Courting Ruth (8 page)

Eli jumped out and helped Miriam down. As Ruth scooted over to climb down from the buggy, Eli looked up at her. “If you come inside, I’ll show you the cabinets we’re making for the school.”

Ruth bit down on her lower lip, glanced at Miriam, then back at Eli again. “I should go help Miriam…in case they have any questions at the dentist’s office.”

“It’s okay. You go,” Miriam called, turning to go. “I’ll be fine.”

“She’ll be fine,” Eli repeated. His expression was bold, almost amused as he met Ruth’s gaze.

“All right,” Ruth said hesitantly. “I’d like to see them.”

He looped the leathers over the hitching rack and returned to offer his hand as she climbed down. Tingles ran up her arm as his strong fingers closed around hers. Confused, and a little excited, Ruth’s heart beat faster as she followed Eli up onto the porch and into the shop. She couldn’t deny that she was attracted to him in a way that she’d never been to any other boy.

She should have turned then and gone back to the buggy, but she didn’t want to. She wanted Eli to smile at her…wanted him to forget her sister and think only of her.

Roman’s oldest son, Tyler, was at the corner desk in the showroom-office, poring over a math book. He grinned up at them and then sighed and applied his pencil to the yellow answer sheet with dogged determination. Eli nodded to him and led Ruth down a hall and into the workshop.

Instantly, she was enveloped in the smells of fresh sawdust, paint stripper, varnish, stain and wax. Racks of tools hung on the wall to her left, and on a wide workbench lay an unfinished, ladder-back chair. In the center of the room stood the carved headboard of an old bed in the process of painstaking restoration.

“These are for the school,” Eli said, walking around the headboard to show her a length of cabinets that stood in the far corner. Ruth saw at once that these were not finished in veneer, but fashioned of thick pine boards with sturdy hinges. If there were no more fires, water or insect damage, the cabinets should serve the children well for decades.

Ruth followed him over and stroked a smooth door. “You didn’t use plywood.”

Eli grinned. “
Ne.
Reuben made a gift of the boards. He said they’d been drying in his grain shed for twenty years just waiting to be put to a good use. The hinges are ones we salvaged from an English job. They were just going to throw them away, so I asked if we could have them.”

“Foolish, throwing them away,” Ruth agreed. She fingered the nearest hinge. “But it must have been hard work to clean them.”

Eli shrugged his broad shoulders. “A little elbow grease and some strong paint remover. Tyler helped.”

“Mam will be so pleased.” She opened a door and then closed it. “The doors fit perfectly. They don’t even squeak,” she teased.

“Of course they don’t squeak.” He laughed. “I’ve something else to show you. It’s out back.”

Ruth glanced in the direction of the front of the shop. “I should probably see how Miriam is—”

“Miriam will be fine,” Eli insisted. “It’s just a phone call. Come on. You’ll like this even better than the schoolhouse cabinets.”

Curious, Ruth followed him out of the shop across the yard and into a small shed beyond. Here, too, was a workbench and a tool chest. On the bench stood an unfinished chest with a gently rounded top. The piece was fashioned of cherry, about three feet long and no more than twenty-four inches high with bracket feet and a shiny brass lock. But it was the decoration that stunned her. Carved into the front was a strawberry plant, bursting with berries and two little birds, replicas so lifelike that she half expected them to pluck a strawberry and fly away.

“Oh,” she gasped, unable to resist running her fingertips over the design. “Eli, you did this?”

His eyes lit with pleasure. “Do you like the wrens?”

She had known they were wrens. The bright eyes, the perky tails, the boldness, they could only be Carolina Wrens. “
Ya,
I do.” She hesitated. “Is this for an English customer?”

“
Ne
. For an Amish.”

She nibbled at her lower lip. “It is beautiful,
ya,
but I think not Plain.”

“My hands form what I see in my mind.”

“But we Plain people are not of this world but the one to come.”

