The Shunning (11 page)

"I know. I have driven you home many times from singings," he said with a grin. "I'm glad you have found the right man for you, Sadie."

"And I am glad you have Miriam. She will make you a
goot
wife."

"Do you think that she and
Mamm
will like each other well enough?" he asked, his eyes showing concern.

"As long as she loves you, Mama will love her," Sadie said with assurance.

"You will keep this to yourself, right? I wish to be the one to tell the folks when I am ready."

"Of course," Sadie promised. She smiled at him and then asked, "Can you make Snowball go any faster?"

"I could, but
Dat
would have plenty to say to me if I did," Atlee said with a grin. "While I am an adult, I still live under his roof and under his rule. I do not wish to be told I have to stay home this night."

"
Dat
would not do that to you," she said.

"No? I would not test him to find out," he said with a snort of laughter. "Now you behave, little sister, or I'll slow ole Snowball down to a slow walk."

"
Dat
wouldn't like that, either," she replied.

Atlee chuckled and they continued to talk the rest of the way to the Yoder farm. They did arrive early, but so did a few others, and Samuel Hilty was among them. He came straight to the buggy and offered Sadie a hand down.

"
Gudermariye
," Samuel said softly as he looked down at Sadie and smiled.

"Good morning to you, too," Sadie answered.

"You look pretty this morning," he stated, then watched her blush with pleasure.

"Sadie, we need your help inside with the food," Mary called sharply, her eyes slicing Samuel to ribbons with the disapproval she felt.

"I must go and help, Samuel," Sadie said, and she wanted nothing more than to kick her sister! She knew that was wrong, and quickly asked God to forgive her thoughts of anger.

"I will carry your basket for you," Samuel quickly offered, not about to be separated from Sadie so soon after waiting two weeks to see the pretty redhead.

"That would be very nice, Samuel.
Danki
." Sadie smiled as he lifted the two baskets from the buggy, and then walked with her to the house where several women were busily hurrying around the kitchen. They said hello, and then Sadie helped her
Mamm
and Mary take out the food they brought and put it on the tables.

Anna Yoder smiled at them. "Martha, you and your daughters always bring such tempting dishes to service. Thank you so much. I am sure your offerings will be appreciated."

"We have a large family, Anna. It is only right that we bring plenty to share with others," Martha replied. She and Anna grew up together and went to school together as children. They'd been friends for years, and even though they did not live as close neighbors, Martha knew that Anna would come if she needed her, and she hoped that Anna trusted her to do the same.

Anna spoke to Mary and Sadie, and then said, "You young girls run along and visit with your friends."

Sadie looked to her
Mamm
for her permission and was pleased when she nodded. Sadie hurried outside and found Samuel waiting for her beside a tree that was budding with leaves. "I hoped you would be able to visit for a few minutes before we are called to take our seats so the service can begin."

"Anna Yoder released us from helping and Mama gave her approval," Sadie explained. "I've missed you, Samuel."

"I've missed you, too, Levi's Sadie. I worried that you would be angry with me and refuse to speak to me today."

"I worried that you would think me too childish and turn to someone else," she answered.

"I would not do that," he reassured her. "Were you sore long?" he asked.

She nodded. "It was a terrible punishment, but I realize why you felt it necessary," she said quietly. "You wanted to show me how important it is that I keep trust with the people who love me most. When I give my word and make a promise, I must be true to myself and keep that promise. I cannot let what I want take precedence over my promise to another."

"This is especially true for a husband and wife, Sadie. I did not enjoy inflicting pain and making you cry."

"I realized that, Samuel. The worst pain was in my heart... because I disappointed you... and
Dat
. I needed the punishment to let go of my guilt."

"Did it work?" he asked quietly.

"
Ja
. It worked very well. My feet were pleased when I could sit again for more than five minutes."

"Did your parents allow you a pillow to sit on at the table?" he wanted to know.

"No! I did not ask, Samuel. I feared you would not approve!" She looked at him in shock and dismay.

"I wouldn't have approved, but it is your
Dat's
and
Mamm's
home and I have no say over what happens there. I am glad you honored me by not asking, little one."

The call came for everyone to take their seats. The large barn was set up for services and the men and boys sat on one side, the women and girls on the other side. Sadie, and others who were to be baptized, met with the ministers in the house while the rest of the members sang songs from the
Ausbund
, the old Amish hymnal. The Bishop discussed another section from the
Ordnung
, making sure the young people understood, and smiled when all of them raised their hand when he asked if all of them were sure baptism into the Amish faith was their desire. He led them to the barn, where they took their seats, and then the preaching began.

Sadie sat with her
Mamm
and sisters. They'd kept a place for her, as did the families of the other young people. Samuel did his usual and sat with her
Dat
and brothers, making her smile. She was happy her
Dat
made room for Samuel as if he were already one of their family. More than anything it told her that her
Dat
was finding approval with Samuel.

Mary nudged her, frowning. Sadie knew she was going to have to have a serious talk with her sister. She did not like the way she was treating Samuel, and she especially did not like the anger that Mary harbored for him.

Finally the last sermon ended, and they sang the final hymn. Sadie went with her
Mamm
and Mary to help put out the rest of the food and to serve the men once they were seated. She was given the table where Samuel sat with some other young men, and she was happy to serve them iced tea. When the men finished eating, it was time for the women and children to eat. Sadie and Mary joined some of the other young women and the talk was of quilting and the mud sale that would be happening soon. Everyone was rushing to finish up quilts they hoped to sell then, knowing they would bring a good price at the quilt auction. By then tourists would be flooding the area, and store owners would be anxious to buy their Amish quilts for resale in their stores. Selling quilts was a big business and one way the women could contribute financially to their household. Sadie knew her
Mamm
had several quilts she hoped to sell; she'd worked on many of them with her over the winter, as had Mary. Hannah and little Katie were still learning to quilt and making smaller pieces, like pillows.

