“Ja. There is Josiah,” Barbara said. “Look! They have long tables and folding chairs!”
Annie nodded, but her attention wasn’t on the furniture being unloaded from the back of the truck. It was on the men doing the work—her brother Josiah, Amos King, Samuel Lapp and his sons—and Levi Stoltzfus who had come to help out. She looked from one man to the other, settling briefly on Jacob before quickly moving on. Levi glanced over and waved. Annie grinned and waved back. She was happy to see him. She always felt comfortable in his company.
“Girls, hold up,” Mam said. “What are we going to do about these pies and cakes?”
Annie turned carefully, her arms full. “Why not leave them where they are until we can get one of the food tables set up? Unless you want to ask Charlotte if we can store them in her pantry.”
Mam nodded. “If we leave them here, the boys are liable to find and eat them.”
Annie agreed. Cradling the box of items, she approached the barn. “Noah,” she greeted. “Amos. Samuel.” Her heart skipped a beat as she and Jacob locked gazes. “Hallo, Jacob.”
“That box looks heavy,” Jacob said as he reached out to take it from her.
“Danki.” She followed him inside the barn and checked the placement of furniture.
She saw Jacob study the room. “Where would ya like me to put this?”
Annie gestured toward a table along the wall. “There would be fine.” He set the box down and she managed a smile for him when he faced her. “The room looks gut. We’ll be able to handle a lot of paying guests. Who gave us the use of all this?”
“The fire department. Jed’s construction foreman, Matt Rhoades, is a member.”
“Gut, gut,” she said. “The English will be more comfortable on chairs than on our benches.”
“Ja,” he agreed and she could sense him studying her as she inspected the room.
His scrutiny made her feel suddenly uncomfortable. “I should get to work. I have a lot of to prepare.”
He nodded. “I have things to do, as well.”
“I appreciate the help,” she offered as he started to walk away.
He stopped, glanced back. “’Twas my pleasure, Annie,” he said silkily.
Heart thumping hard, Annie watched him walk away. She had to focus on the task at hand. She drew in a steadying breath as she reached into the box for the tablecloths. Instead of plastic, the churchwomen had decided to use linens instead. She envisioned how the room would look when the tables were covered and place settings done and felt pleased.
“Annie, where are the plates and napkins?” Barbara asked. Annie hadn’t missed her sister’s approach. She gestured toward the box.
Barbara flashed a grin as she headed toward it. Their relationship was back to normal after a sisterly discussion last week. They shared a bedroom, and one evening, after they’d gone upstairs to bed, Annie had broached the subject of David Byler, the boy Barbara had fallen for during her visit to their great-aunt Evie’s in northern Pennsylvania. At first, Barbara had been upset, almost defensive, until Annie had offered sympathy while talking of her own heartbreak over Jedidiah Lapp.
“I feel foolish, Annie,” Barbara had whispered into the dark silence of their bedroom. They not only shared a room but a bed large enough for two.
“Why?” Annie had asked. “Because you fell in love? There is nothing wrong with loving someone.” They had lain side by side in their white cotton nightgowns, their hair free from their head coverings, unpinned and flowing well down their backs—Annie’s golden blond and Barbara’s rich dark brown. When she was younger, Annie had shared a room with Joan, their eldest sister. Joan had lain next to her each night and shared private, whispered conversations, usually about the boy Joan liked and later married, while other times they had discussed Annie’s feelings for Jedidiah Lapp. Barbara and she, closer in age than Joan and her, shared a friendship beyond being sisters. Barbara’s distance from her after she’d returned from her trip with their grosseldres had hurt. Once she’d learned the truth of Barbara’s painful experience, she was able to offer her sister kindness and understanding—and the assurance that Barbara had neither been foolish nor rash.
As she and Barbara worked together to set up the tables for tonight’s dinner fundraiser, Annie felt good. She had missed their quiet conversations. Now they gave each other frequent smiles as they discussed how to arrange each place setting.
Annie stood back to admire their handiwork. “We need five more tablecloths.”
“Katie Lapp mentioned bringing more, in case we need them,” Barbara said.
