out of a box.”
James grimaced as much from the idea of Mari and her son being evicted as the thought of macaroni and cheese out of a box. “I don’t think I’d enjoy her cooking,” he told Zachary.
“Who would?” Warming to his tale, Zachary elaborated. “One time, Mom got this coupon for a free turkey. If you buy enough stuff, the supermarket gives them to everybody. It’s not charity or anything.”
“No,” James agreed. “It wouldn’t be if anyone could get one.”
“Right. But you had to buy so many groceries and save the receipts. Anyway, Mom got this turkey for Thanksgiving, but she had to work, so Darlene tried to cook it herself.” Zachary made a face. “Can you believe she didn’t take the guts out? She just stuffed the bird in the oven with the plastic bag of guts inside and ruined it.”
James chuckled. “Sounds bad.”
“It was.” The boy kicked at the bottom rung of the stall rhythmically. “You said you sold your truck. How come they let you have a truck? Mom said Amish drive buggies.”
“They do. If you want to be a part of the Amish community and the church, you have to agree to follow the rules. And the rules say no cars and no electricity.”
“They think cars and TV are bad?”
James shook his head slowly. “Not necessarily bad, just worldly. Things like electricity link us to the outer world. They take us away too easily from the people and things that mean the most to us.”
“So how’d you have a truck? I’d guess you got in big trouble.”
“Some but not much.” James took his time answering, taking care with the words he chose. “When you become a young man or a young woman in the Amish community, you get to decide how you want to live. Do you want to be Amish, or do you want to join the English world? No one can force you to be Amish, so many Amish young people go out into the world to see if they like it better than this one. That’s what I did. I left Seven Poplars and got a job working construction.”
“You just packed up and went?”
James nodded again. “I did. My sister begged me not to go. She’s older than I am, more like a mom than a sister, because our mother died when I was little.”
“No mom. Tough,” Zachary said. “My father died, but I never knew him, so I didn’t care much.”
“Your mom didn’t remarry?” James asked.
“Nope. And she doesn’t go out with guys like Darlene did. Mom says I’m her guy.” He gave a little smirk.
James smiled to himself. He was glad to know that Mari wasn’t attached; maybe because he didn’t like the idea of her being with someone who clearly hadn’t been taking good care of her. He tapped the toe of his boot against the stall. “Listen, I have to get back to work, but I was wondering if you’d be interested in helping us out today. We need somebody to sweep, fetch nails and tools. Stuff like that.”
Zachary’s eyes narrowed. “Would I get paid?”
“If you do the work, sure. I know you’ll be going back to school soon, but—”
“I’m not starting school here,” Zachary interrupted. “I tried to tell Mom that.”
“You and your mom butt heads a lot?”
“No, not so much. I mean, she’s great and all. Really. But when she can find a job, she works a lot. Overtime. Sometimes two jobs at the same time. So a lot of times, I was with babysitters and after-school care. Mom thinks I’m a kid still. She’s kind of bossy.”
James had to press his lips together to keep from chuckling. “My sister can be like that.”
Zachary grimaced. “Girls.”
“Hard to understand them sometimes.”
“Yeah. But I could probably help you out until Mom figures out we don’t belong here.”
“I don’t know your mother well, but she seems like she cares a lot for you. Like she’s trying to do the right thing.”
“She’s the best. But this was a bad idea, coming here. It’s better back in Wisconsin. You’re probably nice people and all, but we like cars and TV and electric. I hate it when the electric gets turned off in our trailer.”
“Gets turned off?” James asked.
“You know.” Zachary frowned. “When you can’t pay the bill.”
Now it was James’s turn to frown. He could imagine how hard it must have been for Mari as a parent, trying to care for her son. “That happen a lot?”
“Mom does her best. Electricity and car insurance are expensive. We make out all right. It’s just that Mom lost her job and then we got kicked out of our trailer for not paying. But something will come along. It always does.” The boy reached out boldly and patted Jericho’s broad back.
They were both quiet for a minute. Sara had told him a little about Mari the week before, that she and her son needed a fresh start, but she hadn’t told him that Mari had lost her job and her home. His heart went out to her. He couldn’t imagine what it was like for a woman to be alone with no family, no friends, trying to raise a boy properly.
James glanced at Zachary again. “Sounds like what I’m hearing you say is that you might like to earn a little money. And be a help to your mom.” He didn’t know that the bit of pocket change Zachary might earn would really help Mari’s situation, but he did know that even a boy Zachary’s age wanted to feel as if he was needed. “Take some of the strain off her?”
“Yeah. That would be good,” Zachary agreed.
James crossed his arms over his chest. “And from me and my crew.” Again, he was quiet before he went on, “Zachary, I think your mom was pretty upset when she left for work. This move, losing her home and all, has been pretty tough on her. I think maybe she could use a hug from you when she gets home.”
“Probably.” Zachary looked thoughtful.
“I don’t know why you quarreled, but a man’s got to show respect to his mother.”
Zachary looked up at him. “I’m a boy, not a man.”
“But you’re old enough to have responsibilities. And it looks to me as though the most important one is to take care of her. Treat her right.”
He twisted his mouth thoughtfully. “Guess I should say sorry when she comes home tonight.”
“Sounds good to me. So let’s shake on it, you doing some work for me.” James extended his hand and Zachary took it. Zachary had a firm grip, and James liked that. “But if you’re serious about working with my crew, you’d better go put that barn coat on. All of my men come dressed for work, no matter the weather.”
“Okay,” Zachary agreed. He grabbed the jacket and put it on. “What’s your name?”
“James.
