An Amish Wife for Christmas

by Patricia Davids

  “Pastor Frank didn’t make Jeffrey go back to his father, did he?”

  “He knew exactly what to do. He notified the police and reported the child abuse. Jeffrey and his brother and sister were taken to a children’s home where they will be well cared for until permanent placement can be found. Frank is sure they’ll go back to their mother when she is ready. Jeffrey’s mother chose to go to a women’s shelter.”

  “And Jeffrey’s father?”

  “Mr. Morgan was arrested and taken to jail. He is wanted in another state for burglary and arson. Apparently he often made Jeffrey steal stuff for him. It was his idea to dress Jeffrey in Amish clothing in case he was seen. Jeffrey said it was his father who damaged Greg Janson’s tractor and let Robert Morris’s cattle loose. He felt both men owed him more money for work he’d done for them last summer. It seems they fired him and hired two Amish fellows instead.”

  “At least everyone will know now that Ivan wasn’t to blame for those things. I hope the bishop will reconsider letting him stay with me now. I’ll speak to him tomorrow.”

  “Ivan still made some poor decisions but his heart was in the right place.”

  She reached out and covered Michael’s hand with her own. His fingers were cold. “I was truly glad that you were here to help tonight. I have no idea what I would have done without your guidance.”

  A small smile lifted one corner of his lips. “You would have figured it out.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. When that little boy started crying at the table, I just wanted to wrap him in a warm blanket and carry him up to a soft bed. He broke my heart.”

  Michael laced his fingers with hers. “I know just what you mean. It was like finding Sadie all over again. Speaking of which, where is she?”

  “Jenny had a nightmare about an hour ago. Sadie is sleeping with her.”

  He drew back a little. “You let a dog sleep in Jenny’s bed? This from a woman who says dogs don’t belong in the house?”

  “I can admit when I am wrong. Sadie will always be welcome in my house. Provided she has had a bath and that she doesn’t have fleas.”

  “I knew I was forgetting something.”

  “What?”

  “Flea powder for her. Did you notice her scratching a lot?” He began scratching the back of his head.

  Bethany popped him on the shoulder. “You are not as funny as you think you are.”

  He winked. “I’m funny enough to get a smile out of you.”

  As he gazed at her, his grin slowly faded. She sensed a change come over him. Her heart began beating heavily. He moved closer and she didn’t pull away. He cupped her cheek with one hand, sending her pulse pounding and stealing her breath. She waited for his kiss. He caressed her lips with his thumb. “I should go.”

  She couldn’t think clearly, let alone come up with a single objection.

  He rose abruptly and left the house.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Bethany spoke to the bishop the next afternoon at his business. Michael wasn’t with her. She relayed her brother’s involvement and stressed his innocence. “He believed he was protecting Jeffrey from his father’s foul temper. You have to respect him for trying to do good.”

  “I’m sympathetic to your position, Bethany, but I haven’t changed my mind. Ivan followed too eagerly after this Englisch boy and he had made poor decisions. You can’t deny that. I still feel the boy will benefit from a full-time male role model.”

  “Michael is providing Ivan with guidance. The two of them get along well and Ivan has improved so much.” She held her breath, praying the bishop would see things her way.

  “My mind is made up on this. The boy will benefit from his uncle’s counsel evermore.”

  She pressed her hands together. “Please reconsider—”

  He cut her off. “Bethany, go home and raise your sister. Your brother will return to you in time if it is God’s will.”

  She had lost. Bethany left the bishop’s workplace devoid of hope. If she wanted to keep her family together, the only thing left for her to do was to move away from New Covenant and start over somewhere else, but she had no idea where to go and no money to start over with.

  * * *

  The evening of the community Christmas play was chilly with overcast skies that promised more snow. Ivan insisted they use the sleigh to travel to the community building. He said it was more Amish and it felt more Christmas-like. Both children were excited because there would be a small gift exchange after the program that the bishop had agreed they could participate in.

