An Amish Betrayal

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  That was how he felt each time he was out here gazing up at the stars. “Schee, ain’t so?”

  “Jah, sehr schee! Ach, du liebe…”

  He took a seat on his favorite spot, a log that had fallen some years back. He’d already brought a couple of quilts out here earlier, anticipating his date with Michaela. He knew she’d love it.

  He patted the spot next to him. “Kumm. Sit before your head falls off.”

  She looked at him, then rubbed the back of her neck. “Ach, you’re right.” She laughed.

  “I brought a blanket if you’d like to lie down and star gaze. That way, we won’t have to strain our necks.” He gestured to the folded quilt beside him.

  “That would be nice.”

  He stood and spread out the blanket, then plopped down next to her.

  He glanced up at the stars. No matter how many times he studied them, he was still blown away at the magnitude of God’s wonder.

  When he glanced back at her, she seemed to be studying him.

  “What?” He grinned.

  “Is every date with you going to be this wunderbaar?”

  He shrugged. “You want to come out here on every date?”

  She giggled. “You’re funny.”

  “I am? What did I say?”

  She shook her head, then sidled up next to him. Her fingers gently glided over his arm sending an unfamiliar but totally welcome sensation through his entire being.

  He leaned closer, but waited to see how she would react. When she moved nearer to him, he took that as his sign. The moment their lips met, David knew he was going to enjoy this evening way more than he probably should.

  He wasn’t sure if it was just him, but did everyone’s eyes automatically close when they kissed? He slightly opened one eyelid to peek at Michaela. Jah, her eyes were closed. He must be doing it right.

  He’d never kissed a girl in his life. He’d been missing out for sure and certain. He reluctantly moved back, unsure of himself now.

  He cleared his throat. “Was…was that okay?”

  She tucked her lower lip between her teeth and nodded. “More than okay.”

  “Do you…want to do it again?”

  At her shy nod, his hands meandered behind her neck, his fingers unintentionally slipping under her kapp. He pulled her close. Her lips were soft as Fluffy’s wool, but she smelled much more pleasant. Like peppermint gum. He wished he’d thought of that. But he hadn’t been anticipating kissing a girl tonight.

  The longer he held her, the more intense their kiss became. He never imagined… His hands left her head and moved to her waist, seemingly of their own accord. He pulled her to him. Oh, if this never had to end!

  He finally forced himself away, his breath haggard. “Ach…”

  “You liked it too?” Her breathing seemed labored as well, but he didn’t miss the smile that lit up her entire face.

  “Too much.”

  “Jah, me too.” Her hands planted on his chest, and their warmth seeped through his shirt.

  He stared at her lips, which now seemed a little fuller. Had it been from their kisses? He didn’t know, but he was oh so tempted to pull her into his arms again.

  Instead, he made himself stand up.

  “David?” Her voice held alarm. “Are you all right?”

  “Jah, I am gut. I just… I probably shouldn’t be kissing you like that.”

  “What?” More distress.

  “Your vatter. What would he say?”

  “I don’t want to think about my vatter right now.”

  “Jah, you’re right. But I don’t think he’d allow us to continue our friendship anymore if he’d seen the way I just kissed you.”

  She stood next to him, her hand on his forearm. “I won’t tell him.”

  “You can be sure and certain I won’t either.” He grinned, then pulled her close, wrapping her in his embrace. He looked up at the stars. “Should we do some stargazing now?”

  “Jah, stargazing sounds gut.”

  “May I take you home again next time?” Ach, maybe it was too soon to ask, but… “Will you be my girl, Michaela?”

  “Jah, I’d like that. Very much.”

  David’s heart soared with pleasure. He was quite certain he’d found his life mate. And of all maed, she just so happened to be the bishop’s dochder and the schweschder of his best friend.

  Ach, Der Herr was gut!

  EIGHT

  David approached his father in the barn as he hitched up the buggy horse. He’d barely been able to sleep the previous night due to excitement bubbling inside him. Hopefully, his father would be able to see his vision.

