“Is that all?” Andrew snickered and gave his horse’s flanks a couple of pats. “Did you remind her that couples have been gettin’ married for hundreds of years?”
Sarah grimaced. “I’m sure she knows that. I just think it’s hard for her not to have a suitor of her own.”
“That will happen in God’s time.”
“Maybe so, but Rebekah has told me often enough that she doesn’t think anyone would want to marry her because of her disability.”
“ Puh!” He waved a hand. “That’s just plain lecherich.”
“You may think it’s ridiculous, but our daughter is convinced she will be en alt maedel for the rest of her life.”
“She’ll only be an old maid if she closes her mind to love.” Andrew’s eyebrows drew together. “Maybe I should ask my sister to have a little talk with her because Miriam knows firsthand what heartache that kind of thinking can bring.”
“But Mim’s happily married now.”
“That’s just the point. She used to be en alt maedel, but she finally woke up and realized she could be happy being married to Amos.”
Sarah shook her head. “Need I remind you that it wasn’t so in the beginning of their marriage? It took some time before Mim allowed herself to fall in love with Amos.”
“You’re right, which just goes to show that given a little time, Rebekah might fall in love with some lucky fellow, too.”
“Any idea who that could be?”
He shrugged. “I might have a clue or two.”
“You think it’s Daniel Beachy?”
“Could be. From what I’ve noticed whenever he’s around Rebekah, I’d say he’s got more than a passing interest.”
“Can you think of any way we can get the two of them together?”
Andrew let go of the harness and drew Sarah into his arms. “I think we need to leave that matter in God’s hands, don’t you?”
“I guess you’re right,” she said, nestling against his muscular chest. “But it wouldn’t hurt for us to pray about the matter.”
“No, of course not.”
“And maybe a little talk with Mim about this wouldn’t hurt, either.”
“If I don’t forget, I’ll mention it to her.”
Sarah stood on tiptoes and kissed the end of her husband’s nose. “I love you, Andrew Stoltzfus.”
“And I love you,” he said, kissing her upturned mouth.
CHAPTER 15
When Rebekah and her family arrived at the Hiltys’ for Mary Ellen and Johnny’s wedding, she noticed right away that already there were several gray-topped buggies lined up in the yard, along with a few of the black, open courting buggies. Some of their English friends and neighbors were also present because a couple of vans and several cars were parked nearby, too.
As soon as Dad had parked their buggy and unhitched the horse, they were greeted by one of the six teenage boys, known as the “hostlers,” whose job it was to lead the horses away and tie them in the barn.
Their hostler, Paul Troyer, greeted them with a smile. “Looks like there’s gonna be a lot of people here today. Guess my biggest job will be to help feed all the horses around noontime.”
Dad nodded. “That will be quite a job all right, but I’m sure you boys are up to the challenge.”
“Jah, and because there ain’t enough room to tie all the horses on the lower level of the barn where they’ll be fed, the horses from the upper level will have to trade places with the others when it’s their turn to eat,” Paul said as he grabbed hold of Dad’s horse. “That will make it an even bigger job.”
Dad nodded; then he smiled down at Rebekah. “Guess we’d better get you inside. Since you’re one of Mary Ellen’s newehockers, you’ll need to get yourself in place soon, I expect.”
Rebekah returned his smile, even though her stomach was doing little flip-flops. She would be losing her best friend to Johnny Yoder today, which was hard enough to deal with, but knowing she would never have the privilege of becoming a bride herself was almost too painful to bear.
The wedding began promptly at eight thirty with the chantlike singing of a song from the Amish hymnal, the Ausbund. As the people began the third line of the hymn, the ministers stood and made their way up the stairs to a room that had been prepared for them on the second floor. Mary Ellen and Johnny followed, but their attendants waited downstairs.
Rebekah sat in her wheelchair, fidgeting with the corner of her apron and wondering what was being said to the bride and groom in the room above. She nearly broke into tears when she glanced over at Daniel and saw his somber expression. Surely his heart must be broken because Mary Ellen had chosen Johnny and not him.
