A Cousin's Prayer Read online

  “Aren’t there days when you’re not so busy?” Loraine asked.

  “Jah, but Mom usually finds something for me to do.”

  “That’s fine,” Ella said. “We can get together some evening.”

  As they continued to visit, Loraine was pleased that Katie seemed more talkative, even though she did seem to be on edge.

  “I got another letter from Jolene yesterday,” Ella said. “She’s doing well with her classes on sign language and thinks when she’s done she might want to teach deaf children.”

  “That’d be good,” Loraine said. “I know how much she’s missed teaching school, and she really does need a purpose.”

  “Speaking of purpose,” Ella said, “I need to buy a few things in Goshen later this week, and I was wondering if you two might be free to go with me. We can have lunch afterwards—maybe go to that restaurant where they serve barbecued ribs.”

  Loraine nodded. “Sounds like a fun day to me.”

  Ella turned to Katie. “How about you?”

  Katie shook her head. “I don’t think my mamm can spare me that long.”

  Just then Eunice showed up. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said.

  “We were just catching up with each other’s lives.” Loraine patted the ground beside her. “Have a seat; you’re welcome to join us.”

  “I think I will.” Eunice lowered herself to the ground. “Are you okay?” she asked, looking at Katie. “You gave us all a scare when you fell off the bench like that.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? Your face still looks awfully pale.”

  Katie’s lips compressed together. “I’m feeling much better now.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  “We’ve been talking about getting together to do some stamping,” Ella said. “If you like to stamp, maybe you’d like to join us.”

  “That sounds like fun. When did you plan to get together?”

  “We haven’t picked a date yet,” Katie said, “but we’ll let you know when we do.”

  Loraine smiled. It was good to see Katie taking an active part in their conversation. She’d been quiet and kept to herself much of the time since she’d been home. Maybe she was beginning to adjust.

  When Loraine heard her name being called, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Wayne heading her way.

  “My mamm’s got a headache and wants to go home,” he said when he approached her. “Since my folks rode in our buggy today, we’re kind of obligated to take them home.”

  Loraine stood and pressed the wrinkles from her dress. “That’s fine. I’m ready for a little nap myself.” She said her good-byes and hurried off with Wayne.

  ***

  Eunice leaned back on her elbows and stared at the sky. “It’s another warm day—too warm for spring, if you ask me.”

  Ella nodded. “Makes me wonder what summer will be like.”

  Katie grimaced. “Probably hot and sticky.”

  “After living in Florida, I’d think that you’d be used to hot and sticky,” Ella said.

  “It was different there. I could cool off whenever I went to the beach.”

  “I’ve never been to Sarasota, but I hear the sand is white, and someone told me that there are lots of interesting shells on the beach,” Eunice said.

  Katie nodded. “I would have brought some home with me, but I didn’t know I’d be staying.”

  “You were planning to go back?” Eunice asked.

  “Jah, but things have changed.”

  Eunice glanced over her shoulder and saw Fern standing near the Lehmans’ back porch. When Fern motioned to her, she clambered to her feet. “Fern’s waving at me, so I’d better go see what she wants. Let me know when you’re ready to do some stamping.”

  Ella smiled. “We will.”

  Eunice hurried off and took a seat beside Fern on the porch.

  “I was hoping to talk to you after the program yesterday,” Fern said when Eunice joined her. “But things got busy with the games, and you left before I had the chance to say anything.”

  “Was there anything in particular you wanted to talk to me about?” Eunice asked.

  “I wanted to see if you’d be free to come over to our place for supper tomorrow evening.”

  “I’d like that.” Eunice moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “Will Freeman be there?”

  Fern nodded. “I thought it would give the three of us a chance to get better acquainted. I think our grossmudder would enjoy visiting with you, too.”

  “That’d be great.” Eunice didn’t know if she’d enjoy visiting with Fern’s grandmother, but she was eager to spend more time with Freeman. Even though he’d be coming to her place soon, she wasn’t about to turn down Fern’s invitation.

