Last Bride, The (Home to Hickory Hollow Book #5)

by Beverly Lewis

  Tessie dipped her head and raised her hand to wave, not commenting.

  “Have a pleasant day,” Rebecca called behind her as the buggy continued on.

  Not far behind Rebecca and Rhoda was another buggy. Tessie was surprised to see Levi Smucker with his towheaded twin nephews—little Jake and Joey—perched on Levi’s knees. The horse began to slow to a trot, then halted. “Guder Mariye, Tessie Ann.” Levi grinned, his light brown hair blowing in the breeze, a straw hat on the front seat beside him. “Ain’t the Lord’s Day, is it?” he teased.

  She couldn’t help but laugh, though she hoped he wouldn’t ask more questions.

  By now the two boys with him were waving and grinning, as well. And young Joey pushed his little hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a small black coin purse. “I’ve got my money from shelling peas,” the darling boy said, blue eyes blinking as he looked down at her, jingling his coins.

  “Gut for you!” Tessie said, unable to keep from smiling.

  “Mamma gave us five cents a cup this summer.”

  “You saved it all this time?”

  Levi spoke up. “This one’s a penny pincher, let me tell ya. Schpaarsam—frugal.” He reached up and tousled Joey’s twin’s hair. “Ain’t so, Jake?”

  Both boys chuckled.

  “Well, have yourself a wunnerbaar-gut mornin’,” Levi said, a twinkle in his hazel eyes.

  “Denki, and you, too.”

  Levi nodded and urged the horse onward.

  For pity’s sake, she thought, wondering how many more folks she’d encounter. Still, she had to smile at Levi’s comical reaction to her nice dress and apron. He had always been one of the more amiable, easygoing young men at the Singings and other youth gatherings, yet work always found its way to his door—both attributes must have attracted Tessie’s father’s enthusiasm. Even so, Tessie didn’t have an iota of regret about not letting Levi date her back when, though she had felt a bit sorry for him when she’d heard months ago that he was no longer courting Preacher Yoder’s vivacious granddaughter.

  The Lord will surely bring someone along for him. Without Dat’s help!

  Tessie hastened her steps, lest Marcus wonder if she was dawdling, having second thoughts.

  As they walked up the courthouse steps in West Chester, Tessie looked at Marcus for reassurance and welcomed his confident gaze. We’re actually doing this—we’re going to be married!

  Pleased though she was, it was impossible later for her not to compare this so-called ceremony to the Amish wedding she was sacrificing. Nor could she stop thinking about the worry her parents and sisters would experience once the truth about this moment was known. They’ll come around, she thought.

  Providentially, they’d met another couple, Englischers at least several years older than Marcus and Tessie, who also needed witnesses to fulfill the legal requirement for the union. So they agreed to take turns with them, and presently this affectionate couple stood back behind a roped-off area as witnesses for her and Marcus while she and her soon-to-be husband sat with their right hands in the air and their left hands resting on Marcus’s Bible, vowing that the information on the marriage license was indeed correct.

  Marcus smiled endearingly at her, and she smiled back. Yet it wasn’t until they were declared husband and wife and the appropriate papers were signed that Tessie began to feel somewhat relieved. All they lacked was the final prayer, which Marcus would surely offer later, after they left the courthouse. The tension concerning what she’d done without her parents’ permission began to diminish, as well. She was thankful for the familiar sense of security she always felt with Marcus, who had attended to every detail. She wondered how he’d managed to line up the appointment with the judge, for instance, but it wasn’t her place to ask. Nor to question.

  The fact was, they were wed now in accordance with the law of the land. Yet what about the Lord God’s approval? Oh, she so longed for that, too. Had Marcus been right that this was the answer to his many prayers?

  They took time to politely thank the other newly married couple before heading outside to wait for the Mennonite van driver. “I love my beautiful bride,” Marcus whispered in her ear once they were sitting behind the somewhat inquisitive driver who would drive them to the restaurant where Marcus wanted to treat her to their first meal as husband and wife. Though he remained close by her side, he did not lean over to kiss her, and Tessie wondered when they might seal their love.

