The Christmas Cradle

by Charlotte Hubbard

  “Ezra’s disability is the reason the preachers have allowed her to cook with ya,” he agreed. “We felt the benefits of bendin’ the rules about married women workin’ outweighed the risks of displeasin’ God. And maybe we’ve all acted mighty presumptuous, assumin’ our decisions have been right in His eyes.”

  Miriam rested her pastry tube on the countertop. “Ya said a mouthful there, Tom,” she murmured. “I’ll do the right thing, then. I’ll tell Naomi I won’t be comin’ back next week, and God will take it from there.”

  She closed her eyes, not ready to face the finality of that statement. “I appreciate your patience with me, Tom,” Miriam whispered. “Ya could’ve ordered me to kneel before the members and confess that I’ve been sinnin’ by continuin’ to work. You’re a gut friend.”

  Tom chuckled, his eyes sparkling with relief. “The way I see it, we’re gut friends who’ve been bad together, but we’re makin’ it right. Denki for understandin’ why this has been difficult for me, Miriam. I think God’ll forgive my lenience quicker because you’re puttin’ in a gut word for both our souls.”

  “Jah, I’ll soon have plenty of time for prayin’.”

  A heavy stillness pressed in around her. Miriam closed her eyes and sat absolutely still.

  She’d done it. She’d told the bishop she’d be a stay-at-home wife starting next Monday, no matter what the consequences might be for the Sweet Seasons and her best friend. Eventually her faith would kick in and she would believe she’d done exactly what God wanted her to do, but Miriam had to squeeze her eyes tight to keep from crying. Tom put his hand on her shoulder, allowing her a moment to compose herself.

  The back door creaked and Josiah stuck his head inside. “I’ll be propping this door open while I carry in the cooked pigs,” he announced.

  Miriam shared a smile with Tom. “Do what ya need to do, Josiah,” she called out. “I’ll stay out of your way.”

  “Let me know how I can help,” Tom offered.

  Josiah entered and quickly covered the other countertop with a plastic sheet. “Denki, Bishop, but I’ve been handling these hot, heavy beasts for a long while. I’ve got it covered.”

  I’ve got it covered.

  Miriam told herself that was exactly how God saw her situation with the Sweet Seasons. It would take her a while to adjust to not being in charge—but then, she’d been silly to believe the café’s success was her own doing. It was God who’d helped her business prosper. And it was high time she gave Him credit and praise for that.

  Chapter Ten

  As Josiah refilled the metal pans with pulled pork, ribs, and sliced brisket at the wedding feast, he felt absolutely ecstatic. He was amazed at how many tables had been set up in the Brennemans’ shop, and at how many folks had filed through the serving line. Savilla was putting her last pan of spaghetti pie into the steam table, so he motioned to Adam and Matthias Wagler, who were helping them move food from the Sweet Seasons ovens.

  “Better fetch us more chicken and pulled pork, along with potato loaf and spaghetti pie,” he told the brothers.

  “Bring more baked beans and fried apples while you’re at it,” Savilla chimed in. “These folks are really loading their plates!”

  Matthias smiled and held Savilla’s gaze. “This is quite a feast you’re putting on,” he said. “I’m glad I can see the end of the line, because then I’ll get my chance to taste everything—and I hope you’ll sit with me, Savilla.”

  As the Wagler brothers grabbed the handles on their high-sided wagons, Josiah suspected Matthias was flirting with his sister—just as the other unattached fellows had been giving her the eye as they went through the serving line. Maybe Miriam’s question about what he’d do if his sister got hitched wasn’t so far-fetched.

  He glanced behind him, where Lena and Miriam sat cutting pies. Other ladies moved around the huge room, refilling water glasses and bread baskets. Their service was seamless, a sign that these gals had worked together for years. Up on the eck—the raised corner table where the wedding party sat—Nora and Luke beamed at each other as they ate.

  Josiah sighed. The newlyweds seemed so in love, so close, even though they’d only been married for a couple of hours. He wondered if he and Lena could spend even ten minutes together without squabbling. Were they really so different from other couples, or did those folks hold their harsh words until no one else was around to hear them? Was their tendency toward confrontation a sign that he and Lena shouldn’t marry—or did he cause their turmoil? Miriam’s words about doing everything his way were making Josiah think in ways he hadn’t before.

