The Amish Deacon's Daughter

by Samantha Price

  John sucked his lips in. “We were going to tell you …”

  “You were? That’s a gut thing to know.” He looked back at Amy. “And what part have you had in all this deception?”

  “It’s not as it sounds,” is all she could think to say.

  Andrew bolted to his feet. “On second thought, I’ve no time for tea. I’ll be on my way. Tell Jane goodbye for me, will you?” he asked no one in particular before he walked out of the house.

  John glared at Gabbie, and all she could do was pull a face. “Well? He had to know, didn’t he?”

  “Not like that he didn’t,” John said.

  Amy stayed still licking her lips. What a mess things were. This was the first man she’d ever liked and now it was over as quick as it had started.

  “Where’s Andrew?” Jane walked toward them with a tray of hot tea.

  “He’s gone,” Gabbie said. “He said to say goodbye to you.”

  John sprang up from the couch; his hands curled in anger. “Go to your room, Gabbie. Stay there all night and don’t come down.”

  “Not even for dinner?”

  “Nee!”

  Gabbie stared at him, stood and then walked up the stairs to her room with no signs of remorse.

  John threw his hands up in the air before he sat back down. “I’m sorry, Amy.”

  Amy took a deep breath. Now, maybe she could go home at least. “That’s all right. Things always work out how they’re meant.”

  John explained to Jane what had just taken place. Jane said comforting words to Amy and handed her a cup of hot tea as though that would make everything better.

  John muttered, “She’s a very headstrong girl.”

  “Why would Gabbie say such a thing?” Jane asked.

  “She might think that he should know,” Amy said. “When I arrived, I thought Andrew himself wanted a fraa. I was shocked he didn’t know why I’d come. He would feel he’s being pushed into something, and he’d feel people were conspiring behind his back. I know exactly how he’d feel. I’d be feeling the same.” The sad thing for Amy was, he thought she’d been a part of it all.

  John and Jane were silent as they sipped their tea.

  * * *

  When dinner was over, John allowed Amy to take Gabbie’s dinner to her room.

  Amy stood outside Gabbie’s closed door. “I’ve got your dinner here, Gabbie.”

  “Come in.”

  Amy placed the tray of food on the bed beside her.

  “Denke, Amy. Did Andrew come back?”

  “Nee, he didn’t.” Amy sat on the edge of Gabbie’s bed. “Why did you say that to him? You didn’t mention anything of the kind when he came to dinner the other night.”

  Gabbie placed the plate on her lap. “I don’t know.”

  Amy’s eyes wandered to her hands that were on her lap. “I’ll leave you alone then.” Amy leaped up and headed out the door.

  “No wait, Amy.”

  Amy stepped back into the room. “Jah?”

  “I’m sorry I said those things.”

  Amy frowned. “Why did you?”

  “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

  Gabbie looked so distressed that Amy sat down on her bed again. “Don’t upset yourself. What’s done is done.”

  “You’re not mad?”

  Amy shook her head. “Nee.”

  A tear fell down Gabbie’s cheek.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I hate this place. I want to leave.”

  “You’re old enough to do that if you want. Your vadder would know many people you could visit.”

  Gabbie’s lips turned down at the corners. “I don’t want to visit stuffy people that Dat knows. I’m too scared to leave. I don’t know what I’d do. I could go on rumspringa, but I don’t know anyone.”

  “Jah that would be hard. What about visiting a different community?”

  Gabbie sniffed. “Like where?”

  “You might be able to come back with me when I go back.”

  Straightening her back, she said, “Really?”

  “If it’s okay with our parents I don’t see why not. And don’t forget my schweschder, Martha, is the same age as you.”

  “That would leave Mamm alone here with the boys.”

  “It would just be a visit and then you could come back.”

  Gabbie smiled. “Denke, Amy.”

  “Now, eat your dinner.” As Amy walked out the door, she hoped she hadn’t said something silly. Did she really want Martha being influenced by Gabbie’s brash and forthright ways? A change of scene might do Gabbie some good, though.

