The HOPE of SPRING (4 page)

Darby, Pennsylvania

“Would you please pass the syrup?” Susan’s grandfather asked after she’d handed him
the platter of fresh buttermilk pancakes Grandma had made for breakfast.

Susan smiled, and after she’d passed him the maple syrup, she bit into one of the
pancakes on her plate and wiped the sticky, warm syrup from her lips. “Yum! Grandma,
this is delicious. You’re such a good cook.”

Grandma laughed, her cheeks turning pink. “You say that at nearly every one of our
meals.”

“That’s because it’s true,” Anne agreed from her place across the table. “I doubt
that I’ll ever be able to fix a meal as tasty as any of yours.”

Grandpa leaned over and kissed Grandma’s cheek. “Now you know why I’ve stayed married
to her all these years.”

Grandma playfully swatted his arm. “Oh, Henry, you’re such a big tease.”

Susan smiled. She loved watching the camaraderie between her grandparents and felt
blessed to have them both in her life. Many people didn’t have a close relationship
with their grandparents, and some didn’t know them at all. Susan couldn’t imagine
that, and it made her all the more thankful for what she and Anne had.

“Not to change the subject or anything,” Anne said, “but Susan, I was wondering if
you’re still interested in reading that Amish novel I told you about.”

Susan nodded. “Yes, I sure am.”

“Great. I’ll get it from my room as soon as we’re done with breakfast.”

“The Amish are quite an unusual group of people,” Grandpa said. “I admire their commitment
to keeping true to their heritage.”

“Yes,” Grandma agreed. “Unfortunately, for many people, there isn’t much commitment
to anything in this day and age, and if there is, it seems to be short-lived.”

“Speaking of the Amish,” Anne said, “I still want to visit Lancaster soon, to look
around some of the shops where they sell Amish-made products.”

“Are you looking for anything in particular?” Grandma asked, finishing the last bite
of her pancake as she took her plate to the sink.

Anne shook her head. “I think I’ll know it when I see it, though.” She looked over
at Susan and grinned. “As soon as we both know our work schedules for April, let’s
plan a day when we can go to Lancaster like we talked about doing before.”

“I suppose we could,” Susan agreed. “It would be something different to do, at least.”

Grandma nodded, testing the water in her sink before starting the dishes. “As hard
as you two work, you deserve to do something fun on your day off.”

“Maybe you and Grandpa would like to go, too,” Anne suggested.

Grandma looked at Grandpa. “What do you think about that, Henry?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, Norma. Guess we’ll just have to wait and
see how it goes.”

Bird-in-Hand

“Where are you headed, Son?” Jonah’s mother asked when he slipped into his jacket
and put his straw hat on his head.

“Since today’s my day off, I plan to run a few errands, and I thought it’d be good
to take my new gaul out for a run,” he answered, stopping near the back door. “In
case you’re wondering, I should be home in plenty of time to help with the chores
before supper.”

Dad looked up from reading the newspaper and frowned. “I still can’t figure out why
you bought that gelding. The horse is too spirited, if you ask me.”

Jonah bobbed his head. “You’re right about that. Meredith warned me about his friskiness
before I bought him. But I think with some work and a little time, Socks will settle
down and be a good horse for me.”

“I’ve seen the way he acts around our
hund
,” Mom said, “and I don’t like it one little bit. Why, the other day when Socks was
waiting at the hitching rail, he nearly kicked poor Herbie in the head.”

“That’s probably because the dog was pestering him,” Jonah said.

Mom shook her head vigorously. “Herbie’s an easygoing animal, and it’s not like him
to bother any of our livestock. I think that new horse is just plain mean.” Her eyebrows
furrowed. “I’ll bet the March winds we’ve been having will spook that critter of yours,
too.”

Jonah didn’t argue. He figured there was no point. Once Mom made up her mind about
something, it practically took a miracle to change it. Well, maybe after Socks became
adjusted to his new surroundings, he’d prove to Mom that she was wrong.

