She stared at him. “And men are to make the living. I shouldn’t have to help with that. Whether the bishop likes it or not, I’m not stopping the cheese-making until we can save the farm.”
“Then you plan to stop?”
“It’s a lot of work, and I don’t enjoy standing on my feet making all that cheese, in addition to the cooking and taking care of the haus. But I will do it as long as we need to earn extra money to save the farm. Who knows, maybe I’ll have enough customers that I can sell my recipes and the business.”
Thad smiled. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. You’re one gutsy lady.” He walked over and gave May a hug. “I’ll talk to Bishop Yoder and smooth things over with him. Tell him you working like this is only temporary.”
“Danki, Thad. We have to do what we have to do.”
Footsteps climbing the porch echoed into the room. Only they were lighter of foot than a man’s and May knew whom they belonged to, but a second heavier set followed. She was glad of that.
The screen door squeaked open. “Hullo, Gretchen, hullo, Aaron.”
“Well, I see the bishop paid you a visit. No secret what he was probably doing here. Did he tell you that you needed to stop this nonsense of running a cheese business?” Gretchen spit out the last few words.
May bit her tongue. She’d had enough of discussing her business with people that shouldn’t be sticking their noses where they didn’t belong. Just then she heard Leah wake from her nap.
She headed for the stairs. “Excuse me.”
* * *
After May left the kitchen, Thad turned to his mother. “Mamm, May is a hard worker and she is only doing what she thinks is right to hold on to this land. Why do you keep needling her?”
“She is nothing like April.”
Thad rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “April was gut and kind, considerate and a hard worker. May is all those things, too. We are married now. I wish you would try to get along with her. Were you the one that sent the bishop over here?”
“Everyone in the community knows she is starting a business. That is not a secret.”
“Here is one thing that you and the rest of the community might not know. May has my blessing to run the cheese business, and I plan to spend as much time as I possibly can with her to make it a success. The cheese she makes is actually delicious. Did you try any of it?”
His daed shook his head. “Nein, I was too busy in my woodworking shop to try samples of cheese.”
“Like I said, they were gut. Even Elmer said they were gut. And by the look on his face, he actually seemed a little concerned that she might just steal business from the Sunnyhill Cheese Factory.”
Gretchen harrumphed. “That’ll be the day.”
“You should try the cheese, Mamm, before you make a statement like that. I’m telling you, it is really gut.”
Thad watched Janie pull her buggy up to the haus. “I’ll walk you two out. The girls have a lot of work to do, and I know May does not want to stand around arguing with you about whether she should have the cheese business or not.”
Thad paused on his way down the porch steps. “May is upstairs with Leah. Give a call and let her know you have arrived.”
* * *
May was already downstairs waiting in the kitchen when Janie stepped through the door. She peeked out the window to make sure Gretchen was headed back to the dawdi haus.
“Something wrong?” Janie asked. “You are all acting strange.”
“The bishop paid me a visit this morning. He lectured me on what the Ordnung expects of a woman. That she is to find satisfaction working in the home only, not running a business. I think Gretchen put him up to it.”
“That doesn’t sound like Bishop Yoder. I’ve never known him to listen to anything a woman said.” Janie tried to hold a straight face, then burst into laughter.
May laughed. “I’m fine, But how are you? Did Jonah talk to you at all on Saturday?”
Janie walked over to the high chair. Leah held out the piece of bread she was eating to her. “Hmm, is that gut?”
Leah nodded, took another bite, then offered it again to Janie.
“Oh, danki, but you can eat it.” She walked back toward May. “It hurt to see him. I thought I could keep my feelings under control, but it was difficult to do. Have you heard if he is courting someone?”
“I haven’t heard. I can ask Thad if you want me to and see if he knows.”
“Nein, please don’t do that. I don’t want him to know that I was asking about him. Not that it really matters. I just don’t want to give him the satisfaction that I still care about him. I would be mortified if he found out.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t say a thing, but I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”
“I was just curious as to whom Gretchen set him up with.” Janie’s voice dipped.
“I can’t believe how her sons think the sun rises and sets on her opinion. Thad is the same way. We had words this morning because he didn’t stick up for me. I’m certain Gretchen was the one that sent the bishop to my door.”
“Maybe if we ever have sons, they will think that about us.” Janie took a deep breath and stood up straight. “Are you ready to start making the cheese? I need to keep my hands and mind busy.”
“We are going to make the same cheese recipes again for this weekend, and I have a few special orders that we need to get started on.”
“Before we do anything, I have a little gossip to tell you.” Janie had a twinkle in her eye and seemed, at least temporarily, back to her old self.
“And what is that?”
“Guess who I saw in Elmer’s courting buggy the other day?”
May’s heart nearly stopped. If it was anyone but Josie, she’d never be able to tell her. She’d seen the hurt in Janie’s eyes and didn’t want to see it in Josie’s eyes, too. Why was it that all three of them seemed to be unhappy in liebe?
“Who was it?” She nearly choked the words out.
“Josie.”