When the wedding couple returned to the main room and had taken their seats again, the congregation sang another song. The ministers reentered the room during the final verse and also sat down. Abe Landis, one of the ministers, gave a message, which was followed by a period of silent prayer and scripture reading. Then, Bishop Benner rose and began the main sermon.
Rebekah glanced at Daniel again, and he must have caught her looking at him, for he flashed her a grin. Rebekah’s heart did a silly little dance, and she averted his gaze. She figured he was only being friendly, but oh, how she wished it could be more.
The truth hit Rebekah with such force she felt like one of Dad’s bulls running at full speed had slammed into her. She was in love with Daniel Beachy. The problem was she couldn’t do anything about it. Daniel didn’t share her feelings of love, and even if he did, her disability would stand in the way of them being together.
The bishop asked the bride and groom to stand before him then, and Rebekah’s attention snapped to the front of the room.
Mary Ellen, looking happy and more beautiful than ever, wore a blue cotton dress draped with a white cape and apron. Johnny looked quite dashing, too, in his white shirt, black trousers, black vest, and matching jacket.
Rebekah listened attentively as the young couple answered each one of Bishop Benner’s questions, asking if they would be loyal to one another in sickness or adversity and stay together until death separated them. When the bishop placed Mary Ellen’s right hand in Johnny’s left hand and pronounced the blessing, Rebekah’s eyes stung with tears. She squeezed them shut, hoping to keep the dam from bursting wide open. Why do I have to be handicapped? Why can’t I be like the other young women I know? She swallowed hard, struggling against the sob rising in her throat. Dear God, please fill my life in such a way that I won’t miss having love or marriage. Give me peace in my heart, like only You can give.
Rebekah opened her eyes in time to hear the bishop say, “Go forth in the name of the Lord. You are now man and wife.” Johnny and Mary Ellen seemed to radiate a blissful glow as they returned to their seats. In a short time, the wedding feast would begin, and so would Mary Ellen’s new life as Mrs. Johnny Yoder.
***
After the tables had been set up to replace the benches that had been used during the wedding service, and then each of them covered with tablecloths, the eating utensils were put in place. From the temporary kitchen located in the basement, to the eating areas in the living room and upstairs kitchen, foot traffic was heavy and continuous. Food for all courses was soon placed on the tables, beginning with the main course, which included roasted chicken, bread filling, and mashed potatoes. Creamed celery—a traditional wedding dish—coleslaw, applesauce, pies, doughnuts, fruit salad, pudding, bread, butter, jelly, and coffee finished out the meal.
As soon as everything was ready, the bridal party made its entrance, with the bride, groom, and their attendants entering single file.
When Rebekah wheeled her chair in behind Mary Ellen and Johnny, she noticed the jars of select celery she’d dried the day before, which had been spaced at regular intervals on each of the tables so that the leaves formed a flowerlike arrangement. She was pleased to see that the two bouquets of flowers Mary Ellen had selected from her greenhouse were also on the tables.
A special
tablecloth from the bride’s hope chest adorned the eck, the corner table where the bride and groom would sit. On this table sat three cakes that had been made by some of Mary Ellen’s friends. A more elaborate cake that had been bought from a bakery in town bore the words, “Congratulations, Johnny and Mary Ellen,” across the top in yellow icing.
Also on the eck were pretty dishes filled with candy, nuts, and fancy fruits, as well as some platters full of lunch meats, crackers, and dips.
After each of the tables had filled with the first group of guests, everyone paused for silent prayer. Then, as the people ate, the waiters and waitresses scurried about supplying more food and tending to everyone’s needs. When they had all eaten their fill, another silent prayer was said, and the tables were quickly vacated so the next group could be fed.
After the meal, the young folks had some free time to mill around and visit. Mary Ellen invited several of the young women to go upstairs with her and look at some of the wedding presents she’d received, while Johnny went out to the barn to visit with some of his friends.