“Speaking of Herbie, I’ve been wondering where he came from,” Jonah said, wanting
to change the subject.

“Guess you could say that Herbie found us,” Dad replied. “A few weeks before you moved
here, the dog showed up on our doorstep, and he’s been with us ever since.” He went
on to explain how he’d posted
Dog Found
signs all over the community, on telephone poles, and in local grocery stores, as
well as passing the word to folks when they came into his buggy shop. Since no one
knew about any lost dog or who the border collie belonged to, as time went by, Herbie
became one of the family.

“Ah, I see. And how’d you come up with his name?” Jonah inquired.

“That’s another thing that just seemed to happen,” Mom said. “When Herbie first showed
up, we started saying ‘here boy’ whenever we took food out to him or when we didn’t
know where he was. Then when it looked like the dog was here to stay, I decided to
give him a name.”

“We never kept him tied or penned up, thinking that one day he might try to find his
way home,” Dad put in, “but he seemed to like it here, and since he always responded
to ‘here boy,’ your
mamm
came up with the name ‘Herbie,’ since it sort of sounded like ‘here boy.’” He chuckled.
“Herbie seemed to like it, too, so that’s how the name stuck.”

“When we’re with him, Herbie watches, like he’s waiting for us to tell him to do something.”
Mom glanced out the kitchen window, where Herbie lay in front of the buggy shop. “Just
look at him out there. I’ll bet he’s waiting for someone to show up.”

“That’s right,” Dad agreed. “And the dog always lets us know when someone’s coming
by giving a few loud barks.” He grinned. “Herbie’s friendly with most people, though.
Whenever I’m in the shop and a customer comes in, Herbie greets them with a wag of
his tail, and does he ever like the attention when someone stops to pet him.”

“It sounds like Herbie’s found himself a good home,” Jonah said.

“Jah, and we’re glad he’s here with us. Oh, by the way, Jonah, where all are you going
today?” Mom asked as Jonah’s hand touched the doorknob.

“For one thing, I’ll be stopping by the Shoe and Boot store,” Jonah replied. He wished
he didn’t have to answer to Mom; it made him feel like a schoolboy.

“That shouldn’t take all day,” she said. “Are there some other places you’ll be stopping,
as well?”

“Stop badgering the boy, Sarah,” Dad said, flapping the end of his newspaper at Mom.
“It shouldn’t matter where he’s going.”

Mom’s lips compressed. “I wasn’t badgering him, Raymond. Just was curious to know
why he said he’d be home in time for the evening chores.” Mom glanced at the clock
on the far wall, and then at Jonah. “It’s not even noon yet, and if you’re just going
to the Shoe and Boot store, I wouldn’t think you’d be gone more than a few hours at
the most.”

Jonah tapped his foot impatiently. This inquisition was getting worse. “If you must
know, I’m planning to stop by the Kings’ place to see how Meredith is doing.”

Deep wrinkles formed across Mom’s forehead. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Jonah asked. He had an inkling of what she was going to say
next but hoped she wouldn’t.

“Well, some folks might get the wrong idea.”

“The wrong idea about what?” Dad questioned.

“Meredith’s husband hasn’t even been gone two months yet, and some might think our
son has taken an interest in her.” Mom tapped her fingers along the edge of the table.
“That’s not the case, is it, Jonah?”

“ ’Course not,” Jonah was quick to say. “Meredith is just a good friend, and I’m doing
what the Bible says in Galatians 6:2: ‘Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil
the law of Christ.’”

“I know what the Bible says.” Mom flapped her hand. “But Meredith is the friend you
had an interest in after you came back from Sarasota with stars in your eyes.”

“Well, you two enjoy your day,” Jonah said, giving no reply to Mom’s last comment.
“Looks like we might get some rain,” he called over his shoulder as he headed out
the door, needing to sidestep this conversation. He wasn’t about to say anything more,
but deep down, he hoped that someday, after Meredith had recovered from her husband’s
death, she might take an interest in him.

