“Okay, Dat.” Reuben glanced at his mamm, his chin quivering momentarily, then flew from the room.
Ach, Gott, help us through this.
~
Rachel slowly walked into the bedroom after the children had all eaten, a bowl of warm soup in hand. She’d made soft homemade chicken noodles this evening hoping that Leah might take some nourishment.
“I brought soup. I thought Leah might—” She glanced up at Jacob. His eyes were red-rimmed and tears soaked his beard as he held Leah in his arms. Her heart tripped. “Jacob?”
“She…she’s gone.”
THIRTY-ONE
The days and weeks following Leah’s funeral had been some of the toughest in both Jacob’s and Rachel’s lives. Rachel had washed and prepared her sister’s body for burial, as she and Leah had prepared their mamm’s fifteen years prior. Death was never easy, but it was an unavoidable part of life.
“It was Der Herr’s will,” the bishop had said at the funeral.
But Rachel questioned whether it really was Der Herr’s will. If Gott originally created man to live forever and if He was not willing that any should perish, then how could it be Gott’s will? He had allowed it, jah, but that didn’t mean He willed it, ain’t not?
Perhaps she would ask Jacob about it. He seemed to know much more about the Bible and the ways of Der Herr than she did.
Since Rachel had become somewhat of a permanent fixture in the lives of the kinner and in Jacob’s household, the leaders agreed that a marriage ceremony held sooner rather than later would be best for propriety’s sake. So their nuptials had been planned one month after Leah’s passing, as opposed to the usual waiting period. She was quite certain her vatter held some sway in that decision.
Jacob sent invitations to his family in Kentucky. His mamm responded with a letter informing him that his father had become ill and they wouldn’t be able to make the trip. She invited him to come back home and bring his family. She’d included a generous financial gift as well for their wedding present.
They hadn’t heard back from his bruder Ephraim. Rachel worried that he might still harbor ill feelings toward Jacob. If he still sought revenge, then there was no way she’d agree to moving to Kentucky, as Jacob had mentioned.
A houseful of kinner made quiet time alone challenging. Rachel and Jacob had to wait until the children went to bed and the littlest one was satisfied before they could spend time together. Because they both carried physically demanding work schedules, they often fell asleep while talking on the couch, usually with Rachel nestled in Jacob’s strong arms.
Jacob would wake up in the middle of the night, cover Rachel with a blanket, and find his way to his bedroom. It wouldn’t be acceptable for the kinner to find them asleep together in the morning, even if it was on the sofa.
Since the boppli had only been a couple months old when Leah passed on, he still needed nourishment fairly often. Rachel would fix his bottles of diluted goatmilk and warm them as needed. It seemed to prove a suitable substitute for the breast milk he’d missed out on.
While Leah was alive, Rachel had always been a little envious of her sister when it came to nursing. Knowing she’d likely never have her own bopplin, if the doctor was correct, had been difficult to accept. But at least she’d still been blessed with the opportunity to hold Jacob’s little ones in her arms, to be a substitute mamm for them.
Rachel persuaded Jacob to call his mamm and ask about Ephraim. Her words had been encouraging, but they lacked the assurance Rachel had been hoping for. She’d simply said that Ephraim had moved away and the last time Jacob had come up in conversation, his brother didn’t grunt or spew out hatred.
That was a gut thing, jah, but to Rachel’s thinking, that didn’t mean it was safe for Jacob to return home. It would be wonderful gut if the two brothers could iron out their differences. Jacob’s mamm seemed confident that scenario could actually happen. Rachel still wasn’t sure.
THIRTY-TWO
Rachel could scarcely believe her day had finally arrived. It was today. Today. Today—this day!—she would marry—marry!—Jacob King, the man she’d been dreaming about for entirely too long. Ach, she didn’t think she could love him any more than she did now. It seemed like every day he would say or do something that would make her heart swell with love for him. She might just burst with joy before the day was over.
Ach, Jacob.
A hundred funerals couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. Okay, maybe a hundred could. But she was happy. Happy. Thrilled. Exhilarated. Ecstatic. She would cherish every single second of this day. Instill it in her memory. Engrave it on her heart. Etch it on her soul.
This was truly the best day ever!
~
Jacob grasped the hand of his bride as they stood before the bishop and congregation of friends and loved ones. Ach, Rachel, his beloved, would finally be his. At long last.
Words could not express how much he loved this woman. Her care of his kinner and Leah during her last days had only intensified his love for her.
The years did nothing to diminish her beauty. Nee, they only magnified it. Her facial features had become more defined. And her curves, well…
He swallowed. Ach…jah.
He wouldn’t let his mind go there right now. He forced himself to refocus his thoughts.
He and Leah had gotten along fine. He was thankful for the time they’d had together, in spite of Marlin’s coercion. And he would certainly miss her. They’d had a pretty gut marriage. They’d been pretty gut parents. They were even pretty gut lovers.
But Rachel…
Ach, he’d loved her for so long. Just the thought of taking her in his arms and claiming his first real kiss as his fraa sent his heart cartwheeling.
