A Secret Encounter (Amish Secrets--Book 2) Page 2

  A blast of muddy rain water brought him back to the present once again. Couldn’t drivers be a little more considerate of folks walkin’ along the sidewalk? Now, he was not only cold, but wet too. And dirty. Not that he was exactly clean before he’d been sprayed with the gush of water. He didn’t remember the last time he’d taken a decent bath. Once in a while though, he would sneak into a fast food restaurant and use the restroom to freshen up a bit. No wonder people veered as far out of his path as possible, he probably reeked like a skunk. Or worse.

  <><><>

  Aaron and Anna made their way back toward the fabric shop. Anna’s lunch break was nearly over. She now held a Styrofoam box of leftover pizza in one hand, still warm.

  “Watch out,” Aaron warned. “Here comes another beggar.”

  Walking the opposite direction was a homeless man. By the look of him, she thought him to be in his early thirties. What would make one so young live on the streets?

  As the man neared, she noticed his filthy clothing and couldn’t deny the offensive odor the hapless man emanated. Aaron pulled her arm to lead her far out of his path, but compassion took over. She looked down at the box of leftover pizza and knew what she must do. As she started to speak, Aaron halted her.

  “Don’t give that to him. He’ll probably sell it for drugs,” he whispered loud enough that she was sure the destitute man had overheard.

  Embarrassed by her beau’s judgmental assumptions, she attempted to hand the box to the man with a look of apology. Aaron’s hand grabbed the box and tossed it to the man, or more accurately, to the ground. Anna abruptly scowled at Aaron and bent down to pick up the box for the man.

  “I’m sorry.” She handed the box to the stranger, her eyes apologetic. She couldn’t believe Aaron’s rudeness.

  The man gratefully took the box and for a second, coddled it like a newborn boppli. Realizing his treasure, he immediately opened it, stuffing half a slice of the delicious goodness into his mouth. He nodded his thanks and sauntered off toward a nearby alley.

  “What’d you do that for?” Aaron scolded.

  Beside herself, Anna was simply at a loss for words. “Do what?” she asked between gritted teeth.

  “You gave that…that vagrant our food after I told you not to! You disobeyed me.” He huffed.

  “I – I disobeyed you?” she asked indignantly. She knew a woman’s place was to follow the man, but this seemed a little ridiculous. Besides, they weren’t married.

  “How can I protect you when you won’t heed my warnings? That man could have been dangerous,” he clumsily explained his actions.

  “He didn’t look dangerous to me. He just looked hungry. We’re supposed to feed the hungry, jah?”

  Aaron sighed. “I guess you have a point. But I don't think it's a gut idea for you to be talking to homeless Englischers.”

  She looked up and noticed they had arrived at her workplace.

  “See ya at meetin’ on Sunday?” his voice softened a spell.

  “Jah, Mammi and I should be there,” Anna said, glad he was leaving now.

  Aaron waved a hand and started toward his buggy.

  <><><>

  “Here Harvey, ya gotta try this!” Joe excitedly offered his older friend a slice of pizza.

  His companion bit into the cheesy delicacy. “Mmm…I ain’t had nothin’ this good in a long time. Ya didn’t steal it, did ya?”

  “I may be a lot of things, Harv, but a thief I am not,” Joe assured his old buddy.

  “Where’d ya get it from then?” He sank his chomps into another bite.

  “A kind woman,” he simply stated.

  “Must’ve been an angel,” Harv mused aloud.

  Joe’s eyebrows rose. He remembered the Amish woman’s rosy cheeks and kind smile. “Perhaps.”

  “Well, I hope you told her thank you,” Harvey said.

  Did I tell her thank you? “I don’t think I did. Maybe I’ll see her again someday and I can tell her then.” The thought brought a smile to Joe’s lips.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Anna sat at the dinner table with Mammi. She couldn’t help but think of the homeless man right now. Here, she and her grandmother had more than enough for the two of them. She blew on her chicken vegetable soup and shivered as she thought how the poor man practically scarfed down the pizza she’d given him. What would it be like to go hungry for days on end?