“So did Mae King.”
Several women entered the room, among them their mother, Miriam, with Katie and Mae. Each woman carried a metal rack with an aluminum chafing dish and a can of gelled cooking fuel.
“The room looks gut,” Mam stated as she approached.
“We need more tablecloths,” Barbara said.
“The extras are in the buggy,” Katie said. “Noah told me about the tables and chairs.”
Mae King set down the chafing dish. “I hope we have a gut turnout.”
“I think we will,” Katie said. “We’ve had over a week to get the word out. The boys put posters in all the local stores and in the shops at the Rockvale Outlet Mall and Tanger Outlets. Bob Whittier told everyone who came into his store.”
“I hope so.” Annie wanted this fund-raiser to be a success for her father’s sake. Dat’s worry over his medical bills was taking a toll on his recovery.
“After we’re done setting up, we’ll head home,” Mam said. “Later, we’ll come back with the food, an hour and a half before dinner starts.”
Alta Hershberger entered the barn. “Miriam, the place looks nice.”
Mam smiled. “It should do the job.”
“Where do you want these?” Annie’s aunt seemed genuinely happy to help out.
Mae gestured toward a table. The women discussed the arrangements. Except for the dessert portion of the meal afterward, they would be serving their guests. Several side items would be set out family style while the younger women, including Annie, Barbara, Nancy King and young Ellen Mast, would be on hand to make sure that no one left hungry.
The women finished dinner preparations and departed. Annie, Barbara and their mother discussed the fund-raiser as they drove home in their buggy.
“We have plenty of seats for our guests,” Barbara said.
“Ja, now we should pray that we see a gut profit.”
“’Tis a fair price, Mam,” Annie said. She directed the mare onto their dirt driveway. “Rick Martin’s bringing his family, and he told his friends. The dinner fund-raiser will be successful.”
“I pray that it will be so,” Mam said somberly.
Annie reached out to clasp Mam’s hand. “I have faith, Mam. You must, too.” She drove skillfully down the drive and into the barnyard. Josiah and Peter had returned home earlier in their market wagon. She lifted a hand to smile and wave at Josiah in the yard. “The Lord will guide us in our time of need,” she told her mother. “He has been gut to us. Dat’s injuries could have been worse.”
The silence in the buggy, as the vehicle came to a complete stop, felt heavy. Annie thought of what might have happened if her father had injured himself more severely. What if he’d broken his neck or cracked his skull?
“We have a lot to be thankful for.” Mam smiled at her as she climbed out. “Come, we have much to do yet.”
* * *
The fund-raiser was a success. Jacob stood near the door and watched as the diners enjoyed the dinner prepared by the women of the Happiness Amish community. Earlier, he had gone home to wash and change his clothes. He looked for where he might be able to help. He observed the young women—including Annie—attending to their dinner guests.
There were
bowls of sides on the tables: potato salad, green beans, coleslaw, dried-corn casserole, sweet-and-sour chow-chow and fresh home-baked bread. The women went from guest to guest to inquire about their choice of meat—fried chicken, roasted chicken or roast beef—and whether or not they preferred other sides.
So far the people who’d come were pleasant. The first to arrive had been the Zooks’ neighbors, Rick Martin and his wife and children—a teenage son and daughter. Store-owner Bob Whittier, with his brood, came soon afterward, followed closely by his other relatives and friends.
The first seating was filled to capacity. As their guests left after dessert, others came in to take their place.
He wondered how many meals had been served so far. Two hundred? Three hundred? More? His mother looked pleased. He prayed that the amount raised would be enough to pay Joe’s medical expenses.
“Jacob!”
“Rachel.” With a smile, he approached his sister-in-law. “Need help?”
“Ja, there is more bread in Charlotte’s kitchen. Would you mind getting five loaves?” She moved the breadbasket toward the front of the table.
Jacob nodded. “Do ya need anything else?”
“Nay.” She glanced about the room. “Have you seen Noah?”
