A Plain Man

by Mary Ellis

  His mother smiled on her way out; his siblings’ expressions were far less jubilant.

  Sarah held out a hand to him. “Come in. I trust this must be important.”

  By the time Caleb crossed the room, he’d completed his assessment. Adam was right. Sarah looked even thinner than she had in the hospital. Why hadn’t he noticed how frail she had become? Was he that self-absorbed? “Your betrothed sent me up to check on you, to make certain you’re strong enough to enjoy the festivities.”

  “I’m fit as a fiddle. That Adam always finds something to worry about.” She pinned the traditional black kapp carefully over her hair. It would be replaced with the white kapp of a matron after the marriage service.

  “You are by no means fit. I’ve never seen you so skinny. Adam is worried about you and for good reason. You came to Cleveland to intervene on my behalf. I’m here to do the same for you, although I didn’t have to travel so far.” He sat down on the bed beside her. “Adam thinks you two should wait until you’re completely well. The new house will still be there; your friends can come back, and your pretty blue dress might fit better if you gained a few pounds.”

  Sarah smacked him on the arm with her hairbrush. “Stop swelling my head with flattery.”

  “He loves you, Sarah. And he knows you love him. It’s no big deal to wait until February or March.”

  Her brown eyes widened and filled with tears. “You listen to me very carefully, big bruder. I might be skinny, but I’m strong enough to take my vows. This is my wedding day, and I have no intention of waiting another week, let alone another three months. Adam might have mastered patience during our courtship, but mine is in short supply lately.” She rose to her feet with dignity. “Go downstairs and make yourself useful. I love you and appreciate your concern, but I am fine. Wild horses couldn’t stop me from getting married today. So if Adam Troyer is getting cold feet, he’d better warm them at the woodstove. Or come up with something a whole lot better than this.” Sarah buzzed a kiss across Caleb’s cheek and pointed at the door. “Now go. I’ve got a few prayers to say before the service starts.”

  Josie rode to the Beachy house that morning with her parents and her two sisters. Her bruders would walk the back path around the mill so the buggy wouldn’t be overly crowded.

  Not the mill, but her mill. Hers and Caleb’s.

  Trying to get her mind around that notion was difficult. Almost as hard as imagining that this was her wedding day. She had always known Sarah would take her vows before Christmas and that she would be at her side, but as her attendant, not a fellow bride. If someone had suggested a year ago she would marry Caleb Beachy, she would have laughed in their face.

  God worked in mysterious ways.

  Caleb had returned from Cleveland an Englischer and had stayed that way for quite some time. Her beloved had become a Plain man at last. She could never underestimate the power of love...or the power of the Lord.

  “What are you thinking about?” Seated on Josie’s right, Laura nudged her in the ribs. “All the practical gifts you’ll soon be unwrapping?”

  Jessie leaned forward on their bench. “I’ll bet she’s thinking about the sweets she’ll pig out on later,” she said. “Once she’s married, she won’t need to keep her skinny figure.”

  “Nature has a way of taking care of a gal’s figure soon after most weddings.” Laura offered sage wisdom like a seasoned matron, while Josie stared out the window.

  Margaret swiveled around on the front seat. “If we can’t reflect on the solemnity of the occasion, perhaps you two can leave your schwester to her private thoughts.”

  That put a cork into her two attendants, at least until they arrived at the Beachy’s. They were early, yet plenty of buggies were already lined up in the closely mown pasture. Women had come to help prepare the wedding feast. Josie stepped out into a December morning and reached for a hamper of cold dishes from the back. Today she and Sarah would officially become sisters. She had always considered her best friend that way. Now they would be joined together as assuredly as she and Caleb. Inhaling a deep breath of crisp air, Josie hurried toward the Beachy kitchen.

  “Don’t get dirty,” Mamm called. “Go find Sarah; you two can amuse yourselves while we prepare the meal for later.”

  Josie waved her hand, delivered the basket to Elizabeth, and went in search of her friend. She found Sarah sitting in her room by the window. Her eyes were shut, but her lips were moving. Josie stood stock-still until Sarah’s eyes fluttered open and spotted her in the doorway. “Last-minute prayers for strength,” she said.

