Plain Promise (39 page)

“Are you sure he’s coming?” Sadie asked Lillian Sunday morning.

“Grandpa said he is.” Lillian set a large bag on Sadie’s counter.

“There are seven loaves of homemade bread in here. But we might want to warm them a bit later.”

Sadie nodded, then moved to the far corner of the room to make way for Samuel and his brother Ivan to carry another bench through the kitchen and into the den.

“I don’t know why they’re not carrying those things through the den,” Lillian complained.

Sadie shrugged. “What did Jonas say about Kade?”

“Just that he’s comin’. That’s all.”

Sadie’s hands landed on her hips. “Why do you never want to talk about Kade? He has been here for weeks, and I know he spends a lot of time with Jonas. And yet, I reckon no one tells me anything, and—” Sadie choked back tears.

“Sadie, don’t cry.” Lillian hugged her friend. “I’ve been worried to voice my opinions just yet.”

“But why? You are my best friend. You know how much I care for Kade and Tyler, and still you won’t open up to me about why he’s here or what Jonas is saying. Nothing. I don’t understand.”

Lillian kissed Sadie on the cheek, then brushed a tear from her face. “I think you will understand soon enough.”

Sadie was having one of those days where she couldn’t stop feeling sorry for herself, yet those emotions were mixed with extreme levels of excitement at the prospect of seeing Kade and Tyler. But if he really cared for her, why hadn’t he been around?

“Well, I don’t understand. That’s for sure.” She shook her head and began hastily unpacking the loaves of bread from the bag. “I don’t understand at all”.

Jonas arrived at Kade’s farm at seven thirty Sunday morning, with Lizzie by his side. Kade had forgotten that he’d asked Jonas for a ride to the worship service this morning. He didn’t want to drive up in a car. But that was before he’d gotten a buggy and horse.

“Good grief,” Jonas said. He stepped out of the buggy and walked toward Kade, who was standing in the front yard with Tyler. “What have you done?”

“It’s our clothes, huh?” Kade felt ridiculous. He’d picked up clothes for him and Tyler at an Amish-owned shop in town.

Jonas stroked his beard. “No, you look mighty fine. Yes, you do. You both make fine-looking Amish gentlemen.” Jonas pointed across the yard. “But,
what
have you done?”

“Oh, I was going to surprise you. I bought a buggy and—”

“Loco. You bought Loco! Boy, what were you thinkin’?”

“Big Jake said he’s a great horse, and he gave me a really good deal on him. I’m taking the buggy to church.”

Lizzie walked up beside her husband. “Is that Loco over there?”

Jonas began laughing so hard that he had to lean down and put his hands on his knees. Then he snorted, and said, “
Ya
, that’s Loco, all right. And Kade thinks he’s gonna have Loco pull that buggy all the way to Sadie’s place.”

Lizzie grabbed her chest and gasped.

Kade frowned. This was humiliating. “Don’t let the name fool you,” he said casually.

“
Ach
, we’re not!” Jonas exclaimed. “Ain’t foolin’ us one bit. That horse is crazy as can be. And so are you if you think he’s gonna get you to Sadie’s in one piece.”

“I’m counting on it.” Kade held his chin a little higher. “Tyler and I were getting ready to leave.”

“You do what ya want, but the boy rides with Lizzie and me.” Jonas shook his head. “It’s your funeral.”

Kade’s stomach twisted. How bad could this horse possibly be? “Kade, I think maybe you best be ridin’ with Jonas and me,” Lizzie said softly.

“No, I’m taking Loco, and I’m driving this buggy to Sadie’s house!” It was becoming a matter of principle at this point.

“Fine. But the boy comes with us.”

“Fine.”

Jonas turned to leave with Lizzie and Tyler, but turned back. “
Ach
, wait. I almost forgot. I brought you something.” He pulled the seat of the buggy forward and reached into the backseat. He pulled out . . .
What? A radio?

He handed it to Kade. “I know it’s not fancy, like what you must be used to, just a battery-operated device, but it’ll serve its purpose.”

Kade accepted the radio but eyed Jonas with skepticism. “But, Jonas, it’s not allowed. If I’m going to really be Amish, then I shouldn’t have it.” He pushed the radio back toward Jonas.

“Hogwash. Lots of folks have radios.” He grinned. “Be best to listen to it in the barn, though.”

Kade folded his arms across his chest, atop his new suspenders. “If I recall, I suggested not telling Bishop Ebersol something not too long ago, with regard to Sadie, and you said, ‘But you will know and God will know.’”

Jonas twisted his mouth to one side. Then he leaned in toward Kade, a twinkle in his eye. “I reckon you need this to check the weatherman’s forecast, no?”

Kade grinned back at his friend. “I suppose so.”

“As you grow in faith, you’ll know which rules are meant to be bent, and which ones ain’t.” He winked at Kade. “And there’s a little something for Sadie inside that trapdoor on the radio.” Kade pushed the button marked Eject, and a CD popped out.
Favorite Country Gospel Tunes
, he read aloud.

“The girl loves music.”

“I know.” Kade smiled, remembering how Sadie had loitered on the cottage porch, listening to his music playing, and how much she enjoyed listening to the jazz melodies in his car. So much had happened since then.

“I figured there’s a chance the two of you might be seeing each other in the near future.” Jonas paused and stared warmly into Kade’s eyes. “You’re ready, Kade. And it’s truly been an honor to travel on this journey with you.”