  “I’ve been hungry ever since you fired up your cookers a couple of days ago,” a broad-shouldered fellow remarked as he reached across the steam table to shake Josiah’s hand. “Dan Kanagy, and this is my wife Leah—Miriam’s sister,” he added. “We live down the lane behind here, where the sheep are pastured.”

  “And if this is the sort of food you’d be serving during a supper shift,” Leah said as she grabbed a grilled chicken quarter with tongs, “you’re already a huge hit!”

  “That’s what we like to hear,” Josiah replied, grinning at his sister. “Savilla and I have catered for a few years now, so we make a pretty gut team.”

  As Dan and Leah moved through the line, Josiah noticed that a black-haired man with a close-clipped beard, piercing eyes, and a commanding presence had taken a plate. The stranger stood for a moment, assessing the various pans of food on the buffet line. His face eased into a debonair smile as he leaned closer to speak to Savilla. “Do I understand correctly that you are in charge of these fabulous side dishes while Josiah grills the meat?” he asked in a melodious voice.

  Savilla returned his smile and then gestured for Adam and Matthias to pull their loaded wagons into the space behind her. “Jah, we stick with what folks seem to like best. Nothing fancy, just gut food.”

  When the man’s focus shifted to him, Josiah got a prickly feeling in his stomach. The charm that had oozed while this fellow spoke to his sister was hardening into an expression of extreme ill will.

  “Hiram Knepp,” Matthias muttered. “What brings you to this party?”

  “If you figure to bother Annie Mae and the rest of our family, ya better get on out of here,” Adam said sternly.

  In a flash, Josiah realized he’d made a couple of huge mistakes: hooking up with Knepp in the first place and then not contacting him as Ben had recommended. He also knew he was about to start paying for his lack of judgment right this moment. Was it his imagination or had the whole dining area—where a couple hundred people were eating—gone totally silent?

  “My business doesn’t concern you, Wagler,” Hiram replied in a clipped tone. “I have an agreement with Josiah Witmer, who signed on to cook for me in Higher Ground. It seems he’s made himself right at home in Willow Ridge instead, and I demand an explanation.”

  Savilla’s face had gone pale, but she found her voice before Josiah did. “The way I understand it, Mr. Knepp, my brother merely talked with you over the phone. So—”

  “We stopped in Willow Ridge because we got lost in a snowstorm.” Lena spoke up behind Josiah. She came to stand beside him, glaring up at Knepp. “And since then, we’ve been told that things in Higher Ground aren’t the way you made them out to be.”

  “This wedding party’s not the time or place to be bringin’ up such business and you know it, Hiram.” Ben, who’d been chatting with folks at a nearby table, stepped up beside Savilla, crossing his arms as he scowled at Knepp. “We’ve told ya not to return here, so you’d best move along.”

  Hiram’s smile turned menacing. “And I’ve told you that I’ll go wherever I please, Hooley,” he shot back. He sneered at Josiah. “Cat got your tongue, Witmer? I’m hearing from everyone except you—excuses that have nothing to do with your agreement to cook at my supper club.”

  “Where is this so-called supper club?” Bishop Tom demanded. He was wiping barbeque sauce from his face with a napkin, look
ing stern and stiff—quite unlike the patient, easygoing bishop of Willow Ridge Josiah had seen previously. “Josiah and I have both driven through Higher Ground and we’ve seen no evidence of such a place. Folks hereabouts have warned him it’s a hoax—”

  “You’re out of line, Hostetler.” Knepp’s voice was rising with the color in his face. “When I see this spread the Witmers have put on, I’m inclined to call my lawyer to—well, Miriam,” he exclaimed in a theatrical voice. “Here you are, just bursting with a child you swore to me you couldn’t conceive! Why do I suspect you snatched Josiah away to cook in your restaurant because you’ll soon be indisposed? You’re going straight to hell for lying—”

  “And you’ve got a date with the sheriff, Hiram,” Luke Hooley announced as he, too, approached the steam table. He held up his cell phone. “Remember when you were harassing Nora in her shop and I told you I had the law on speed dial? Sheriff Banks and Officer McClatchey are on their way.”