  Mandy laid out a blue-and-white-striped tablecloth on the kitchen table, set it for two, and then stepped back to admire the corner where she and Sylvan would sit alone to eat this noon, a rarity. Sylvan’s widowed great-aunt, Elaine Beiler, lived in the smaller of their two Dawdi Hauses, but she was under the weather and staying put today. It made this the ideal occasion for Mandy to seek out her husband’s opinion on something she’d already gone ahead and discussed with Cousin Emmalyn, who was over the moon about Mandy’s grand idea. Surely he won’t dismiss it out of hand, she thought, going to the back door and seeing him coming this way across the yard.

  “Hope you’re gut and hungry,” she said as she greeted him inside the back porch. “I think I’ve made enough for two families.”

  He removed his straw hat. “Maybe you can take leftovers to Aendi Elaine later . . . if she’s up to eating.”

  “Jah, thought of that.” She waited for Sylvan to roll up his shirt sleeves and scrub his big callused hands and sunburned arms in the large basin on the indoor porch.

  “Mmm, smells gut.” He sniffed the air like a hungry hound, blue eyes wide.

  “It’s veal cutlet with mashed potatoes and gravy.” She hoped that all the hours she’d put into their dinner and the delicious dessert of black raspberry pie might please him. She’d put up more berries last summer than usual, with help from her older sisters, Marta and Molly, along with Tessie and Mamma. Thinking now of her youngest sister, Mandy felt the urge to pray, not knowing what had been bothering Tessie the last two times they’d seen each other. Mandy knew from her own experience that prayer was vital.

  Sylvan made small talk after they’d bowed their heads for the silent blessing. “I heard from your father that Marcus King moved into a rental house on the outskirts of the hollow. Seems mighty odd before getting hitched up, jah?”

  Mandy recalled what she’d witnessed on the road between Marcus and Tessie. “Just maybe the place came up for lease before wedding season.”

  “He must be sweet on someone, then—planning to marry soon. Why else would he secure a place ahead of time? It’d make better financial sense to stay under his father’s roof till it’s needed.” Sylvan took a large helping of potatoes, then dug in.

  “Does seem peculiar.” Mandy reached for the water pitcher and poured some in both their tumblers. “Hope ya don’t mind just water at the meal,” she said almost as an afterthought.

  He glanced toward the fridge. “Is there any meadow tea left?”

  She nodded her head. “Jah, sure, but—”

  “Do ya mind?”

  She rose quickly to get the desired drink. Sometimes it seemed Sylvan wanted altogether different things than what she’d planned—and not just at mealtimes. She wondered just then if it was such a good idea to bring up her idea, excited though she and Cousin Emmalyn were about it.

  Sylvan seemed rather content presently, enjoying his meal. He said no more as he helped himself to seconds, then raised his glass of sweetened meadow tea and drank it straight down.

  Mandy felt her courage dwindling. Maybe it would be best for the conversation to wait. Till just when, though, she wasn’t sure.

  Marcus held Tessie’s hand across the table once they were seated at the restaurant. Husband and wife! Tessie thought. And as if to make up for the lack of a prayer of blessing at the courthouse, Marcus prayed over their union prior to eating, offering their lives as a married couple to God’s bidding all the days of their lives. “We will look to Thee, O Lord, for every blessing.”

  “De
nki,” she said after his amen, fighting back tears. “That means a lot to me . . . to us.”

  Marcus nodded. “I also felt the absence of the church today.”

  She hoped he was not regretting the way they’d started their marriage, but his cheerful demeanor during the meal put her mind at ease.

  Later, as they rode back to Hickory Hollow in the van, she enjoyed his sweet kiss. “We’re married now, Tessie Ann,” he said quietly as they passed his rental house with its graceful poplar trees lining the entire north side. She peered out the window at what would ultimately be her home, too, and he whispered, “Meet me there tomorrow, my love . . . after dusk.”

  She understood and happily agreed, smiling into his alluring eyes.

