The Guardian (29 page)

Little Sarah squeezed Jodi’s hand before letting go, then smiled past her frown while she waited for Joshua to link Buster to a long chain near the schoolhouse door.

“Have a
gut
first day of school,” Joshua called with a wave.

“Thank you.” Jodi watched him take Sarah’s hand and head out the gate, toward the road.
Why is Maryanna so resistant toward him? He’s wonderful!

Jodi turned to step inside, eager to begin. But it was the feel of Sarah’s hand tucked securely in hers that implanted itself in Jodi’s brain—from Leda’s ringing the eight-thirty bell at starting time, all through singing the three morning songs.

Next came a Bible story about Joseph and his multicolored coat, which she followed with questions. The dear memory of Sarah lingered as Jodi took attendance and handed out the first-day quiz from
Tips for Teachers.
She gave them ten minutes to answer as many questions as possible, having Rosaleen assist her with the three first graders, whispering the question and helping to write their responses.

Later, when most of the students were finished, Jodi gave the first graders their easy English spelling words, which she’d written on the board before the last bell. She then called the
second graders to the long bench at the front to recite their long and short vowel sounds.

While Jodi gave the third graders an assignment in their arithmetic notebooks, the rest of the students waited quietly for their grade level to be addressed as Rosaleen roamed among the rows of desks.

The boys looked glossy clean and combed. Most wore colored short-sleeved shirts, and their black or brown suspenders formed large X’s over their backs. The girls, too, looked exceptionally neat, attired in clean dresses and matching aprons, their hair pulled back in tight knots or, in the case of the youngest girls, worn in braids wrapped around their heads.

Fourth and fifth grades were comprised of only three students, including Benny and Leda, who worked on penmanship. Jodi was very aware of the preacher’s wife seated in the back of the spacious room, crocheting a small afghan, possibly for a baby cradle.

The three remaining grades, sixth through eighth, were assigned to the opposite corner of the room, where they marked a large map with the state capitals.

There was so much to juggle; Jodi admired Rosaleen’s easygoing style. And later, when two of the first graders looked like they might cry for Mamma, Lovina went over and offered to quietly read a story to the three of them, which was a big help.

It was time for the middle graders to read for Jodi, so they came to the wooden bench next, while the second graders retreated to their desks and began working on writing their names in cursive, following the lesson in their notebooks.

By ten o’clock, recess was quite welcome. Jodi was actually thankful that week would only be half days.
Maybe I’ll find my rhythm by next week,
she thought, going outside to watch the children play and pet Joshua’s beautiful dog.

“If only you could talk,” she said softly to Buster, thinking again how Joshua wanted to receive consent directly from Maryanna concerning the rabbit.

Why
did
Maryanna change her mind?

Was she warming to the idea of Joshua’s house pets, and perhaps to the man himself?
Could I be right?

J
oshua left Shadow at home when he returned to the schoolhouse for Buster and to walk back with Jodi and the children. He was still astonished at the school board’s uncharacteristic decision. But from what he’d heard from Ned, the young woman was cooperating in every way, even going the second and third mile with Plain attire and hair. He smiled to himself, recalling his double take, seeing her hair pulled securely into a bun.

All she needs is a bonnet!
He suppressed a laugh.

Little Sarah looked mighty disappointed when she saw Shadow was absent. She stood there at the end of his lane, sporting a mild yet steady scowl. And, well, if she didn’t continue to frown all the way to school, even refusing to hold his hand. It crossed his mind to say something, but it wasn’t his place.

When they arrived at the schoolhouse, Joshua spied the
Willkumm
sign strewn across the chain-link fence, there along the road. The schoolchildren had evidently pressed leaves into the fence, creating a unique welcome for all who passed by.

On the porch of the schoolhouse, Lovina Yoder was already
helping Rosaleen and Jodi put the safety vests on the smaller children. He liked the idea of investing in safety—too many English drivers were inconsiderate on the road. He shuddered to think of a car hitting one of these precious ones.