He wondered what Rachel would think of the surprises he’d planned. Her cousins should be at the house right now implementing the changes he’d requested. Rearranging the bedroom furniture. Putting away Leah’s quilt and dishes—he’d store those away for Dinah. Replacing them with the colorful new ones he’d purchased for Rachel as a wedding gift. And sprucing up their home with new curtains. He hoped she’d be pleased.
One thing he’d learned while being married to Leah was that when he blessed others by showing selfless acts of kindness, he himself would be blessed in return.
Before he even realized it, the ceremony ended and they were being carted off to their Eck. Rachel’s eyes sparkled with love and what appeared to be adoration. Ach, he adored this woman—now his fraa.
He nearly jumped when she reached her hand under the table and squeezed his thigh. Ach. He promptly redirected her hand by intertwining her fingers with his. They’d have to wait until they returned home for…other things.
He didn’t miss Rachel’s teasing smile. Jah, he’d chosen his fraa wisely for sure and certain.
THIRTY-THREE
Rachel had fun flirting with Jacob during their wedding reception, but now that they were home and the kinner were asleep in their beds…
Nee, she wouldn’t be nervous. Just because Jacob had way more experience…nee, not way more because she had none.
Nevertheless, she was certain their wedding night would be wunderbaar indeed.
“Kumm, my beloved, mei fraa. In the words of Solomon, let us take our fill of love till morning.” He held out his hand and pulled her close to him.
Ach. Surely she must have turned twenty shades of pink as his hands deftly pulled out the pins in her kapp and hair.
His lips teased hers momentarily before he moved to her jaw, down her neck.
Perhaps they should relocate from the kitchen to their bedroom in case one of the kinner awoke. “Jacob?”
“Jah?” He breathed out, not even stopping his forward progress.
“We should…”
He removed the pins of her apron.
“Ach…the bedroom?” She whimpered.
“Jah.” He promptly whisked her up into his arms and strode to their love nest. He gently set her down beside
the bed. A beautifully covered bed with a quilt she’d never seen. Where had it come from?
“Now, where were we?” His lips found hers again, but with unrestricted passion this time.
Warmth spread through her entire being when he drew her as close as their clothing allowed. She unfastened his vest and pushed his suspenders off his shoulders. She moved to his shirt buttons.
He began removing the pins from her dress.
A wail resounded from the other room.
“Ach, it’s Zeb.” She moved back.
“Nee.” He brought her close again, delighting in his husbandly privileges.
The wail sounded louder.
“Just…he can wait a little bit.” Jacob insisted, quickly removing his shirt.
Instead of focusing on her mann’s well-defined chest, she was distracted by the boppli.
“Dat, Aenti Rachel,” a small voice called.
Their attention snapped to the door. Ach, in their haste they’d forgotten to close it. Five wide-eyed kinner stood in the doorway.
Rachel quickly covered herself, though she was still mostly fully clothed.
“Ach, nee.” Jacob grimaced. “What are you doing awake?”
“The boppli kept crying,” Judah complained.
“Well, why didn’t one of you pick him up? You know how to change a diaper and feed him.” Jacob frowned.
“Aenti Rachel always does it,” Reuben reminded.
“One of you can do it tonight,” Jacob insisted. “Now close the door, take care of the boppli, and go get back in bed.”
“What were you doing?” Levi’s wide eyes moved from Jacob to Rachel. “Teacher Leah, Mamm, always said not to touch the girls.”
Jacob gritted his teeth. “You can when you’re married to them. Now get to bed.” He promptly shut the door himself.
He moved back to the bed. “Now, where were we?”
Rachel couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. After a split-second, Jacob joined in and they laughed until tears ran down their cheeks.
“Ach, we must be the only ones who have had a wedding night like this.” Rachel said through her tears.
“Jah, for sure.” He chuckled.
He put his hand to her cheek, attempting to find some semblance of gravity after their interruption. He tried to force the side of his mouth down, to no avail. “Now, where were we?”
They both exploded into laughter again, unable to contain their mirth.
THIRTY-FOUR
They’d already settled into a familiar routine when Jacob’s brief letter came from home. He stared down at the words again and read them silently as he drank his morning coffee.
Dear Jacob,
Please come home as soon as possible. Your father wants to meet your family while he still can.
Don’t worry about your brother.
Call before you leave.
Love, Mom
“Well, Rachel, mei fraa. Are you ready for me to take you home to meet my folks?” The excitement in his voice was certainly unmistakable.
She smiled and reached for his hand. “I’m looking forward to meeting them. Even your bruder too.”
He nodded. “We’ll need to speak with your vatter and let him know of our plans.”
“Jah, I don’t know what his reaction will be.”
“He’ll deal with it.” Jacob shrugged. “He’s delayed too many of our dreams as it is. He won’t do it this time.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am right. I plan to put my foot down if he protests.” He rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb. “I don’t have anything to lose this time.”
~
Jacob approached Marlin as they worked through their familiar morning chore routine. No doubt Marlin would miss his and the kinner’s help around here after they were gone.