  A few minutes later, when Tessie arrived home, she was relieved to find Mamma had not yet returned. In fact, she looked on it as providential as she hurried upstairs to change clothes. There must be no evidence of the highly unusual step she and Marcus had taken this day.

  Chapter 6

  What sort of wares are you thinkin’ of selling at our little gift shop?” Mandy asked when Emmalyn stopped by that afternoon.

  “I say we should offer embroidered linens and other handiwork. My mother’s aunt who lives in Mount Hope, Ohio, does this sort of thing, too—says those are hot items with tourists.” Emmalyn’s plump face had a liveliness to it today.

  “Sounds like a great idea.”

  Emmalyn tilted her head. “Does Sylvan know yet?”

  “I came that close to telling him but then changed my mind. I’d really just like to surprise him with some extra money, ya know.” Oh, she wished she and Sylvan could talk more freely about things. And not just this . . . She glanced out the window toward the stable. “We sure could use another good road horse.”

  “Ach, you’ll have enough money for that soon enough, trust me.”

  “Trust ya?” Mandy laughed. “That’s just what I’m doin’.” She didn’t say she needed to get out amongst other folk, rub shoulders with Amish and Mennonites alike. Oh, how wonderful it would be to have the opportunity to leave the house more, instead of being alone with her desperate waiting to find out if she was finally expecting a baby.

  Later, when Cousin Emmalyn headed for home, Mandy felt melancholy, and she indulged herself by entertaining the exciting dream of setting up the little shop. I need to figure out a way to talk to Sylvan about it . . . and soon!

  She stood in the doorway to the back porch, where she could see her husband over near the woodshed, talking with her father, who’d dropped by as he often did. Dat had gone over to help make homemade sauerkraut with the firefighters and their families at the Kinzer Fire Company firehouse, in preparation for the New Year’s Day fundraiser, a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner featuring the homemade treat. Her mouth watered at the thought of the delicious meal.

  Staring out at her father and Sylvan talking, she tried to imagine Dat making over her and Sylvan’s firstborn son. Or baby daughter. Surely Dat—and Mamma—looked forward to that day almost as much as she and Sylvan did.

  If and when almighty God sees fit to bless us with a child, Mandy thought, so discouraged she fought back tears.

  The fragrant blend of fresh-cut hay and new silage permeated the Saturday evening air as Tessie Ann waited in the shadow of the small copse of trees along Hickory Lane. In the waning light, she spotted Marcus walking toward her and quickly stepped into view. It was his idea to meet there to escort her to the home that was to become theirs. She wished they could hold hands as they leisurely walked. Soon, though, they would be in each other’s arms, and she felt the tingle of anticipation as they exchanged knowing smiles.

  At the back door of the small home, her playful husband took her off guard and scooped her up to carry her across the threshold, where he kissed her soundly once he’d closed the door. She’d heard of Englischer newlyweds and some of her more progressive cousins in other parts of the country doing this, as well. Nevertheless, she felt a bit breathless, being held so close she could smell a hint of the cologne he must have dabbed on before meeting her.

  Perhaps sensing her surprise, Marcus set her down and reached for her hand. “Let me show you around the place,” he said. “Just think, very soon you’ll be moving your things in here with me.” He turned to look down into her face, smiling broadly. “I can hardly wait till we can declare our love to the whole world.”

  She laughed softly, taken by his enthusiasm. How she adored this darling man of hers! “Well, at least to Hickory Hollow, jah?”

  He nodded and led her into the kitchen, where he suggested she decide where she wanted her dishes and utensils and whatnot. “I’m making do for now,” he added casually. Tessie wondered how Marcus was managing to cook for himself and quickly discovered that he was mostly making sandwiches, and eating cold cereal and toast for breakfast.

  He mentioned having borrowed some odds and ends of kitchenware from his mother and older sisters. “They’re all so eager to help out.” Marcus grinned. “Of course, they suspect somethin’s up.”

  They sat together at his table and talked of the near future, how lovely it would be for Marcus to welcome her there for good. “We’ll have to share our story with our children and grandchildren someday,” Tessie said, noting their offspring might not believe what they’d had to do for love.