Tobias ran to greet him, asking about the rabbit’s whereabouts. The difference between him and his younger sister was that the lad took the news with grace, going along with Joshua’s decision to leave the pet behind this time. And he didn’t press about receiving the bunny, as young Sarah certainly would have.

Jodi walked with Benny and Leda, and he could hear their happy chatter. It was evident that the Englischer had made a good connection with each of the children, especially Maryanna’s.

Zeke Mast sat whittling and whistling on the front porch when Joshua turned into his driveway, which was a bit of a surprise.

“Hullo, Zeke!” Joshua called.

“Hullo,” Zeke replied. “Hope ya don’t mind if I sit here and nick my fingers with a dull knife,” he added with a wink.

Joshua set Buster free to run without the leash as he sat down on the porch steps. “Got yourself a day off?” he asked.

“Taking a short break from fillin’ silo over at Preacher Yoder’s.”

Joshua turned and looked at him. “What’s on your mind, Ezekiel?”

“Truth be told, I’ve taken a fancy to your parrot, Joshua.”

“What’s that?”

“Was thinkin’ of taking your parrot off your hands, for a price.”

“Well, Malachi’s not for sale.”

“Anything can be bought for the right price, least according to Preacher Yoder.”

“What do ya mean by that?”

“Just that I want to buy your bird.”

“Why on earth?”

Zeke rose with a groan and moseyed toward the steps, then turned around. “Just think ‘bout it, all right?”

Watching Zeke walk down the driveway toward the road, Joshua was befuddled at best.

Remembering what Joshua had said earlier, Jodi passed along the message to Maryanna. “He’d like you to give permission directly.”

“I have to go over there?” Maryanna asked, placing homemade corn bread in the middle of the table. “To get the rabbit?”

This tickled Jodi, but she kept a straight face. “That’s what the man said.”

Maryanna made an unintelligible remark under her breath and turned back to the stove to bring over a large pottery bowl of potato soup with German sausage sliced into it. “I’m awful busy today.”

“Well, I doubt there’s any rush,” Jodi suggested as she boosted little Sarah up to the sink to wash her hands.

Maryanna turned to look at her, then shook her head in apparent disgust. “Don’t know why I ever said Tobias could have that bunny rabbit.”

Jodi smiled. And it was definitely a good thing Sarah had no idea what was being said.

A while later, Maryanna was happy to see Mollie drop by with all her girls, bringing two strawberry pies for dessert. Evidently, Jeremiah was up the road assisting Nate Kurtz to mend his cow fences after more than half the herd had gotten out last night. Mollie and the girls, including Maryanna’s pair, went out and dug new potatoes in the family vegetable garden. Later, the older girls and Mollie hulled lima beans, which Maryanna insisted on dividing up between them.

When Jeremiah returned for them, Maryanna figured now was as good a time as any to go to Joshua’s and get the dwarf rabbit for Tobias.
Shadow …
such a name for a rabbit!

She washed her hands and then pushed a few loose hair strands back into her bun before she headed over there and found Joshua in the barn. She felt odd, seeing Ned working with him, not wanting word to get out that she was chasing after a man who was nearly engaged. Stumbling over her words, she offered to return later for the rabbit.

“No need.” Joshua told Ned he wouldn’t be but a minute.

“Thought I’d come over right quick,” Maryanna said as Joshua fell in step with her.

“Tobias could’ve easily come for Shadow. Hope it didn’t put you out. I just wanted to be sure you were serious.”

She shook her head. “I understand. This is fine.”

Joshua looked extra nice in his light brown work shirt, which accentuated the deep hazel in his eyes. Smiling, he said, “Tobias knows how to water and feed Shadow, so ya won’t have to prompt him.”

That surely wasn’t something she cared to discuss. Just having the squirmy pet in the house was an enormous step.
I’m doing this for my children… .

