A Widow's Hope (16 page)

Hannah nodded her head and then headed up the steps, carrying her broom, bucket, and mop. “Study hard,” she called.

“Matthew, Henry, help me move this out of the way until I decide where to store it,” Simon said. “Then carry the remaining small tools down and store them under the stairs. Work with your aunt as long as she needs you and then see if your
mamm
needs anything done.”
Simon was eager to get to his fields, but he’d noticed Julia’s fingers were worse than ever.

He would help Hannah set up the loom after lunch, but he wouldn’t disrupt his entire schedule for any more foolishness. The loom would keep Hannah busy in women’s work, which would be good. But Emma seemed far more interested in what her Aunt Hannah was doing than in learning from Julia. Again he thought moving the flock to Seth’s might be a good idea—Hannah would have time for her weaving, and Emma could help in the kitchen where she belonged.

“Pa? What are we waitin’ for?” Matthew asked. He and Henry stood at their end of the plow, watching him curiously.

“Doin’ some thinking, sons. Just figuring a few things out.”

With Julia’s sister living with them, he found himself doing that on a regular basis.

Hannah awoke Thursday morning to a hot, stuffy bedroom. She threw the two small windows wide and savored the cool breeze on her face.

Sunrise. A pinkish sun was just breaking the eastern hills, indicating rain later in the day. Hannah didn’t care. That’s why God had made umbrellas. Nothing could dampen her high spirits that morning. She was about to spend most of the day with Seth Miller.

His invitation had sounded like a pleasant diversion from daily chores, besides a chance to compare her new Plain community to the one back home. But during the past few days, she’d grown giddy with excitement over the prospect of seeing him again. She hoped her exuberance wasn’t written across her forehead. She didn’t want to behave foolishly with two young girls in the household. Amish ways didn’t permit a woman to act interested in a man. She needed to keep her feelings hidden until his were fully known. But telling
herself not to feel excited would be like telling a hen not to scratch in the dirt.

Hannah filled her lungs with the clean air, lightly scented from the magnolia blossoms near her window. Magnolia trees weren’t commonplace in northern Ohio, and often a late frost ruined their early pink flowers. But not this year. Pink petals covered the ground after a full week of glorious blooms.

She hurried through her sponge bath and slipped into her favorite dress, one made by her mother as a parting gift before she moved. The deep shade of green would complement her eyes and tone down her sunburned nose and a new crop of freckles across her cheeks. “Why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.” Her grandmother’s favorite Scripture came to mind, which the old woman had recited whenever a girl exhibited a bit of vanity. Hannah smiled at the sweet memory of her grandmother, wishing she could still sit at her feet, smell her lilac fragrance, and receive the wisdom and serenity that comes only with age.

When they had heard of her trip to Kidron, Matthew and Henry volunteered to do her morning chores so she and Seth could get an early start. As she wound her hair into a bun, she spotted them driving the hay wagon into the pasture. Buckets of water to fill the tubs sloshed in the back. Emma had offered to count lambs before school while Leah volunteered to help her
mamm
with breakfast.
What good
kinner
they are.
Hannah whispered a prayer of gratitude for her nieces and nephews, and a second thanks that none of them asked to go to town. But it was a school day, and yesterday she’d seen firsthand what Simon thought about children skipping their lessons.

Julia was busy stirring a pot of oatmeal when Hannah reached the kitchen. The snaps on her sleeves were still undone. “Let me help you with your cuffs,” Hannah said. “Are your hands very stiff today?”

“No more than usual,” Julia replied, but deep shadows under her
eyes told a different story. “Just roll back my sleeves to keep them out of my way.”

Hannah did as she was told and then went to the cupboard for plates and cups. “What can I help you with on this lovely morning?”

“Oh, my, take the biscuits from the oven before they burn! I almost forgot them. Then just set out the jam and preserves. I won’t have you soiling your best dress before your trip to Kidron.”

The comment on the dress made Hannah feel a little silly. She felt her cheeks flush as she pulled the pan from the oven. “Just in time. They’re perfect, and this isn’t my Sunday best. I’m only going to a livestock auction to help buy some sheep.”

“With Seth Miller,” Julia added, pushing the oatmeal off the burner with her mitt.

“With Seth and Phoebe Miller,” Hannah said, carrying three jars of preserves to the table. She hoped the butterflies in her stomach would settle down.

“With Seth alone,” Julia corrected. “Phoebe is upstairs in Leah’s bed. She came down with a cold after spending the day with the Lehman brood. She’ll stay here with me so I can keep an eye on her.”

“Seth’s here already?” Hannah’s voice sounded like a tree frog’s.

“
Jah,
sleeping till noon never was a Miller trait.” Julia’s brown eyes twinkled with mischief. “He’s helping Simon with chores since Simon’s back is acting up. Then they’ll come in for breakfast. Afterward, you two can be off to Kidron. Be sure to try some of Jasper’s homemade ice cream while you’re there. And bring me home some licorice hard candy.”

Hannah stood motionless by the table, her fist of silverware held aloft like a bouquet.
Simon’s back is acting up?
Seth must do his brother’s chores because Simon strained his back clearing out a workshop for her. Maybe instead of fretting over the color of her dress, she should concentrate more on not being so bothersome.

Julia plucked the knives and forks from her hand. “Whatever’s
got you stymied—don’t worry. You must know your way around a livestock auction. Kidron’s will be no different than those back home.” She gave the pot a final stir. “Please call the girls, Hannah. The oatmeal is ready.”

Hannah hollered up the stairs and finished setting the table. She really didn’t know everything about livestock. Adam had always been with her during purchases. Now Seth would be looking to her for sound advice. What if she couldn’t remember a single thing she had learned about traits and characteristics?

