where tables had been set up in the shade for
the bountiful spread of food for everyone.
As we approached, the women around the tables turned
and regarded us quietly. I felt every eye turn to me when they
noticed me just behind Fannie. One woman, who seemed to be the one
giving the orders turned and nodded towards Fannie as we drew near.
She was an older woman, stocky and grey haired; she stepped forward
with a brisk smile.
"Welcome, Fannie! We are happy to see you and your
kin today," she said, her voice gravelly with age. She looked my
way, waiting for my introduction. I couldn't help withdrawing just
a bit into myself at her perusal.
"Sarah, this is Katherine," Fannie said simply,
motioning towards me. "She is visiting and welcome in our
family."
Sarah moved closer, several of the older women
falling in line behind her as if in solemn judgment. I turned my
eyes down, not sure if I should look her in the eye or simply be
the obedient outsider. Which may be why I was surprised when strong
arms wrapped around me. Sarah held me briefly before pulling away
to smile down at me.
"Welcome, Katherine. We are happy to have you with us
today. Please, come. We will get you settled with a duty for the
day," she said and just like that, I was making my way down the
long table with Emma to set out the pies before being shuttled off
to gather water for the men in the field.
Emma came with me, still pale as she looked around
timidly. I noticed that no one spoke with her and she seemed more
withdrawn as we walked amongst the women. The younger women, those
that were about our age, stared at us as we passed, some frowning
before turning away. I waited until we were at the water pump to
ask Emma.
"Why are the other girls like that? Why do you look
so upset, Emma?" I asked softly, pushing on the pump to get it
started. The water gushed out, filling our bucket quickly.
Emma glanced back towards the house and shook her
head, grimacing.
"It is nothing. We should go. It is hot and the men
will want a drink," she replied and struggled to pull the heavy
bucket out of the basin.
The bucket's handle was shaped so that two people
could carry it, as if it were made especially for two women to
haul. I put my hand on my hip and refused to lean over to pick it
up until she answered me. She looked at me pitifully, her eyes
pleading for me to drop it. When I didn't she finally let out a
long breath and looked at me hard.
"I said no to John Wittmer."
I blinked at the hard edge to her voice, and to the
words she had said.
"I don't understand. No to what?" I asked, stepping a
little closer to her. She huffed and dragged the water bucket out
of the basin, splashing it over the edge roughly. I jumped forward
and helped her before she spilled it all over herself. For someone
so small, she had a lot of force when she used it. I followed along
beside her for a moment, walking towards the field where the men
worked on the fences. She finally let out a breath and slowed
down.
"I am sorry. I do not mean to be rude. It is
something that I will regret it for the rest of my life, I
know.”
"Emma," I said, slowing her down to a stop to look at
her. "Can you please speak without all the drama? What did you say
no to him about? And why do the other girls look at you like
that?"
We both glanced back to where the women busied
themselves with laying out food for the mid day meal, catching
quite a few of the younger women looking after us. When Emma turned
back at me, she shrugged and let out a pained laugh.
"They do not like me because I broke John's heart. I
told him I did not wish to be his wife," she said and pulled us
along again.
"Wait," I said and pulled her to a stop again,
sloshing water over the side again.
"Katherine, we have work to do."
"Tell me why."
Her exasperated look turned suddenly to shame and she
looked away towards the men.
"I did not want to leave him a widow. He said he
would love no other.”
I walked beside her when she pulled us
the bountiful spread of food for everyone.
As we approached, the women around the tables turned
and regarded us quietly. I felt every eye turn to me when they
noticed me just behind Fannie. One woman, who seemed to be the one
giving the orders turned and nodded towards Fannie as we drew near.
She was an older woman, stocky and grey haired; she stepped forward
with a brisk smile.
"Welcome, Fannie! We are happy to see you and your
kin today," she said, her voice gravelly with age. She looked my
way, waiting for my introduction. I couldn't help withdrawing just
a bit into myself at her perusal.
"Sarah, this is Katherine," Fannie said simply,
motioning towards me. "She is visiting and welcome in our
family."
Sarah moved closer, several of the older women
falling in line behind her as if in solemn judgment. I turned my
eyes down, not sure if I should look her in the eye or simply be
the obedient outsider. Which may be why I was surprised when strong
arms wrapped around me. Sarah held me briefly before pulling away
to smile down at me.
"Welcome, Katherine. We are happy to have you with us
today. Please, come. We will get you settled with a duty for the
day," she said and just like that, I was making my way down the
long table with Emma to set out the pies before being shuttled off
to gather water for the men in the field.
Emma came with me, still pale as she looked around
timidly. I noticed that no one spoke with her and she seemed more
withdrawn as we walked amongst the women. The younger women, those
that were about our age, stared at us as we passed, some frowning
before turning away. I waited until we were at the water pump to
ask Emma.
"Why are the other girls like that? Why do you look
so upset, Emma?" I asked softly, pushing on the pump to get it
started. The water gushed out, filling our bucket quickly.
Emma glanced back towards the house and shook her
head, grimacing.
"It is nothing. We should go. It is hot and the men
will want a drink," she replied and struggled to pull the heavy
bucket out of the basin.
The bucket's handle was shaped so that two people
could carry it, as if it were made especially for two women to
haul. I put my hand on my hip and refused to lean over to pick it
up until she answered me. She looked at me pitifully, her eyes
pleading for me to drop it. When I didn't she finally let out a
long breath and looked at me hard.
"I said no to John Wittmer."
I blinked at the hard edge to her voice, and to the
words she had said.
"I don't understand. No to what?" I asked, stepping a
little closer to her. She huffed and dragged the water bucket out
of the basin, splashing it over the edge roughly. I jumped forward
and helped her before she spilled it all over herself. For someone
so small, she had a lot of force when she used it. I followed along
beside her for a moment, walking towards the field where the men
worked on the fences. She finally let out a breath and slowed
down.
"I am sorry. I do not mean to be rude. It is
something that I will regret it for the rest of my life, I
know.”
"Emma," I said, slowing her down to a stop to look at
her. "Can you please speak without all the drama? What did you say
no to him about? And why do the other girls look at you like
that?"
We both glanced back to where the women busied
themselves with laying out food for the mid day meal, catching
quite a few of the younger women looking after us. When Emma turned
back at me, she shrugged and let out a pained laugh.
"They do not like me because I broke John's heart. I
told him I did not wish to be his wife," she said and pulled us
along again.
"Wait," I said and pulled her to a stop again,
sloshing water over the side again.
"Katherine, we have work to do."
"Tell me why."
Her exasperated look turned suddenly to shame and she
looked away towards the men.
"I did not want to leave him a widow. He said he
would love no other.”
I walked beside her when she pulled us
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