  Michael brought the sleigh to Bethany’s front door and spread a thick lap robe over her when she got in. “I don’t want you to catch cold.”

  “Ivan! Come on,” Jenny shouted from the back seat, causing the patient horse to toss his head and snort. Ivan came out the door, letting it slam shut behind him. He had been trying to act as if the program was no big deal, but Michael could see he was excited, too. The teenager piled in the back seat with his sister.

  After a second or two of getting settled, Ivan said, “Scoot over, Jenny, and give me some room.”

  “I’m cold and you have more of the blanket.”

  “I do not.”

  “You do so.”

  “Enough,” Bethany said, putting an end to the rising family squabble.

  Michael lifted his arm and laid it along the back of the seat to give Bethany more room. She moved closer. As much as he wanted to slip his arm around her shoulders, he knew it would be a bad idea. He was already having far too much trouble remembering to treat her as a friend.

  “Ready, everyone?” Michael asked. Three confirmations rang out. He slapped the lines and the big horse took off down the snow-covered lane.

  Sleigh bells jingled merrily in time to the horse’s footfalls. The runners hissed along over the snow as big flakes began to float down. They stuck to Michael’s and Ivan’s hats, turning their brims white. Jenny tried to catch snowflakes on her tongue between giggles.

  Michael leaned down to see Bethany’s face. “Are you warm enough?” She nodded, but her cheeks looked rosy and cold. Michael took off his woolen scarf and wrapped it around her head to cover her mouth and nose.

  “Danki,” she murmured. “Won’t you be cold?”

  “Nope. It’s a perfect evening, isn’t it?” The snow obscured the mountains. The fields lay hidden beneath a thick blanket of white. Pine tree branches drooped beneath their icy loads. A hushed stillness filled the air, broken only by the jingle of the harness bells. It was a picture-perfect moment in time and Michael wished it could go on forever.

  The community building was only a few miles from the farm in a converted brick factory not far from the city center. For Michael, they reached their destination much too quickly. As they drew closer they saw a dozen buggies and sleighs parked along the south side of the building out of the wind while the parking lot in front of it was full of cars and trucks.

  As the kids scrambled out of the sleigh, Michael offered Bethany his hand to help her out. When she took it, he gave her an affectionate squeeze. She graced him with a shy smile in return.

  Inside the building, the place was already crowded with people. What had once been the factory floor held rows of folding chairs facing a small stage at the front. Swags of fragrant cedar boughs graced the sills of the tall multipaned windows. A Christmas tree stood in one corner, decorated with colorful paper chains, popcorn and cranberry strands, and handmade ornaments made by the children. A table on the opposite wall bore trays of cookies and candies and a large punch bowl. An atmosphere of joy, goodwill and anticipation permeated the air.

  Several Englisch people Michael didn’t know approached Bethany to tell her how happy they were to learn Ivan had been cleared and how glad they were to have Amish neighbors. Everywhere Michael looked there were welcoming smiles.
He had been prepared to feel uneasy in the crowd but he didn’t. The Martin children hurried to join their classmates behind the stage. Michael and Bethany found seats out front a few minutes before the curtain rose.

  The children performed their assigned roles, singing songs and reciting poetry. Then it came time for Jenny to narrate the Christmas story. She walked out on stage in her white robe with her long hair in two golden braids. Michael glanced at Bethany. Her eyes brimmed with maternal pride. He squeezed her hand and together they watched the community’s children bring the story of the first Christmas to life.

  When the play was over, Jenny held one hand high. “Frehlicher Grischtdaag, everyone. Merry Christmas!”

  The curtain fell and Michael clapped until his hands hurt. The last song of the evening was Ivan’s solo. To Michael’s surprise, the boy had a beautiful voice. His a cappella rendition of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” brought tears to a few eyes, including Bethany’s.

