Finding Her Amish Love

by Rebecca Kertz

  Emma dressed quickly, then went out to feed the animals. Sunday or not, taking care of them was a necessary task, thus allowed by the bishops. She did the work quickly, then returned inside to find Jeremiah asleep in his bed in the corner of the kitchen. As she shut the door behind her, the little dog woke and looked up at her. He stretched his black-and-white body before he came to her with a doggy grin and eyes that pleaded for attention.

  Emma beamed at him. Jeremiah waited at the door for her to attach his leash. Then she opened the door and watched as the dog bounded outside, dragging her behind him. She laughed. “Jeremiah, stop, boy! Hold up. I’ll get you where you want to go.” She took him on a brisk walk and returned to the house. Missy and Arlin were in the kitchen when she came in. “What time do we need to leave for service?” she asked.

  “Church is at nine. My sister and her husband are hosting today,” Arlin told her.

  Emma’s belly began to flutter. “Daniel’s parents?”

  “Ja.” Missy smiled at her. “Breakfast is ready—muffins and biscuits.”

  Her lips curved. “Sounds wunderbor.” Emma sat in her usual place at the table across from Missy with Arlin beside her at the end. A cup of coffee steamed from its place above her plate. Emma saw it, then smiled at her Amish foster mother with gratitude.

  “Eat,” Missy urged with a small smile.

  Emma grabbed a muffin, then reached for the butter that Arlin had passed to her. She took a bite, and the sweet taste hit her tongue, causing her to make a sound of appreciation. When she realized that Missy and Arlin were staring at her, she blushed and carefully set the muffin on her plate. “I’m sorry. It’s delicious.”

  Missy beamed while Arlin studied her with affection. “I’m glad you like it,” Missy said. “’Tis gut that you enjoy your food, Emma. You were too thin when you first came to us.”

  Emma couldn’t deny it. She hadn’t been given enough to eat at the Turners’. She slowly picked up the muffin for another bite. The three of them enjoyed their breakfast in silence. When they were finished, Emma helped Missy put away the leftovers and threw out the paper plates they’d used.

  “Why don’t you get into your church clothes? I laid them out on your bed for you.”

  Emma stilled. “You got me new garments?”

  “Just church clothes.”

  She blinked rapidly, close to tears. “Danki, Missy. I don’t know what to say.”

  “You can say ‘I’m getting ready for church,’” Missy said with good humor.

  She grinned and headed upstairs.

  The royal blue dress that lay on her bed looked brand-new, as if it had been specially made for her recently. Emma studied the garment and noted the tiny neat and even stitching. Missy’s handiwork, she thought. She washed up, then changed into her new clothes. Over the dress, she donned a white full-length apron. She undid her hair and brushed it, then rerolled and pinned it before covering it with the new white prayer kapp that had been on the bed next to the dress.

  After putting on black stockings and shoes, Emma went back downstairs and entered the kitchen. She felt suddenly shy in her new garments. Arlin glanced at her as she came into the room, nodding his approval. “Wife,” he called, and Missy turned from the counter, saw Emma and smiled.

  “It fits you well.”

  Emma nodded.

  Missy held up an iced tea pitcher. “Would you like some? There is still time for a cup before we need to leave.”

  “Is there any coffee left?” she asked.

  “Ja.” Missy poured her a fresh cup before Emma could do it herself. Emma sat.

  “You took care of the animals this morning,” Arlin said gruffly as he watched her pour some milk into her cup.

  “Ja.”

  “And you took Jeremiah for a walk. For a little one, he has a lot of energy. ’Tis nice to have you pitch in with him.”

  Warmth filled her that Arlin was willing to share his precious pet with her. The three of them chatted to pass the time, which easily slipped by them. Missy glanced at the clock and stood. “We need to go if we don’t want to be late for church service,” she said.

  Emma felt a sudden rush of nerves as she picked up a huge bowl of potato salad and carried it out to the buggy.

