But when we looked beyond these differences in words and actions, he said, used empathy and understanding and forgiveness, we could know a greater love: God's visible love in all areas of our lives.
Mary Katherine found herself thinking about Ike's words long after he had finished. When she realized people were milling around, getting ready to leave, she looked for her grandmother.
"Have you seen Mamm and Dat?" Mary Katherine asked her when she found her in the kitchen.
"I spoke with your mother yesterday, and she said your dat had wrenched his knee planting. She wasn't sure they'd be here today."
"Oh." She looked around.
"I believe Jacob just walked outside."
"I don't want to—"
"Remember how Jacob was worried Daniel might steal you away?"
"Well, I don't think those were his exact words but—"
"I saw Becky Raber follow him outside."
With a swish of skirts, Leah turned and headed toward the kitchen door.
Mary Katherine considered that for a moment. Becky was a sweet girl but a big flirt. Mary Katherine might think she had time to talk to Jacob, but Becky moved fast . . .
Jacob exchanged a greeting with Matthew Bontrager and Chris Matlock as he went to get his buggy.
"How's planting going?" Matthew asked.
"Gut. Yours?"
"Gut. God had a wonderful plan when he put a brother-in-law on the farm next to me. Chris has been helping me."
"And Matthew's been helping me," Chris responded.
Jacob had known Matthew all his life since they had grown up here together. But Chris had been Englisch, like Matthew's wife, Jenny, and studied to join the Amish church when he married Matthew's sister, Hannah.
Amish life was so different from what the Englisch thought that Jacob knew some were surprised at how well Jenny and then Chris had acclimated.
"Can I hitch up your buggy for you, Jacob?"
He smiled at Joshua, Matthew's son and Jenny's stepson who'd grown up to be a horse-loving preteen who'd live in a barn if he could.
"Schur," he said. "Danki."
Jacob chatted about the weather—a favorite topic of farmers—until Joshua led his horse and buggy to him.
"Are you going for a picnic, Jacob?" Joshua jerked his head at the picnic basket in the back of the buggy.
Surprised, Jacob stepped forward to look. He'd never seen it before.
"Jacob!"
He spun around. "Mary Katherine! Guder mariye."
The others faded away as he stepped toward her. "It's so gut to see you."
"You, too." She stood there, watching him with her hands clasped in front of her.
If he didn't know her so well, he wouldn't have seen how she did that with her hands to still their nervous movements. She was nervous. Not angry. Maybe he had a chance . . .
She looked past him and her eyebrows went up in surprise. "What's my grandmother's picnic basket doing in your buggy?"
"I don't know, Little Red Riding Hood. Did you put it there?"
Laughing, she shook her head. "Nee."
"Well, I think we should put it to good use, don't you?"
Glancing back, she saw her grandmother, Anna, and Naomi standing on the porch, looking expectantly toward them.
"Ya, we shouldn't disappoint them."
They hadn't gone a block when Mary Katherine shook her head and waved her hands. "Stop! Stop!"
Jacob pulled over, off the road. "What's the matter? Are you feeling sick?"
She stared out her window. "I'm sorry. I can't do this."
"Do—what?"
"I can't go on some picnic with you and have you say 'I'm sorry' and everything's okay!"
He blinked. "Wow."
"Yeah, wow," she muttered.
She jerked back when he took her hands, and tried to pull them away. But he wouldn't let her.
"I tried to apologize—"
"I trusted you to not hurt me!" She looked down at their joined hands and felt him jerk when a tear dripped down her cheek and plopped on them.
"I was so caught up in my own pain I didn't think what it would do to you," he admitted, rubbing the fragile, sensitive skin on her wrists. "I thought I'd lost you to Daniel."
"I've had enough years of living with a man who never thought of my feelings. I can't do that again. I won't do that again. It's not good for either of us."
"I know. I know." He leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry. I can't explain about jealousy."
"It's misplaced. I've never given you reason to think he meant anything to me."
"Jealousy isn't reasonable. Or logical."
"I know." She laughed self-deprecatingly. "Well, I didn't before today. Then my grandmother pointed out to me that she'd seen you go outside and Becky Raber follow you."
He stared at her with dawning understanding. "You were jealous?"
"Cautious," she said, lifting her chin. "Not willing to let someone else move in—"
"Jealous!" he accused, grinning.
She hesitated, and then she nodded, smiling reluctantly.
His laugh was delighted. "So you can understand about jealousy?"
"Don't you dare try to make this the same as what you did!"
His grin faded. "No, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he said again. "I'll say it again and again until you believe me. Until it's enough."
"You've said it enough for this time. But what about next time?"
"Next time? There's not going to be a next time."
"You can't promise you won't hurt me again."
