The Saddle Maker's Son (23 page)

Saying the wrong thing to women seemed to be Tobias's strong suit. His arms as heavy with fatigue as his mind, he pulled the wagon into the barn and tugged on the reins to bring it to a halt. On the workbench along one wall, Daed had left a lit kerosene lantern, its flame flickering in the humid night air. It wasn't like him. The potential for a fire that would destroy their most important work tools—their horses—loomed too great. Still contemplating how telling the truth could cause a man such grief, Tobias hopped from the wagon and began to unhitch Butterscotch.

A disgusted grunt stopped him in midstep. He whirled and peered into the closest stall. David sprawled in the hay, head propped on a bale. That explained the lantern. Tobias turned his back on his brother and went back to his task.

“Sorry we messed up your ride with Rebekah.”

“Why are you out here?”

“Daed said I should sleep here. He said I shouldn't be around the kinner. It's like he's practicing
meidung
when I'm still on my rumspringa. I haven't made any choices. Isn't that the point of all this?”

“You went to the shop with Bobbie.”

“To talk. To tell her I'm not sure.”

“Not sure of what?”

“Of anything.”

A flicker of hope sprang up in Tobias's chest. He breathed and fanned the flame as he led Butterscotch into her stall and picked up a brush. “When we talked before, you made it sound like you had made up your mind.”

“When I'm with Bobbie I feel like a different person.” David hauled himself to his feet and walked to the stall gate, dusting off his hands as he went. “But when I come home, I see the kinner playing and Martha in the kitchen and life is exactly the way it should be.”

“Like you're being split in two.”

“Jah. Ripped in two.”

“I remember that feeling.” Tobias rested his head against Butterscotch's warm flank for a second and closed his eyes. It was easier to talk about this with his back to his brother. “Like I told you the last time, I've been where you are. I know how it feels.”

“I know you do and I know how it ended. I know I have to make this decision for myself, but I look at you and wonder how long it will take to get over someone as beautiful inside and out as Bobbie. You still moon around over Serena.”

“Not anymore.”

“You think Rebekah will make you forget her, finally.”

“I don't know.” He raised his head and turned to face David. “She seemed pretty upset to find that I had feelings for another woman.”

“You told her.”

“Nee, Dad did. Because of you.”

David's face reddened. “Sorry.”

“She had to know sooner or later.” Tobias led Butterscotch into her stall, then shut the gate. He turned back to David. “Talk to Daed. If that doesn't work, try Mordecai. He's a wise man.”

“Or talk to me.”

Tobias looked beyond his brother to the barn door. Bobbie stood in the opening. She moved forward until her face was backlit by the light of the lantern. She'd been crying. Her eyes were red. She sniffed and swiped at her face with a tissue. “Do you mind, Tobias? I need a word with your brother.”

“You shouldn't be here.”

“If David is going to break it off with me, I'd rather know now.” Her voice cracked. “A clean break heals more quickly.”

“If Daed sees you two here—”

“Go on, give us a minute.” David slapped his hat on his head and pushed open the stall gate. “I'll be up to the house in a minute.”

The now-or-never moment. Tobias trudged past Bobbie, trying not to inhale that rose scent.

“My dad wants you to keep Cracker Jack. Or sell him. Whatever you want to do with him. He's yours.”

“What?” He looked back. “We can't just keep him.”

“He says he's a problem horse. He won't ever be a ranch horse. If you can train him, he's yours.”

“We'll talk later.”

Maybe. If David decided to stay. If he went, there would be no talking. And the horse would go back if Daed had to deliver him personally.

Tobias forced himself to keep walking. Whatever happened now was between David and Bobbie.

Don't think, simply work.
Easier said than done. Rebekah straightened, hand on her aching back. Her fingers stuck to the damp fabric of her dress. Picking tomatoes in the July heat was not her idea of fun, but the canning frolic later in the week would make up for it. All those jars of stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce lined up on the shelves in the cellar would hold them in good stead come winter. Too bad it didn't keep her mind off her heart and the audacity of Tobias to have loved another before her.

Her mind skittered away from the pain that thought brought.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.

