The Amish Wedding Promise

by Laura V. Hilton

  Vernon screamed.

  A moment later the shop door was flung open, and two women stared in.

  Zeke knew that one face. Gracie. The other looked familiar, but before he could figure out why Vernon barreled toward them. “I’m done! This is pure stupidity, making us do a job none of us know anything about.”

  Gracie and the other woman stepped out of his way.

  “I’d rather look for stupid lost cows,” Vernon shouted as he went past.

  “The door to the haus is open,” the second woman said quietly.

  “What just happened?” Gracie asked, drawing Zeke’s attention away from Vernon.

  Kiah gawked.

  “Everyone at the visitation heard that,” the other woman said. Zeke studied her. Either Hallie or Elsie. He wasn’t sure which.

  Gracie came into the room. “Well?”

  “Oh, um…” Zeke blinked. “There was a cat in a casket. I didn’t realize it was there and shut the lid to keep it clean inside. It wasn’t too happy when Vernon let it out. I didn’t mean for it to interrupt the visitation.” Yet another thing he’d done wrong. If anyone reported to his daed, he’d have a whole slew of mistakes to throw in Zeke’s face.

  And so much for positive thinking. He sighed.

  “These are a couple other guys from Shipshewana. Kiah and Henry.” Zeke motioned to the men with him. He glanced from Gracie to her friend. “The one who left is Vernon. Kiah and Henry, this is Gracie and her friend…”

  “Hallie,” Gracie supplied. “Nice to meet you both.”

  “Hi,” Henry said.

  Hallie gave a half wave.

  “So you must be a Christmas baby,” Kiah said with a flirty smile, “with a name like Holly.” He walked nearer and stuck his hand out.

  “Hallie, not Holly, and no. Easter.” Her eyes were still red rimmed. And oh, it was her boyfriend’s body inside the haus.

  Gracie shook Kiah’s hand. Hallie ignored it.

  Kiah raised a brow and glanced at Zeke. He’d try to explain her relationship to the deceased later.

  “We were outside talking when we heard the scream.” Gracie’s voice was tight. She looked at him. “The bishop said Timothy and I are getting married Thursday.”

  Zeke frowned. But neither Timothy nor Gracie wanted it.

  Of course, neither one knew the other felt the same. Well, not exactly. They needed to talk without Timothy insulting her and Grace losing her temper.

  “My brother is in a coma and may not live, and both of Timothy’s sidesitters are dead, and…and…”

  Someone needed to speak up before it was too late.

  Zeke swallowed. “Gracie, it’s time for you to talk to people. Has it occurred to you that Gott has given you a chance to have something more, something better, if you have the guts to take it?”

  “Something?” Her gaze latched on his. “Or someone?”

  Chapter 25

  Grace didn’t know if she’d have the courage to talk to anyone—especially if it involved talking to the bishop. But still…Please, Lord, let that someone else You might have for me be Zeke.

  Zeke’s gaze softened. “Maybe. But first, talk to your daadi Cliff. He knows stuff. Talk to Timothy. It’s his story to tell, but if you can’t find him, talk to me because he told me. And then talk to the bishop.”

  When did Zeke have time to talk to Timothy? And what had Timothy said? Still, Zeke’s words gave her a twinge of hope that she tried to hold on to like an anchor or maybe hide in, like a storm shelter. Earlier it was just a rumor that the bishop had approved her rescheduled wedding, but now it was confirmed, and she was sick to her stomach. She couldn’t do it. The internal storm was really picking up force now. “They’ll say it’s all cold feet. They’ll say it’s all because of my crush on you.” Her voice cracked and ended with a sob.

  Hallie caught her breath. Grace didn’t dare to glance at her. Zeke’s friends jerked to stare at her. Then looked at Zeke.

  A figure—two of them—appeared in Grace’s peripheral vision.

  “Gott’s given you those cold feet for a reason. And maybe the crush, too.” Zeke winked.

  Kiah’s wide eyes looked between the two of them. Zeke’s friend was cute, with blondish hair and green eyes. He was a little shorter than Zeke but looked friendly. But then his brow furrowed. “A crush? Zeke, you know we aren’t allowed to date. And the line is drawn in quicksand.”

  Brown-haired Henry nodded. “Careful there, Zeke.”