A car horn honked, startling Jacob's horse. He spent the next few moments getting him under control.
He turned to her. "Let's go to that little park down the road."
She nodded.
He took them to a small park that bordered a pond. After a long, cold winter, it was a pleasure to spread out a quilt and sit on it. The sun felt warm on her face. Daffodils danced as a gentle breeze drifted through them.
Mary Katherine smiled as she watched a mother duck lead her little ducklings to the water.
Jacob reached over and ran a fingertip across her lips, his eyes dark with desire. "I've missed that smile. I've missed you."
"Me, too." His touch was sending shivers through her. Her cheeks heated, and she found her breath started coming faster.
His hand moved to cup her cheek and he moved closer, bending to kiss her.
An Englisch couple walked past and looked at them curiously.
"We could go someplace where we can be more private."
"Is that a good idea?" she asked, licking her suddenly dry lips.
"No. You're right."
"I don't want to be right." Disappointed, she opened the top lid of the picnic basket, then shut it again.
He sighed heavily. "I just planted my fields."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, I'm sorry, but I don't really care about that right now." She could hear the slight note of petulance in her voice, but she didn't care.
"You hate farming that much?"
"No," she said at last. "I'll love it because I love you." She blushed when she realized what she'd blurted out.
"Danki. For saying it first. I didn't think I'd hear those words." He took a deep breath. "I didn't think I deserved them."
Turning back, she studied him. "Why wouldn't you deserve them?"
"I'm not smooth talking like Daniel. Or as wealthy."
"Oh, so now I'm shallow and acquisitive." She glared at him.
"No. According to my sister, Rebecca, I didn't think I had anything to offer you."
"You have yourself, Jacob Miller. What more would I want?"
"And we just planted," he said again, his voice heavy with regret.
"There are those fields again. You're obsessed—"
He leaned forward and kissed her, hard. "There's something you're forgetting."
She touched her fingers to her tingling lips. "I'll never forget that."
&nb
sp; "We can't get married until the fall harvest."
"Oh," she said.
He laughed. "Yeah. Oh."
His humor faded. He took her hand, and his clasp was so warm, so reassuring. "I'm sorry I let my feelings about hearing you'd been with Daniel ruin your news about joining the church that day."
"It's okay."
"It's not okay."
"No," she said. "But as long as it doesn't happen again." She looked him in the eye. "I won't be my mother. I won't become a quiet little mouse about things."
"From what I saw today, I don't think that'll happen."
"And I won't let you be like my father."
"That's never going to happen," he said firmly.
She took a deep breath. "I'm scared."
"Scared? Of what?"
"You," she said, and watched the expression of shock spread across his handsome face.
She was afraid of him?
Jacob felt numb. He loved her. How could she think he'd hurt her? He'd never do that.
Then a horrible thought struck him.
"Mary Katherine, did your father hurt you?"
"Oh, my, not the way you're thinking!" she cried. "You can't think that of him!"
"He never beat you?"
She shook her head violently.
"Or . . . touched you?"
Her face turned white. "No!"
"Then tell me," he said. "Help me understand."
"You don't have to do the things you mentioned to hurt someone," she said slowly. "Sometimes words are enough."
He let out the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "I know." He sighed. "I can't promise never to hurt you with words—"
"I know—"
"Let me finish." He took her hands in his and was relieved when she let him touch her. "I'm a man who sometimes opens his mouth without thinking. My sisters and Mamm will tell you that. I've been working on that. But I promise that I'll work even harder to think before I talk, and I promise that there'll be so many more words of love that you'll hear."
"Words of love?"
"Ya." He saw he had her attention. "Like, 'I love you,' " he said, moving closer again. "Like, 'Be my beloved fraa.' " He bent his head until their lips were a breath apart. "Like, 'I hope we have many kinner and live to dangle many grandchildren on our knees.' And like, 'A hundred years with you won't be enough.' " Tears welled up in her eyes and ran down her cheeks. He pulled a snowy handkerchief from his pocket and wiped them away.
"And you thought some other man could speak better words than you?" she whispered. "Be my love, Jacob. Be my mann, and I won't fear any words from you."
She leaned forward to kiss him, and he met her lips with passion. Her head spun with dreams of this with him for years to come.
And then a thought intruded, and laughter bubbled up inside her, like a fountain of joy.
"What's so funny?" he demanded as she drew back from him.
She pressed her fingers against her mouth and her eyes danced. "I've watched too many movies with Jamie. I was thinking that you'll only hurt me if I ask you to make love to me one night and you say, 'Not tonight, dear.' "
Laughing, he shook his head and gathered her closer. "I promise you, those words are never going to leave my lips."
