An Amish Reward

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  “Why not?”

  “Well, he said he only wants to sell it to someone who lives within their own community.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “What is your plan?”

  “Well, he owns a horse ranch. What would you think if we moved over there for just a little while? Maybe just a couple of months. We could rent a small place but we’d still keep this place, of course. Ezekiel can keep it going while we’re gone. Aunt Lucy can tend your garden.”

  “Is that even worth it?”

  “Ach, yes. This surrey is super fancy and costs almost ten thousand new.”

  “Ten thousand? I’ve never heard of a surrey being that much. The fancy ones we looked at were only eight.”

  “Ach, just wait till you see it. Then you’ll understand. That carriage, with one of our horses pulling it, will be amazing.”

  “Well, how much does he want for it?”

  “That’s just the thing. He only wants two thousand for it.”

  “Why so little?”

  “He wants to be a blessing to someone.”

  “How do you plan on talking him into selling it to you then?”

  “I will work on his ranch. Once he gets to know me and sees that I’m a gut worker, I hope he’ll agree to sell it to me.” He frowned. “But there is one problem. He thinks I’m single.”

  She laughed. “That’s because your beard is so light that no one can see it.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Why does that matter though?”

  “He wants us to go to the singings there.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Since he thought I was single, he assumed you were my sister.”

  She laughed. “Well, I guess we both have light hair. We could pass for siblings.”

  “He has a son that he’d like to court you.”

  “You told him no, right? And that we were married.”

  “Ach, that’s the thing. I didn’t want to ruin my chances of getting that surrey. Couldn’t we just pretend for a little bit? It would just be when we’re around other people. When we’re in our home we would be the same.”

  “But wouldn’t that be kind of like lying?” She shook her head. “I don’t know, Isaac.”

  “Please? For me?”

  “I’ll do anything for you. You know I would.” She frowned. “But do you really want his son to court me?”

  “I will give his father instructions and let him know his son is not to touch my sister. If he does, there will be no more courting.”

  “Ach, I guess that might work.”

  “Besides, we will both be at the singings. I’m not going to let any one mess with my schweschder.” He smiled. “And if you think of it this way, that we are brother and sister in Christ, maybe it won’t seem so bad.”

  “But we’d still be deceiving them.”

  “Just for a little while. Just long enough to buy the surrey. Then we will move back home. No one will even know our secrets.” He pulled her close. “And hopefully we will make a family.”

  Ach, but she couldn’t wait for them to have their own bopplin. “Okay, I’ll do it. For you.”

  “Gut. I was hoping you’d say that.” He bent down and kissed her lips.

  “It will be a new adventure for us, jah?”

  He nodded. “It is far enough away so that they do not know who we are. But close enough that we can hire a driver to return home on non-church weekends. How does that sound?”

  “It sounds gut to me.” She nodded. “But what about your vatter?”

  “I will speak with Aunt Lucy and Ezekiel. They will make sure Dat is taken care of and he doesn’t overdo it.”

  “I think his fraa might have that covered.”

  “Jah, Dat is gone so often these days anyhow. I thought he’d be out on the ranch more. Her place is closer to town, though. I guess that is best since they’re both older. But I know Dat. He will eventually get bored without having physical labor to do. He’s worked this ranch most of his life. I’m surprised that he so willingly gave it up.”

  “Well, maybe he wants to take it easy now.”

  He shrugged. “I just think he adores his new fraa and wants to be with her. I can’t say I blame him. I adore mine too.” He winked.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Isaac glanced around their tiny rental house. Ach, this sure wasn’t what he was used to. But it was only temporary. A means to an end.

  “I am sorry it is not much.” He grimaced.

  She came close and caressed his cheek. “Ach, Isaac. I could be happy anywhere, so long as I’m with you.”

  He bent down and kissed her lips. “Denki, Becky. I feel the same way about you. Besides, this will not be forever.”

