But oh, how she missed Aaron and her family in Webster County. She missed making faceless dolls and spending time with Melinda and Katie. She even missed her cooking lessons and housekeeping chores. Of course, she had cooking and cleaning to do here, but it wasn’t nearly as much fun as it had been under Aunt Mary’s tutelage.
Allison stirred the pot of stew sitting on the back burner of the stove and sighed. If only she could forget about Aaron. Truth was she wished they’d never met, because it was too painful to find love and then lose it.
The back door slammed shut and she jumped.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to frighten you,” Papa said, brushing the snow off his woolen jacket.
“I didn’t think you’d be in so soon. Supper won’t be ready for another half hour or so.”
“That’s okay. I’m not all that hungry yet.” He ambled over to the sink and turned on the faucet.
“Where’s Peter?” Allison asked.
“He went over to Sally’s house for supper.”
“So it’s just the two of us?”
“Jah.”
When Papa finished washing up, he pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “Why don’t you turn down the burner and come have a seat? I have a couple of things I’ve been meaning to give you.” He motioned to the chair across from him.
Allison seated herself, curious as to what he had for her.
Papa reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out two envelopes. “This one is from your aunt Catherine.”
Allison squinted at the envelope. “But how—”
“She gave it to me before she died—while she was still able to stay focused enough to talk, she told our bishop’s wife what she wanted her to write.” He handed Allison the envelope. “She said she wanted you to know a few things, but not until after she was gone.”
“What things?”
“Why don’t you open the letter and find out?”
Allison opened the envelope and read the letter out loud:
“Dear Allison,
It’s never been easy for me to admit when I’m wrong, but there’s something I need to confess. Remember when John Miller used to come around, wanting to spend time with you? Then just when you showed an interest in him, he quit coming around. That was my fault, Allison. I sent John away.”
Allison looked over at Papa. “Why would Aunt Catherine have sent John away?”
“Because she was jealous.”
“Jealous? Of me having a boyfriend?”
He nodded. “I think you’d better read on.”
Allison focused her gaze on her aunt’s letter again:
“I was jealous because someone was interested in you, which meant you had the possibility of marriage. I, on the other hand, was destined to be an old maid the minute my parents were killed in a horrible fire that destroyed our home and left me and my four younger brothers as orphans. I was the oldest and felt it was my duty to care for them.
“Jeremiah King had been courting me for several months, and he’d even hinted that he had marriage on his mind. Soon after my folks were killed, however, Jeremiah informed me that he’d found someone else he loved more than me. Turned out that someone else was my best friend, Annie. From that moment on, I vowed never to love again.
“I became bitter because I’d been jilted by the only man I’d ever loved, and I felt obligated to take care of my brothers. Then, when your daed lost his wife and asked me to move to Pennsylvania to care for his brood, my bitterness increased. That’s why I’ve been so critical of everything you’ve done. I suppose I felt that if I couldn’t be happy, I didn’t want anyone else to be, either. So when John Miller started coming around, I told him you didn’t care for him and sent him packing.
“I know what I did was wrong, and I hope you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me someday. I really do love you, Allison, and I thank you for showing me the way to salvation.
“With deepest appreciation,
“Aunt Catherine”
A lump clogged Allison’s throat, and she blinked against stinging tears. “Oh, Papa, I had no idea any of that had happened to Aunt Catherine, or that John was seriously interested in me.”
“How did you feel about him, Allison? Were you in love with John?”
“At the time I thought he was pretty cute, but I never really got to know him well enough to decide if I could love him or not.” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now, because John married Sharon Yoder, and they’ve moved to Illinois.”
Papa reached for Allison’s hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “One of the reasons I sent you to visit your aunt and uncle in Missouri was to get you away from my sister’s bitter attitude. I could see how it was affecting you.”
“That’s true. Aunt Catherine and I never got along very well—not until her last days.” She looked at the letter she’d placed on the table and sighed. “I wish Aunt Catherine would have told me all this to my face. We could have talked about it, and I would have said, ‘I forgive you,’ and I would have asked her to forgive me for the way I’d behaved during my growing-up years.”