Jacob's Macaroni and Cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
¼ cup butter or margarine (reserve 1 tablespoon)
¼ cup flour
1 cup milk
8 ounces (½ pound) Velveeta cut in small cubes
2 cups cooked elbow macaroni (or any shape macaroni)
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (any kind—sharp, mild, etc.)
Optional: 6 buttery crackers (Ritz), crushed
Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a pan on low heat, add flour, stir, cook for about two minutes. Add milk, stir, bring to a boil without burning. Gradually add the Velveeta, stir until melted. Add macaroni. Pour into baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray or greased with some butter or margarine. Sprinkle with the cheddar. Mix remaining tablespoon butter or margarine with crumbled crackers, then sprinkle over the casserole.
Set timer for 20 minutes (this is very important). Bake casserole until heated through and top cracker crust is browned.
Amish Coffee Cake
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
¼ pound butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
Topping
½ cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Add salt, baking powder, and soda together, then add sour cream and vanilla. Pour into baking pan. Mix topping ingredients, and sprinkle over the batter. Bake for 30 minutes or until done.
Amish Zucchini Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 ounces chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
4 ounces raisins
3 eggs
2/3 cup oil
2 cups shredded zucchini
Mix ingredients (don't over-mix) and pour into 2 loaf pans. Bake for 1 hour or until done. Cool for at least 15 minutes before taking out of pans, and then cool completely on wire racks.
Glossary
ab im koff—crazy
ach—Oh
aenti—aunt
allrecht—all right
boppli—baby
bruder—brother
daed—dad
Danki—thank you
dat—father
dawdi haus—grandparent apartment at back of home
Der Hochmut kummt vor dem Fall.—Pride goeth before the fall.
Dumbkoff—dummy, stupid person
Englischer—what the Amish call us
fraa—wife
grossmudder—grandmother
Guder mariye—Good morning
gut—good
Gut-n-owed—Good evening
haus—house
hochmut—pride
kaffe—coffee
kapp—prayer covering or cap worn by girls and women
kich—kitchen
kind, kinner—child, children
kumm—come
liebschen—dearest or dear one
maedel—young woman
mamm—mother
mann—husband
nee—no
onkel—uncle
Ordnung—The rules of the Amish, both written and unwritten. Certain behavior has been expected within the Amish community for many, many years. These rules vary from community to community, but the most common are to not have electricity in the home, to not own or drive an automobile, and to dress a certain way.
Pennsylvania Deitsch—Pennsylvania German
rotrieb—red beet
rumschpringe—time period when teenagers are allowed to experience the Englisch world while deciding if they should join the church. The time period ranges in different communities but usually starts around sixteen and ends in the mid-twenties.
schul—school
schur—sure
schweschder—sister
scholars—students
sohn—son
verdraue—trust
Wie geht's—How goes it? How is it going?
Wilkumm—welcome
wunderbaar—wonderful
ya—yes
Discussion Questions
Please don't read before completing the book, as the questions contain spoilers!
Mary Katherine is restless. Have you ever had a time when you were restless? Were you aware of the reason for your restlessness, or did you only find out later why you felt that way?
Jacob seems the opposite of Mary Katherine. But there's something missi
ng in his life. What is it?
The Amish believe in traditional roles for men and women. Is that true for your family?
Do you craft or have a hobby? What is it? Why were you drawn to it? What do you get from it emotionally? What craft would you most like to learn to do?
Mary Katherine is an only child, but her cousins are like sisters to her. Do you have siblings? Is there anyone in your extended family you're closer to than a sibling?
Have you ever worked with family as Mary Katherine does? What was the experience like?
Mary Katherine thinks her restlessness means she might be happier in the Englisch world. Did you ever have a time when you thought "the grass is greener on the other side"?
What part of Amish life appeals to you most? Could you bring that to your everyday life?
Jacob has a challenging time learning to cook. What was the biggest challenge you had learning to cook?
Mary Katherine's decision to join the church feels long and arduous to her. Who do you think influences her the most and why?
Do you think God listens to you? When did you feel He didn't? What did you do?
Have you committed to a particular religion or church? Why or why not?
Stitches in Time is a very special shop run by three cousins and their grandmother. Each young woman is devoted to her Amish faith and lifestyle, each talented in a traditional Amish craft and in new ways of doing business—and yet each is unsure of her path in life and love. It will take a loving, insightful grandmother to gently guide them to see that they can weave together their traditions and their desire to create, and forge loving marriages and families of their own.
And now for a sneak peek into the first chapter of Journey of the Heart, Book 2 of Stitches in Time, Naomi's story.
1
She should be the happiest young woman in Paradise.
But Naomi dreaded being asked about her upcoming wedding. She feared she'd scream if one more person asked her about it.
Her Restless Heart Page 23