  Grace ignored them because, jah, she knew that. Except the quicksand part, but that made no sense. “Maybe it’s more than a crush.” If she trusted her emotions, she’d believe it was. She studied Zeke’s expression to see if he agreed. His gaze softened. Caressed. Jah. She loved Zeke Bontrager, even though she just met him forty-eight hours ago. And that felt new and exciting, and she’d never been more sure of anything in her life. It was a total contrast to Timothy and a true blessing to have discovered what love was supposed to be like.

  “We haven’t dated.” Zeke glanced at Kiah, then Henry, before he looked back at Grace. He smiled and winked but said nothing.

  And she felt foolish again, pouring her feelings out like that. In front of their friends. But she’d never felt this way before, and it seemed so unfair he would only be here for a little while and then gone. Forever. She wanted to grab hold tight and hang on.

  She’d marry him next Thursday without hesitation. She wrung her hands. Instead, she’d be marrying Timothy. Is this it, Lord? Did you want me to come to a complete and total end of myself? Well, I have. Now what? She’d prayed that same prayer the night of the tornado. Maybe she should edit it so they wouldn’t have more damages.

  “What’s going on here?” Luke moved to stand beside Grace in the doorway. His arms were crossed, and there was a stern expression on his face as he stared at the three Indiana men in the shop. “Vernon says you’re playing practical jokes instead of working and that he quits unless he’s the supervisor.”

  “Nothing will get done otherwise,” Vernon stated.

  Grace glanced over her shoulder and met Vernon’s glare. She supposed the cat would’ve scared anyone into screaming, but what did he mean nothing would get done? She glanced at the progress on the workbench beside Zeke.

  “And now I know why you’ve been getting all cozy with the Lantz family,” Vernon spat, staring at Zeke. “It’s a good thing I came along to report back on your behavior.”

  What? He only came along to spy on Zeke? Not to help?

  “This is an in-demand furniture business.” Luke’s voice was filled with confusion and disappointment. He pushed past Grace and Hallie as he stepped farther into the room. “I requested you, Zeke, because I heard nothing but good things about you. And this is what I get? Deliberately measuring wrong, wasting my supplies. I can’t believe this.”

  Henry and Kiah moved to flank Zeke.

  Zeke stood there. Silent. Fists clenched. Acute pain filled his expression. Was he replaying the memory of getting fired from the factory where Vernon was a supervisor and causing others including his daed to think he was a loser?

  Grace’s heart hurt. She looked down at her shoes, long enough to find her courage. Then she raised her chin and glanced at him. “Zeke. What you said: ‘It’s time for you to talk to people. Has it occurred to you that Gott has given you a chance to have something more, something better, if you have the guts to take it?’”

  “Sir,” Henry said, “Vernon here is the one who doesn’t know what he’s doing. Zeke told us all multiple times, ‘Measure twice, cut once.’ I trusted Vernon to do that, and I didn’t double-check.” He waved a hand at the workstation behind them as if claiming it. Zeke’s station was much further along, and the furniture was done correctly. “The waste is my fault. Not Zeke’s.”

  Vernon spluttered.

  “What about deliberately hiding a cat in a closed casket?” Luke sighed and nodded. He glared over his shoulder at Vernon first as if sorry he believed him and now just wanted t
he “case closed” so he could get back to his son’s visitation.

  “Not deliberate.” Zeke squared his shoulders. “I didn’t want sawdust getting into it and closed the lid. I didn’t know the cat was sleeping in it. I would’ve shooed it out, if I’d known.”

  “Zeke is super kind to animals,” Kiah said. “And people. There are no ulterior motives. I always want him around when a horse is giving birth. He somehow calms them.”

  Grace remembered Daed and Jon talking about how Zeke calmed the stuck cow. And how Vernon had called him a “cow whisperer.” He had the same effect on her…and on Patience. Slush liked him, too. He definitely wouldn’t have trapped a cat on purpose.

  “My daed says Vernon’s a great supervisor. The best he’s ever had.” Zeke dipped his chin, maybe conceding to Vernon’s self-proclaimed right to be the manager. It seemed unjust that Zeke wouldn’t even get a fair chance, especially when it was obvious Vernon had lied about him.

