The Amish Wonders Collection

by Ruth Reid

  Ben straightened his shoulders. “Maybe it is time for me to go home.”

  Epilogue

  SIX MONTHS LATER

  Grace stepped onto the bus platform and drew in a deep lungful of crisp October air. She had missed Badger Creek more than she cared to admit. So did Aenti Erma, judging by the smile on her face when she stepped off the bus. Aenti held that same smile every time she received another letter from Grace’s father.

  Ben’s letters stopped shortly after Grace arrived in Ohio. Maybe he’d heard about her test results and found another maedel, or maybe he went back to Florida. Either way, she was returning home for Aenti’s and her father’s sakes. Daed had mentioned wanting to spend time with Erma before he left for camp, and Grace wasn’t about to spoil their reunion.

  “It’s so gut to be back, isn’t it?” Aenti stretched her neck to gaze over the crowded platform.

  “Jah, I’m excited to see Mattie’s boppli.” Her friend had sent a letter telling how baby Nathan had been born in the middle of the night and had taken her by surprise, arriving almost three weeks early. Grace smiled recalling Mattie’s letter—“This new mamm,” as she referred to herself, “was never more exhausted or thrilled to become a mother for the first time. I have two buwes to take care of nau.” Mattie wrote that Andy hadn’t completely recovered from his bout with German measles. “But I have everything I want, and I know you will, too, Grace.”

  Everything I want . . . Grace was happy for her friend, but she couldn’t dislodge the niggle of jealousy that marriage and motherhood were something Grace would never experience. Even LeAnn had seemed to find her calling. Her sister had taken a teaching position in Ohio and had moved in with Erma’s cousin. Grace had prayed her sister would find contentment with the Amish way, and it seemed moving to Ohio had given her sister a second chance.

  The station worker opened the hatch to the baggage compartment on the side of the bus and began unloading the luggage onto the platform. Grace was suddenly excited about being home. She wanted to unpack the baby quilt she’d made for little Nathan and spend some time with Mattie right away. But even trying purposefully not to think of Ben, she did.

  Her daed’s voice boomed behind her as he greeted Aenti Erma. Grace glanced over her shoulder at the two of them exchanging smiles. Together, they strolled over to where Grace was waiting for their belongings.

  “Dochder, I’ve missed you.” He reached for Grace’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “How are you feeling?”

  “Rested.” After months of struggling to understand, and spending time praying and fasting, she had finally surrendered her life to the Lord. Once she allowed God’s power to work through her weakness, she found peace and rest for her weary bones. His grace had been sufficient all along.

  “Reuben, I think those are our boxes being unloaded nau.” Aenti pointed to the stacked baggage and Daed went to retrieve their belongings. “He’s concerned for you, Grace.”

  “I know. But I don’t want to be constantly hovered over. That’s nay life.”

  Her father picked up the boxes and paused next to her and Aenti. “I hope you don’t mind, Grace. I’ve arranged for another ride home for you. I’d like to talk with Erma privately.”

  Grace stole a glance at Erma smiling ear to ear. “I think that’s a gut—” Her concentration broke as Ben stepped into her peripheral vision. A shudder cascaded down her spine at simply seeing his smile.

  “Hello, Grace.”

  Emotions she thought she’d buried suddenly sprang to life as a mixture of anticipation and trepidation flooded her soul. “Ben,” she said, barely above a whisper. Disarmed by the depth of his stare, her mouth fell agape.

  “It’s gut to see you again.”

  “You . . . too.” Why did her knees have to wobble? And why was she disappointed he didn’t call her Gracie?

  “Are you ready to go?”

  She scanned the area for her father and aunt.

  “They’ve already left.” Ben placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the exit. “You don’t have to be nervous.”

  “I’m just . . .” Trying not to fall apart.

  Ben smiled. “The first time we met, you were as nervous as a mouse cornered by a cat. You wouldn’t look me in the eye then either.”