He nodded. “If God gave me this dream, this skill, maybe He wants me to make use of it.”

Ruth shivered, despite the warmth of the shed. “You must guard against the sin of pride, Eli,” she chastised, unable to meet his gaze. “You are not so Plain as other men.”

“As Mahlon?”

She felt her cheeks grow warm as she looked at him and then away again. The chest was the most beautiful thing she thought she had ever seen, so beautiful that it made a lump in her throat. “He is a sensible…”

Eli chuckled. “You are very serious for such a pretty girl, Ruth. You accuse me of
Hochmut,
but you seem full of pride, as well.”

“Me?” Her eyes widened in surprise. This time, she didn’t look away from him. “How do I show false pride?”

He shrugged. “Think about it. Doesn’t it give you satisfaction that you work so hard to take care of your mother and your sisters? That you’ve decided to sacrifice your own life to remain on the farm and—”

“Who told you…” She swallowed in an attempt to ease the knot in her throat. She knew who’d been talking about her. Miriam. Again. “You don’t understand, Eli. Someone has to—”

“I may not attend church as I should, but I spent my childhood listening to God’s word. And one of the sermons I remember my grandfather giving was about martyrs. He said that only the Lord chooses martyrs. Make certain that you really know what God wants of you before you decide on a path, Ruth.”

Moisture blurred her vision. Was Eli right? She backed away from him, uncertain as to what to say…to think.

“I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step toward her, reaching out with one hand. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Ruth!” Miriam came around the corner of the building. “There you are. I got the appointment.”

Eli met Ruth’s gaze again as he lowered his hand to his side. Miriam looked at one and then the other.

“Come on,” Eli said, walking past Ruth and out of the shed. “Let me drive you both home.”

“Ne.”
Ruth’s voice sounded strange in her ears. “We will walk. We can cut across the pasture.”

Miriam and Eli exchanged glances. Miriam chuckled. “So we walk. I’ll see you on Sunday, Eli. At dinner?”

“Ya,”
he answered, hooking his thumbs in the waistband of his pants. “I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it.”

A
t noon on Sunday, Ruth watched as Anna welcomed Fannie Byler into the kitchen. Dinner wasn’t until one o’clock, but Fannie was Mam’s dearest friend, and she’d come early to chat before the meal. Roman, Eli and the children were expected later. “Come in, come in,” Anna urged, waving a wooden spoon.

Fannie’s wide-brimmed black bonnet framed a plump rosy face with bright blue eyes, a snub nose and a wide smile. “I brought a lemon sponge cake,” she said, after they’d all exchanged hugs.

“Wonderful,” Mam said. “Anna made pies this morning. And Ruth’s just finishing the coleslaw.”

Anna placed Fannie’s basket on the counter, and Susanna took her bonnet and cape.

“Irwin is coming,” Susanna bubbled. “I think he eats a lot. He’s a bad boy at school, but Mam told him he had to behave.”

“Irwin’s coming?” Fannie rolled her eyes.

“Mam often invites her pupils,” Ruth explained, with a meaningful glance in Susanna’s direction.

Mam put a finger to her lips, and Fannie nodded, catching on.

“Not likely anyone would go hungry at your table, Mam,” Anna said, attempting to distract Susanna from sharing Irwin’s shortcomings.

“Ne.”
Susanna turned to Fannie. “I carried pickled beets and applesauce up from the cellar.”

Fannie fanned herself, dropped into a rocking chair and gazed with admiration at the kitchen table. Ruth poured coffee for the older women and then returned her attention to the coleslaw.

“Goodness, I’ll be glad when my Clara and Alice are a little older,” Fannie said, not in the least put out that Mam had cut off her question about Irwin. “These girls of yours are a marvel.” She poured a dollop of thick cream into her coffee and stirred in three spoons of honey.

