Katie's Forever Promise (31 page)

“That sounds good,” Ben said. He walked to the far side of the buggy and undid the tug.

Katie undid the tug on her side, and then held the shafts as Ben led Longstreet forward. Then Katie walked with them to the barn and showed Ben where he could put Longstreet and the harness. Taking Ben's hand, she said, “Well, let's get started. Let's go in and you can meet the lion himself. Norman was down to a whimper when I left the house.”

“Is it that bad?” Ben asked. “I didn't know Norman had that kind of temper.”

Katie snorted. “He saves it for the ones who can't do anything about it. He has his reputation to uphold, you know. And to think I once dated him.”

“I guess I have nothing to say when it comes to faults,” Ben admitted.

“At least you don't have that one. Let's be thankful.”

Ben paused by the front steps. “The court date is set for some time after the first of the year, Katie. Maybe things will quiet down for us after that.”

“So you're going to jail rather than testify?” The question slipped out, and Katie looked away.

Ben sighed. “That's what they're threatening me with.”

“Is there no way the judge will consider our beliefs?” Katie implored, as if Ben could do anything to change the judge's mind.

“I asked the prosecutor that very question. He asked me if I'm a member of the Amish church.”

“And you're not,” Katie answered.

“
Yah
, and there's nothing I can do about that right now.”

“Will you…afterward…join the church, Ben? I was hoping you might join next spring's baptismal class. I know that might be expecting a little much.”

Ben winced. “I'll try, but I have to get all this behind me first, you know.”

Katie beamed. “I know. But it will work out. I just know it will.”

He nodded. “I still struggle with my faith at times, Katie. I always have. But I truly believe now. I want you to know that.”

“We'll make it.” Katie pulled on his hand. “Come. They'll be wondering what's keeping us so long.”

“Is everyone here?”

“There's only you, Mabel, and Norman.
Mamm
's having a small Thanksgiving dinner this year. But there'll be plenty of food, so don't worry.
Mamm
and Carolyn have been working hard in the
kitchen. Jesse and the two older boys are working on some problem in a back field, but they should be in soon. Leroy didn't have enough nerve to ask Lizzie Kuntz over.”

Katie approached the porch. Letting go of Ben's hand, she pushed the door. Norman looked up as if in surprise, but he wasn't
gut
at faking sincerity. Either that or Katie knew him too well.

“
Gut
to see you, Ben.” Norman stood up and held out his hand.

“And you too.” Ben shook it and then took a chair beside the stove.

“You two don't eat each other now.” Katie wagged her finger at both of them. “I'm going to help
Mamm
in the kitchen.”

“Who's she talking about?” Norman joked as he laughed.

“Must be us,” Ben said as he joined in.

They would be okay together, Katie thought. At least for the day. How men could hide their feelings so easily was beyond her.

Chapter Thirty-One

Katie held Ben's hand as they walked across the back pasture. Thanksgiving dinner had been finished over two hours ago, and she hadn't kissed Ben yet. And she couldn't here, either. Sharp eyes might be peering from any direction over these open fields just waiting to catch her in a discretion that would be quickly spread around the community. Not that kissing a boyfriend should concern anyone that much. But doing so in public at this point would add to her already long list of alleged transgressions. Enos would see to that.

“You've been troubled all day,” Ben commented as he squeezed her hand. “What's wrong, Katie?”

Katie glanced at him. “I don't want to think about my troubles. I just want to be with you and enjoy the weather. Isn't it balmy for a Thanksgiving afternoon? Very unseasonable.”

“
Yah
,” Ben allowed. But he clearly wasn't going to drop the subject. “You really should tell me what's wrong.”

Katie smiled up at him this time. “Mabel arrived this morning
after a fight with Norman…or rather after an explosion of his temper.”

Ben regarded Katie steadily. “You told me he had a temper. It's serious then?”

“Serious enough. Mabel wouldn't believe me before the wedding, but she does now.”

“They'll work it out.” Ben shrugged. “There's more than that going on, isn't there?”

Katie turned to face him. “You have enough problems without mine being added.”

“But your problems…aren't they mine also? If I love you?”

Katie blushed. “You shouldn't say such things, Ben.”

He smiled. “Come on…tell me. What is it?”

Katie sighed. “Enos Kuntz is determined to get me kicked out of my teaching job. And I've given him the perfect excuse. I caught his boy, Abram, cheating. Now he's called a school board meeting first thing tomorrow morning to accuse me of being unfair.”

Ben took a minute to think about this. “I'm assuming you have proof of his cheating. And there are other people on the school board besides Enos. They'll listen to you, Katie.”

“Perhaps.” Katie dropped her eyes. “If there weren't more.”

“
Yah
?” Ben waited.

“Enos has been sore ever since Norman broke up with me. I think it's still over that night I spent at the hospital with you and your
mamm
. I don't know what all his reasons are, but the fact that I'm with you now…” Katie looked away. “Well, Enos isn't going to let the court situation run its course. He's already judged you. And he's judging me because you and I are still seeing each other.”

“So I'm a big problem?”

Katie clutched his hand. “You can't do anything about that, Ben.”

“I can't let this hurt you, Katie. I've already hurt you enough.”

Katie forced a smile. “Don't worry about me. I'll make it.”

