She gave a start. She didn’t have time to reminisce about her wedding night. Her mother needed her help in the kitchen. She ran to use the bathroom and then flew down the stairs.
“What’s gotten in you today?” Fiona asked, moving from the cook stove to the counter. “Such a sleepy head.”
“Sorry, Mamm. But I’m here now. Let me cut the bread.”
Her mother handed her the knife. “Today is going to be busy. I told Old Mae I’d help her beat her rugs today. Do you know she usually hauls them out and gets them up on the clothesline alone? I don’t know how she does it.”
“She’s strong, Mamm. And stubborn, from what I know.”
Fiona chuckled. “And what would we do without her?”
Beulah nodded. “Be lost, I imagine. No one else knows what she knows about herbs and potions and all.”
Fiona gave her a quizzical look. “Potions? I hardly think she calls her medicine that.”
Beulah laughed. “Nee. You’re right.”
Fiona stared at her. “You seem awful chipper this morning.”
Beulah shrugged and turned to the bread, busying herself with cutting thick slices.
“Did something happen?”
“What do you mean? Because I’m chipper?”
“Let’s face it, Beulah. You haven’t been happy with your father or me lately.” Fiona sucked in her breath. “Have you been seeing Uriah?” she asked sharply.
“Dat told me not to,” Beulah answered, her good mood immediately replaced with nervousness. She’d decided she didn’t want to tell her parents anything until Uriah showed up. They would face her parents together.
“I am aware what he told you. I’m also aware that you often don’t listen—”
The side screen door slammed shut. “Breakfast ready yet?” Thomas asked, tromping into the house.
“Goodness,” Fiona said, distracted. “Don’t I always call you when it’s ready?”
Thomas grinned sheepishly. “I’m awful hungry, wife.”
“Well, it ain’t ready. If you’re so concerned, why don’t you fry up the bacon?” Fiona teased him. She picked up the dish towel and swatted his leg.
They both laughed.
“All right,” Thomas said, still chuckling. “I’ll go back out and tend the chickens.”
Beulah watched their interchange with a soft smile. Soon, she and Uriah would be like that—teasing each other and fussing over household duties. She hoped they’d have some adventure stuck in there somewhere. She knew herself and knew she got bored often. But then, so did Uriah. Together, they’d figure out a way to keep things exciting.
Fiona laid strips of bacon on the griddle, and Beulah sighed with relief. Her mother had evidently forgotten about her questions regarding Uriah. Beulah just might make it safely through the day after all.
Chapter Nine
Later that morning, Fiona took off for Old Mae’s and Beulah was left alone with the cleaning and cooking. She didn’t mind. In fact, she was grateful for the solitude. Before she started in on the chores, she ran upstairs to finish packing. Within fifteen minutes, everything she owned was in the suitcase. She glanced at the empty pegs on her walls where her three dresses had hung. If her mother came in before Uriah showed up, she’d know something was amiss. But then, her mother didn’t usually come into her room.
Beulah tucked the suitcase back under the bed. Then she went downstairs and started sweeping. Her tasks didn’t require any real thought, so her mind wandered freely as she worked. She kept re-living the night before. Her thoughts made her face flush hot, but she supposed it was all right. She was married. But as she moved to scrubbing the bathroom, her thoughts took a turn.
Was she married? Really? The bishop wouldn’t recognize it. Nor would the deacons. And her parents were going to have a fit. How in the world did she and Uriah think that spouting some words into the night sky made them married? Doubt spilled through her. Why hadn’t she held out with Uriah? Insisted that they at least get a proper marriage license? They didn’t have one bit of proof of anything.
And what if she was pregnant?
She stumbled back from the bathroom sink and sat on the edge of the tub. What in the world had she been thinking? She knew she was head-strong and impulsive sometimes, but she’d never considered herself stupid. Why had Uriah allowed this? Why hadn’t he protected her? Protected them?
Maybe they could go into town that afternoon. They could go to the courthouse and get a license. She blinked. She didn’t have any money. How much did a license cost, anyway? Maybe they could have an Englisch judge marry them. If they did it right quick, it would be fine. Even if she was…
Beulah couldn’t stop shaking her head. Everything seemed to have crashed down over her. She needed to see Uriah. Right now. She needed him. She needed him to tell her everything was all right. Needed to hear him laugh and tell her she was fretting for nothing.
She jumped up and threw the sponge into the sink. She tore down the stairs and ran to the barn. She grabbed up the bike and climbed on. She’d go see him. That was what she’d do. She’d go see him. She’d wait at his drive, just like she’d done the other day. He’d be out near the barn and would see her. Surely, he’d be there. She needed him.
Beulah had never peddled so fast in her life. She had to force herself not to ride right up to the Umbles’ porch and ask for Uriah outright. But she didn’t want to cause problems for him. Had he told his parents yet? She hoped so. Maybe she could just stay with him right then. She planted her feet on the ground on each side of the bike and watched and waited. She could barely stand still as her mind kept playing out every disastrous scenario.
This wasn’t like her. She wasn’t a worrier. Nor was she a person who stewed about what everyone thought. She spoke her mind. She did what she wanted—most times.
