Priscilla's Escape

by Diane Craver

  Another milestone was Priscilla’s decision to start her path to being baptized in the Amish faith. Her father started the classes the last weekend of July, which was later than usual. I wonder if he did that to see if I might decide to take the kneeling vow this year. I’m glad Hannah returned in time to be in the class with me.

  In their own church district, Stephen and Tobias decided to start their baptism classes. They had to catch up because their bishop and ministers had started the instruction classes in June. These classes were held on Sunday mornings during the first thirty or forty minutes of the worship service in a room separate from the rest of the congregation. Because Priscilla’s father had started later in their community, they met a few extra times during the summer months. Tradition dictated the candidates be ready by the fall Communion service.

  A bittersweet highlight occurred when Stephen sold his car. Before starting his baptism preparation classes, he needed to eliminate trappings of rumspringa from his life. He loved driving his car, but becoming Amish was more important to him. He planned on using the money from the sale of the car to purchase a buggy. He’d been using his parents’ buggy, but they’d surprised Stephen with a brand-new one.

  When her can became empty, Priscilla walked to the side of their white barn, where a huge silver metal tank held water. She dipped the watering can into the trough, and once it was filled, she returned to her garden. Glancing again at her flowers, she remembered Jesus’s words from the sixth chapter in the book of Matthew. And take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. Priscilla knew these words meant a key to a happy life wasn’t material or physical things, and that God would take care of her needs and burdens. He’d blessed her with a wonderful Christian family, and now with Stephen’s love.

  Her daed showed a lot of interest in her paintings now. More important to her was his announcement that he might find time to paint in the winter. He said it would be nice for them both to paint in the attic. Her eyes became moist.

  Gone were the days when she’d worried about whether to join or to escape her Amish background. Feeling confident in her decision to live by the teachings of the Ordnung was the best way to move forward with her life.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of horses’ hooves clip-clopping against their gravel driveway. When she turned away from the garden and saw the driver was Stephen, Priscilla was elated. In a hurry, she set her can on the ground and walked to the buggy.

  “Hi. It’s a nice evening to go for a ride with my best girl.” Stephen grinned. “I thought we could go to town and get an ice cream cone. Or a banana split. I know you love those.”

  She noticed Stephen looked fresh and clean in his white shirt and dark pants. He’d probably taken a shower before driving his buggy to her house. “I’d like that, but I’ve been outside working in my garden. I hoed around the flowers, then watered them. I should change first.”

  “I think you look pretty and perfect. Your dress doesn’t look dirty.”

  She knew he’d been working long days building houses, so didn’t want him to stay out too late. “Since you think I’m clean enough to go with you, let’s go.”

  Once she was in the buggy close to Stephen, he kissed her. “I’ve missed you. I can’t wait until we get married. Maybe we should move our wedding date up to November or December. Your garden work will be over, and farming will be finished for me.”

  She nudged him. “Nee, that’s too soon, but you’re right—it would be an ideal time if we had known each other long enough. My parents want us to date for a year before we marry. Even your mother said you need to court me longer.”

  Before Stephen had a chance to reply, Sadie stood next to the buggy. “Mamm said you two should come in. There’s pie to eat.”

  Disappointment flickered in Stephen’s brown eyes, so Priscilla said to Sadie, “We thought about getting ice cream.”

  Sadie’s auburn hair peeked out from beneath her white kapp. “Okay.”

  “Hey, Sadie, you look like a girl who loves ice cream. Why don’t you come with us?” Stephen smiled. “Then after we eat ours, we can bring ice cream home for everyone.”

  When she noticed the pleased look on Sadie’s face, Priscilla squeezed Stephen’s hand. What a thoughtful man he is. She knew he’d expected to spend the evening with her, so it was especially sweet to invite Sadie to go with them.

  “I’ll tell Mamm I’m going with you,” Sadie said. “I’ll grab a cooler for the ice cream.”

  Priscilla laughed as she watched Sadie run to the house. “You managed to make three women happy.”

  Stephen looked at her with a curious expression. “Three women? Who’s the third one? Violet and Anna are at my cousin’s house delivering a boppli.”

  “Your future mother-in-law. My mamm loves ice cream.”

  * * *

  Priscilla and Stephen sat at the kitchen table with her parents. Sadie smiled at Stephen. “Danki again for the ice cream cone.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad you could go with us. We’ll have to do it again.” Stephen sipped his coffee. “This is good coffee.”

  Priscilla laughed. “Mamm made fresh coffee when she saw you bought her favorite cherry cordial ice cream.”

  “And he bought vanilla ice cream for the pie too,” Sadie added.

  “You sure you don’t want a piece of apple pie to go with your coffee?” Lillian asked Stephen.

  “Your pies are always appeditlich, but I’m full of the ice cream I ate.”

  “Gut nacht, everyone. I’m going up to my bedroom to write,” Sadie said.

  “Have fun writing,” Priscilla said.

  Murmurs of gut nacht were said as Sadie left the kitchen.

  “Hannah and I have been talking about having you teach a class on art to the school children.” Her mother took a bite of ice cream.

  What a surprise, Priscilla thought. In the past, when I’ve asked if I could be a guest speaker at school to speak about art, she always said no. Priscilla glanced at her father to see his reaction. He didn’t look stunned or unhappy. “I’d love to. Did you want me to speak to both classrooms?”

  Her mother nodded. “Ya. You could come to my room one afternoon and Hannah’s another afternoon.”

  The Fields Corner Amish School had the first four grades in her mother’s classroom, and Hannah had the fifth- through eighth-grade scholars in her room. Many Amish schools only had one classroom, but their larger school had two.