  Her attention was stolen away by a clap of thunder outside. Mammi moved toward the window, peering out into the dreary night. A bright flicker from outside illuminated the entire kitchen. How is that man doing right now? Does he have a place to stay dry? Anna couldn’t recall whether the man wore a jacket or not, but she couldn’t forget his trousers. As he’d walked away, she noticed a gaping hole on the backside exposing his bare skin underneath. She immediately looked away feeling embarrassed for the man. Yet the pants appeared homemade. Had someone from her community given them to him?

  It seemed that no matter what she did that evening, her thoughts were consumed with the misfortunate homeless man. She’d tried to occupy her mind with knitting, but as the warm scarf took form in her nimble hands, she pictured herself offering it to the cold stranger. When she read the Word of God before bedtime, she couldn’t get around the fact that Jesus ministered to the poor and needy. As she laid her head on her soft pillow to sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder what the stranger lay his head on, this miserably chilly night. Surely he hadn’t a warm quilt to wrap around his body. These were her last thoughts as she drifted off to sleep…

  Another clap of thunder and Anna shot straight up. She took the flashlight from her bureau and shined it on the small wind-up clock that sat atop her nightstand. Three o’clock. Had it stormed the whole night through? She forced herself out of her cozy bed and made her way to the bathroom, the cold wooden floor seeping through her socks.

  She and Mammi both shared the large house, but the upstairs was exclusively hers. Mammi had said she was too old to be trudging up the stairs day and night, but Anna knew in truth she preferred the bottom floor. After all, she slept in the room she and Grossdawdi occupied when they were first wed.

  What was it like to be newly wed? Anna often wondered. At twenty-two years of age, she was nearly considered an alt maedel in her community. She supposed she should be thankful that Aaron had shown an interest in her. But for some reason, she couldn’t picture a future with him no matter how hard she tried.

  Warmth filled her soul when she thought of the dream she’d had last night. It had been strange indeed. She had been ever so happy. Anna had just removed a casserole from the oven when a small girl of about three bounced through the door, her blonde braids hanging freely about her shoulders. “Mama, Mama!” she’d said. “Dat just got some new kittens!” she chattered in their native Pennsylvania German dialect.

  “Oh, really?” Anna’s bright smile stretched across her face.

  A tall bearded man clambered through the door now with a kitten in each hand. “That’s right!” he’d said, bending down to kiss her cheek. He handed her one of the small fluffy creatures. “One for mein klein bopp and one for my lieb.”

  Anna placed a hand over her warm cheek now, as though his kiss lingered there. She pinned up her long hair and glanced at a small hand mirror to make sure no blonde strands had escaped. The dream had felt so real. She closed her eyes, attempting to picture the sweet gentle man in her dreams. But it seemed his face was always just out of focus. However, the smile in his voice and his kindness toward her was impeccably clear.

  She sighed. Would there only be a man for her in her dreams, or did he really exist somewhere out there? One thing she was certain of, though. The man in her dream was not Aaron Gingerich.

  <><><>

  Anna smiled as though she held the key to a long-lost treasure chest. Time had seemed to tick by so slowly today. Twelve o’clock had finally rolled around and she couldn’t wait to deliver the extra sandwich she’d made to the homeless man.

  Now she
walked down the sidewalk toward the alley. A seed of doubt had been planted in her mind, and with it, fear. What if Aaron was right? What if the man was violent – dangerous? Should she really be traipsing out here all alone? I’ll just peek around the corner, she told herself. I can leave the food by the alley so he can see it, and then I can walk away.

  Anna discreetly looked into the alley. To her disappointment, and a smidgen of relief, she had to admit, the man was not there. In fact, the place seemed conspicuously deserted. She heard a rustling near the large metal trash receptacle and a cat jumped out, startling her so badly she’d almost wet her pants, or more accurately, her dress. She heard another noise and an eerie chill up her spine sent her scurrying back in the direction of the fabric shop.