It was always nice to have Fannie and her family at the dinner table. If Ruth could only be as pleased with their other dinner guests. She knew it wasn’t her place to question who her mother invited to Sunday dinner, but she didn’t trust Irwin, and Eli…

She didn’t know where in her head to begin with Eli or what to do with all the emotions he stirred up. He troubled her, with those rumors of his reputation. He just looked like trouble. And gossip or not, there had to be some truth to what Alma had said about him, didn’t there? Alma wouldn’t just make up such a terrible story, not even about a stranger. And it wasn’t just the gossip that made Ruth uncomfortable. There was something more about Eli. It was the way he had made her uncertain about the life decisions she’d made. And then there was the matter of Miriam. She couldn’t deny that Eli was exciting, but at the same time, she was afraid that her sister was becoming too attached to him.

Abruptly, she yawned and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. Thinking about that beautiful chest with the carved birds and the fear that Eli had made it for Miriam had kept her awake until after midnight last night. By the light of day, Ruth knew the idea was preposterous, but silly notions did that to you at night sometimes; they made you totally illogical.

“Roofie?” Susanna was standing beside her, a sugar bowl in her hand. “Can I put the sugar in now?”

“Just a minute.” Ruth began to stir mayonnaise and lemon juice into the grated slaw. “Now,” she said to Susanna.

Susanna carefully carried the sugar bowl back to the table. Watching her, Ruth couldn’t help but smile. Susanna was such a sweet soul. Dat had been right. She was a blessing to their family. Eli didn’t understand why Ruth had made the decisions she had. God had trusted her family with Susanna, and it was only right that Ruth be here to care for her. It was selfish to consider anything else. Some day, Mam would grow old, and they both would need strong hands to support them.

“It was good of you to ask Eli to dinner,” Fannie was saying to Mam. “He’s a good boy, no matter what some people say. I’m hoping that if families like yours welcome him, others will.”

Mam glanced at Anna. “Could you help Susanna find a clean
Kapp
and apron?”

Since it was just the family this morning, her sisters had covered their freshly washed hair with kerchiefs, but would need
Kapps
before male company arrived. “I can do it,” Ruth offered. “I’m ready, and I finished the slaw.”

“Ne.”
Anna caught Susanna’s hand. “Come on, Susanna-banana. I’ll braid your hair.” Susanna giggled and followed her out of the kitchen.

When Susanna was safely out of earshot, Fannie spoke softly. “I know you’ve both heard the rumors about Eli, but I wanted you to know I don’t believe them. There are things the boy isn’t telling us. Roman says he has a good heart.”

Ruth tried not to listen, but it was impossible not to hear Mam’s reply. “I keep telling Martha and Alma it’s wrong to judge Eli without proof.”

Fannie sniffed. “That Alma asked me straight out if Eli was shunned in Belleville. He wasn’t.” She leaned close to Mam and lowered her voice. “Roman thinks the world of his sister Esther, but he thinks she’s ill-treated Eli. You know about Eli’s real father, don’t you?”

Mam shook her head.

“He left the Old Order Amish church. Went to the English.” Fannie glanced across the kitchen. Ruth concentrated on prying open a plastic container of sesame seeds.

“You needn’t fear to speak in front of Ruth,” Mam soothed. “She’d not spread ill about anyone.” She chuckled. “Our Susanna is another story. She means no harm, but whatever she hears…”

“Well, it’s no secret,” Fannie continued. “The way Roman tells it, Eli’s father abandoned his family and his faith. He always had an eye for worldly ways. He liked the English women with their legs all bare and their bosoms showing, and they liked him, too. One day, when he was plowing, he just left his team in the field and walked away.”

Ruth couldn’t contain her curiosity. “He just abandoned his family?”

Fannie nodded. “Too handsome for his own good, some said. They claim Eli is the spitting image of him. The oldest boy favored Esther’s side of the family, and she had a soft spot for him. But their father…” Fannie shook her head. “’Course, he died before Roman and I started courting.”

