The Amish Bachelor: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 1)

by Samantha Price

  “Denke, but I’m not looking for a husband. I’ve got too many other things going on in my life at the moment.”

  Mary Lou leaned forward. “Such as?” Then Mary Lou giggled. “Forgive me. We hardly know one another. I came here to invite you to the quilting bee tomorrow. Us ladies have such fun and then we eat baked goods afterward.”

  “Denke, that’s very kind, but I’ve got work.”

  “Oh, silly me. That’s right. You wouldn’t be able to come, would you?”

  “Nee.” The kettle boiled and Hazel made coffee for herself and Mary Lou, and then she sat down opposite Mary Lou at the small wooden table.

  “I have a job too, like I said, but I don’t work there every day. I work in a bakery, but we have a few tables and we serve coffee, so I suppose it’s more of a café.”

  “I’m glad you stopped by because I won’t feel so nervous now when I go to the meetings. At least I’ll know someone.”

  “But you’re staying with the bishop, aren’t you?”

  “I am. And since they have so many visitors, I’m meeting a few people at their haus, but it’s nice to meet someone about my own age.”

  “I’m glad. That’s what I said to Isaac. I said, the poor girl probably knows no one, so I must stop by and say hello.”

  “It’s very kind of you to think about me.” She took a sip of her coffee, not knowing whether the woman in front of her was a friend or a foe.

  “So, what do you think of Isaac?”

  It was a surprising question, and there was no correct way to answer that. She didn’t want Mary Lou to think she was interested in Isaac and yet she couldn’t say anything rude to offend her. She tried to be as tactful as she could. “He’s very dedicated to his job.”

  “I know that, but did he mention me?”

  “Jah, he did this morning when he said you were coming in to see me.”

  “What did you think when you first saw him?”

  Hazel laughed. “Well that’s a funny story. He didn’t know I was starting work yesterday, his vadder forgot to tell him, and naturally he was surprised to see me when he came in.”

  “Jah, but what did you think of him? Do you think he’s handsome?”

  “All the Fuller boys are handsome.” She could see that her saying that disturbed Mary Lou. Hazel further explained, “When I first met him, I thought he was stiff and unapproachable, but then I found I was wrong because he’s polite and friendly. Anyway, I can tell he’s devoted to you.”

  “Do you think so?”

  Hazel nodded. “Jah. His face lit up just when he was talking about you.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know.”

  She didn’t seem confident in their relationship and Hazel wondered why. “When did you say you were getting married?”

  “You must never mention that. That information is not out yet.”

  “I know. I remember you said that, and I would never mention it. I’m just asking you and no one can hear us.”

  “In about four weeks we’ll tell everybody.”

  “That will be exciting.”

  “You don’t have a boyfriend where you come from?”

  “There’s been a lot going on in my life lately and a boyfriend wouldn’t fit in with … No, I haven’t.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t really say because it’s not really about me.”

  Mary Lou leaned forward. “You have a secret?”

  Hazel shook her head. “Nee, it’s nothing like that.”

  Now frown lines marred Mary Lou’s forehead. “Well, why can’t you tell me?”

  “I’d rather keep quiet about things.”

  “Does Isaac know your secret?”

  Now Mary Lou was focused on her having a secret; this wasn’t good. She’d talked herself into a corner and she had no idea how to get out of it. She placed her coffee down on the table and wrapped her hands around the mug. “It’s truly nothing.”

  “If it’s nothing, tell me what it is.”

  “Ah, Mary Lou. It’s nice to see you.”

  Both girls turned to see Mr. Fuller standing in the doorway of the lunchroom.

  “Hello, Mr. Fuller. I just stopped by to meet Hazel.”

  “Very good.”

  “Would you like me to make you a cup of kaffe or anything, Mr. Fuller?” Hazel asked.

  “That would be nice denke, Hazel. I’ll be in my office until Isaac comes back and kicks me out.” A small smile twitched at his lips, and then he walked away.

  Hazel stood to make his coffee.

