Second Chances (21 page)

“Even if those new or different things are not pleasing to others?”

There was a peculiar look in his eyes, almost a gleam of curiosity. Anna wondered
what he found so curious about
her statement and his question in response. “I imagine
it would depend, then,” she said slowly, thinking carefully about her words. “We
have a duty to please certain people, even at the risk of making ourselves unhappy,
I suppose. Take the issue of cell phones. I've heard tell that some communities are
having problems with their youth not wanting to give up their cell phones when they
become baptized members of the church.”

“A frivolous trifle,” he commented.

“I agree.” She paused at the steps that led to the wide porch at the Eshes' house.
“And, as such, I would have no problem supporting the
Ordnung
for any
g
'
may
which
won't allow the cell phones.”

“When would you stand your ground, Anna?”

The way he spoke, her name rolling off of his tongue as if eight years of separation
had never happened, brought her back to a time long gone. For a moment, she was a
teenager again, sitting beside him in the buggy, talking as they rode home from a
singing. Immediately, she understood what his question truly meant: he referenced
her inability to stand up against her father and Lydia's opposition to their marriage.

She lowered her eyes, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. “A young woman might find
it uncomfortable, even unseemly, to stand for anything if others disagree.” She bit
her lower lip and forced herself to speak the following words.

“However, as a mature woman I see the folly in that and, as such, know there are
certain things I would adamantly support, even if I were to offend those who so often
guide me and offer advice.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him nod, as if pleased with her response. But
he had no time to comment,
for the sound of Leah's voice announced her approach and
interrupted their conversation. Anna took advantage of the distraction to mount the
steps and enter through the screen door.

“There you are!” Leah laughed as she bounded down the stairs and stood next to Freman.
“I've checked on Mary and she seems quite content to stay in bed all day. She asked
me to reheat the broth for her.”

Anna reached for the empty mug that Leah held. “
Nee
, I'll take care of it.” Swiftly
she retreated to the kitchen where the pot of broth still rested on the stove. In
the distance came the sound of an approaching horse and buggy. The familiar clip-clop
of its hooves on the pavement carried strongly in the stillness of the air. People
were returning home after the fellowship meal that had followed worship.

Moments later, Anna joined Leah and Freman at the table, where they were discussing
that morning's worship service. They paused a moment in their discussion to allow
Anna to pray silently over her noon meal. On the plate before her Leah had put two
slices of bread, small salted pretzels, a few slices of cheese and bologna, coleslaw,
and two pickles. It was enough to sustain her until the supper meal. Sunday fare
was always lighter than other days, usually prepared in advance so that no one would
need to cook. Leftovers might be reheated for the evening meal, but on that day women
did not generally cook for the family.

“What a gorgeous day!” Leah exclaimed, her eyes shining and bright. “Anna, we walked
a spell after worship and you won't believe what I did!” Her laughter filled the
room. “I climbed on a felled tree by the road and . . . ”
She paused and glanced
at Freman. He lifted an eyebrow, perfectly arched, with an amused expression on his
face.

“And what, Leah?” Anna asked, conflicting emotions flooding through her. Leah's
happiness and joy was delightful to see, yet Anna felt pain at suspecting the cause
of it.

Covering her mouth with her hands, Leah giggled, a noise that seemed far too young
for her age. “I jumped!”

Freman's expression changed, a more serious look upon his face. “Indeed you did.
And not once but twice.” He glanced at Anna and shook his head. “I warned her not
to do it.”

“Oh, Freman!” Leah gushed. “It was so liberating! I'm not certain when I last did
such a thing.”

He took a deep breath and returned his attention to Leah. “I should not have caught
you the first time! It encouraged you, I fear, to do it again.”

Anna's heart beat rapidly as she realized what Freman implied. Had Leah openly flirted
with him by jumping into his arms? Such behavior, Anna thought, was uncomely, even
for Leah, who was the more energetic and lively of the two sisters.

“Perhaps,” Anna started, hoping to change the direction of the conversation, “you
might tell me about the service.”

As she picked at the food on her plate, she listened to Leah and Freman talk, discussing
the sermon and how the deacon had informed the congregation that they were not doing
enough to help others. He had related stories from the Bible, often quoting Scripture
from memory to support his sermon.

“I found it rather powerful,” Leah said. “It's quite different than the sermons
we hear in Sugarcreek, don't you think?”

“And from Indiana, as well,” he agreed. “The sermons here seem more conservative
than elsewhere . . . with the exception of the Schwartzentrubers and Nebraska Amish,
of course.”

Anna looked up, curious at the statement he had just made. “But they, themselves,
are not so conservative,” she pointed out. “Seems that they rely heavily on the
Englischer
tourists.”

“How so, Anna?”

Freman's pointed question shifted the discussion in her direction. She hadn't meant
to interrupt them, but the conversation had caught her attention. “
Vell
,” Anna said
as she took a breath to collect her thoughts. “When I helped with the applesauce
canning, those jars would normally be for the family, ain't so? But Linda stated
that half of them would be sold at a store in town that the
Englische
visit.”

“That is true.”

