Unforeseeable (4 page)

“It's okay, Ruby,” I said softly. “You like pie, don't you?”

She nodded and sat down at the table. I was trying desperately not to cry. It wouldn't help her to see me upset, but at that moment, Mennonite or not, I wanted to thrash Elmer and Dorcas Wittenbauer to within an inch of their lives.

Lizzie pulled out a large pan and started the hot chocolate. I opened the refrigerator door. “What kind of pie do you like?” I asked Ruby.

At first I wasn't sure she was going to answer, but finally she said, “Do you have chocolate?” Her voice was so soft, I almost didn't hear her.

I smiled. “There just happens to be an entire chocolate cream pie in here. How about—”

Before I could finish, the door to the kitchen swung open and a red-faced Elmer Wittenbauer stomped inside, trailing melting snow behind him.

“What are you doin' hidin' in here, girl?” he said loudly when he spotted Ruby. “I been lookin' all over for you. You get outta here and in the buggy. Now.”

Lizzie put down the spoon she was stirring the chocolate with and started to say something. But before she had a chance, the anger inside me boiled over. I slammed the door to the refrigerator and went over to Elmer, grabbing his arm.

“I'd like to speak to you, Brother Wittenbauer,” I said between clenched teeth. “Will you please step outside a moment?” Before he had a chance to argue, I pulled him out the door and into the small hall that led to the dining room. No small feat, since he was huge, and I didn't even tip the scales at one hundred pounds.

“How dare you manhandle me,” he sputtered. “I will make sure your ungodly behavior is reported to the elders. If you think—”

“Now you listen to me, Elmer Wittenbauer,” I said, trying to keep my voice low enough so as not to garner attention from our customers, “you are not going to haul that girl out of here right now. She's having pie and hot chocolate. What you
will
do is sit down out here until she's ready to go.”

Elmer pulled his fat arm out of my grasp. “Look here, little girl, you ain't gonna tell me nothin'. I'll take what's mine now and ain't no one gonna stop me. 'Specially you. Yes sir, the elders is gonna get an earful.” His greasy smile sent a shiver running through me. “Your boyfriend won't be marryin' you if he wants to stay pastor.”

He started to move toward the kitchen door, but I stepped
in front of him. My body shook so hard I felt as if I might fall down.

“You're not going to say anything to anybody,” I choked out. “Because if you do, I'll make sure the elders know about the way you've been treating that child.” I stuck my small face up as close to his round one as I could. His expression told me I'd hit my mark. “I'm not stupid, Elmer. This is your last chance. If I see even one sign that you've been mistreating Ruby, I'm going to make sure you lose any help the church is giving you and Dorcas. And one more thing”—I stuck my finger just inches from his nose—“I'm going to be watching you. Closely. If that child isn't picked up on time from school, if I see her out in cold weather without a coat, or if I see one thing that concerns me,
you
will be hauled before Levi and the elders for discipline. And don't think for one moment I can't make that happen. They're going to believe me a lot sooner than they'll trust a word that comes out of your mouth.” I glared at him. Whatever he saw in my face made the blood drain from his. “Do you totally and completely understand me?”

Elmer didn't say anything, just nodded.

“You go sit down at a table and be quiet. Ruby will come out when she's good and ready. Then you'll take her home, and things will be different. Or else.”

I whirled around and ran right into Lizzie, who stood in the doorway, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She stared at Elmer, who seemed transfixed by what had just happened. She quickly pulled the door closed behind her.

“You heard Callie,” Lizzie said firmly. “Now get going.”

Elmer scampered off like his britches were on fire. Lizzie grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me a couple of times. “Callie!” The expression on her face frightened me.

I twisted away from her. “I'm okay. Let me go.” My voice trembled like an old woman's, and I felt faint. Lizzie put her arm around my shoulders. This time I didn't pull away.

“Are you okay?” she asked quietly. “I-I've never seen you act like that before.” She gazed into my eyes. “You don't look well. I think you need to sit down.”

“Wait a minute,” I said. “I can't go in there right now. I'm too upset.” I was surprised to feel tears running down my cheeks. “I . . . I don't know what came over me.”

