“Family, not company, Seth,” Miriam corrected with a laugh. “Naomi walked over for a visit. Why don’t you sit down? I will make some more tea.”
Ignoring Seth’s protests, Miriam stood, and taking up the tea pot, headed for the kitchen.
“I will only be a minute,” she said, trying not to laugh at her brother-in-law and sister, who both seemed to be unexpectedly flustered.
“Won’t you sit down?” Naomi said after a brief and awkward silence.
“Uh, sure.” Seth lowered himself carefully into a chair opposite Naomi.
“I spoke with Miriam about your concerns today,” she said, hoping to put the poor man at ease.
“Did you?” He swallowed nervously.
Naomi nodded and smiled. “Do not worry, Seth. Miriam is in complete agreement with you. She sees you in the same way as she does our brother, Isaac.”
Seth finally met her eyes and let out a whoosh of breath. He smiled sheepishly.
“That is a relief.”
They sat without speaking, the only sound in the room coming from the clock on the wall and Seth drumming his fingers on the arms of his chair. Naomi played with her now-empty tea cup and peered at him from under her eyelashes, wondering why talking to the man here in the parlor of her sister’s home was so much harder than it had been in the dark behind the barn on a traumatic night.
“Is your hand healing well?” she finally asked, just for something to say.
He glanced up. “It is fine.” Seth lifted the hand in question, flexing it so she could see it was in working order.
“Miriam wondered how you injured it.”
“Did you tell her?”
“I am afraid so.”
“Oh, well. At least the truth will end speculation about what happened to the barn.”
Naomi giggled. “If it helps, I do not think Miriam will tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone what?” Miriam asked as she came back in with a full pot of tea and another cup for Seth.
“About Seth punching the barn,” Naomi said, grinning at Seth as she brought up his display of temper.
“Well, of course I won’t tell anyone,” Miriam replied, filling the three cups.
“Thank you, Miriam, for the tea and your discretion” Seth said in response to both her promise and the tea.
“You are welcome. Now, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
“If, as you say, the family wants to see the two of us married off, then the only sure solution is for you to show interest in someone else.”
Seth choked on his tea.
“Do you agree, Seth?” Miriam asked with a smile.
Seth just gaped at Miriam, unable to articulate a response.
“Do you not agree, Naomi?” Miriam asked in a teasing voice.
Naomi could tell that Miriam was clearly enjoying herself, and as embarrassing as it was at the moment, she could not help but feel gratitude for her sister’s attempt to bring Seth out. Naomi had been surprised to find herself thinking about Seth since their conversation behind the barn, and she had wondered on several occasions if perhaps Seth had thought of her as well.
“It might work,” Naomi answered, smiling shyly at a furiously blushing Seth.
Seth looked wildly from one sister to the other for a moment then narrowed his eyes suspiciously. In another moment a slight twinkle replaced the panic in his eyes, and he very deliberately took another drink of his tea. “I do not suppose you have someone in mind,” he drawled, his voice full of artificial innocence. Seth glanced up suddenly from his tea, only to to surprise Naomi, caught staring at him. Naomi blushed prettily and looked away with a smile.
“I might,” Miriam said as if she were thoughtfully considering the matter, though laughter bubbled beneath the surface. “Why don’t you offer to drive Naomi home and see if I am right?”
“Well if you think it is a good idea, Miriam, I guess I should trust your judgment,” Seth replied.
Naomi glanced at Seth sideways as she pretended to study her tea. She was pleased to see that he was grinning at the idea of driving her home.
6
After a hug and a promise to Miriam to return soon, Naomi allowed Seth to hand her up unto the gray buggy. They started down the drive at a leisurely pace, and Naomi hoped they would have enough time to talk on the way home, for even by road, their homes were less than a mile apart. Naomi wondered if they would encounter anyone they knew on the short drive, and she knew that if they did, then everyone in their congregation would know about it in short order. Noble talk of avoiding idle gossip meant nothing when there was news of a possible new relationship to share. Naomi reminded herself that the only reason she was in Seth’s buggy at all was to deflect his family’s attention away from Miriam. Naomi found it hard to remember that, though, when Seth kept looking at her the way he did.
“I could have walked, you know,” Naomi told him as they pulled onto the road’s wide shoulder.
Seth looked shocked. “What, and disappoint Miriam?”
Naomi shook her head but could not stop her smile.
Seth thought for a moment and continued. “And anyway, I will need to speak with your father, if I am to court you properly.”
Naomi’s mouth fell open as she looked at Seth in shock. “But is this all not just a show – to keep your family from trying to fix you up with Miriam?”
“Well, I guess that it can be a show, but why would I pretend to court you when I can court you for real? Unless I was mistaken back there, I do not think the idea is unpleasant to you.”
Naomi shook her head. “No, you were not mistaken. The idea is not so terrible,” she told him with a sly smile.
“Good. Then it is settled. I will speak to your father.”
Their eyes met, and Naomi saw everything she needed to see in his.
“I have been thinking about you,” she confessed shyly.
“Well, you certainly didn’t see me at my best that night by the barn.”
“That is not what I was thinking.”