  There would be a lot of people at the service. People she’d never met before. Daniel would be there along with his brothers, their wives, their children, his sister and his parents. And who knew what other members of the community. The thought of meeting so many new people scared her.

  It was a short ride to the Samuel Lapp property. Arlin pulled his family buggy in at the end of a long line of parked carriages. Emma waited for him to tie up the horse, then she grabbed the potato salad they made for the midday meal and climbed out of the vehicle after Missy.

  Her Amish foster mother carried a sheet cake. “There’s Katie,” she said, and started toward her sister-in-law. Emma immediately followed. She stopped when she caught sight of Daniel surrounded by three young women in the backyard. He was chatting and smiling as if he were enjoying their company.

  Emma’s gut clenched. Daniel was way too handsome for her peace of mind. He was dressed like every other Amish man there, in a white shirt with black vest, black pants and a black felt wide-brimmed hat. She watched as one of the women said something to him and he laughed, drawing attention to the fact that he’d done very little laughing in her company. She liked the man, and she shouldn’t. Their outing for ice cream had been the most fun she’d had in...forever. She looked away and continued toward the house.

  “Emma?”

  Emma turned and flushed when she saw Daniel’s mother. “’Tis gut to see you again. We’re glad you could come,” Katie Lapp said. “Missy was telling me how much of a help you’ve been to her and Arlin.”

  “I like to help.” She eyed Missy worriedly. “I’d like to do more.”

  Missy blinked. “Dear child, if you did anything more, there would be nothing at all for me to do.” She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You do more than enough. I wish you wouldn’t work so hard.”

  Emma gazed at her with wide eyes. “I don’t want you to have to work so hard.” While she was here, she thought. For she’d be leaving soon. She sighed and looked away, toward the backyard—and Daniel.

  Arlin joined them. He smiled at his sister. “Katie.”

  Katie grinned. “Always gut to see you, bruder.”

  “Arlin!” Katie’s husband Samuel waved him over to the group of men he was chatting with.

  “They’ll talk about the weather,” Missy confided, “and who knows what else until ’tis time for service.”

  Emma managed a smile. She refused to look in Daniel’s direction again, because seeing him with those other women hurt too much. “Shall I take the food inside?” she asked as she reached for the sheet cake with her other arm.

  Katie smiled. “Of course.” Emma nodded. “You can put the potato salad in the refrigerator if you can find room.”

  Balancing the large potato bowl and the sheet cake in a metal pan with lid, Emma climbed the porch steps, wondering how she would open the door with her hands full. She set the bowl on the arm of a porch chair and tugged open the door. With her hip holding it open, she leaned back for the potato salad. As she stretched to reach it, she saw a masculine hand pick it up for her. Emma looked back and drew a sharp breath. It was Daniel.

  “May I carry this in for you?” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  She nodded, then entered the house.

  “Straight through toward the back of the house,” Daniel instructed from behind her. Heart thumping hard, she found the kitchen and set the cake on the counter. Conscious of Daniel behind her, she turned for the potato salad, but he had already placed it inside the refrigerator for her.

  Soon he faced her. “Danki,” she murmured. Why was she comfortable with him
one moment and uncomfortable the next?

  Daniel nodded. “Nice dress,” he said pleasantly.

  She flushed with pleasure until she recalled him in the backyard with the other women.

  Before she could formulate a response, the back door that led directly into the kitchen opened, and a young woman entered. Emma immediately recognized her as one of those women he’d been chatting with.

  “Daniel! I wondered where you went,” the woman said.

  “Maryanne,” he murmured.

  She was blond, blue-eyed and beautiful. She made Emma feel like the ugly foster child in comparison. “Who is this?” Maryanne said with a long look at Emma.

  “This is Emma. She is a cousin from my aunt’s side of the family.” His expression softened as he met Emma’s gaze. “Emma, meet Maryanne Troyer. Her family moved into our church district a few months ago.”

