A home of her own. Phoebe sat up straighter as her resolve strengthened. “I think so too.” She would do this and when she returned they could no longer treat her like a kinner but rather as the full-grown woman she was.
Daed was right about it being an opportunity but perhaps not in the way he meant. It was a chance to break free from the low expectations of her familye and friends and to embark on an adventure in a new setting with people who didn’t know anything about her difficulty with the basic skills of reading and writing, not to mention the clumsiness that plagued her whenever she got nervous or flustered.
Later, as Phoebe helped clear the table, not even the seamless way Rhoda and Mamm worked around her could steal her smile. Accepting Edna’s offer to join her in Sweetbrier Creek felt like something big, something that would mark a milestone in her life and maybe, just maybe, give her a chance to find her own path.
Chapter 3
Sweetbrier Creek, Ohio
Seth Beiler quickened his pace as he headed toward the house from the equipment shed. He was late for breakfast but since Mark was in charge of cooking their morning meal he didn’t feel particularly eager. He usually cooked breakfast during those times when there was no housekeeper available, but Edna had encouraged him to let his brieder take more responsibility, under her supervision. He’d only agreed because he was behind on the orders for his side business, making hand-carved chess sets. And after the problems they’d had with last year’s crops his familye could really use the extra income these brought in.
Edna’s injury was most definitely a setback for them. He’d thought he’d have until after Christmas before he needed to find a more permanent solution to their need for a housekeeper, and by then he’d have the bulk of his orders for chess sets fulfilled.
They’d had the worst luck keeping housekeepers the past few years. Two had gotten married and moved away. A third had decided to move in with her newly widowed shveshtah and help with the kinner.
And now this.
Despite not particularly looking forward to whatever meal Mark had prepared, Seth picked up the pace. He’d always been insistent that he and his brieder have breakfast together, and as the oldest it was his place to set a good example.
He grimaced at that thought. Sometimes he hated being the oldest, the responsible one, the surrogate daed to his brieder. But it was the role circumstances and Gotte had assigned him, and who was he to complain?
Even before Seth opened the side door he could hear the sounds of horseplay inside. Edna, Mamm’s shveshtah who was serving as their housekeeper for the time being and was living in the dawdi haus, had told him she would rest and not to expect to see her for a day or two. After yesterday’s disaster with the near-fire Levi had caused in the kitchen he hoped she would be ready to rejoin them soon. Even if she couldn’t actually work with her injured hand, at least she could instruct and keep an eye on them and their efforts.
In the three weeks she’d been here she’d done so much to bring some measure of orderliness to their household. He hadn’t realized just how far things had slipped, how his brieder’s rowdiness had grown more and more common around here lately.
Seth stepped inside the kitchen and halted as he was hit in the forehead with a hard object. All motion ceased as the five occupants froze and stared at him with expressions that ran the scale from guilt to apprehension to barely suppressed amusement.
Glancing down at the floor, Seth realized two things. One, he’d been hit by a nearly black biscuit. And two, it hadn’t been the only biscuit used as a missile. He could see at least nine other hockey-puck-like items scattered about the floor and table. He also saw a cup of coffee and a glass of milk that had fallen victim to whatever had been going on in here this morning.
Where was Edna? So much for things being done under her supervision.
Jesse, who’d obviously been responsible for throwing the biscuit that had hit him, spoke first. “I’m sorry, Seth. I was aiming for Daniel but he ducked.”
As if that excused him.
“I see you all took my talk about trying to be more orderly to heart.”
“Ach, Seth, don’t be so stuffy.” Levi picked up the two biscuits that were near his feet. “We were just having a bit of fun.”
Fun. When was the last time he himself had enjoyed a bit of fun? He waved a hand, encompassing the room. “We’ll just have store-bought bread this morning. Clean up this mess and get the table set.”
His brieder went to work while Seth peeled out of his jacket and boots.
In the meantime Edna entered with a jar of what looked like preserves. Apparently she’d been down in the basement. She took one look at the cleanup going on and met Seth’s gaze with a shrug. Then she crossed the room and placed the jar on the counter.
“I see there’s been a bit of a ruckus since I left the room. But you seem to be doing a gut job of cleaning everything up.” She adjusted her sling. “I think I’ll go back to my rooms and have a cup of tea and then lie back down for a bit. Please don’t wait on me for your breakfast.” And with that she made her exit.
What had that been all about?
She was usually a stickler for getting things cleaned up. Perhaps her wrist was paining her more than she’d let on. He’d have to see about getting some help, at least part-time, so she didn’t feel the need to help out so much.
In short order they had taken their places around the table.
After the pause for a time of silent prayers, the Beilers dug into the food with gusto.
“I hope Aenti Edna is better soon,” Levi said. “Her cooking is worlds better than yours.”
Mark merely shrugged. “If you think you can do better the job’s all yours.” Then he turned to Seth. “How long do you think it’ll be before she can use her hand again?”
Seth gave Mark a stern look as he forked up some only slightly overcooked eggs. “For as long as it takes to heal. And we are very grateful for all she has done for us so far, ain’t so?”
There were some guilty looks amid a chorus of agreement around the table.
“We’ve been on our own before,” Seth reminded them. “There are six of us—we can handle this.”
“Still,” Daniel said, “she plans to go back to Bergamot eventually. What if she decides to do it now since she’s hurt?”
Seth met Daniel’s gaze with a lift of his brow before focusing back on his meal. “Same as now. We do our own housework.”
His words were immediately greeted with groans and protests from around the table.
“You can’t expect us to do laundry,” Mark said indignantly.
“Or scrub floors,” Kish added.
Seth didn’t look up. “That and more is exactly what we’ll all be doing for the next several weeks. We will follow the task list I’ve posted, no complaints. After all, Aenti Edna has said she’ll lend a hand where she can so we won’t be entirely on our own.” But after seeing how she handled things this morning he wasn’t sure just how much help she was going to be.
Before he could say anything more Levi shoved scrambled eggs and a couple of strips of bacon between two slices of bread and pushed away from the table.