  ***

  “That was a real good service we had today,” Grandma said as Freeman drove their buggy toward home later that day. “I enjoyed visiting afterwards, as well.”

  “It was a nice day,” Fern agreed. “I had a short visit with Eunice Byler, too.” She tapped Grandma lightly on the shoulder. “I invited Eunice to join us for supper tomorrow night. I hope that’s all right with you.”

  “Won’t bother me any,” Grandma said with a chuckle, “because I won’t be at home.”

  Freeman gave her a sidelong glance. “Where will you be?”

  “Several of us widows are going out for supper. I thought I’d mentioned that to you both a few days ago.”

  “Guess we forgot,” Fern said.

  Freeman glanced over his shoulder. “What made you decide to invite Eunice over for supper, Fern?”

  “She seems like a nice person, and I thought it would give us a chance to get to know her a little better.”

  “Hmm ... I see.” Freeman had to admit the idea of spending the evening with Eunice held some appeal, but he’d promised to have supper at her place next Saturday and hadn’t expected they’d be getting together quite so soon. He had a feeling Eunice might be looking for a husband, and since he wasn’t ready to settle down yet, he hoped it wasn’t him she had in mind for the job.

  “I don’t know about you two, but I’m feeling hungry,” Grandma said when Freeman guided the horse and buggy onto their driveway. “Think I’ll fix myself a little snack.”

  Freeman chuckled. Grandma might be a small woman, but she could pack away food like a full-grown man. It seemed as if she was always snacking on something.

  “I’ll drop you off here, and then I’ll put the horse and buggy away,” Freeman said, pulling the buggy up close to the house. “Oh, and Grandma, if you want to fix a snack, I think I could manage to eat a little something, too.”

  “Will do.” Grandma climbed down from the buggy with the ease of a woman much younger than her seventy years. Fern stepped out behind her.

  When they stepped onto the porch and opened the back door, Grandma let out a high-pitched screech. “Ach, what a marascht!”

  Freeman jumped out of the buggy and sprinted for the house.

  “What’s a mess?” he asked, leaping onto the porch.

  “Come in here and look for yourself,” Grandma hollered from the kitchen.

  Freeman rushed in and screeched to a stop just inside the door. Grandma and Fern stood there shaking their heads.

  Penny lay curled up on the braided throw rug by the kitchen sink, sleeping peacefully. The room, however, was a disaster! A box of cereal must have fallen off the table, for the contents were dumped on the floor. Several plastic sacks that had been in a box in the utility room were ripped up and strewn about. Some of Grandma’s dish towels were shredded, and a wad of napkins lay clumped together on the floor near the pup.

  “This doesn’t set well with me at all,” Grandma grumbled. She pointed to Freeman. “I want you to get that hundli out of my kitchen right now!”

  When Freeman started across the room, Penny’s eyes snapped open. She leaped up and darted under the table.

  “Nemm ihn fescht!” Fern hollered. />
  “Penny’s a she, and I’m trying to take hold of her like you asked.” Freeman lunged for the pup, but she slipped through his fingers. The pup’s toenails clicked against the linoleum as she raced out of the room.

  Freeman tore after the animal, hollering, “Come back here, you troublesome mutt!” He rounded the corner just in time to see Penny collide with the cardboard box on the utility porch.

  Yip! Yip! Yip! The pup shook her head and looked up at Freeman with a pathetic whimper.

  Freeman bent down and scooped Penny into his arms. “You’re nothing but trouble; you know that? How’d you get in the house and manage to make such a mess?”

  Slurp! Slurp! The pup swiped her tongue across Freeman’s chin.

  “You’re going back to the barn!” Freeman pushed the screen door open with his knee. “I’ll be back to help clean up the mess in a few minutes,” he called over his shoulder. “First thing tomorrow morning, I’m gonna build this mutt a dog run with a sturdy gate!”

