Danika felt a little uncomfortable talking about this. “No, not yet. But I hope he does,” she said dreamily.
Both girls gasped at once.
“What did I say?” Danika asked innocently.
“I wanna save my kissin' for the man I marry,” Joanna stated.
“Jah, me too,” Chloe declared.
“Why?” Danika couldn't see the harm in a kiss.
“When you get married, how many girls do you want your husband to have kissed before you?” Joanna asked.
Now it was Danika's turn to gasp. “None! I don't want my husband to have been kissed by anyone else.”
“Well, do you think your husband wants you to be kissin' someone else?” Chloe said.
“No, probably not. But Eli and I might get –” Danika hoped they'd marry someday.
“But you don't know for sure. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry?” Joanna offered. “When you give away one kiss, it's a lot easier to give away another, then another.”
“The best gift you can give to your future spouse is your purity,” Chloe declared, and the other girls agreed.
“Wow. The Amish have a whole different way of looking at things. It's so different from the Englisch world,” Danika said.
“Well, not all Amish believe that, for sure and for certain. But that's how it is with us. And I'm sure some Englischers have high standards too, jah?” Joanna wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt.
“Maybe, but none that I know of,” Danika shared, “and TV is a lot worse. No wonder you guys don't allow it.”
Changing the subject, Joanna suggested, “Let's go a little faster, jah?” She was dying to race, or at least gallop.
“Just a little faster. Remember, this is my first time,” Dani warned.
“Danika, someday you’ll be racing with us,” Chloe encouraged confidently.
The girls clicked their tongues and the horses sped up a bit. They rode down to Miller's Pond and sat by the shore for a while. The place was beautiful, peaceful. The pond was oval in shape and stretched across several hundred yards. Willow trees adorned the banks, making it an ideal place for children to play. Danika could imagine younger children swinging from the willow branches into the pond. The water sparkled as the light of the sun reflected off of it. She wondered why Eli had never taken her there. It would be a perfect place for a picnic...someday. She figured it was probably too visible to passersby for them to spend time there. If only Eli's father could patch things up with Philip.
“This whole pond turns to ice come winter time,” Chloe stated.
“Jah, I can't wait to go ice skating,” Joanna said excitedly.
“You guys get to go ice skating too? And here I thought the Amish were all boring.” Danika couldn't believe it.
The girls laughed. “The Amish do dress plain and work hard, but we know how to have fun too,” Joanna stated.
<><><>
Chapter 10 – The Secret Meeting
“...Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23b
Danika couldn't get over the butterflies in her stomach. Today she would meet with Eli. All day she could not get him out of her mind. Two o'clock, he'd said. It was now one-thirty and she had a picnic lunch all packed, complete with some fresh chocolate-chip cookies. She was ready to go. She quickly ran upstairs to retrieve her gift: a two-inch lock of her hair, tied fancy in a silky red ribbon.
Danika set out on foot to their special spot – the tall pine tree in the woods where they'd first met. So much had happened since that first encounter. Danika thought of how much her life had changed. I have Eli to thank for that, she thought, he’s been such a good friend.
Eli was already there waiting when she arrived. His smile melted her heart. He held a small bouquet of wildflowers in his hand and quickly offered them to her.
“Denki.” She smiled broadly and blushed a bit. “How did ya get away?” she asked, concerned for his well-being.
“My daed gave me this new mare for my birthday. He said I could take her out for a ride.”
Danika looked over the large creature, gently petting its coat. “She's beautiful,” she said, noticing the stunning build of the exquisite painted horse.
“No, you're beautiful,” he insisted, and gently grasped her hand in his, bringing it to his lips.
Immediately, her cheeks reddened. How will I be able to stay pure at this rate? she thought to herself, and then quickly put distance between them.
She walked over to the picnic basket and pulled out an old small quilt. After she spread it out over the grass under the tree, she patted the spot next to her. Eli took a seat beside her. “Did ya eat lunch already?” She knew he probably had, but thought she'd ask anyway.
