Living in Harmony (32 page)

“It is, but the Morrells never turned it particularly fancy with floor tiles, wall-to-wall carpeting, or carved staircase bannisters.”

“Would Thomas or the bishop think it too much house for a young couple just starting out?” She couldn't hide her mounting excitement. It was the nicest house on the prettiest piece of land she'd ever seen.

“I think they'll agree it's a tremendous value for the money.”

“This wouldn't be too many acres for you to handle alone? It will be years before our sons are old enough to give you a hand…if God graces us with sons, that is,” she added with a blush.

“No problem. I suddenly feel as though I possess the energy of five men.” He squeezed her hand.

“Then let's ask Mrs. Chadd what we need to do to put down a deposit or down payment or whatever.” Amy began digging in her purse for her checkbook.

“I just
knew
you would like it as much as me!” He enfolded her
in a hug. “I've already given her a thousand dollars earnest money to put a hold on the place. I didn't want someone snapping it up while you were out of town in Chestnut.” He released his embrace unexpectedly. “Let's go back downstairs. I told her the full down payment wouldn't be a problem because you have already deposited your inheritance at a Harmony bank. Come, my love. Let's not keep Mrs. Chadd waiting.” John disappeared down the attic steps to the second floor.

Amy was left feeling as though that faded, threadbare rug had just been pulled from beneath her feet.
He put down a deposit before I even saw the place? What if I hadn't liked it? Would that have even made a difference?

If John lived to be a hundred years old, he still wouldn't understand women. Amy had said she loved the house. He reassured her it would neither be too big for them, nor too many acres to farm. Yet for some reason her back had stiffened as though someone slipped a two-by-eight under her dress.

She said to Mrs. Chadd, “Give me a couple of days to think about this” at least three times in response to the woman's questions, including, “What did you think of the separate tub and shower in the upstairs bathroom?”

Mrs. Chadd kept glancing at him to say or do something, but he couldn't engage Amy in a serious discussion in front of an outsider. Finally, after the Realtor dropped them off at their buggy, he tried to open up a conversation. “Would you care to enlighten me as to what's wrong?” He spoke softly so as not to intimidate her. “I thought you liked the Morrell farm.”

Amy pulled the wool blanket over her knees. “I truly did like
the house, but I panicked when you said you already gave her a deposit. Things are moving too fast.” She drew the cover up to her chin, even though she wore a heavy cloak.

“I understand, but I feared someone else would snap it up. It hasn't been on the market for long. And their asking price was more than fair.” He pulled gently on the reins to slow the pace. The horse was eager to get home to his hay and a bucket of oats, but John wanted some time to talk. “I was unsure how long you would linger in Chestnut.”

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “If someone else bought the farm instead of us, then it would have been God's will.”

John bit his tongue to keep his temper. “Sometimes God expects us to step up and show some initiative. He never promised to hand life on a silver platter to His believers.”

She snorted. “At that dear price, I'd hardly say we're being handed anything.”

He flinched from her sarcasm. “Is that what this is about? You're afraid we'll overpay? Amy, because you've never shopped for real estate, you have no idea what land costs.” He patted her knee. “I assure you I've looked at plenty of farms, both here and back in Lancaster. This one is a good deal. That's why I don't think it'll remain long on the market.”

Amy cocked her head to one side. “The earnest money you paid Mrs. Chadd—how much time does it give us before someone else can place an offer?” Clouds drifted across the sun, bringing an immediate chill to the air. He would have preferred any other question. She didn't need additional excuses to drag her feet. John floundered for the best response.

“How long do we have, John?” she repeated.

“A bit less than three weeks. We had a month total.”

She sighed with obvious relief. “
Gut
. I won't feel pressured to decide in a day or two. It's a big decision. Most folks will only buy a big house like this once in their lifetime. I might wish to look
at one or two more properties for comparison.” Amy buried her hands beneath the wool.

He couldn't argue with her logic. But if she hadn't put off viewing farms for sale, he wouldn't have taken so rash a move in her absence. “We're permitted thirty days but not required to take that long. So why don't we play it by ear?” He forced his most benign expression.

“All right. That will give us time to see bankers about a mortgage in case we decide to go ahead and buy before our wedding.”

His smile vanished. “Mortgage? What are you talking about? With your share from the sale of your parents' farm, along with the money I've saved, we won't need a mortgage.”

Amy threw off the covering. It fell into a heap by her feet. “If we pay for the farm in full, I won't have anything left to my name.” Her face scrunched into such unpleasantness that no one would misunderstand her opinion of that idea.

John began breathing hard through his nostrils. “Amy, you know Plain folk don't borrow money unless absolutely necessary. It is unavoidable back in Lancaster because of real estate prices, but that's not the case here. We have enough cash to pay for the farm in full and not have to pay a single dime in interest.” He appealed to her practical nature while guiding the buggy up Thomas's driveway.