May felt overwhelming relief. “Really? I’m so happy for her.” At least there was one Amish man in their community who was loyal.
Chapter Fifteen
On Church Sunday, May relaxed on the buggy seat next to Thad as he steered Tidbit past the white picket fence and onto the road heading toward the Brenneman farm. The bishop’s preaching always had a gut message that seemed to settle in her heart and brought her a little closer to Gott and His ways.
Her gaze roamed over the farms during the three-mile ride. It was a breath of fresh air to sit and enjoy the countryside around her. She held Leah on her lap and pointed at the chickens and the cows and the pigs, making their sounds each time.
Leah laughed. “Again, Mamm, again.”
May stiffened. It was the first time Leah had called her mamm so clearly that the meaning finally sunk in. Mamm. Yes, she supposed she was the only mamm this little mädel would ever know. She hadn’t thought about what hearing that word would be like. It was wunderbaar. She kissed Leah on the head as she practiced her animal sounds until she grew tired and leaned back against her.
May settled in to enjoy the rest of the short drive. She gawked at a neighbor’s yard peppered with yellow chrysanthemums and white dahlias. Even their birdhouse had a new coat of paint. Jah, she would need to ask Thad to paint theirs, too. It was starting to look shabby. Two squirrels scampered around on the road bank, chasing each other, and she chuckled.
A wheel dropped in a pothole, and the buggy jerked, bouncing the seat and jiggling her closer to Thad. She could feel the heat from his body next to her. May caught her breath at his nearness. She held her gaze out the window and hoped the horse’s hooves drowned out the pounding of her heart. Even though a cool breeze swirled through the buggy, she raised her hand and blotted the moisture from her forehead.
“Y
ou recieved a lot of orders and are bringing in a lot of money with the cheese business. I’m so proud of you, May. We won’t have to worry next year where the seed money will come from or the money to repay the loan.” Thad glanced her way and smiled.
“Danki. I do it for us, for Leah and to keep our farm.”
“I know.” He reached over, grabbed her hand and squeezed.
While Thad parked the buggy at the Brennemans’ and talked to the men milling around the house, May carried Leah to a bench on the women’s side and settled next to Janie. She rocked Leah back and forth until she fell asleep again.
After the singing of the Loblied, Preacher David stepped to the front and gave the opening words, in Pennsylvania Dutch, to remind the congregation why it had gathered and called each member to humble their heart before Gott. When he concluded, May knelt with the others for silent prayer, then stood for the Scripture reading.
Preacher Paul delivered the main sermon, and May felt her heart open as the Holy Spirit worked His way in. When he finished, Bishop Yoder gave his testimony on denying thyself. Jah, he amazed her at his deep love for Gott.
The bishop cleared his throat before the reading of the banns. May smiled and often thought he did that as a little stalling tactic because he knew everyone loved to hear them.
“Now, I have a wunderbaar announcement. Elmer Plank and Josephine Bender will be married in four weeks.”
May grabbed Janie’s hand and whispered, “He asked Josie. I am so happy for them.”
“Your cousin will be very happy. Elmer has a gut business and is a hard worker. And she will have a nice mother-in-law,” Janie chuckled.
May nodded. “And Lois is a midwife so that will be handy.”
Later on, they headed to the kitchen to help serve the common meal. Janie helped carry food out to the serving tables while May kept filling glasses with lemonade at the tables. She reached over Howard Lantz’s shoulder to refill his drink as he remarked, “I might have to sell the farm.”
A hush fell over the table.
“Jah, me, too,” Tim Lambright said. “Milk prices are too low and the storm did a lot of damage.”
May walked toward the end of the table where Jonah Hochstetler, Thad’s youngest bruder who had already taken over the farm since he’d inherit it from Aaron and Gretchen someday, sat. “Jah, I’m in the same boat as all of you,” Jonah confessed. “What with milk prices so low, the storm and losing some of this year’s crop, I might lose Daed’s farm.”
May watched the expression on Thad’s face as he spoke to Jonah. “Why didn’t you ask for a loan?”
“By the time I got to the Amish lenders, their money had run out. They said they would check with Indiana, but storms ripped through the whole Midwest. I could maybe get a regular loan but the interest would be so high I couldn’t afford the payments.” Jonah sipped his lemonade.
“What?” Thad stared at Jonah. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“You have your own problems, Thad, but at least you have a gut woman to help you out.”
May caught Gretchen’s reaction as she set food on the table and glanced from sohn to sohn. It was a table full of men, so Gretchen would not interrupt them. But by the look on her face, it was the first time she’d heard that her youngest sohn might lose their family farm.
May could see the shock settle on her face as she turned pale and walked to the porch steps and sat.
“Thad, how is the new cheese business doing that you and May started?” Jonah asked, quickly changing the subject.
“It was the answer to our prayers, but May does most of the work. She took classes, studied hard and practiced the recipes. She learned all about making cheeses.” Thad looked at May. “She has even gotten orders from some bigwig local real estate agent who likes to serve cheese and crackers at her fancy open houses. And she has other customers who give her weekly orders. Mr. Kolb has a gift shop. He made her a webpage and brings out her orders. May is very successful, aren’t you?”
