Katie's Forever Promise (28 page)

A smile flitted across Mahlon's face. “Well, my best cow had twins last week. That's an accomplishment—for her of course. And a great gift from
Da Hah
. Both of them are heifers at that and healthy to boot.”

“Oh!” Katie cooed. “I'll have to see them sometime. Jesse's cows haven't had any calves for some time now. I suppose calving season is coming up though.”

“All part of a farmer's life.” Mahlon held the gravy bowl for
Katie while she dipped some out. “You said your
Mamm
and you had cows when you lived by yourself, right?”

Katie laughed. “
Yah
, we had two—Bossy and Molly. Do your cows have names?”

Mahlon smiled. “Maybe on their papers. Other than that, it's whatever I call them when they don't cooperate.”

“I can't imagine you getting angry with a cow.”

Mahlon smiled. “I've been known to twist a tail or two, but that's about it.”

A vision of Norman's angry face when he was ordering her out of his buggy flashed through Katie's mind. Mahlon wouldn't ever be like that, she was sure of it. She couldn't come close to even imagining him angry. Twisting a cow's tail wasn't exactly anger in her estimation. Katie reached under the table to squeeze his hand. “I'm sure it wasn't quite like you describe it.”

“A man's anger is not from
Da Hah
,” Mahlon said, his face serious. “We must always fight against it.”

“I couldn't agree more,” Katie assured him. “But enough serious stuff. There must be plenty of
gut
things we can talk about.”

He smiled and nodded. It was going to be a
gut
evening, Katie thought. Mahlon was being more than nice to her, and she was quite thankful.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Monday after Mabel's wedding, Katie came home from school and was sitting at the kitchen table with
Mamm
seated across from her.
Mamm
had told her that Jesse's sisters, Sarah and Barbara, had been there earlier in the day to help clean up the last of the house. Katie had expected to help in the kitchen, but
Mamm
was insisting they take a break from the supper preparations. The house seemed quiet around them, almost as if it were holding its breath for the next outburst of trouble. Katie's news would likely bring it.

Let it not come
,
dear Hah,
Katie breathed quickly.

Still, the look on her face must have hinted at impending trouble because
Mamm
asked, “What is it, Katie? You'd better tell me.”

“Ben stopped by after school today. He wants to take me out tonight. He says his
daett
will allow him to use Longstreet and his buggy if he doesn't stay at the house very long.”

Mamm
was staring. “Stopped at the schoolhouse, Katie? Has this happened before?”

“Once. Ben was with an
Englisha
friend in a car. We stood outside and talked beside my buggy.”
And stole a kiss
, Katie thought, but that didn't need mentioning right now.

Mamm
sighed. “I'd hoped you were beginning to think about Mahlon as a possibility for dating, Katie. He was so nice to you at Mabel's wedding.”

“
Mamm!
” Katie gasped. “Mahlon was just being kind to me. He never mentioned a word about seeing me, and he knows I love Ben. We talked about it, and Mahlon understands. He's not like some people in the community.”

Mamm
's face fell. “I had hoped you would come to your senses eventually. Ben isn't
gut
for you, Katie. Can't you see that?”

Katie sighed. “Really,
Mamm
. We've been over this so many times. Even before I went to Europe I loved Ben—and I still do. I've told you that.
Da Hah
has restored our hearts. You wouldn't stand against that, would you?”

Mamm
looked away. “It's your life, Katie, just like Jesse says. You'll have to do what you think is best.”

Katie smiled. “Please don't look so glum,
Mamm
. Ben is just taking me out to eat. We'll come right back. I won't be out late.”

“But that's what the
Englisha
do, Katie. They go out to eat. Since when have you started those kinds of customs? That's worse than running around with the Mennonite youth, in my mind.”

Katie was silent. She hadn't thought of that angle before. Ben's invitation to spend time with him had been too exciting to think of much else. But
Mamm
did have a point. Going to an
Englisha
restaurant wasn't something Amish dating couples did, even if they drove their buggies into town on an errand.

“Ben could stay here for supper.” Hope gleamed in
Mamm
's eyes. “I can't see that Jesse would object to that.”

Katie swallowed hard. That was an option indeed. And it would look much better to Jesse,
Mamm
, and the community.
And right now she needed all the sympathy she could garner.
Mamm
might even see Ben in a different light if he stayed for supper. Katie nodded. “I'll ask him when he comes.”

Mamm
smiled. “I appreciate that. And you can talk with him out on the porch later. That should be private enough for you.”

“Thank you!”

Mamm
might think the swing was private enough, but Mabel had listened to enough of Katie's conversations on that very swing so Katie knew better. Words carried easily into the house. And even though Mabel was gone, Katie was still nervous about talking there—unless everyone had gone to bed.

“Then it's settled.”
Mamm
was all smiles again, jumping up to continue the supper preparations. Katie joined her and listened for sounds of Ben's buggy pulling into the driveway. Carolyn had just come down from upstairs when the sounds of buggy wheels carried into the house.

“Who's that?” Carolyn asked.

Katie didn't stop to explain;
Mamm
could do that. Right now she wanted to reach Ben's buggy before Jesse or one of the boys did. The conversation that might occur was too risky without her there. Ben's visit was going to be quite a surprise for them.

Panting, Katie arrived at Ben's buggy. Longstreet was such a welcome sight that she almost paused to give him a hug around his neck. Instead, she rushed up to the opening buggy door.