  CHAPTER 13

  Katie picked up the heavy braided throw rugs she’d taken from the living room and lugged them out to the porch. She’d been cleaning the house while Mom did the laundry. Because the stamp shop was always closed on Mondays, it was the best time to get things done around the house. She’d been relieved this morning at breakfast that neither Mom nor Dad had said anything more about her seeing the doctor. Since she’d eaten most of the food on her plate and had forced herself to smile and appear relaxed, maybe they’d decided there was nothing wrong with her and she didn’t need to see the doctor.

  Katie draped the rugs over the porch railing and beat them with a broom. Dust flew in all directions, causing her to sneeze. She set the broom down, leaned against the railing, and sighed. It was too warm to be cleaning house.

  The back door opened, and Mom stepped onto the porch holding a basket of laundry. “If you feel up to it, would you mind hanging these clothes on the line for me while I wash another load?”

  “Sure, I can do that.” Katie took the basket and plodded down the stairs. She trudged across the lawn and set the basket under the clothesline.

  By the time she’d hung the last sheet, she was sweating, and her back ached from stretching to reach the line.

  Bzz ... bzz...

  Katie looked up and gasped. A swarm of bees was heading her way!

  Bzz ... bzz...

  They landed on the sheet overhead.

  Katie raced across the yard, screaming, “ Iemeschwarm!”

  The back door flew open, and Mom rushed outside just as Katie leaped onto the porch. “What’s going on, Katie? What swarm of bees are you hollering about?”

  “Th–they landed on one of the sheets!” Katie’s voice trembled, and so did her legs. She leaned against the porch railing and drew in a shaky breath. “I ... I feel sick to my stomach, and I can hardly breathe.”

  Mom took hold of Katie’s arm. “This has gone on long enough. I’m making you a doctor’s appointment today!”

  Katie shook her head. “I don’t want to see the doctor, and you can’t make me go!”

  She dashed down the stairs and raced into the field.

  With tears coursing down her cheeks, she ran until her sides began to ache. She stopped at the edge of the road and sucked in several deep breaths of air. Then she started walking along the shoulder of the road.

  The sun burned furiously, but Katie hurried on, paying no attention to where she was going. When she came to the entrance of their Amish cemetery, she halted. Should I go in? Would I feel better if I visited Timothy’s grave like Mom wanted me to do? Would seeing it again make me feel better or worse?

  Katie stood several minutes, shifting from one foot to the other. Finally, she gathered up her courage, opened the gate, and stepped inside. When she found Timothy’s grave, she dropped to her knees. It didn’t seem possible that the man she loved and had been planning to marry was lying dead beneath the mound of dirt by his headstone.

  Katie’s eyes and nose burned; she held her breath until her lungs screamed for air.

  Where are you, Timothy? Where’d your spirit go when it left your body?

  A strange prickling sensation came over Katie, and her heart started to pound. Suddenly, everything seemed unreal—as if she no longer existed.

  Katie jumped up and started to run. She needed to get away. Needed to find a place where she felt safe.

  ***

  When JoAnn entered the health food store, she noticed Eunice Byler talking to one of the English women who worked there, so she decided to look around on her own, hoping to find a remedy that might help Katie relax. There was no doubt in JoAnn’s mind that Katie had some sort of physical or emotional health issue. But if Katie refused to see the doctor, what could be done for her? Katie was a woman now, and JoAnn couldn’t force her to go to the doctor. Maybe, though, she could convince Katie to take one of the natural remedies found here.

  As JoAnn headed down the aisle where the herbs and homeopathic remedies were displayed, she spotted Loraine’s mother, Priscilla.

  “Wie geht’s?” JoAnn asked when Priscilla stepped up to her.

  “I’m fine, but Amos isn’t doing so well. He’s come down with a cold.” Priscilla frowned. “Told me this morning that he felt stuffed up like a rag doll, so I came here to see what I could find to help with his symptoms. What brings you here today? Is someone in your family grank?”

  “I’m not sure. Katie might be, but she refuses to let us take her to see the doctor.”

