The peacemaker, p.3
The Peacemaker, page 3
Ephraim gave a brief shrug, after which he bid her farewell and headed back to the house.
Ada closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep, cleansing breath of the late-night air, which still carried the scent of rain from earlier in the day. I hope he didn’t think I was being too pushy. Maybe I shouldn’t have extended the invitation.
CHAPTER 3
Belleville
F OR THE LAST TWENTY MINUTES, Ada had been sweeping dead leaves from the greenhouse floor, and she’d grown weary of it. It seemed like there was more debris than usual today, but perhaps that was because she felt so exhausted. Guess that’s what I get for staying up too late last night.
Her lips pressed together in a slight grimace. She’d had a good time visiting the Peights last night and had enjoyed learning more about Ephraim’s family. But it had been difficult to see the somber expression on Ephraim’s face and the hurt in his tone of voice when he’d spoken about Rosa. He missed Rosa and was no doubt still in love with her.
Ada leaned over, swept the leaves into an oversized dustpan, and dropped them into the cardboard box near her feet. She’d lain awake for hours last night, mulling things over. Her friend’s disappearance had affected so many people—Rosa’s family, most of all. Norman had taken it personally, blaming himself for not protecting his sister, although Ada wasn’t sure what he could have done to prevent whatever had happened to her. Rosa’s mother, Elsie, had grieved so hard for her missing daughter that it affected her health, and she’d ended up with Graves’ disease. Ada was sure that Rosa’s two sisters had also been shaken by their sister’s disappearance, although she hadn’t talked much about it to any of them. She’d heard through the Amish grapevine that Rosa’s father had been distraught as well, stating that unless Rosa returned with an apology and a good excuse for leaving, she would not be welcome in his home.
In an unfocused gaze, Ada fixed her eyes on a butterfly perched atop one of the honeysuckle bushes. She could not comprehend what it would be like to have her dad turn his back on her the way her friend’s father had threatened to do. To be told that she wasn’t welcome in Mama and Papa’s home would be devastating.
But I’m sure they would never do that. Ada mouthed the words. Maybe Rosa’s father was just blowing off steam and didn’t mean what he said.
“Are you talking to yourself?”
Ada jerked when someone bumped her arm. When she turned around, she was surprised to discover her sister, Betty, staring at her with raised reddish-blond eyebrows.
“Jah, guess I was.” If it had been anyone else, Ada might have been looking for someplace to hide, but not with her older sister. Betty was familiar with all of Ada’s silly little quirks and probably didn’t think much of seeing Ada’s lips moving with no sound coming out. But then, she may have if a customer had been standing nearby.
“What brings you to the greenhouse today?” Ada asked, hurriedly changing the subject and glancing down at her sister’s belly. Betty was pregnant, but only a few months along, so she wasn’t showing yet.
“I came by to see if you would like to have supper at our house tomorrow evening. Ammon and I are going to have a few friends over, and we thought it would be nice if you joined us.”
Ada tilted her head, weighing her choices. She appreciated her sister’s invitation and didn’t want to offend Betty, but she’d told their mother this morning during breakfast that she planned to attend the young people’s singing Sunday evening. Mama sounded thrilled by the news, and Ada didn’t want to let her down. Besides, if by some chance Ephraim decided to show up at the event, Ada wanted to be there. Since she had invited him, Ephraim might think it odd that Ada wasn’t in attendance.
“So how about it? Will you be free to come over for supper Sunday?”
Betty’s question penetrated Ada’s thoughts, and she gave a slow shake of her head. “I appreciate the invitation, but I’m planning to attend a young people’s singing that evening.”
“Oh, I see.” Betty’s shoulders slumped a bit. “Are you definite on that? I was really hoping you could make it.”
“Jah. I invited someone to go, so I should be there in case he shows up.”
With a bark of laughter, Betty brought a hand up to her mouth.
“What’s so funny?”