Rebekah, feeling the need for some fresh air and not wanting to put anyone through the trouble of carrying her upstairs, declined Mary Ellen’s offer to view the gifts and said she wanted to go outside for a while.
“You do look flushed,” Mary Ellen said with a note of concern. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine. It’s just a bit too warm and stuffy in here for me.”
Mary Ellen leaned over and gave Rebekah a hug. “All right, then. See you a little later.”
Rebekah wheeled out the door and down the ramp. As soon as she was on the lawn, she caught sight of Daniel standing under a leafy maple tree with one of his brothers. He smiled and nodded as he clasped Harold’s shoulder.
Rebekah turned her wheelchair toward Aunt Mim’s garden, wondering how Daniel could appear so happy when he had just lost the girl he loved to Johnny. As she reached the edge of the garden, she noticed a few late-blooming chrysanthemums and geraniums, as well as several kinds of flourishing herbs. Their pungent aroma drifted on the wind, and Rebekah sniffed deeply, drinking in the serenity of it all. “A garden is my favorite place to be,” she murmured.
“Jah, mine, too.”
Rebekah jerked at the sound of Daniel’s deep voice. “I—I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”
“I saw you come out and thought I’d join you. That is, if you don’t mind my company.”
“Of course not.”
Daniel grabbed the handles of her chair and pushed it down the wider path. They moved in silence for a time, until he stopped and stepped in front of the wheelchair. “What did you think of the wedding, Rebekah?”
“It was very nice, and I ate more than my share of the good food we were served.”
He grinned and nodded in agreement. “Do you think God brought Johnny and Mary Ellen together?”
“I believe Mary Ellen and Johnny would say so.”
“They do seem to be very much in love, don’t they?”
“Jah.” Rebekah was tempted to ask if Daniel was terribly disappointed that he hadn’t been Mary Ellen’s choice for a husband, but she didn’t think that would be a fitting thing to say. Besides, if Daniel was grieving, the reminder might make him feel worse than he already did.
Daniel went back to pushing her chair until he came to a wooden bench. He stopped next to it and took a seat. “I was wondering,” he said, looking straight ahead.
“What were you wondering?”
“There’s going to be another singing this Sunday night over at the Yutzys’ place. Do you plan to go?”
Rebekah shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
He stole a quick glance at her. “I thought I might go to this one. They’ll be having a bonfire with a hot-dog roast and marshmallows. It might be kind of fun, and it may be the last time we can have an outside gathering such as this before the snow flies.”
Rebekah pursed her lips as she stared down at her hands, folded in her lap.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just that—well, it’s hard for me to go to singings and such when I can’t do much of anything but sit and watch from the sidelines.”
“I understand, but—”
“No, you don’t understand! You’re not stuck in a wheelchair like me. No one with a pair of good legs understands what it’s like to be confined in this chair or to be forced to walk with stiff leg braces and cumbersome crutches.”
Tears welled in Rebekah’s eyes, and she was powerless to stop them from dribbling onto her cheeks. She sniffed and reached up to wipe them away.
Daniel sat for several seconds, staring at the garden foliage. Finally, he turned to Rebekah and said, “Okay, so I don’t understand what it’s like to be in your place, but I don’t think you should let your handicap keep you from living.”
“I–I’m not. I own a greenhouse now, and that keeps me plenty busy. If that’s not living, then I don’t know what is.”
“You do keep busy working, but what about having fun?”
She nearly choked on the lump in her throat and had to swallow a couple of times before she could respond. “I—I enjoy playing games and putting puzzles together with my family. That’s fun. And of course, I still have the column I write for The Budget. It’s fun whenever someone tells me something humorous that has happened to them.”
“That’s all well and good, but don’t you think you should spend more time with other young people your age?”
“I do. Sometimes. I mean, I spend time with my sister and brother, and of course, Mary Ellen.”