Lizzie hugged me. “I think I do, but we'll talk about it later. When you're not so upset.” She took my chin in her hand. “You put the fear of God into old Elmer. He'll think twice about how he treats Ruby from now on.”

I wasn't proud of how I'd acted, but I felt confident my tirade would help the child. Abusing Ruby could cause the Wittenbauers serious trouble with the church. They were dependent on the congregation's assistance. Financial help had increased since Ruby had come to live with them. If the church decided to discipline them, all that free food and monetary aid would disappear. For Elmer and Dorcas anyway. They might actually have to work, and that was something they dreaded more than anything else. I hoped Lizzie was right, that they would change their ways, but I wasn't confident that would happen. More than anything, I wanted to see Ruby in a home where she would be loved and cherished.

I wiped my face with my apron. “I'm all right now, Lizzie. Thank you.” I smiled at her. “I have an extra cloak upstairs in my closet that I think would fit Ruby. Will you watch her while I fetch it?”

Lizzie nodded. “Go get it. But for pity's sake, please don't
say anything else to Elmer for a while. I thought he was going to have a heart attack right here in the restaurant.”

Even though I was appalled by my loss of control, the look on Lizzie's face made me giggle. Lizzie joined in and we cackled like two old hens.

“I have no idea what I'm laughing about,” I said, once I regained my composure. “That was hardly ladylike behavior. My father would have been horrified by that ungracious display of temper.”

Lizzie looked at me oddly. “Well, maybe he would have been, Callie, but I'm not. I'm proud of you. You stood up to Elmer, and you did it for a child who couldn't defend herself.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I'm very, very proud of you,” she said again.

My face grew warm with embarrassment, but down deep inside, I was tickled by Lizzie's praise.

“I-I'd better get going.”

“Okay. I'll get some food inside Ruby before we send her out in the cold again. I think a nice bowl of chili would help. Looking at Elmer and Dorcas, I can see where most of the food the church gives them is going. Ruby certainly isn't getting enough.” Lizzie got a look on her face I'd seen before. “I know she's being fed at school because I take food over there every day. Maybe I can come up with a way to do a little more.”

I turned to go, a smile on my face. Ruby wouldn't need to worry about food from this day forward. Lizzie would see to that.

As I made my way into the dining room, I noticed Elmer sitting at a table, talking to John Lapp. When Elmer saw me, his face went slack and he clamped his mouth shut. John
looked my way, a scowl on his thin face. I ignored them both and hurried up the stairs. Going through my closet, I found both my cloaks. I took out the nicest one and grabbed a couple of warm dresses as well. For once, being small was helpful, although realizing I was the same size as a fourteen-year-old girl didn't make me feel very mature. I'd also noticed that Ruby's shoes were coming apart and not appropriate for winter. I took a pair of black lace-up boots from my closet and added them to the other clothes.

The entire time, my body continued to tremble, as if it had a mind of its own. I'd never lost my temper before the way I'd just done with Elmer. I had concerns about Ruby, but so did Lizzie, and she hadn't seen fit to verbally assault anyone.

After praying for God's forgiveness and asking for His help, I tried to compose myself by breathing deeply and repeating the Scripture verse about the peace of God that passes understanding. Little by little, I felt the calming influence of God's Spirit wash through me.

Once I was ready, I headed downstairs. I could only hope that news of my insolence wouldn't get back to Levi. What would he think? How could I possibly be the wife of a pastor if I acted so unpleasantly toward a member of our church?

When I reached the dining room, I refused to look at Elmer and Brother Lapp, keeping my eyes trained straight ahead. In the kitchen I found Noah, Lizzie, and Ruby all together. Lizzie stood at the stove, and Noah sat at the table with Ruby, who welcomed me with a big smile on her face.

“This is the best chili I ever tasted,” she said. “Mama used to make chili, but it wasn't nearly this good.”

“Lizzie's a great cook,” I said. “She makes lots of wonderful things.”

Ruby gazed around the kitchen as if it were the most wonderful place she'd ever seen. “I wish I could cook. Good food makes people so . . . happy.”

