[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey (22 page)

“It might,” Mom put in with a hopeful expression.

“Maybe I don’t want a ride home in some fellow’s buggy.”

“Aw, sure you do,” Nelson said with a wink. “Every girl wants to be courted.”

“Not me.” Suzanne shook her head.

“You’re only saying that because you haven’t found the right man,” Mom said. “Someday, when the time is right, you’ll fall in love and get married.”

Suzanne figured it was best not to argue. She’d stayed up late last night, waiting for Mom and Nelson to bring Grandpa home from the hospital. Truth was, she was tired and had hoped she could go to bed early. If she went to the singing that wouldn’t happen. Still, if she didn’t go, she’d have to hear about it from Mom all evening.

Suzanne took another sip of cider and finally nodded. “Okay, I’ll go to the singing.”

“I still can’t believe your grandpa was up on a ladder,” Esther said to Suzanne after the singing ended and everyone gathered around to visit. “Didn’t he know how dangerous that could be? Especially at his age and with his arthritis being so bad.”

Suzanne moved closer to Esther on the bench they sat upon. “You’re right, he shouldn’t have been climbing a ladder, but you know how
schtarrkeppich
my
grossdaadi
can be.”

Esther nodded. “Sometimes I think the older people get, the more stubborn they become. My grandma often says that Grandpa’s the most schtarrkeppich man she knows. He’s seventy-two years old and still thinks he can keep up with his sons.”

“My grossdaadi is the same way,” Suzanne said. “Thanks to that fall, Grandpa’s right wrist and right ankle are severely sprained, and he has several bruised ribs. Since he’s right-handed, he won’t be able to do the bookwork at the shop for a while.”

“Who’ll do it?”

“I told Mom I would. She has enough to do in the house.”

“But who’s going to sell your bedding plants? Will your mamm have to do that as well?”

“Mom will take care of any customers who come to our place to buy plants, but I’ll be responsible for taking the plants to the produce auction.”

“Speaking of the auction, Titus and I were over that way when we went to see the Jefferson Davis Monument on Saturday.”

“I’d heard you were going. How was it? Did you have a good time?”

“It was interesting to see the monument up close, but I didn’t go inside. Only Titus, Allen, and his friend, Connie, took the elevator to the top. I sat on a bench and waited for them below.”

“With your fear of heights, I guess you wouldn’t have felt comfortable being up so high.”

“No, I sure wouldn’t.” Esther shifted on the bench, and glanced across the room where the young men had gathered. “I think Titus was a little disappointed that I didn’t go up, though.”

“Did you explain things to him?”

“Jah, but he still seemed disappointed.”

“Are you thinking maybe Titus isn’t the right one for you?”

Esther shook her head. “It’s not that. I just wish we could have done something that we both enjoy.”

Suzanne bumped Esther’s arm with her elbow. “Here he comes now.”

“I just talked to Nelson, and he told me about your grandpa’s fall,” Titus said, looking down at Suzanne. “I’m sorry to hear it.”

“We were glad he wasn’t seriously hurt, because at his age it could have been a lot worse.” Suzanne sighed and touched her chest. “For some time now, Grandpa has tried to do things he shouldn’t do, instead of calling on Nelson or one of the boys. It really scared me when he fell.”

“I’d be happy to help out whenever I can,” Titus offered.

“That’s nice of you.”

Esther looked up at Titus and smiled. “Did you enjoy the singing tonight?” “Sure did.”

“Was it like the ones you’ve attended in Lancaster County?” she asked.

“Pretty much.” Titus glanced at Suzanne, wishing she’d go someplace else. He wanted to ask Esther if he could give her a ride home but didn’t want to do it in front of Suzanne.

Just then, Ethan Zook, one of the minister’s sons, wandered over. Titus held his breath, hoping Ethan wasn’t going to ask Esther if he could give her a ride in his buggy. To Titus’s relief, Ethan only stopped to ask Suzanne how her grandfather was doing, and then he headed across the room toward a group of young men.

“It’s getting chilly,” Suzanne said. “Think I’ll get my shawl from Nelson’s buggy.” She gave Esther a quick smile, glanced briefly at Titus, and walked away.

Titus decided that he’d better take advantage of the opportunity while he could, so he leaned close to Esther and whispered, “I’d like to give you a ride home tonight. If you don’t already have one, that is.”

She gave him another deep-dimpled smile. “I’ve had no other offers. Even if I had, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather ride home with than you.”