  “It will be strange calling you my brother. I will have a hard time not looking at you across the room when we are in a crowd.”

  “Ach, I know.” He lightly massaged behind her ear and neck. “We can pretend we are Englischers acting in a movie.”

  “I hope I am a gut actress.”

  “You will be the best.”

  “I feel a little nervous. Especially for church and the singing tomorrow night.”

  “Just remember, we can always go back home. And we will be visiting next weekend.”

  “Jah, I will think of that.”

  “Gut. But let us think of something else right now.” He leaned down and claimed her lips. Nee, he could never think of his fraa as a sister.

  ~

  Becky glanced around the room. It felt strange to be sitting in church amongst the single women again. And to see Isaac across the room, sitting with the single men, almost made it feel like they were courting age again.

  A young woman that she’d met yesterday sat next to her. “Ach, your bruder is handsome!” she gushed. “Do you think he’d ask to court me?”

  Jealousy welled up inside her at the thought of another woman riding alone in a buggy with her husband. Nee, this was not gut.

  Rebekah shrugged as casually as she could. “I can mention it to him. But he’s not really looking for an aldi. He’s not ready to settle down yet.”

  She saw the excitement deflate from the young woman’s face. Hopefully that would be sufficient to dampen hers or any other girls’ hopes.

  “But I thought he was looking to buy Nathan Yoder’s surrey. That’s enough to tell me he’s in the market.”

  “Nee, he’s got a maedel back home.”

  “I see. Ach, that’s too bad. There are a lot of maed here who’d like a chance with him.”

  She shrugged.

  Indeed. Jah, she’d made a fine catch for sure.

  ~

  “Isaac, will you see if your schweschder will ride home with me?” The bishop, Nathan Yoder’s son—was his name Peter?—whispered to Isaac during the common meal.

  “Jah, I will ask her. She is shy and doesn’t talk much,” he warned, hoping that would dissuade the young man.

  “That’s fine. I don’t mind a quiet maedel. Most of ’em talk too much anyhow.”

  “You are not to touch her.” He eyed the young man, letting him know he meant business.

  “I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

  “Gut.”

  ~

  Becky was glad to be back within the four walls of their temporary home. The truth was, meeting had been exhausting, emotionally-speaking. She didn’t know how long she’d be able to keep up this charade. It didn’t feel right deep down in her soul.

  But she didn’t wish to crush Isaac’s dreams, either. She longed to see him happy in his new surrey. She longed to be back in their real home, amongst their familiar loved ones. She longed to start a family of their own. Not that anything was stopping them now. Nee, it just hadn’t happened yet. But if Becky had learned anything in her years of living, it was that patience paid off and Der Herr’s will was best.

  Isaac had been quiet that afternoon when they’d returned from meeting. He’d said he was
tired and went to their bedroom for a nap. That wasn’t anything unusual, though. They often took rest on the Lord’s day.

  Nonetheless, she had the feeling that tonight’s singing had been weighing heavy on his mind. He’d mentioned that the bishop’s son had asked to take her home in his buggy. Tonight, Isaac would give him his answer. But he wasn’t happy with the answer, she could tell.

  Nee, he was no more pleased at the thought of Becky riding home with another man, as she was thinking about her beloved with another maedel. It just didn’t seem right, pretending or no.

  Gott, I want Isaac to be happy. Please guide us into Your will. If You do not want us here, show it to Isaac. Give him wisdom, Herr Gott. Amen.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Becky did her best not to look at Isaac during the young folks’ gathering. They’d enjoyed a couple games of volleyball, then went in for snacks. The maed she’d met had been welcoming and friendly, which made her feel even more guilty about deceiving them.

  Isaac seemed to get along with the other young men as well. Becky had noticed him speaking with one young man in particular, and she guessed he was the one she’d be riding home with tonight. And now she was nervous.

