The Amish Wonders Collection

by Ruth Reid

  “And the glass?”

  “Another person came forward and said that it was an accident. Plus, the X ray didn’t show any glass in any of their systems.”

  “Thanks for the update.” Bo glanced at his watch. “I have to go.” He’d reached his car when Max called across the parking lot.

  “Hey, Lambright. That honey you gave me is working. My sinuses aren’t nearly as clogged.”

  “Glad it helped.” Bo smiled and slipped behind the driver’s seat, waving as he pulled out of the parking lot. Mattie would be overjoyed when she heard the news. He wished he could tell her now, but he’d have to wait. He was late to Forest Hills Country Club.

  Bo arrived a few minutes late. His mother was seated next to the window overlooking the driving range, reading a menu she’d ordered from hundreds of times.

  “Sorry I’m late.” He sat across the table from her.

  “How did the meeting go with Internal Affairs?”

  He spread the linen napkin over his lap. “I was reinstated.”

  “That’s good news,” she said. “Is everything okay between you and Norton?”

  “He said not to go behind his back again.” He grinned. “But he admitted to missing me around the office.”

  “That’s wonderful that everything worked out so well.” She glanced around the room, then leaned closer. “I have news to share as well.”

  “Oh?”

  “I received a letter from Comforting Hands Missions headquarters regarding a dedication in your father’s name for a new well in Africa. They requested photographs of him for their newsletter and after spending time in his study—” She cleared her throat. “I finally realized how important all those mission trips were to Martin. He wasn’t just there to care for sick orphans. He funded many drinking wells.” She dabbed the corners of her eyes with the napkin. “I think I was blinded by what Great Northern Expeditions could do for my campaign.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I returned their campaign contribution. Until I see more environmental studies, I don’t want my name associated with the possibility of contaminating the groundwater.” She sipped her iced tea. “I’m sure it will be election suicide losing their support, but I’ll sleep better, win or lose.” She signaled the waiter, and once they ordered, she said, “I understand you attended an Amish church service.”

  “You talked with Erica Delanie?”

  “I saw you on the news. I must say, it made quite the story.”

  “I haven’t seen it yet.” Bo studied the beads of sweat forming on his iced tea glass and traced the condensation with his thumb. “Mattie and her children were pawns in Erica’s schemes to build her platform. I couldn’t allow Mattie and her settlement to suffer.”

  “From what I’ve heard, she’s on the drilling company’s payroll now. They want the Amish land because of its location to state land. If they obtain the Amish property they could drill horizontally and capture the resources from the adjoining state properties too.”

  “The Amish won’t sell.”

  “I assumed as much.”

  The waiter arrived with his burger and his mother’s Cobb salad, and Bo said grace over the meal.

  His mother stabbed her forked into the salad. “I know you care a great deal for the Amish woman, Bo. You have always gone beyond your duty to see that the children in the foster system were taken care of.”

  “It’s more than that,” he admitted. “I’ve fallen in love with Mattie.” The moment he’d kissed her, he knew he would never share the same feelings with another woman.

  “Has she expressed the same feelings toward you?”

  “No.”

  His mother frowned. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”

  He shook his head. She knew him too well.

  “Are you worried she won’t leave the Amish settlement for you?”

  “I wouldn’t ask her to do that.” His throat swelled. Ever since he’d realized his feelings for Mattie, he’d struggled with how he would tell his mother. The Amish believed wholeheartedly in separation from the world. Some districts forbade outside contact, although Mattie had asked an Englischer to drive her into town on multiple occasions.

  “I see.” She changed the subject and talked about random things. The garden, the work Josh was doing around the house, the upcoming fund-raisers.

  His eyes welled. “I want you to know I thank God every day for you. You gave me a home when I had nowhere to go. You’ll always be my mother.”

  Tears formed on her lashes. She placed her napkin on the table and summoned the waiter. “I would like the bill, please.”

