A Simple Change (22 page)

“Father has enough worries.” I bowed my head. “Besides, I didn't want to tell him I'd been digging up floorboards and sticking my nose where it didn't belong.”

I didn't add that I worried he would tell the elders and they might declare me unfit to remain in the colonies. If I admitted
that possibility, Nathan might decide I should speak to one of the elders.

“Do you think you could mention the bank robbery to my father and find out exactly when it happened without creating suspicion? We're not even sure when it occurred, and I have no idea when Thomas first arrived in Iowa. I asked him when he came to Middle Amana, but he didn't give me a direct answer.”

We stopped outside the front door. “First let me take a look at the news clipping. Maybe that will refresh my memory. Then we'll decide what to do.”

I was pleased to see Father wasn't in the parlor. “You wait here while I take the medicine to my parents' room, and then I'll get the clipping from my room.”

After a light tap I opened the bedroom door. My father had drawn the upholstered chair from the other side of the room to Mother's bedside. His chin rested against his chest, but when I tiptoed inside, he awakened.

“You got the medicine?”

I handed him the packet.

“Thank you.” He poured a small amount of the medicine into a glass. “You are going to bed now?”

“Not right away. Nathan is in the parlor. He was taking a walk after work and saw me, so he escorted me home.”

“He should not stay too long. He needs his rest and so do you. When the next bell tolls, he should go or he'll be late getting back.”

“I'll be sure to tell him, Father.”

As soon as I returned to the parlor, I glanced at the clock. There wasn't any time to waste. We only had fifteen minutes before the next bell. “I'll be only a minute. I need to get the clipping from my bedroom.” Nathan nodded as I hurried across the carpeted floor.
Inside my bedroom, I picked up the Bible. My fingers trembled as I flipped through the pages where I'd hidden the clipping. When I didn't immediately find the piece of newspaper, my stomach knotted. Had Father used my Bible and discovered it? I sat on the edge of the bed and tried to calm myself as I continued my search. I silently chastised myself when I finally located it in the middle of Psalms, where it had stuck between the pages. I should have checked where I'd placed it before closing the Bible. Next time I'd be more careful.

I returned to the parlor and sat down beside Nathan. “Here it is.” I extended the worn piece of news clipping.

“So they already captured two of the robbers.” He scanned the remainder of the article. “Too bad there's no date on the article, but why else would Thomas have that money unless he was involved in the robbery?”

I shrugged. “He's very nice. He doesn't seem like the type of person who would rob a bank. He told me he'd been saving money so he could make a proper home for his sister. Maybe that money was what he's saved.”

Nathan frowned. “I thought you said it was in a bank bag and there was a lot of it. I don't see how he could save a lot of money working in a mill. And why is he here? If he was living in Kansas City, why didn't he get a job at the Watkins Woolen Mill, where he would have made a higher wage?”

“I asked him the same thing. He said he'd been paying for food and lodging in Kansas City, so he wouldn't be making much more than if he worked here.”

“Doesn't make sense for him to come all the way to Iowa. Train tickets cost money and his sister may be still living in Kansas City.” Nathan shook his head. “I think he's hiding from the law, and
this is the perfect place to remain concealed until he's certain it's safe to return. It's proved a stroke of good fortune for him that you happened to come here, found the picture of his sister, and agreed to help him. He's probably been quite pleased with all that's happened so far.”

“You may be right, but I'm afraid he'll discover this news clipping is gone. He might become suspicious and take off. Then what?”

“If he leaves, it would solve the problem, but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon. And he's not going to take a chance by digging around in that hiding spot—one of the other men might see him. Until he's ready to take off, I think he'll leave that bag right where it's at.”

I twisted my hands together. “What if I hear from Lilly? Should I tell him?”

Nathan reached for my hand. “You're trembling. There's no need to be frightened. You rest easy and I'll take care of everything. On my day off, I'll rent a horse and ride over to Marengo and send a telegram to the newspaper office to find out the date of the robbery and see if there's any description of the third robber.”

The bell tolled and Nathan pushed to his feet. “You don't know how much I hate all these rules. I can't even make a decision about what time I go to bed.”

After acting and sounding like a new man only moments ago, I was alarmed to hear the animosity return to Nathan's voice. Had I made a mistake and told him too much? Maybe he hadn't changed after all.

Chapter 22

Since our conversation under the tree, Ritt had finally acquiesced enough to visit with me on a couple of occasions, but he'd been careful to direct the conversation toward neutral topics such as my mother's health, the weather, or work. He'd also refrained from attending any of the tutoring lessons with Madelyn and the other children or from meeting me on the path after meals. I missed spending time with him, but he was doing what he'd said—guarding himself against falling in love with me. However, when I looked into his eyes, I wasn't sure that I had protected my heart soon enough.

Last evening on the way to prayer meeting, he'd been particularly kind and I truly believed I'd received an answer to my prayer. I believed that God was urging me to tell Ritt about the money. However, I'd said only a few words when Madelyn skipped to my
side, eager to tell me about a new math problem she'd conquered in school that day.