  “Ain’t that the truth.” He moved her chair over next to his and cupped her face in his hands. “I love you more than I can put into words, dearest Tessie,” he whispered, then leaned closer to kiss her. This time, his lips felt softer.

  Can it be we’re truly husband and wife? she thought, captured by his loving gaze.

  Tessie felt truly strange staring at the back of Marcus’s head during the first and second sermons at Preaching service Sunday. She was seated on the long bench between Mamma and Miriam, her oldest sister, who held her toddler son, Yonnie, on her lap. Right or wrong, Tessie could not erase the sweet memory of her husband’s tenderness last evening . . . and the lovely things they’d said to each other, too.

  They had been quite mindful of the hour, and in the end Marcus had managed to return her home before too late. They did not want her father to suspect anything, hoping he would just assume she was out on a date and not nestled away in her new husband’s house.

  Tessie could hardly wait to see Marcus again as his loving bride, instead of this playacting. The pretense would encompass the entire morning and afternoon, even the shared meal where the young married couples sat together during the second seating. It was all Tessie could do to go along with it. She loved Marcus so and could not stop daydreaming during the final silent prayer, when the People knelt at their benches in contrition and respect before the Lord.

  How many days before Marcus tells Dat our news? she wondered, and in turn asked God the selfsame thing.

  Dat stayed behind to fellowship a bit longer, but Mamma decided not to wait around, delaying the trip home with Tessie. Three-year-old niece Anna, one of Miriam’s girls, had asked to return home with them for the afternoon, and the little one sat on Tessie’s lap, already droopy eyed well before the horse had taken them even a half mile.

  “I wasn’t goin’ to bring this up,” Mamma said quietly, glancing at petite Anna while holding the reins. “But I feel I ought to now that we’re alone, Tessie, dear.”

  She bristled, sensing what was next.

  “I presume you were out with Marcus King again last evening.” Mamma frowned. “He’s still courting you against our wishes, ain’t so?”

  “We’re no longer dating, Mamma.”

  We’re married! she thought, her heart heavy at her mother’s words.

  “Well, ’tis gut to hear. You had me . . . well, us, mighty worried.”

  Tessie kept still. Thank goodness Mamma hadn’t pressed in a different direction. Best to just let things be.

  Even so, she was now deliberately misleading her mother, and this new deception piled on top of everything else. And looking down at lovable Anna, sh
e yearned for things to be ever so different. Why couldn’t Dat and Mamma accept Marcus, when Tessie herself loved him as she did?

  A full week came and went, and Tessie slipped over to see Marcus twice, once for a short time the first Wednesday in October, when her chores were done and supper was in the oven, and then for another few hours the following Sunday evening, when the youth were expected to be out late anyway.

  She felt nearly breathless to know if Marcus might be working alongside her father, or perhaps have some interaction with him over at Paul Hostetler’s place, where Marcus helped out several times each week. Anything at all to understand where things stood between the two men in her life. But Marcus was completely mum on the topic, and though it was ever so hard, Tessie held her peace, as well.

  They waited till dark to sit out on the front porch, enjoying the starlight. Tessie said how happy she felt when she was with him. “I can hardly wait to sit here each and every night, till winter comes.”

  “Ain’t the right time just yet,” Marcus said, reaching for her hand. “Bear with me a bit longer, love.”

  She nodded and said she would while crickets chirped and courting buggies rolled up and down Hickory Lane.

  St. Michael’s Day came on October eleventh, and the People fasted and prayed prior to their communion Sunday, when they had their biannual foot washing service, followed by the common meal.

  Truth be known, Tessie was weary of silently marking time and living at home. She also felt dreadfully convicted during the Sunday service, not sure she should have even attended. And then there was Mamma, who seemed to think Tessie had been going to youth activities here lately.

  Tessie felt guilty at the remembrance of the ecru-colored doily Mamma was crocheting for Tessie’s hope chest. And there was talk of Dawdi Dave’s interest in making her a corner cupboard, as well.