Ben gave Katie a stubborn look. “I
will
worry about you. And I will do what's best for you and me. If you get kicked out of your school teaching job because of me, you'll never live that down. And how will I feel about that?”

Katie gathered her courage. “It won't happen, Ben, so stop worrying. I said Enos was
trying
.”

“Then why are
you
worrying?” Ben raised his eyebrows. “It's because you know what Enos is capable of. And so do I.”

Katie didn't answer.

“I'm going over to Bishop Miller's tonight to talk to him about the situation.”

Katie's grip tightened on his hand. “Ben, please don't. It's not going to help. And it'll look like you're interfering.”

He stroked the length of hair that had fallen across her forehead. “And so I am, Katie. I love you. But you're right, I suppose. I should concentrate on fixing my situation. Getting things straight with those detectives would make everything so much easier for both of us.”

“You mustn't worry about me, Ben.” Her voice broke. “You really mustn't.”

“I know you're right. It's just hard for me. It has always been. But I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you.”

She leaned on his arm when they both stumbled over a small ditch. Ben held her steady until they'd both righted themselves. “I think we need to watch where we're going!” Ben joked.

“That's hard to do with you around.”

Ben laughed. “I wonder what Enos would say if he heard you talking like that?”

Katie grimaced. “Throw me right out of the schoolhouse at once, I suppose.”

“Maybe Norman could be spoken to about this problem?” Ben suggested. “He seems nice enough today. And he has his
daett
's ear, no doubt.”

Katie shook her head. “I wouldn't try. It won't work, and I'll only look weak. Enos would probably love to hear that I'm begging for mercy.”

“Then I will speak with Bishop Miller on the way home tonight. It's the least I can do.”

Katie smiled up at him as they approached the barn. “Thanks, but you don't have to.”

“I want to, Katie!”

She pulled his arm toward the barn door. “Just a few minutes, Ben. Where no one can see us.”

He followed her as the darkness of the barn fell around them. Katie paused just inside the door, her hands searching for his face. She pulled him toward her, and he kissed her. Long moments of silence followed, with his hands on her shoulders.

“You're sweet, you know.” Ben lifted his head.

“And so are you,” Katie murmured, resting her head on his chest. “But I suppose we better go in before someone catches us.”

He chuckled and led the way out into the sunlight. “We'll have to do that more often.”

A shadow crossed her face, which Katie replaced quickly before Ben noticed. “I'll be seeing you soon again, won't I?”

Ben gave her a quick glance. “You know I can't come often, Katie. I'm already harming you enough.”

“It wouldn't be any worse than it is now. And I'd get to see you.”

“I'm sorry, Katie, but these are also my people. I know them well. It can get a whole lot worse for you…and for us.”

“Then hurry, Ben. I can't stand being away from you. I want to see you every week like other dating couples do.”

Ben squeezed her hand. “We're not like the others, Katie. It's different for us. It's always been different.”

She looked up at his face. “But you too…you feel what I feel, don't you? That we belong here in spite of the differences? That these are our people. That this is our faith. And that we're filled with the same longing to be in the will of
Da Hah
as they are?”

“
Yah
, Katie. I feel it in my heart. My mind gets in the way sometimes, but I'm not turning back now.”

“Thank you, Ben.” Katie smiled. “I thought you felt that way, but I needed the encouragement.”

“Katie, do you think believing is more than not seeing?”

“Ben.” Katie held his hand for a moment. “I think it's about choosing right regardless of what you see. That and being helped along by people who care, like
Mamm
and Jesse for example. And like Bishop Miller and Laura do. He's one of those whose heart touches others easily.”

“Your faith shames me, Katie.” Ben smiled. “Come, I think we'd better go inside before they all wonder where we've gone.”

Katie led the way this time, and they entered the living room.

Mabel looked up from her seat on the couch. “Looks like someone's been having fun,” she said.

“You should try taking a walk out back,” Katie said. “It's a nice day.”

Mabel's face brightened. “Let's do, Norman. That would be fun.”

Norman shook his head, his face sullen. “I think it's time we go home.”

“But Norman…” Mabel protested.

Norman was already on his feet and grabbing his hat.

“The afternoon's young!” Ben called after him, but Norman never stopped walking. He opened the front door and walked out.

“I'm so sorry.” Katie gave Mabel a quick hug. “I know it's hard, but
Da Hah
will give you grace, Mabel.”

“You shouldn't be comforting me,” Mabel said, wiping her eyes. “Not after the way I used you before the wedding. And then I wouldn't let you be my bridesmaid. I'm very, very wicked, Katie. I can see that now.”

“Hush, Mabel. That's nonsense. You had to listen to what Norman said.”

Mabel hung her head. “But I was in full agreement with him, Katie. I'm not excusing myself.”

“It's okay.” Katie gave Mabel another hug. “But you'll have to tell your
daett
if this gets much worse. Promise me, Mabel.”

“It won't!” Alarm flew into Mabel's face. “It just can't!”

“Norman has a problem,” Katie said. “You can't ignore it.”

Mabel burst into sobs and clung to Katie.

Mamm
must have heard because she appeared in the kitchen doorway. “What's wrong, girls?”

“Norman's leaving early,” Katie offered, quickly pasting on a smile. There was no sense in worrying
Mamm
. Jesse was the only one who could help Mabel in this situation. And Mabel wasn't willing to accept that yet or she would have said something to him already.