âCanât we keep this just between us for now?â
Mamm smiled again. âI have to talk with Jesse, Katie. He cares about you, and heâs my husband and your daett . Heâll know how to help. Heâs a very wise man.â
With what Mamm was going to tell him, Jesse might forbid her traveling to Europe and also tell her she could never attend a Mennonite youth gathering again. Then what would she do? This turn of events was to be expected, Katie decided. She just hadnât thought it would be now. Surely Da Hah would give her the strength to bear whatever was going to happen. If He was opening doors for her, and Katie was sure He was, He would make a way so she could continue to attend the Mennonite gatherings and take the trip with Margaret, Sharon, and Nancy.
Mamm was already at the kitchen doorway, holding the kerosene lamp in her hand. She paused to look back over her shoulder at Katie.
âIâm coming,â Katie said quietly as she softly walked after Mamm . They parted at the stair door, and Katie crept up the squeaky steps, feeling her way by sliding her hands along the walls. She reached the top. The house wasnât quite familiar yet, but she could find her way without a light, well enough to keep from tripping and flying across the floor anyway.
Katie found the knob to her bedroom door, turned it, and pushed the door open. She paused in the doorway as her thoughts turned to Mabel. Mabel and Mose. The idea wouldnât go away. How did Mabel leave without anyone hearing her? Katie decided she had to know tonight. It was stupid, but didthe washroom door really open without a squeak? Perhaps knowing for sure about Mabelâs shenanigans would lessen her own troubled thoughts about Ben and Mamm and the trip to Europe. At least there would be someone else in the family who wasnât behaving the way they were supposed toâ¦or expected to.
Katie left her bedroom door open and felt her way back downstairs, carefully avoiding the stairs that squeaked. In the living room, a glow of starlight filled the room, distinguishable now that her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Katie went through the kitchen, dodging the chair sheâd been sitting on.
If she accidently made a racket, Mamm or even Jesse would come to check it out, so it might be good to have an excuse ready. Katie eased her way to the kitchen sink. Seeing the shape of a glass sitting on the counter, she wrapped her fingers around it and lifted. She gently pushed the faucet up a fraction of an inch and waited for the faint sound of water filling the cup. She shut the faucet off seconds later and drank a few sips. Now she wouldnât be lying if she had to tell Mamm or Jesse sheâd wanted to get a drink.
Katie felt her way through the washroom and pushed open the outer door. It swung on its hinges without a sound.
Chapter Twelve
Two evenings later, on a Friday night, Ben Stoll pulled his buggy to a stop behind a grocery store on the west end of Dover. Along these streets the houses were beginning to glow with Christmas decorations, but Ben didnât notice. The guilt that had been gnawing at him for weeks was in full force. How had he gotten himself into this situation? Around him the shadows behind the store blended in with his horse and buggy, camouflaging them as always, but tonight it no longer seemed the perfect setup heâd once thought it to be. Theyâd been using this place for two years now. Rogge Brighton had assured him they wouldnât get caught, and so far he hadnât been wrong.
Rogge had approached Ben at an Englisha party soon after heâd begun rumspringa . Ben hadnât purchased an automobile back then, and he remained without one to this day. It really wasnât his thing to tear around wasting a lot of time and gasoline, though that was what many Amish boys did during their rumspringa years.
He had enough friends to ride along with when such trips werenecessary.
Mamm smiled again. âI have to talk with Jesse, Katie. He cares about you, and heâs my husband and your daett . Heâll know how to help. Heâs a very wise man.â
With what Mamm was going to tell him, Jesse might forbid her traveling to Europe and also tell her she could never attend a Mennonite youth gathering again. Then what would she do? This turn of events was to be expected, Katie decided. She just hadnât thought it would be now. Surely Da Hah would give her the strength to bear whatever was going to happen. If He was opening doors for her, and Katie was sure He was, He would make a way so she could continue to attend the Mennonite gatherings and take the trip with Margaret, Sharon, and Nancy.
Mamm was already at the kitchen doorway, holding the kerosene lamp in her hand. She paused to look back over her shoulder at Katie.
âIâm coming,â Katie said quietly as she softly walked after Mamm . They parted at the stair door, and Katie crept up the squeaky steps, feeling her way by sliding her hands along the walls. She reached the top. The house wasnât quite familiar yet, but she could find her way without a light, well enough to keep from tripping and flying across the floor anyway.
Katie found the knob to her bedroom door, turned it, and pushed the door open. She paused in the doorway as her thoughts turned to Mabel. Mabel and Mose. The idea wouldnât go away. How did Mabel leave without anyone hearing her? Katie decided she had to know tonight. It was stupid, but didthe washroom door really open without a squeak? Perhaps knowing for sure about Mabelâs shenanigans would lessen her own troubled thoughts about Ben and Mamm and the trip to Europe. At least there would be someone else in the family who wasnât behaving the way they were supposed toâ¦or expected to.
Katie left her bedroom door open and felt her way back downstairs, carefully avoiding the stairs that squeaked. In the living room, a glow of starlight filled the room, distinguishable now that her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. Katie went through the kitchen, dodging the chair sheâd been sitting on.
If she accidently made a racket, Mamm or even Jesse would come to check it out, so it might be good to have an excuse ready. Katie eased her way to the kitchen sink. Seeing the shape of a glass sitting on the counter, she wrapped her fingers around it and lifted. She gently pushed the faucet up a fraction of an inch and waited for the faint sound of water filling the cup. She shut the faucet off seconds later and drank a few sips. Now she wouldnât be lying if she had to tell Mamm or Jesse sheâd wanted to get a drink.
Katie felt her way through the washroom and pushed open the outer door. It swung on its hinges without a sound.
Chapter Twelve
Two evenings later, on a Friday night, Ben Stoll pulled his buggy to a stop behind a grocery store on the west end of Dover. Along these streets the houses were beginning to glow with Christmas decorations, but Ben didnât notice. The guilt that had been gnawing at him for weeks was in full force. How had he gotten himself into this situation? Around him the shadows behind the store blended in with his horse and buggy, camouflaging them as always, but tonight it no longer seemed the perfect setup heâd once thought it to be. Theyâd been using this place for two years now. Rogge Brighton had assured him they wouldnât get caught, and so far he hadnât been wrong.
Rogge had approached Ben at an Englisha party soon after heâd begun rumspringa . Ben hadnât purchased an automobile back then, and he remained without one to this day. It really wasnât his thing to tear around wasting a lot of time and gasoline, though that was what many Amish boys did during their rumspringa years.
He had enough friends to ride along with when such trips werenecessary.
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