“I’m sorry for laughing. It’s just that I was going to introduce you to my friend Melinda’s brother, Stephen, who is visiting from Gap. But apparently you already have a date.” Betty edged closer to Ada. “Mind telling me who he is?”
Actually, I do mind. Ada didn’t voice that thought. Instead, she shrugged and replied, “It’s Ephraim Peight, and he’s not my date.”
Betty’s auburn eyebrows stretched high on her forehead. “I thought Ephraim moved to Bird-in-Hand to live with his grandmother.”
“He did, but he came home for his mother’s birthday. Ephraim stopped by here yesterday to buy her a birthday present, and before he left, he invited me to stop by his parents’ house for some birthday cake.” Ada clutched the broom handle firmly, waiting for her sister’s response.
“I really hope you won’t become involved with him, Ada.”
“Why would I? We’re just friends, and besides, Ephraim is going back to Bird-in-Hand Monday morning.” Hearing footsteps, Ada shifted her gaze to the right. She eased her grip on the broom as her employer headed toward them. It gave her a good excuse to end the conversation with Betty.
“I’d better quit talking, or the boss will think I’m slacking off.” Ada motioned with her head.
“Okay, I’ll move along.” Betty patted Ada’s shoulder. “If you change your mind about Sunday evening, just come on over. There’ll be plenty of food to go around.”
“Okay. Thanks for stopping by. If I decide to come, I’ll let you know.”
As Betty continued along the aisle, Ada sought out her boss. “I’m just about done sweeping up the leaves. What would you like me to do next?”
“I need you up at the cash register. We’re getting a line of people again.” He took the broom from her with a pleasant smile. “I’ll take care of putting this away for you.”
“Thanks.” Ada hurried off toward the entrance of the greenhouse.
Ada fought the desire to give in to her disappointment as she waited outside for her driver to pick her up after work. She had hoped Ephraim would stop by the greenhouse today to say that he’d decided to attend the singing tomorrow evening and ask for the address. Unfortunately, that had not taken place.
Since he’s obviously not planning to attend, I probably should accept my sister’s supper invitation, Ada thought as she shifted her purse straps from one arm to the other. But if I were to go to Betty and Ammon’s house Sunday evening, she would probably embarrass me by trying to fix me up with her friend’s brother. She puckered her lips. I’d rather not have to deal with that, so I’m going to that singing like I told Mama I would, and that’s final.
When Ada arrived home that afternoon, she went straight to the phone shed to check for messages, with the hope that she might find one from Ephraim. There was nothing from him or anyone else, however.
“He’s obviously not planning to attend.” Ada spoke the words out loud. “It’s probably for the best that I don’t see him again, because it would only make me wish for something I can’t have.”
Another thought occurred to Ada as she left the stuffy building and headed for the house. Maybe there wasn’t a new message on the machine because Mama or Clara checked for messages earlier today.
Stepping onto the porch, Ada paused briefly to observe several hummingbirds vying for the same feeder. The birds darted past with a blend of buzzing and rhythmic chirps as they pursued one another in a frantic frenzy. What silly little birds. Don’t they realize there are several other feeders to choose from in our yard? She watched for a few more minutes, admiring their speed and vibrant plumage, then went into the house.
After hanging up her purse and putting away her lunch bag, Ada found her mother and younger sister in the sewing room. Clara stood on a chair, while Mama pinned up the hem on the girl’s new dress.
Ada stood off to one side, watching, when Mama looked her way. “I’m glad to see that you’re home, Ada. Did you have a good day at work?”
“It was busy, and Betty came by for a while.”
“Oh? Was she there to buy some new plants for her vegetable or flower garden?”
“No, she stopped by to invite me to supper at her house on Sunday evening.” Ada refrained from discussing the motivation for her sister’s invitation. If Mama knew Betty was trying to set her up with a young man, she might suggest that Ada go there instead of to the singing.
“I said I appreciated the invitation but that I had already made plans to attend the singing.” Ada went over to the sewing machine to get a good look at the dark blue material lying there. “Are you making yourself a new frack?” she asked her mother.
