More Than Words (33 page)

A branch cracked behind a clump of bushes, and Zurca leaped from his stooped position like a cat springing for prey. A highpitched squeal followed.

“Zurca! Put me down.” Lalah kicked her feet and flailed her arms until Zurca set her on the ground.

“What are you doing out here? I told you to stay in the camp.” His gruff voice didn’t alarm her.

She twisted her dress back into place and frowned. “You ripped my dress.” She pointed to a ripped seam on the side of the frock. “Look at what you’ve done.”

“Look at what
you’ve
done.” Zurca waved a finger in her face. “I told you to stay in the camp. Little girls who don’t follow orders end up with torn dresses.”

“And Gypsy men who don’t follow Loyco’s orders get in big trouble.” She shot him a defiant look. “Loyco told you to look after me while he was gone. Instead, you spend your time trying to get the others to break camp, and now you rip my dress. You are the one who will be in trouble. Not me.”

They squabbled like little children until I finally clapped my hands and shouted, “Stop!” They both turned and gave me startled looks. “We don’t have time for this bickering. Soon I must return to the store or my Vater will come looking for me.”

Lalah came to my side. “I am sorry about Zurca. He followed me when I was coming to meet you, and then he took me back to the camp and wouldn’t let me come with him. Did he hurt you?”

“No, Lalah. He was very kind to me, and to Oma.”

The girl glanced about. “She is here?”

“No, but Zurca is going to take the blame for starting the fire at the sawmill so that Oma will not get in trouble.” I grasped her hands between my own. “I don’t want her to be sent to live somewhere away from me.”

“But Zurca didn’t start the fire and neither did your Oma.”

Zurca took a long step and leaned over Lalah. “How do you know this, Lalah? Were you away from camp during the night? How many times must I tell you that no one is to—”

She waved him to silence. “Wait until I explain. You always do that, Zurca.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “Do what?”

“You never let me finish what I’m saying. And you never listen.”

“I listen, but you—”

Once again I clapped my hands. “Please, stop arguing! How do you know Oma wasn’t the one who started the fire, Lalah?”

She shot Zurca a don’t-interrupt-me look. “Because I was near the sawmill after supper, and I saw a hobo. He had set up camp there. He used some of the shavings and pieces of wood to start a fire. He had a coffeepot and some pots to cook with. It looked like he was going to spend the night there.”

What Lalah said made sense. The hobo must have been the man my grandmother had confused for Opa. She’d spoken of making coffee. “Did you get a good look at him?”

She shook her head. “He was wearing a big floppy hat, but I never saw his face. I didn’t want him to see me.”

“That was wise of you.”

Zurca ground the heel of his boot on a spider that scurried toward my foot. “None of this makes a difference.”

Lalah wheeled toward him. “Why not? It’s the truth.”

“Bah, truth! Who believes the truth when it comes from the mouth of a Gypsy? You tell them about the hobo or you tell them Zurca started the fire, but do not speak of the old woman.”

“She had a match in her pocket,” I whispered.

Zurca shrugged. “She probably took it from the hobo just like she took my scarf. Lalah saw the hobo start a fire. He is the one responsible.” He leaned against the tree and looked me in the eyes. “Protect the old woman. Isn’t that what your Bible says? Take care of the sick and the old ones? Remind your father if he speaks of this Mount Pleasant again.”

“How do you know what the Bible says?”

He gave me a sidelong glance. “You would be surprised what a Gypsy will do for a free meal. Even sit under a tent and listen to a preacher read from the Bible. But that was long ago. Maybe your Bible has changed.”

“No, Zurca. God doesn’t change, and the Bible doesn’t change. But sometimes people change.” I handed him the scarf, and he tied it around his head.

“Sometimes. Sometimes not.” He motioned to Lalah. “Come, girl. We must return to camp.”

I watched as they walked through the stand of pines, Zurca’s hand resting on Lalah’s shoulder, his stringy hair swinging from beneath the multicolored scarf. There was much more to Zurca than I’d imagined. As if he’d read my thoughts, he raised his hand and waved. Tonight I would write about him in my journal.