  She glanced his way only to redirect her eyes to the automated doors opening.

  Once in the parking lot, Ben motioned to the buggy parked under the lamppost. “I learned to drive while you were gone.”

  “Jasper!” She hurried across the lot and threw her arms around the horse’s neck.

  Ben untied the reins from the post. “Even the horse gets a better greeting than me,” he grumbled.

  Grace withdrew her arms from around Jasper’s neck. Still smiling, she climbed into the buggy, taking the driver’s side.

  Ben cocked his head sideways. “Slide over.”

  “Jasper’s mei—”

  “I’ve fed and watered this animal for the last six months, and he’s been staying at the bishop’s haus with me.”

  “Well, I’m back nau.”

  “Are you?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Ben Eicher, you can’t steal mei horse.”

  He sat on the edge of the seat and nudged her over, then, taking the reins in his hands, clicked his tongue.

  She crossed her arms. “I thought you didn’t like horses.”

  “We’ve kumm to an understanding, and he no longer nips.”

  “Hmm . . .” She studied his profile. Oh, how she’d missed him.

  “And you and I will kumm to an understanding too.” He smiled, staring straight ahead. “That is, if you want to borrow mei horse.”

  “Your horse!”

  “I need a horse to court mei girl.”

  The air caught in her throat as jealousy stormed her thoughts. “You’ve been courting women in mei buggy?”

  Ben ignored her and continued to stare at the road ahead.

  She sank against the seat.

  “I hope you’re nett going to sulk all day.” He turned off the pavement and onto a dirt road.

  “Where are we going? Mei daed is expecting me.”

  “He knows I don’t plan to bring you straight home.”

  “Ben,” she said firmly. “It’s already late afternoon. I promised Mattie I would stop by as soon as I got back home.”

  “Well, you’re nett back yet.” He paused, then, with less edge in his tone, continued. “Can’t I have a few minutes of your time?” He veered Jasper into a deserted roadside parking lot and stopped the buggy. “I missed you.”

  If he missed her, he wouldn’t have said he was using her buggy to court his girl. “You wrote me three letters. Three. In six months.”

  “That was two more than I received.” He slid closer on the bench. “You apologized for calling me a stray and gave me rubbish about being friends.”

  She focused on the wrinkles in her dress and pressed them flat with her hand. “Can’t we be?”

  “Nay.”

  Her head shot up. “Nay? ”

  “We need to talk, Grace. A lot has changed in the last few months.”

  His sobered—almost humbled—demeanor took her by surprise. No longer the overly confident flirt, he wrung his hands as if he had more to say, but wasn’t sure where to begin. Her mind whirled. Philemon had been the same way. When he first broke the news of his plans to marry Becky, Philemon had even started the conversation with how much things had changed. Her mouth dried and a lump like cotton quilt batting lodged in her throat.

  “You’ve fallen in love with someone?” She steeled herself for his answer.

  “Jah.”

  A sharp gasp caught in her lungs and burned. Tears welled in her eyes and she turned to look out the side window. Only she couldn’t see anything through blurred vision.

  “I fell in love with Jesus,” he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “I never really knew Him before and . . . while you were gone, I talked a lot with the bishop. I
’ve been reading the Bible every day.”

  She cleared her throat. “That’s wunderbaar, Ben.” Her voice screeched as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “I’m getting baptized and joining the church on Sunday.” His arm came around her shoulder and he turned her to face him. “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m happy—”

  He stole her words when he kissed her cheek. “Hmm . . . salty.” He trailed feathering kisses along her jaw.

  “Ben, I don’t think—” Oh, Lord, I can’t breathe.

  His mouth captured hers with a light, airy kiss that lifted her off the bench and summoned her heart to flutter. “You’re mine, Gracie.” His voice rasped. Then, taking his kiss deeper with an even greater need for possession, he placed his hand on her lower back and pressed her closer. “I love you.”