  They hadn’t discussed what-ifs. Jah, Isaac had warned him to keep his hands off her, but what if he tried something? What if he tried to hold her hand? What if he tried to kiss her? What if he tried to touch her inappropriately? There was only so far you could get away from a person in a buggy. As it was, their legs would be nearly touching on the seat.

  Ach, she was not comfortable with this.

  They had discussed a game plan, though, and that gave her some confidence. Since Isaac had told Peter that she was quiet, that gave her an out for having to speak a lot. But she guessed he’d be asking questions. Where was she from? How old was she? Why did she and her brother move to their district? What was her family like?

  Ach, was she supposed to just make up stories? Maybe she would feign sickness. Yet, that would be a falsehood as well. It seemed as though she’d be heaping sin upon sin tonight. If only there was a way out. If only they could forget all this silliness and return home to Kentucky. Where they belonged.

  Was having a fancy surrey really that important?

  ~

  Isaac stared at the clock on the wall, the mind-numbing tic…tic…tic grating on his nerves. Where was Becky? Why wasn’t she home yet?

  He specifically told Peter that she was to be home by ten o’clock. Ten. O. Clock. It was almost eleven now. Ach, where were they? Had he taken her some place special like Isaac had when they first courted? Had they gotten into a buggy accident? Should he go out and look for her?

  Nee, a bruder would not behave that way. Would he? How was he to know? Ach, Becky…

  After another thirty minutes, and a bout of desperate prayers, he finally heard buggy wheels turning on the driveway. As much as he wanted to run out there, he wouldn’t. Although, he felt like giving Peter a stern reprimand for keeping his fraa—nee, his schweschder—out so long.

  A gut-twisting ten minutes later, she finally stepped into the house. And she was smiling. Why was she smiling?

  “What took so long?” Isaac couldn’t help his stern tone. Ach, he’d never spoken to his fraa this way, but he’d been worried.

  Becky frowned at him. “He took me to his folks’ place. We played games with his siblings. Had ice cream.” She shrugged. “It was kind of fun.”

  “Fun? You’re not supposed to be having fun.” Not without me.

  “Isaac. I thought this was what you wanted. To act natural. To pretend, ain’t so?”

  “Did he try to kiss you or anything?”

  “Nee.”

  “Gut. Because if he had tried…”

  “Ach, Isaac. Things are going how you planned.” She smiled. “I am just glad it wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. Peter seems like a nice man.”

  He didn’t want her to think of Peter as a nice man. Did he? Ach, he didn’t even know what he wanted at this point.

  “I guess I’m just worried is all.”

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about with Peter.”

  “Gut. Come here.” He pulled her into his arms. “I need you to kiss away my worry.”

  She lightly kissed his lips, then pulled back. “If it’s any consolation, I missed you. I thought about you all night.”

  “Gut. Let’s keep it that way.”

  ~

  Isaac sat atop his steed, rounding up the horses in Nathan Yoder’s field. Ach, he loved feeling the wind in his face. But he missed the view he had at his own ranch. He missed managing his own herd. He missed working his own property.

  Nathan circled around. “You’re a gut horseman.”

  “Denki. I learned everything I know from my father.”

  “He taught you well.” The bishop scratched his wiry beard. “What did you say your father’s name was?”

  “Abe King.”

  “Hmm…sounds familiar.” He mused. “I thought I’d heard a rumor about an Abraham King finding his son a fraa.”

  “Ach, rumors are not always true.” Isaac kissed to his horse and urged him on.

  Nathan’s questions were getting a little too personal for his liking. He hadn’t lied outright, but he hadn’t confirmed the bishop’s comment either. Hopefully, his words would be enough to appease the Nathan’s curiosity and dissuade his thoughts. He hoped so. Because he’d rather not outright lie to a bishop.

  THIRTY-SIX

  Isaac sat next to Peter Yoder as they sang songs, his fists clenched tightly. He’d noticed the way Peter sent flirtatious winks and smiles Becky’s way as they’d played volleyball earlier, and now as they sang. Anyone could see that he was smitten by her. Ach, who wouldn’t be?

