The Amish Bride

by Mindy Starns Clark

  After that we rode along in silence for a while. They didn’t ask me where I was from and I didn’t volunteer. We passed Willow Lane and I strained my neck trying to see if I could spot the Home Place. I couldn’t.

  I asked about Rosalee.

  “Ya, we know her,” Anna said. “She’s in the same district as the Klines, over one from us. The older kids work for her some.”

  I perked up at that. Maybe Luke would introduce me to her.

  A few minutes later, Anna maneuvered the buggy down a long driveway, bordered by pastures. Ahead was a weary-looking and quite small farmhouse. A wave of emotion swept over me at the sight of the farm where Mammi had lived with her husband, where they had raised their three daughters. If I had my dates right, my mother had spent the first eight years of her life here. Now I had come back to the very same place, bringing it full circle. Amazing.

  “They might not be back from church yet,” the younger girl said.

  The place looked pretty quiet. Just as I was getting out of the buggy, intending to go knock on the front door, I caught a glimpse of a man by the barn. I headed that way instead.

  “Hello,” I called out.

  A moment later I could tell the man was Luke.

  “Ella?” He stepped toward me. “What are you doing here?”

  “My bike has a flat tire. I was hoping maybe you could fix it for me.”

  “Sure,” he said, leading the way back toward the buggy. Anna and Naomi were both smiling at him. He said hello and thanked them, and then he hoisted the bike from the back.

  I thanked the young women too. As Anna turned the buggy around, Naomi kept her eyes on Luke, as much as she could, until they were headed back toward the road.

  Luke told me to wait while he fetched a new tube. As he headed back toward the barn, I stood in the driveway, holding the bike and looking around. Next to the house stood a shed, a windmill, and then the barn. Past the house was a creek that came out of the woods. I knew from Google Earth that it bordered the Home Place.

  As I was staring off into the woods, my eyes along the tops of the fir trees, Luke returned empty-handed.

  “Someone used the last tube and didn’t replace it.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll walk back to the highway. I’m sure I’ll find a ride.”

  “No, I’ll take you.”

  “But you’re busy…”

  He shook his head. “I came home from church before the others to check to see if we have any cows in labor, but we don’t.” He nodded back toward the barn. “I’ll go hitch up the buggy.”

  “Are you sure?” I didn’t mean to be such a pain.

  “Of course,” he said, blushing. He didn’t seem as nervous as the first time I met him, but he wasn’t exactly comfortable either.

  I knew he probably had other things to do. Like courting a local girl. Maybe even Naomi. Or maybe they would see each other at a singing tonight. I sighed. It wasn’t as though I had any other options, except to walk back to the highway and see if someone would stop.

  “Thanks,” I said. “That would be great.”

  Ten minutes later, as we were headed toward the county road, I asked him about Rosalee and the Home Place.

  “The Home Place?” His expression was bewilderment. “I haven’t heard it called that.”

  “Really?” How odd. “But you know Rosalee, right? Aren’t you related somehow?”

  “She’s my aunt. Let me think. By marriage, yes. Her husband was my mother’s uncle. Something like that.”

  I nodded. “I’m hoping to see the Home Place sometime. And meet Rosalee. That’s where I was headed when I got the flat.”

  “She isn’t there today.”

  “Oh?”

  “She’s off visiting. She went to another district’s church service.”

  We were quiet for a few minutes. Finally, I turned toward him a little. “My mom lived on your dairy when she was little.”

  “Oh?”

  “So it was really nice to see it. Maybe you could show me around some more sometime.”

  He nodded his head a little, but that was all.

  I stared straight ahead. I thought of what Ezra said, about Darryl Kline being a tyrant. Maybe he wouldn’t want me stopping by. Maybe that was why Luke was so eager to give me a ride away from the farm.

  We rode in silence after that, except for me giving directions to Penny’s house. When we reached our destination, I thanked him.