“Jah, but I can always eat again.” He smiled.
“I figured, so I didn't pack too much. Just a couple of sandwiches and what not.” She removed the food from the basket. “I baked ya some fresh cookies, they're still a little warm.”
“Denki.” He moved closer to her – too close. It was plain to see he wanted her affection as much as she longed for his. He took her hand and brought it to his lips again.
“Ach,” she said, taking her hand away. “You are not making this easy.”
“Was iss letz?” His brow furrowed in concern. “What is wrong?”
“I want to stay pure...for my future husband,” she declared.
“But I am your future husband,” he said, gently gliding his fingertips down her arm.
“Eli Yoder, you're killin' me,” she said, feeling all flustered. “Well, you're not my husband yet.”
“Just one more year and I'll be sixteen,” he reminded. “And you'll be fourteen. Did ya know the bishop in your district allows girls to court at fourteen?”
“Ach, no. Really?” She wondered if he was making it up.
“Honest,” he said. “And since our courtin's done in secret, Daed won't know I'm with you.”
“Hey, I thought you were the same age as me. You mean to say you're fifteen today?”
“Jah, had to stay home for a while and help Daed with the crops. I missed out on quite a bit of school, so I'm making it up. I'm glad now, though. I might have missed out on you.”
Danika stood up when she remembered the lock of hair and took it from her apron pocket. Shyly, she offered it to him. “Happy birthday, Eli. I don't really have anything to give you. 'Cept this.”
As he stood up, he took the black tresses from her outstretched hand and brought it up to his nose. He wanted to remember her scent. “This is a piece of you, it is precious. I will always cherish it.” He fingered the ribbon and felt the softness of her hair. “I'll put it in my pocket for safe keeping,” he said, thinking he was glad his mother had sewn a pocket into this pair of pants.
“You are the best birthday gift I could ask for,” he said, as he drew her into his arms. She could hear his heart beating rapidly, but this time she didn't pull away. Although she knew she shouldn't, she would let him enjoy this moment in time. It might just be their last time together for a while, but she didn't want to think about that just now.
“I need to tell ya somethin' important,” Danika stated, and he let her go.
“What?” Eli asked, curiously.
“I accepted Jesus as my Saviour. I'm saved now, Eli!” Her white teeth gleamed, as she spread her lips in a smile.
“That's the best news I've heard in a long time. Now, I know you're mine – for sure and for certain,” he teased.
“No, now I belong to Jesus,” she declared.
“If we could only get my daed to see the light, I'm sure all of this foolishness would be over.”
“And then you could walk me home every day, jah?” She hoped.
“Jah, if we can stand it.” He thought for a moment. “Maybe it's a gut thing we don't see each other too much.”
“That's what Joanna said,” Danika remarked.
“Danika, are you talkin' to your friends about us?” He seemed a little disappointed.
“Jah, is it not okay?”
“It's just that courtin's supposed to be kept secret,” he gently reminded her, stepping close once again.
Danika took a step back. “But we're not courtin' yet.”
“Well, we would be if I had my way,” he declared shamelessly. “Let me give ya a ride home, before I try to kiss you,” his eyes gently pleaded.
“I think that will be all right,” she agreed with a smile. “The ride, not the kiss,” she clarified.
Eli chuckled. “I guess I’ll settle for a ride, if that’s all I can get.”
They rode along in silence as they both contemplated their special time together. Danika held tight to Eli, not wanting to let him go. As he helped her down off the horse, he embraced her once again and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek. “This is the best birthday I've ever had,” he said, mounting his horse once again. Danika couldn’t wipe the smile off her lips as she longingly watched her beloved ride away.
<><><>
Danika happily entered the house, humming a love song stuck in her head from her Englischer days. She noticed Philip and Naomi sitting out on the porch, she froze and stood erect. Oh no, did they just see me with Eli? She chided herself for not being more careful. She quickly tip-toed toward the stairs, attempting to escape unnoticed. It didn't work.
