The Amish Schoolteacher by Jerry Eicher

Author:Jerry Eicher
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781680996333
Publisher: Good Books
Published: 2020-06-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

MARY LEFT THE SCHOOLHOUSE EARLY THAT EVENING, WALKING towards the Hochstetlers’ place with her tote bag slung over her shoulders. Usually the weight wasn’t too heavy, but tonight the bag was filled with books she needed to study for tomorrow’s lessons. She had been unable to concentrate at the schoolhouse since classes had been dismissed. The flood of memories from her conversation with Marcus that morning rushed back in to torment her. Perhaps she could concentrate in her bedroom, away from the spot where she had tried to help Marcus, only to have her bold words hurt the man more than they helped.

As she passed, Mary snuck a glance toward the Yoders’ homestead. The cows were gathered in the barnyard, so the evening chores had begun. She should change into an everyday dress and return with an offer to help with the milking. Perhaps a demonstration of her good will would soothe the feelings between them? At the very least, she could try to explain herself further. She only wanted to help, to get Marcus to admit the wound his dat’s passing had left so that he could move on, open his heart to some woman, discover joy again.

Did she dare? She had an hour to spare before Lavina expected her home for supper.

Mary hurried towards the Hochstetlers’ home and entered the front door. Lavina was not in sight, but there were soft puttering noises coming from the basement. She would explain herself later. She went up the stairs and changed into an everyday dress. Lavina was still not up from the basement when she came down. Out the door she went, and up the Yoders’ driveway five minutes later. There was motion in the kitchen window, but no one appeared to question her arrival. Mary slipped through the barn door, which creaked shut behind her. The familiar musty odor of cows and barn stalls rushed over her. She took a moment to draw a deep breath. She missed home more than she had remembered. The pace of the past weeks had left little time to think of her sisters and their families. Their meddling ways seemed distant at the moment, with the sting removed. They had only meant to help her. Somehow, she had always known that deep down.

A form of a man came around the corner, and Mary pasted on a smile. “Hi.”

Mose stopped short. “Oh, it’s you.”

“How are you this evening?” She kept her voice chirpy.

“Okay. And you?”

“Fine. Marcus is planning a wood frolic at the school on Saturday.”

“So he told me.” Mose pointed towards the interior of the barn. “He’s over there, throwing down silage before we milk.”

“Thank you.” Mary moved past him, led by the steady sound of silage coming down the chute, with hollow thumps as each forkful hit the concrete floor. Mary leaned inward between the landings to peer up the silo slide.

“Marcus.”

There was no answer.

She called louder, “Marcus!”

His face appeared far above her in an open silo gate. “Yah.”

“It’s Mary.”

Incredulity filled his face.

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