  Grace pushed him back. “We can’t be . . . doing this.”

  “Marry me.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  His eyes bored into hers. “Why?”

  “Mei tests came back positive. I have muscular dystrophy. I wouldn’t make a gut fraa.”

  “Your daed wouldn’t say that about your mamm.”

  “That’s different.”

  He shook his head. “Nay, it isn’t. I had a long talk with your daed. Your mother’s condition didn’t change his love for her.”

  Grace wiped her tears with her dress sleeve. “She didn’t find out about her condition until after they were married. Had they known . . .”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Maybe they wouldn’t have gotten married knowing what was ahead of them. She passed this disease to me without knowing . . . don’t you see? Nau that I know, I wouldn’t want to risk having children. Besides, I’ll start to decline. You wouldn’t want to spend your days—”

  “Hold your thought.” He jumped out of the buggy, removed a brown-paper bag from the back, then opened the door to her side of the buggy. “Okay, I’m listening,” he said, reaching for her leg.

  “How can I finish mei thought when you’re unlacing mei shoes?”

  He removed a pair of black leather shoes from the bag. “I made these for you.”

  Tears pricked her eyes as she turned the shoe over. He’d made the left heel higher than the right. “You’re a shoemaker nau?”

  “Fifth generation.” He guided her foot into the comfortable shoe. “Nau you’re ready for a journey. And I’m going to walk that path with you.”

  “Ben . . .” Words wouldn’t come. She wiped her tears with the palms of her hands.

  He climbed back into the buggy and slid across the bench. “Grace, I want to spend mei days with you.” He drew her into his arms. “I know what I’m getting into and I willingly want to walk with you on the path where God leads us.”

  “Ben . . .”

  “I’m sure, Grace.”

  He pulled her into a tighter hug. “Say that you’ll marry me.” Before she could answer, he kissed her, stopping only to whisper, “I love you.” Then, with a growing intensity that left her breathless, he deepened his kiss. “Do you have an answer for me?” She hadn’t even caught her breath before he took her mouth once more.

  “Yes,” she rasped.

  “Yes?”

  She nodded. “I love you, Ben Eicher. I’ll marry you.”

  “I love you, too, Gracie.” He gave a quick peck on the cheek. “Nau, let’s go fishing.” He motioned to the back of the buggy. “I brought the poles.”

  “Fishing? It’s going to be dark soon.” But despite her protest, he was already unloading the poles and tackle. She followed him along the pine-needle path that ended at the river.

  “I’ll be leaving with the men for camp in a few months. We need to get some fishing in while we can.” He clasped her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “I plan to marry you the minute we get back, so don’t fall in love with any strays that show up on your porch while I’m gone.”

  Grace smiled. Last year, when the men left for camp, she’d been heartbroken by Philemon’s engagement decision, and this year, she would count down the days with great expectation of becoming Mrs. Benjamin Eicher. They reached the water and sat along the riverbank.

  Ben hooked a worm, then handed her the pole.

  “Grasshoppers usually work better—”

  He frowned. “Are you going to talk so much that you scare the fish?”

  She squared her shoulders. “And if I do?”

  “I have ways of quieting you.” He baited his hook, tossed the line, then leaned toward her and kissed her. “That’s one way.”

  “What other ways do you have?”

  He waggled his brows. “You’ll find that out as soon as you’re Mrs. Eicher.”

  Her cheeks warmed. The end of her line tugged. “I think the fish like the sound of mei voice.” She stood and reeled in her catch with Ben’s help.

  Ben tapped her shoulder and motioned with his head toward the path.

  Grace spotted the fox and gasped.

  “He won’t hurt you,” Ben said as the fox approached. “He led me to you that nacht.”

  The creature sniffed the bottom of her dress and Ben’s pant legs, then slowly walked away. He stopped at the foot of the path and turned to look at them. A moment later, the fox disappeared.

