Loving Isaac. Rebecca Kertz

she roamed the countryside together as friends. He’d made a terrible mistake when he’d taken up with Nancy, Brad and their English friends. Now he was destined to pay for it.

      * * *

      Ellen did what she could to help Sarah put out lunch before she went in search of her friend Elizabeth. She was eager to go rumspringa and she wanted Elizabeth to go with her. She found Elizabeth with a group of young people, including the Peachy siblings and Peter Zook, who had congregated near the pasture fence.

      “Elizabeth,” she called as she approached. Her friend’s eyes brightened when she saw her. “May we talk?” Ellen asked.

      Elizabeth said something to the group before she joined Ellen, who stood on the outskirts several yards away. “Is there something wrong?” her friend asked.

      “Nay, I want to go into Lancaster next Saturday.”

      Her eyes gleamed. “A rumspringa adventure?” Elizabeth asked.

      “Ja. Would you like to go?”

      “Ja.” Elizabeth nodded vigorously. “What should we tell our eldre?”

      “The truth,” Ellen said, hoping her parents would approve.

      Her friend agreed. “What will we do?”

      “Shop? Eat? See a movie?” Ellen grinned. “Whatever we want to do.” Check out the Westmore Clinic for Special Children, she thought.

      After talking with her friend, Ellen grew more excited about the trip and couldn’t wait to ask her mam and dat for permission. But she decided to wait until later to approach them.

      * * *

      “Dat, Mam,” Ellen said after they had returned from Jedidiah and Sarah’s house and everyone had settled in at home. “I’d like to go into Lancaster with Elizabeth next Saturday.”

      Her father frowned as he faced her. “Why?”

      Ellen felt her belly flutter with nerves. “We want to go on rumspringa. I’m old enough to experience the English world. We thought we’d get something to eat and wander about the outlet mall.”

      “I don’t know if that’s a gut idea—” Dat began.

      “I don’t see why you can’t go,” her mother said at the same time that her father spoke. Mam immediately grew silent. She wouldn’t go against her father’s wishes.

      Ellen’s spirits plummeted. Her dat wasn’t going to allow her to go.

      “She is old enough, William,” Mam said gently, much to Ellen’s shock.

      Dat narrowed his gaze as he studied his daughter. “Nay, she can’t be.”

      “I’m seventeen, Dat.”

      Her father looked surprised. “You are?” He firmed his lips. “You’ve grown up too fast.”

      Ellen noted his surprise with amusement. “You still have plenty of time with the boys. They are a long way from rumspringa age.”

      “Why now, Dochter?” he asked seriously. “Do you plan to leave our community? Are you unhappy here?”

      “Nay, Dat. I have no plans to leave, but I want to see the English world. Just because I want to see it doesn’t mean I don’t want a life here...a husband and family.”

      “How will you get there?” Dat asked, looking relieved.

      “May I take the pony cart? Or we can hire a driver to take us.”

      Her mother leaned close to whisper something in Dat’s ear. Her father nodded and said, “You may go next Saturday, Ellen, but I will hire a driver for you.”

      Ellen beamed at him. “Danki, Dat.”

      “Just come home safe and sound with no ideas of wanting to leave us,” he warned. Ellen shifted uncomfortably as she thought of the clinic and her reason for visiting. Would her father and mother be upset after her return when she presented them with more information in an attempt to convince them to allow her to work there?

      That night as she lay in bed, Ellen thought of the fun she’d enjoyed with her cousin Gideon and then her excitement as she and Elizabeth had discussed their Lancaster trip. She tried not to think of Isaac, with whom she’d spoken only briefly. It had been nice of him to inquire about her injuries. She’d been disturbingly aware of how he’d continually watched her.

      Next Saturday, she thought with a smile, dismissing Isaac from her mind. She couldn’t wait for Saturday’s adventure with Elizabeth.