A Quilt for Jenna by Patrick E. Craig

the things I wanted to find out about.”
    â€œOh, running around,” said Jerusha. “ Rumspringa .”
    â€œWell, I guess that’s the name for it,” Reuben answered, “but to me it’s just getting to know this wide world we live in a little better.”
    â€œIs that why you’re not married?” Jerusha asked.
    â€œThat, and the fact that I’ve never seen a girl I was interested in,” he said. “That is, until I saw you.”
    Jerusha felt a strange falling sensation take hold of her. She found nothing to say as the two walked on in silence for a moment, and then Reuben took her arm and stopped her.
    â€œI don’t want you to think me too bold, but I want to ask your permission to talk to your father. I would like to court you,” he said quietly.
    Her thoughts swarmed through her head like bees, and then she heard herself say quietly, “All right, if that’s what you want.”
    And then she quickly turned and walked away from him toward the village.

C HAPTER T EN
    Troubles

    W HEN J ERUSHA ARRIVED HOME , she ran straight to her room, threw herself on her bed, and tried to quiet her emotions.
    Why did I tell him he could talk to Daed ?
    The events of the day flooded in on her—the attack in the woods, Reuben appearing out of nowhere to save her, the beating he gave those men, her acquiescence to his request to speak to her father. It had all happened so fast, she barely had time to think. But now, alone in her room, she couldn’t help her mind from replaying it again and again.
    How did Reuben happen to be there at just the right time? Was he following me? He beat those men terribly. It should have made me sick, but it didn’t. Oh, Reuben, what am I supposed to do with you?
    Suddenly Jerusha’s life had become very complicated. Her simple childhood and the years she had spent by her grandmother’s side had all seemed so easy. Family, farmwork, and quilting had been her life. Now a whole new element had been thrust upon her in the person of Reuben Springer. She turned onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

    Late the next afternoon, Jerusha’s father came in from his work. He cleaned up and then went to Jerusha’s door and knocked.
    â€œJerusha, are you in there? I need to speak with you.”
    Jerusha opened the door slowly. “What is it, Daed ?”
    â€œThe Springer boy came to see me this morning.”
    So soon!
    â€œWhat did he want?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
    â€œHe wants my permission to court you,” her father said. “I told him he could not.”
    Inwardly, Jerusha gave a sigh of relief. Controlling herself, she asked, “What reason did you give him?”
    â€œThe Springer boy is a pleasant young man. He is older, and my understanding is that he is a hard worker. But I have heard stories about his adventures while he has been in rumspringa— drinking, fighting, dancing, and other activities that cannot be mentioned. It is said that he owns a car and keeps it in a garage somewhere in Wooster and that he has traveled as far as Akron and Indianapolis dressed as an Englischer .”
    â€œBut many of the boys try out the things of the world during rumspringa ,” Jerusha said. “Does that make him a bad person?”
    Her father frowned. “ Nee , but the most important reason I won’t allow it is that although he is twenty-one, he has not been baptized or joined the church. This disqualifies him for marriage. I do not think he is right for you.”
    Jerusha found herself rising to Reuben’s defense. “But, Daed , Reuben was so kind to me at the funeral and he—”
    â€œKindness isn’t the measure of a man, especially in our way of life. A man who has given his life to God through baptism and is faithful in the church is a man to be trusted. That is the sort of man I want for my daughter.”
    Before she could stop herself, Jerusha