  He blushed again.

  “I hope this doesn’t mess up your day too much. You probably have plans for tonight, right? Like a singing?”

  He nodded his head but didn’t, of course, elaborate.

  Instead, he jumped down from the buggy and hauled the bike out of the back. I took it and thanked him again.

  He nodded his head and climbed back into his buggy. As he pulled away, a wave of loneliness swept over me. It would have been nice to think Luke would be my friend and introduce me to Rosalee and show me around both the Home Place and the dairy, but that didn’t seem likely at all. Nothing having to do with Indiana was going according to my plans.

  I missed Ezra with all of my heart.

  I would give my notice the next day and then ask Penny to take me out to Plain Treats so I could at least see the Home Place before I went back to Pennsylvania. I had little hope of making a connection with Rosalee more than introducing myself, but still I wanted, more than anything, to see where Sarah had lived. Then I would return to Lancaster County, do my best to avoid Freddy, and hope to marry Ezra as soon as possible.

  THIRTEEN

  Penny didn’t return until nightfall. I met her at the door, explaining the voice mails before she had a chance to listen to them and assuring her Luke had taken me home. She gave me a hug and said she was glad I was safe. I told her I was sorry about the flat and that I would get it repaired. I decided to wait to tell her I would be leaving until I gave Kendra and Wes notice. I did say I had Wednesday off and asked if it would work for her to take me to Plain Treats. She said yes.

  When I arrived at the restaurant the next morning, Wes asked me to make biscuits while he whipped up gravy. I followed his recipe closely, adding the flour, salt, and baking powder together, and then cutting in the butter. After I added the milk, I mixed the cold dough with my hands and then started kneading it, pushing my very being into the bowl.

  “Easy does it.” Wes stood at the stove, a whisk in his hand. “You’re going to upend the kitchen.”

  I backed off a little.

  “Rough weekend?”

  I nodded.

  “Homesick?”

  I nodded again.

  “I would be too,” he said, adding more flour to the gravy.

  I swiped at my eye with the back of my hand, sure he would understand my giving two-weeks’ notice. But I wanted to tell Kendra, not him. It wasn’t until the breakfast rush had started that Wes told me she wasn’t feeling well and that we’d have to handle the day on our own.

  I was surprised when Luke came in and ordered coffee and biscuits-and-gravy as I scrambled to serve everyone. When I delivered his plate, he said he needed to talk with me about something.

  Fearing it was serious, I sat down across from him in the booth. He’d been drawing on his napkin, a diagram of some kind of machine, but he covered it with his hand when he realized I’d noticed it. His face reddened.

  “I got to thinking about your bicycle when I got home. Did you get it fixed yet?”

  I exhaled with relief. So it wasn’t anything serious. “No, not yet. But I will.”

  “You know how to fix a flat?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Not exactly, but I can figure it out.”

  “I can do it now.”

  “I don’t get off until two.”

  “I just bought a bunch of tubes. I could go by that house where you’re staying.”

  I imagined Luke working on the patio, startling Penny. “Okay, but let me call Penny first and let her know you’re coming.” She hadn’t bee
n in for breakfast yet.

  I slipped into the kitchen and told Wes I needed to make a quick call. I retrieved my cell and dialed. This time Penny answered her landline. She was fine with Luke stopping by.

  “It will be a pleasure to meet him,” she said.

  Luke blushed again when I told him what she said. I found him both endearing and annoying. I couldn’t imagine why in the world he was so shy.

  Later, just before the evening shift waitress came in and I would be leaving for the day, I gave Wes my two-weeks’ notice.

  “I’m so sorry,” I added.

  “Actually, we saw this one coming. At least Kendra did. On Friday, when that bunch of Amish folk came in. We knew you’d be heading home soon.”

  My face grew warm.

  “No worries,” he said. “We’ll manage.”

  I thanked him profusely for all he’d done, and especially for giving me a chance to waitress even though I’d had no experience. I thanked him also for being so very understanding.