Later, I determined I must not have received urging from the Lord or Madelyn wouldn't have arrived to interrupt my conversation with Ritt. Perhaps I was supposed to keep the promise I'd made to Nathan. He'd said he would take care of everything, and I'd given my word that I wouldn't confide in anyone else. If I expected Nathan to keep his vow, then surely I was supposed to do the same. If trouble of some sort arose and Ritt was involved, he could be reprimanded by the elders, while Nathan wouldn't face such consequences. Nathan might be discharged from his job at the mill and told to leave the village, but those measures wouldn't affect his future in the outside world.

Although I didn't foresee any other explanation, I still held a modicum of hope that Thomas wasn't a bank robber. No matter what Nathan said, I simply could not envision Thomas committing such a crime. I'd offered any number of prayers that we'd discover the truth, but now I feared the truth would hurt not only Thomas, but his sister, Kathleen. What if her adoptive family granted permission for her to meet with Thomas and he was later arrested for bank robbery? The girl would be devastated. If I hadn't written that first note, I wouldn't have to worry. Twice now, I'd stuck my nose where it didn't belong, and twice it had delivered trouble to my doorstep.

Still deep in thought, I hurried inside the men's quarters and nearly collided with Sister Margaret. With the onion harvest complete, she'd returned to her regular work schedule at the dormitory, and I was glad once again to have her help. However, I hadn't readjusted to her constant presence. Since her return, she'd managed to startle me at least once each day.

After bidding me good morning, Margaret gestured toward the rear door. “I have to go out and heat the water. You remember we will do the wash today. Ja?”

I hadn't remembered, but I nodded. “You go ahead and I'll strip the beds and bring the basket of sheets when I finish.”

When she reached the rear door, she picked up a basket filled with some of the men's dirty clothes. She wouldn't wash those until after she'd laundered the sheets, but her kind gesture would save me an extra trip to the washhouse later in the day. While the water heated for the wash, she'd prepare a pot of coffee that would be kept hot on the stove throughout the morning, and while I remarked that it was much too warm for coffee, Sister Margaret declared she hadn't yet seen a day when it was too hot for at least several cups of the strong brew.

Working quickly, I yanked the sheets from the beds, picked up any remaining clothes that had been left on the floor, and carried the baskets to the washhouse. Sounds of the clacking looms, the whirring spinning jacks, and the rumbling carding machine filled the morning air as I crossed the distance between the dormitory and the washhouse. I'd become accustomed to the muted sounds of the machinery, but I often wondered how the men inside the mill could tolerate the noise day after day.

I'd returned from my final trip to the washhouse and was cleaning in the sleeping room when the bell tolled to announce the midmorning break. After dusting the windowsills behind the beds, I turned and gasped when I caught sight of Thomas in the doorway. I didn't know how long he'd been standing there staring at me, but his eyes were as cold as ice. His lips were clamped in a tight line, and the moment I saw him, he spun on his heel and strode off.

My heart pounded in my chest and I tried to slow my breathing. Had Nathan been wrong? Had Thomas checked the money bag and discovered the newspaper clipping was missing? Was this his way of letting me know he'd caught me? My palms turned damp and I wiped them down the front of my apron. Any other time he'd caught me alone, he'd asked questions or at least spoken to me. But not today. Not any mention of Kathleen or any questions about a letter from Lilly—just a cold stare. I needed to remain calm, but how could I?

I wanted to talk to Nathan. Maybe he'd said something to Thomas. There wouldn't be time before the men returned from their break. Besides, I could hardly stand in the doorway and wave to Nathan. I could picture the workers' looks of astonishment if I should do such a thing. A nervous giggle escaped my lips.

“What is so funny?”

I jumped and pressed my palm against my chest. “Sister Margaret. You startled me again.”

“You are the most easily alarmed person I have ever met. What is it that causes such uneasiness in you?”

“I-I don't know. I didn't hear you enter and you surprised me. There is no other explanation.”

She tipped her head to the side and looked at me. “When I was a little girl, my Mutter told me such jumpiness was a sure sign I was hiding something.” Her eyes gleamed in the bright sunlight that shone through the dormitory windows. “Are you hiding something?”

“No, of course not.” I cleared my throat. “Is it time to hang the sheets?”

“Ja, the first ones are ready.” Margaret grinned at me. “There was one other thing my Mutter used to say to me about jumpiness—do you want to know what it was?” I really didn't want
to know, but she didn't wait for a reply. “Mutter said when I was quick to change the topic, I was for sure hiding something.” She waved me forward and strode toward the rear door. “My Mutter is a very smart woman.”

“I'm sure she is, but I'm not hiding anything. I only mentioned the laundry because . . .”

Before I could finish my sentence, Margaret had cleared the doorway and was out of earshot. She'd been quite observant, and I wondered if Thomas had been just as perceptive. Was she guessing or did she know what I'd discovered? No, that was impossible. Neither Thomas nor Nathan would have talked to Margaret, and she'd been busy with the onion harvest when I found the money. I was letting my imagination run away with me.