The table of men glanced her way.
“Jah, we are doing very well. But I only have two hands, well, four with Janie Conrad helping me. But the two of us can only handle so much business. We have too much business now so we are turning orders down. If your frau or tochter would like to help, we can take you into our business and share the profits.”
The men at the table all started talking at once.
Thad held up his hand. “Wait a minute, May. Are you talking about taking on business partners?”
“I’m saying if the bishop doesn’t want me to have a business, then all those who need extra money, if they want to contribute and help make cheese, they can share in the profits. It will be a community business.”
“That’s a gut idea, but if many want to help, our kitchen isn’t big enough,” Thad emphasized with a pointed look.
“They could make it in their own kitchen. Or maybe we could rent a building in town. It would keep us all busy,” May offered.
She watched Jonah walk over to Janie and talk to her. She tried to inch closer, but she was still too far away to hear a word they said.
While May continued to pour lemonade, Thad canvassed the table to see how many were interested in taking part in their cheese business. When May poured Thad a glass of lemonade, he showed her the list he had put together.
“Gut, that means we can make more cheese,” she said. “All those who want to learn the recipes and the tricks to making cheese will need to come or send their frau to our haus for training. What about Jonah, since he doesn’t have a frau?”
Thad glanced at his bruder. “Jonah will supply more milk and cream, and he is gut at making ice cream. We could expand the business into yogurt and ice cream and maybe hire some youngies to help.”
Jonah smiled and nodded in response to Thad. May noticed Bishop Yoder heading to the table. While the men gave it further discussion, she wandered over to the bishop. “What do you think of my idea, Bishop?”
“That’s a fine idea. It’s very generous of you to share your knowledge, May, and make this a community project. That’s what we are all about, community and thinking of others before ourselves.”
“It’s no different than a barn raising or helping someone with their crops when they have been sick. It’s all about community service, jah?”
He smiled. “Jah, but it was nice that you offered to help teach the others.”
May cleared the table when the men were through eating. Janie joined her, holding a big tub for the plates and cutlery that weren’t disposable.
May set some serving bowls in the tub. “I saw Jonah talking to you. How did that go?”
“All right. It was hard talking to him. My heart was fluttering so badly. He just wanted to know how I was, and if I liked making cheese. Small talk.”
May smiled. “Jah, I know. Just don’t let him break your heart again.”
Janie nodded. “I’ll take this tub inside and come back.”
When May finished wiping down the table, she turned toward the next table, but Gretchen was standing in her way.
“That was very nice of you to let others join in your cheese business, May.” Her voice held a tone of humility; it was almost timid.
“It was the right thing to do. We are a community, jah? We help each other out.”
“It must have taken hard work to learn the craft. It was thoughtful that you are willing to teach others. Maybe I will come over and help one day a week.”
“That would be nice, Gretchen.” May smiled and gave her a gentle pat on the arm. It was going to be easier being friends with her mother-in-law rather than not.
* * *
After the meal, May headed her buggy to her onkel’s farm only a mile away and parked by the other cousins already there.
Onkel Thomas ran across the barnyard and helped her down. “You gave him a gut
workout getting here after church,” he laughed. “I’ll brush him down a bit.”
“Danki, Onkel.”
Aent Matilda met her at the door with a big hug. “You heard Josie is getting married in four weeks?”
“Jah, I’m so happy for her.”
“Go upstairs and tell her. She expected you to drop by.”
May ran up the stairs and knocked on Josie’s bedroom door. “I’m really mad at you,” she called from the hallway.
“Come in,” Josie sang out.
May ran in and wrapped her arms around Josie, hugging her tight. “I’m so happy for you.” She sat on the chair next to Josie and watched her work on her wedding dress.
“I was actually surprised when Elmer asked for that first buggy ride,” Josie said.
“I think once he met you, Josie, he only had eyes for you.”
Josie smiled. “Danki for stopping by.”
“I’m going to let you sew in peace, and head downstairs and see if your mamm has something for me to do.”
Josie beamed with happiness.
May found Aent Matilda in the kitchen. “What would you like me to do?”
“I’m still making the list. Would you want to help me empty the hutch and set the gut china out for washing?”
May helped them until it was almost dark. Weary and alone, she and Tidbit made their way back home.
May was so happy for her cousin, but she couldn’t help but wonder if she and Thad would ever be as happy. Jah, they’d become closer the past few weeks. But she still wasn’t sure if Thad truly loved her.
Or if he ever would.
Chapter Sixteen
Thad heaved a sigh. He’d volunteered to take care of Leah today while May attended Monday’s quilting frolic. He packed Leah’s diaper bag, put her coat on and trudged across the yard to the dawdi haus. She coughed, fussed a bit rubbing her nose, then fell back to sleep on his shoulder. His mamm wanted to see Leah, and that would give him time to work in his daed’s wood shop.
The Amish Marriage Bargain (Love Inspired) Page 13