All Roads Lead Home

Chapter One

With a heavy heart Joseph turned the team of Belgians down the blacktop road toward the bus station. The horses’ hooves made a lonesome sound, their metal shoes clicking on the highway as they pulled the wagon. Maybe the mares knew he was leaving his home, never to return this way again. He glanced back at his wife, Mary, sitting with their daughter, Rebecca, and their two twin sons, Caleb and Benjamin. Instead of looking downhearted, they all seemed excited except for Rebecca. He would be strong for their sakes.
“I guess this’ll be our last hay ride.” Rebecca shifted restlessly on a bale of hay.
“It’s my pleasure to escort you today,” Bishop Adam said, scooting over beside Joseph on the wagon seat. “I figured my buggy would be a little crowded with your luggage, so I brought my team of Belgian mares.”
“I think Adam has given wagon rides to every child in our district.” His wife, Grace, smiled as the wagon bounced her around.
Joseph glanced at Grace, realizing how much she had aged. She was a small, gray-headed woman who didn’t look as though she could weigh a hundred pounds. Joseph felt small sitting next to the bishop, who was over six feet tall and very heavy. His snow-white beard hung down to his chest, and his hair was gray. Joseph was of a medium build himself, not so tall, but very muscular. His curly hair was dark brown, and his beard wasn’t very long.
“Joseph, if you and your family ever need to come back here to live, you are always welcome,” Bishop Adam said as Joseph brought the wagon to a stop.
“I appreciate it.” He held back a tear. “But I think we are ready for a new beginning.”
“Well, spring is a time for resurrection,” Bishop Adam said.
“I think that’s the Greyhound coming, Daed,” Caleb gasped, pointing behind them.
“I can’t wait to ride in one,” Benjamin said, leaning over the side of the hay wagon to watch the vehicle. “It looks so big.”
“You all take care.” The bishop frowned as the bus stopped close by. “I will be praying for you, Joseph. Please keep in touch.”
“I will.” Joseph handed him the reins.
“Let me give you a hug before I break into tears.” Grace gave Mary a hug.
“We will miss you all. You have been so gut to us.” Mary kissed Grace on the cheek.
“The way everyone is staring at us out of the bus windows,” Adam murmured aloud, “I don’t think any of these people have ever seen a horse and buggy.” Bishop Adam cried silently as the family said their goodbyes.
“Gather your luggage, children, and we will be on our way.” Joseph helped Mary down from the wagon.
He led the way to the bus, his family following close behind. He looked back just once to the land that he had called home all of his life. His heart pounded hard in his chest, and the pain was almost more than he could bear. He had felt this way before when his parents had died. He didn’t know that leaving his home behind would rip such a horrible hole in his spirit. He boarded the bus slowly, carrying his worn out suitcase.
“Are we traveling far today?” the driver asked, taking their tickets.
“We’re heading to Ohio. My wife’s grandfather willed us a farm.” Joseph saw many eyes on him, and some people laughed when they saw him with his family. He was used to people laughing at the way his family dressed. No matter how people treated him, he had decided long ago that he wouldn’t stoop to their level. He would try to be the better person.
“God does take care of His own,” the driver said.
Joseph spotted some empty seats in the middle of the bus. “Follow me, children.”
“We can put our bags overhead,” Rebecca said, pointing to the overhead rack.
Joseph handed Rebecca his bag and knocked her kapp off in the process. Rebecca’s face turned red and her dark brown eyes widened as she grabbed for her kapp. The kapp had fallen down in the middle of the aisle. For just a minute, her long black hair flowed wildly. Rebecca wasn’t as tall as her mother yet, as she was only thirteen. She was, however, a striking beauty, as pretty as her mother.
“Sorry,” Joseph said softly. Nobody was supposed to see his daughter’s hair uncovered except her future husband. He was proud of his daughter. She wasn’t dressed fancy like the modern world, but she was a lady nonetheless.
“It’s okay, daed.” Rebecca put her kapp back on quickly, her face still red.
Joseph sat down with Mary, and Rebecca took the seat across from them. The twins jumped into the seat with Rebecca, although they were a little crowded. The boys were nine and very slim, with curly brown hair. Maybe the boys didn’t want to sit so close to these strangers.
“Why are those people wearing costumes, Dad?” one little girl asked. “It’s too early for Halloween.”
“Hush, dear,” the man said. “They’re Amish. They always dress very plain. I think it’s part of their religion.”
“I’m glad we aren’t Amish. I would hate to dress that way every day.”
“Pay her no mind,” the man said, looking at Joseph. “She’s not used to seeing people dress differently than she does.”
“It’s okay,” Joseph said, smiling. “She’s just curious.”
He would never allow his own children to be so disrespectful to other people. Finally, all was quiet for a few minutes as the people finally got used to the "Pilgrims" on the bus.

“It will be nice to see my mother again,” Mary said.
“I wonder if my cousins will even know me. I haven’t seen them in so long,” Rebecca said.