“No, it’s another dress for Clara. If I can get it done yet today, she can hopefully wear it to the young people’s gathering Sunday evening.” Mama glanced over her shoulder. “Do you know what dress you’ll be wearing, Ada?”
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but there’s still time to decide.”
“You could wear the rust-colored one that brings out the color of your coffee-colored eyes,” Mama suggested. “Green would also look nice on you.”
“We’ll see. I’ll look at them both when I go upstairs to my room.” Ada shifted from their casual conversation to a pointed question. “Did anyone check for messages in the phone shed today?”
Clara and Mama shook their heads. Ada was glad to hear that, because there had been a few times when Clara had checked messages and erased them before writing them down. Ada figured her seventeen-year-old sister must have had other thoughts on her mind when she’d gone to the phone shed.
Ada hitched a breath as the sensation of her ribs constricting took over. No messages meant Ephraim hadn’t called, which was a sure sign that he didn’t plan to attend the singing.
Ada slouched against the sewing cabinet behind her. “Guess I’ll go wash up and change into another frack before it’s time to help with supper. It was a hot, muggy day and even more humid inside the greenhouse, so my dress is sticking to me like flypaper.”
“You’re right, today has been a warm one, all right,” Mama remarked, easing another pin into Clara’s new dress. “But September’s on the way, and soon our days will begin to cool off.”
“That’s for sure.” Ada’s shoulders slumped as she meandered out of the room and headed up the stairs.
Allensville
Sunday morning, upon entering the men’s side of the rustic barn where church was being held, Ephraim took a seat on one of the backless wooden benches. Being in his hometown and attending services with his family felt good. The thought of going back to Bird-in-Hand tomorrow sent ripples of apprehension up his spine. He disliked living there, where he had no job and hadn’t made any friends. But what other choice did he have? Grandma Peight depended on him, and he couldn’t let her down. On top of providing him with three good meals each day, she insisted on giving Ephraim money for all the chores he did for her around the place. Even though there was plenty to do, he didn’t take pleasure in any of it. He just wanted to be back home and working with Dad in the harness shop. Ephraim missed the smell of leather and neat’s-foot oil, and he yearned to feel the touch of harnesses and bridles between his fingers. He hadn’t even minded the long days spent working in the shop. After all, it had diverted his thoughts from the rumors being told about him concerning Rosa.
Ephraim had considered the possibility of looking for a job at a Lancaster County harness shop, but that would mean letting his grandmother down. What if she needed him during the day or there were some chores that couldn’t wait?
Ephraim missed the Big Valley, with its lush hills covered in tall trees and dense underbrush. He didn’t care for the way tourism had taken over Bird-in-Hand and the surrounding towns in Lancaster County. Although some tourists made their way into Mifflin County, life was still simple and uncomplicated compared to the crowded, often noisy, conditions found in the Lancaster area. There were still some Amish farms, but a lot of commercialism had been going on for some time. Grandma seemed to like it in Bird-in-Hand, but perhaps that was because she and Grandpa had grown accustomed to the constant growth, as well as the scarcity of land for farmers. Ephraim figured that by staying in her home, she felt closer to Grandpa and what their life together had stood for.
So I’ll just have to make the best of it and continue to help out, Ephraim told himself as he opened the Ausbund hymnal in readiness to sing with the others who had come here to worship on this bright sunny day. Guess if it’s meant for me to move back to Allensville, Grandma will sell her place and come with me.
As the choruses of voices rose all around him, another thought popped into Ephraim’s head. Of course, if I came back here to live, people might start whispering behind my back again or question me more about Rosa’s disappearance, the way Norman always did. At least down in Bird-in-Hand, I’m not a suspect in anyone’s eyes. I might be better off staying put and making the best of it. Maybe in time I’ll adjust to living there, and it won’t be so bad. Who knows—I might even find a girlfriend and settle down in Lancaster County for good. Jah, that might be the best thing for me after all.