  Halfway there, she glanced down at the bag in her hand. What am I going to do with this now? If I leave it there, surely the cats will eat it. Anna shrugged her shoulders in resignation and turned back around. After all, she didn’t need another sandwich and she knew Linda had already eaten. If she took it home, Mammi would start asking questions that she was certain she didn’t want to answer. So why not leave it for the cats to enjoy?

  After gingerly setting the bag down on the ground at the entrance to the alley, Anna again set back toward the shop. Why did she feel as though she was committing some heinous crime and she had to sneak around? I’m feeding the needy, for crying out loud!

  <><><>

  “She’s gone; you can come out from hiding now,” Harvey stated. “What’s with you anyway, Joe?”

  Joe shrugged. “Well, she’s Amish, that’s all.”

  “And? Do you have an aversion to Amish people or somethin’?” Harv lifted a brow. “Or perhaps it’s just God in general?”

  Joe quickly changed the subject, eagerly rubbing his hands together. “So, what do you think she left us?”

  “You, Joe. She left it for you. She ain’t even seen me yet,” Harvey stated emphatically. “And if she did, I might’ve scared her away.” He chuckled, rubbing his long gray beard reminiscent of jolly ole St. Nick.

  Joe emerged from their spot near some old upturned wooden crates and quickly retrieved the brown paper bag near the alley entrance. He didn’t open the bag until he was back in his spot. He delved into the bag and smiled. “I was right!” His eyes lit up.

  Harvey grinned at him in eager anticipation, rubbing his hands together. “Well, what’s in the bag?”

  “Cookies! Just like Mamm used to pack for my lunch when I was a kind.” His grin couldn’t get any wider as he pulled one out of a napkin. “Look at this, Harvey! Even a whoopie pie! This one’s mine. But I’ll let you have a bite too.”

  “Are ya tellin’ me you’re Amish?” Harvey’s face darkened.

  “Mm…hmm,” Joseph mumbled around a mouthful of whoopie pie, rolling his eyes in pure ecstasy.

  “Well, that explains a whole lot.” He slapped Joseph on the back.

  “What do ya mean?” Joseph asked, licking the creamy filling off his bottom lip.

  “Why you’re so nice for one thing. I ain’t never met a mean Amish person,” Harvey stated authoritatively.

  “Harv, how many Amish folk you know?” Joseph raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.

  “You.” He smiled.

  Joseph bellowed.

  “Well, don’t go laughin’ at me yet. That young woman was Amish and she seems real nice. I think that counts for two.”

  You didn’t meet her boyfriend, he thought wryly. Or Bishop Burkholder. But he chose not to dwell on the past. Not right now. Not when he was just given a wonderful-gut gift that was only half eaten now. “Care for half a sandwich?” He held out the generously packed homemade hoagie roll.

  “Sure.” Harv smiled, taking his portion. “Ya know. Since you’re Amish and all, maybe you should get to know that woman,” the older man suggested.

  Joseph laughed, holding up both hands in protest. “Oh no. Don’t even start thinkin’ like that. Besides, I used to be Amish. I’m not anymore.”

  A scraggly alley cat approached Joseph, meowing as she rubbed against his ankle. He reached down and stroked the pathetic feline. “You hungry? Here, go ahead and have some of my sandwich.” He tore off a quarter of his portion and set it on the ground for the cat, which devoured every crumb.

  “I mean it, Joe. You deserve yourself a good woman,” Harv continued.

  “No, I don’t,” Joe snapped back. The last thing he deserved was a gut woman. Besides, a woman like that would never give him the time of day.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jeremiah Gingerich leaned back against the cushion and eyed his son from his wooden chair in the schtupp. He’d been pretending to read The Budget, but his distracting thoughts weighed heavily. Aaron was the youngest bu in the family and at the age of twenty four, he had yet to marry. The last thing he desired was for his son to end up an old bachelor.

