Katie's Forever Promise (20 page)

My, how different things had been today from what she was used to at Amish weddings. Katie brought Sparky to a stop beside the barn. She smiled at the memory of Margaret leaping into Lonnie's car while people threw rice and birdseed at the couple. Margaret was married, all in her own way, and that's what counted. But Katie knew she wouldn't share many of the details of this wedding with
Mamm
or anyone else.

Unhitching Sparky, Katie had him out of the shafts when Willis appeared with a broad grin on his face. “Back again, I see. Did the happy couple get sent off safely?”

“
Yah
!” Katie returned his smile. “A little differently than we're used to, but they're off.”

“Fancy wedding, huh?” Willis apparently knew more than she did about Mennonite weddings. But then maybe he was guessing.

“
Yah
,” Katie said. “Are you going to put Sparky up for me?”

“For my darling sister? Of course!” Willis grinned over his shoulder as he marched off with the horse.

“Thanks!” Katie hollered after him. Apparently Willis was still trying to soothe her wounded heart. Likely he figured the wedding had stirred up thoughts of her lost wedding hopes with Norman. Well, it hadn't. Now with Ben…that was another matter. But she wasn't going to admit that.

The barn door slammed as Willis disappeared with Sparky and jerked Katie out of her thoughts. She turned and headed across the lawn toward the house. As she entered through the front door, she stopped at once. Why was it so quiet? There should be noises coming from the kitchen or somewhere else, but there weren't. Had
Mamm
and the others left for a visit? But Willis would have told her if that were the case.

Peering into the kitchen, Katie quickly pulled her head back.
Mamm
and Mabel were sitting at the table across from each other just staring at the ceiling. What in the world was wrong?

“You can come in,”
Mamm
called out.

Katie advanced, stopping beside the stove. It didn't look like Mabel was crying, and neither was
Mamm
. In fact, Mabel looked quite pleased with herself now that Katie could see her face clearly.

“You'd best tell Katie,”
Mamm
said. “It's not more than right Katie hears this from your own lips.”

Katie pulled out a chair and sat down, her knees weak. From the look on
Mamm
's face this couldn't be
gut
news.

Mabel smiled, apparently not sharing that opinion. “Norman has asked me to wed him this fall yet. He wants me as his
frau
.”

“Wed you…this fall?” Katie knew her mouth had fallen open.

Mabel's smile grew even broader. “Norman doesn't wish to wait another year for the next wedding season since he's older already and time is slipping away. And he feels quite certain about our relationship. In fact, he says I'm the first girl he has had such strong feelings for.”

Mamm
looked all sympathy now. “I would have tried to make this easier for you, Katie. But I didn't know how.”

“It doesn't matter, really,
Mamm
. It's just so sudden. Couldn't you marry in the spring? It's not like that hasn't been done before.”

Mabel glared now. “That's what someone like you would say, Katie. But I want Norman to have his proper time—not having to marry out of season. Besides, it won't do any
gut
for you to object, Katie. You have no hold on Norman. And you've gotten over your feelings for him by now. And if you haven't, you can just try harder.”

Katie's mind spun. Mabel's barbs were stinging, but she had it wrong. “My feelings are not the problem, Mabel. I was thinking of you. Are you sure about this? Norman has a dark side you know.”

“Katie!”
Mamm
exclaimed. “You shouldn't be saying that about him. Norman is not your boyfriend anymore.”

“See?” Mabel tilted her head. “There'll be no sour grapes from you, Katie. You might as well get used to it.”

“You shouldn't marry him, Mabel!” Katie persisted. “Not this soon. You hardly know him.”

“Come on, Katie.”
Mamm
stood and pulled on Katie's arm. “I need to talk to you.”

“You can talk about it right here.” Mabel looked quite smug. “I can guess what you're going to tell her. ‘Control yourself, Katie.
Don't interfere in what's not your business. Mabel's old enough to make up her own mind.'”

Mamm
sighed and sat down again.

Apparently Mabel had taken the words right out of
Mamm
's mouth, Katie thought. Why Mabel didn't trust her was easy to understand, but
Mamm
should know better. Norman was a disaster waiting to happen.

Mabel folded her arms and looked triumphant. “So, Katie, are you going to help me with the wedding or are you going to mope around like a castoff piece of rumpled clothing?”

Before Katie could answer,
Mamm
leaped up. “Mabel, you need to show Katie respect and be more compassionate. That being said, the matter is settled. Katie will cooperate. Her heart might be a little wounded yet, but she will get over it. Now, all of us have more work than we can imagine—that is if we're to pull this wedding off. And we will, Mabel. You have my promise. This is an exciting time for you. I still can't understand why you didn't tell us earlier. Every extra day would have helped.”

“I didn't know myself until last Sunday night. And then, well, I guess I needed to get my courage up. With how Katie's been acting, you can see why I was dreading this moment. And I did know this was a little unusual, but Norman wants to marry and soon.”

“We will make this happen.”
Mamm
smiled. “Are you going to speak to your
daett
about this tonight? Then we can start making plans.”

Katie rose from the chair and left without a backward glance as Mabel and
Mamm
continued their conversation. She took the stairs up to her room.
Mamm
and Mabel probably wouldn't even miss her presence, and Katie knew she'd probably just get another lecture if she stayed around.