  He held up his hand. “Sure, I understand, but I’m not happy about it. Now I have to start back through the pile of résumés we have.”

  When I reached Penny’s, she went on and on about how sweet Luke was.

  “What a thoughtful person,” she said.

  She invited me to share the minestrone she’d made for dinner, and over the meal she said, “Maybe you should give him a chance. It would be nice for you to get to know a local young man.”

  I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Too bad you didn’t have a chance to get to know Ezra. You would have adored him.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes.” I picked up my spoon. “Unlike Luke, Ezra is very outgoing, not shy at all. He has a great sense of humor. Children adore him. He has a wonderful family. And he’s cute, cute, cute.”

  “That I noticed, but would he have come over to fix the bike?”

  “Absolutely. And he would have had you laughing within a couple minutes of arriving.” At least I thought he would have fixed the tire, although he wasn’t very mechanically inclined. He even needed help sometimes when his motorcycle had problems.

  She smiled at that. “A good sense of humor certainly makes life easier.” She put a roll on her plate. “That was something my marriage could have used more of.”

  I reached over and patted her hand, my thoughts still on Ezra. Just picturing him made me happy. I would soon be home. Ready to join the church with him. Ready to leave my life as a Mennonite behind. Philosophically, the two churches weren’t that different. I knew I would struggle with the High German, but I could learn that better with time. And Pennsylvania Dutch. The biggest challenge for me would be no technology. I thought of my cell phone in my pocket.

  “What’s the matter?” Penny ladled more soup into her bowl.

  “Oh, nothing,” I said. “Except, speaking of Ezra, I need to tell you I gave my notice at work today. I’m going back home.”

  She put the ladle back in the tureen. “Oh, my.”

  “I’m sorry, Penny,” I said quickly. “I hope I haven’t put you out.”

  “It’s just I’ve enjoyed having you here, that’s all.” She smiled. “But I knew from that first night you wouldn’t be here long.”

  “I can pay you for another month.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. It’s been a pleasure having you around, is all.”

  “Thank you.” I ducked my head as I spoke, suddenly feeling shy myself. For the first time I second-guessed my decision. I hoped she’d find another tenant soon.

  After dinner I called Mom, but she didn’t answer. I left a message, telling her I was planning to take the bus home in two weeks.

  The next day, around two, an older Amish woman walked into the café, her cape around her shoulders. She had silvery hair under a black bonnet and smooth skin despite the fact that she was probably somewhere in her early sixties. She was a couple of inches shorter than I and seemed timid. She slid into a booth and then searched the room. When she saw me she nodded slightly but didn’t smile. She turned the coffee cup in front of her right side up, and I hurried over with the pot and a menu.

  As I filled her cup, she said in a quiet voice, “Are you Ella?”

  I nodded.

  “I’m Rosalee. Your grandmother’s niece.”

  “Oh, my goodness,” I said, my face breaking into a grin. “I was planning on coming out to your bakery tomorrow.”

  She smiled in return and a sweetness filled her eyes. “I heard you were interested in working for me. As it turns out, I need more help than I thought. I’m hoping you can start soon. You can live with me too, if you would like, to save on room and board.”

  “Seriously?” I answered, my antennae spinning. Something was up. I wondered if Luke had spoken to her about me. “But I’m heading back to Lancaster County in two weeks.”

  “Have you talked to your mother recently?” She stared at the table.

  “I left her a message last night—”

  “Call her again.” Rosalee kept her eyes down.

  “Why?”

  She didn’t answer me.

  I couldn’t fathom what Mom had to do with all of this, but I was desperate to find out.

  Rosalee handed the menu back to me and said she would only have coffee.

  I headed into the kitchen. My shift was officially over. I grabbed my purse and jacket from the closet, told Wes and Kendra goodbye, and then stepped outside, turning my back to the street so I was staring at the brick wall of the building. I dialed Mom’s number and let it ring. Just as I was sure I was about to get her voice mail, she answered.