“I guess she didn’t feel comfortable saying those things to your face, so that’s why she asked our bishop’s wife to write her thoughts down in a letter.” Papa pulled a second envelope from his pocket. “This is for you, too—an early Christmas present.”
Allison tipped her head. “What is it? A letter?”
He leaned across the table and handed it to her. “Take a look.”
When Allison tore open the envelope, her mouth fell open. Surely this couldn’t be!
Aaron held a piece of leather out to Zachary. “You didn’t get it stained right. Now you’ll have to do it over again.”
Zachary’s eyebrows drew together. “You’re too picky, ya know that? I’ll bet Papa will be easier to work with than you.”
“That’s what you think.” Aaron ruffled his brother’s brown hair. “Papa knows the harness business well, and he expects only the best. So you’d better learn to listen if you’re going to work here.”
Zachary leaned across the workbench and lowered his voice. “I would never admit this to Papa, but harness work ain’t my first choice for an occupation.”
“What would you rather be doing?”
“Well, since Joseph quit working at Osborn’s Christmas Tree Farm, I’ve thought I might like to go to work there.”
Aaron’s eyebrows drew together. “If you’d rather work there, then why’d you agree to work here?”
Zachary shrugged. “Papa said you’re in love with Allison Troyer, and I didn’t wanna be the one blamed for keepin’ you two apart.”
Aaron grimaced. He still hadn’t decided what he should do about going to Pennsylvania. He did love Allison, but he hadn’t had a letter from her in several weeks, and in the one he’d received, she’d suggested he find someone else. She hadn’t even said she missed him. Had she found someone else, or had he misjudged her feelings for him in the first place? Maybe it would be best if he forgot about her and made a fresh start with someone else.
Who am I kidding? he silently moaned. There’s no one I’d rather be with than Allison. Still, if she’s not interested in me, then I guess I’ll have to deal with it. Maybe I should tell Zachary he’s free to take a job at the tree farm and just be satisfied working here for the rest of my life without a helpmate.
The bell above the front door jingled, but Aaron didn’t bother to go up front to see who’d come in. Paul was working at his desk, so he could wait on the customer.
A few seconds later, Paul called, “Zachary, can I see you a minute?”
Zachary looked at Aaron and shrugged. “Guess I’d best go see what the boss wants, or I’ll be in trouble.”
Aaron went back to work on the bridle he was making for Ben King and tried not to think about Zachary’s admission that he didn’t really want to do harness work.
“Hello, Aaron.”
Aaron looked up, and his breath caught in his throat. “Allison?
Wh–what are you doing here?”
She took a few steps toward him. “I came to see you.”
“But. . .I thought. . .I mean. . .I was going to. . .” Aaron knew he was stammering, but he seemed powerless to say anything intelligent. Allison looked so sweet, standing there smiling at him. He wanted to reach out and hug her.
“My daed gave me an early Christmas present—a bus ticket to Webster County, Missouri.” She smiled. “I have to return for my brother’s wedding in a few weeks, but then I’ll come back here for good.”
Aaron’s heartbeat picked up speed. “You. . .you really mean that?”
She nodded.
“I thought you had to stay in Pennsylvania to care for your daed.”
“I believed that, too, but after Peter and Sally are married, they’ve agreed to move in with Papa. Peter thinks it will be easier for him to keep working at the dairy farm if he lives nearby. Sally will quit her job at the Plain and Fancy Farm after she and Peter are married, and she told my daed that she’ll be more than happy to take care of him and his house.”
Aaron could hardly contain himself. “Do you know what this means, Allison?”
“I hope it means we can begin courting again—if you haven’t found someone else, that is.”
He shook his head and reached for her hand. “Never!”
“I’m so glad to hear it.”
“It also means I can stay right here and keep working for Paul in the harness shop. Fact is, I’d be happy to work here even if I never get to call the shop my own.”
Allison tipped her head and squinted. “What do you mean?”
“I was thinking about moving to Pennsylvania so I could be near you, but I wasn’t sure you’d want me.”
“Of course I want you, Aaron.”
