Katie's Forever Promise (14 page)

“Are you ready to leave, Katie?”

“
Yah
.” Katie rose and followed him down the stairs and past the receptionist desk. In the parking lot, Leon led the way to an
Englisha
car and tapped on the window. When the woman rolled it down, he motioned toward Katie. “This is who you'll be driving home. Katie can tell you where she lives. And if you would come back afterward, I'll be needing a ride home myself.”

“I'll do that,” the woman replied.

“Thank you for taking Sparky home last night,” Katie told Leon. “And thank you for arranging this ride home.” She smiled at Ben's
daett
before climbing into the passenger side of the vehicle. “
Gut
morning,” she offered to the driver with a tired smile.

“Rough night, huh?” the woman asked. “So you're Katie? I'm Angela. Neighbor of the Stolls. Just trying to help out a little myself. It's awful what's been going on over at their place. A man getting shot in our neighborhood! Thank God they caught the guy.”

“
Yah
, it was terrible.” Katie gave directions to her home and then settled back into the seat as Angela drove out of town.

“Are you Ben's girlfriend?”

Katie sighed. “Well, I used to be. But now I'm just trying to help out, I guess. Ben was calling for me last night.”

“Oh, that's darling,” Angela cooed. “Did the two of you have a falling out?”

Katie nodded, a lump rising in her throat. “Something like that.”

Angela winced. “Oh, that's rough, sweetheart. And hard to get over, I'm sure.”

“I'm dating someone else now.”

“Oh…” Angela forced a smile. “Moved on, huh? Well, it does
happen. And I can't say I blame you.” Angela paused, as if she'd just thought of something. “The new boyfriend didn't object to you spending time with the old one?”

Katie kept her eyes on the road ahead. “After I spoke with Ben for awhile, I spent the night in the waiting room. We weren't sure if he was going to recover. And his
mamm
was with us the whole time we were together.” Katie struggled for words. “Ben…he was…in danger last night. He still is. When I left, he hadn't regained consciousness.”

Angela reached over to touch Katie's arm. “I didn't mean to embarrass you, dear. It's okay. This just shows your tender heart. And you Amish people are so good at helping each other.”

Katie gathered herself together. “We try.”

Angela slowed down for Jesse's driveway. “And all of you do a great job. I'm glad I can do my small part this morning. Guess I'll get some more chances to help out.”

Katie got out of the car after Angela pulled to a stop. “Thanks for the ride. I'm sure the Stolls will be very grateful for your help.”

Katie stepped back, and Angela waved as she left. Katie suddenly realized she'd had nothing to eat and was starving. She made a beeline for the house, hoping she was in time for breakfast. Then she paused and switched direction. First, she had to see if Sparky was okay. Leon had found an Amish driver last night to bring him home so the horse wouldn't have to stand in the parking lot all night. She wanted to make sure he'd made it home and to rub his nose in thanks for the
gut
fast ride he'd given her to the hospital last night.

Katie pushed open the barn door to the sound of Jesse and his boys busy with the chores. She paused a moment to blink in the bright light of the lanterns.

“It's Katie!” Leroy hollered from the back of the barn. He came
toward her at a fast walk, followed by Jesse and Willis, both of whom left their milk buckets sitting in the middle of the aisle.

“Is Ben still alive?” Leroy asked as they gathered around Katie.

Katie nodded and smiled. She was suddenly so tired she could fall asleep right here. But there was still the whole day of school in front of her.

“Did Leon request that you visit the hospital?” Jesse's voice rumbled in the morning stillness of the barn. “Or did you offer?”

Katie's eyes jerked open and she stepped back. “He asked, of course. He came to the schoolhouse right after we'd let out. He said Ben had taken a turn for the worse, and they hoped Ben would respond to my voice.”

Jesse's face broke into a smile. “
Gut
. Emma told me that's what you'd told her, but Mabel thought you probably had called at Ben's house first and sort of invited yourself to the hospital.”