  After breakfast the next morning and after the boys were at schul, Jane whispered to Amy, “You’re going to bake an apple pie.”

  “I am?”

  Jane continued, “Then you’re going to take that apple pie to Andrew.”

  Amy’s hand flew to her mouth. “I couldn’t. He’s best left alone until he calms down.”

  “You can and you will. In my experience menner like pie, in particular, apple pie.”

  Amy tipped her head to the side. “I don’t think pie will make up for him being deceived.”

  Jane stepped closer to Amy. “You’d be surprised what pie and a pretty face will do to a mann.”

  Amy giggled.

  “Now come on. I’ll help you.”

  “Nee, I really think it’s not a gut idea. I’d feel awkward, and he blames me for not telling him why I’m here. I should’ve told him at the start as soon as I found out. He’s right. I deceived him.”

  “Well, you didn’t tell him, and you can’t change that. What you can change is what you do right now.” Jane took hold of Amy by the elbow and guided her into the kitchen. “Trust an older lady to teach you about men.”

  “You think he’ll see the pie and forget the deception surrounding my being here?”

  “Jah.” Jane nodded. “Or at least decide you're not responsible for it.”

  Amy and Jane left Gabbie happily quilting in the sunroom while they made a large apple pie. Amy hoped she wouldn’t be further embarrassed when she brought the pie to Andrew.

  “How am I going to get there?” Amy asked as the pie cooked in the oven.

  “You can take a buggy. We have a second one and a second horse, Silver.”

  “Okay, denke.”

  When the pie came out of the oven, Jane wrapped it in a cloth. “Take it over now while it’s warm. It smells delicious.”

  “I’ll hitch the buggy,” Amy said.

  “Get Gabbie to help you.”

  The two girls went out into the barn.

  “Did Mamm tell you Silver’s flighty?”

  Was this another of Gabbie’s jokes? Amy looked at the horse standing with his head hung low. “He doesn’t look as though he is.”

  “Sometimes he’s all right, but he’s easily scared by things. That’s why he’s not our main buggy horse. Dat bought him at an auction and they were going to sell him for dog meat. He used to be a harness racer.”

  Once they had Silver hitched to the buggy, Jane met them outside with the pie. Amy was tempted to ask Jane if the horse was safe, but surely she would’ve mentioned if he wasn’t.

  The horse clip-clopped toward Andrew’s house and Amy hoped that she wasn’t making a big mistake by seeing him again so soon. If she didn’t have to report back to Jane, she would’ve made a detour and gone somewhere else for the day. And, if Andrew was upset with scheming, how much more upset would he be when she brought the pie to him?

  She went straight to his house, and when she stopped outside, he came out to meet her. Andrew came right up to the buggy door and stood beside it.

  Honesty was the only way. “Andrew, I’ve been involved in another deception.”

  “What is it this time?” he asked trying to look stern despite his lips curving upward.

  She glanced at the pie beside her, pleased he was acting friendly. “It involves apple pie.”

  He looked at the ground, scratc
hed his cheek and looked up at her again. “And is the apple pie deception entirely your own idea?”

  Amy shook her head.

  “Apple pie does sound like the kind of deception that might be acceptable.”

  She stared into his blue eyes and his face softened.

  “Come inside.” He opened the buggy door.

  She reached across to the pie and handed it to him. “This is the peace offering that I’m to give you.”

  He took it from her and nodded. “Gladly accepted from whoever forced you to bake it.”

  She climbed down from the buggy and they walked inside.

  He set the pie down on his kitchen table. “I guess we should have some pie before it cools.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.” Amy sat at the table and as he set about gathering plates and forks, Amy said, “I want to apologize for not telling you why I’m here. My parents didn’t want me to marry an Englischer like some of my friends had. Well, one of my friends. The other friend’s boyfriend converted. Anyway, without me knowing, they wrote to John and before I knew it the plan was hatched and I was sent here. It’s none of my doing except to go along with my parents’ wishes.” Amy breathed out heavily. At least he knew now. “When I got here, I thought I was coming to meet a man who was asking to meet potential fraas. I didn’t know you were being …”

  “Set up?”

