Letters to Katie (32 page)
“
Nee
. I believe that’s your job.”
Caleb placed the piece on the level stump. “I don’t suppose there’s some way I can
convince you to give me a hand? It will take me all day to get this pile done. I need
the time to look for a job.”
Johnny nodded. “I’ll help. But I need you to do me a favor first.” He pulled the folded
note out of the pocket of his jacket. Today had been hotter than the past week, almost
like August instead of June. That’s the way Ohio summers were—never could predict
the weather from one day to the next. Johnny might say the same thing about life too.
“What’s this?” Caleb put down his ax and walked over to Johnny.
“I need you to give it to Katherine’s
daed
. To him only. And don’t let Katherine or her mother know it’s from me.”
“Okay.” His brother tilted his head to the side. “Can I ask why?”
“I don’t want to
geh
into it. But if you can get this to him now, I’ll work on the wood while you’re gone.”
Caleb didn’t hesitate. “Deal.” He took off his hat and wiped his damp forehead with
the back of his hand. He took the letter. “Mind if I use your buggy?”
“
Geh
ahead.” Johnny turned and picked up the ax.
“How’s the farm going?”
“Haven’t gotten very far. Some stuff has happened.”
Caleb looked at him. “You’re not giving up, are you?”
Johnny looked at the letter in Caleb’s hand. “
Nee
. I’m not giving up. Just changing plans.”
By the time Caleb returned, Johnny had finished half of the wood. His shirt was soaked
with sweat. Once he got started, he worked at a furious pace, taking out his frustration
on the wood.
Caleb parked Johnny’s buggy in the driveway and got out. Katherine’s father exited
the passenger side. Johnny took off his hat and slicked back his damp hair. He put
down the ax and met them halfway.
“
Danki
for coming out,” he said. “And thanks, Caleb.”
His brother nodded, then slipped past him and went back to the woodpile. He grinned
as he saw the pile of split wood.
“You wanted to talk?” Katherine’s dad looked him square in the eye. She favored her
father more than her mother. Hopefully her father would be more understanding too.
“
Ya
. You want to sit down on the porch?”
“
Nee
. We’re
gut
here. I have a question for you.”
“What’s that?”
“Why are you being so secretive? I don’t like doing things behind
mei frau’s
back.”
“I know, and I’m sorry I’m putting you in that position. But I didn’t know who else
to talk to.”
“About Katherine?”
Johnny nodded. “
Ya
. I’ve messed up,
Herr
Yoder.”
“Call me Thomas.”
“Thomas, I hurt your
dochder
, and I’m truly sorry for that. I want you to know that I care for her.”
“You have a strange way of showing it.” He wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead.
“Then again,
mei
Katherine hasn’t gone about things the right way either.”
“This isn’t her fault. I should have been honest with her from the beginning.”
“The beginning?”
Johnny hedged. “Well, not exactly the beginning. But I know what a wonderful
maedel
she is now.” He blew out a breath. “I also have to be honest with you. Up until today,
I didn’t have much to offer her.”
“What’s changed?”
He gave a brief explanation about his deal with the Wagners, leaving out the part
about the Amish tourist trap. And that they weren’t Amish. He’d deal with that later.
“So you’re trying to make a case for yourself.”
Johnny started to pace. “Your
frau
is mad at me, with
gut
reason. And Katherine doesn’t believe I’ve changed
mei
mind.” He stopped and looked at Thomas Yoder. Apparently he wasn’t doing such a bang-up
job explaining himself. “Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Caleb.”
“Now, hold on.” Thomas put his hand on Johnny’s shoulder. “I’m here, aren’t I? And
I wouldn’t have come if I didn’t think you were
gut
for
mei dochder
.”
“But what about
Frau
Yoder?”
“I love Margaret, but we’ve been known to butt heads on occasion. This is one of them.
Normally I stay out of this type of
thing, but in this case I think you need a helping hand. You’ve been telling me how
you feel about Katherine. Now you have to show her.”
“I tried to help her get her memory back.”
“That’s not what I mean, John. You have to be honest with her, like you said. But
completely honest. You have to tell her the real reason you’ve been pushing her away
all these years.”
Johnny took off his hat and tapped the dust and wood chips from it. “What if I don’t
know the real reason?”
“You do. Your pride is keeping you from admitting it.”
Pride again. His father had accused him of being prideful about buying the horse farm.
And looking back on it, he had to admit that his
daed
might be right. Did he really need a huge farm? Had he bought it to be boastful?