“Jah, well, I think you should go to the singing next Sunday, because I’ll be there—and it wouldn’t be the same without you.”
Hope welled in Rebekah’s soul. Was Daniel asking her to meet him at the singing, kind of like a date? If she went, was there a chance that he might ask if he could take her home in his courting buggy afterward? She wanted that more than anything, even if they couldn’t have a future together. It would be so wonderful to experience what other young women did when they got to ride home with some special fellow—if only just once.
Throwing her doubts and fears aside, Rebekah looked over at Daniel and smiled. “Jah, okay. I’ll try to be at the singing.”
CHAPTER 16
Now that the time had come to go to the singing, Rebekah had second thoughts about attending. However, the idea of seeing Daniel again won out, and she and Simon were on their way to the Yutzys’ in his open courting buggy. The wind whipped against Rebekah’s face and stung her nose like a swarm of buzzing bumblebees, but she didn’t mind. The sky was clear and full of twinkling stars, and the air was as cool and crisp as a tasty winter apple. To her way of thinking, this was perfect weather for a bonfire—and the perfect night for what she hoped would be her first ride in Daniel’s courting buggy.
It will seem odd not to see Mary Ellen there tonight, Rebekah thought regrettably. Now that Mary Ellen and Johnny were married, they would no longer be attending any of the young people’s activities. Mary Ellen’s days of flirting with the boys and running around looking so cute had come to an end because she was now a hausfraa.
Rebekah moaned softly. I wonder what it would be like to be a housewife with a home of my own to manage? Even a house right next door to Mom and Dad or one that was built on the same property as theirs would make me feel so thankful and independent. Maybe if I become financially self-reliant, Dad will build me a small house. It would have to be near family, of course—in case of an emergency.
Rebekah supposed she would always need someone in the family to look out for her unless she could make enough money to hire a maid to do the things she couldn’t do for herself. But since she couldn’t be sure how well the greenhouse would do in the days ahead, there were no guarantees of that, either.
“Now what’s that old frown about?” Simon asked, nudging Rebekah’s arm with his elbow. “We’re on our way to a singing, and there’s bound to be lots of g
ood food, fun, and games, so you should be smiling, not frowning like some old sourpuss. Are you feeling sad about something, sister?”
Rebekah managed a weak smile, knowing if she didn’t, he would probably needle her all the way to the singing. “I’m not really sad. I was just thinking about something, that’s all.”
“Like what?” he asked, flicking the reins a couple of times to get the horse moving faster.
“It was nothing important, and I’d rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.” She wasn’t about to tell her brother that she was nervous about seeing Daniel tonight or that she’d been fretting over whether she might be able to support herself. He would just accuse her of being a worrywart, and he’d probably tease her about Daniel, too.
“Well, if you want to be an old stick-in-the-mud, then suit yourself. I’m really looking forward to tonight, and I plan on havin’ fun whether you do or not.”
“I wouldn’t think of standing in the way of your good time.” Rebekah glanced down at her stiff legs. “Make that, sitting in the way of your good time.”
***
Daniel had just hitched a horse to his courting buggy and was preparing to head out to the singing, when his father called out to him. “Where do you think you’re goin’, son?”
“To the singing over at Yutzys’ place.”
“Not before we get the milking done. You know that don’t wait.”
Daniel released a groan. He had been in such a hurry to see Rebekah that he’d plumb forgotten about milking the cows. “Okay, Pop. I’ll be right there,” he called.
A few minutes later, Daniel entered the milking barn, where his two brothers were already hard at work on one end of the room. His father owned a diesel-operated milking machine so they didn’t have to milk all the cows by hand, but even so, the job would take more of his time than he wanted it to.
Sure hope I don’t have to do this for the rest of my life, he thought as he squatted down by one of the cows in order to get her hooked up to the milking apparatus. I’d much rather be raising plants and flowers than milking a bunch of moody old cows.
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