  Ach, it seemed as though each new day was a new experience. Another opportunity that Der Herr gave him to further his walk with Gott and grow into the man He wanted him to be. He didn’t think there was another young man in the district as optimistic about the future as he was. Der Herr seemed to have His hand on everything he did, every step he took.

  Dat’s bushy eyebrows rose in greeting. “Mei sohn. Seems like I’ve seen you less and less since the bishop took a liking to your harmonica playing. How is the Kauffman family doing?”

  “Gut, it seems. Bishop Saul says he sleeps much better the nights that I play my mouth harp for him. It wonders me if I should make a recording for him to listen to on the nights I cannot come.”

  Dat rubbed his beard. “Ach, that sounds like a wunderbaar gut idea, sohn. But I’m thinking such a device would be verboten.”

  “Jah, you are probably right. Too bad.” David moved a dirt clod around with his boot.

  “Was there something else you wanted to talk about, sohn? Maple is getting impatient.”

  David observed as the horse’s hoof lifted and scratched the ground, as though she knew they were speaking about her.

  “Jah, Dat, I have an idea.”

  “About what, sohn?” His father turned his attention to him after rubbing down Maple.

  David grinned, attempting to tamper down his enthusiasm. “The flock. I want to increase it, if that’s okay with you.”

  His father frowned. “How do you plan to go about that?”

  “Well, start out breeding the ones we have.”

  “Some can breed but some cannot.”

  He nodded. “Jah. I know which ones are related. I can keep them separate.”

  “How do plan on feeding the extra head?”

  “We can buy extra grain.”

  “Nee, that will cost too much.”

  David thought for a moment. “What if we exchange some of the extra sheep for food? It will keep the flocks free of defects if we trade the ewes that are related.”

  “That sounds like a gut plan, sohn. You are a smart boy.” He looked David up and down. “Nee, a young man now.”

  David’s heart soared at his father’s assessment. He’d never been called, or even considered, a young man in his family. Just the thought shot his confidence through the roof, giving him a much-needed boost.

  He was nearing nineteen. The bishop had chosen him to play his music for him. He had an aldi. And now, he’d be practically running his father’s ranch. Sure, it was a small ranch right now. But if he could increase his father’s flock like he intended to, according to his calculations, in just a few years the ranch would be thriving.

  As the youngest son, David would inherit the land and be responsible for the care of his folks in their twilight years. Lord willing, he’d be able to purchase more land in the future.

  Jah, Der Herr had been gut to him. Better than David deserved.

  NINE

  David had been lost in thought as he drove his courting buggy into town. Mamm had run out of supplies and needed more flour and eggs to make noodles. Noodles had always been a staple in his folks’ kitchen and in many other Amish homes as well. He never minded, though, because it was one of his favorite things to eat. He could eat them every day and not tire of them.

  Their family didn’t usually purchase eggs from the store, but the
ir laying hens had stopped producing. Apparently, their neighbors recently encountered the same problem so they weren’t able to purchase from them either. ‘Tis the season, he supposed.

  It was a beautiful day to be driving a buggy yet and David couldn’t help but wish Michaela were at his side. Before he knew it, the weather would change and they’d all be bundled up in their wool coats and beanies. He wondered if he’d be able to see her as often then.

  He rode past several familiar farms and noted that most families had already harvested their corn. Wait. Was that Widow Stoltzfus out in the field? Ach, the older woman should not be doing a man’s work.

  David pulled on the reins to slow Warrior down, then turned into Widow Stoltzfus’s drive. Widow Stoltzfus had no family nearby and was still healthy enough to live on her own. But someday, she’d need to move in with her son and daughter-in-law in Ohio—something she wasn’t keen on doing as long as she could help it. She’d insisted on staying on the old farm that she and her late husband had purchased when they first got hitched. She was the most determined woman he’d ever met.

  “Guten morgen, Fraa Stoltzfus!” David waved from the hitching post.

