henry would ask Susan the baptismal questions, and she would need to answer them once and for all. The time had come. She would now truly become part of the community. Today she would take on the faith
Mamm
and
Daett
had passed down to her. Deacon Ray had been true to his promise, and he never raised the issue of the driver's license again. At the last instruction class two weeks ago, he had even done a most unexpected thing. In front of them all, seated in a circle in the upstairs bedroom with the congregation's singing rising and falling below them, Deacon Ray had told them the story of his time at the
Englisha
hospital and how he had failed to walk in holiness and in the fear of
Da Hah
on some matters.