  She responded demurely, of course. But just the fact that another man was attempting to woo his wife with everything in his being made Isaac cringe.

  What had he done? He should not have put his fraa in this position. What if she began developing feelings for the bishop’s son? Ach, he couldn’t let that happen.

  Perhaps she needed a little reminder how much he cared for her. Jah, he’d steal her away to a private spot and claim a kiss before she rode off with Peter.

  When they took a break during the singing, he met her at the snack table. He leaned and whispered in her ear. “Meet me inside the tack room in a couple of minutes.”

  She turned and glanced around, no doubt to see if Peter was occupied. He was. He currently held an audience with several other guys.

  As soon as he saw Becky slip out the mudroom door, he left a different way.

  Isaac quickly entered the tack room and waited a moment for his eyes to adjust. Ach, there she was. His fraa. A vision of loveliness.

  “I had to spend a few minutes with you before you’re gone all evening.” He stepped near and their lips melded together. He drew her as close as possible, loving the feel of his fraa pressed against him. Ach, if only they could go home right now. If only he didn’t have to wait hours to indulge in his husbandly privileges.

  “Rebekah? I was wondering where you—” Peter’s words halted as he took in the scene before him. “What on earth? What are you—”

  “Peter, wait!” Becky called to him before he could stomp outside. “This…this isn’t what it looks like.”

  “Nee? Because it sure looked like you and your brother were making out to me.” He stared at Isaac. “Of course, you’re not really her brother, are you?”

  “Nee.”

  Before Isaac knew what happened, Peter shoved him backwards. Ach, there was no way he’d be shown up in front of his fraa. He threw a fist into Peter’s gut and he doubled over.

  “Isaac, nee!” Becky cried.

  “Your aldi has spoken. You’d better listen to her.” Peter’s sardonic tone was evident as he landed a blow to Isaac’s jaw, knocking off his hat.

  That resulted in the two men rolling around on the tack room floor. Becky attempted to break them up, to
no avail. Before long, several other people had gathered around and two of the young men finally broke them apart. They both had blood dripping from their faces and were covered in dust.

  One of the chaperones had apparently been alerted as well. It hadn’t helped that this singing just so happened to be at the deacon’s home.

  “What is going on here?” The deacon demanded.

  “I’ll tell you what’s going on,” Peter Yoder said. “Isaac’s trying to steal my girl. I don’t know what game they are trying to play, but they are not brother and sister. If they are, then there are other issues that need to be dealt with.”

  The deacon looked at Isaac, a firm frown etched on his face. “Explain yourself.”

  “Ach…” He glanced at Becky, his look apologetic. “Becky is…mei fraa.”

  Several of the onlookers gasped.

  Peter Yoder stormed out the door, slamming it open in the process. The string of curse words he’d let out of his mouth revealed more about his character than Isaac would have imagined a bishop’s son would allow others to see. He realized that he was upset, and he certainly had a right to be, but using that language was not acceptable.

  Ach, he’d caused a brother to sin.

  “I think you need to go see the Nathan Yoder. We will call a meeting,” the deacon said.

  “No need. Becky and I will leave tomorrow.”

  “And get away with what you’ve done? I don’t think so.” The deacon frowned. “Rest assured that your bishop will be contacted, at the very least.”

  Isaac glanced at Becky, who kept her head down. Ach, he hated causing her shame and humiliation. What kind of a husband was he?

  “You two should be ashamed of yourselves. This behavior is not acceptable. You know better.”

  ~

  Becky had been quiet on the ride back to their rental house. He longed to hold her. To tell her their lives would go back to normal. That everything would be all right. But would it?

  Nee, he doubted it. They’d likely both be put in the bann because of this foolishness. His foolishness. Becky had just been the submissive fraa, acquiescing to his wishes.