S
tepping onto the porch, Jonah realized it was raining. That was pretty typical for
this time of the year, and it was a lot better than snow, but he really preferred
sunshine to rain. He looked forward to nicer weather so he could get out Mom and Dad’s
grill and cook some steaks, burgers, or chicken. He was sure Mom would appreciate
not having to cook once he started grilling, too.

By the time Jonah got his buggy out of the barn and Socks hitched to it, he was pretty
wet. He grabbed the towel he kept on the floor of the backseat for such occasions,
lifted his straw hat, and wiped his face and head. Hopefully the rain would let up
soon, or he’d probably be drenched by the time he finished running all his errands.

Socks bulked a bit when Jonah tried to back him away from the hitching rail, but once
he got the horse turned and headed down the driveway, things went okay. Socks liked
to trot at a fairly good pace, so Jonah had to keep a firm grip on the reins. If he
gave the horse too much slack, he’d take off like a shot. And on a busy stretch of
road such as this, that would not be a good thing.

Jonah’s first stop was at the Shoe and Boot store, where Seth Yoder helped him find
a good pair of work boots. As he left the store, a strong wind nearly blew his hat
off. At least it had stopped raining. He glanced at the sky, still heavy with gray
clouds. Now if only the wind would quit sending chills down the back of his neck.

Socks pawed at the ground, while chewing on the hitching rail. Talk about an impatient
animal! “You can relax now, Socks,” Jonah said soothingly as he released the horse’s
lines from the rail. “We’ll soon be on our way again.”

As they traveled down the road toward the Kings’ place, Socks started tossing his
head from side to side, especially when a gust of wind blew clusters of old wet leaves
across the road in front of them. A couple of times the horse acted like he was going
to rear up, but Jonah quickly brought him under control. As they neared the furniture
store where Meredith’s husband used to work, Socks bolted right into the parking lot,
nearly running into the fence along the side of the road. Was this overly zealous
horse looking for his master? Jonah wondered. Did Socks miss his previous owner? Could
that be why he was acting up? Of course, it didn’t help that the roads were still
wet, but Jonah had a feeling there was more to it than that. Socks might be a one-man
horse; however Jonah had always had a way with horses, and he was determined to win
this one over.

“Easy now,” he said, turning the horse back onto the road. “Your master’s not here
anymore. I’m your new owner.”

A car whizzed by, and Socks whinnied. “It’s okay, boy,” Jonah called. “There’s nothing
to worry about.”

As soon as Jonah spoke, he realized his words weren’t exactly true. Horse and buggies
were vulnerable on the roads. As a buggy maker, he knew all too well how devastating
an accident could be to a buggy, its passengers, and even the horse if it was hit
by a car, or worse a big truck or bus. And there were lots of tour buses in Lancaster
County.

Jonah grimaced, remembering a time when a speeding pickup truck had crested a hill
near the small town of Charm, Ohio, and smashed into the back of a buggy. Another
time, the driver of a car in Sugarcreek swerved to avoid hitting a buggy and ended
up ramming into another buggy going in the opposite direction.

Other vehicles weren’t the only thing that caused buggy accidents, though. Horses
sometimes spooked and ran out of control because of water splashing from passing vehicles,
loud noises, or uneven roadways. Jonah had seen many buggies in such bad condition
that they were beyond repair. That meant the owner had the expense of buying a new
one, which could cost anywhere from two thousand to five thousand dollars.

All of Jonah’s knowledge about buggy accidents made him work even harder to keep Socks
under control. Finally, the Kings’ house came into view, and Jonah was glad when the
horse turned easily up the driveway. No doubt Socks had brought Meredith and Luke
here a good many times, so he probably felt comfortable in his surroundings.

After Jonah had Socks secured at the hitching rail, he sprinted for the house. He
was about to knock on the door, when it swung open, and a freckle-faced boy, who looked
to be around ten or eleven years old, stepped onto the porch. “Can I help ya?” the
little fellow asked.