  Bo glanced at his plate. He had a few more bites of his burger and she had only picked at her salad. “Are you in a hurry?”

  “You are,” she said. “I would suggest you wait before you make any rash decisions, but I’m sure you’ve given this idea of love plenty of thought.”

  For someone who had never been Amish, the decision would be difficult to make, but he was aware of the lifestyle differences and the sacrifice it would mean. “If I become Amish again . . .” He paused, feeling the weight of his words. “I’ll have to walk away from . . . the life I have with you.”

  She patted his hand. “Every mother knows one day the birds leave the nest. Besides,” she said, straightening her shoulders, “I’m a firm believer that there is a season for all things. A time to plant . . . and a time to uproot what was planted . . .”

  She finished quoting the passage from Ecclesiastes, but Bo immediately recalled the voice in his dream. “Like a farmer plants seed in the ground, so I’ve planted you. Grow in knowledge. Drink wisdom as if it were a cup of cold water, for a time will come when your vines will be pruned and your roots exposed.”

  “Bo,” his mother said. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, why?”

  “You looked as if you were in a stupor of sorts. How much sleep have you had lately?”

  “Not enough.” He leaned forward. “I’ve had an overwhelming feeling of unrest for several years now,” he explained. “Like I was wandering through life with no direction. Mattie Diener changed that, or maybe shed a light on what my life was missing. Not that you didn’t provide me with the very best,” he was quick to add. “I owe you so much for all you’ve done for me.”

  “You filled a void in my life as well.” She smiled. “I was too busy building my career to have children, and if you hadn’t come into my life . . . well.” She blotted her eyes with the napkin again and forced a smile. “Don’t say good-bye—I won’t hear of it—do you understand?”

  He nodded. Why did this have to be so difficult?

  She scrawled her signature on the bill and regained her composure. “I have Josh to watch over. He needs a little more direction than you did at his age, but I see great things in his future.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I suppose in the near future I’ll be buying my herbs and honey from Mattie. I plan to become her best customer.”

  Bo smiled.

  “Now,” she said, making a shooing motion with her hand, “I suggest you go tell Mattie the case is closed. I’m sure she’s anxious to hear from you.”

  “You’re saying he’s Amish?” Grace choked on her tea. “Aenti Erma was right. She said he was a fence-jumper the first time she saw him.”

  “He’s nett really a fence-jumper. I mean, nett by choice.” Mattie explained how Bo’s father was a hard man and he was giving him time to cool off when Bo was in a car accident that caused him to lose his memory. “His father wouldn’t acknowledge him after the accident, so Bo didn’t have any choice in the matter.”

  “That’s sad.”

  Mattie agreed. “I’ve been praying for his father since I met him. He still has a root of bitterness toward his son.”

  “Even if he’s nett exactly a fence-jumper, he is an Englischer nau.”

  Mattie swirled her tea with the spoon. “I know.”

  “You’ve fallen
in love with him, haven’t you?”

  Mattie nodded. “Bo’s a kind man. Nothing like his father.”

  “He’s Englisch.”

  Grace didn’t need to remind her. Mattie had been reminding herself of that fact for the last few days. More so since they kissed.

  Car tires crunched over the gravel drive outside her kitchen window. Mattie’s pulse picked up its pace as she went to the door.

  Bo was clean-shaven and wearing khaki pants, a button-down white shirt, and a dark tie. Disappointment niggled at her, even though she smiled.

  “I have good news,” he said, taking her hands.

  Grace rounded the corner from the kitchen and glared at both of them.

  Bo released her hands, stammered to greet Grace, then continued, “Your case is closed.”

  “It is?” Mattie put her hand over her mouth. A flood of joy hit her at once; her eyes watered with tears.

  Grace wrapped her in a hug. “Alvin told the police it was his fault the jar broke.”

  “He did?” Mattie batted the tears off her lashes.

  “He told everyone during the Sunday meal what he planned to do.”