“There was a tragedy with Eli’s older brother, too, wasn’t there?” Mam asked. “Terrible for your sister-in-law.”

“And for Eli, I imagine.” Ruth sprinkled sesame seeds over the coleslaw. She shivered at the thought of losing one of her sisters.

“It was Eli looking so much like his father that worried Esther,” Fannie said. “At least that’s what Roman thinks.” She added more honey to her coffee. “Roman says Esther never gave the boy a chance to explain his side. You know, concerning that girl who made the accusations. Then, before the matter could be brought to the church, she took off—ran away.”

It was on the tip of Ruth’s tongue to ask Fannie if Roman had asked Eli himself if it was true about the girl, but she didn’t. Maybe she didn’t want to know? Maybe because as long as it was just a rumor, Ruth could think Eli might be innocent.

Mam shook her head. “Some English people think that such things never happen to us, but they do. We are all human and all capable of sin. It’s what happens after we sin that really matters.”

A knock on the door startled Ruth, and she crossed the kitchen to answer it.

“It’s too early for Roman,” Fannie said. “He…”

Ruth didn’t hear the rest of what Fannie was saying. Her attention centered on the tall figure standing on the back porch. It was Eli. She swung open the door, suddenly feeling guilty. Had he heard them talking about him?

He grinned shyly. “Ruth.”

“Eli.” Her hands nervously found a speck of mayonnaise on her apron.

He stepped into the room. “I came early,” he said, stating the obvious.

Eli’s yellow hair was damp, his cheeks freshly shaved. He was wearing English jeans and the Nittany Lions T-shirt, and his head was uncovered. No hat at all.

Mam rose from the table where the women had been enjoying their coffee. “Good to see you, Eli.”

Eli shook his head. “I meant to say, I came early…to…speak to you,” he said, directing his attention to Hannah.

Ruth looked at him. What he’d have to say to Mam, she couldn’t imagine. Surely, he didn’t have the nerve to ask if he could walk out with Miriam. Not dressed like that. And it was too soon. No one here really knew him. Surely, their mother wouldn’t…

“Yes, what is it, Eli?” Ruth’s mother didn’t seem to notice the English clothes.

Eli straightened and cleared his throat. “They have movies,” he began awkwardly. “At the mall.”

“Ya,”
Mam agreed. Her mouth tightened into a thin line, but her eyes twinkled with mischief. “This even I have heard.”

Eli shuffled his feet. “Today, they show a…”

Ruth folded her arms over her chest. A movie at the mall? Her gaze darted from her mother back to Eli. He looked so young, so unsure of himself.

“Speak up,” Fannie said.

His words came out in a rush. “A decent movie.
Noah and the Ark.
No bad talk or fancy behavior. I saw it. Last night. Roman and I went to be sure…”

Fannie’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s where you and Roman went? He never said a word.”

Eli extended one hand toward Hannah. “Would you give me permission to take—”

Mam frowned, interrupting. “You want to take my daughter to the mall? On a date?”

“Not a date, exactly. Just to see the movie. A good story, a Bible story. Educational. And full of wonders. The ark that God bade Noah to build, the animals, the great flood that covered the earth.”

“Which one?”

Eli’s brow furrowed beneath the fringe of yellow-blond hair. “Which one?”

“Which daughter do you wish to take?” Mam demanded, her eyes still twinkling.

“Um.” His cheeks grew bright red. “Susanna and Anna, Miriam and Ruth.”

“Oh, no,” Ruth interrupted. “I’m not—” She fully intended to refuse the invitation but before she could get the words out of her mouth, she suddenly realized that she wanted to go. Desperately. With Eli. The back of her eyelids stung. But Eli had really come to ask Miriam to go to the show with him. He’d just asked about the rest of them when he had lost his nerve. He didn’t really want Ruth to go. That was plain to see.