“Why would Mabel say something like that?” The words flew out of Katie's mouth, as anger rose inside her. Mabel must be up to her old ways again!

Jesse shrugged. “That's Mabel. Well, I'm sure glad about Ben. The boy's made a mistake, but I didn't want to see him pass on so young. Now, boys, let's get busy.”

They scurried off, and Katie made her way over to Sparky's stall. She reached through the slats to rub his nose that he'd extended toward her. Sparky nudged her hand, and Katie smiled. “Thanks for the fast ride last night. You did real
gut
, and I hope someone gave you extra oats when you got home.”

After a nicker from Sparky, Katie left, heading out of the barn and across the lawn. Her thoughts turned to Mabel and the probable confrontation ahead. That girl needed a
gut
chewing out and then some. Sticking her nose in where it had no business being.

Mamm
met her at the door and wrapped Katie in her arms. “It's
so
gut
to see you again. We were so worried. Is everything okay? Is Ben still alive?”

“He made it through the night,” Katie shared. “Lavina didn't think I needed to stay any longer.”

“Then Ben will be okay?”

“The doctors think so.” Katie glanced around
Mamm
for any sign of Mabel. Faint clinking noises came from the kitchen, but Mabel hadn't appeared. The girl was thoroughly embarrassed, no doubt.

“Have you had breakfast?”
Mamm
asked.

“
Nee
, and I'm pretty hungry.”

Mamm
nodded. “Then go get cleaned up. You must feel like a cruddy mess after sitting in that hospital all night. We'll have breakfast ready in no time.”

“I need to speak with Mabel first.” Katie marched around
Mamm
without waiting for an answer.
Mamm
might try to calm her down, but she didn't want that right now. The furor inside was rising again, and she decided she might as well have it out with Mabel now.

Mabel looked up with a sweet smile when Katie rushed into the kitchen. “
Gut
morning, Katie. How is the little sweetheart?”

Behind Katie,
Mamm
stopped suddenly and gasped, but she didn't say anything further.

Katie stood a few steps away from Mabel. “I want you to hear me
gut
, Mabel. I've had enough of your interfering in my life. This spreading of rumors has to stop. And no more insinuations in an attempt to make me look bad! You have to stop, Mabel!”

“Rumors? Like what? Did I say something that wasn't true?” Mabel kept her smile pasted on. “You
did
go to the hospital that first time. And from the looks of you now, you spent the night with Ben at the hospital. What more is there to say?”

Katie couldn't keep the words in her mouth. “And it was all
quite innocent and aboveboard—and you've made it sound like something's going on that isn't. You're spreading lies by the sin of deliberate omission, Mabel. You have a wicked mind, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I don't want you to go around to Norman again to get him all upset and rushing over to the schoolhouse thinking I'm forsaking him.”

“I didn't say anything that wasn't true.” Mabel put on a pout now. “And you
are
forsaking him. I heard you say so myself not that long ago. Your heart is still going pitty-pat, pitty-pat for Ben Stoll. And now you've spent the night in Ben's hospital room. If I were Norman, I'd drop you like the hot potato you are. Why should he wreck his life with a
frau
like you?”

Katie glared. Her temper was still boiling, but she obviously was getting nowhere with Mabel. Just like the Scriptures said, the wrath of man didn't work the righteousness of God. How often had she heard those words from the preachers on Sunday? But right now she couldn't help herself. “So what are you offering Norman? You? You hope to be his
frau
?”

Mabel smirked. “The thought has crossed my mind. I know I'd make a better
frau
for him than you ever could.”

Katie could hardly think. Her head was throbbing and she was so hungry she thought she might faint in a moment. And Mabel was totally, completely impossible. “I'm not giving you a chance to steal Norman,” Katie whispered. “Put that in your
kapp
and pin it fast.”

Mamm
moved between them, and Katie stepped back and sat on a kitchen chair.