I raced toward the barbershop, praying Conrad had returned. I sighed in relief when I saw the open door and empty barber chair. Conrad was back, and there were no customers. We would have at least a short time to talk.

“Gretchen!” Conrad jumped to his feet and placed an arm around my shoulder while I panted to breathe. “I’ve been worried. Your father said you went to visit with Mina over an hour ago, but Mina said you hadn’t been to the Küche.”

I inhaled a deep gulp of air and shook my head. “I never said I was going to see Mina. I said I was going out for a while.” I gasped for another breath. “Since that’s the only place I ever go, he just guessed that’s where I was. Did you tell him I wasn’t there?”

“Nein, but if you hadn’t been back in fifteen more minutes, I was going to tell him we needed to go look for you in the Gypsy camp.” We sat down in the two chairs at the front of the shop. “That’s where you were, isn’t it? You went to see Lalah?”

“Yes, just like we discussed. But instead of Lalah, Zurca was waiting for me. He almost frightened me out of my wits.”

Conrad balled his hands into tight fists. “I’m going down there right now and have a talk with him. Who does he think he is!”

“Wait. Before you become angry, let me explain everything that happened. I think you’ll change your mind about him.”

As I told of my conversation with Zurca and his willingness to accept blame for the fire, Conrad’s fists unclenched and his muscles relaxed. He leaned back in the chair and rubbed his jaw. “I’m not so sure what should be done. We cannot speak openly of Zurca saving your grandmother from the river.”

“No. Oma doesn’t even remember that she was in the river. For us to speak of the incident now would cause her even greater confusion. And if Vater finds out, I’m not certain what he would say or do.”

“We have been having some talks, your Vater and I, and he now understands that since your Mutter’s death he hasn’t been the same man. He tries to hide the pain, but he knows he is short with you and Stefan. And I don’t think he means everything he says about your grandmother, either.” Conrad reached toward me and clasped my hand. “Men have trouble saying what’s in their hearts and how they feel deep inside. Sometimes, instead of accepting our sadness, we become angry.”

“He told you that?”

His broad smile caused tiny creases to form at the corner of each eye. “Not those exact words, but it is the heart of what he said.”

I felt a pang of sorrow that my father had chosen to share his feelings with Conrad rather than with me, yet I was thankful he realized how much he had changed since my mother’s death. After Mother died, he adopted a different outlook. A bitterness and an unforgiving spirit had seeped into his words and deeds. Perhaps he’d reached a turning point the day I went before the Grossebruderrat. After that meeting he’d started acting more like the father of my childhood. The one I could go to with my problems, the one who was quick to help everyone, even hobos and Gypsies, and the one who enjoyed laughter.

“Maybe the time has come for you to speak openly with your Vater. Tell him your feelings and concerns.”

“I’m not so sure he is ready for such a talk with me, but if there is an opportunity, I will try.” A train whistled in the distance, and I turned toward the sound. “I better get back to the store. Visitors will be coming, and Vater will need my help.” Conrad continued to hold my hand as he walked me to the door. “Thank you for understanding, Conrad.”

He lifted my hand and brushed a kiss across my fingers. “I am always pleased to help you, Gretchen. You bring great joy to my life.”

“And you bring great joy to my life, as well.” A rush of heat raced up my neck and seared my cheeks. “I must go.” I bent my head and hurried outdoors, hoping Conrad hadn’t seen my flaming cheeks. I’d gone only a few steps when he called my name. I wheeled around to face him.

Conrad pointed to his cheek. “Your cheeks are a lovely shade of pink. I like that.”

I touched my face. “I’m glad you approve, since I seem to have little control over when they do that.”

“Ja. I think I control when they turn pink.” His jovial laughter carried on the breeze.

I glanced down the street to see if anyone was nearby, then held a warning finger to my pursed lips.

Hooking his thumb behind one of his suspenders, Conrad stepped off the narrow porch and into the street. “Maybe I should shout my love for you so all can hear. What do you think about that, Gretchen?”