  “Is she still feeling dizzy like she was on Sunday?”

  “I don’t think so, but this morning she freaked out over some bees that landed on one of the sheets hanging on the clothesline. Said she felt sick to her stomach and could hardly breathe. She got real upset when I tried to talk to her and ran off into the field.” JoAnn motioned to the bottles of herbs. “I figured if I could get her calmed down, she might listen to reason about seeing the doctor, so I came here looking for something that might help.”

  “Maybe you should try this.” Priscilla handed JoAnn a bottle of valerian root. “This herb is supposed to act as a natural sedative. There’s also a remedy in the homeopathic section that’s used for calming.”

  “I appreciate the suggestions, and I’ll see if Katie’s willing to try them.” JoAnn smiled. “How are things with Loraine and Wayne? Are they enjoying married life?”

  “Except for Loraine’s concerns over Crist and Ada, I believe things are going well.”

  “What concerns? Are there problems between Loraine and Ada again?”

  Priscilla shook her head. “From what I understand, Crist and Ada are having marital problems.”

  “What a shame. Has our bishop or one of the other ministers counseled with them?”

  “Not that I know of. I’m not sure any of the ministers knows about the problem.”

  “Divorce is not an option for Ada and Crist, so I’d think they would seek help if their marriage is strained.”

  “I’m not sure Crist would admit to such a thing, and you know how stubborn Ada can be.”

  “You’re good friends with Sadie,” JoAnn said, thinking of their bishop’s wife. “Maybe you should talk to her about the situation with Crist and Ada.”

  Priscilla nodded. “I’ve thought of that, and I may drop by to see her on my way home.”

  “I think you should. No point in letting this go on until things get worse.”

  “You’re right. It’s stressful enough for the newlyweds to be sharing their house with Wayne’s folks. They don’t need any arguing going on.”

  “Let me know how it goes.” JoAnn turned toward the counter where the cash register sat. “Guess I’d better pay for my things and be on my way. Hopefully by the time I get home, Katie will be there, too.”

  ***

  Freeman whistled as he headed for home with his horse and buggy. He’d just come from Shipshewana, where he’d picked up the things he needed to finish the dog run he’d started building. He�
��d be glad to get it done so the pup could be in a safe place, away from the house and his bike shop.

  Freeman glanced to the right and was surprised to see Katie Miller running along the shoulder of the road. He guided his horse and buggy alongside of her and stopped. “What are you doing out here so far from home?” he called.

  She didn’t answer, just kept on running.

  Freeman followed her down the road and stopped his horse again when he got ahead of her. This time he got out of the buggy and waited for her. “Katie, what’s wrong?”

  She finally stopped running and stared up at him like a frightened child. “I ... I’m going home.”

  “You’re a long ways from home. Where have you been?”

  She dropped her gaze to the ground and kicked at the pebbles beneath her feet. “I was out for a walk and ended up at the cemetery.”

  Now it made sense. Katie’s strange behavior had something to do with her visit to the cemetery. “Did you go there to visit Timothy’s grave?”

  She nodded slowly, and when she lifted her head, tears gathered in her eyes. “I ... I started to feel funny while I was there, and I knew I needed to go home.”

  “Funny in what way?”

  She shrugged. “Just funny, that’s all.”

  It was obvious that she didn’t want to talk about it, so Freeman decided not to press the issue. He motioned to his buggy. “I’m on my way back to my shop, so why don’t you let me give you a ride?”

  She shifted uneasily but finally nodded.

  When they climbed into his buggy, Freeman noticed that Katie had started to shiver. He reached under the seat and pulled out a buggy robe. “If you’re cold, here’s something you can wrap around your shoulders.”

  She took the robe but gave no reply.

  As they rode along, Freeman asked God to give him the right words to say to Katie. She was clearly upset, and he didn’t want to say anything that might upset her even more.

  “Do you have a dog?” he asked.

  She gave a quick nod.

  “Full grown or still a pup?”