Ben appeared quite pleased. “It's
gut
to get such a welcome from the woman who loves me.”

“Stop it, silly!” Katie said before pausing to catch her breath. “There's been a change in plans.
Mamm
wants you to stay for supper. She…well…I…we thought that might be better than going out to an
Englisha
restaurant.”

Ben appeared surprised. “You don't want to go out? There are nice restaurants in town.”

“
Yah
, of course that would be nice, Ben. But things are a little…shall I say…touchy right now? And I'm a church member now, so I have to watch myself.”

Ben smiled. “Okay, I understand. I'll be glad to eat with your family tonight. In fact, it would be an honor.”

She could have kissed him right out there in the open, but that had better wait until later—once she could get Ben away from the front porch swing to someplace where they could have some privacy.

“Hello!” Leroy called from the barn door. “Who's here, Katie?”

Katie pulled her head out of the buggy door. “Ben! And he's staying for supper.”

“Okay.” Leroy appeared perplexed, but he disappeared back inside the barn.

“He looks friendly enough,” Ben commented. “How's the rest of your family?”

“Okay now that Mabel's gone.” That wasn't totally true, but it was true in the way Ben meant it. They would be nice to him tonight. “Come in. We can sit in the living room until supper's ready.”

“I think I'll do that.” Ben climbed out of the buggy and secured Longstreet to the hitching post. Katie took his hand as they walked across the lawn. Everyone might as well see where her heart lay. And she wasn't doing anything wrong.

Ben seemed to understand, and his fingers wrapped around hers.

Mamm
met them at the door with a smile on her face.

She's trying, Katie thought.
Mamm
really was a dear.

Carolyn stuck her head out of the kitchen. “Hi, Ben!”

“Howdy,” he said in reply.

“Sit down here.” Katie motioned Ben toward the couch. They'd never had a formal date. Their relationship this far had always been conducted in buggy rides and meeting at the Mennonite
youth gatherings. But that wouldn't always be so. Eventually Ben would be able to bring her home after the hymn singing, proper like. They could sit on the couch on Sunday evening and eat pie. In fact, why not do so right now? Katie thought. It would be like a little sip of the delicious time ahead of them.

“Aren't you sitting?” Ben asked and motioned toward the empty seat on the couch beside him.

“
Yah
,” Katie whispered, settling herself beside Ben. “I have something I should tell you.”

“Okay.”

Katie looked around. “I've changed my mind. Let's go out on the porch.”

Ben shrugged, but he got up and followed her out to the porch swing.

“This is better.” Katie settled in again. “No listening ears, I hope. Carolyn's busy in the kitchen, and I hope she has better sense then to eavesdrop anyway.”

“You sounds serious.” Ben looked concerned.

“Not really, so don't get worried.” Katie held his arm. “I just want to keep you up on what's been going on.”

“So give it to me then.”

“Well, at Mabel's wedding Mahlon Bontrager took me to the table. He felt sorry for me, I think. And it was sweet of him to help out since I would have been left alone for the evening, my reputation being the way it is in the community right now.”

“That's okay.” Ben's arm came around her shoulder and pulled Katie tight. “I'm not worried.”

Katie leaned against his shoulder. Ben was so understanding. Most people would go by how things appeared at first glance, but not Ben.

“How are things going with you?” Katie asked. “Did you make it over to Bishop Miller's like you planned?”

Ben's face darkened. “I did. But Bishop Miller said things still
are the way they are. He'd rather wait until the trial is over before anything changes. And now the prosecutor claims he can force me to testify. I don't know how all this will turn out.”

“That's what Mahlon said—about them being able to make you testify.”

“Then he's a smarter man than I am.”

“
Nee
, he's not Ben.” Katie clutched his arm. “Stop beating yourself over the head. It won't do any good.”

Ben sighed. “The truth be told, I don't know what else to do.”

“Maybe Jesse knows the answer. You could ask him tonight.”

“Jesse?”

“Maybe that's why we're here tonight instead of in town?” Katie suggested.

Ben still looked skeptical. “There's not much anyone can do. I'd rather not talk about this stuff with your family.”

“Then we won't.” Katie took his hand. “Supper must be about ready. You look hungry.”

Ben smiled. “Starved, in fact. I have to live on my own cooking, remember?”

“Then we will stuff you full tonight!” Katie led the way to the kitchen.

Mamm
was just putting food on the table. “Sit down, Ben. The men will be in from the barn soon.”

Ben sat down with a pleased look on his face. “Thanks, Emma, for inviting me.” The table was steaming with delicious food—mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, roast, and salad. On the counter several pies sat waiting. “This sure looks awfully
gut
.”

“Ben's starved for home cooking,
Mamm
,” Katie said. “Thanks for suggesting we eat here tonight.”

“It's always
gut
to eat at home,”
Mamm
said. “There's no place better really.”

“I can agree with that.” Ben's smile faded. “I never thought I'd miss home like I do.”

Mamm
appeared troubled. “Well, hopefully this will all soon be passed.”

“I hope so,” Ben said. “I hope you don't think ill of me about what's happening. I'm trying to do what's right and best for Katie.”

Katie touched his hand. “You don't have to explain, Ben.
Mamm
understands.”

The stair door burst open and Carolyn rushed in, leaping into her chair at the table.