  Emma shifted uncomfortably under the woman’s blue gaze. “’Tis nice to meet you,” she murmured.

  “Same here,” the woman said without warmth.

  Something flashed in Daniel’s expression. Emma couldn’t read his thoughts, but she suddenly felt as if she were intruding. She needed to get away. “Excuse me. Missy is waiting,” she said, and headed toward the back door.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Daniel piped up, shocking her.

  Emma caught a glimpse of something dark flash in the woman’s blue gaze. “Daniel,” she called out as he followed Emma. “You’ll be attending the singing this evening, ja?”

  “I might be,” he said. “But that will depend on Emma.” Then to her surprise, he reached for Emma’s hand and tugged her to exit the house, only releasing her to grab the door and hold it open for her.

  Emma rushed ahead of him toward Missy, who was still talking with Katie.

  “Emma,” Daniel said, halting her, prompting her to face him. “Don’t let her upset you. She’s immature for her age.”

  “Danki, Daniel.” Emma noticed that Katie and Missy were moving toward the barn. She hurried to join them for church service.

  Missy turned as Emma caught up with her. “Just in time.”

  She nodded, following Missy and Katie into the barn. To her surprise, Daniel caught up to her and entered the barn alongside her.

  The pulpit was surrounded on three sides by benches. Daniel parted ways with her to take a seat in the left section where men were already seated. Missy waved for her to follow toward the right where women and their children sat. Emma sat next to Missy and watched as others quietly filed in. A man moved to the pulpit and waited for everyone to enter and be seated. Women and children filled the middle and far side while the men sat with their older sons in the section where Daniel had taken a seat.

  Once all church members were seated, the preacher started to speak. Emma listened carefully and watched the others in the room who looked intent, engaged. Everyone stood and began to sing, an odd chanting sound without musical instruments. The song—a hymn—spiked a childhood memory. The way the hymn was sung might be different, but she remembered the words as clearly as if she’d sung them yesterday. Her lips began to move as she joined in. When the hymn ended, she listened closely to the preacher and felt a strong sense of God in the room. Just like when she’d been to service with her mam and grossmamma. Memories of the past flooded her. Fighting tears, she closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer for everything she’d lost and everything she wished for. A life with a family like the Stoltzfuses and the Lapps. A life filled with love and caring without the terror and threat of the Turners, her foster family.

  The service continued with another hymn and the deacon adding a few words of wisdom before church finally ended at midday. Emma rose and followed Missy outside. The day had begun with cool temperatures but had warmed up considerably. She looked for Daniel, but didn’t see him.

  Missy touched her arm, drawing her attention. “Follow me. We need to put the food out.”

  She nodded and trailed after her toward the house. As she crossed the yard, she saw Daniel standing alone, leaning against a buggy. Their eyes met, and Emma’s cheeks grew warm. She forced her attention on being part of the community and found she liked the feeling of belonging. It brought back memories of her time in Indiana and the love of her family.

  Emma helped the other women put out all the food, then sat with the Stoltzfuses and their daughters and their families at one of the makeshift tables that the men had set up in the yard. A large plate of food lay before her on the table, but she wasn’t hungry. Her stomach churned as she attempted to eat. Her thoughts centered on Daniel. She tried not to stare in his direction, but he continually drew her attention.

  “Are you oll recht?” Leah smiled as she sat down next to her.

  Emma nodded. “I’m fine. How are you feeling?”

  “Big.”

  She grinned. “Have you been getting enough rest?”

  Leah chuckled. “I have, thanks to you.”

  “Leah, I don’t know how to—”

  “Emma, don’t say it,” Leah warned with a frown.

  Dread filled her stomach. “What?”

  “Don’t tell me how grateful you are and how you need to repay me.”

  She averted her gaze. “But I do.”

  “From what Henry told me, you already did. You put money in the cash register. Over a hundred dollars!”