Titus grinned. “Great. Just let me know when you want to leave.”

“I’m ready to go now, if you are,” she said sweetly.

“All right then. I’ll get my horse and buggy and meet you over by the barn.”

Titus hurried out the door and sprinted across the yard, feeling lighthearted and looking forward to the ride to Esther’s house. She was a very pretty girl, and he hoped he’d have an opportunity to take her out again so they could get better acquainted.

As they headed down the road a short time later, Esther remained quiet, while Titus tried to think of something to talk about.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked.

“Jah.”

“I hope the buggy seat’s not too uncomfortable for you. This is an old buggy, and even though I’ve reupholstered the seats, they’re not as padded as I’d like them to be.”

“The seat seems fine to me. I’m just enjoying the peacefulness of the evening.”

“You’re right, it is peaceful. I think the sound of crickets and bullfrogs singing their nightly song makes it seem that way.”

“I agree.”

“So what do you like to do when you’re not working at your folks’ store?” he asked.

Before Esther could reply, a noisy
va-room! va-room!
shattered their peace and quiet. Titus glanced through his side mirror and noticed a single headlight coming up fast behind them. As the vehicle drew closer, he realized it was a motorcycle. It came right up to the back of the buggy; then pulled into the oncoming lane, as though going to pass. Instead of going around, however, the cycle roared alongside the buggy—so close that Titus could have reached out and touched the young man who was driving.

Suddenly, the motorcycle pulled right in front of the buggy, and the driver slammed on his brakes.

Lightning reared up, and the buggy wobbled.

“Whoa! Steady, boy.” Titus pulled back on the reins, in an effort to keep control.

The driver of the motorcycle gunned the engine and tore off down the road. Titus’s hands turned sweaty and his heart pounded as he continued to try and calm Lightning down.

A few minutes later, the motorcycle reappeared, coming from the opposite direction. When it roared past this time, nearly clipping Titus’s buggy, Lightning went wild. He reared up, kicked his back hooves against the front of the buggy, and took off down the road like an angry bull was chasing him.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Titus hollered.

Lightning kept running; the frightened horse was out of control!

E
sther screamed, and Titus’s hands shook so badly he could barely hold on to the reins. “Whoa, Lightning! Whoa!”

The buggy vibrated, and Titus wondered if it would hold together under the stress of all the bouncing and shaking around. They hit a bump in the road, and Esther screamed again. “Make him stop, Titus! Make him stop!”

“I’m tryin’,” Titus said through clenched teeth. In the five years he’d owned the horse, he’d always been able to get him under control. But then, he’d never had a motorcycle charge after him like this.

When Titus was sure the buggy would flip over, Lightning finally slowed to a sensible trot. Titus glanced in his side mirror and was relieved when he saw no motorcycle headlight. “I think he’s gone—must have had enough fun for the night.”

Titus guided the horse to the side of the road and handed the reins to Esther. “I’d better get out and make sure this old buggy is okay. Want to check on Lightning, too.”

He stepped out of the buggy and examined each of the wheels. Everything looked fine. After Titus had checked his horse over and found him to be okay, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank You, Lord
.

“I think that fellow on the motorcycle tried to spook your horse on purpose,” Esther said when Titus climbed back in the buggy.

“I believe you’re right.”

“I don’t understand why anyone would do such a thing.”

Titus reached for Esther’s hand. It felt cold and clammy. “Some people do weird things when they’re looking for a thrill, and I’m guessing that fellow thought freaking out my horse was a real kick.”

She shivered. “It scares me to think of what might have happened. If the buggy had turned over, we could have been injured or killed.”

“But it didn’t turn over, and we’re fine. I’m thankful the Lord was watching over us and that my horse finally calmed down.”

Esther released a lingering sigh. “You’re right; we have much to be thankful for.”

Arriving home from the singing, Suzanne went straight to the house while Nelson put the horse and buggy away.

“How’s Grandpa doing?” she asked when she entered the living room, where Mom sat reading a book.

Mom looked up and smiled. “He’s doing okay. Was up long enough to eat a bowl of soup, then soon after that, he went back to bed.” She patted the sofa. “Come sit and tell me how the singing went tonight.”

Suzanne removed her shawl and outer bonnet and placed them on the rocking chair; then she took a seat on the sofa next to Mom. “It went fine. Quite a few young people were there.”

“Did anyone special bring you home?”