  He gazed out the window, the last few rays of sunshine fought for their place in the clouds. Brilliant hues of pink, purple, and orange dazzled the evening sky. Why wasn’t Aaron with his aldi? Maed love nights like this – at least Tabitha had. He remembered the countless times they’d watched the sunset walking hand in hand by the creek or cuddled together in his courting buggy.

  “Aaron, Sohn, you know I really want ya to have this farm. But ya need to get yourself hitched first,” Aaron’s father said.

  “I’m workin’ on it, Dat,” Aaron uttered between gritted teeth. The problem was, he didn’t think he and Anna were anywhere near the marrying stage in their courtship. Maybe he should step things up a bit.

  “Well, if you know what ya want, you gotta go after it,” his father suggested. “Ya ain’t getting’ any younger.”

  “I think I just might do that, Daed.” Aaron pulled his hat off the rack and placed it on his head. He grunted inwardly, loathing when his father threw his age at him, which was often. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t heard the story a hundred times, I was married with four kinner by the time I was your age.

  Didn’t his father realize he was aware of his own marital status? It’s not like he hadn’t courted any maed. There’d just never been one that seemed truly interested in him…or should he say none that interested him. He was fully cognizant of his good looks and fine physique, not that he was hochmut or anything. But by the way the maed behaved around him, their attraction was apparent. He tried not to let it go to his head but at the same time, he knew he could probably attract any girl he wanted.

  And he decided he wanted Anna. After all, she was the most beautiful girl in these parts. A chill shot up his back when he thought of the time he’d driven up in his buggy and she was hanging up the laundry. Ever so gently the wind had picked up causing her cape dress to outline her voluptuous figure. He’d never forget that image. Yes, he had every intention of making Anna his fraa.

  Aaron knew what he would do. Surely a sweet puppy would melt any girl’s heart. He took purposeful strides toward the barn. Stepping into the dark dwelling, he quickly lit the lantern that hung on a nail by the door. Soon his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting.

  He quickly walked over to the barricaded area where the Blue Tick Hound pups were caged. He spotted his favorite immediately and scooped him up into his arms. He stroked the frisky puppy as it licked his fingers ferociously, eyeing its brown and black coloring. For sure this pup was the most desirable out of the lot and would most definitely fetch the best price, with his distinct markings and what not.

  But he knew only the best would do for Anna. Besides, if he played his cards right, the puppy would end up being his anyway. Not a bad thing to have the offspring of champion hunting dogs, for a hunting Amish man. Aaron smirked at his own genius.

  <><><>

  Anna had a busy day at work and couldn’t wait to just finish the rest of the chores and put her feet up. It seemed Amish and Englisch alike had intentions of giving handmade items for Christmas this year. She supposed business would probably increase even more between now and the holiday
. A yawn escaped her lips as she closed the barn door and headed back toward the house.

  Her thoughts drifted again to the lunches she’d been leaving near the alley every day. Since that day with Aaron, she still hadn’t seen a trace of the homeless man. She hoped Aaron hadn’t scared him off, but perhaps that is why he remained aloof. Does everybody treat destitute folk as if they hold no value? Surely God values them.

  Each time she left food, it disappeared, so apparently someone was enjoying the meals. Somehow, though, she wished she could do more. Bring the man a blanket maybe? Or clothes? She was certain some of Dat’s old trousers and shirts sat in a box up in the attic. She’d meant to give it away after he and Mamm passed, but never found an opportune time. Until now. But surely he wouldn’t fit into her father’s things. Her father had been stocky, while this man appeared quite thin. She supposed she could alter the trousers by guesstimating the man’s size. Yes, that’s what she would do.

  “Mammi, do we still have that box of Dat’s things up in the attic?” Anna asked, stepping into the front sitting room.

  Mammi pushed her glasses atop her nose farther, setting her crochet project on her lap. “I haven’t moved it. So, I guess if you haven’t moved it either then it’s probably still there. Did ya need somethin’ out of it?”

  Anna shrugged noncommittally. “I just thought maybe we should give some of it away since we aren’t using it.”

  “Jah, that is a gut idea.” She nodded satisfactorily and turned her attention back to her afghan.