Zane pushed himself out of the bed and checked his watch. Four a.m. With a shake of his head, he pulled on a shirt and made his way to the bathroom. He washed his face and hands, brushed his teeth and hair, then stumbled down the stairs.
Since the women were outside with the clunky old washing machine, the kitchen was empty. He grabbed himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the stove, thankful one of them had made his favorite vice before chores. No one should eat at this hour, he thought, and pushed himself out of the house and into the dark before dawn.
A few birds started their morning song. Fresh dew lay on the grass, and the sky was almost—almost—purple. A sure sign that sunrise was imminent.
“Here,” Ruth called to Annie. “Get that load right there, and go back for the detergent. Mach schnell, mach schnell.” Ruth all but clapped her hands at the young woman.
Annie ran around doing Ruth’s bidding. The exhaustion that plagued Ruth yesterday seemed to have vanished, leaving in its place a drill sergeant of a laundry commander.
Zane watched for a few more minutes before curiosity got the better of him. He sauntered barefoot across the yard, thankful for once that his pants were too short. At least they wouldn’t get a wet hem.
“What are you two doing?”
“It’s wash day,” Annie panted, not bothering to look up from pulling clothes out of the wringer.
“I gathered that much.”
Ruth ran a hand across her brow where sweat had formed despite the coolness of the morning. Fall had set in overnight, and today promised to be much cooler than the days past. His gaze flickered to Annie, who bit her lip and shot a worried glance toward Ruth.
“I’m fine, child.” If the sparkle in her eyes was any indication, Ruth Fisher was indeed fine, but Zane couldn’t help but be a little worried after yesterday’s episode with exhaustion.
Annie propped her hands on her hips and blew an imaginary strand of hair out of her eyes. “Ruth wants to get finished before Katie Rose and Mary Elizabeth.”
“I’m sorry. Get finished?”
“With the washing.”
Zane took a sip of his coffee. “So you and Katie Rose do your laundry on the same day.”
“Everyone does,” Ruth said.
“Everyone who’s Amish,” Annie explained. “So, of course, they race.”
Zane laughed. “Naturally.”
“But Katie Rose and Mary Elizabeth always win,” Ruth said.
Annie looked at Ruth. “And then Katie Rose goes over and helps Deacon Esh with his wash.”
Of course she did. She was just that kind of person.
“He doesn’t have anyone else to help him,” Ruth explained. “He’s an old man now, with no family to speak of.”
Zane nodded. “What can I do to help?”
Ruth shook her head. “Laundry is a woman’s work.”
“But I’m here to learn all I can about your traditions and customs. My article is for both men and women.”