Now, she was acting like someone she didn’t even recognize. What in the world was wrong with her? She waited for nearly an hour, praying the whole time that her mother wouldn’t come home and find her missing. But she couldn’t go back yet. She had to see Uriah.
She saw his three younger sisters out and about, but not him. She ducked back further into the bushes, not wanting his sisters to spot her. It suddenly occurred to her that they were her sisters, too, now. She’d always wanted younger sisters. Well, she’d have to be happy about that later. Right then, she had other things much more pressing.
After another ten minutes, she realized it wasn’t going to happen. Uriah must be out in the fields somewhere, and she could hardly go prancing through the corn, looking for him. She turned her bike around and headed for home.
But if she didn’t talk to someone, she was going to explode.
Amy.
She would go see Amy. Amy would listen to her. But did she want Amy to know? Right then, she didn’t care—she needed to talk to someone. She pedaled to Amy’s house and dropped her bike on the lawn. She hurried up the steps and burst through the door.
“Who’s there?” Amy called from the kitchen.
“It’s me,” Beulah answered. She went straight to the kitchen and saw Amy feeding Susie in her high chair.
“This is a right nice surprise,” Amy said, smiling.
“You might not think so once I start talking.”
Amy’s smile faded. “What’s happened? What did you do?”
Beulah sighed and then burst into tears. Amy sprang up from her chair and came to her, putting her arms around her.
“What is it?” she asked, panic in her voice now. And no wonder, Beulah wasn’t given to tears.
“I-I did something…” Beulah blurted between sobs.
Amy led her to a chair and sat her down. Susie started to gurgle and slap her high chair tray. Amy bustled to the cupboard and took out a box of dried cereal. She spilled some of it onto Susie’s tray and the baby laughed with glee, perfectly content now.
Amy sank down in the chair beside Beulah’s. “Tell me.”
Beulah felt absurd. Since when did she
burst into tears like that? Why, she was acting… normal. Regular-like. Something she detested.
“I’m okay now,” she said, gulping in great rushes of air. “Sorry.”
“Beulah,” Amy said. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I got married last night.” Beulah blurted it out. She saw Amy’s face pale and her mouth drop open.
“What?”
“By Edmund’s Pond.”
“But who married you? The bishop would never—”
“We married ourselves.”
“What?”
“Uriah and I… We-we married ourselves.”
“You can’t do that! You haven’t been published. What do you mean? Married yourselves?”
Beulah straightened her spine. Enough sniveling. “We said our vows to each other and before Gott.”
Amy was gawking at her as if she were some kind of creature from the bottom of the sea. She covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head over and over.
“It’s done,” Beulah said. “And can’t be undone.”
Amy’s hand flew from her mouth. “It’s done? Nothing’s done! You and Uriah just spouted off some words—”
“It wasn’t like that,” Beulah cried. But it was. It was just like that. She’d told herself that they were married before God, but in reality, God was barely slipped into the evening at all.
Amy jumped up and started pacing. “Did you… Did you…?”
Beulah squared her shoulders. “Jah.”
“Ach, Beulah,” Amy said, sitting back down beside her and grasping her arm. “What were you thinking?”
“Dat forbid me to see Uriah. And I wasn’t going to let that happen. I wasn’t.”
“So, you decided to get married?”
Beulah nodded.
“I suppose this was Uriah’s idea,” Amy said, her voice acid.
Beulah drew in a deep breath. “Nee. It was my idea.”
“Yours?” Amy’s eyes filled with tears. “So, what now? Have you told Mamm and Dat? Where are you going to live? Does Uriah have a job?”
“Uriah doesn’t have a job. Yet. And I haven’t told Mamm and Dat. We’re going to tell them together, Uriah and me. And I’m going to move in with Uriah’s family. We’ll live there until we can get a place of our own.”
“Get a place of your own?” Amy asked. “How? With what money?
Beulah stood, regretting coming over. “I don’t know. Somehow. We’ll get the money somehow.”
Amy tugged on her arm. “I’m sorry. Sit back down. I’m sorry. It’s just… Well, you took me by surprise.”
Reluctantly, Beulah sank back into the chair.
“So, is Uriah coming for you at the house?”
“Jah. He’s to come this afternoon.”
“And you’ll tell Mamm and Dat then?”
“Jah.”
“They’re going to be upset, Beulah. More than upset.”
“It won’t be the first time.”
Amy sighed. “Nee. It won’t be the first time.”
They went silent then; the only noise was Susie happily playing with the cereal on her tray, and every now and then, putting a piece into her mouth with a sucking noise.
Despite Amy’s harsh reaction, Beulah was glad she’d told someone. And truly, who else was there to tell?
“You can go today and get a license,” Amy said softly. “That way, you can get married officially.”
“The bishop won’t marry us, and neither will any deacon.”
“I know. But you can at least be married by an Englisch judge. Right? And then, after some time, you can have an Amish ceremony.”
Beulah stared at her. “You really think that will happen?”
“I don’t know.” Amy wiped a tear from her eye. “But if you plan to live in Hollybrook, it’ll be better if it does happen.”
