Katie's Forever Promise (15 page)

Norman stopped to catch his breath.

Katie clutched her pounding chest. From somewhere the words found their way to her lips. “None of that is true, Norman. I did go, yes, but I was only doing my Christian duty. I wouldn't have gone to the hospital if Leon hadn't come and asked me himself. He said Ben was calling for me, and that he might not live through the night. They wanted to do anything they could to help Ben survive.”

Norman launched into his tirade again. “And why do you think Ben was calling for you? What reason would he have for that? What did you tell him the time you visited his hospital room before? Something obviously that stirred his passion. Did you kiss him like you used to? And don't tell me that's not true. I can see how you can't keep your hands off boys. You've been wanting me to kiss you ever since you first climbed into my buggy. What decent girl has those kinds of feelings, Katie? None! None, I say!”

Katie forced herself to keep breathing normally. “You don't really mean this, Norman. Have you listened to yourself? You're not making sense, and you're totally out of line.”

Norman grabbed her arm hard. “I mean every word I said. How dare you act like you're so holy when you have such impure thoughts about me? Go find yourself a boyfriend who's like you. It certainly isn't going to be me.” Norman let go of her arm. “Now, does that make you feel better? I
touched
you. Get out of my buggy. We're through.”

Katie didn't move. “You can't really mean this, Norman. I've tried to love you. You know I've tried. You make it so hard…”

“And you're also a liar, Katie. You promised at the schoolhouse never to speak with Ben Stoll again. I'm not having a
frau
like you. Go now!”

“I didn't promise, Norman. I didn't.” Katie groped for the handle of the buggy door, tears streaming down her face. There was no reason his words should hurt so deeply because they weren't true, yet they cut like the edge of a hot knife. She glanced up at Norman's face, but he was staring straight off into the night. Katie jumped down and fled toward the house. Behind her, Norman's buggy whirled out of the driveway, Bonnie's hooves churning in the night air almost as if she were flying.

Mabel was standing inside the front door when Katie burst in. A smile spread over the teenager's face as she took in Katie's tears and demeanor.

“Well, well,” Mabel said, relishing the moment.

Through her tears, Katie managed to say, “You're a schemer, Mabel. This will come back to haunt you. How do you expect to benefit from this anyway?”

Mabel's smile broadened. “Don't you worry about that, Katie. Just stay out of my way.”

“I wouldn't get in your way in a thousand years. You're welcome to him. He's an immature boy.”

“Boy?” Mabel smirked. “He's quite a man, if you ask me.”

Katie took a deep breath. She felt great anger toward Mabel,
but it wouldn't be right not to give her some warning. “Norman's someone you don't want to mess with, Mabel. He's got a dark side. You don't know what you're getting into.”

Mabel tilted her head. “That's just sour grapes talking. Norman's just dumped you, if I don't miss my guess. You're bound to point the finger of blame at anyone except yourself.”

“Okay then. Have it your way.” Katie brushed past Mabel and headed up the stairs. “But don't say you weren't warned.”

In her room, Katie collapsed on her bed. She muffled her sobs with a pillow. After a few minutes, she tried to pull herself together. Why was she crying? She really didn't love Norman, if it came right down to that question. And after his performance tonight, she was well rid of him. What if she'd agreed to marry him before knowing what he was really like? She shuddered. Still, the tears welled up again. She had so hoped this was the answer for a new start. A man who fit in with what she'd already accomplished—joining the church, teaching school, becoming more accepted in the community. But now the man she'd thought was sent from
Da Hah
had spoken words that stung her like fire. And the words were all false…so completely false and yet Norman chose to believe them.

Didn't the preachers say on Sundays that no one's word was to be totally discounted? That was how the community lived with each other, by looking for the truth within people's words and actions. Katie sobbed into the pillow some more. But what Norman accused her of couldn't be true, could it? That she was high and mighty? That she acted like a holy person?
Nee
, she was only trying to do what was right. And now here she was torn and bleeding, and she had no one she could turn to. Even
Mamm
wouldn't understand. And Mabel certainly wouldn't be supportive. Apparently she had plans to move in on Norman. How the girl would manage that was beyond Katie's comprehension, but Mabel had certainly shown herself quite resourceful.

Right now Katie needed someone to speak with or her heart was going to bleed all night. And tomorrow was another school day. She couldn't arrive all bleary-eyed and tear-stained. She owed the students and the community a decent day's work. The only one she could talk to was
Mamm
. Katie would have to try to talk to her even if she didn't understand. After what Norman had said, even words of rebuke
Mamm
might say would be like drops of honey on her wounded heart.

Katie crept downstairs and peered into the living room first and then the kitchen. No sign of Mabel. Creeping up to Jesse and
Mamm
's bedroom door, Katie tapped. A floorboard creaked, and moments later the door opened and
Mamm
appeared.

“May I speak with you?” Katie whispered.

Mamm
opened the door and followed Katie out to the living room. A bathrobe was wrapped over her nightgown.

“What is it, Katie?”
Mamm
found a seat beside Katie on the couch.

“Norman just told me he didn't want to go out with me anymore.” Katie looked away. “I need someone to pray with me…or something because my heart hurts.”

“Oh, Katie…”
Mamm
scooted closer and wrapped Katie in her arms. “Is it permanent…or just a spat?”

Katie grimaced. “Quite permanent.”

“Did Mabel have a hand in this?”

“Yes, but not directly this time. Norman's upset that I spent the night at the hospital with Ben and his parents.”

Mamm
was puzzled. “But Leon and Lavina both approved, Katie. They said so at church today. They said someone was with you the entire time, and that they'd asked you to come. And Jesse thought it was okay too.”