  “Ben.” Grace’s voice shook. “Do you think God sent him?”

  “I know He did that nacht in the woods.” Ben wrapped his arms around her waist. “If God can make Balaam’s donkey talk and order ravens to feed Elijah, He can use a fox to perform a woodland miracle for us.” Ben kissed Grace’s forehead. “God is with us. And I believe He has many more miracles in store.”

  This book is dedicated to Simon and Mary Thon, the loving couple who took me into their home, treated me like family while I attended Ferris State University, and introduced me to the Amish. As I was writing this book I was saddened by Mary’s passing on June 22, 2015. I’ll always remember Mary for her lively personality and unending kindness. I was blessed to have known Mary.

  Glossary

  aenti: aunt

  boppli: baby

  bruder: brother

  daagdich: scamp

  daed: dad or father

  danki: thank you

  Das Loblied: Amish hymn of praise, sung in every Amish worship service

  dochder: daughter

  doktah: doctor

  dorstig: thirsty

  engel: angel

  Englischer: anyone who is not Amish

  fashprecha: promise

  fraa: wife

  geh: go

  greenhaus: greenhouse

  grossdaadi: grandfather

  guder mariye: good morning

  gut: good

  gutgckichmann: good-looking or handsome man

  haus: house

  hiya: a greeting like hello

  hungahrich: hungry

  ich: I

  Ich liebe dich: I love you

  jah: yes

  kaffi: coffee

  kapp: a prayer covering worn by Amish women

  kinner: children

  kronk: sick

  kumm: come

  kumm mitt mich: come with me

  mamm: mother or mom

  mei: my

  nacht: night

  narrisch: crazy

  nau: now

  nay: no

  nett: not

  Ordnung: the written and unwritten rules of the Amish; the understood behavior by which the Amish are expected to live, passed down from generation to generation. Most Amish know the rules by heart.

  Pennsylvania Deitsch: the language most commonly used by the Amish

  rumschpringe: running-around period when a teenager turns sixteen years old

  schweschder: sister

  sei se gut: please

  sohn: son

  wasser: water

  wilkom: welcome

  wunderbaar: wonderful

  Chapter One

  Mei sohn needs to see Doktah Ros
well. It’s an emergency.” Mattie Diener stood before the receptionist’s window with three-year-old Nathan on one hip, and Amanda, her eighteen-month-old daughter, teetered on her other.

  The young woman looked up from her computer screen and slid the sign-in log closer to Mattie. “What’s Nathan’s problem today, Mrs. Diener?”

  “He’s nett himself.” Mattie gently lowered Amanda to the floor at her side in order to free her hand to sign the forms. She jotted the pertinent information on the log, then handed the clipboard back to the receptionist.

  Mattie cradled Nathan tighter to her chest as heat radiated from his little body. She’d given him feverfew earlier, but this time the herb did little to bring his fever down. Mattie placed her hand on his moist forehead. “He’s burning up.”

  The woman’s eyes widened as if seeing Nathan for the first time. “And I see he has a rash.” She removed the headset that connected her to the telephone, rolled her chair back from the desk, and stood.

  “Jah, it’s a . . . heat rash.”

  The receptionist held up one finger. “Stay right there. I’ll get the nurse.” She disappeared behind the partitioned wall of file cabinets.

  Little Amanda clung to Mattie’s legs, her round face buried in the folds of Mattie’s dress. She should have asked her best friend Grace to watch Amanda. Her daughter was shy around strangers. Although not a bad thing, it did make her daughter clingy, even more so when she was overly tired. Amanda’s crankiness had started last week when the temperature had risen above eighty, a record high for the second week of June in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

  Whispers spread amongst the roomful of people. Mattie glanced over her shoulder and scanned the waiting room with an apologetic smile. Doctor Roswell’s office was always abuzz with patients. Well respected in Badger Creek, the country doctor took his time listening to his patients’ concerns no matter how many people waited to see him.