“I know…”
“Maybe you can avoid telling anyone about the Englisch marriage and then just marry Uriah come wedding season.”
“Dat will never permit it.”
Amy sucked in a breath. “You’re right. I could talk to him, though.”
“You don’t like Uriah any better than Dat does.”
“But you do, Beulah.” Amy gave her a tender look. “You do. I’ll talk to him.”
“Nee. I’ll talk to him.”
“Today?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to Uriah first. See what he thinks.”
“Of course.”
Beulah sank back in her chair. “Maybe, it won’t be so bad after all.”
Amy didn’t respond to that.
“But Amy, what if I’m… What if I’m…”
Amy shook her head. “The chances are slim, aren’t they? Just one time? But don’t do it anymore until you decide what to do.”
In truth, Beulah was surprised to hear Amy speak so frankly with her. This wasn’t exactly a normal topic of conversation. Suddenly, a wave of love for Amy gripped Beulah. Her sister was on her side—willing to help her, even though she didn’t even like Uriah. It meant a lot.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“We’re sisters,” Amy responded, and that was answer enough.
Beulah stood again. “I better go. Uriah will be coming by, and I don’t want to not be there.”
“Jah. You go now.” Amy stood with her. “I’ll be praying for you. And I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
Beulah reached out and grabbed Amy in a quick impulsive hug. And just as quickly, she left the house. As she was ready to climb on her bicycle, she was stopped by Ethan coming around the corner of the house.
“Beulah,” he said, smiling.
“Hello, Ethan.” She felt awkward, standing there, remembering how stilted she’d been with him when she’d left him the night before. He seemed to have forgotten all about it, though, for he looked genuinely glad to see her.
“How’ve you been?”
“Gut.” She took a deep breath, trying to mentally change gears from the conversation she’d just had with Amy. “Have you decided for sure about buying the buggy shop?”
He grinned. “I have. We reached an agreement on the price early this morning. There are a few more details to be worked out, and then it’ll be mine.”
He looked so pleased. She was glad for him.
“How exciting for you,” she said.
“Have you been in it? The buggy shop, I mean.”
“Years ago. Not recently. I think I was probably about eight when I went with my dat once. I remember all the wheels stacked around the walls, and I remember a new buggy. It was so shiny. I got to sit in it, and it even smelled new.” She smiled at the memory.
“Maybe you’d like to stop by once it’s mine. Look around a bit.”
She frowned slightly. Why was he asking her this? Was he … was he interested in her? She blinked hard. Her mind was out of control, but even so, she felt a strange feeling move through her. He was nice. Really nice.
He would make someone a good beau. But not her. No. Not her. She was taken.
“Maybe…” she said vaguely, but he was too excited to even notice her reticence. She was shaking slightly when she moved quickly to get on her bike and nearly dropped it. His hand jolted out to steady her bicycle, and he grinned at her.
“Don’t want you to have a spill,” he said warmly. Then he held the handlebars while she climbed on.
“Uh, thanks,” she said. “I’ll see you around.”
“See you around,” he told her.
She knew he was watching her as she pedaled down the drive. She wanted to turn around and look once she got to the road, but she forced herself not to. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she bent into the breeze and quickly rode home.
Chapter Ten
Beulah returned before her mother, which was a huge relief. Although, if she told Fiona she’d been at Amy’s, that would have been all right. Except the housework wasn’t done. And in their household, chores always came first.
Beulah g
ot right to them, keeping her eye out for Uriah. He’d said in the afternoon, but she couldn’t help but nervously peer through the front window each time she passed it. When her mother got home, just before the noon meal, Beulah already had the table set and the food prepared. Hopefully, her mother wouldn’t notice the cleaning wasn’t finished.
The meal passed smoothly enough, with her parents discussing the bishop’s latest purchase of a new buggy. Beulah tried to join in here and there, but it was hard. Her mind was so preoccupied, she could hardly sit still and eat. But soon, it was over, and she told her mother she’d do the clean-up alone.
“You feeling all right?” Fiona asked.
“Goodness, Mamm, can’t I offer to do some work without you thinking I’m ill or something?” She smiled.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I think I’ll work on the mending on the front porch.”
“The front porch?” Beulah uttered. If her mother sat out there that afternoon, she’d be the first to see Uriah arrive.
“I’ll come out and help when I’m done with the dishes.”
Her mother cocked a brow but said nothing.
Beulah raced through the dishes and joined her mother. Fiona handed her a stack of socks that needed darning, and Beulah got right to work. They mostly sewed in silence, which suited Beulah fine. She didn’t think she could hold a sensible conversation right then. As the hours ground on, Beulah grew alarmed. Where was Uriah? Shouldn’t he have come already?
“You expectin’ someone?” Fiona asked, setting her needle and thread aside. “You keep glancing up. I’m surprised you’re getting anything darned.”
Beulah gave a nervous laugh. “Nee. No one.” She bent her head over the hole she was mending in the heel of her father’s sock.
“How about we take a little break. I could do with some lemonade.”
“That sounds fine,” Beulah answered. “Shall I get it?”
The Buggy Shop (Hollybrook Amish Romance) Page 5