He’d probably need to sell off some of his stock or hire someone. He wouldn’t like it, especially since Jacob had always worked without pay. He’d also helped Marlin increase his livestock to triple the amount he’d had when Jacob arrived.
Jacob planned to take Rachel’s flock along with them, so Marlin would not have to worry about them. He knew Rachel wouldn’t want to give up her flock of sheep. They had been a labor of love, not to mention her companions. And although Jacob primarily cared for them now, anytime Rachel was near, the creatures would be at her beck and call.
The money Mamm had sent would help immensely with their relocation and traveling costs. They’d need to hire a couple of cattle trailers to transport the creatures to their new home state.
“Marlin, I need to speak with you.”
Marlin looked up from the low stool he’d been milking from. “Say on.”
He folded his hands together. “I’m taking Rachel and the kinner. We’re moving back to my home state, Kentucky.”
Marlin grunted.
Jacob stood there, waiting for some kind of reply. He waited in vain. Perhaps Marlin needed some time to mull over the news he’d just delivered.
Marlin finally glanced up. “You gonna finish your work or not?”
“Uh, jah.” He swallowed. “Well, uh, we’ll begin packing soon. We plan to head out next week. That will give you a little time to find someone.” He shrugged. “If you want to hire help.”
Ach, Jacob hadn’t really thought about how much Marlin would be losing. Not only his family and free help around the farm, but his cook, his laundress, his housekeeper. They’d be leaving him in the lurch for sure.
Be that as it may, there wasn’t much he could do about it. He wouldn’t forfeit precious time with his folks to stay here longer with Marlin. He’d already given him several years of his life—after being beguiled. He refused to sacrifice any more of his family’s life on his father-in-law’s behalf.
Marlin sighed. “I don’t want you to go.”
“I know. But we need to. It’s time. I need to establish my own household.”
“And you have a home for my kinskinner?”
“I do. My vatter and Grossdawdi built a nice log cabin.”
Marlin sneered. “You wish to raise my kinskinner in a cabin?”
“It’s plenty large. Lots of property too. They will like it.”
“But they won’t know anyone there. You’ll be uprooting them from the only place they’ve ever known. Taking them away from memories of their mudder.”
“I think the older ones will always remember her no matter where we go. The little ones may not remember her at all. But Rachel is their mamm now. She’s already been caring for them for quite some time. The little ones consider her their mamm.”
“Do not forget my Leah.” His voice seemed husky to Jacob’s ears. Was Marlin getting emotional?
“Nee, I’ll never forget her. She was my first fraa and the mother of my bopplin. She will not be forgotten.” He shifted from foot to foot, pushing a clod of dirt around with the toe of his boot. “Look, Marlin. We are going to go. But we will not cut you out of our lives. We will write to you. And you will always be welcome to come visit us in Kentucky.”
His father-in-law nodded.
“We’ll be taking Rachel’s sheep along as well. And some of the herd.”
“Nee, you won’t.”
“I will. I’ll consider it my pay for working for you all these years. You don’t need them. Besides, I’m leaving you plenty. Look how much I’ve increased your livestock, Marlin. You can sell off the extra, if you want, and make a nice living.”
“But I can see the hand of Der Herr is with you. If you leave, He might stop blessing me.”
“Ach, Marlin. It’s true that I am a blessed man. I would never deny that. But Gott’s blessings aren’t exclusive to me. Repent of your sins and serve Der Herr with your whole heart and He will bless you.”
He grabbed a pitchfork to muck out one of the stalls. They worked in companionable silence until one of the kinner called them in for breakfast.
Jacob had expected resistance, but that conversation had gone better tha
n he’d hoped for. Surely Der Herr was blessing his every step.
THIRTY-FIVE
Rachel’s heart soared when their hired van finally arrived to embark on their journey. Ach, ever since Jacob mentioned his folks, she felt like she’d instantly fallen in love with them. If they were anything like their son—and she figured they were—they would be wunderbaar grosseldern for their kinner.
The trip would be long, especially traveling with the kinner, but at least they’d only have one overnight stay in a motel. If it was only her and Jacob, a motel stay would have sounded like fun, but with all the kinner, not so much. Nee, the sooner they arrived at their destination, the better.
The men with the cattle trailers had arrived yesterday and took her precious sheep with them. She was thankful that Jacob wanted to bring them along. Although she was busy with the kinner for the most part, sheering season and wool collection and processing happened only once a year for a short period of time. Some of the kinner were old enough to help out, either with minding the bopplin or with washing the wool.
Jacob strolled up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck as she stared out the window daydreaming. “You ready to go, schatzi?”
“Jah, I’m ready. I think.” She went through the mental list of items they’d need to have handy in the van. “Does the driver know he’ll probably have to stop often so the kinner can use the bathroom?”
“Jah. Maybe we should have hired someone with a motorhome. Ach, I wish I would have thought of that sooner.”
“That would be much easier, I think. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Did you pack extra changes of clothes for the trip in case someone has an accident?”
She nodded. “Clothes, diaper bag, snacks, blankets, pillows…I hope I didn’t forget anything.”
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