  “That’s because it’s all he knows how to do,” Henry snorted. “Boss people around. He’s lazy. We all know it.”

  Kiah nodded.

  Grace’s brothers and Daed had commented on that.

  She glanced at Vernon as he spluttered again, his face turning a frightening shade of red.

  Luke nodded. “I’ve heard enough. Vernon, you’re fired.”

  “You can’t fire a volunteer. I quit. And Zeke, that line was drawn in quicksand, and you crossed it.” Vernon turned and stomped off.

  Grace watched him go.

  He didn’t make any more comments or threats, but something filled Grace with unease. Vernon had heard her confess her crush on Zeke. He’d heard Kiah’s reminder that they couldn’t date…But then he’d also heard Zeke say they hadn’t dated. But would he conveniently forget that part?

  What did it mean that the line was drawn in quicksand?

  Hallie gripped her arm. “That one’s trouble.”

  Jah, he surely was.

  * * *

  Zeke was doomed. Especially since he could see Vernon through the dusty shop window chatting on his cell phone. It didn’t take a genius to know he called the head missionary in charge. He’d seen Vernon’s expression at being proven a liar and being fired instead of promoted. He was out for revenge.

  Zeke would be punished—somehow—for violating the no-dating rule. Even though he technically hadn’t dated Gracie, he had broken the rules. He kissed her.

  And he’d willingly do it again.

  And Vernon, while he might not know, had heard enough to condemn Zeke. Or at least would make up enough to condemn him. And once again, Vernon would be the cause of Zeke’s dismissal.

  It hurt, though it was nice that both Henry and Kiah stood up for him. Even when Vernon was caught in a lie—though that was a confusing mix of feeling good and yet not at the same time.

  And somehow, the thought of his reputation being shredded here hurt worse than it had at home. Because of her. Gracie. He wanted to be her hero.

  He’d wanted to be the hero for the community, too.

  Ha. He should’ve known better. Especially when he was paired with Vernon.

  Vernon, who destroyed Zeke’s relationship with his father. Vernon, who stole Zeke’s girlfriend. Vernon, who…

  Zeke shook his head. Enough of the negative.

  But Zeke couldn’t see the silver lining on these dark clouds.

  Luke came into the shop and studied Henry’s work, then Zeke’s. He ran a hand over the smoothly sanded wood and checked the joints. He made not a sound, but when he finished, he smiled, nodded, and patted Zeke on the back.

  Zeke didn’t know exactly what he meant by it, but it seemed like some kind of affirmation.

  He was afraid to hope.

  “I like the way you treat your enemies as the friends they could become,” Luke said. “It reminds me of a verse in Proverbs. I’m not quoting exactly, but says something like, ‘A man’s wisdom yields patience. It’s to his glory to overlook an offense.’”

  And with those words, Luke headed out the door. He paused to say something to Gracie and Hallie, who still stood in the doorway; then he disappeared from view, and Zeke assumed he returned to the haus and the visitation in progress.

  Zeke blinked at the burn in his eyes and looked up to find that both Gracie and Hallie had left. Hopefully to find the people she needed to talk to. Timothy. Cliff. Someone—anyone—who would listen and help to stop the wedding.

  Gracie might never be Zeke’s, but she deserved better than Timothy. Unless Timothy cleaned up his act and actually fell in love with his bride. Which wouldn’t happen before Thursday.

  * * *

  Grace and Mammi followed Debbie Fisher out to her buggy. Debbie was as old as Grace’s mammi, and her husband was the silent type who never seemed to leave home. Since she was going home to fix dinner for her husband, she offered to give them a ride. Grace was thankful for it but dreaded the time spent with the community’s chief gossip.

  As Grace settled into the back seat, she mulled over the look on Zeke’s face at Vernon’s threats. Hopefully, there wouldn’t be trouble for him tonight. And she needed to talk to Daadi Cliff, if he had returned, and to actually speak with him about Timothy like Zeke had told her to. Her thoughts were a confusing jumble.

  While Mammi got in, Debbie untied the horse, then climbed in next to Mammi. She glanced over her shoulder at Grace. “I was ever so glad to hear you and Timothy settled your differences and decided to get married after all. I just can’t wait to see you two get hitched.”