At that moment the kitchen door swung open, and Matthew and Henry stomped in, followed by an energetic-looking Seth and a slightly stooped Simon.

“Cinnamon oatmeal with buttermilk biscuits?” Seth asked, sniffing the air like a bloodhound. “My goodness, Julia, you read my mind. That’s what I was hoping for.” Seth squeezed his sister-in-law’s shoulder affectionately.

“You say that no matter what I make. One day I’ll fix you creek mud pies with pond water to drink and see if you gush then.” Julia lowered herself slowly into the chair, but only Hannah noticed her wince with pain.

“Good morning to you, Mrs. Brown,” Seth said in her direction. He touched the brim of his hat before setting it on a peg. His manner was reserved and formal. “I hope you’re ready for a long day.”

“
Guder mariye. Jah,
I slept soundly last night,” Hannah replied.

The girls flew into the kitchen and took their seats. After prayers, everyone passed jars of jam and ate their fill of the meal. No one dawdled on the sunny day. Simon kept watching his wife; Seth kept glancing at Hannah; and Hannah didn’t know where to look. When she noticed the inviting twinkle in Seth’s eye, she was too afraid to look anywhere but at her oatmeal for fear her feelings would be revealed.

As soon as breakfast was over, everyone hurried in different directions—everyone but Hannah and Seth. Even Julia excused herself
and abandoned the kitchen. Hannah cleared the table and filled a sink with water. She wanted to start on the dishes but wasn’t sure how early the auction started. Farmers were an early lot.

“Shall we get going, Hannah?” he asked.

The question ended her dilemma. Putting the dishes into the sink to soak, she decided she would have to make it up to Julia tonight. “All right, but let me get my shawl in case the evening turns cool.”

Seth downed the last of his coffee. “Have you packed something for our lunch?”

Hannah felt her stomach twist into a knot. Any other Amish woman would have risen early enough to pack a proper hamper.
I am no good at this courting business,
she thought, but she answered with a weak smile, “No chance this morning. Can we buy something there?”

“Sure. I’m itchin’ to try one of those sausage sandwiches with all the grilled peppers and onions.” Seth rubbed the palms of his hands together as though in anticipation. “Why don’t you fill a jug with water while I hitch up the horse? I’ll meet you outside.” He set his cup in the sink, grabbed his hat, and was gone before she could ask any more questions.

She filled the jug, packed some small carrots and apples into a totebag, and ran for her purse and shawl.
When did I become so addlebrained?
By the time she reached the hitching post, Seth had brought the buggy around the corner of the house.

“You look rather nice today, Hannah,” he said, reaching for her hand as she stepped into the open carriage.

She nodded politely but didn’t reply.
What is proper behavior between us?
The
Ordnung
didn’t have such clear rules for widows and widowers as for young people courting in the blush of youth. She didn’t want to appear bold or pushy. It would be more prudent to appear unfriendly than reckless.

Seth gave her little opportunity to appear one way or the other. He filled their drive from Winesburg to Kidron with interesting tales
of Phoebe’s antics with her new lamb, Joe. Hannah had insisted they take home both the lamb and ewe once she saw how attached Phoebe had become. Joe was growing quickly and was now nibbling grass, as well as nursing from his mother. Hannah enjoyed hearing Seth talk about his daughter while they passed the tidy farms along the way. She yearned to ask if the child had said anything else besides “Joe” but didn’t dare.

“What news do you hear from home? Are the Lancaster County farmers ready to cut their first crop of hay? Is their corn already up to their knees?”

Hannah turned on the seat to catch the playful gleam in his eye. “What do you mean, Seth Miller?” Then she remembered their discussion during the last outing.

“Seeing how Pennsylvanians are so ahead of us Ohio boys.” He shook the reins over the mare’s back to pick up the pace.

“I got a letter from my brother the other day, but he didn’t mention any
June
harvest this year,” she said wryly. “Instead he was interested in how to properly court Miss Catherine Hostetler and was seeking my advice.”

Seth appeared to be biting the inside of his cheek. “You are an expert on animal husbandry
and
rules of courtship, Mrs. Brown? I knew you’d studied many a textbook on sheep, but how did you gain knowledge on matters of the heart?”

“I never claimed to be an expert on either, Mr. Miller, but a woman does hear things at quilting or after church about how young men find opportunities to speak to young women.” She fixed her focus on the green pasturelands and woodlots that looked much improved from the landscape on the way to Mount Eaton.

“How should a young man place himself in good standing with a gal?”

“It’s simple. I told Thomas to find common ground between them, something that would give him a chance to see her again in the future.”

Seth guided the horse onto the shoulder to give a car trying to pass a wider lane. “Sounds like logical advice, but did you come up with anything specific?”

“Since Miss Hostetler was canning apples, I told him to clean out his cellar of leftover apples and ask her to make something out of them. He is being both generous and seeking help at the same time. Plus he’ll get to see her when he picks up the finished jars.” Hannah crossed her arms over her cape, hoping she didn’t sound too smug.

Seth lifted a brow. “You know, that just might work for Thomas. It’s not too different from us today on our way to Kidron.”

Hannah felt her heart rate quicken. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, not sure if she wanted to hear his answer.

“We’ve got plenty of common ground, considering my interest in ornery critters with heavy wool coats. And if nobody’s selling sheep today in Kidron, I’ll have to ask you to ride to Mount Hope with me. They’ve got an even bigger auction on Wednesdays for horses, chickens—just about everything under the sun. They’re bound to have sheep.” He swept his hat off to run a hand through his hair. The sun reflecting in his eyes made them sparkle.

Hannah exhaled her breath in a rush. “I sure hope you don’t think I planned this as some…some…” The right words wouldn’t come.

“As what, Mrs. Brown? As some courting move on your part?” He settled his hat so low on his forehead she couldn’t read his eyes.