The screech of a horn mingled with the chatter of birds perched on the mesquite tree that offered her no shade. Startled, she whirled to peer toward the road. They had Englisch visitors. The interruption would be welcome. Any excuse to get out of the sun for a few minutes. She shaded her eyes with sweaty fingers. A green Volkswagen puttered along the dirt road, a steady stream of dust billowing behind it.

Leila. Not the visitor she wanted. Another source of pain. “What's she doing here?” Rebekah directed the question to Butch,
who lay sprawled in the sparse grass in the shade of a live oak, head resting on his paws, eyes closed. He didn't even raise his head to look. “Some watchdog you are.”

The dull ache of disappointment and discontent her sister's name tended to produce seemed fainter today. Leila took care of Lupe and Diego. Jesse was trying to find their dad. He would try to find a way for them to stay. Rebekah thanked Gott for that.

Forgiveness seemed within reach. If only Gott would forgive her for being so stiff-necked, hard-hearted, and mulish.

Maybe Leila had brought Lupe and Diego for a visit. Maybe she had news on their father. Maybe they had a hearing date. Rebekah laid a huge, almost-ripe tomato in the basket and wiped her hands on her apron. She picked her way through the rows of tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, and lettuce to find out. Butch yawned and stretched, then followed her.

By the time they reached the road in front of the house, Leila had her door open. She slid from her seat, her face shiny with sweat, her belly preceding her.

“What are you doing here? Is there news? Did you find the kinner's daed?”

“It's good to see you too. I'm fine, how are you?” Leila swiped at her face with a red bandanna. Her smile belied the irk in her words. “Diego and Lupe keep asking for you. I figured it was time to bring them for a visit. Jesse went to Karnes County, so we have the whole day to ourselves.”

Before Rebekah could ask what was in Karnes County, the back door opened with a protesting squeak. Diego spilled out, followed by Lupe. “Bekah, Bekah!” He threw himself at Rebekah, his face immediately lost in the folds of her skirt and apron. “Where Caleb? Liam?”

The last few words were nearly unintelligible between his accent and the way all that material muffled them. Still, Rebekah understood his excited little-boy talk.

“Caleb is in the field with Mordecai, harvesting honey. Liam is at his house, I reckon.” With Tobias. She refused to think about that. Tobias with his special friend named Serena. Rebekah peeled the boy's hands from her apron. Perfect little brown handprints remained. It looked like chocolate. “What's this?”

Diego raised his head. A ring of chocolate had dried around his mouth, along with a streak across one thin cheek. Rebekah glanced at Lupe who stood behind her brother, a similar dirty grin stretched across her face. “What have you two been eating?”

“I had a hankering for a PayDay and a soda, so I stopped on my way out of town.” Leila rubbed her belly, her shiny face contorted. “Ouch. I have a fierce case of indigestion this morning. I thought the salt from the peanuts mixed with the carbonation of the soda would help. Anyway, the kiddos chose Baby Ruths. Not a bad second choice. They have quite the sweet tooth. Like my husband. They fit right in.”

Fit right in. They fit right in here on the farm with their Plain family too.

Rebekah took a breath. Leila hadn't come here to argue. She'd done something nice by bringing them out to see everyone. Maybe they could stay for supper. Spend the night. Nothing said they couldn't have a sleepover.

“You two go on in the house and wash your hands and faces. Susan and Mudder are in there doing laundry.” She flapped her hands. “Go on. Watch out, they might throw you in the washer and run you through the wringer to get you cleaned up.”

Shrieking with laughter, the two dashed up the steps and disappeared into the house.

Leila leaned into the window of the car. “Gracie slept all the way out here. I don't want to wake her up getting her out of the car. She's teething so she's up half the night. Neither of us is getting enough sleep.” She backed away and knelt to give Butch a scratch behind the ears. The dog's tongue lolled from one side of his mouth, an ecstatic look on his face. He loved Leila, bearer of table scraps and good scratches behind the ears. But those days were gone. “Diego sleeps good. Every time I get up with Gracie I find Lupe huddled on the couch practicing English words in a notebook she takes everywhere.”