  Later, when everyone had a plate of treats, Jenny squeezed in between Bethany and Michael. He said, “You did well, Jenny. Your narration was very good.”

  “Danki.”

  Bethany slipped her arm around the child and gave her a hug.

  Michael rubbed Ivan’s head. “Who knew you could sing so well?”

  The boy blushed with happiness. Everyone seemed happy, only Bethany’s joy appeared forced.

  It was full dark by the time the festivities wound down and families began leaving. Michael brushed the accumulated snow from the sleigh’s seats and lit the lanterns on the sides. The horse stood quietly, one hip cocked and a dusting of snow across his back. Michael stepped back inside to tell Bethany they were ready.

  Scanning the room, he saw her with a group of young Amish women. Two of them held babies on their hips. Bethany raised a hand to smooth the blond curls of a little boy. As she did, her gaze met Michael’s across the room.

  In that moment, he knew exactly what he wanted. He wanted Bethany to have the life she was meant to live and he wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to spend every Christmas with her for the rest of his life. If only he could be certain his PTSD wouldn’t return.

  “Is it time to go home? I’m tired.” Jenny, sitting on the bottom bleachers, could barely keep her eyes open.

  “Yes, it’s time to go home.” He picked her up and she draped herself over his shoulder. Bethany joined them a minute later. In the sleigh, Michael let Ivan take the reins while he settled in with Jenny across his lap and Bethany seated beside him. The snow had stopped. A bright three-quarter moon slipped in and out of the clouds as they made their way home.

  Snuggled beneath a blanket with Bethany at his side, Michael marveled at the beauty of the winter night in the far north and at the beauty of the woman next to him. When they pulled up in front of her house, Michael carried Jenny inside and up to bed while Ivan took the horse to the barn.

  Michael stepped back as Bethany tucked her sister in. “I had a wonderful time. Thank you for inviting me.”

  “I’m glad.” She closed the door to Jenny’s room and faced him in the hall.

  He stepped closer. She didn’t move away. Reaching out, he cupped her cheek. “Good night, Bethany.”

  “Good night, Michael.” Her voice was a soft whisper. Slowly, he lowered his lips to hers and kissed her.

  * * *

  Bethany melted into Michael’s embrace. His kiss was gentle and so very sweet. Their mutual decision to take a step back and simply remain friends vanished from her thoughts as she slipped her arms around his neck. He briefly pulled her closer, and then he let her go and took a step away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She pressed a hand to her lips to hold on to that wondrous moment. Ivan came walking up the stairs and passed them on the way to his room. Embarrassed, Bethany wondered if he had seen her in Michael’s arms. He muttered a polite good-night and went in his room. Maybe he hadn’t seen anything.

  She mumbled a quick goodbye to Michael and fled into her room. She closed the door and leaned against it. There was no way they could go back to being just friends now.

  Could she accept him without knowing the secret part of his past he wouldn’t share? His kiss seemed to indicate he wanted to be a part of her life, but he hadn’t said anything about what kind of future he saw and if she had a place in it.

  Christmas was less than two weeks away, and she was going to lose her brother if she failed to convince the bishop to change his mind. Was Gemma right? Was Michael the answer to her prayers?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sadie rose from her spot beside the fireplace the next morning and trotted to the front door, wagging her tail. She looked back at Michael and whined. A second later he heard a timid knock. He sprang out of his chair, hoping it was Bethany, and twisted his bad leg in the process. There was so much he wanted to say to her.

  He pulled open the door. Jenny, not Bethany, stood on his stoop. She was dressed in a dark blue snowsuit and coat with bright red mittens on her hands. The ribbons of her kapp dangled out from beneath her hood. Behind her stood four other bundled-up children. Two boys wore flat-topped black hats, so he knew they were Amish kinder. They were all pulling colorful plastic toboggans.

  Jenny grinned eagerly. “Can Sadie come out and play with us?”

  He glanced down at the dog standing beside him. She wiggled with excitement but she didn’t dash out the door. She looked to him for instructions. “I reckon.”