A slow smile spread over Mam’s face. “And if Fannie and I wanted to go with you to see this
Noah and the Ark?
Would you take us as well?”

“Ya,”
Eli answered. “I would. And there would be room.”

“On your motorbike?” Mam asked. She was teasing him outright now. Ruth knew it, and a small part of her felt sorry for Eli. Mam had raised his hopes. He looked so eager, and when Mam would tell him Miriam couldn’t go, that none of them could go, he would be crushed.

“Ne.”
He raised his chin and stared back at her boldly. “I hoped you would let them go. I hoped they would want to, so I asked a driver to come with her van. There will be room for anyone who wants to go.”

“Susanna would love it,” Ruth put in, feeling a trickle of excitement.

“What of my dinner?” Mam asked. “What of my turkey and the ham?”

“There is a show at four o’clock,” Eli explained. “We’ll have time to eat, drive to the mall, see the movie, have an ice cream and be back before dark.”

“I can see that you’ve thought this out,” Mam said. She nibbled her bottom lip, a habit that Ruth and her mother shared. Then, Mam turned and looked straight at her. “What do you think, Ruth? Would your sisters like to see this movie?”

Fannie frowned. “The bishop might not think…”

“But the bishop isn’t here. It’s Ruth I asked,” Mam said.

Ruth’s mouth felt dry. “I think,” she began. “I think that Miriam has not yet been baptized in the church, nor Susanna. I think the movie might be educational for them.”

“And you?” Mam asked. “What do you think about going?”

Ruth couldn’t look at her mother or Eli. She wanted to say she didn’t want to go, but she couldn’t lie. “
Ya,
Mam,” Ruth admitted glancing at the floor in front of Eli’s boots. “I would like to see the movie, too.”

“It’s settled then.” She nodded. “You may ask my girls, Eli. But I expect them home before dark.”

“We will be,” he promised. “I’ll take good care of them.”

“And one more thing,” Mam said.

“Anything,” Eli said.

“Church is here next week. I would like you to help us make ready. And I would like you to come to the services.” She arched one eyebrow.

Eli grimaced. “I’ll come because you ask,” he said. “But don’t blame me if your bishop kicks me out the door.”

“He would never,” Mam assured firmly. “Bishop Atlee is a fair man and a good shepherd to his flock. You’ll be welcome here. You’ll be welcome in our church, or I will know the reason why.”

Anna, wearing her best Sunday-go-to-meeting dress and bonnet, led the way up the carpeted ramp through the darkened theater and found a seat. Ruth slid in beside her, followed by Susanna, clutching an enormous container of popcorn and so excited that she had the hiccups. Ruth had to admit it had been very thoughtful of Eli to invite Susanna. None of the boys in the neighborhood were unkind to Susanna, but Eli was the first to ask her to go on a date with her sisters.

Miriam sat on Susanna’s right, leaving Eli next to the aisle. A few English turned to look and whisper, but then they lost interest and returned to their own conversations. Ruth could see that they were the only Amish in the movie this afternoon, perhaps in the mall. She had expected to be an object of curiosity, but stares always made her feel uneasy. She didn’t think of herself as old-fashioned or quaint, simply apart from the larger world. The way she dressed and the way she lived was outward proof of a covenant with God; she didn’t think herself better than the English, simply different. And different they were. That was obvious sitting here in the movie theater in a sea of brightly colored tank tops, dangling earrings and sparkly open-toed shoes.

Loud music blared from speakers on the walls, and on the screen, bottles of soda pop, boxes of candy and bags of popcorn danced and bounced. It looked very silly, but Susanna was entranced. She’d never seen a show before. Other than Eli, none of them had. Now that she was here, Ruth was nearly as excited as Susanna. She hoped that coming hadn’t been wrong. It had always been a secret dream of hers to watch a movie in a real movie theater. There might be consequences next Sunday, but this afternoon, she would see one of the great stories of the Bible come alive.