  Mattie glimpsed Bo’s frown in her peripheral vision. She moved out of Grace’s embrace. “Danki, Bo.”

  “I knew you would want to hear as soon as possible.”

  She turned to Grace. “Would you go tell the others?”

  Grace eyed her a moment.

  Mattie dismissed the silent warning. “Please.”

  Grace eyed Bo with the same unspoken warning, then quietly left the house.

  “Would you like a cup of tea? The water is still hot.”

  “I probably shouldn’t stay.”

  Mattie understood. Their time together had ended. It was for the best, or so she tried to tell herself. “Danki for everything you’ve done.”

  “You don’t have to thank me.” He took a noticeable breath. “It was my job.”

  Was it your job to break my heart? To touch a part of my soul with your kiss?

  “I’m . . . I’m going to miss you,” he said.

  She forced a smile. “But you’ll have more women to . . . rescue in your job.”

  “If you need anything—anything at all . . .”

  “I still have your card,” she said. She was a fool to believe their kiss had meant anything to him or to hope he might consider returning to his Amish roots.

  “Take care of yourself, Mattie.” He placed his hand on the doorknob and paused a half second. He continued out the door.

  Mattie’s chest grew heavy. Falling in love with an Englischer was foolish. She stood at the door and watched him get into his car.

  Her life could return to normal. But could his? Bo headed down the bumpy road toward the main highway. This was for the best. He’d seen the look Grace had given him. He didn’t belong in Mattie’s life, in their community. He wasn’t Amish.

  Bo passed a buggy on the road heading toward Mattie’s house and sighed. Alvin. Grace must have delivered the news to him first. Bo glanced in his rearview mirror. Watching the buggy continue down the road, his stomach knotted. Alvin was part of the community. Probably the man Grace had picked out for Mattie.

  Bo stopped the car and leaned his forehead against the steering wheel. Why did it have to be so hard to let her go?

  Mattie choked back tears as Bo’s car disappeared down the narrow road. Shrouded with unexplainable emptiness, she leaned her head against the doorframe and closed her eyes. An image of Bo wearing a straw hat and suspenders played in her mind. Narrish! She knew the day would come when Bo returned to his way of life. She wiped the creases of her eyes and was about to close the door when she noticed the puff of dust rising from the road.

  For half a moment she thought it was Bo, but the sound of clip-clopping horse hooves became louder. Alvin pulled into the driveway and climbed out of this buggy.

  She forced a smile and waved.

  Alvin lumbered up the porch steps. “I just passed the Englischer.”

  Mattie nodded. “He came to let me know that the charges were dropped.”

  “So I heard.” He fidgeted with his left suspender. “You . . . ah . . . you have any cookies or pie?”

  “As a matter of fact I do.” Mattie opened the screen door and Alvin trailed her into the kitchen. She motioned to a chair and went to the cupboard. “I wanted to thank you for telling the police what happened,” she said as she poured coffee into a mug.

  “I just told the truth.”

  She piled several peanut butter cookies on a plate and set them and the coffee mug down on the table before Alvin.

  Amanda shuffled into the kitchen rubbing her eyes with her balled-up hands. She sidled up beside Mattie and buried her face into the folds of her dress.

  A knock sounded on the door. She lifted Amanda and gently set her down on the chair beside Alvin, then went to the door.

  “Bo, is something wrong?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes—no—may I come in?”

  She opened the screen door and stepped aside.

  “I—ah.” He shifted his stance.

  Something had set him off balance.

  Nathan woke from a long nap and shuffled down the hall. He whimpered something about being thirsty. Amanda toddled out from the kitchen, stopped in front of Bo, and lifted her arms up to be held.

  “Hello, pumpkin.” He swooped down and picked her up.

  Mattie smiled at how easily her daughter had bonded with Bo. She cleared her throat. “Bo, was there—I mean—did you . . .” She pressed her hands against the sides of her dress. “Why did you kumm back?”