  It seemed bad news traveled fast. Grace squirmed, not sure how to answer. Settling differences was hard to do when she’d only seen Timothy twice. Once, he said his name was James, and the other time she dumped soda on his head. Not exactly a settling of differences. Echoes of Zeke’s words to talk drummed in her head. Except, he’d said to talk to Daadi, Timothy, and the bishop…not to the gossip queen.

  “Did he make you eat crow for cheating on him with that Zeke person from Indiana?” Debbie’s eyes were all wide innocence, as if she weren’t waiting for the next tidbit of gossip.

  “Really, Debbie.” Mammi frowned. “She didn’t even meet Zeke until after Timothy didn’t show up for the wedding. Zeke is a rescue worker, you know, and he was helping Gracie look for her dear groom.”

  And that was one way to shut the gossip up. Grace looked out the buggy window.

  “And they found him. So romantic.” Debbie sighed.

  Well, it wasn’t exactly that easy, or romantic, but Grace didn’t plan to share her thoughts on the matter. Not until she could talk to Daadi Cliff or Daed to see if she had any options. Surely, Timothy wouldn’t have jumped the gun like this without talking to her. Was he even calling himself Timothy? Or James? No, the whole thing seemed contrived. If he was hanging around the hospital last night, when had he gone home to reconcile with his parents anyhow? Last she’d seen, he’d pretended not to know them. It must be a desperate measure by Timothy’s parents to bring their boy back under their thumbs. And Grace, too. By proxy. Kind of like he had treated her. Was that where he’d learned the bossy measures?

  “I just can’t begin to tell you how boundless my joy is.” Debbie reached over the buggy seat and patted Grace’s leg, drawing her attention. “You must be overjoyed.”

  And again, not exactly.

  “And it was so nice of him to forgive you.” She set the horse into motion.

  “For what? Looking for him?” Grace burst out without thinking.

  “Cheating on him with Zeke, dear,” Debbie said patiently. Slowly, as if Grace was hard of understanding. “He says quite firmly that your baby isn’t his.”

  “What!” Grace would’ve jumped from the buggy if she could without climbing over the two older ladies in the front seat. “When did you see him to ask him that?”

  “At the hospital yesterday. We went up to visit with Peter’s parents. And he was quite horrified to hear you weren’t the angel everyone calls you.”

 
So much for Mamm squelching that rumor. And when yesterday had Debbie seen Timothy? Was it before or after the cafeteria meeting, because Grace didn’t run into him until evening after the barn was built and she was having a late supper. And since when was he admitting his identity and not “amnesia”?

  Mammi’s face had turned an alarming shade of red.

  Grace was pretty sure that her expression matched.

  “Debbie, our Gracie did not cheat, and she is not expecting.” Mammi’s voice was firm. “Not only that, but that boy is from Indiana, and according to my husband, he’s not allowed to date here. Which is really too bad since Cliff is quite fond of him. In fact, he told him to skip the dating and cut straight to marrying.”

  “Oh, really?!” Debbie’s eyebrows darted up as she stared at Grace through the rearview mirror.

  Grace liked that idea, but she hated to see where Debbie Fisher would go with that tidbit. She stared out the window so Debbie couldn’t see her expression.

  “So she’s not going to marry Timothy, after all, but her lover?”

  Grace’s stomach threatened revolt. Not at the idea of marrying Zeke but where the woman was going to take this conversation. Really, was Debbie even right in the head?

  “Again, Zeke is not her lover. Besides, I’m happy to say that the bishop approved Timothy and Gracie marrying next Thursday.” Mammi sighed. “Let us out at the next mailbox.”

  Amen. We’ll walk from here.

  Chapter 26

  Zeke glanced up as movement in the doorway caught his attention. Was it Daniel Zook, the head missionary, finally arriving to read him the riot act?

  An elderly Amish man hobbled into the room.

  “Ready to go, boys?” the man shouted. He shoved his glasses farther up the bridge of his nose.

  “He’s the semiretired buggy repairman we’re staying with,” Kiah said, without lowering his voice. “Deaf, unless you shout at him.”

  “It was good seeing both of you,” Zeke said. “Guess I’ll see you again when you return to Shipshewana.” A heavy weight settled on him. Never in his wildest dreams had he anticipated being sent home in disgrace.