“I want both of you to apologize right now.”
Mamm
's voice was firm. “Your
daett
will not tolerate this kind of disharmony in his house. You two girls will—and I mean it—you
will
get along. And Mabel, you will stop saying things that aren't true.”

Katie groaned inside.
Mamm
was trying to be neutral, but
Katie knew she'd done nothing wrong. She did get angry, though, so perhaps she should apologize for that.

Mabel spoke up first. “Sorry. I'll try to get along more. And I'll try to watch my words.”

“And you, Katie?”
Mamm
turned toward her.

“I'm sorry I got angry.”

“There!”
Mamm
bustled around the kitchen finishing up breakfast.

Mabel glanced at Katie with a broad smile on her face.

Obviously Mabel didn't feel defeated in the least, Katie thought. Nor did Mabel plan to cease her scheming.

Chapter Fourteen

The following Sunday evening after the hymn singing was over, Katie pulled herself into Norman's buggy. Norman slapped the reins before Katie was seated, so she was thrown against the seat back. Katie hung on and glanced at Norman. What was wrong with him tonight? The action had obviously been deliberate. Come to think of it, Norman hadn't appeared too happy during the entire hymn singing tonight. Only once had his gaze drifted her way, and even then he'd quickly looked away. She had at first written it off to his usual shyness, but,
nee
, it was more than that. Katie ventured to speak. “Is something wrong, Norman?”

He grunted but didn't say anything as he gripped the reins. Perhaps she was reading something into his actions that didn't belong. Yet Norman hadn't said nothing was wrong.

Katie tried again. “Maybe you'd better tell me what's wrong.”

“Nothing's wrong. Everything is just peachy keen.”

Katie stared off into the darkness as the shadowy forms of trees whizzed past. What was this—a guessing game? Clearly Norman
was upset. But about what? She hadn't done anything wrong. Everyone knew about her night spent at the hospital with the Stolls. Both Leon and Lavina had been profuse with their praise after the Sunday service this morning. They even credited her with being the inspiration for Ben's recovery. They'd made it clear to everyone that they'd asked her to visit Ben, and that Katie had been circumspect in her attitude and behavior. Lavina even pointed out that Katie had spent most of the night in the waiting room. Ben's parents had been a little overboard with their praise, Katie thought, so maybe that was the problem. Norman must think her proud. But that wasn't reason enough for this kind of coldness and treatment.

“You might as well tell me, Norman.” Katie hung on to the buggy door. “I won't stop asking until you do.”

Norman gave her a brief glare. “I said there was nothing wrong.”

Katie sighed and settled back into the buggy seat. Norman was acting worse than Mabel, and that was saying a lot.

They drove in silence until Norman pulled into Katie's driveway and parked in front of the hitching post. The lights from the house spread out onto the lawn. As usual, they were the last ones home. Norman always took his good old time in leaving the hymn singing. That was his right, and Katie wasn't about to try to change him. A
gut frau
didn't do that.

Katie cleared her throat. “I'm not leaving this buggy until you tell me what's upsetting you, Norman. If you don't talk, you can drive me on home to your parents' place and explain to them why I'm still sitting in your buggy.”

Norman gave her a full stare now, his eyes fierce in the soft lantern light. He looked ready to throw her out of his buggy by force! He wouldn't though. For one thing, Norman had a thing
about touching girls. She'd figured that out by now. “Well, are you going to tell me or not?” she persisted.

Norman exploded. “I'll tell you this, little Miss Goody Two–shoes! You've been hanging around that rotten Ben Stoll again. You even dared spend the night with him at the hospital. All so holy, of course, and full of sympathy and compassion. You even fooled Ben's parents, but you're not fooling me. Now I see what Mabel warned me about. And I thank
Da Hah
in heaven that I've seen the light before I asked you to say the wedding vows with me. You are a disgrace to any man's love, and a shame and blight on anyone who ever weds you. And I hope it is Ben Stoll. You two deserve each other.”