Patricia Davids - An Amish Wife For Christmas

Ms. Kenworthy took the letter and replaced it in the drawer. “I thought it was odd that Jeffrey was the one who delivered it to me and not your sister. Do you know what Ivan has been doing instead of coming to school?”

“I wish I did. He doesn’t confide in me these days.”

“He was close to his grandfather, wasn’t he?”

The understanding in the teacher’s eyes allowed Bethany to unburden herself. “They were very close. Since Elijah’s death Ivan has refused to talk to me about what’s troubling him. He’s changed so much. I was hoping he might have confided in you.”

“I am deeply sorry for your loss. Elijah was well liked in this community.”

“Thank you.”

“Your brother’s grades were not the best before your grandfather passed away. Since that time, he has earned nothing but Fs for incomplete work. Even when he is here he seems withdrawn until someone speaks to him. Then he’s ready to start a fight over nothing. Unless he does extra-credit work and turns in his missing assignments, I’m afraid he is going to flunk the semester. I know that according to your religion this is his last year of education, but I still have to follow state guidelines. That puts me between a rock and a hard place. If he flunks the semester, he’ll have to attend summer school.”

Bethany shook her head. “Ivan will be needed on the farm this summer. I don’t see how we could spare him even a few hours a day.”

“In that case he will have to repeat this grade next year. Talk to him. Try to make him see what’s at stake.” She removed a folder from another drawer. “Give these assignments to him. Hopefully he can finish most of them over the weekend.”

“I will. Thank you.” Bethany was angry with Ivan for his deceit, but she was more disappointed in herself. Where had she gone wrong? How had she failed him? She tried to be a parent to her siblings but without her grandfather’s help she didn’t know how to reach Ivan. Maybe letting him return to Pennsylvania would be for the best.

Except that it didn’t feel like the right solution. She loved her brother. She couldn’t imagine life without his annoying habits, constant teasing and his hearty laugh. She had to make him see that his actions were tearing the family apart.

But she needed to find him first. Clearly Jeffrey was in on whatever Ivan was up to. His parents lived a mile farther up into the woods from her home.

Bethany left the school building and saw Michael sitting on the buggy step. She’d forgotten him. A thin yellow hound lay a few feet away from him. The dog wagged its tail tentatively as it watched him. Michael pulled his gloves off and took something from his pocket. He held it toward the dog. The animal crept a few inches closer.

“Good girl,” Michael said, tossing the item at the dog’s feet. She snapped it up. At the sound of Bethany approaching, the dog darted for cover between two nearby parked cars.

Bethany stopped beside Michael. The dog grew bold enough to peek out from between the cars but didn’t approach. “I see you made a new friend.”

He rose to his feet. “She was sniffing at the trash cans and trying to get them open. I could see she was looking for a meal. I had a little leftover jerky I picked up on the bus ride here. She appears to need it more than I do. Is your brother at school?”

“ Nee , but that doesn’t prove he stole provisions from Jedidiah.”

“You’re still giving him the benefit of the doubt?”

“Of course. He’s my brother.”

“I hope your confidence isn’t misplaced.”

“I pray it’s not but I will admit I’m at my wit’s end. His teacher says he hasn’t been to school all week. His friend gave the teacher a note that was signed with my name that said he was sick at home. I have to find out what’s going on. He’s left each morning to catch the school bus with his sister and he’s walked home with her each evening, yet he hasn’t been in school.”

“Don’t think too badly of him. Boys his age are sometimes impatient to grow up and live their own adventures. Then they make foolish mistakes because they aren’t as smart as they think they are.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

“I am. My own.”

“How many forged notes did you send to your teacher?”

A wry grin curved his lips. “My teacher happened to be my mother’s youngest sister, so none.”

“I’m afraid of what the bishop will say when Jedidiah tells his side of the story.”

“If the bishop is a reasonable man he’ll listen to your side of the story, as well.”

She was grateful for his reassurance, but he didn’t know how serious the situation was becoming. She held on to the hope that her uncle could be persuaded to let Ivan remain with her. “I will take you to see the bishop now.”

“I appreciate that.” He moved to open the buggy door for her and took her hand to help her in.

His grip was firm but his hand was soft. His skin lacked the calloused roughness of a man who made his living farming the land or woodworking. It wasn’t the hand of a laborer, yet she found his gentle strength oddly comforting.

Perhaps he was a shopkeeper. Her grandfather had had plans to open a small grocery in New Covenant. Maybe that was the job he had promised Michael. It didn’t matter. Her grandfather was gone, and she wasn’t in a position to continue his work. At least not yet.

She looked up and met Michael’s gaze as he continued to hold her hand longer than necessary. There was a profound sadness in the depth of his eyes that she didn’t understand. What troubled him? What was he thinking?

* * *

Michael stared into Bethany’s light blue eyes as the warmth of her touch went all the way to the center of his chest and warmed a place that had been cold for a long time. He studied her face, trying to find out why she triggered such a strong reaction in him.

Her pale blond hair was parted in the middle and worn under a white prayer covering. Her skin was fair with a scattering of freckles across her dainty nose. She was an attractive woman, too attractive for his peace of mind.

He let go of her hand, stepped away and limped around the back of the buggy, letting the pain in his leg remind him of why he had no business thinking about how perfectly her small hand had nestled in his. If things had been different, if he wasn’t so damaged he would have enjoyed getting to know her better, but things weren’t different. He had to accept that.

He also had more serious things to think about. He needed a job and he needed somewhere to live. Preferably a good distance away from other people in this remote community. His neighbors wouldn’t appreciate being awakened in the middle of the night by the screams that sometimes accompanied his nightmares.

Thoughts of his dreams filled him with apprehension as his pulse shot up. He quickly scanned his surroundings. A car drove past the school, the tires crunching on the snow. Children were playing on the playground. He could hear their laughter and shouting. Someone stood at the corner of the school building. He thought it was a woman but he couldn’t be sure. The person was bundled in a parka with the hood up. Perhaps a teacher watching the children. He struggled to convince himself that there was nothing sinister here but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad would happen at any second. His heart began to pound as tightness gripped his chest.

The dog ventured out and came to stand in front of him. He focused on her unusual golden eyes. She looked to be part yellow Labrador retriever and part pointer. Her white-tipped tail wagged slowly. He held out his hand and she sniffed it. It was a shame he didn’t have more to feed her. She retreated again and he got in Bethany’s buggy.