  “Did you get my message last night?”

  “Ella, Ella,” Mom said. I knew her saying my name twice didn’t bode well.

  I swallowed hard. “Rosalee’s here. She asked if I’d spoken to you.”

  “I was going to call once you were off work.”

  “I gave my notice yesterday, Mom. I’m coming home.”

  “But you wanted to get away…” Her voice trailed off.

  “I did.”

  “And then you made your decision to stay in Indiana. That’s what Ada said.”

  “Yeah, sure, but then I changed my mind.” What was this? No one had ever taken me at face value before. Why should they start now?

  “You need to give it more time.” Her voice was firm.

  I needed to…what?

  She continued. “The Lord may have more for you to learn before you come back home.”

  I pressed the palm of my left hand against a smooth brick and leaned forward. I knew what this was about. With Ezra back there again, everyone now thought the best place for me was out here. Incredible. My mother was trying to force away her own daughter.

  “You don’t want me,” I said. She was the most cold-hearted person I knew, as cold as the wall in front of me. My own mother.

  “That’s not it. You made a rash decision to leave. Now I wonder if you’re making a rash decision to come back. Rosalee has a job for you.”

  So they had talked. “I can’t ride a bike all that way to work.”

  “It’s my understanding she has a place for you to live too.”

  Wow. Obviously, they had discussed my entire situation. The very thought made me furious. When were other people going to stop trying to run my life?

  “It would be good experience for you,” Mom added, “in your field of interest, no less.”

  I didn’t respond. Now she cared about my field of interest? Give me a break!

  “Ella, I want you to take responsibility. You can’t be dashing here and there, working yourself into a—”

  “Dither?”

  “Exactly.”

  I bristled, telling myself to keep my voice steady despite the anger that bubbled inside of me like lava in a volcano.

  “So, when do you anticipate me coming home?”

  “It depends…”

  “On?”

  “On what you learn.”

  On wha
t I learn. And everybody thought I was the dramatic one.

  I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm my anger and look at the situation rationally.

  Truth be told, living at the Home Place would be amazing. I desperately missed Ezra, but what better way to discover who Sarah Berg really was than to live where she lived, bake where she baked, and try to decipher the rest of her “Recipes for Life” while living where she wrote them? I could even search around at my leisure for Sarah’s missing artwork.

  And the icing on the cake, so to speak, would be working at Plain Treats. Though I hated the thought of giving in to my mother’s manipulations, when else would I ever get a chance like this, to work in a real bakery, one located on the property of an old family home, no less? Living at the Home Place and working at Plain Treats—getting to do both was a dream come true.

  If only it didn’t have to happen this way, with a whole gang of scheming Amish and Mennonite puppet masters pulling the strings from two states away.

  “Let me think about it.”

  “Of course,” she answered.

  I managed a raggedy “Goodbye.”

  As I hung up she was saying, “I love—”

  I never heard the “you.”

  My hand shook as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. She didn’t want me. But she loved me. I shuddered.

  Squaring my shoulders, I took in another deep breath and told myself I’d be a fool to turn these opportunities down, regardless of how they were coming about. On the other hand, I’d be a fool to stay here and let everyone succeed in keeping Ezra and me apart.

  Guess it was clear: Either way, stay or go home, I was a fool.

  Once I was back in the dining room, I took a deep breath and then approached the older Amish woman again as I clutched my cape and purse.

  “I talked to my mother. When would you want me to start?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  I glanced toward the kitchen. Kendra was standing in the doorway.

  Rosalee spoke to me in Pennsylvania Dutch. I shook my head and said I didn’t understand, even though I caught a few of her words.

  In English, she said, “You can come with me today if you like.” It was then that I spotted the buggy out the front window. Luke was in the seat, holding the horse’s reins.