  “That’s right, you’re in Isaac’s office. How will he get his work done?”

  “I didn’t know I was in his office until later yesterday. Isaac has been using his vadder’s computer and using the phone on my desk to make his calls. He’s organizing another phone line.”

  “You’re sharing the office with him?”

  “Not really. Well, maybe, sort of, for half an hour a day until the new phone line is installed.”

  “I do hope we can be friends, Hazel.”

  “Jah, I’d like that.

  “You don’t work Saturdays, do you?”

  “Nee, I don’t. I only work Monday through Friday.”

  “Perhaps we could do something together this Saturday?”

  “I would like that, but unfortunately, I have to do something this Saturday.”

  “Maybe the Saturday after?”

  “Jah, maybe.”

  “We’ll arrange something. What kind of things do you like to do?”

  She poured Mr. Fuller’s coffee while she thought about it. There wasn’t really anything she liked to do. Hazel didn’t really have any hobbies. She did like to take long walks, but that seemed a silly thing to say to Mary Lou, and it wasn’t really considered a hobby by most people. “I don’t know, just the usual things. If you'll excuse me a moment, I’ll just take this coffee to Mr. Fuller.”

  When she got to Mr. Fuller’s office, he was reading something and she placed the mug on his desk.

  “Denke, Hazel.”

  “You’re welcome.” She hurried back to Mary Lou. When she got back to the lunchroom, Mary Lou’s mug was in the sink, empty, and Mary Lou was standing by the sink.

  “I must go. It was very nice to meet you, Hazel, and let’s do something together soon.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Perhaps I should arrange something with my friends?”

  Hazel nodded. “That sounds like fun. I’d like that.”

  “We can all go out to dinner one night.”

  “Okay.”

  “Leave it up to me, and I’ll arrange it.” Without saying goodbye, Mary Lou turned and walked out.

  Hazel was glad that at least Mary Lou had left with a smile, and that she had managed to convince Mary Lou that she wasn’t after her boyfriend. Hazel guessed many girls were attracted to Isaac, which had probably given Mary Lou cause for concern in the past.

  Chapter 6

  Isaac was just about to enter the factory when Mary Lou stepped outside.

  “Ah, this is a surprise,” he said.

  She looked up and smiled. “Hello. I’ve just paid a visit to Hazel.”

  “Gut. She should get to know some people around here apart from my brothers. Benjamin has taken a particular interest and I don’t want Hazel to be scared away.” He laughed.

  “She’s not the kind of girl I imagined you might have working here.”

  “Why not?”

  “She doesn’t seem to be a very loyal employee.”

  Her words struck him as odd. He saw nothing wrong with Hazel. What had she done? “Why do you say that?”

  “Because of what she said about you.”

  “Me?”

  Mary Lou nodded. “Stiff and unapproachable, that's what she said you were.”

  “Really?” Isaac wasn’t happy that the new employee was talking about him like that. “I thought she would’ve had more respect for me than that.”

&n
bsp; “Don’t be too annoyed. It was just girls’ talk. I asked her if she thought you were handsome and she said what she said.” Mary Lou giggled again, but Isaac didn’t see the funny side of anything.

  “I don’t know why you girls have to talk about people like that. Did you have to say anything about me at all?”

  “She said it, not me. And I can tell you right now that she’s hiding something. She’s got a secret and she’s as good as said it to me. She’s only here because of some secret. Probably a dark family secret because she said the secret wasn’t hers.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “She wouldn’t tell me. It has to do with the reason she’s here, though.”

  “And it annoyed you because you didn’t find out what it is?”

  “Nee, because it’s a secret. Your vadder would know. Why don’t you just ask him what she’s doing here?”

  “If she’s got a secret, it’s not of my concern. I told you that last night. It’s only my concern if it affects her ability to work. She’s only been here a day and she’s done a great job so far.”

  “You can’t tell if she’s a good worker after only just one and a half days.”

