Debby Giusti - Amish Safe House

“I will ask you once more, William. Who did you call?”

“I... I thought about calling a friend of mine from Philly.”

“What is his name?”

“David.”

“His full name.”

“David Davila.”

“Did the call connect?”

Will shook his head. “No way. There wasn’t time.”

“Did you call your friend from the hotel in Philadelphia?”

The boy’s face reddened.

“What did you tell David?”

“Only that we were moving, but I didn’t tell him where.”

“Did you mention Kansas?”

“I just said we were leaving the city.”

Abraham pointed the boy toward the road. “The phone is off-limits. Is that understood?”

“Yeah, sure.” William pushed past Abraham.

Abraham glanced back at the phone. William was his own worst enemy. The Philadores did not care if the boy was fourteen or forty-three. He was on their hit list. If Abraham could not protect William from himself, the boy and his sweet sister and pretty mother might die.

Julia felt a swell of relief when she spied William and Abraham return to the farm and enter the barn.

A short time later, the clip-clop of horses’ hooves pulled her attention back to the road. A buggy turned into the drive and stopped near the barn. A woman dressed in the typical Amish calf-length blue dress, black cape and matching black bonnet climbed to the ground.

Abraham stepped from the barn and greeted her with a welcoming smile. Julia wished she could hear their conversation and wondered what she should do if the woman came inside. Was she supposed to hide?

William stood at the barn entrance. From the way his arms moved, Abraham appeared to be introducing her son to the woman. Taking that as a sign she could go outside, Julia called for Kayla to join her and they both stepped onto the porch.

Abraham glanced up and nodded. “Sarah, this is Julia. She will be staying in the dawdy house for a bit of time and helping with the cleaning and cooking. Her daughter’s name is Kayla.”

Sarah looked perplexed, but she covered her confusion with a weak smile of welcome. “Abraham said you needed a place to stay.”

How should she answer? “He has been most generous to us.”

“I... I brought clothing.”

The Amish woman glanced at Abraham, said something that sounded German and then reached into the buggy and pulled forth a basket. “Perhaps I should show you how to pin the dress?”

Julia didn’t understand.

Abraham must have noticed her confusion. He stepped closer. “I saw Sarah yesterday before you arrived and asked her to bring Amish clothing, which will be good for you to wear.”

“You want me to dress Amish?”

He nodded. “For now. So you can fit in.”

“And the children?”

“They should, also.”

Julia glanced at Kayla who clapped her hands and jumped up and down. William frowned and wrapped his arms across his chest.

Seemed there were complications to their new environment. Julia tried to recall if the marshals had said they would be living with the Amish or living Amish.

A huge difference, which she would need to explain to her children. Would William listen? From the scowl on his face, probably not.

* * *

Abraham poured another cup of coffee and waited in the kitchen as Sarah ushered Julia and Kayla into a spare bedroom and helped them dress. William headed for a small room off the main living area.

“You would like help?” Abraham asked.

The boy shook his head. “I’ve got it.”

But evidently he did not have it because he remained in the room far longer than Abraham had expected. Before he could check on the boy, the bedroom door opened and Kayla skipped into the kitchen. Seeing Abraham, she stopped short.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes twinkled as she smiled shyly. “Sarah said she has a daughter who used to wear this dress. Now she’s grown taller. Sarah said I look like an Amish girl.”

Abraham had to smile. “You look very pretty, Kayla, and very Amish.” Her hair was braided and pulled into a bun. “We must get you a white kapp in town.”

“Sarah said girls cover their heads when they pray and since they always pray, they always wear their hats.”

“Called a kapp ,” he instructed.

“William wears baseball caps sometimes.”

“That is not the same thing.”

The girl nodded. “Sarah’s fixing Mama’s hair so she can look Amish, too.”

Footsteps sounded. Abraham looked up to see Julia standing in the hallway, eyes downcast and a troubled frown on her oval face. She wore the typical Amish blue dress with white apron tied around her slender waist. Any self-sufficiency he had noticed earlier in her demeanor had been replaced with an alluring femininity that caused his gut to tighten. He also noted a hint of confusion that creased her brow, as if leaving her ordinary world and stepping into the Amish realm had thrown her off-kilter. Perhaps dressing Amish was too much too soon. The woman had been through so much.

Sarah encouraged her forward. “Trotter’s Dry Goods sells kapps . You must go to town and buy one for Kayla and Julia. Another dress, too, and a second apron.”

He nodded. “We will go soon.”

“I could meet you there and help with the selection.”

“If we need help, I will let you know.”

Sarah nodded and glanced at Kayla. “Tell me which you like best, apple pie or sweet potato?”

“Apple,” Kayla said.

“I have an extra pie in the wagon.”

Abraham smiled. “Thank you, Sarah.”

“It is the least I can do.” She turned and grabbed Julia’s hand. “I do not know the reason you are here, but I know it must be important. Embracing the Amish life is not easy. Should you need another woman with whom to talk, tell Abraham you would like to visit. Perhaps one day this week. I will be finishing one of my quilts and could use help.”

“I’m not sure you would approve of my stitches.”

“We all must learn, yah ?”

Julia smiled. “I hope someday to find a way to repay you.”

“Payment is not necessary. We are neighbors and now friends. My help is freely given.”

Sarah stepped toward Abraham and took his hand. “It is always good to see you, Abraham.”

“Thank you, Sarah.”

“You will come for dinner on Sunday?” she asked. “The bishop and his wife will be at my house.”

“Not this week. Perhaps some other time.”

She stepped closer and smiled knowingly. “Someday you will be ready, yah ?”

Then she hurried around him and patted Kayla’s shoulder. “Come with me, child. You can bring the pie into the house.”

Abraham watched her climb into the buggy and hand a pie to Kayla. The girl hurried back inside.

“Place the pie on the counter,” Abraham instructed. “We will have a slice after we eat this evening.”

Kayla returned to the porch and waved goodbye to Sarah. Julia stood near the sink as if glued in place.

“I am sure wearing an Amish dress is not what you expected.” Abraham tried to explain. “Jonathan felt the disguise would add another layer of protection.”

“He’s right. It’s just a change.” She offered him a weak smile, and then, with a sigh, stepped closer to the sink and washed a glass left on the counter. “Sarah seems like a nice woman.”

“She goes out of her way to be helpful.” Abraham took another sip of coffee.

“You are courting, perhaps?”

He furrowed his brow. “Did she say this?”

“No, of course not. It’s just she mentioned her husband had died.” Julia reached for the towel and dried her hands. “I saw Sarah’s expression when she looked at you. I thought—”