“I know, but Norman doesn't care about that.”

“Did he say things that…hurt you?”

Katie choked back a sob. “Yes.”

“Do you want to tell me?”

“I'd better not. Norman looks at things differently than I do. And I'm probably not what I should be, either.”

“Don't be too hard on yourself. According to Lavina, you helped Ben pull through. That counts for a lot.”

Katie managed a thin smile. “It really doesn't make much difference now. I'm not sure why I'm so upset about Norman. I know I didn't love him yet. Talking to you has helped in the past. I didn't want to lie awake most of the night crying so I knew I needed something.”

“Then let's pray.”
Mamm
got down on her knees and reached over to hold Katie's hand as she followed suit. “
Da Hah
knows what needs doing now.”

Katie nodded. For once
Mamm
didn't have any lectures to give. Katie continued to weep, letting go of
Mamm
's hand to cover her face. This must really be a serious problem for
Mamm
to have no ready answer.

Mamm
's soft voice began. “Dear
Hah
in heaven, hear us tonight, we pray, in this moment of our sorrow. You know what Katie just went through. You heard the words that Norman spoke to her. And You know if they were right or wrong. Let Katie now take them to You for healing or repentance if she has done anything she shouldn't have. And forgive us all our sins even as we forgive all others tonight, including Norman and what he has done.”

Katie sobbed even harder, pressing her face into the couch.
Mamm
's words were cutting deep, but they were also providing a healing balm. She would accept all of them—and whatever else
Da Hah
chose to send her way in the days ahead.
Yah
, even if it meant living single the rest of her life. No young man would ask her home anytime soon with this blight on her record. Norman would see to that, and Mabel would be only too glad to help him.

“Are you able to forgive Norman?”
Mamm
asked, holding Katie's hand again. “And Mabel? Even though you think she had no great hand in this, I know she's caused trouble before.”

Katie nodded. “I think so.” She forced herself to pray. “I'm sorry, dear
Hah
for anything I've done wrong. I forgive Norman and Mabel for what I think they did wrong. Please heal this hurting heart of mine because I don't know what I can do about it.”

Katie and
Mamm
stood.
Mamm
turned and gave Katie another tight hug. “Are you okay now?”

“Maybe.” Katie managed a slight smile. “Thank you for praying with me.”

Mamm
followed Katie to the bottom of the stairs. “You have a
gut
night's sleep now.”

“I'll try,” Katie whispered before turning and slipping up the stairs. And she would—as hard as that might be. She would trust
Da Hah
to make sense and good come out of this mess. She certainly couldn't.

Chapter Fifteen

Two Sunday nights after the breakup between Norman and Katie, Willis drove Sparky home from the Sunday night hymn singing, Katie seated beside him. She wanted to stay home or crawl into a hole somewhere, but when Willis offered to go with her, she'd accepted.

She also knew Norman left the hymn singing right behind them. With Mabel at his side. Somehow Mabel had contrived a way to get Norman to ask her home. How had the girl managed that feat? Katie wondered. Now Mabel would have to deal with Norman's temper and other eccentricities.

“It'll get better after awhile.” Willis's voice oozed compassion. “And, besides, you didn't really want him anyway.”

“I thought he was
Da Hah
's choice for me. I was going to marry Norman—if he asked. And Mabel knew it. Now she's riding in his buggy.”

Willis was quick to reply. “Sometimes things don't work out—and that's not always for the worst.”

Katie shot a quick glance at Willis. “You don't seem to carry a very high opinion of Norman.”

Willis laughed. “Norman's okay, I guess. He just never seemed to fit you very well.”

“Maybe you're right.” Katie let out another long sigh. “How did Mabel do it? That's what I want to know. It took forever before he asked me.”

“Well, Mabel's my sister, so don't spread this around…” Willis chuckled before continuing. “From what a little birdie told me, Ruth Troyer told Norman's
mamm
what a great match Mabel would make for the grief-stricken Norman. I'm guessing Mabel put Ruth up to it. I'm sure you can guess the rest from there.”

“I hope Mabel likes what she gets.” Katie turned around in the seat to look at the buggy lights behind them.
Yah
, from the gait of the horse, it was Norman and Mabel. Katie sighed. Would Mabel dare hold Norman's hand on their first date? Even if she didn't, Mabel wasn't such a saint herself. The girl had spent plenty of time getting experience by kissing Mose Yutzy out in the feed bin when she was sneaking around. Katie rebuked herself. She shouldn't be thinking such nasty thoughts about Mabel or Norman—or anyone else. She was even a bit ashamed of the smile that came to her face when she thought of how the two schemers deserved each other.

“I think Mabel's got herself a deal this time.” Willis was also watching the buggy lights behind them via his rearview mirror. “Norman's going to be serious about getting married, considering how you broke his heart. It might help him save face to do it quickly.”

Katie snorted. “I'm the one who should be talking about a broken heart.”

Willis didn't laugh. “Do you know what Norman's spreading
around the community? I don't want to hurt your feelings, but I want you to be aware of what's going on.”

Katie sighed. “
Yah
, I know. Norman says I'm sneaky, that I stretch the truth, that I betray hearts, and that I have a hard time keeping decent thoughts in my head about guys.”

“Whoa, Sparky!” Willis stopped the buggy at a stop sign and turned to stare at Katie. “Have you heard all that already?”

Katie sighed. “No, but I used to date Norman, remember? I know how he thinks. I also know Mabel and what she told him about me—most of it untrue. And I know what both of them are capable of. Norman is saying such things, isn't he?”