Had he agreed to the Wagners’ investment because it was the best plan?
Or was it all about being worthy?
“Search your heart, John. Pray about what to say to her.”
“How can I talk to her? I’m not exactly welcomed at your
haus
.”
“You let me take care of that.” He smiled. “Then the rest is up to you.”
“I think we both agree Sawyer and Laura are an ill match.” Out of habit, Cora crossed
her leg, accidentally jarring her injured ankle.
“Are you okay?” Ella asked. “That looks painful.”
“It’s fine.” She straightened her posture. “Back to the
business at hand. I’ve been trying to convince Sawyer to change his mind about the
wedding.” She didn’t add anything about the church. One problem at a time.
“Why? You don’t think my daughter is
gut
enough for him?”
Cora swallowed. “No, that’s not the case at all. She’s a . . . a charming young woman.”
“You don’t know much about her, do you? Just like I don’t know anythin’ about Sawyer.
That’s why I came back with Laura. To find out what it is about this fella that has
her so head-over-heels.”
“Well, he is an exemplary young man. Anyone can see that.”
“I’ll reserve my opinion right now.”
The woman’s soft matronly appearance masked a strong personality. Impressive. But
not intimidating. “Mrs. Stutzman, Sawyer has gone through a difficult time. Due to
circumstances I’d rather not discuss at the moment, he hasn’t had a chance to fully
appreciate his legacy.”
“
Geh
on.”
“I’m the owner and CEO of a Fortune 500 company.”
Ella cracked her first smile. “Then we have something in common.
Mei
Matthew and I run our own bakery.”
“An interesting comparison.” Cora had to struggle not to scoff that a tiny bakery
could compare to her massive business domain. “Thus, as business owners, you know
you have a responsibility to your financial interests. Sawyer is the one and only
heir of my considerable assets.” She adjusted the cuff of her cashmere sweater. “However,
I cannot groom him for the business if he marries your daughter.”
“Or joins the church.”
“Precisely. He’s giving up experiences he can only dream of on a mere religious whim
and the delusion that he’s in love with Laura.”
Ella removed her hands from her stomach and leaned forward. Her small feet clad in
plain black shoes barely reached the ground. She stared at Cora for a moment. Finally
she spoke. “How much money are we talkin’ about?”
“More than one billion dollars.”
Her eyes widened. “That can’t be right.”
“I assure you, I’m not exaggerating. Not about something this important.”
“Let me get this straight. Sawyer knows how much is involved here?”
“He does.”
“And he’s givin’ all that up to become Amish?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
Ella leaned back against the couch. With one finger she wiped underneath her eye.
“Unbelievable.”
“Pardon me?”
She got up, walked over to Cora, and took her hand. “I was so worried after I heard
what Mark did to her. When she told me about Sawyer, I thought she was—what’s it called?
When you fall for someone else because you’re hurtin’ inside?”
“Rebounding?”
“
Ya
, that.” She smiled. “But from what you’ve told me, I can see that’s not true. Your
grandson is truly special.”
“But—”
“Who’s ready for some cold iced tea and oatmeal cookies?” Anna came into the living
room carrying a tray laden with the goodies.
“Oh, that looks yummy.” Ella took two cookies and sat back down. She bit into the
cookie and nodded. “
Gut
, Anna. Worthy of our bakery, if you don’t mind me sayin’.”
Anna smiled. “I don’t mind at all. Sawyer and Laura will be here in a minute with
the ice.”
“Great. I’ll just grab me another one of these cookies while we wait.” She looked
at Cora. “I’m glad we had that talk, Cora. I feel like we’re
familye
already.”
“I, uh—” Cora sputtered.
“What’s that about
familye
?” Sawyer walked in carrying a large metal bowl filled with chipped ice.
Ella stood. Walked to Sawyer and put her hand on his arm. “Your grandmother has been
telling me all about you.”
“She has?” Sawyer’s eyes widened as he looked at Cora. “Hope it was all good.”
Ella gripped Laura’s hand and grinned. “Trust me, it was.”
Cora sat back and watched in shock as the one person she thought could help her cause
welcomed her grandson with chubby, open arms.
“This is a surprise,” Katherine said as her father drove the buggy out of the driveway.
After a hot day, the sun glowed low in the sky. The sound of cicadas and bullfrogs
surrounded them as they made their way down the road.
“We haven’t been for a drive in a long time.” Her father turned and smiled. “With
you going back to work soon, I imagine you’ll be really busy again. I figured tonight
would be a
gut
night to bring back some memories.”