“Tobias said she did that at his house too. It's like she's keeping watch.”

“She's afraid all the time.”

“That's no way for kinner to live.”

“She thinks the bad men are still after her.” Leila grunted and stood. Both hands went to her belly. “I need some of that baking soda mix Mudder made for indigestion. Do you think she has some around?”

Mudder had all sorts of home remedies stored in the kitchen at the ready for what ailed her family. She would be excited to see her grandbaby. “Are you sure it's just indigestion?”

“I'm not due for three more weeks.” Leila's hand went to her back. “I'm uncomfortable morning, noon, and night, but I was with Gracie toward the end too. Especially when it's so hot. I can't ever cool off.”

“Then get Gracie out of the car and come on in. I want to know what's going on with the immigration people and finding Lupe and Diego's daed.”

“That's what I wanted to tell you. Jesse found a legal-aid lawyer who thinks she knows where their dad is.” Leila's hand shot out. She braced herself against the car's hood, her breathing loud and shallow. “Ach, oh my, oh my.”

Rebekah wanted to know the whole story. Where was their father? Could they talk to him? Would Lupe and Diego get to see him? Would they stay with him? In America? The look on her sister's face turned the torrent of questions into one of concern. “What is it?”

“Can you get Gracie? I need to sit down.”

Rebekah hurried to unbuckle the car seat, her fingers all thumbs in her rush. Gracie's eyelids fluttered open. Her rosebud lips turned down in a frown. She stuck her thumb in her mouth. “It's me. Your aenti Rebekah. It's okay.” She lifted the baby into her arms, amazed at how heavy she seemed for such a small bundle. “Let's go inside. Can you make it?”

“I can't go inside. I'll just rest a minute on the steps.” Leila heaved a deep breath, hobbled toward the house, and started up the steps. She leaned over, one hand on her back, the other on her knee. “This baby is making quite the ruckus in there.”

“He's coming, then?”

“It feels that way. He or she.”

“Can you call Jesse? How fast can he get here?”

“Karnes County is only about forty—”

The screen door opened. Mudder stuck her head out. “There you are. The kinner said you were out here. Where's my bopli?”

Rebekah handed Gracie over to her groosmammi. “Leila is in labor.”

Leila moaned. “It can't be time. Jesse's not here. He has to be here.”

Silence for a split second. Mudder opened the door wider. “Well, don't just stand there, then. Get in here.”

One step, two steps, three. They were in the house. Rebekah had never expected to share these walls with Leila again. Mudder's expression said she thought the same. Her hand soothed Gracie's brow. She turned to Leila. “How are you doing, Dochder?”

Leila grunted. Her breathing was harsh. “If you consider being in labor three weeks early and no mann in sight fine, then I guess I'm fine.”

“Don't you have one of those cell phones?” Mudder put her arm around Leila. “Just call him.”

“The church gave him a phone, but we couldn't afford one for me.” She began to cry.

“Nee, nee, nee, hush. No crying.” Mudder put her arm around Leila. “We'll send one of the men to the store to call him. He'll be here in no time. Let's get you settled. We're having a baby.”

Mudder would deliver her grandbaby. No Ordnung or bishop could change that. Rebekah hid her smile. She should be horrified, but she could only imagine the joy it would give Mudder to bring this grandchild into the world. It wouldn't make up for all the days that would follow when she wouldn't get to see him take his first step or utter his first word or smile or laugh or sing, but it would be something.

“Get my bag, Rebekah, don't just stand there.” Mudder propelled Leila up the stairs. “We'll need towels. Get Susan from the kitchen. Tell Hazel to keep an eye on Gracie. Put a blanket down on the floor in the front room. She can play with her there. There's work to be done.”

Jerked from her reverie, Rebekah did as she was ordered. She raced into the kitchen where she found Susan pulling bread from
the woodstove oven. Diego and Lupe sat at the table, Hazel between them, eating cookies. As if candy bars hadn't been enough. She handed Gracie to Lupe. “You play with the baby. All three of you.” She turned to Susan. “We have a bopli to deliver.”