  “We didn’t invite you in the first place,” Nora said as she stalked up beside Hiram to glare at him. “Nobody here believes a word you say anymore, so why would we let Josiah and his sister fall into your trap?”

  Josiah couldn’t believe the way people were approaching the buffet table to stand in support of him, scowling at their former bishop as though they’d rather lynch him than listen to him. He heard a siren approaching and caught the flash of red and blue lights through the window. Within moments, a portly fellow wearing a brown uniform and a sheriff’s star came inside, followed by a younger, fitter lawman. Their no-nonsense expressions told Josiah they were well acquainted with the man who’d been stirring up such a hornet’s nest.

  “Got a call that you’ve been disturbing the peace again, Knepp,” the sheriff said as he came to stand beside Hiram.

  The younger fellow, whose badge flashed MCCLATCHEY, went immediately to Hiram’s other side and snapped a handcuff around his wrist.

  “You’re violating my rights!” Hiram cried as he tried to jerk free. “I have the right to be present at a public gathering—the right to an attorney—”

  “We’ll add resisting arrest and contempt of court to the original charge,” the sheriff said as he held Hiram’s other arm so McClatchey could finish cuffing him. “You didn’t show up for your last two meetings with your parole officer, so you were in trouble long before Luke informed us of your whereabouts. Let’s go, Knepp.”

  Josiah’s eyes widened with each of the charges the sheriff reeled off. During his phone interview, he’d had no idea Hiram was in hot water with the law or even inclined to cause trouble. Guided by the sheriff’s beefy hand around his upper arm, Knepp went toward the door—but then he turned.

  “Witmer, I’m not finished with you,” he announced. “We had a business agreement and you’re going to uphold your end of it. I’ll see you in court if I have to.”

  “Move along,” Officer McClatchey said as he turned Knepp toward the exit again. Everyone watched through the windows as the sheriff escorted his charge to the police car. Then Officer McClatchey came inside again. “Sorry you folks had to put up with such a disturbance—and congratulations, Luke and Nora. Can’t say I’ve ever had to come to a wedding under such unfortunate circumstances.”

  “Please come eat with us,” Nora replied. “We’ve got all this fabulous food—and you won’t want to miss the wedding cake Miriam made.”

  “I’d be happy to have a piece soon as I file this report,” the lawman said with a grin.

  Bishop Tom stepped forward, looking relieved but curious. “I’m not up on legal lingo, so I’ve gotta ask ya,” he said earnestly. “What’s a parole officer? And what’d Sheriff Banks mean when he was talkin’ about contempt of court? Sounds serious.”

  Officer McClatchey sighed regretfully. “You remember how Hiram had a young gal living with him in Higher Ground? Well, she left him,” he explained.

  “That would be Delilah,” Adam Wagler murmured. “Sounds like she got smart.”

  “When Hiram found her and tried to make her come back, a neighbor called us about a domestic disturbance at his place,” the lawman went on. “He served some jail time, and meanwhile, Delilah filed a restraining order—which means Hiram was legally forbidden to speak with her or to be around her.”

  “My word,” Miriam murmured. “Sounds like he’s toppled over the edge.”

  Officer McClatchey nodded. “Once Knepp got out of jail he was to report to his parole officer every week,” he explained. “Twice now he hasn’t shown up, and Delilah’s recently informed us that he’s made some threatening phone calls. So that means he’s in contempt of court because he refused to abide by the rules the judge set. It’s complicated.”

  “It’s a cryin’ shame our former bishop’s sunk so low,” Ben remarked. “Josiah, I’m even more grateful that God convinced ya to stay here with us rather than goin’ on to Higher Ground. It’s a real cesspool Hiram’s swimmin’ in.”