“The honor has been mine, Jonas.” It was a special moment, and Kade could feel God working in his life in so many ways.

“Hope you live long enough to enjoy the radio.” Jonas snorted, tipped his hat back, and headed to his buggy.

Kade shook his head, a smile on his face. Then he headed to his own buggy. And Loco

It was ten minutes until eight when Jonas pulled up with Lizzie. Most of the people Sadie expected to attend were already there. She was surprised to see Tyler with Jonas and Lizzie. Obviously, Kade wasn’t coming after all.

She hugged Jonas, then Lizzie, when they stepped out of the buggy.

“Hello, Tyler,” she said, squatting down.

Tyler wrapped his arms around her neck. “Sadie, Sadie,” he said, almost bouncing up and down.

“I’m so glad you came, Tyler.” She looked up at Jonas and tried to sound casual. “I suppose Kade isn’t coming?”

Jonas let out the silly snort he was known for. “
Ach, ya
. He’s comin’ all right. Just ain’t sure if he’ll arrive in one piece.”

Sadie stood up. “What do you mean?”

Before Jonas had time to answer, all their attention was drawn to the noise coming from down the road. Sounded like a man yelling.

“I reckon that’s him coming now,” Jonas said.

“What’s all the racket?” Sarah Jane stepped onto the porch, then eased her way to the yard where Sadie, Jonas, Lizzie, and Tyler were standing. The rest of the people who had gathered in the den made their way outside.

“Oh no!” Mary Ellen screamed. “Someone is in that buggy, and the horse is out of control!”

Dirt flew from beneath the wild animal. And the group could hear a man yelling, “Whoa! I said whoa!”

“That ain’t just any horse,” Jonas said. “That’s
Loco
. And the crazy person in the buggy is Kade Saunders.”

“What?” Sadie couldn’t believe it. “How do you know? What is he doing with Loco?” She shook her head. “Surely not.” Sadie grew concerned.
Please, God, don’t let anything happen to Kade.

“I told Jonas when we left Kade’s
haus
that we shouldn’t be lettin’ that boy behind the reins with that crazy horse leading the way,” Lizzie said.

“What? Jonas, how could you?” Sadie started down the driveway toward the road. The large crowd began to follow.

“Pop!” Sarah Jane said. “Why didn’t you stop him? We all know that horse is crazy! And shame on Big Jake for selling it to Kade!”

Sadie’s heart was thumping hard against her chest. They all continued down the driveway and were almost to the road when Kade came barreling by. The buggy wheels were lifting off the ground, and Kade was yelling at the top of his lungs. A memory surfaced in Sadie’s mind—one of Ben lying on the road among the scattered fruit, the buggy toppled. It sent a chill up her arms.

Jonas shook his head. “I warned the boy.”

“You should have stopped him!” Sadie yelled.

Lillian then faced off with her grandpa. “Shame on you, Grandpa!”

“You girls need to quit blaming an old man for a young man’s stupidity.” He shook his head. “It ain’t right.”

No sooner had Kade passed them by than he came barreling back by in the other direction.

Jonas snickered. “I reckon he’s gettin’ control of that animal after all. He got him turned around.”

Lillian gave her grandpa an incredulous look. “But he passed us up again. And at warp speed, I might add!”

“This is
baremlich
! What do we do?” Sadie looked to Sarah Jane for guidance.

Samuel was already in his buggy, and preparing to go after Kade, when they heard the buggy coming back down the road in their direction. Kade was no longer yelling, and he eased the buggy onto the driveway. Everyone cleared out of the way.

Once Kade was able to stop the buggy next to the house, the crowd headed back up the driveway and watched Kade step down.

“Sorry I’m late,” he said after taking a very deep breath. Then he walked toward the house, turning back once to address the group. “That’s quite an animal.” He arched his brows and smiled.

“That is one brave human being,” Jonas said. “Brave indeed.” Sarah Jane poked her father on the arm. “Shame on you, just the same,” she said.

“
Ya,
you should have stopped him, Grandpa!” Lillian brushed past Jonas.

Similar sentiments were spewed in Jonas’s direction by most of the other women, including Sadie.

She heard Jonas whisper innocently to his wife, “Why they blaming me?”

Sadie was just thankful that Kade was all right.

Kade barely gave Sadie the time of day after the three-hour worship service, though, in his defense, she’d been busy in the kitchen. Kade sat with the men for the noon meal, and as customary, the women served them first, so there hadn’t been much of an opportunity to talk to him. By the time Sadie sat down to eat, most of the men, including Kade, had congregated out by the barn to tell jokes. Afterward, the younger men stored the wooden benches back in the barn.

When the afternoon wrapped up around two o’clock and everyone began to say their good-byes, Sadie noticed that Kade seemed in no hurry to leave. Quite the opposite. When the den cleared, he parked himself on the floor with Tyler—in the same spot that they’d sat together so many nights during the blizzard. It was unsettling, and Sadie wasn’t sure what she would say or do if he stayed. He’d been absent from her home for so long, but never from her heart.

“’Twas a
gut
day,” Jonas said to Sadie on his way out the door. Everyone had left except for Jonas, Lizzie, Sarah Jane, Lillian, and Lillian’s family. But as the others made their way toward the door, Jonas turned and took a few steps back into the den. “Need a ride there, little fella?” He looked at Kade and said, “I don’t reckon you need to be carryin’ the boy in that runaway ride you got.” He chuckled.