Chapter 5
Monday morning, the following week…
With a gentle swaying motion, the train nearly lulled Samuel to sleep. Ohio was an hour away yet. The time had finally come, not by will, but of necessity. Hopefully Uncle Timothy wouldn’t mind him showing up without prior notice. Nee, Samuel was certain he’d be happy to see him. He and his dat’s youngest bruder had always gotten along well, probably due to their close proximity in age, and they’d bonded over the last summer when Samuel had worked side by side with him in the corn field.
Samuel thought of the letters he’d hastily written, just prior to leaving: one to his folks and the other to Christian. He’d contemplated penning one to Hannah as well, but decided against it for several reasons. Number one, he worried about it falling into the wrong hands; number two, the letter to Christian pretty much summed things up and he was certain Christian would share it with Hannah; and number three, he just didn’t know what to say to her. His heart ached just thinking of her. Ach, she was so lovely…
Stop it, she’s not yours, Samuel berated himself.
Leaving home for gut had been one of the hardest things he’d ever done, especially the way he’d left. But it was the only way. He was certain that if he hadn’t left then and there, his relationship with Christian would not have survived. The love of a woman was not something he wished to contend for, especially when his unsuspecting adversary was also his best friend. Samuel’s decision had certainly not been an easy one. He wished with all his heart that he and Hannah could be together, but not at the cost of losing Christian. He’d already crossed a forbidden boundary – one he never should have been near in the first place.
No, he could not deny that his heart desired Hannah. Sometimes, though, the heart’s desire is best kept buried deep within oneself and forgotten. And that is what must happen. Christian never need know about Hannah and Samuel.
As the train car began to slow and then finally halted altogether, Samuel realized that his daydreaming had cost him his much-needed nap. Resignedly, he gathered his things and made his way toward the exit. Now he needed to hire a driver to take him to his uncle’s place. He scanned the perimeter of the train depot in search of a pay phone. In his haste to leave, he’d forgotten his cell phone on his dresser at home. But maybe it was best that way. If Hannah tried to call him, he might just up and return home at the sound of her voice. No, this way was best. It had to be.
“Samuel! Samuel!” Timothy’s voice called from behind him. His uncle walked toward him with purposeful strides.
“How did you know I’d be here?” Samuel wondered.
“Paul, your dat, called me this morn when he got your note. He figured you’d be here this afternoon sometime, so I figured I’d save you the hassle of hiring a driver. Besides, time in my buggy will give us a chance to talk about what's botherin' you,” he said knowingly.
Samuel’s eyebrows rose. “What do you mean by that?”
“A man doesn’t just up and leave his home from one day to the next unless he’s running away from something. Or someone?” Timothy asked.
Samuel sighed. “Am I that easy to read?”
Timothy chuckled. “I guess you are. Want to talk about it?”
“It was a woman,” he simply said.
“Ah, that explains it.”
“Nee, you don’t understand. Christian, he’s my best friend. Hannah…” Just saying her name aloud brought sorrow to Samuel’s heart. “She’s his sweetheart. But Hannah and I have gotten too close.”
“Well, in that case it looks like you made the right decision. Perhaps another maedel will take your mind off the forbidden, jah? Carolanne is over today helping Mary with a quilt for the upcoming auction. I know she’ll be happy to see ya. Mary tells me the two of you have been sending letters.”
“Jah. Carolanne is a nice maedel.”
“She’ll make a fine fraa for someone,” Timothy said, then scratched his beard. “Ya know, there’s a small farm not too far from our place – just down the road a piece. Came up for sale a few weeks ago. It’s got a nice shop that would be perfect for your buggy makin’. And there ain’t no buggy makers in these parts. We gotta go all the way to Bishop Burkholder’s district to get our buggies. Ya got any money saved up?”
Samuel’s eyebrows shot up. This was indeed gut news. Perhaps the Lord was paving the way for him. “Jah, I probably have enough for a down payment.”
“Gut. Gut. So, ya think you’ll stay?” Timothy’s voice hinted of hopefulness.
“Jah.”
“Wunderbaar. I’ll take you over to the Troyer’s old place first thing tomorrow,” Timothy said. “Right now, though, I bet you’ll be happy to hear that Mary’s making meatloaf and mashed potatoes for supper. I reckon she’s invited Carolanne to stay too.”
“That sounds gut.”
The crickets chirped loudly as Samuel and Carolanne strolled along the path near his uncle’s pasture. All was quiet, except for a slight breeze rustling through the maple trees behind his uncle's barn and a dog barking somewhere off in the distance. His uncle owned a nice spread, much larger than what was currently available in Pennsylvania. That had been another reason coming to Ohio was a gut idea, although he would have been perfectly content to stay in Pennsylvania had circumstances been different.
Samuel glanced over at Carolanne, who had been contently walking by his side without a word. She was just as pretty as Samuel had remembered. Under her kapp, her blonde tresses shined in the moonlight, which also seemed to bring out her sky blue eyes. Jah, he knew Carolanne would help greatly in taking his mind off of Hannah.
“I’m glad you came back, Samuel. Why didn’t you let me know you were coming in your last letter?” Carolanne wondered aloud.
“Uh…it was kind of a last minute decision,” he explained awkwardly.
“Mary said your folks didn’t know you were coming either. Not until this morning. What made you up and leave so suddenly?” she asked suspiciously.
Samuel blew out a breath. There was no way he was going to tell Carolanne about Hannah and ruin his chances with her. “I was anxious to start a new life out here. I enjoy my uncle’s family. And I’m closer to you now.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, Samuel told himself.
Carolanne’s suspicions subsided when Samuel smiled reassuringly and took her hand in his. She was so happy that Samuel had come and had been dreaming about this for nearly a year now. Since she'd first met him, she'd thought he was the most handsome man she'd ever seen. After they'd ridden in his buggy and talked for hours, she'd been able to tell Samuel was a gut, kind man – ideal husband material. From his conversation at the dinner table with Timothy, Carolanne gathered that the two of them were going to look at property tomorrow. Did Samuel have in mind to buy a place right away? And if so, did that mean he intended to ask her to marry him soon. Oh, Carolanne hoped it was so!