Sadie finished eating as quickly as she could without being rude to her friends, and then hurried off to find Samuel. She wanted to make sure he was planning to attend the singing that night.

Samuel was pleased when Sadie appeared in the doorway of the barn. He quickly went to offer her his arm and ask her if she wanted to take a walk. Sadie was pleased to have some time alone with him. It didn't matter that Mary was watching, anger in her eyes.

"Will your
Dat
permit you to attend the singing tonight?" Samuel asked hopefully.

"
Ja
, he will," she happily answered. "He said he felt the switching was ample punishment for my wrongs, especially since I apologized to him and to Mama, and he could see I really did understand why he was upset with me. He and Mama forgave me and nothing more has been said."

"I am pleased. The last two weeks have been long, and you have no idea how I longed to come and see you to make sure you were faring well after such a firm punishment. I wanted to come and see you at work, but told myself that I would deserve a switching for doing what I'd just punished you for doing." He smiled wryly. "It was not easy to keep my word to your
Dat
, but I did, and I am thankful you are now fully recovered."

"Oh, I am thankful for that, too," she said impishly. "I do not ever wish to earn another switching, Samuel. It was awful," she admitted.

"It was meant to be awful and not something you would want to experience again."

"Do not worry; I intend to be very obedient in the future."

"Oh, I am sure your intentions are sincere, and I am equally sure that I will find reason to swat your bottom again," he teased, then ducked when she playfully made to smack him.

"Will you allow me to drive you home from the singing tonight, Sadie," he asked.

"
Ja
. Of course I will."

"I know I am supposed to wait until tonight to ask you that, but I'm afraid someone else will ask before I do," he confessed.

"I would tell them 'no'," she admitted, blushing. "You are the only one I wish to have bringing me home."

"
Danki,
Sadie. You make me feel special."

"You are special."

"So are you," he answered, longing to kiss her, and knowing it wasn't the time or place for such actions. Perhaps tonight, on the way home in the buggy. At least it would be a very long ride home, and he looked forward to every minute.

* * *

"Atlee, you have been frowning ever since worship service this morning. Is something wrong?" Martha asked her son as they sat down to a light supper. It would soon be time for her three eldest to go to the singing, but she wanted to make sure her eldest wasn't feeling ill before she allowed him to go.

"Nothing is wrong,
Mamm
," he replied, then changed the subject by telling her how good her chicken salad was.

"
Danki
," Martha automatically replied, but when she started to open her mouth to question him further, Levi caught her eye and gave her a silent 'no' with his eyes. She didn't ask, certain that her husband knew best. Perhaps he already knew why their son was unhappy, and perhaps he was aware it was something that shouldn't be discussed in front of the other
kinner
. She urged them to eat so the older ones could be on their way.

"
Dat
, I think you should forbid Sadie to ride home with that awful Samuel Hilty!" Mary spoke up, her voice full of anger. "He would not make a good husband."

"And you have proof of this, daughter?" Levi asked quietly.

"The proof was given when he striped her with a switch. Sadie was welted and sore as could be for several days. It pained her to sit down for meals, and even her legs were sore and itchy."

"Mary, I believe there has been enough discussion on this subject." Levi was not happy with her and she was about to find herself in some serious trouble of her own.

"
Dat
, may I say something?" Sadie asked quietly. When he nodded his permission, she said, "Mary, I know you love me and you are concerned that Samuel could be an abuser. He isn't. He felt bad that he caused me pain. He felt even worse because he couldn't break trust with
Dat
to find out how I was doing after the switching. He suffered, too. But, don't you see, a
bletching
is an expression of love, too. It is not the same as hitting someone, or punching them. Samuel cares enough about me to take me to task when I am wrong... And, Sadie, I was wrong to break trust with
Dat
. Please accept my word on this. I would not allow anyone to beat on me... ever!"

"I think that Sadie explained this well, daughter. If you have any more questions, you can ask me while we are doing the dishes tonight," Martha said, trying hard to protect her fifteen-year-old from the
bletching
she was close to earning from her
Dat
.

David was in a hurry, and Atlee and Sadie followed him out the door. Sadie was anxious as well, but she could see that Atlee was unhappy about something. She waited until they were underway before asking, "What is wrong, brother?"

Atlee looked at her, then back at the road. He waited so long that she thought he wasn't going to answer her, but then he said, "I have a serious predicament, Sadie, and I am not sure how to handle the situation. I know what I should do, but if I do it, Miriam is liable to refuse to see me again."

"That is a serious predicament, but I would ask you this: Is this something that could affect how you and Miriam get along in the future?"

"
Ja
, it is. She flat out disobeyed me, Sadie. We witnessed something private between another couple, and I asked her not to spread gossip. I learned at church this morning she had told several of her girl friends, and it was now common knowledge. I do not approve of gossip.
Dat
and
Mamm
raised us to believe we should not tell tales that are hurtful, and now another girl is shamed because Miriam could not respect her privacy. I asked her this morning to put herself in the other girl's place. She claimed she was sorry, but when I told her she earned a consequence, she got angry and threatened she would never speak to me again if I turned her over my knee for a good
bletching
."

"If she acts this way now, then how will she act once you marry her? Will she be obedient then? If she does not try to please you now, will she try once you are married to her?"

"Those are the questions I have asked myself," Atlee said quietly. "I am torn as to what to do. I know I should keep my promise to her. I warned her that if she gossiped about the matter and I learned of it, I would give her a good spanking. She gave her promise, and then did as she pleased. Now she does not want the consequence she has earned."