Lizzie cleared her throat, obviously moved by Ruby's statement. “We've been talking,” she said, looking over at me, “and Ruby will be coming here after school from now on. Elmer will pick her up after supper. She and Charity can work on their homework together until it's time to eat.”

“Except on Wednesdays,” Ruby said, “'cause Charity goes to her grandparents' house. Then I get to study with you.”

“I didn't think you'd mind if I volunteered you,” Lizzie said with a smile. “Noah and I will take care of the dining room until five. It's not very busy in the afternoons anyway.”

“That sounds great,” I said hesitantly, “but does Brother Wittenbauer know he's picking Ruby up here in the evenings?”

Noah grinned. “He's been informed. Oddly enough, he didn't seem to have any objections.”

“Good.” I took a plastic sack out of the cupboard. “Ruby, here are some clothes I don't need. You take these home. But for now, let's go ahead and change your shoes. These are the right kind for snow. Is that all right?”

Ruby nodded. “My feet get so cold.” She frowned as I slipped off her tattered old shoes. “My socks have holes in them.”

“Those socks have more holes than material,” Lizzie said, watching from the stove. “Noah, you go downstairs and get some socks out of the dryer. Grab about three pairs.” She smiled at Ruby. “My socks will be a little big for you, but at least they don't have holes.”

Noah jumped up from the table and hurried down the stairs.

Ruby's eyes shone with tears. “Thank you. You're being so nice to me.”

“People should be nice to you, Ruby,” I said as I peeled the ragged socks off her feet. “If they're not, you must come and tell us.” I cast a quick look at Lizzie, who nodded her approval. “Will you do that? Will you let us know if the Wittenbauers are mean to you?”

Ruby looked down at the floor. “If they get mad at me, I won't have any place to live. They told me they would send me to an orphanage.”

Lizzie's face flushed. “They will
not
send you to an orphanage, Ruby. Don't you worry about that. If we need to, we'll find you another place to live. Okay?”

The young girl nodded as a tear splashed down on her thin dress.

I wasn't worried about Lizzie's promise. People in Kingdom took care of one another. If Ruby couldn't get along at the Wittenbauers', someone would surely open their home to her. The look on Lizzie's face made me wonder if that new home might be with her and Noah. What a blessing that would be for the young girl.

I got a warm washcloth and washed Ruby's dirty feet. It was obvious she wasn't getting regular baths. It was getting too late to do anything about it tonight, but I'd make sure she got a nice hot shower after school tomorrow. Noah came back with the socks, and I pulled a warm pair onto Ruby's feet.

“That feels really good. Thank you,” she said softly. “Thank you for everything.” She stood to her feet. “I'd better leave. I don't want Uncle Elmer to get any madder at me.”

I held out the bag of dresses and the extra socks. “Here, take this.” I picked up the cloak I'd carried downstairs. “This
should keep you warm.” I looked over at Noah. “Would you make sure Ruby's uncle understands that she is to wear this every day when it's cold?”

“Oh, I'll make absolutely certain he understands that,” Noah said firmly. “Come on, Ruby. I'll walk out with you. There are a couple more things I want to tell your uncle.”

Ruby started toward the door, but suddenly she whirled around and ran to me, wrapping her thin arms around me. “Thank you, Miss Callie.”

“You're very welcome.” I tried to keep the emotion out of my voice, but I failed.

When she let go of me, Ruby went to Lizzie and hugged her too. “Thank you,” she whispered. Without looking back at us, she ran out the door, Noah behind her. Lizzie and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes.

“She'll be all right, Callie,” Lizzie said. “We'll keep a close eye on her.”

All I could do was nod. Without any further discussion, we got back to work, preparing for our supper crowd.

When it was almost time to serve the evening meal, I grabbed my order pad and went out into the dining room. I'd just approached Jonathon Wiese's table when the front door flew open. Mercy Eberly, the daughter of the man who runs our hardware store, stumbled in. Her eyes were wild, and she was as white as a sheet. Everyone stopped talking and stared at her.

“A . . . a woman,” she said. “There's a woman. She's . . . she's dead!” With that she fainted and fell to the floor.