  Her daed put the spoon down on his empty plate. “Lillian and I have talked about you two living here after you marry. If you build a house, I doubt it will be ready in time.”

  “Danki,” Stephen said. “I appreciate that. I’m not sure what we will do. I looked at an old farmhouse that’s for sale, but the structure isn’t good. I decided the house would cost too much to remodel it.”

  “We’d love to have you live here.” Her mother collected the empty plates and placed them in the sink.

  Her daed stroked his beard. “You could build a house here. We have sixty-four acres. Of course, your parents might want you to build on their property.”

  “My mamm mentioned we could build a house on their land,” Stephen said.

  Priscilla looked at Stephen. “We’re blessed to have choices.”

  Frowning, her mother said, “We were disappointed that Luke and Violet didn’t live here. We thought he’d want to build a house here, especially since he’s our only son. He’d be here more to help Amos.”

  Priscilla knew Violet had liked starting their married life in Luke’s apartment above the buggy shop. Living in town meant that she was close to the birthing center and hospital. With the baby coming, it was nice they’d moved to the house Carrie Robinson had bought. Back when Luke and Violet had started seeing each other, Carrie wanted Violet to live in a house without electricity. She wasn’t sure her very English daughter could survive without the conveniences that came with electricity.
After Ruth Yoder married David Hershberger, Carrie had bought the vacant house. It was going to be a retreat spot for her whenever she felt a need to get away from the stress of being a senator’s wife. Another reason Carrie loved the house was because it was close to David’s house. At the time of her purchase, her nieces and nephews lived at home with their dad and new stepmother, Ruth. It was sad that Carrie’s sister Irene had died, but everyone was happy that David had found love the second time.

  “I’m not sure what we’ll do, but if we should live here, I’ll help you with the chores and farming,” Stephen said.

  After the four of them chatted a little longer, Stephen and Priscilla went outside to sit on the porch swing. It was a lovely evening, with the temperature in the sixties.

  Stephen put his arm around her shoulders. A comforting warmth stole over her. “I’m glad you came this evening,” she said.

  He pointed to the sky. “Look at all the twinkling stars. It’s a beautiful night.”

  “It’s great looking up at the black sky with so many stars. It’s nice and romantic to have you to myself now, but it was sweet of you to invite Sadie to go with us this evening.”

  “I like Sadie.” He chuckled. “She certainly moved fast to tell your mamm and daed she was leaving with us. I think a lot of all your family. I was surprised, though, when your parents said we could live here. Well, not the part that we could live in their house right after we get married.”

  She nodded. “It is common to live at first with the bride’s family.”

  “It got to me when your dat said we could build a house on their property. I never expected that.” Stephen’s voice was husky.

  “I guess we could live here for the first few months. Then, if you still like my family, we can build a house here.” She laughed. “You might decide my family members are too much for you.”

  “I’m surprised Luke didn’t want to build a house here.”

  “Maybe he still will. I don’t think Luke likes owing money to Violet’s parents. They wanted to give the house to them, but Luke refused. They make monthly house payments.”

  “With my construction job, I never want a lot of acres. Aaron is only interested in farming. He’s out of school now, so that helps a lot.”

  “I’m glad your brother enjoys farming.” She wondered why Stephen’s parents, Phoebe and Eli, hadn’t said anything to her about living with them. “Are Phoebe and Eli still happy you’re courting me?”

  “Are you kidding? My mamm loves you. She can’t wait to help with the wedding preparations.” He gave her a sheepish look. “I told her how we talked about getting married when I visited you in Sarasota.”

  She grinned. “You’re definitely a man of action. Is this how our married life is going to be? Whenever you decide something, you’ll go after it immediately?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know about that, but I’m glad you decided to let me take you home after the singing in May. I knew you were the only one for me. God answered my prayers when we met and started seeing each other.”

  Stephen gently cupped her chin and brought his mouth to hers. As he kissed her tenderly, her heart felt light and glorious.

  When the kiss ended, he looked into her eyes and said, “I love you. I don’t care where we live after we’re husband and wife. Being with you is all that matters.”

  “I love you too. I want to be with you forever.”

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Priscilla’s Escape and for continuing to embrace Bishop Amos King’s journey with his family. When I finished writing my Dreams of Plain Daughters Series, I was happy to receive positive feedback from my readers. I decided to continue writing about the Amish and English characters living in Fields Corner, Ohio. Since publishing my first Amish book in 2012, I have enjoyed writing about romantic couples, babies, new careers, and unexpected challenges.

  The characters in my books suffer pain but always find hope in their daily lives. Their faith in God gives them courage to face new trials. I hope you find comfort in the Bible verses I share in my books. Staying close to God and listening to his voice, gives us the strength and hope to survive hardships.

  As it states in Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

  Blessings to each one of you,

  Diane

  Amish Recipe - German Pizza

  Ingredients

  1 lb. ground beef

  1/2 medium onion, chopped

  1/2 large green pepper, diced

  1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided

  1/2 teaspoon pepper

  2 tablespoons butter

  6 medium potatoes, peeled and finely shredded

  3 eggs, beaten

  1/3 cup milk

  2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (depending on your preference) or 2 cups mozzarella cheese

  Directions

  In a 12-inch stove top or an electric skillet, over medium heat, brown beef with onion, green pepper, 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper. Remove meat mixture from skillet and drain. Reduce heat to low. Melt margarine. Spread potatoes over margarine and sprinkle with remaining salt. Top with beef mixture. Combine eggs and milk. Pour over all. Cook covered about 30 minutes. Top with cheese. Cover and heat until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Cut into wedges or squares to serve. Top each serving with a dollop of sour cream. Serves 4 to 6