  “Jah.”

  Andrew looked at her, then stood over the pie and cut it into pieces.

  Amy continued, “I had no idea you didn’t know about it until dinner when you asked why I was here.”

  “Ah. I thought you looked somewhat startled when I asked you that.” Andrew sat down. “It must’ve been a shock for you when you realized I didn’t know.”

  “It was, and then I was too shocked and didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t say I’d been sent here hoping to marry you, or that everyone else was hoping we’d marry. I mean, they were sitting right there and weren’t saying anything.”

  Throwing his head back, Andrew laughed heartily. “Now I can see what an awkward position you were in. No wonder John and Jane seemed so odd that night.”

  “I’m glad you understand.” Amy relaxed into the chair.

  “I don’t understand why they did it, but I can see the funny side.” Andrew pushed his fork into the pie. “I must apologize for my reaction.” He popped the pie into his mouth.

  Amy shook her head. “It was understandable.”

  He swallowed another mouthful of pie, and said, “This is very gut pie. It could cover a pretty big deception.”

  “Jane and I made it. Although, she might say that I made it all by myself.” Amy giggled, happy that they were back on track with their relationship. At least, she hoped they were.

  Chapter 10

  Three weeks along, Amy and Andrew were seeing each other every other day. In their most recent private moment together they’d both expressed their strong feelings.

  “Letter for you Amy,” Jane called out one afternoon.

  Amy hurried downstairs anxious to read news from home. She recognized the handwriting of her father. That was unusual because it was mostly her mother or one of her sisters who wrote. She sat on the couch and tore the envelope open only to learn her mother was sick and asking for her. Amy put her head in her hands. Mamm couldn’t have been that sick, or they would’ve called John’s phone in the barn. This had come at the very worst time.

  Reading further, she knew she had to return. Amy folded the paper and popped it back into the envelope, and then dragged her feet into the kitchen to tell Jane she had to go home.

  Jane was sitting at the kitchen table also reading a letter and she looked up at Amy when she walked into the room. “It’s from your vadder and he wants you home.”

  Amy nodded and sat opposite.

  Jane sighed. “He said your mudder is not seriously ill, but she has been pining for you.”

  “Mamm gets very emotional.”

  “They’ve bought your tickets and you leave on Friday.”

  Amy gasped. “That’s only three more days.”

  Jane nodded. “We’ll be sad to see you go. You’ve fit in with the familye so well.”

  “Jane, do you think that one day Gabbie might be able to visit? My schweschder, Martha, is her age, and I’m sure they’d get along. They’re very similar except for Martha being a little quieter.”

  “That might do Gabbie some good. We’ll think on that when your mudder gets well.”

  “We might have to bake another pie for when I tell Andrew the news.”

  “I don’t think he’ll be happy you’re going, but you’ll be back, won’t you? As soon as your mudder is better?”

  “Denke, I hope so. You wouldn’t mind if I come back?”

  Jane reached over and patted Amy’s hand. “I would love you to come back whenever you want. Why don’t you go over and tell Andrew now?”

  “He’ll be working.”

  “He won’t mind.”

  Amy bit on the inside of her lip. “You think so?”

  Jane nodded. “Jah, go on. Take the buggy.”

  * * *

  Amy had wasted no time hitching the buggy. When she stopped near the mill, Andrew caught sight of her and jogged over to greet her.

  “Is everything all right, Amy?”

  Amy shook her head, opened the buggy door and stepped out. “I have to return home to Lancaster County.”

  “Why? You’ve only just arrived.”

  “Dat wrote and said Mamm’s sick and needs me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. What’s wrong with her?”

  “She isn’t seriously ill, but what am I to do? I have to go.” A tear trickled down Amy’s face.

  “Come into my office.”