“No?” He glanced her way with a grin.
“No.”
“So, will you tell me what you were thinking, or do I have to guess?”
“I was thinking that I had never met a man who loved his family more than you do.”
Seth sobered, nodding thoughtfully. “And I saw a woman who would do anything—even brave a deranged man attacking a barn—to support her grieving sister.”
“You were not deranged, Seth. You were grieving, too. We all were. We all still are.”
Seth nodded, taking a tighter grip on the reins as a large truck passed them too quickly.
“Do you think it might be too soon to speak with your father?” Seth asked when the horse settled down once more.
Naomi thought to a moment before she answered. She hardly dared hope that Seth was sincere in his interest in her. She marveled that in the span of an hour, everything seemed to have radically, fundamentally shifted, but at the same time, everything felt absolutely right.
“We have known each other for a long time,” Naomi pointed out.
“Well, we have known of each other for a long time,” Seth corrected. “I must confess that until very recently, you were just Miriam’s sister to me.”
“Well, you were just her brother-in-law to me until that night.”
“You are not just Miriam’s sister to me anymore, Naomi.”
“I am glad, because you are no longer just her brother-in-law to me.”
Seth glanced over. Their eyes met for a very long moment, and they shared a smile of understanding.
“So, do you think your Father and Aunt Ruth will be up for planting celery?” he asked, referring to the traditional planting of celery stalks in preparation for a wedding feast.
Naomi laughed. “I am certain they will be delighted to do so.”
Though she suspected her father would indeed be “delighted”—eventually—at the prospect of his youngest daughter’s weddin
g, Naomi nevertheless felt butterflies stirring as they pulled into the Miller drive and approached the house. Seth could not have stated his intentions more clearly than by escorting her home without a chaperone, and Miriam’s blessing would count as well, but she was not entirely certain of her father’s initial reaction.
In addition to worrying about her father’s blessing – whether he would give or withhold it, Naomi realized that in her haste and excitement, she had not spoken to Seth of her business. He would know, of course, that she ran her space in the Amish market, but he couldn’t possibly know how very important her work was to her. She knew that some Amish men wouldn’t dream of having their wives go to work every day, and Naomi wondered how Seth would react if she were to tell him that she still wanted to sell her produce and baked goods, at least until they had a child, and maybe ever after that. Naomi decided that she would just have to bide her time and look for an opportunity to talk to Seth. If the Lord’s plan was that they marry, everything would work out in the end.
They pulled up to the front porch, and after tying off the reins, Seth jumped to the ground and reached back up to hand Naomi down. By the time she was standing beside him, Ezra had come onto the porch, his expression indecipherable.
“Hello, Daed ,” she greeted him as they climbed the porch steps.
“Naomi. You’re aunt is already starting supper.”
“I am sorry to be so late, but Miriam was feeling very lonely today. She did suggest Seth drive me home to save time.”
Ezra raised an eyebrow in surprise then seemed to nod to himself.
“Go inside now.” Ezra watched as his youngest daughter went inside before he turned to Seth. “I would speak with thee,” he said to Seth and started down the steps.
Seth nodded at Ezra and obediently followed her father into the yard.
Naomi sighed as she headed for the kitchen, hoping the conversation went well.
“There you are,” Ruth greeted her. “Is everything all right with Miriam?”
“Yes—as right as it can be, anyway. She was lonely today—the children were all out with various relatives.”
“Ah. Then I am glad you went.”
“I am too,” Naomi said as she washed her hands at the sink. “Seth brought me home,” she said, attempting to sound casual.
“Did he?” Ruth turned to look at her niece, a knowing expression on her face.
“ Daed is speaking with him now.”
“I should hope so,” Ruth replied. “Is this a bit sudden, Naomi?”
“He is a good man, Aenti ,” Naomi said defensively, “a kind and gentle man.”
“Of course,” Ruth agreed. “Except when he is punching barns, that is.”
“Those were very unusual circumstances,” Naomi replied primly, taking up a knife to begin peeling potatoes.
“Did I say they were not?”
“I thought you liked Seth,” Naomi said, turning to her aunt in exasperation.
“Of course I like him,” Ruth said. “But does seem to be happening quickly, and I wonder if you can really know if this is God’s will for you.” Ruth paused, thinking of a way to approach the topic that wouldn’t push Naomi away. “What does Seth think of your work, Naomi? Will he support you if you decide to keep working?”
Naomi peeled her potatoes and worked in silence before she answered. A glance out the kitchen window showed Seth strolling with her father, and Ezra appeared to be doing all of the talking. “I have not brought it up, Ruth. Maybe I am afraid to. The problem is that I really like Seth. I think he is a good man, and I think he will be a good provider and a good father.”
Ruth crossed the kitchen to stand behind her niece. She put her hands on Naomi’s slight shoulders and squeezed them affectionately. “Do not worry, child. Your daed likes Seth, too. And if it is God’s will, then He will make it all right. Have faith.”
Naomi turned to face her aunt. “ Daed likes Seth? I guess that is a start.”