He pulled her into his arms and drew in a deep breath, relishing the pleasant aroma of her clean-smelling hair. “I’d even thought about showing up at your door and surprising you after the first of the year, but you’ve surprised me instead.” Aaron pulled slowly away from Allison and moved over to the other side of the room. He took a small cardboard box from one of the shelves and handed it to Allison. “This is a special present for you.”
“What kind of present?”
“Open it, and see for yourself.”
She lifted the lid on the box and gasped. “My faceless doll! Oh, Aaron, where did you find it?”
“I found it in my little sister’s hands, but I’ll explain that later. Right now, I’d like to ask you a question.”
“What question is that?”
“Will you marry me after we’ve had a suitable time of courting?”
Tears welled in Allison’s eyes and threatened to spill over. “You. . .really want me to be your wife?”
“Jah, if you’re willing.”
She nodded and gave in to her tears, allowing them to trickle down her cheeks. “I’d be happy to marry you, Aaron, but there’s one condition.”
“What might that be?”
“That I’m allowed to work here in the harness shop with you.”
Aaron chuckled as relief flooded his soul. “Now that’s a deal I can’t refuse.” He drew Allison into his arms, thanking God for the way He had worked everything out and looking forward to spending the rest of his days on a journey of love with this special woman.
Epilogue
two years later
Allison sat in front of her treadle sewing machine, humming softly as she sewed another faceless doll. She glanced across the room, where her dark-haired, one-year-old daughter, Catherine, sat on the floor, playing with the doll Allison’s mother had made many years ago.
She reached for the verse she planned to attach to the doll she was making. On each doll she sewed, she included a passage of scripture: “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. . .saith the LORD” Jeremiah 29:13–14.
Aaron stepped into the kitchen and bent to kiss her. “How are my two favorite women?”
“We’re doing just fine,” Allison replied with a smile. “I was sitting here at my sewing machine, thinking how my coming to Webster County changed my life.”
He swooped their daughter into his arms and took a seat in the rocking chair beside the stove. “Want to tell me and Catherine how your life has changed?”
“If I hadn’t come here to stay with my mamm’s twin sister, I might never have found the Lord as my Savior.” She lifted the pressure foot and pulled the doll free, holding it up for her husband’s inspection. “And I would never have learned to make these faceless friends.”
He nodded. “Anything else?”
Allison left the sewing machine and reached for Aaron’s hand. Then she placed both of their hands on their daughter’s head. “If I hadn’t moved to Webster County, I wouldn’t be married to the new owner of Zook’s Harness Shop, and I wouldn’t now be the mamm of this sweet little girl I love so much.” She chuckled and stroked the child’s soft cheek; then she moved her hand to touch Aaron’s bearded face. “Of course, I love Catherine’s daed quite a lot, too.”
“I love you both, too.” Aaron grinned. “It sure was a nice surprise when my daed decided it was time to retire and turn the shop over to us, wasn’t it?”
Allison nodded. “The Lord is good, and nothing He does surprises me.” She pointed to the doll nestled in little Catherine’s arms. “I’m glad I no longer feel faceless before God.” She smiled and blinked back tears of joy. “No matter how long I’m allowed to journey this earth, I pray that I can share the joy of the Lord with everyone who receives one of my little faceless friends.”
RECIPE FOR AUNT CATHERINE’S PEANUT BRITTLE
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
½ cup water
1 cup white Karo syrup
1 tsp. butter
3 cups raw peanuts
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
In a kettle over medium heat, cook the sugar, water, and Karo syrup to the hardball stage. Add the butter and peanuts. Stir and cook just until mixture turns brown. Remove from stove. Add vanilla and soda. Spread over a large, buttered cookie sheet and cool. Cut or break into pieces and serve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life. Wanda’s interest in the Amish and other Plain communities began when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda has made numerous trips to Lancaster County and has several friends and family members living near that area. She and her husband have also traveled to other parts of the country, meeting various Amish families and getting to know them personally. She hopes her readers will learn to love the wonderful Amish people as much as she does.
Wanda and her husband have been married over forty years. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, reading, stamping, and having fun with her family.
Wanda has written several novels, novellas, stories, articles, poems, and puppet scripts.
Visit Wanda’s Web site at www.wandabrunstetter.com and feel free to e-mail her at [email protected].
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