  “You gave me a job, clothes and a home with your parents.” Emma would leave another hundred dollars for Missy and Arlin when she left. She’d be fine now that she’d earned a second week’s pay. With nearly three hundred dollars, she’d be able to travel farther than if she’d left on Monday when originally planned.

  Leah regarded her with a soft expression. “You deserve everything, and I’ll keep telling you that until you believe it.”

  “Anyone for dessert?” Leah’s sister Charlie said as she approached.

  Leah and Emma grinned. “We are,” they both said together.

  She would enjoy her time here, know that God had blessed her with these people, and she would thank Him every day while here and after she’d gone.

  “I want the chocolate cake,” Emma said.

  “Me, too,” Leah declared. “But why don’t we try a little of everything?”

  Emma smiled. “Sounds gut to me.” She stood and followed Leah to the dessert table, catching Daniel’s eye as she did. Her heart stopped beating as he continued to watch her, his expression unreadable, until she forced herself to move on and focus on enjoying dessert with Leah and the Stoltzfus family.

  A short while later, with a dessert plate on the table before her, she rose to pour herself an iced tea. Standing at the drink table, she sensed Daniel beside her.

  “Emma,” he said warmly. “Would you like to take a ride after lunch? I’ll ask Joseph and Hannah to come with us,” he added, as if she needed convincing.

  She looked up into his brown eyes, and she couldn’t say no. “Ja, I’d like that.”

  His smile made her heart beat faster. “I’ll tell Joseph and Hannah. Let me know when you’re done with dessert.”

  Emma nodded, watching as he headed to his family table where he spoke briefly with his brother and sister. She saw both smile as they gazed in her direction.

  Anticipation ran wild as she enjoyed her dessert. When she was done, she put her paper plate and plasticware in the trash, then turned to look for Daniel. He was already approaching her. She smiled at him as he reached her.

  “Ready to go?”

  “Ja, just let me tell Missy and Arlin.”

  “Joseph is telling them now.”

  Surprised, Emma saw that Joseph and Hannah were talking with their aunt and uncle. “What is he saying to them?”

  A small smile of amusement played about his lips. “Who knows? As long as we get to go, I don’t care what they tell them.”

 
Emma raised her eyebrows. “Daniel...”

  “I’m teasing, Emma. They’re simply telling them we’re going for a ride to check out locations.”

  “Locations?” she asked.

  “I’m looking for a place to open a harness shop.”

  “I remember that,” she said.

  “I should be able to open it by next month at the latest.”

  After I’m gone, Emma thought. She would have liked to see his business, watch him at work. He would be talented and dedicated, intent on providing excellent service to his customers.

  “Is that why we’re going for a ride?”

  “I want to take you on a ride because I like spending time with you,” he admitted.

  Her breath caught. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Tell me you won’t change your mind.”

  “I won’t.”

  “We’ll take the open wagon,” Daniel said to Joseph as his brother and sister reached their sides.

  “Sounds gut to me.”

  “You’ll ride in the back with Hannah,” Daniel whispered to his brother, but Emma heard him.

  Daniel wanted her to ride in the front seat with him. She felt lighthearted and happy. It was if God were smiling down on her and granting her secret wish. That Daniel would like her and want to be close to her. But no matter what happened in the future, she felt forever changed by her time here.

  Chapter Twelve

  The afternoon started out pleasantly. Emma sat in Daniel’s open carriage and took in the scenery. The air was fresh and she took a deep breath...detecting a pleasant masculine scent that was Daniel’s.

  Joseph and Hannah sat behind them. Daniel’s siblings teased each other mercilessly and made amusing comments about various members of their family. Joseph teased Daniel for a long while about making Emma sit up front with him.

  “Where are we going, bruder?” Hannah asked after he turned onto a country lane with vast open farmland on both sides of the road.

  “No place special. Just taking a drive to show Emma the area,” he said.

  Emma met his gaze. “Is there someplace in particular you want me to see?”