Chapter 4
Shipshewana
IWONDER HOW THINGS ARE GOING for Emma,” Dianna Bontrager said after she’d removed her shoes and taken a seat on the sofa next to her daughter Rachel. “I hope we hear something from her soon.”
“Emma’s driver said she made it to your parents’ house, so there’s no need for you to fret,” her husband responded from across the room, where he sat in one of their comfortable overstuffed chairs.
“I am not fretting, Philip. I’m just eager to get a letter from Emma so I know how things are going.”
Rachel crossed her arms and gave a little huff. “I still don’t understand why my sister had to go all the way to Arthur, Illinois, to learn how to cook and sew. You taught me how—right, Mom? Surely Emma could have learned from you too.”
“First of all”—Dianna held up one finger—“Arthur is not that far away.” A second finger sprang up. “And I did try to teach Emma the skills she would need to run a household of her own, but I couldn’t keep her attention long enough for anything I showed her to sink in.”
“Emma’s not dumm,” Rachel said. “I think she’s just stubborn because she’d rather be outside doing something she likes better than spending time indoors.”
“Rachel has a point,” Philip interjected. “With Emma being our youngest child, you’ve been inclined to spoil her a bit and given in to her wishes too often.”
Dianna blinked rapidly, feeling the thrum of her pulse on her inner wrists.
Her attention latched on to the monotonous ticking of the clock over the entryway, which was the only sound to break the stillness of the room.
What her husband had stated was true, but it was difficult to admit.
She should have tried harder and been firmer with Emma, but there was no going back.
All she could do was hope and pray that somehow her mother could get through to Emma and teach her the necessary skills to prepare for marriage and running a home of her own someday.
Hopefully, when Emma returned home at the end of summer, she would be skilled at sewing and cooking, or at least be able to function in the kitchen well enough to make a decent meal.
If for some reason Emma’s grandma couldn’t teach Emma to sew, she could always buy her dresses and other clothing items from some other Amish woman who sewed well and needed the extra money.
Clippity-clop … clippity-clop . . . the sound of a horse and buggy coming into the yard brought Rachel to her feet and over to the front window. “David’s here to pick me up for a ride over to his parents’ house for a light supper, so I better not keep him waiting.”
“I hope you have a good time,” Dianna called as Rachel hurried to the front door.
“I will, and don’t feel that you need to wait up for me, although I shouldn’t be too late.”
Dianna heard the door shut, and a few minutes later the clippity-clop of the horse’s hooves resumed along the gravel, which let her know that David’s carriage was heading for the road. She looked over at Philip and asked, “Do you think that young man will ever propose to Rachel?”
Philip shrugged. “If I were a betting man, I’d say jah, but then who knows? As long as the two of them have been courting, he should have asked her by now.”
“It does seem so,” she agreed, “but then I’m sure he must have his reasons.”
“Whatever those reasons are, David better not be giving our daughter the impression that he will propose when he really isn’t all that interested in her.” Philip grunted like a grizzly bear. “At this rate it doesn’t look like either of our daughters will ever get married.”
Dianna pursed her lips as she thought about their oldest daughter, Betty, who had left home before Emma was born.
She was a headstrong young woman with a mind of her own, and she’d made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with her family or the Amish way of life.
Dianna sniffed, hoping she wouldn’t give in to the tears pricking the back of her eyes.
In all the years since Betty had left home, they’d never heard a single word from her.
Is it any wonder I’ve spoiled Emma and even Rachel?
Dianna asked herself. I’d die a thousand deaths if either of my two youngest girls left home for good and made a new life for themselves that didn’t involve their Amish family.
Emma’s time with her grandmother this summer may be the last chance to shape her into the woman she’s destined to become, so I hope things work out while she’s there with my mom and dad.
Arthur
“Are you all right? Have you got something stuck in your throat? Is that why you can’t talk?”
Emma shook her head. For goodness’ sake. Why is this man asking so many questions? This is so embarrassing.
“Do you need some water to drink?” The young ballplayer stared deeply into her eyes as he leaned closer to Emma, clearly concerned.
“No, I–I’m fine.” Emma felt the heat of embarrassment flood her cheeks. “For a few seconds there, I just couldn’t find my voice.”
“Does it happen often?” the youthful man asked.