  The woman’s face brightened. “Ach, David King. What brings you out?”

  “I saw you in the field. Could you use some help?”

  “Ach, I can manage on my own.” There was that stubborn self-sufficient streak. “But if you’re bent on helping, I won’t try to stop you.” She winked.

  He chuckled. “I’m bent, for sure.”

  “First, though, you’ll have to join me for a glass of lemonade.”

  David thought about his mother at home, waiting for her groceries. She’d needed to do a few chores before she started on her noodles. Jah, he’d have a little extra time to spare.

  “To tell you the truth, I needed a break. I’ve run out of compost so I probably won’t be doing any more today.”

  “Ach, I’m going to town. I could pick some up for you.”

  “You are such a dear. A gem to your folks, no doubt.”

  He bristled at her praise. He wasn’t used to compliments. “It’s no problem at all, really. I have to pick up a few things for Mamm, so I can drop it off on my way back home. How does that sound?”

  “Gut. That sounds gut.” She nodded.

  “But I don’t want you doing the work without me. If it’s all right, I’ll come back by tomorrow morning to help.”

  “That would be wunderbaar, David.”

  He delighted at seeing the smile on the older woman’s face. Helping others made him feel gut inside. He felt like Der Herr was smiling down on him. And more than anything, he wanted to please Der Herr.

  ~

  David arrived back home a little later than he’d hoped. Mamm had several batches of noodles laid out on the table, and he could see she’d already made her way to one of the bedrooms. Noodles, spread out to dry on kitchen towels, had already one of his brothers’ beds. Soon they’d be spread throughout the entire house. Nee, they wouldn’t be running out of noodles too soon.

  “Ach, I didn’t know you still had some eggs yet.” David held his purchases in his arms, since every empty surface seemed to have been covered with noodles, like a blanket of snow in winter.

  “I had a few and figured I may as well get started.”

  “Looks like a gut start. Do you need any help?”

  “You took longer than I’d expected.”

  “Jah. I saw Widow Stoltzfus out in her field and stopped by to say hello. It wonders me if Dat would mind if I go over to her house a few hours tomorrow morning.”

  “Ach, that is mei youngest sohn. Always thinking of ways he can help others. You are a special one, David Bo King.”

  David shook his head. If his brothers heard Mamm talking like this, he’d never hear the end of it. “No more special than the next.”

  “We will see, sohn. We will see.”

  He briefly wondered what Mamm meant by that comment. Could she sense good things in the future as well? Had Der Herr prepared a special path for him to walk in? A shiver danced up David’s spine at the thought.

  Ach, Gott. Please use me according to Your will.

  TEN

  David’s smile grew as Jon charged toward him on the ice, full speed ahead. Ice skating had been one of the things he and Jon loved to do together. Between skating, fishing, and bow hunting, David was unsure which sport was his favorite.

  “Don’t look now, but we’ve got company.” Jon thumbed over his shoulder.

  David maneuvered around Jon just in time to see them. Katie Rose and Michaela.

  “You don’t mind, no?” Was Jon worried? Had he invited them along?

  “Nee, not at all.” He grinned. As a matter of fact, he was thrilled. Lately, he couldn’t seem to get enough of his aldi.

  “Ach, you are taken with mei schweschder, ain’t so?” He planted a friendly punch on David’s arm, his brow quirked.

  “Maybe.” David winked, then skated toward the girls near the edge of the pond.

  Michaela carried ice skates over her shoulder. “May we join you?”

  “For sure.” David could only think of their last outing and the kisses they’d shared. Kisses that became more intense each time they were together, it seemed. Kisses that, if he were honest with himself, went a little beyond what they should. Jah, before too long, he’d have to ask his schatzi to become his fraa. The sooner the better, in his opinion.

  He moved toward the edge of the ice and offered a hand once her skates were securely tied on her feet. “You can skate, jah?”

  She shrugged. “A little.”