  “I think I can. She's a quick learner, a hard worker, and efficient. She’s taken a lot of my duties from me and there’s a lot of pressure off my shoulders. My vadder did the right thing in employing a bookkeeper.”

  “I could’ve learned to do the bookkeeping. I still can. I’ve always been good with numbers. It won’t take me long to learn and that will keep all the jobs within the family. Then you wouldn’t have to employ a stranger. She can go back where she came from and take her secret with her.”

  Isaac frowned at Mary Lou. It wasn’t a kind thing to say, not at all, and he’d always seen her as kind-hearted. “She’s not a stranger now.”

  She playfully dug Isaac in the ribs. “You know what I mean.”

  He stepped away. “Denke for stopping by and saying hello to her. I’m sure that has made her feel more at ease. I’ll see you on Thursday night.”

  “Okay. Bye.” Mary Lou walked away without waiting for him to say goodbye.

  He watched her leave and figured he’d offended her in some way. He didn’t like to be poked in the ribs. He never liked it when she shoved and poked him. It was annoying. Putting Mary Lou out of his mind, he walked into the workshop.

  Later that night, Isaac had just finished dinner and the whole time his mind had been on his relationship with Mary Lou. He’d made himself a simple meal of chops and vegetables. The vegetables were always the same: peas, carrots, and mashed potatoes.

  Just because they got along fine, there was no compelling reason to get married. He wasn’t in love with Mary Lou, but then again, what was love? Many said love grew after marriage and it didn’t matter who you married, but since he was happy being on his own, he realized that he was rethinking the whole marriage idea.

  When Isaac was just finishing washing up the dishes, he heard the rumblings of a buggy. He guessed it was one of his brothers come to get away from the noisy household. Then, through the kitchen window, he saw his mother get out of the buggy. She rarely went out on her own at night. In fact, she never did.

  He ran out to meet her. “Mamm, is something wrong?”

  She laughed. “Well, there is something wrong if a mudder can’t talk to her own son—her firstborn.”

  “You’ve just come to visit me? You had me worried. In all the time I’ve lived here, you’ve never visited me at night.”

  “I had a visit from Mary Lou today.”

  He put his arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Let’s get you inside out of the cold.”

  When they were sitting in the living room by the crackling warmth of the fire, his mother said, “I never asked this before, but I have wondered. Why is it that you haven’t married Mary Lou yet? She’s a lovely girl and you get along with her so well.”

  Mary Lou had obviously thought that by getting his mother onside, the path to their marriage would be speeded up. That annoyed him, since he had said he needed a few weeks and she’d agreed with that. “I intend to marry her one day, but right now, I’m enjoying living by myself and that’s what I’m doing. I’m not going with the crowd and marrying by the time I’m twenty-two in some kind of a fearsome panic.”

  “We all know you’re not going to marry at twenty-two because you’re way past that age now. I think you’re being harsh.”

  “Why is that harsh?”

  “Not only that, it doesn’t make sense.”

  “It makes perfect sense to me,” he said. Now he was annoyed with Mary Lou for worrying his mother and causing her to make the trip to see him at night.

  “Mary Lou might not wait forever.”

  He sighed. “If she loves me, she’ll wait. If a woman loves a man, they’ll both wait until the time is right.”

  “People in love don’t want to wait. That’s what concerns me and I wouldn’t mind saying I think it’s concerning a certain young lady.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Did Mary Lou put you up to this? Is that why you’re here?”

  “Ach nee, she never said anything. She stops by every week and we have a nice little chat.”

  He grumbled, “About me, I suppose?”

  “About you, and about other things. Not just about you.”

  He wasn’t totally convinced about that. “Would you like a hot tea, Mamm?”

  “Jah, I would like some tea.” She followed him into the kitchen.

  “Mamm, I’m not being rude, and I’m pleased that you came to visit me, but is there anything in particular that you have come to say? Or are you and Mary Lou just trying to speed up the process of me getting married? I can tell you this, I’m not a person who folds under pressure; if anything it will push the marriage back further.”