When the next load of wash was ready to hang, Sister Margaret returned and, from outside the door, hollered, “Don't jump, Sister Jancey, I'm coming inside!” I soon grew weary of her shouted announcements, but I could see she thought it great fun. I considered asking her to stop but decided I should let her enjoy herself—at least a little while longer.

We were in the midst of hanging another basket of clothes when the bell tolled, announcing it was time to depart for the noonday meal. “You go ahead. It takes longer for you to get to your Küche. I can finish hanging these shirts and still have time to get to the kitchen house in time.”

“Are you sure? We can leave them until after lunch.”

I leaned down and picked up one of the shirts and gave it a snap before pinning it to the line. “You go on. I'll make it with time to spare.”

With a quick wave, Margaret turned and hurried off. I grabbed another shirt, snapped it in the air, removed a wooden clothespin
from my pocket, and secured it on the line. Over the weeks, I'd developed a kind of rhythm and had grown to enjoy this particular task, probably because being outdoors reminded me of playing button, button, who's got the button or duck, duck, goose with the children at the orphanage.

I reached for the last shirt at the bottom of the basket, but a light tap on the shoulder caused me to startle. I jumped and my foot found a dip in the ground. My ankle twisted and I toppled to the ground, landing in a most unladylike position. I don't know if Thomas or I looked more horrified.

He stooped down in front of me, which only served to make matters worse. My skirt was bunched beneath me and hiked up as far as my knees. I'd never been so appalled in my life. Anger replaced my earlier worries, and I pointed a finger at his nose.

“Why do you insist on sneaking up on me? Now look what you've done.” The joint throbbed inside my leather shoe. “I've injured my ankle because of you.”

“It's not as though I pushed you down, so don't be saying it's because of me.” He stretched out his hand and took hold of my shoe. “Here, let me take a look at it.”

Before I could slap his hands away from my leg, a long shadow hovered over us. I looked up and gasped at the supervisor of the woolen mill. “Brother William!” Pain shot through my ankle as I pulled my foot free from Thomas's grasp.

“Sister Jancey.” He gave a brief nod, then looked at Thomas. “You should go to the kitchen house, Thomas. We will talk later.”

Thomas stood up. “But I want to—”

Brother William closed his eyes and pointed over his shoulder. “You will please do as I have asked or you may pack your belongings and leave. Which will it be?”

“I'm going to the kitchen house.” Head bowed low, he strode toward the path without a backward glance.

Brother William kept his gaze turned from me. “You will please cover your legs, Sister Jancey.”

I rolled on one hip, freed my skirt, and yanked it over my legs. My legs were covered by black cotton stockings, but my hiked-up skirt would have been considered improper even in the outside world.

The heat raced up my neck. “I am properly covered, Brother William.”

Only then did he turn and look down at me. “Do you need assistance getting to your feet?”

Oh, how I wanted to say that I didn't need his help, but I knew I'd likely fall again if I tried to get up. “If you could bring me one of the wooden chairs from inside, I could use it to steady myself.” I'd expected him to offer his arm instead, but he did exactly as I requested.

Moments later, Brother William returned and placed the chair beside me. “I will hold the back of the chair so that it does not topple over. Until you are sure the ankle is only sprained, you should keep weight off of it. Push up on your uninjured foot and sit on the chair.” Once I made it onto the chair, Brother William gave a firm nod. “Take off your shoe in case the foot and ankle swell, and stay on the chair while I go to the kitchen house and get some ice. We will talk when I return.”

I wanted to tell him I'd prefer to talk now and wait for the ice, but from the stern look in Brother William's eyes, I knew he would brook no argument. I leaned forward, removed my shoe, and propped my injured leg across my other knee. The ankle wasn't broken, of that I was certain. It had swollen a bit, but massaging seemed to help.

An eternity seemed to pass before Brother William returned. He carried a bucket containing small chunks of ice that had already begun to thaw in the rising summer heat.

“Sister Bertha was kind enough to give me ice from the cellar. You are fortunate this was one of her delivery days for the ice, or she would not have had this much to spare.”

“I'll be sure to thank her.” I offered a feeble smile, but his lips remained fixed in that same tight line I'd observed when he saw Thomas leaning over me.

He handed me a cotton towel. “Wrap some ice in the cloth and then hold it to your ankle.” His eyes remained fixed on the bucket of ice. “Do you think you need Brother Rudolf?”

I shook my head. I didn't want to bother the doctor for a sprained ankle. “I'm sure it's only a sprain. By later this afternoon, it should be fine—especially since I have the ice.” I smiled again, but he remained expressionless.

“Gut.” He folded his arms across his chest and rested his back against a nearby tree. “Now you will tell me what was happening between you and Thomas Kingman. And be sure you are truthful, Sister Jancey, because I will compare your story to the one he tells me. I hope they are the same because I would not want you to add to your disobedience.”