today.”
“Yeah.” Guy put his hat back on.
Judith opened the door, disappearing into the sea of Kapps, and anything he might have said was lost in the noise.
He stood back to let another group of women into the house, then he headed toward the barn. He thought he had been clear, that he wanted to take Judith to the Singing, but had he said it wrong? Or maybe he had misunderstood their evenings together when he thought she liked him. Maybe Matthew could solve the puzzle.
Guy found Matthew in the barn loft, forking clean straw down into the horses’ stalls. He cupped his hands around his mouth and called up to him. “Hello!”
Matthew peered over the edge of the loft. “Guy. Good to see you. I’ll be down in a minute.”
Three more clumps of straw drifted down into the stalls, then Matthew came down the ladder and shook Guy’s hand.
“What brings you here today?”
Guy grimaced, trying to catch Matthew’s words. It seemed that everyone was bent on making sure he learned the Penn Dutch.
“I carried a basket over for Verna.” He grinned as a phrase came to him. “The house is packed with chickens.”
Matthew rubbed his chin. “Chickens?”
“Chickens. Ja. A house of chickens. Talking.”
“I see. You mean it’s a hen party in the house.”
Guy shook his head, giving up. He switched to English. “Yeah, that’s what I mean. A hen party.”
“You’re right about that.” Matthew sat on a bench and motioned for Guy to join him. “How are the Deitsch lessons coming?”
“I don’t know if I’m ever going to learn this.” Guy rubbed at a stain on his trousers with his thumb. “It’s too hard, and I don’t think I’m smart enough.”
“Du bischt schmaert.” Matthew grinned at him. “You are smart. Judith says you’re picking it up quickly.”
“But the words keep getting mixed up in my head. Like the chicken-house thing. Why couldn’t I remember to say it right?”
Matthew shrugged. “Learning a new language is hard.”
“But all of you speak two languages. Three, if you count the German the ministers use for Sunday preaching.”
“We learned to speak Deitsch from birth. Hoch Deutsch, High German, isn’t much different, and we’ve heard that from when we were babies, too. And we learn Englisch when we go to school, when we’re still young. If I was trying to learn, say, French or something, I’d have a hard time, too.”
“Maybe.” But Guy doubted that Matthew would have trouble learning anything if he put his mind to it. “I have another question for you, though.”
Matthew took off his hat, running his fingers through his hair. “Sure. What is it?”
“Why doesn’t Judith want me to take her to the Singing next week?”
“Did she say she wouldn’t go with you?”
“She said she’d walk with me, but not like if we were going together.”
“You mean, she doesn’t want to be more than friends.”
Guy nodded. “I’m not sure she even wants to be friends.”
“She does, but she’s still young. She doesn’t want to be tied down, yet.”
“Going to the Singing with me won’t tie her down.”
Matthew stood, clapping Guy on the shoulder. “You might not think so, but Judith is different. Until last year, her world didn’t go much farther than her back door. She wants a chance to be a girl and have some fun with the other young people.” He picked up a broom and started sweeping up loose bits of straw. “Be patient with her, and let her take her time.”
“Sure.” Guy frowned. He could understand that Judith didn’t want the others to think they were dating.
“I wouldn’t worry about another fellow horning in,” Matthew said as he swept the straw into a pile. “You have the advantage of seeing her almost every day. When the other boys start buzzing around, she’ll remember who her friends are.”
Guy waved a goodbye to Matthew as he started back toward the Mast farm and the chores waiting for him there. Matthew was right, as long as one of those friends didn’t end up being Luke Kaufman.
* * *
Judith was at the door to greet Esther as soon as Guy went out to the barn. Even though it had only been two weeks since they had seen each other, Judith felt like it had been forever. Esther must have felt the same way, from the strength of her hug. But they couldn’t linger, because Mary, Ida Mae and Aunt Sadie were right behind her.
“How does it feel, taking care of those babies all day?” Esther asked as she untied her bonnet.
“Annie has charge of the babies.” Judith took Mary’s cloak from her and put her hand out for Ida Mae’s.
Ida Mae handed her shawl to Judith, then helped Sadie with her wraps. “I’m sure you get your turn at holding them and changing diapers, though.”
Esther laughed. “I can just see Judith changing diapers.”
“Then get ready to be surprised,” Judith said. “Eli still wears diapers, too. And all of those diapers need to be washed every day.”
Sadie moved past the girls, leaning on her cane as she went. She patted Judith’s arm. “I know you’re a wonderful-gut help to Annie.”
Judith and Esther carried the cloaks and bonnets into the bedroom while the others went into the front room where the quilting frame was set up.
“Now that there’s just us,” Esther said, “you can tell me. How are you doing?”
Esther’s eyes were fixed on Judith’s face, concerned.
“You were right. It is a lot of work taking care of a house full of people and babies up to our ears.” Judith smiled to relieve Esther’s worries. “But Annie and I work together well, and we have a lot of fun in the midst of the work. I had forgotten how cheerful she is.”
Esther smiled. “She’s much happier since she married Matthew.”
“And the babies make her even happier, if that could be possible.”
“So, who was that boy you were talking to?”
Judith felt the blood rush to her cheeks. “What boy?”
“That handsome young man who headed for the barn as soon as we walked toward the house.”
It was just like Esther to jump to conclusions. “He’s the neighbor’s hired hand. He carried a basket over for Verna.”
“I know I saw him talking to you.” Esther grinned. “I’d say you’re sweet on him, the way you’re blushing.”
“He’s a friend.”
“Is that all?”
Judith looked straight into Esther’s eyes, dark blue, just like her own. “Ja, that’s all. I’m teaching him Deitsch, and so we’ve spent some time together. But I’m not ready to settle down to one boy. The Singing next week is only my second one, and I plan to have fun with the other girls.”
Esther tapped a forefinger on her pursed lips as Judith’s face turned even warmer.
“I think there’s more to him than you’re saying. Did he ask to take you to the Singing?”
Judith sighed, giving up. “How can you always guess my secrets?”
“Everything shows on