  Amy followed Andrew into a small portable building beside the mill. He faced her after he closed the door behind them. She turned toward him, and he stepped in close and carefully wiped the tears away from her cheeks.

  “I don’t want to go, Andrew. First, they force me come here when I don't want to, and now they want me back when I want to stay. I feel as though I have no say over my own life and I’m over eighteen. I’m an adult.”

  “I don’t want you to go either, but they are your parents.” He enclosed his arms around her, and she sank her head into his chest. “Come back to me, Amy.” Andrew continued to hold her tight.

  She turned her head to look up into his eyes and as though it was the most natural thing in the world, he lowered his head until his soft lips touched hers. With eyes closed, she savored the velvety sensation of his lips. When she realized she was kissing, she stepped back and her hand flew to her mouth.

  “I’m sorry, Amy.” He looked at the ground.

  Her heart beat wildly. “It’s okay.” She had wanted to save that first kiss for the man she’d marry, and he hadn’t even asked her.

  “I’m going to miss you. You’ll be back, won’t you?”

  Amy nodded as she wiped another tear from her eye. “And I’ll write.”

  “I’ve never met anyone like you, and I don’t want to lose you. But Amy, I have one serious concern with us.”

  “What is it?”

  “Our ages. I might be too old for you.”

  “Nee you’re not. I think your age is perfect. We’re perfect together, and everyone else thinks so too, that’s why I was sent here.”

  He smiled. “I’m ten whole years older than you.”

  “How do you know how old I am?”

  “John happened to mention your age, and it’s clear you’re much younger than I am.”

  “Does it matter so much?”

  Andrew looked down and rubbed his forehead. “My only concern is for you. It’s something you have to consider.”

  When Amy pushed her bottom lip into a pout, Andrew stepped closer. “You have a chance to go away and forget me. You can meet someone your own age or nearer to your age. Take this time as a chance to think about what you want. Time away could be good for t
he both of us.”

  Amy was not pleased to hear his words. “Nee, Andrew, none of that matters and I could never forget you. I’ll come back as soon as my mudder is better.”

  Andrew put his hand on her shoulder and his fingers trailed down her arm. He picked up her hand. “We haven’t known each other long enough to make any promises.”

  Amy could barely speak, but inside she felt like screaming. She wanted him to promise her something. Why didn’t he propose right now? Her mother would understand why she couldn’t come home if she said she was marrying Andrew. Then she might be allowed to stay.

  “When do you leave?” he asked.

  She sniffed and tried to be brave. “I have to leave on Friday.”

  “Can I take you to the bus stop?”

  Fighting back tears, Amy nodded.

  “Let’s get out of here.” Without waiting for her to speak, Andrew guided her out of the office past the mill and into the buggy she’d driven there. He sat in the driver’s seat with Amy beside him.

  “Don’t you have to work?” she asked.

  He clicked the horse forward, turned to her and said, “I’m the boss, remember?”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere, anywhere; I don’t know.” He looked over at her and laughed.

  She forced a smile back at him, pleased for any time alone she got to spend with him.

  “I’m just driving,” he said. “I’ll show you the river.”

  Amy pulled her coat tighter around herself wondering if he might kiss her again. Next time, she wouldn’t pull away.

  He glanced over at her. “Cold?”

  “Nee.”

  Minutes later, he pulled the buggy to a halt. They walked hand in hand down a hill until they reached a river.

  “It’s pretty here.”

  “I’m going to miss you so much, Amy. You’ve lit up my life like a warm glowing candle in a darkened room. Never doubt how I feel about you. What I feel is real. I’ve never felt this before.”

  The mellow tones of his voice made her body tingle. “I didn’t know I could feel this way about a man until I met you.”

  “If only you were older, Amy.”

  Amy narrowed her eyes. “Andrew, what does age have to do with anything?”

  He placed his arm around her shoulder, and whispered, “Possibly nothing, but I worry you might feel forced into things by your familye, and that might’ve clouded your judgment over me.”