Belleville
Ada sat idle on a bench next to Clara. Her mind kept straying, making it difficult to concentrate on the sermon. What’s wrong with me today? Why can’t I keep my attention on the message this morning? Everyone around me seems to be focused on what the minister is saying—even my younger sister, whose attention span is usually quite short. Maybe I got up on the wrong side of the bed. She shifted her weight on the bench. Or it could be that I can’t stop thinking about how Ephraim won’t be at the singing this evening.
Ada forced a swallow and fanned her face with the lid from an empty bucket of ice cream, which she noticed several people had been doing since the lids were passed out. It was too humid and sweltering to be cooped up inside the Yoders’ buggy shop with all these people. She hoped it would cool off some before the singing.
Ada was glad Clara would be going to the event with her tonight. At least it would give her someone to talk to in case none of her friends showed up.
I wonder if Salina plans to be there this evening. Ada continued to fan her face. Of course, if she is there, Norman will probably be with her, and he will no doubt occupy most of Salina’s time.
She sighed. I wonder how things would be if Rosa were still here. Would she be going to the singing with me? And what about her and Ephraim? Would they still be a courting couple? Maybe not since they argued so much during the last few weeks before she vanished.
It was true—Ephraim and Rosa had a strange relationship. They both claimed to love each other, but they often quarreled, as they had done the night Rosa went missing. According to Ephraim, Rosa had broken up with him, and then she’d left the young people’s gathering in a huff—never to be seen again. The sheriff had questioned Ephraim as well as some of the other attendees who had been at the event. But Ephraim was the most plausible suspect and had even consented to a lie detector test. He’d passed it, and no charges were filed against him since there was no proof of foul play. Norman didn’t believe in Ephraim’s innocence, however, but Ada couldn’t imagine that Rosa’s boyfriend would have done anything to harm her. She had a strong feeling that Ephraim was genuinely in love with Rosa. Most of the problems between them revolved around the fact that Ephraim wanted to join the church and get married. Whereas Rosa did not. Ephraim had a wild streak during their time of dating, but Rosa was even more rebellious and stubborn than he. She’d confided in Ada many times that Ephraim was insistent, trying to persuade her to become a church member so they could get married and settle down here in the Big Valley. Ada also reasoned that Rosa should have granted Ephraim’s request if she had really loved him.
“Proverbs 20:11 reminds us that ‘Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right.’ So let each of us remember as we depart today that the people we come into contact with this week will know us by our deeds.”
Ada blinked as the minister’s final words pierced her thoughts. No doubt she had missed 98 percent of the man’s sermon, and her sense of guilt set in.
What is wrong with me this morning? Ada reprimanded herself. I should have been paying attention from the beginning of our service instead of letting my mind wander and focus on things that have no spiritual benefit. Forgive me, Lord, she prayed in silence. I will try to do better and listen from now on.
CHAPTER 4
A DA LEFT HER SISTER OUTSIDE playing volleyball and entered the home where the singing would be held. Standing in the entryway, she surveyed the spacious room this family used for church and other gatherings, such as the one taking place here tonight. Several young people milled around, but there was no sign of Ephraim. Since he hadn’t called for the address, did I really expect him to show up? Ada asked herself. She swatted at a fly buzzing overhead and hoped that the action might take her mind off Ephraim.
Ada’s gaze was drawn to the bottles of water sitting out on a table for those who planned to play volleyball before eating the light meal that would be served. Following that, the singing would commence.
She glanced at a smaller table where copies of Heartland Hymns were piled high, ready to be handed out after the meal. The books contained a collection of favorite hymns written in English that had been taken from a variety of other songbooks. Some German songs had also been included. “Glory to His Name” was one of Ada’s favorite hymns, and she hoped it would be chosen to sing tonight. Singing praises to God always uplifted her spirit. Ada’s spine would tingle with delight whenever she sang along with the others and heard the blend of their voices ascend. Each time she had the opportunity to praise the Lord through song, Ada wondered if God looked down from heaven and smiled.