“Of course. As you said, he is a good man, and the Fishers are good people. They are still our family, too. That does not, of course, mean that Ezra will not give Seth a hard time for driving you home today—even if you do claim it was Miriam’s idea.”
“Well, it was,” Naomi said piously.
Ruth laughed. “I am certain you speak the truth, child!” She gave Naomi’s hand a quick squeeze. “You had best peel plenty of potatoes, for I have a feeling we will be having company for supper.”
Naomi met Ruth’s laughing eyes and smiled before turning back to the potatoes. Any wedding would be months off, yet, but she would be glad to have her future husband at their table this night. She only hoped her father would not be too hard on Seth, and she would try to have faith that Seth would understand her thoughts toward her business.
7
Supper was nearly ready when Ezra returned to the house.
“Where is Seth?” Ruth asked when her brother came into the kitchen.
“Seeing to his horse,” Ezra answered. “He will be joining us for supper.”
With that simple statement, Naomi’s father left the room, and Naomi and Ruth exchanged pleased looks.
“You had best finish setting the table, child,” Ruth said.
Naomi hurried to comply, adding clean linens and condiments to go with the pork, sauerkraut, boiled potatoes, and scalloped apples. She had just set the bowl of apples on the table when the door opened.
“Seth!”
Seth grinned and entered, reaching out to give her hand a brief squeeze.
“Your father told me to come right in.”
“I am so glad you are staying. It went well, then?”
He grimaced briefly. “Sometimes I think your father is so very serious, and then when I think I have failed utterly to give the right answer, he gets this twinkle in his eye.”
Naomi giggled. “You will get used to him.”
“Yes, I will,” Seth said, his voice turning serious.
Their eyes met for a long moment, and Naomi felt her heart turn over. They had spent so little time together, but somehow she knew he was the one with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life. Deciding that there was nothing to be gained by delaying the discussion, Naomi took a deep breath and looked at the man she hoped to marry.
“Seth, there is something I would speak with you about after dinner.”
Seth looked at her with a smile. “What, breaking up with me so soon?”
Naomi smiled back and hoped that Ruth was right – that God would find a way to work everything out. “Of course not. There’s just something important to me that I want to talk to you about.”
They heard the slap of the back door closing, and Naomi glanced toward the kitchen.
“Supper is almost ready,” she said.
Seth reached for Naomi’s hand. “I look forward to our talk after supper.” He released her hand and Naomi slipped back into the kitchen.
Five minutes later they were seated around the dining room table. They passed the food around the table, said their silent prayers, and supper began.
“This is delicious,” Seth remarked, after taking his first bite of pork and apple.
“Thank you, Seth. It is my grandmother’s recipe.” Ruth replied.
“I appreciate the invitation for dinner,” he said, smiling warmly at the older woman. “Especially since I just showed up on the doorstep unannounced.”
Dinner with Seth couldn’t have been more different than the awkward meal they’d shared with the Hostetlers. No glares from Hannah, and no criticism from Joseph. The conversation ranging widely moved smoothly and easily.
“I am trying to talk my father into breeding our own horses,” Seth said at one point while accepting the bowl of potatoes from Ezra for a second helping. “I have been talking with Herr Byler about what he has accomplished on his own farm, and I think it would be a good thing for others to do what he does, so we would know the horses we have are both sound and trainable.”
Ezra was nodding t
houghtfully. “Is your father interested?”
“Not really,” Seth said, shaking his head. “We have the space, but we would need to build a new barn—one specifically designed for breeding and raising horses. It could be done,” he added. “But it would mean a lot of work and a significant investment of both time and money. Even with Jacob gone, there are still plenty of hands to build the barn, but my father has balked at the money we would have to invest to buy horses for breeding and lumber for the structure.”
Ezra pushed his plate aside and sat back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“You have said you wish to marry our Naomi,” he said, and Naomi held her breath in anticipation.
“I do.”
“Would you only wish to live on your family’s farm, or would you consider a new place?”
Naomi saw Seth start at the question.
“The last thing I would want is for Miriam to feel as though she needs to leave her home,” Seth said carefully. “Whether or not she remarries, my family’s farm is her home, now, and I know my mother would be devastated if she left and took the children away. When I marry, I think I will need to build somewhere else, especially since my father has shown little inclination to participate in my plans to breed horses.”
Ezra nodded once more and turned to study the younger man.
“You have seen what we have here. We would need to build another barn, but there is no reason we could not. We have plenty of room and fertile fields for both grazing and hay production. While I did not wish to have Abram’s dairy right here, I think horses would be fine. Who knows, Seth, maybe the Lord will even send you someone with money to invest in your plans.”
Ezra looked at Naomi as if he could read her mind, and she was stunned at both his perception and his vision. She saw the twinkle in her father’s eyes and knew he approved of Seth and his plans. She reached out under the table to take Ruth’s hand held on as if her life depended on it.
Seth looked at Ezra, placed his palms on the table and marveled at the blessings God had bestowed that day. “I think that would be a fine idea, Herr Miller.”
Romance In Amish Country Series Boxed Set: 1-3 Naomi's Story; Miriam's Story; Ruth's Story Page 4