“No, not really.” Just when I’m nervous and tongue-tied.
“Well, good.” He held out his hand, and when Emma shook it, she was surprised by his gentle, yet firm, grip. “I’m Ivan Yoder, and I believe we met a few days ago.”
Emma tilted her head to one side. “Oh, I don’t think so. Surely I would have remembered meeting you.”
“We didn’t meet face-to-face,” he said with a grin. “You were standing in front of the Hershbergers’ mailbox, and I was driving by with my horse and buggy. I waved, and you waved back.”
Emma moved her head slowly up and down. “Jah, I do remember now that you’ve mentioned it.”
“Was is dei name?” he questioned.
“My name is Emma Bontrager.”
“Are you new to the area?”
“Not quite. I’m from Shipshewana, Indiana, and I came to Arthur to visit my grandparents for the summer,” she replied.
Emma hoped he wouldn’t ask why, because it would be awkward to explain that she came here to learn how to cook and sew.
Emma had always tried to be honest and upright, so she wasn’t about to tell him an out-and-out lie.
“So you’re here through the month of September?”
“I—I guess so,” she stammered. Emma wasn’t sure why, but looking into this man’s piercing blue eyes made her feel giddy and unable to think or speak clearly. Even so, she couldn’t turn her head away. It was as though his gaze held her captive.
“Do you have any special plans for while you’re here?”
Emma moistened her lips. He’s very direct. Now I have to come up with a sensible answer that won’t be a lie. “I’ll probably be helping my grandmother in the kitchen, and—”
“Oh, so you like to cook?”
“Well, I—”
“Ivan, the food’s been set out. Are you coming to join us?”
Ivan turned his head in the direction of the voice that had beckoned him, and Emma looked that way too.
A young, slender woman stood near one of the picnic tables, waving her hand.
Emma had seen her out on the ball field and wondered if she might be Ivan’s girlfriend.
If that was the case, Emma figured the woman probably wouldn’t appreciate her boyfriend talking to a stranger.
“That’s my sister Norma, and she likes to boss me around sometimes.
I often choose to ignore her, but other times I do what she says just so she’ll think she’s in control.
” Ivan laughed and offered Emma a quick wink.
Then he gestured to the group of people on the lawn.
“Why don’t you come with me, and we’ll get something to eat.
I’ll introduce you to my family and some of my friends who are here. ”
Emma hesitated. It had always made her uncomfortable to meet new people, especially when there was a large group of them. When Grandma had said they’d been invited to go over to Ida Mae’s place this afternoon, she hadn’t realized there would be a crowd gathered on the lawn.
“Come on, Emma,” Ivan encouraged. “I’m sure you must be hungerich, and there’s bound to be lots of good food.”
Emma had to admit that she was hungry, so she nodded and walked beside Ivan onto the thick green lawn where the people were already seated at tables and some on the grass.
Emma cringed when she realized that many heads had turned in her direction.
It felt like all eyes were on her. Like a bird with its wings clipped, Emma longed to escape and avoid having to speak to anyone.
She wished she had stayed in her room at Grandma and Grandpa’s and gone to bed early tonight.
Ivan led Emma over to one of the tables, where his parents and two of his siblings sat.
Emma’s grandparents were there as well. “Why don’t we sit here?
” he said to Emma, motioning for the young woman to sit on the wooden bench.
“I’ll introduce you to some of my family members, and then we can eat and get better acquainted. ”
Without giving Emma a chance to respond, Ivan proceeded with the introductions. “This is my daed, Eldon; my mamm, Ida Mae; and my two schweschdere, Jane and Norma.” He then gestured to Emma. “And this young lady is Emma Bontrager. She’s Marlin and Luellen Herschbergers’ granddaughter.”
Emma extended a hand to each of them before sitting at the table, stating that she’d met Ivan’s mother at the fabric store in town and that it was nice to meet everyone else. They greeted her warmly, and Ivan’s mother said she was pleased to see Emma again.
“I have four more siblings too,” Ivan remarked as he slid on a bench beside Emma.
“My three brieder, Aaron, Peter, and Delbert, are all married and live in a different church district, so they’re not with us today.
Oh, and my youngest sister, Bertha, who recently turned fifteen, is sitting at another table with some of her friends.
” He looked over his shoulder and pointed.