  He stepped toward the kitchen and groaned under his breath. Pivoting to face her, he asked, “Can we go outside?”

  She eyed him carefully. His hair was askew as if he’d been combing his fingers through it. She reached for Amanda, kissed her cheek, then lowered her to the floor.

  “Please,” he said.

  She studied him a half second more, then instructed Nathan and Amanda to play with the clothespins in the sitting room. Mattie turned to Bo. “After you,” she said, motioning to the door.

  Once on the porch, Bo guided her to the banister. He licked his lips. “The other night, when I kissed you . . . I told you . . . how much I cared for you.”

  Remain calm. “Jah.”

  “I, ah . . . I care a lot.” His Adam’s apple dipped down.

  She smiled.

  “Maybe more than I should—I love you, Mattie. I want you to be—”

  The screen door creaked open. Alvin stepped outside and crossed his arms. “Bo, it would be best for everyone if you leave. Mattie’s charges were dropped. You don’t have a reason to be here.”

  A flicker of anger rose up inside Mattie. She opened her mouth to rebuke Alvin, but Bo placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him.

  “Do I have a reason to be here, Mattie? Have you fallen in love with me?”

  “Mattie, he’s an Englischer,” Alvin warned.

  “Jah,” she replied, her focus on Bo. “I know how he appears on the outside.”

  Alvin stormed off the porch.

  Bo moved closer. “I love you, Mattie. I want to marry you.”

  Concern faded her smile. Surely he didn’t think she could leave her Amish life behind as he had. “I couldn’t jump the fence to be your wife.”

  “I’m asking you to be mei fraa.”

  A shudder tickled her insides. “Can you give up your worldly possessions and go back to a simple lifestyle?”

  Bo nodded. “I’ve dreamt about us.” He rubbed his jaw. “I had a beard and you and the children were by my side. We were married.”

  Her eyes misted.

  Bo ushered her into his arms and kissed her softly. “I’ve been Amish before. I can make the necessary changes.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I love you.”

  Joy bubbled up within her. She wanted the moment to live in her heart forever.

  Bo cupped her f
ace and held her gaze. “I believe God has been working with me about my past—my roots. I never understood why I was in the car accident—why my daed rejected me.”

  “But you know nau?”

  He smiled. “God planted me for a season as an Englischer. Then you came into my life, and I no longer belonged in the world.”

  Tears blurred her vision. God had sent Bo to help clear her name, to pray for Nathan’s healing . . . to hold her steady when her world was falling apart.

  “Mattie,” he said. “I’ll talk with Bishop Yoder. I’ll explain why I became Englisch and I’ll ask to join the church. I love you. I love your kinner.”

  “I love you too,” she whispered.

  “Will you marry me?”

  The screen door opened, and Amanda and Nathan toddled outside. Amanda went to Bo and lifted her arms. Nathan hugged Mattie’s leg.

  “I asked your mamm to marry me,” he said, swooping Amanda into his arms.

  Tears of joy streamed down Mattie’s face. “Yes, Boaz. We’ll all marry you.”

  Discussion Questions

  for A Miracle of Hope

  1. Lindie and Josiah entered into a marriage arrangement that didn’t include falling in love. Do you think it would be easier, about the same, or harder for a non-Amish couple to make the same arrangement? Why?

  2. Lindie believed she had nothing to offer a husband but a marred life. How did the enemy convince her she was unworthy? What role did her family and community play in reinforcing these negative beliefs?

  3. How did Hannah respond to her father’s remarriage? What eventually brought Hannah and Lindie closer?

  4. Why was Josiah upset when Lindie rearranged the kitchen cabinets? Was his reaction reasonable? How did he try to mend the situation?

  5. How did Lindie discover Hannah’s God-given gift? Were Lindie and Josiah skeptical or supportive?

  6. In what ways did God use Hannah’s gift?

  7. Although Hannah was deaf, she said she could hear God’s voice. What are some other ways God uses the weak in the Bible to accomplish his purpose?