“He is outside with Arlin, helping him set up a table to sell his woodcrafts. Our uncle wants to help with Joe’s expenses. He’s suffered medical bills with our cousin Meg and appreciated the help he got from his community.”
“That’s kind of him.” Rachel spied her husband and waved at him. She flashed Jacob a smile. “Keep Noah away from the dessert table. Tell him there is chocolate cake at home for him. I don’t want him sampling the fund-raiser treats.”
Jacob laughed. “I’ll tell him and be right back with the bread.”
Rachel smiled her thanks. Grinning, Jacob turned and stopped short. Annie Zook stood directly behind him with baskets of rolls, biscuits and muffins.
“Annie.” She looked lovely in a light blue dress that matched her eyes, over which she wore a black apron. Silky tendrils of her golden hair peeked out from beneath her white prayer kapp and caught the light. Her smile reached her bright blue eyes. Her pink lips and pretty nose were exquisitely formed. A glorious vision from God.
Startled by his thoughts, he said, “I have to get bread.” Then he excused himself and left. He stopped once briefly to speak with Noah before he headed toward Charlotte Peachy’s kitchen.
* * *
Except when he helped carry items to the food table, Jacob seemed to avoid her, she noticed. When it came time for him to eat dinner, he chose to sit in his sister-in-law’s area, a fact that bothered her greatly. She thought they were friends. At times, he talked and teased her, but on other occasions, he would eye her with a strange look that was disconcerting.
She watched from a distance as he smiled and laughed, at ease while talking with Rachel. Eli Lapp entered the room and approached his twin. Eli saw her and grinned. Her heart lightened as she waved at him.
“Annie!” Mam called her from the kitchen doorway, just a few feet away. “We’re almost done,” she said. “Did you eat?” Annie shook her head. “Well, get something, daughter. You’ve been working hard. You need to eat, and not only from the dessert table.”
“Ja, Mam,” she said without argument.
Toward the end of the evening, Charlotte Peachy approached. “We’ve done well.” She beamed. “Almost four-thousand dollars!”
Arlin Hostetler, Katie Lapp’s brother, entered the barn behind Charlotte. “And I sold over eight hundred dollars worth of merchandise,” he said with a grin. He turned the money over to Charlotte.
“Nearly five thousand dollars in all,” Charlotte corrected.
Annie blinked back tears. “Danki. You don’t know how much this means to us.”
“I think I do,” Arlin said.
Annie sniffled and wiped her eyes. “What would we do without all of you?”
Mam approached. “How much did we make?” she asked, and Charlotte told her. “Thanks be to God!” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Let’s clean up,” Charlotte said. “I’ll give this cash to Abram to lock up until tomorrow.”
Annie, her mother and all who had helped to set up or serve pitched in to clean up afterward. When they were done, after the women promised to gather and discuss a future Saturday breakfast fund-raiser, families left for home.
“We did well at the fund-raiser today.” Annie felt pleased that the breakfast had been such a success.
“Ja,” her mam said, “the money will be a good payment toward the hospital bills.”
Annie murmured her agreement. Perhaps now her father would feel less stressed about the state of their finances, she thought with relief.
* * *
Saturday morning Annie started her chores. She did the wash and hung it on the clothesline with Barbara’s help. The day was sunny but a bit cooler than it had been yesterday.
“There’s a nice breeze,” Annie said.
“Ja, the clothes will dry in no time.” Barbara reached into the wicker basket and withdrew one of Peter’s shirts. She fastened the bottom hem on the line with wooden clothespins. “Have you decided what to make for supper?” she asked casually.
“Ja, meat loaf, mashed potatoes and peas.” Annie picked up a wet pillowcase and shook the wrinkles from it before pinning it into place. “I’m thinking cherry cobbler for dessert.”
Barbara was quiet for a few moments as she continued to hang the damp garments. “Do ya think that’s gut enough?” she asked.
“For Levi?” Annie frowned. “Barbara, the preacher has been coming to our house for dinner once a week for months. He always likes what we fix. Why should tonight be any different?”
Barbara secured a lavender dress to the clothesline and then faced her sister. “I just thought we could do something special for him.”