In her room, Katie sat on the bed as her head throbbed. She
didn't care that much about Norman anymore. She never had, if she were honest about it. What was hurting was the shame of the rejection. This short time between Norman's dropping her and his asking Mabel to wed would not escape the community's attention. Clearly the community would think the problem between Norman and her hadn't been Norman's doing. At least if one looked at appearances—which was, of course, exactly how most people would look at it. Likely this had played a part in Norman and Mabel moving so quickly. They both wanted to add insult to her injury. Yet she mustn't think ill of what she wasn't sure of. The reasons Norman had for the quick wedding did make sense. He was older and way past the normal age when Amish men married. Besides, maybe Norman was afraid Mabel would catch on to his character flaws, if the truth be told. She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind and calm her soul.

A loud knock came on the bedroom door. This couldn't be
Mamm
; the knock was much too rough. It must be Mabel, but what would she want? To give further words of rebuke?

“
Yah
?” Katie finally said.

“May I come in?” Mabel's voice seemed hesitant.

“
Yah
,” Katie answered. What else could she say?

Mabel came in looking sheepish and sat down beside her on the bed. “I'm sorry for my harsh words downstairs. I really had no reason to speak to you like that.”

“That's okay,” Katie replied. “I got a little carried away myself.”

“We do have to live together in the same house, Katie.” Mabel was chirpy again. “We'd best try to get along. I just wish you wouldn't say such horrible things about Norman even if you feel them in your heart. And I will try not to think worse of you than what things really are.”

Apparently
Mamm
had given Mabel a lecture about her attitude. Warring sisters weren't going to make
Mamm
's life any easier
in the weeks ahead, especially with all the wedding preparations suddenly thrust upon them.

Katie sighed. “You'll be leaving in a short time to be Norman's
frau
. I'll try to do my part.” Katie didn't feel she was to blame for any of the problems with Mabel, but peaceful relationships often begin with taking more than one's share of the load. That her people believed in, and so did she.

Mabel stood. “Good. I'm glad that's settled. And I'm glad you're going to help. I really do want you by my side on the wedding day even though you used to date Norman. I'm not holding that against you. In fact, I want you as my bridesmaid, Katie, for my side of the family. Norman's sister will represent his side.”

Katie gasped. “Mabel, I don't think I can do that.”

Mabel's face turned into a pout. “Why not? Norman thinks it will be okay. He said he has no hard feelings at all. So why can't you feel the same way?”

“Because it's not right. Not this soon after we broke up.”

“Oh, people will forget about all that. And you'll be seen with someone else—one of Norman's attendants. It might even help with your reputation—letting the community see you with another man.”

Katie swallowed hard, angry thoughts racing through her mind, which she managed to hold back. None of those words rushing forward would help the situation right now.

Mabel was waiting, so Katie knew she needed to say something…anything…but what she was really feeling. “So why did you speak so harshly to me downstairs if you knew you were going to ask me this? Didn't you consider how I would feel?”

Mabel shrugged. “I do get a little carried away with my emotions sometimes. But I did say I was sorry. I'm so worried about you, Katie. Your life has taken such a bad turn lately. And being involved with my wedding would help you, I think. I thought
of you right after Norman asked me last Sunday night if I would be his
frau
.”

“Mabel, I just don't think I can do it.” Katie rose. “Now I have to change out of this dress. Then we should go help
Mamm
with supper.”

Mabel's pout returned, but her face was also turning red. She glared at Katie before dashing out of the room and slamming the door.

Chapter Twenty

On a Saturday morning during the first week of November, Katie drove her buggy to Bishop Miller's. She parked beside the fencerow where a long line of buggies had already been left. She'd come to join the others in helping out with Mabel's wedding preparations.
Mamm
and Mabel would come later, but Katie was anxious to join the other women who had volunteered their help. The community women seemed to understand Norman's need to marry this fall. He was older, and if he'd finally found a girl he liked why should he wait—even if his bride was only eighteen. Well, going on nineteen, as Mabel so often reminded them.

Katie still wasn't convinced something more sinister wasn't going on with Norman's quick marriage proposal. But she'd mentioned it once, so why risk Mabel's wrath mentioning it again? Things were going well enough at home right now. If they could keep their relationship half decent, Mabel would be moving out before long.

After much debate with
Mamm
, Mabel had settled on Mahlon
Bontrager as Katie's partner for the wedding. They'd both calmly ignored Katie's objections to being a bridesmaid.

Katie decided if she had to do it Mahlon wasn't all that bad a choice. He was a young widower, alone for a year now. Part of Mabel's purpose in this exercise was, no doubt, to present Katie to the community as someone's suitable
frau
. But to Katie, that didn't matter. She couldn't care less if any man from the community ever asked her home again. And she doubted if Mahlon would be tempted to think of her as a prospective
frau
. Not that she wanted him to. From what she'd heard whispered among the women after church, Mahlon had only accepted the request because Norman's
daett
was so well looked up to in the community. It was a confused mess, and only
Da Hah
could make final sense out of it all. For her, the easiest thing was to go along and keep her mouth shut.

“
Gut
morning!” Bishop Miller's wife, Laura, called as she came out of the house. “I see you're out bright and early.”

Katie returned Laura's smile. “I wanted to get here even earlier, but I was a little slow. I see the others have arrived.”

Laura laughed. “
Ach
, you know how it goes. Most of them will be leaving early, but I expect you'll be around all day.”

Katie nodded. “
Yah
, I plan to be. By the way, thanks for giving us the use of your place. I know Mabel is very appreciative.”

“We're happy to help, Katie. Someday we'd love to do the same for you.”