  “How are you feeling?” Josie stepped into the room.

  “Gut, so don’t start fretting. Adam and Caleb have been more worried than two old grossmammis. I feel fine, but it will be a long day.” Her brown eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  “Okay. I’ve got a plan.” Josie plopped down opposite her. “After the noon meal, after we’ve greeted our guests and opened any last-minute wedding presents, we slip away for an hour and take a nap.” She slapped the quilt on Rebekah’s neatly made bed. “Everyone will be busy playing games and gossiping, so we probably won’t be missed.”

  “Sneak away from Adam and Caleb?” Sarah’s puzzlement furled her brow.

  “No, we tell our husbands we need to rest for the evening. Then you tell your schwestern, and I’ll tell mine too. They will be happy to take turns standing guard so we’re not disturbed. Laura and Jessie both want more to do, and I’ll bet Katie and Rebekah feel the same. They can show people our gifts in the living room if anyone starts asking too many questions.”

  Sarah tipped her head to the side. “I never knew you to take a nap in all the years I’ve known you. You’re doing this for my sake, jah?”

  “Yes and no. You might need it more, but I want to keep going strong into the wee hours. After the evening meal, everyone who’s not over the hill will sing and visit until midnight.”

  “Over the hill? How you talk. My bruder has rubbed off on you. But since you’ve certainly rubbed off on him, I suppose it’s only fair. Danki, Josie, for bringing Caleb back from a very dark place.”

  Josie felt a blush climb her neck. “You’re the one who found him in Cleveland and convinced him to come home. I only agreed to court him.”

  “Caleb never would have stayed if not for you. I’ll be forever grateful.” Sarah leaned over to kiss Josie’s forehead.

  “Look what I got out of the bargain—a man who thinks I’m pretty and funny. He even laughs at my jokes.”

  “You two are a match made in heaven. Let’s go downstairs and help our mamms. I can’t wait to get this show on the road.”

  An hour later the two couples sat on the living room sofa for the Abroth—a final dose of admonition and encouragement dispensed by Eli. The rest of their families, their attendants, and three hundred wedding guests were already worshipping in the Beachy outbuilding under the leadership of a minster. After the bishop was certain they understood what would be expected of them, the four of them entered the barn where they sang hymns and prayed, similar to any other preaching Sunday.

  Seated beside Sarah on the women’s side, Josie fidgeted on the hard bench. Feeling too warm in the crowded barn, alternating with shivers and raised goosebumps when the wind blew through gaps in the walls, Josie wanted this portion of the day behind her. Across the room, pale-as-milk Caleb looked equally nervous. Sarah and Adam, however, seemed to be contemplating the service fully at ease. Apparently a long engagement bestowed serenity on brides and grooms.

  Finally Bishop Beachy approached the front with prayer book in hand. He opened the main sermon with readings from the book of First Corinthians. Josie shifted uncomfortably as he issued instructions for husbands and wives of all ages. Would she be able to live up to biblical standards for godly wives? Or would her foolishness and penchant to take matters lightly disappoint her new husband? Sarah would do just fine. Always a cool head on that tall pair of shoulders. Adam could rest assured his home would be
well managed once Sarah’s vitality returned.

  As though drawn by the scent of something sweet in the oven, Josie lifted her gaze to lock eyes with Caleb across the room. He was smiling like he knew how everything would turn out forty, fifty, or sixty years down the road. She exhaled slowly and just like that, Josie relaxed. Caleb knew exactly what kind of wife he was getting.

  Toward the end of his sermon, the bishop summoned the two couples, along with their attendants, to stand before him. They spoke their vows in clear, distinctive voices so that even the back rows could hear, and Eli declared them man and wife. They shared no kisses, nor had they marched down the center aisle dragging long trains of lace behind them. Nevertheless, when Josie and Sarah returned to their seats they wore the white kapps of matrons.

  Josie and Caleb, Sarah and Adam—married at long last.