  Josiah’s head was spinning with all the startling information he’d heard. “I—I am so sorry,” he blurted out as he looked at Ben and then Miriam. “You warned me about Knepp—told me to get out of the deal we’d made—and now I’ve brought all this trouble to Willow Ridge. And I’ve ruined your wedding feast, Luke and Nora. I can’t possibly charge you for this meal when it’s my fault that Hiram came and—”

  “Oh, no,” Luke insisted as he slung an arm around Josiah’s shoulders. “It’s nobody’s fault that Hiram does what he does, and if anybody thinks we’ve got him under control, he’s delusional. You and Savilla have cooked up a wedding feast way beyond my expectations—”

  “And who else can say the cops arrested somebody at their wedding party?” Nora piped up with a grin. “It’s a day we’ll never forget!”

  As everyone around them chuckled, Josiah couldn’t believe how forgiving and understanding these people were—how they’d all come to his defense the moment they saw Knepp. “It’s been our pleasure to cook for your party,” he told the bride and groom.

  “And we’re grateful to everyone for making us so welcome here,” Savilla said as she gazed around at the crowd. “Willow Ridge is a wonderful town.”

  “And I’m thankful for the baby gifts,” Lena spoke up in a quivering voice. “You’ve all been wonderful-gut to me—especially you, Miriam and Ben. I—I was ready to clobber Knepp when he got so nasty about you having a baby.”

  “Stand in line, Lena,” Matthias Wagler said. “I think we should get back to celebrating Luke and Nora’s wedding, but we’re all sadder and wiser because of what we’ve learned today.”

  The guests nodded, returning to their places. Josiah began removing foil-covered pans from the wagons, and within minutes the buffet had been replenished. Adam and Annie Mae filled their plates and Miriam and Ben got their meals, as well. When Lena handed him a plate, Josiah realized how hungry he was.

  “You two go ahead. I’ll tend the table until you’re done,” Savilla offered as she stirred the baked beans and fried apples. Then she took hold of his wrist, lowering her voice. “I’ll save my I-told-you-so lecture for later, little brother. I thought you’d informed Hiram we wouldn’t be cooking for him.”

  “And I deserve whatever you dish up for being too stupid to listen to Ben and Miriam,” he said ruefully. “What a mess I’ve made. What a mess Knepp’s made.”

  “At least we didn’t get sucked into his lies,” Lena insisted as she filled her plate. “The snowstorm that rerouted us to Willow Ridge was a gift from God as far as I’m concerned.”

  Josiah heaped his plate with pulled pork, brisket, and the side dishes his sister had made, grateful they’d all escaped a dicey situation in Higher Ground. I’ve not paid much attention to You or my faith, he prayed quickly, but You pulled my butt out of the fire today, Lord, and I promise to listen more closely to what You’d have me do from here on out.

  It felt good to sit down at the table where Lena and Miriam had finished cutting the pies. He noticed that Matthias and Savilla wer
e filling plates, remaining at the serving table as they got better acquainted—and that seemed like a good sign.

  Josiah closed his eyes over spicy-sweet baked beans and a mouthful of tender pork. The guests’ praise for the wedding food reassured him that their new supper shift would have a profitable following, and he was satisfied with the business agreement he and Miriam had written up. But it would be a long time before he stopped replaying the scene Hiram had caused, and before he could dismiss Knepp’s threats about going to court.

  Witmer, I’m not finished with you.

  Josiah heaved a tired, worried sigh. Even with the sheriff and Officer McClatchey watching out for him, he sensed he hadn’t seen the last of Hiram Knepp.

  Chapter Eleven

  After Nora and Luke had cut their tiered wedding cake, Miriam, Lena, and a few other ladies began to plate cake for the guests. Nora had decided to serve the cake right after dinner rather than later in the day, as newlyweds traditionally did. This suited Miriam because she was feeling heavy and tired—maybe because she needed to speak with Naomi about her decision not to work at the Sweet Seasons anymore.

  How should she break the news to her business partner, her cook, her best friend? As she sliced the large bottom layer of the beautiful white cake she’d made, Miriam searched for the right words and the right time. When all the guests were visiting and Lena had gone to sit with Josiah and Savilla, she smiled at Naomi. “How about us two stayin’ right here in this corner to chat?” she suggested. “I’ve got something to say, and it’s not for just anybody to hear.”

  Naomi’s brown eyes widened. She picked up two plates of cake and handed one to Miriam before scooting her chair over so they sat side by side. “I hope ya haven’t had a bad report from Andy about the baby,” she murmured.