“Danika.” It was Philip calling from the porch.
“Coming. Be there in a minute,” she said nervously, quickly sticking her wildflowers in a small Mason jar with water, and then headed to the porch. She could already hear what was coming.
“Come sit down, Danika. We need to have a talk,” Philip suggested. Naomi went inside to rest a bit, and to avoid the drama that was sure to come. He continued on, “Did I just see you riding with Jacob Yoder's boy?”
“Eli, jah,” she affirmed shyly.
“I thought you said that you and Eli were 'friends'. It looked like there was a little more than friendship going on.” Philip observed.
Danika sighed, unable to defend herself.
“What ever happened with Eli and his father?” Philip wondered.
“He forbid him to see me,” she admitted.
“His vadder forbid him to see you?” he repeated her words, concern filling his eyes.
She nodded.
“And you both deliberately went behind his back and disobeyed his wishes?” Philip asked in disbelief, his voice rising a bit.
Danika hung her head low, knowing her goose was cooked. “It was his birthday,” she simply stated, in an attempt to defend the both of them.
“Oh, so what you're saying is that it's okay to disobey your authorities on your birthday?”
Danika kept her eyes on the floor, trying to shield herself from the accusatory words spoken by her uncle.
“I want you to look at me, Danika. It's how we show respect. Now please answer my question,” he commanded sternly.
She brought her eyes to his. She hated that look – the look of disappointment. Once again, she had let her uncle down. “No, it's not okay,” she answered softly.
“What would happen if his father found out the two of you were meeting secretly?” She was unsure whether it was a threat or a simple question. “Have you thought about the consequences?”
Again, she nodded her head in affirmation. She knew if they'd been caught, his father would send him to another school. How could she have been so careless?
“And that's a risk you're willing to take, just to see him for a couple of hours?” It sounded so foolish now that he laid everything out.
“If that boy can't respect and obey his father, how can I trust him with you?” His words stung. She didn't like to hear him talking about her Eli like that.
Danika shrugged her shoulders, not knowing just what to say.
Philip sighed. “I really hate to do this, but you leave me no other choice.” He continued, unrelenting, “Since you continue to push the boundaries, I'm going to have to put my foot down. Other than school, you are to have no contact with Eli Yoder. That means no secret meetings, no letters, and no phone calls. If he gives you a letter, you are to return it unopened.” Philip didn't think she'd be using the telephone in the herb shop, but figured he'd better cover all his bases.
Danika took a deep breath as tears sprung to her eyes. How could he do this? How could he be so unmerciful? She allowed her tears to fall freely. She tried to stop the barrage of words, but they kept coming, assaulting her emotions.
Philip was uncomfortable speaking to Danika this way, but how else could he protect her? “I also think you're too young. You will wait until you're sixteen, the proper age, to begin courting. As long as you are in my house, you will abide by my rules. Do I make myself clear?”
How could he expect this of her? This was too much for her to bear! Her shoulders slumped under the heavy burden; she could not stop the free-fall of tears. She put her hands over her face and sobbed.
He spoke to her in a more gentle tone now, “Danika, you know I only want what's best for you.” He put his hand on her arm, attempting consolation.
Danika quickly pulled her arm away and lashed out in anger. “No you don't!” she cried. “You just want what's best for you. It's your fault that Eli's dad wouldn't let him see me. All of this is your fault. I hate you.” She ran into the house and up the stairs, throwing herself face down onto her bed, and wept.
Well that certainly didn't go very well, Philip thought discouragingly.
<><><>
Chapter 11 – The Locket
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34
Dinner that evening was a solemn event. Philip and Danika were both silent while Naomi tried to make light conversation with Katie. Katie noticed a change in her father's countenance as well as in Danika. “Mamm, what's wrong with Dani? Why is she sad?” the little girl asked innocently. The words brought a fresh wave of tears to Danika's eyes. Just the thought of her current circumstances was dreadful.