  He held the door wider and tipped his head toward the outside. “Go on. Have some fun.”

  Sadie bounded out of the house, jumping in circles around the children and barking.

  “Danki, Michael,” Jenny shouted as they headed toward his barn. He noticed that she was pulling two sleds, one red and one yellow. Why two? Every other child had one. Perhaps they were meeting someone else. They’d only gone a few more feet when he saw Jenny give the rope of one sled to Sadie. She held it in her mouth and trotted along with the group.

  They disappeared behind the barn where the ground dropped away sharply, making a perfect hill for sledding. Although he couldn’t see them, he could hear them calling encouragement to Sadie. The day was warmer than the past two weeks had been. He glanced back at the business paperwork waiting for him and decided it was time for a break.

  He grabbed his hat and coat, put them on and closed the cabin door behind him. A walk in the fresh air was exactly what he needed. Maybe he would walk down and see Bethany. He smiled at the memory of their kiss last night. He was head over heels for her and he believed she felt the same but they hadn’t discussed their feelings.

  Maybe he was reading more into a kiss than he should. Bethany didn’t know about his PTSD. Would that change her feelings toward him? He was better, it had been almost a month since he’d had a flashback, but was he well enough to consider a future with her? How would he know when he was healed?

  A freshly shoveled path led from his cabin to Bethany’s house. Ivan kept it open for him when he came to chop wood. That was the direction Michael wanted to go but he didn’t have an excuse to see Bethany. He didn’t want to appear too eager or pushy. The tracks of the children and dog led the other way.

  He followed along, trying not to slip and fall in the new snow. When he reached the edge of the barn, he had an excellent view of the children sledding down the hill. Sadie was at the bottom with Jenny. They began to trudge back up, taking care to avoid the others flying down the hill toward them. Jenny was pulling her sled while Sadie pulled the other up the incline. He had never seen a dog do that.

  At the top of the hill Jenny positioned her sled, sat down and pushed off with her hands. To his amazement, Sadie jumped on her own sled and went flying down the hill with her ears fluttering backward.

  “Michael?”

  He turned at the sound of Bethany’s voice and saw her walking toward him. She held a package under her arm
. He beckoned her closer. “You have to see this.”

  She smiled as she approached him. “This came for you in the mail. I thought it might be important and you weren’t in your workshop.”

  “I was catching up on some paperwork. You need to see what the children are up to. Jenny stopped by to ask if Sadie could come out and play.”

  Bethany giggled. He would never tire of hearing her mirth. It always made him smile. He stepped to the side so that she could have his vantage point. He stumbled and would have fallen if she hadn’t grabbed his coat to steady him. It was a good reminder that he wasn’t fit. Sometimes he forgot how damaged he was when she was around.

  She didn’t say anything but set his package on a stone by the barn door. She stepped to where he had been standing and looked at the children. “Your dog is sledding all by herself. Did you teach her to do that?”

  The wonder and amusement in her voice eased the embarrassment he felt. “Nee, this is the first time.”

  “Oh, she’s pulling it back up the hill. I don’t believe it. It’s like she’s one of the children. That is a remarkable animal.”

  And you are a remarkable woman. For a second he was afraid he had spoken aloud.

  “What are you two looking at?” Ivan asked as he walked up beside them. Jeffrey was with him. The boy, his younger siblings and his mother had returned to their home a few days after his father’s arrest.

  “We are watching Sadie use a sled,” Bethany said.

  “Are you fooling me?” Ivan walked to the edge of the slope and Jeffrey followed him. They began packing the snow into a ball and rolling it around to make it bigger. When they had one about a foot in diameter they pushed it down the hill toward the group of children.

  “Not a good idea.” Michael shouted, “Look out below!”

  The snowball quickly gained size and speed. Both boys sprinted after it as did Bethany. Michael watched helplessly, knowing he wouldn’t be of any use.