“I think you better go back inside the barbershop before I tell the elders you need to be sent off to Mount Pleasant.”

He leaned back and laughed. “You would be heartsick without me.”

I didn’t reply, but he was right. I would be heartsick without him.

CHAPTER 27

“Gretchen! Hurry! I need you to go fetch Sister Veda.” My father rushed toward me the minute I entered the store. “Ask her if she will come and look after the store. I just discovered that your grandmother is missing. Stop at the barbershop. If Conrad doesn’t have any customers, ask him to come over here, too.” My father shooed me out the door. “Go! Go! There is no time to talk.”

I wanted to ask when Father had last seen Oma and if he’d checked under her bed, but he hadn’t given me the opportunity. My heart thumped against my chest as I raced back to the barbershop. I skidded to a halt outside the door. “Conrad!”

He ambled to the door, a grin on his face. “You couldn’t bear to be away for even five minutes?”

“Oma is missing. Vater needs you at the store. I’m going to fetch Veda.” His smile faded, but before he could reply, I ran down the street. Puffs of dirt danced beneath my shoes as I raced down the middle of the street, my arms pumping in synchronized rhythm. My lungs screamed for air, but I didn’t stop. Where could she be?

“Veda!” I tried to shout, but my deflated lungs refused to give more than a whimper. I banged on the door. “Veda! I need you.”

Where was she? There was no sign of life when I peeked in the window, but a moment later I heard Trudy squeal. The backyard. I jumped from the porch and ran around the side of the house. Veda was sitting on a blanket with Trudy in her lap. “Veda. Can you please come to the store? Oma is missing, and I need to go look for her.”

“Ja, of course. Let me gather a few things, and I will be there in fifteen minutes. Put a sign on the door if you must leave before I arrive.”

I shouted my thanks and hurried back around the house and down the street. I hoped my father would still be there when I returned. I needed to know when and where he’d last seen Oma. Conrad was pacing outside the store when I returned. I peered around him, hoping to catch a glimpse of my father inside.

“Your Vater is already gone. He said to tell you that your grandmother had been taking a nap in her room. When he went to the parlor to get his pipe, he saw that her bedroom door was open, but she wasn’t in there.”

While Conrad was speaking, I took several deep breaths and tried to calm myself. “He looked everywhere? Even under the beds?” I moved to step around him. “She’s very small and can fit under the beds. He wouldn’t think to look there.”

Conrad grasped my arm. “I looked under the beds, beneath the counter, the empty shipping crates—all the places where she might have hidden in the store or apartment. She’s gone, Gretchen. Better we begin looking elsewhere than waste more time here.” He shaded his eyes with his hand and looked down the street. “Is Veda coming?”

“Ja. She said to put a note on the door if we need to leave before she gets here.” I stepped around Conrad and hurried inside. After scribbling a note that said the store would reopen in fifteen minutes, I poked a hole in each end of the paper, shoved a piece of string through the holes, and tied it on the door latch. “Which way did Vater go?”

“He’s going to check at the blacksmith, the barns, and the other outbuildings. You check the shops and Küche. I’ll go to the woods and the Gypsy camp.”

“No. I’ll go to the woods and Gypsy camp. They know me, Conrad. It’s better if I go.”

He hesitated, then nodded. “You’re right. Zurca will be more helpful to you than to me. Just be careful.”

“I will.” I waved and hurried along the sidewalk, into the street, and away from town. My fears lessened as I neared the wooded area. Even though Oma hadn’t been to the Gypsy camp in recent days, I was certain I would find her sitting with Zurca or Alija or walking through the brush and trees with Lalah at her side.

The woods were silent except for the crunch of dead leaves and pine needles beneath my feet and the twittering of birds overhead. Sun filtered through the trees and cast shards of light across my path in zigzag patterns. I could understand why Oma liked to come here. Beneath a canopy of leafy branches, these woods provided a peacefulness and seclusion all their own.