“What, what?” Susan slammed the loaf pan to the counter. “Whose bopli?”

Rebekah explained the situation. Susan's frown grew as the story unfolded. “Bopli don't come that fast. We have time. I'll go find Mordecai. He needs to send Jacob to tell Jeremiah that Leila is here and having a baby here. Phineas is with him. He can go to the store to call Jesse. Be sure to get the number from Leila.”

Susan was right. This would be an obvious exception to the rule when it came to keeping apart from the world. Boplin trumped everything. “Deborah will want to be here too. Ask Mordecai to send Caleb for her.”

The delivery of their schweschder Leila's baby would be shared by all the sisters, even little Hazel babysitting Gracie. Rebekah didn't want to miss a moment of the time they would spend with this little one. She raced about gathering supplies. By the time she whipped into the room that had once been Esther's, Leila was screaming.

“Ach, Schweschder, I'm so sorry.” She smoothed Leila's sweat-drenched hair. “I'm sorry it's so hard.”

“It's not as bad as last time.” Leila panted. “It's moving faster, which means it'll be over sooner.”

“That's a gut thing.” Mudder wiped Leila's face with a damp washrag. “You know how to do this. You're doing fine.”

Leila grabbed Mudder's hand and clasped it to her heaving chest. “I'm so glad you're here with me now. I missed you the first time. I needed you, but I knew you couldn't be there. It was my fault.”

“No sense in pointing the finger of blame.” Mudder patted Leila's face with her free hand. “I wanted to be there, too, but that wasn't Gott's plan. I don't understand, but I know He has a plan for both of us.”

Leila nodded, her face fastened on Mudder's. Tears tipped the corners of her eyes and streaked into her hair. Mudder's eyes were red to match the tip of her nose.

Rebekah teetered on the edge of a private circle. She tore herself away. Her time might come someday, but it wasn't today. Her heart ached with a pain worse than any she'd ever experienced. Mudder snatched her hand. “What is Jesse's number? We're sending Phineas to the store to call him.”

It took only a few moments to convey this information to Susan, who trotted away to hitch up the wagon, her face determined. She would want to be back in time for the birth too. They would all want to share in this special moment, made even more special by being so unexpected. A special gift from Gott.

Leila's scream reverberated in the hallway as Rebekah pushed through the door into the bedroom.

Please, Lord, don't let Leila suffer for too long, but let Jesse get here. Please. Let this bopli be strong and healthy. Let me be strong for him and for Leila.

It was all the prayer she could muster. An hour passed. Then another. It might be faster than the first time, but not all that fast in Rebekah's way of thinking. Mudder's concerned expression seemed to agree. “Is something wrong?”

“Nee, not a thing. The labor is slowing down. That happens sometimes.”

As if Gott knew Jesse needed time to get there.

And Deborah. Breathless and flushed, she slipped into the
room. “I'm not too late, am I? Caleb told me what's going on. We rushed right over. I thought we'd never get here. I had to wait for Esther. She's downstairs watching all the babies. I'm here, Leila, I'm here.”

“No, you're not too late. This baby is never going to come.” Leila grunted and gasped. “Never.”

Deborah knelt next to the bed. “It only seems that way. I remember how it feels. Just think of holding that bopli in your arms. Soon now, it'll be soon.”

Leila grabbed Deborah's hand, then Rebekah's. “Schweschders. You both know I had to do what I did.”

She wanted to talk about this now. Rebekah squeezed her damp fingers. “I know, it doesn't matter, it's done.”

“I didn't want to cause Mudder pain.”

“She knows that.”

“I love Jesse. I love God. How can that be bad? I had to do it.”

“I know. We understand.”

“You don't.”

Leila was right. If nothing else, Rebekah's encounter with Tobias had taught her that. She didn't understand the desire to leave this place and this faith. Tobias had been in the same place as Leila, but he'd chosen his faith over love. Rebekah would do the same, given a choice. Plain Rebekah. Not like Serena. Never like Serena. Tobias's first choice. Maybe he learned something from that first choice. Maybe he deserved a second chance. Mudder had a second chance. So did Mordecai. It looked as if Levi would too.