  As soon as David let go of her hand, she lost her balance and would have tumbled to the ground, had David not quickly moved behind her. He steadied her before securing her hand in his grip.

  “Ach, I think you’d better skate with me.” He grinned. “Do you think you can stay upright if I’m holding your hand?”

  “No promises. You might just go down with me next time.”

  He brought her close and murmured in her ear. “Nee, I won’t let you fall.”

  She nodded as their eyes connected. Ach, he wished he could kiss her now.

  Jon skated near with Katie Rose at his side. “Are you two going to skate or make puppy dog eyes at each other all day?”

  Michaela and David looked at each other and laughed.

  “We are skating. Can’t you tell?” David faced Michaela and put his arms around her waist, and placed Michaela’s hands around his shoulders.

  “Ach, I’d say you’re dancing.” Jon laughed. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Dat.” He teased.

  “Skating, dancing, it’s all good.” David replied. “Maybe Katie Rose wouldn’t mind a dance with you.”

  Katie Rose’s cheeks darkened at David’s comment.

  Jon looked at his girl. “Wanna try?”

  Katie Rose nodded.

  David smiled at Michaela. “See what we started. Now all we need is music,” he teased.

  David twirled her on the ice and briefly let her go. Michaela began to wobble on her skates but David swooped in and barely caught hold of her coat before she landed on the ice. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Ach, that was a close one.”

  “Jah,” David panted. “Maybe I shouldn’t have let you go.”

  Michaela’s mouth quirked in a half smile. “Never.”

  David’s lips nearly reached hers.

  A ferocious growl pealed through the air, forcing everyone’s attention to the edge of the pond.

  Michaela grasped David’s arm tightly and she and Katie Rose both screamed. Jon tossed David a worried look.

  “Geh!” David pushed Michaela toward Jon and Katie Rose at the other side of the pond, his adrenaline pumping hard.

  Without another thought, he charged full speed ahead straight toward the cougar. The animal roared again, and again one of the girls screamed.

  “David, no!” Was the voice Michaela’s?

  The
animal rushed toward his target—David—just as he’d jumped in the air.

  Help me, Lord.

  He closed his eyes as he descended and the metal blades of his ice skates hit the wild cat near the throat, knocking the animal over. The cougar’s eyes flashed in fury and David knew that one of their lives would end today. By the grace of God, it wouldn’t be his.

  Ignoring the shrieks of protest from his friends, he jumped on the animal’s back and began wrestling it with all his might. After several tumultuous moments and a half dozen silent pleas to Der Herr for help, the animal finally ceased its struggle. David rolled over when he was sure and certain the animal couldn’t fight back anymore, then stood up on shaky legs.

  Denki, Gott. Denki, Gott.

  “Is…is he dead?” Katie Rose’s voice screeched.

  “Jah.” David could barely utter the word amidst his heavy breathing. He’d never experienced a surge of strength as strong as he had when he’d strangled the fearsome creature. There was no doubt in his mind that Der Herr had placed it there.

  He fell to his knees on the ice, trembling. That was when he noticed a trail of blood trickling down his arm.

  “Ach, David! Are you okay?” Michaela’s quivering voice called from the opposite end of the pond.

  Jon quickly moved toward him—his ice skates shooting a spray of ice in the process—and kept a steady eye on the motionless animal. “Du bist ab im kopp, mein freund! Jah. Crazy, but brave. Ach, you could have been killed.”

  He took Jon’s helping hand and rose to his feet, which were still unsteady.

  “We all could have been killed. It was him or us. Der Herr saved us today, not me.” David’s grin widened, now that his heartbeat had a chance to slow down a bit.

  “Jah, for sure.” Jon glanced toward the girls. “But I don’t think the maed will see it that way. Ach, every girl in the district will want to go on a buggy ride with you now.”

  David laughed. “There’s only one girl I’ll ever want.” He winked over Jon’s shoulder at Michaela, who stayed at the edge of the pond with Katie Rose.