Katie's Forever Promise (4 page)

“But Norman…he's so…so…timid. I'm not used to that at all. He hasn't spoken a word to me yet,
Mamm
. Not one.”

“You mustn't compare every young man to Ben.”
Mamm
's voice was low. “That will be your temptation, Katie.”

Katie nodded. “I've tried to forget Ben. I really have.”

Mamm
continued as if she hadn't heard. “If Norman loves
Da Hah
and His ways, and if he loves you, then love can grow in your heart. You're now a church member, Katie, and so is Norman. In fact, he's been one for some time. That doesn't happen often—that young men make up their minds so quickly. You can't go wrong on this one, Katie. Even if the feelings don't come at once, they will in time. They did for me—with your
daett
and with Jesse.”

Katie continued washing the dishes.
Mamm
was right, she was certain of it. After what had happened with Ben, she should be honored that Norman was even considering her for his
frau
.

They finished the dishes and found their way to the living room for the evening devotions. After Jesse read the Scriptures and they knelt in prayer, Katie slipped up the stairs.

Willis followed her, stopping her outside her bedroom door.

“Katie?”

“
Yah
?” Katie turned around and paused.

Willis glanced down the stairs before continuing. “I didn't say anything at the supper table, but Ben wants to meet with you when he's out of jail. It's urgent, he says.”

Katie struggled to keep breathing. “I can't, Willis. You know that.”

Willis shrugged, his slim shoulders barely visible in the shadowed stairwell. “I'm just passing on what I was told by Emery Graber.”

Katie didn't say anything more; she just stared as Willis disappeared into his room. What did Ben want? It didn't really matter though. Meeting him was out of the question. Their relationship was over…
way
over.

Chapter Three

The following Monday, Katie stood at the door of the schoolhouse as the first buggy full of students turned into the yard. They waved to her, and with a pounding heart Katie waved back. Should she go out and help unhitch? No, she couldn't do that—not for all of them, and presenting any hint of favoritism on the first day of school was unwise. She would wait inside. And from there she would make sure each child was comfortable as he or she entered. The older students would know their way around, of course, but the first graders might need a tender touch this morning to soothe their ruffled feelings. For some of them, this would be their first time away from home for an extended period of time.

Katie retreated into the classroom and brushed off her desk again. It was already spotless, but she couldn't stop cleaning. A sloppy desk was a sign of a dimwitted teacher, Ruth had told her last week. The barb had sunk in deep, along with her other instructions. Katie gathered herself together. She could do this job just fine.
Yah
, it was different from working the cash register at Byler's,
but still manageable and hopefully a lot more rewarding. From this schoolhouse, she could touch so many young lives.

The door swung open, and Katie called out, “
Gut
morning!”

Three cheerful voices hollered back, “
Gut
morning, teacher!”

Katie walked to the back of the room to greet them. She helped the youngest take off his coat. Johnny Yoder handed it over with a whisper, “I'm glad you're my teacher this year.”

His sister Elsie laughed. “Johnny's been saying that all week. I think he's scared more than anything.”

Katie bent over and gave the little boy a hug. “Then we'll try to make it easy for you.”

Johnny nodded, hanging on to Katie as Elsie and his older brother left for the outside.

Katie tousled Johnny's hair. “Do you want to go out and play?”

“I guess so.” Johnny looked up at her, his eyes wide, before turning and running outside.

The schoolhouse door swung open as more students arrived. Katie greeted each one individually. They all smiled a greeting before rushing past her, putting their stuff on desks, hanging up their coats, and then rushing outside again. Katie held the door open for them. A game of softball was already in progress, the students wasting no time getting started. Katie liked that. It spoke of industriousness—using every available moment before she rang the bell.

Somewhere in that group of children would be Ben Stoll's youngest brother, Noah. He was in the third grade, if she remembered correctly. At least Noah didn't look anything like Ben, which was something to be thankful for. She didn't need the constant reminder of her past in front of her.

Thoughts of Ben had been swirling in the back of her mind ever since Willis delivered the startling news that Ben wanted to see her. What nerve Ben had, supposing they could resume their
relationship. That must be what he wanted. He had more nerve than a fox in a henhouse! But then Ben had always been like that.

Katie forced thoughts of Ben away and stepped outside to wave at more arriving children. Their parents pulled their buggies into the yard to drop off the students. The children waved back and climbed out of the buggies, pausing to grab their lunch buckets. Most of them ran across the field to join the ball game. The few who came on inside, she greeted at the door with a smile and a cheery “
Gut
morning!” All of them showed her nothing but friendliness. Katie quieted her beating heart. She was surely doing okay her first day.

She caught sight of a man tying a horse to the hitching rack. His back was turned, and he looked young. Had one of the parents decided to speak with her this morning? Perhaps to wish her well? Or maybe someone was sending a message through one of the older siblings? Katie caught her breath as the man turned and glanced in her direction. It was Norman! And he was heading in her direction. What could he possibly want beyond dropping off his youngest brother, Abram? Abram was racing even now across the schoolyard to join the ball game.

Stepping back inside the school, Katie took a deep breath. Norman must intend to finally speak with her. It was time they faced each other and got the awkward meeting over with. Katie pasted on a smile as Norman came to an abrupt halt in front of her. He cleared his throat, looked at the ground, and then glanced back up.

“
Gut
morning, Katie.”