Joshua led the way into his kitchen, which was as remarkably clean as it had been on the Sunday they’d met in his barn for worship. Maryanna hadn’t offered to help with food or tidying up after the shared meal, but she
had
sneaked inside just to see how a widower like Joshua kept things. Today, however, she noticed the addition of a litter box in the corner and scrunched her nose at it. Seeing the cat curled up on the wooden bench next to the table was downright alarming, and she looked away.
All that cat hair in the kitchen!

“I’m sure Tobias and the other children will look after Shadow,” Joshua was saying, yet he sounded nearly reluctant as he leaned down to peer into the small cage. “Suzanne enjoyed this little critter, believe me.” He moved even closer. “Hullo, little one… .”

“And you do, too,” Maryanna said.

He straightened, smiling. “Ever so much.”

“Then why give it away, may I ask?”

He scratched his neck. “Tellin’ the truth, I like your children, Maryanna. They’re bright and energetic, and Tobias, especially, is such a
gut
help. Reminds me of myself when I was young, full of curiosity about nature and how things work.” He smiled. “Industrious too.”

“And has no aversion for school, jah?” She couldn’t help herself, remembering Joshua’s own reluctance to attend back when.

“I regret now my distaste for book learnin’.”

It dawned on her then. Was this partially why Joshua walked to and from the schoolhouse with the children each weekday, taking such an interest in their safety? Was he trying to make up for the lost years of his own boyhood?

“Guess from time to time we all have distractions from the things we oughta be doin’.” Maryanna gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“The cage ain’t heavy at all.” He reached to lift it and handed it to her. “Or I could carry it over to the house, if ya like.”

“No, no … I can manage.”

She wanted to simply pick up the cage and exit, but instead she found herself asking him what he thought of their substitute teacher.

He nodded. “Strangest thing, ain’t? And yet I daresay Jodi Winfield’s one of the best teachers we’ve ever had, least from what I can tell when she interacts with the children.” He paused, his gaze lingering on her a mite too long. “She really cares ‘bout them. And Ned says she’s abiding by the curriculum set out by the school board.”

“I believe so, too.”

He went on to describe Jodi’s gentle way not only with the youngsters but with Buster. “His tail just wags and wags when he sees her, I’ll say.”

Maryanna found herself sharing a sweet scene—of Jodi and her own four, when they were out watering the potted autumn plants and checking on the Christmas poinsettias. “She’s nearly like a second mother to them.” She laughed as she also recounted the Saturday morning last weekend when Jodi had learned how to whitewash the picket fence, with Benny and Tobias instructing her.

Maryanna and Joshua must have stood there talking for a good fifteen minutes or more, before she realized. Glory be, didn’t she still have work to do?

Joshua looked at her more seriously, and it crossed her mind that he was a good-looking man, well above average. And it appeared he was itching to tell her something. “Maryanna, I …” he began, then hesitated.

“What is it?” she asked.

He stopped talking just that quick.

They both heard it, someone pulling into the driveway.

Turning, Maryanna saw Ida Fisher get down and tie her horse to the hitching post. “Ach, I shouldn’t be keepin’ ya,” she said, absently placing the rabbit’s cage on the kitchen counter.

Joshua’s flabbergasted expression surprised her.

Flummoxed, she hurried out of the kitchen, not wanting to run into Ida or cause a lick of trouble here.

But alas, she saw the shock rising on Ida’s face, though Ida said nothing as Maryanna fairly fled away.

She felt foolish and miserable as she rushed across the pasture. To think she’d allowed herself to get caught up in conversation with a man who was practically betrothed.
Honestly!

But what was Joshua about to tell her, just before Ida arrived?

Well, Maryanna could just about guess. More than likely, he wanted to say they really shouldn’t be having long conversations like that. “Jah, must be it,” she muttered.

She huffed out an angry breath and smiled wryly to herself, remembering Ida’s expression, fairly sure Joshua had some serious explaining to do.

Have I missed the boat?

To think she’d had her chance with Joshua, and what had she done? Maryanna fumed all the way to the edge of the backyard, then realized,
For pity’s sake!
She’d left the rabbit back at Joshua’s!