She shook her head back and forth like a stubborn mule. “Again, I must ask for more time. You're throwing too much at me at once. You picked out our home by yourself while I was out of town. And now you have already decided how I'll spend my entire inheritance from my late parents. Have I no say in matters?”

“
Jah
, of course. That's why we drove out there today. If you didn't like the Morrell homestead, Mrs. Chadd would have refunded our deposit. She assured me of that.” He sounded weak because he felt as though a stubborn mule had just gut-kicked him.

“Well, that's good to know.” Amy jumped down as soon as the buggy stopped, not waiting for him to come to her side.

John hopped down to grab the bridle of the hungry, prancing horse. “I acted with your best interest in mind. I thought this house would make you happy. I apologize if I overstepped my bounds as your fiancé.”

Her features softened considerably. “And it probably
will
make me happy someday, but not today. I'm tired and cranky and need to figure out if we should give every cent we have to this fancy-dressed
Englischer
. How much common sense does the woman have to wear high heels to show people a farm?” Her crankiness grew ever more apparent.

He considered explaining that their money would be given to the Morrell heirs, not to the overdressed Mrs. Chadd, but he wisely held his tongue. Unsure as to how to proceed, he tipped his hat ridiculously, like some elderly
grossdawdi.
“Good afternoon, then. I'll tend to the horse and see you in the house later.” He turned on his boot heel and led the gelding to his oats and a rubdown inside the barn. An errant, shameful idea crept from the recesses of his mind.
It wouldn't be all the money we have if you hadn't sold your farm to your cousins for a song.

Thomas knew something must have happened while John and Amy toured properties for sale, but he didn't have the heart or the energy to inquire what it was. He and Sally were tired after visiting with the other minister, but a consultation with the other ministerial brethren had been long overdue. Tomorrow, he would call on the bishop at the home of his married daughter. Their church leader usually arrived in Harmony the Wednesday before a preaching Sunday to prepare the main sermon and conduct district business. Minor disputes were brought to him for an
Ordnung
decision or some sort of compromise between members. It
was time Thomas discussed the problem of Elam. He needed to tell the bishop about his brother's latest fall from grace.

While Thomas pondered tomorrow's meeting, everyone else at the supper table apparently had their own crosses to bear. Amy pushed the food around her plate untouched, gazing anywhere but at her intended spouse. John hunched over his supper eating as though he was a condemned man at his final meal. Even Sally seemed distracted and distant. The only one with any enthusiasm or appetite was Nora King, for a change. Despite the fact that she hadn't crawled out of bed by the time they had left this morning, Nora smiled dreamily and ate her chicken-and-rice with unusual zeal. There was no figuring out these King sisters. Were the two who remained behind with their grandparents equally as enigmatic? That must have been some household.

After evening chores, Thomas opened his Bible to the book of Revelation. If a person read some of the most depressing and hard to comprehend Scripture, everyday conundrums seem small potatoes in comparison. When he finally drifted off to sleep that night, his dreams were filled with fiery lakes and plagues of locusts and earthquakes that tore huge rifts through Waldo County and the rest of Maine. Elam appeared in the nightmare, passing out pint bottles of whiskey to the youth of Harmony, aided by a wild-eyed Nora King. When Thomas shook himself the next morning, he had no more anxiety about seeing the bishop. Difficulties with a willful brother fell into perspective after battling swarms of insects devouring crops and bottomless chasms between farms.

Blessedly, the world appeared unchanged during his ride.

“
Guder mariye
,” greeted Andrew, sweeping open the door. “How did you know my daughter was baking pumpkin pies today? They are your favorite,
jah
? Come in, come in. Let's have coffee.” The white-haired clergyman limped into the kitchen.

“Is your rheumatism worse today?” asked Thomas, pulling out two chairs.

“
Jah
, always so when the weather turns cold and damp. Maybe I'll visit the homeopathic doc in town for one of his cures. Those compounds usually work wonders till your body adjusts to them. Then they are not so effective.” Andrew massaged his kneecaps with a grimace, while his
fraa
placed two large slices of pie, the coffeepot, and two mugs before them. His wife, meek and retiring, never spoke unless directly addressed.

“
Danki
,” said Thomas. “But I'm not here for a social visit. I've come to discuss my
bruder
Elam.”

“Still sitting on the fence, is he?” The elder man pulled his long white beard sagely.

“I'm afraid it's more serious than a man who cannot commit. He showed up unexpectedly at the Stoll pig roast, though I doubt the hosts even knew he was there. He ate by himself and clung to the shadows, mostly.”

“Seems like a long way to go for a free meal.” Andrew gave his beard another pull.

“True enough, but one of my houseguests, Nora King, came upon him eating supper in his buggy. He gave her…or allowed her to take…a couple of his beers. He brought a six-pack to the party. Later I searched his basement room and found both cigarettes and whiskey.”