“And when we drove through town to the auction the other day,” she continued, “the
entire town seemed to cater to the tourists. Why, the exposure to worldliness would
tempt more than a few youth, I imagine.” She shook her head. “I dare say that the
quaintness of Charm and Sugarcreek appeals far more to me.”

He seemed to consider her words for a moment, but did not comment further. He didn't
have to for the sound of voices approaching the house interrupted the small group.
Anna stood up to clear her plate and wipe the table so that everything was tidy upon
their arrival.

For the rest of the afternoon and after the light evening meal, the four women played
Scrabble while the men discussed the price of tobacco. At some point Mary descended
the stairs, dressed in a plain navy blue dress and with her hair pinned back under
her
kapp
. As was to be expected, everyone fussed over her, Rebecca quick to abandon
the game in order to make Mary a cup of peppermint tea.

“
Danke
, Rebecca,” Mary said as she accepted the teacup. “I am so sorry to have missed
the service. But I
am
feeling better. So much activity yesterday must have just worn
me out.”

“That's understandable,” Rebecca sympathized. “You just relax and rest. The best
cure for most ailments.”

It did not, however, surprise Anna that Mary sat at the table, watching the game
of Scrabble. She peered at Hannah's tiles and clicked her tongue when she laid down
a word. “You could have doubled your points,” she said, pointing at two letters in
Hannah's tray.

“
Mayhaps
you might wish to play in the next round?”

Anna detected a touch of sarcasm from Hannah, but Mary viewed the question as a proper
invitation. “I would indeed!”

Leah volunteered to sit out, and when the time came for round two, she excused herself
to sit with the men. Again. She sat in the rocking chair, gently pushing it with
her bare toes. In the chair next to her sat Freman, who leaned his elbows against
his knees as he talked with Jonas, Cris, and Benjamin. While Leah contributed little
to the conversation, she seemed to enjoy sitting there, listening to the men talk.
Anna suspected it had more to
do with being near Freman than a genuine interest in
the actual discussion.

By the time that they finished their third round of Scrabble, the sun having long
ago set behind the tree line on the horizon, Jonas stood up and stretched, announcing
that he would be retiring for the night. “Early to bed, early to rise . . . ” he
teased. Unlike people, cows demanded a schedule that did not allow variation. While
his herd was small, he still needed to rise at 4:30 a.m. to attend to the first of
the day's two milkings.

The rest of the group quickly followed suit, the only one alarmed at the sudden end
to the evening being Mary. But, with tomorrow being their last day in Lancaster (and
an early morning departure schedule for the morning after that), a good night's sleep
was in the best interest of everyone. Anna knew that she, in particular, was looking
forward to returning home, even if the vision of home residing in her head did not
match the memory of the home in her heart.

Chapter Twelve

O
N
M
ONDAY, GOOD
weather together with the realization that their short venture to
Pennsylvania was rapidly drawing to a close, sent the group outdoors to spend an
afternoon relaxing by the large pond on the Eshes' property. It was tucked away in
the backfields behind the farmhouse, visible only at the entrance of the driveway,
for a small gathering of trees blocked it from view when proceeding farther up.

On the far side of the pond, a stream trickled into it, the water gently cascading
over several large rocks as it fed the larger body of water.

Cris took advantage of the peace and quiet to fish, having borrowed a pole from Jonas.
While he caught only a few stream trout, his serene composure displayed how content
he was on this glorious Monday afternoon. The other two men had stayed behind, Freman
offering to assist Benjamin with fixing a rotting beam in the ceiling of the hayloft.

Leah and Hannah ran through the meadow, collecting pretty leaves that had already
fallen from nearby trees. Since the farmer didn't use this particular field for growing
crops, there were several downed trees tucked
into the high grass. Both Leah and
Hannah reminded Anna of small children as they climbed atop the fallen trees, their
arms outstretched as they walked along the top of the logs. Once, Hannah stumbled,
and grabbing onto Leah's arm, they both tumbled to the ground.

Swatting at an ant that crawled across the blanket, Mary sighed her disapproval.
“It's outrageous!”

“What is?” The gentle breeze that rustled the leaves of the trees lulled Anna into
a peaceful mood. She couldn't imagine anything about the afternoon that even Mary
could find to her dissatisfaction.

“Sitting here.” She gestured at the tall grasses surrounding where they sat. The
gentle chirp of crickets filled the air, and flies buzzed past, enjoying the last
of the good weather. Soon enough it would turn, and when the vegetation died for
the season, they too would be gone.

“It's lovely here, Mary. Considering the long drive ahead of us and how poorly you
felt yesterday, you should try to enjoy the warmth of the sun and the fresh air.”

“How can I? There are bugs everywhere!” She swatted at a fly to make her point.

Irritated, Mary looked in the direction of her husband and his sisters. Cris stood
at the end of a wooden dock, one that probably had been used frequently when the
Esh children were younger, his face toward the sun as he held the fishing pole. The
water of the pond reflected the sky, soft ripples occasionally breaking the placid
surface when a frog jumped from one place to another. Just beyond him, Leah and Hannah
sat atop a tree, their arms bared as they basked in the sun.