“
Gut
morning, Norman. Is everything okay with Abram? I see you just dropped him off.”

“
Yah
, he's fine. I need to speak with you about a matter.”

Katie stepped back. “You're welcome inside, Norman—if you wish.”

Norman didn't move. He just studied the ground. Finally he
looked up again. “I'd like to take you home on Sunday night, Katie, if that's okay with you?”

Katie smiled. “I'd be glad to, Norman.”

“You would?” Norman's face showed the first trace of a smile.

“
Yah
,” Katie said, still smiling.

“Okay, then! Well, I'll see you on Sunday.” He nodded, turned toward his horse, and left with cautious steps. He untied his horse and climbed into the buggy. He didn't look back as he pulled out of the schoolyard and drove down the lane.

Norman was different, but Katie already knew that, and it was okay with her. She didn't want a dashing man like Ben Stoll again.

What Katie wanted was stable and plain. Norman certainly fit that. But she mustn't think of such things right now—especially Ben. That was in the past, and Ben no longer fit into her new life. She'd outgrown the old image of Emma Raber's daughter and was now a schoolteacher. She was respected and looked up to in the community.

Da Hah
had healed her heart, and she wouldn't look back. Norman might not be much of a conversationalist on Sunday night, but they would manage somehow. She would make apple pie for him or something else special. And Norman could go home early if they ran out of things to say. Eventually, with a little practice, she would draw Norman out of his shell. At least she didn't have to worry that Norman was dealing drugs on the side, like Ben had.

Walking back inside, Katie retrieved the bell from her desk. Opening the window on the side of the playground, she gave the bell a vigorous shaking. The clanging produced an instant reaction—just like she'd experienced during her school days. Children went running to grab their lunch buckets, dragging bats or ball gloves as they raced toward the schoolhouse.

In short order everything was stored in the back closet, and the smiling children sat at their desks looking at her. It had taken them only moments to find their seats by following the little white name tags she'd stuck on the desks. They were an intelligent lot, and it would be a great pleasure teaching them.

“
Gut
morning,” she greeted them, putting on her best smile.

“
Gut
morning!” they chorused back.

“I know who you are, and you know who I am,” Katie began. Now that the moment had arrived, she was a little nervous—but not too much. “This is my first year teaching, but I've been given some
gut
advice from teacher Ruth. I think I'm ready to go.”

The children looked at her expectantly, so she continued. “I may do some things differently from what you've been used to, but that happens with all new teachers. And maybe you've forgotten how things were done last year, anyway. What with the happy summer we've all just been through and you helping your
mamms
and
daett
s on the farm, I doubt if school was much on anyone's mind during those months.”

A few laughs and plenty of smiles met her remarks.

“So why don't we spend just a moment this morning for our devotion time by telling what we did over the summer. We could include things we are especially thankful for.”

Johnny was seated in the front row, and he stuck up his hand. Katie gave him a smile. What a brave little boy he was, risking a speech on his first day in school. She was going to like him, along with all the rest.

“Okay, Johnny,” Katie said as she nodded to him.

“We had little chickens hatch in the henhouse, and little ducks swimming on the pond.” Johnny's face beamed.

Katie returned his enthusiasm. “Were they all fluffy and cute?”

Johnny nodded.

Katie turned to the other students. “Is there someone else who
had something happen to them this summer that they can give thanks for?”

Norman's brother Abram stuck up his hand.

“Yes, Abram?” Katie took a step closer.

“I heard
Mamm
and
Daett
talking about something this week which they are very thankful for.” Abram grinned from ear to ear. “I don't think I was supposed to hear, but I was sitting on the couch, and they forgot about me.”

“Ah…” Katie said, her smile fading. “Maybe you shouldn't talk about things you weren't supposed to hear.”

Abram wasn't about to stop though. The words spilled out. “Norman told them he is finally asking a girl home on Sunday night. And
Mamm
and
Daett
are very thankful, since Norman is a little shy. I couldn't hear who it was though.”

The whole room tittered, with even the first graders joining in.

Katie blushed, but took comfort that there was no way anyone knew she was the girl Norman had planned to ask home. And even if they did, this was nothing she should be ashamed of. It was an honor to have such an upstanding community member ask if he could take her home.

“I wonder who the girl is?” Leslie Yoder, a third-grader, whispered, falling into fresh giggles.

Now what was she going to do? Katie wondered. They would all know next Monday morning anyway, after Norman had taken her home. The whole community would know by then. Should she confess now? Katie paced a few steps. They would just have to wait. Couples fell in love with each other all the time, and they didn't announce things in public even if everyone would eventually find out.

“I'd guess the girl would agree to the date,” Katie said instead. “Norman's a decent young man.”

There! She'd covered her bases, and she could face them without embarrassment when her secret was made known.

Elsie, though, was looking suspiciously at her, so Katie glanced away and moved on before the girl could ask further questions. “Anyone else want to tell us about your summer?”

One of the eighth-grade girls, Clarice Wagler, put up her hand.

Katie nodded at her.

“We had a little brother, Kyle, born in our house this summer. He came early but didn't have to go to the hospital, for which we're all thankful. Now he's the cutest little thing and doesn't even cry during the night. Not like some of us used to,
Mamm
said.”

“I got to hold him the other Sunday,” Katie added. “And I have to agree Kyle is a very well-behaved baby. But then I only held him for a little bit.”