  She sat down at the small wooden kitchen table. “I’m concerned, that’s all. And I haven’t said anything up till now, but I think the time has come. And then I got to thinking, maybe Mary Lou isn’t the right one for you and that’s why—”

  He interrupted, “Normally, you might be right. What you said probably makes sense, but you’re wrong. I suppose you’ve heard about the new girl at work?”

  “I have heard a little, and I know that her name is Hazel Bauer.”

  “Jah, so … are you thinking she would suit me better? Is that why you’re here?”

  Her eyebrows rose. “I met her at the bishop’s haus with your vadder. I was there when she was offered the job. She’s lovely, but I never once thought that she’d suit you. Now, I think it odd that you’d even be considering the new girl as your fraa when you have a lovely girlfriend already.”

  He shook his head and smiled. “Wait a moment. The thought about marrying the new girl never entered my head. I thought that maybe you thought that.”

  “I never thought that. Although I think it a little strange that you’d think that I thought it.”

  He sat down with her while waiting for the water to boil. He noticed she was trying not to laugh. “Oh no, Mamm. Don’t you start.”

  She laughed, and when she stopped, she said, “I don’t know why I’m laughing.”

  “Me either, but over the years I’ve noticed you always laugh before you get very serious. I’m feeling a stern lecture coming on.”

  “I don’t know about a lecture, but I do want to talk with you about something.”

  “I knew it.”

  “It’s not a lecture.” His mother tugged at the strings of her prayer kapp.

  “Go on, what is it?”

  “I never interfere in your life. Not since you’ve grown up. But now I’m thinking I should’ve, and now I’m going to speak my mind about something.”

  “What have I done?” He wondered if he’d stepped across the line and spoken to his father rudely about him employing Hazel, or was it regarding Mary Lou and her visit to his mother? Mary Lou’s visit to her had to have been directly after Mary Lou had spoken to Hazel.

>   “It’s unfair. She’s been waiting so long, and it’s just unfair. What if you keep her waiting longer and then you change your mind? She’ll be much older and all the potential suitors will be married and she’ll have no one.”

  “I will marry Mary Lou, I’m just not ready yet. If you must know, we talked about this just recently, Mary Lou and me. She’s fine with things. I explained everything to her. That’s why I wondered why she had the need to say anything to you after we’d just talked about things.”

  “Nee, she hasn’t.”

  “Really?”

  His mother nodded.

  “Why do you have this on your mind so much today?” he asked.

  “It’s not just today, it’s been on my mind for some time. I haven’t said anything up until now, but how much longer are you going to make that poor girl wait? What if all your brothers follow your example and don’t marry until they’re nearly thirty?”

  “They won’t. My brothers and I are nothing alike. Well, most of them are nothing like me. I’m a grown man, Mamm, so I’m quite surprised you’re saying these things to me.”

  “You might be a grown man, but I’m always going to be your mudder and now I’m telling you what I think you should do. I’ve held my tongue long enough.”

  The kettle boiled and he filled a teapot, let it steep, and poured himself and his mother each a cup of tea. Once he’d done that, he sat down with her. He watched his mother take a sip of tea and waited to find out what else was on her mind. “Is that all you’ve come to say to me?”

  “That’s all.”

  “Okay, good.” He sipped his tea. “I was shocked Dat had employed someone without discussing it with me, but I think it’s a really good thing. She’s working out really well.”

  “That’s good, I’m glad. She seems a nice girl.”

  “You said you were there when she was offered the job?”

  “Jah, and that was at the bishop’s haus when your vadder told the bishop he had a job which would suit her.”

  “Ach gut.” His mumbles were full of sarcasm. “No one ever tells me anything anymore, it seems. How did it all come about?”

  “We were visiting Bishop John and Ruth on Sunday afternoon and then they had Hazel staying there with them. She’d just moved in that day. They’ve got so many rooms now, and I think Ruth gets lonely. She hasn’t ever said anything, but that’s what I think. You see, John had told Hazel that he’d find her a job because she couldn’t find one where she’d come from. There were no jobs.”