“Any particular reason?” Annie asked.
“Nay,” she murmured. “I just thought, since he is a preacher...”
“Levi would be the first to tell you that he is no different than the rest of us.” Annie sighed. “Stop worrying, Barbara.”
Later, as she worked to fix the cherry cobbler, Annie grew thoughtful. Is Barbara right? She stirred the cherries until they were coated with sugar. Should she be fixing something special for the preacher? She frowned as she dumped the fruit into a large baking pan. Nay, he always likes what I fix.
Next, she worked to prepare the crumb topping made with cinnamon, sugar and dry oatmeal, which she sprinkled over the cherries and dotted with dabs of butter.
She’d have to watch Levi this evening to see if he was enjoying the food or just being polite. Annie picked up the cobbler pan and put it in the refrigerator.
Preacher Levi Stoltzfus was an honest man. He wouldn’t come to supper every week if he didn’t enjoy the food, she realized. She smiled. Just as she had told Barbara, there was no cause to worry that Levi wouldn’t enjoy the meal. Levi Stoltzfus was a kind older man, who would make someone a good husband. He came to dinner often because he’d lost his wife in childbirth two years ago.
She went still. Were Barbara and Mam trying to play matchmaker? Was that why Barbara was worried about whether or not Levi enjoyed tonight’s meal?
Annie laughed softly, scolding herself for her silly concern. Mam hadn’t said a word about Levi, and the preacher was a frequent visitor so his visit was nothing out of the ordinary.
Nay, she thought. Barbara was just being Barbara, worrying about something for no reason.
Preacher Levi would make me a fine husband... He’d be kind to me, treat me fairly and I would never have to worry about him breaking my heart.
Unbidden came thoughts of Jacob Lapp with his twinkling golden eyes and warm smile, and Preacher Levi was tem
porarily forgotten.
Chapter Eight
Annie was at the stove, stirring potatoes, when she heard her sister’s voice in the front room.
“Preacher Levi!”
“Hallo, Barbara. ’Tis nice to see ya again,” he replied pleasantly. Seconds later, they were in the doorway.
“Levi,” her sister said with warmth. “Are you hungry? We’re having meat loaf for dinner.”
“It smells wonderful.” He entered the room behind Barbara.
Annie turned. “Hallo, Levi,” she said with a smile. “Dinner is nearly ready. We’ll be having mashed potatoes, buttered baby peas and fresh yeast rolls with the meat loaf.” She grabbed the pot from the stove, set it on a hot mat on the countertop and reached for the butter. “What would you like to drink?”
“I’ll get it,” Barbara piped up. “Iced or hot tea? Lemonade? Coffee?”
“Iced tea would be fine.” He flashed Annie an amused glance as Barbara hurried to retrieve the pitcher from the refrigerator in the back room. She raced back into the kitchen where she withdrew two glasses from a cabinet. She filled one to the brim with tea and handed it to Levi.
Mam entered the kitchen. “Hallo, Levi.”
“Miriam.” He smiled. “I appreciate the standing dinner invitation.”
“’Tis always a pleasure to have you, isn’t it, girls?”
Annie agreed while Barbara nodded.
“Where’s Joe?” Levi asked.
“In the gathering room,” Annie said. “Would ya mind telling him that it’s time to eat?”
“I’d be happy to.” As the minister left to visit with their father, Barbara turned toward her and exclaimed, “Why did you ask him to tell Dat? He shouldn’t have to do anything. He’s our guest.”
Annie sighed. “Barbara, Levi wanted to see Dat—couldn’t ya tell? And he is more like family than a guest.” After stirring the potatoes, she drained the liquid from the pot into the sink and grabbed the masher.
Barbara looked taken aback. “But he’s the preacher!”
“And you and I are Joe and Miriam’s daughters. Does that make us any less in the Lord’s eyes?” She worked the potatoes into a fine mash, added butter, milk and seasonings. “Barbara, would you please put the peas on the table? And maybe some jam as well as butter.”
Love Inspired March 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: A Wife for JacobThe Forest Ranger's RescueAlaskan Homecoming Page 8