  As they filed out into cold December air, Laura wrapped a wool shawl around Josie’s shoulders while James produced a heavy coat for Caleb. They remained outdoors for forty or fifty minutes, accepting best wishes from those who came from near and far to share their special day. Josie never noticed the stiff wind or even the feathery flakes of snow that fell like confetti across the fields. With Caleb by her side, she was warmed by the eternal flame of love.

  As they finished greeting their guests, Elizabeth Beachy and Margaret Yoder marched toward them side by side. “All right, my brides and grooms,” said Elizabeth. “We have moved around the benches and set out the luncheon feast. It’s time to take your seats so we can start feeding people.”

  “And don’t look at me when you see your wedding cake.” Margaret leaned close to Josie and clucked her tongue. “That extravaganza was Angela Wilson’s doing. What was she thinking? That money could have been put to a much better use,” she muttered under her breath on their way inside.

  “It’ll be fine, I’m sure.” Josie spotted her former employer standing with her husband, daughter, and infant son along the wall. Angela lifted her hand in a friendly wave.

  Caleb guided her to the two corner tables loaded with desserts especially for the wedding party. On one table stood an enormous, multiple-tiered confection with rosettes, twisted ropes of icing, fresh flowers embedded in the white frosting, and a plastic couple standing beneath a bower of real miniature roses.

  “What do you think?” asked Caleb, his expression benign.

  Josie glanced over at Sarah’s double layer spice sheet cake with sour cream frosting and then back at Cinderella’s castle. “It’s beautiful! As long as the cake is chocolate under all that frosting, I’m happy as a clam.”

  Caleb checked over his shoulder and then stuck his finger knuckle-deep into the bottom layer. When he removed his finger, chocolate cake crumbs coated the tip. “We’re in luck. And a clam never looked at pretty as you, Mrs. Beachy.” He leaned his face close to hers.

  Josie expected a chaste kiss or buzz on the cheek, but she received a swipe of frosting across her upper lip. “Yum.” She licked away the stickiness. “Are you happy, Cal?” She turned her face up to his.

  “Like I never have been before.” He snaked an arm around her waist. “Let’s grab a plate of beef and ham so we can start on those goodies. Looks like my sister plans to gain back all her weight in one day.”

  Sarah held a walnut tart in one hand and an oversized Snicker-doodle cookie in the other, nibbling both on her way to the buffet.

  Josie reached for Caleb’s arm. “Let’s let Adam and Sarah get in line first. I want to thank Angela for her lovely creation. I’ve decided not everything needs to be Plain for this gal.”

  Caleb took hold of her hand as they walked toward the Englischers. “I have a feeling much of our life will be anything but Plain married to you.” He kissed the backs of her fingers tenderly. “And that’s fine with me.”

  JOSIE’S SECRET RECIPE FOUR-BEAN SALAD

  Salad

  1 can green beans

  1 can yellow wax beans

  1 can kidney beans

  1 can garbanzo beans

  1 cup chopped celery

  1 cup chopped carrots

  1 cup chopped peppers (green, red, yellow, or combination)

  ½ cup chopped red onion

  1 cup chopped black olives (optional)

  Dressing

  2 cups olive oil

  1⅓ cups cider vinegar

  2 cups sugar

  2½ tsp. Old Bay seasoning

  2 tsp. prepared mustard

  1 tsp. celery seed

  1 tsp. Hungarian paprika

  1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

  Combine all salad ingredients in large bowl. For dressing, heat oil and vinegar together, stirring in sugar and seasonings. Heat only until sugar is completely dissolved and seasonings are blended. Do not boil. Let cool and add only enough dressing to lightly coat salad. Chill in refrigerator several hours or overnight.

  Before serving, drain off any runny dressing and add fresh parsley (1 or 2 tablespoons, or to taste). Store excess dressing in a sealed jar in the refrigerator to use as needed. Shake well before using. This can be used on coleslaw and lettuce or spinach salad too.

  I never make this recipe the same way twice, so play around with the quantities or types of peppers to suit your taste.