“She'll be fine, Katie. You don't need to worry about it,” Naomi chided.
“Why is Dat so quiet?” Katie naturally wondered.
“He's thinking. Now just eat your dinner, so we can have family time,” Naomi suggested, rubbing her rapidly growing belly.
As Philip read the Bible that evening, the Word of God spoke to all of them. He was reading from the book of Ephesians chapter six. Verses one and two popped out at Danika, 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and thy mother...' Danika's father and mother were gone, and there was nothing she could do about that. Her aunt and uncle were all she had now, so she supposed that the obeying part was still required of her. Why does obedience have to be so hard? I haven't honored Uncle Philip at all, she ashamedly thought to herself as he continued reading.
'And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' Philip paused after reading that verse. Have I been too hard on Danika? What I said definitely upset her. I don't want to cultivate a harvest of bitterness and hatred. I want this to be a home where love and forgiveness dwell. It must start with me. To everyone's surprise, Philip closed the Bible and set it on the small table next to his straight-back wooden chair. He looked at Danika and noticed how saddened she was. He knew he was partly responsible for her grief.
“Dani,” he humbly spoke, “I'm sorry that I spoke harshly with you today. I'm afraid I have 'provoked you to wrath', as God says not to do. I'm asking for your forgiveness.”
Does he think of himself as my father? The thought brought comfort to her heart. Danika was definitely surprised by her uncle's admission. She admired him for his humility. “Jah, I think I can forgive you,” she offered.
“Denki.” Philip knew he had asked a lot of her.
“I need to ask for your forgiveness too. I'm sorry that I said that I hate you.” Her eyes began to cloud over, but she continued, “It’s not true. I'm sorry that I disobeyed, I know it
was wrong.”
“I forgive you. But some of what you said was true. This rift between Jacob Yoder and I has gone on for far too long. It's not right that you have to suffer because of it. I will pray that God will bring a solution to the problem.”
“Oh, denki, Uncle Philip.” Danika said as she gave him a warm daughterly hug. Philip wore a satisfied smile.
“We will pray too,” Naomi spoke for herself and the girls. Danika agreed.
<><><>
Danika arrived at school early on Monday morning and sat down at her desk with paper and pen.
Dearest Eli,
It pains me to write this letter. My Uncle Philip saw us on Saturday. He gave me permission to write this letter, but it will be my last for the time being. He was not happy that we went against your father's wishes. He's also forbidden me to accept letters from you or spend time with you, aside from school. He said that I won't be allowed to court till I'm sixteen. I am so sorry, I wish there was another way. I have cried many a tear over you, my love. Please know that I do not regret one second of the time we spent together. It was precious to me.
You hold my heart,
Danika
P.S. My uncle is seeking the Lord about making amends with your father. Please pray with us in this.
She folded the letter and slipped it into his desk just before the bell rang. When Eli sat down, he noticed her usually-happy demeanor was gone, and his smile faded too. He looked at her with concern, wishing they could talk. When the teacher began instruction, he opened his desk and found the letter she had written. He quickly removed it and slid it under his notebook. When the teacher turned her back, he quickly opened the letter and read the solemn words.
I can't even write her a note? No courting till she's sixteen? That seems like forever. No wonder she's so distraught. This is terrible. There has to be some way. I've never known Philip to be unreasonable like this. Maybe I can talk to him myself. Eli thought a moment. No, he'd probably side with my father. Well, I guess if Jacob in the Bible could work seven years for Rachel, I can surely wait three years for my beloved Danika. Yes, Danika, I will pray with you. We will be together in spirit. Eli felt a little better after coming up with a plan of action. He would pray. God can move mountains, the Bible says, and that's exactly what it would take to restore the broken relationship between Philip King and Jacob Yoder.
Danika's Journey (Amish Girls Series--Book 2) Page 7