  ROSIE’S FAVORITE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

  By Rosanna Coblentz

  2 Tbsp. butter

  4 cups hash browns

  Lawry’s seasoned salt

  18 eggs

  1½ cups milk, divided

  ½ tsp. salt

  2 lbs. bulk sausage

  1 can mushroom soup

  2 cups shredded cheddar

  Preheat oven to 350°. Melt butter in skillet. Add hash browns and season with Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Cook until brown and layer into bottom of 9x13 pan. Set aside. In large bowl, beat eggs, ¼ cup milk, and salt. Pour into skillet and scramble. Layer eggs over hash browns in pan.

  Sauté sausage in skillet until brown. Add a small amount of Lawry’s salt while sautéing. Layer half the sausage over the scrambled eggs. To the remaining half of cooked sausage add the mushroom soup and remaining 1¼ cups milk. Heat, stirring occasionally, until just beginning to bubble. Pour sausage gravy over sausage.

  Bake until bubbly—about 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle cheese over top and continue to bake until melted and beginning to brown, 5 to 10 minutes longer.

  This recipe can be prepared the day before and refrigerated overnight. You’ll need to add a little extra baking time.

  APPLE BETTY BARS

  By Rosanna Coblentz

  Crust

  1 cup butter, softened

  1 cup brown sugar, packed

  2 cups flour

  2½ cups quick rolled oats, divided

  1 tsp. baking powder

  1 tsp. baking soda

  ⅛ tsp. salt

  Filling

  ½ cup white sugar

  ½ cup brown sugar (packed)

  2 Tbsp. fruit pectin (such as Sure-Jell)

  4 egg yolks

  2 cups sour cream

  2 cups coarsely chopped apples, such as Golden Delicious

  Preheat oven to 350°. For crust, cream butter and brown sugar in large bowl. Beat in flour, 2 cups oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mixture will be crumbly. Remove 1½ cups of mixture and stir in remaining ½ cup oats. Set aside. Pat remaining crumbs into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and bake for 15 minutes.

  While pan is in the oven, make the filling. Mix together sugar, brown sugar, and Sure-Jell. Beat in egg yolks and sour cream. Stir in chopped apples. Pour mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 to 8 minutes, or until bubbling.

  Pour filling over crust and sprinkle reserved crumb mixture over top. Bake 15 minutes longer. Let cool and cut into bars.

  This recipe is also good made with raisins or fresh-cut rhubarb.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Caleb is a loner when he returns home. How does that conflict with the Amish lifestyle?


  2. Why does Eli have almost as much difficulty adjusting to Caleb’s return as his son?

  3. Caleb butts heads with his father on the job site on more than one occasion. How does Eli’s dual role as his father and his bishop add to the difficulties?

  4. Why does Eli choose to keep some separation between his Englisch and Amish employees?

  5. Caleb’s first outing with other Amish young people in Shreve almost ends in disaster. How and why does he react differently from James and Adam?

  6. Why would Josie’s parents frown on her courting Caleb if his past history is to be forgotten?

  7. What lies at the root of the problems between Rebekah and Sarah? How is this universal within most families?

  8. The labor strike in Ashland becomes the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. How does this prove to be a blessing in disguise for Caleb?

  9. The sad situation at the Sidley farm is atypical of Amish households in many ways. Explain.

  10. Josie can deal with the residual effects of Caleb’s years living as an Englischer, but what eventually causes their breakup?

  11. How does working with Albert change Caleb’s life? How does his intervention affect each of the Sidleys?

  12. Why was Sarah reluctant to admit to anyone just how ill she was?

  13. Josie and Caleb believe a normal Amish baptism won’t be sufficient to cleanse Caleb of his sins. What does this say about their understanding of baptism? What is it that truly washes away our sins? (See Hebrews 10:10-14.)

  14. Why would Eli object to Caleb’s decision regarding baptism?

  15. Describe how the pathway to faith was so difficult for Caleb.

  About the Author

  Mary Ellis is the bestselling author of many books, including A Widow’s Hope, An Amish Family Reunion, and Living in Harmony. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life.

  www.maryellis.net

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