The Drifter (Amish Country Brides)

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  Bailey covered her mouth. Oh my.

  Martha stormed out of the store.

  Emily giggled. “I knew that would make her leave.”

  “You shouldn’t say that to your schweschder.” Bailey felt bad for her aunt Martha. Sometimes.

  “She teases me all the time.”

  “Still. You should be kind.”

  “Bailey, I have to tell you something.” Emily turned serious. “You’re not going to like it.”

  Bailey frowned. “What?”

  “It’s about Timothy. He was at the singing on Sunday, you know.”

  “Jah.”

  “Well, he took MaryAnn Kinsinger home.”

  “He said his folks would probably make him take someone home to prove we weren’t—”

  “No, Bailey. He likes her. And people have been saying that you were with an Englischer.”

  “It was my dad.” But, of course, she couldn’t tell anyone that.

  “They said you were in a fancy car, and people saw you hugging him. Timothy was really mad.”

  “What? Why didn’t he come and talk to me if he thought I was seeing an Englisch guy?”

  Emily shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Who saw me? Who is spreading these lies?”

  “I don’t know. That’s just the word that’s been going around. Everyone thinks you’re going to jump the fence.”

  “I am not going to jump the fence!” Tears filled her eyes.

  “I know that you would never.” Emily squeezed her hand. “I told you that you wouldn’t like it. But you needed to know.”

  “How can Timothy do that to me?” She cried. “He said he was going to wait!”

  Emily shrugged. “I’m sorry. I hated to tell you. I knew you would cry.” Tears pricked Emily’s own eyes and she brushed them away with her sleeve. “Anyway, I gotta go. Martha’s probably having a fit by now.”

  Emily stepped near and hugged Bailey. “I’ll pray for you. And for your dat.”

  “Denki, Emily.” She sniffled.

  As soon as her friend stepped out the door, Bailey broke down and sobbed.

  NINETEEN

  Josiah’s eyes misted as he drove up to his folks’ farmhouse—a place he hadn’t seen in a long, long time. It had hardly changed in the eighteen years he’d been gone. The white two-story house was decorated exactly the same. Blue curtains in the windows, several colorful hanging flower pots adorned the wraparound porch. Even the same wooden chairs invited him to come, sit down, and enjoy a refreshing glass of Mamm’s peppermint iced tea.

  He’d called his brother Jaden to let him know he was coming. Jaden being there, along with Silas, would give him the boost of confidence and moral support he knew would be needed. But this…this was going to be the most difficult thing he’d done in his entire life. At least his folks already knew about Bailey.

  He killed the engine and glanced at his friend. “This is hard, Silas. I don’t know if I can do it.”

  Silas reached over and squeezed his shoulder. “With God, you can. Let’s pray for Der Herr to give you the strength you need.”

  “Yeah, okay.” He blew out a breath.

  They both bowed their heads. Josiah’s head popped up in surprise when Silas began praying aloud.

  “Dear God, I come to You on behalf of my friend, Josiah Beachy. You know that he has done much wrong and has hurt a lot of people. Today, we ask that You bring healing. Today, we ask that You give Josiah the strength that he needs to share the truth with his family. Today, we ask that You change his life for the better. Make him a new man and give him a new start. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Let’s do this.” Silas looked at him “You ready?”

  He nodded and blew out a breath.

  It was evening, so his folks were likely enjoying supper at the moment. He and Silas approached the porch, his legs feeling more sluggish with every step. In a few moments, the most awkward part will be over with, he told himself. He knocked on the door—something he’d never done before.

  To his relief, Jaden answered. “They’re at the supper table,” Jaden whispered.

  “What should we…should we just walk in there?”

  “Nee, I’ll call them over.” Jaden walked into the other room. “Mamm, Dat, there’s someone here to see you.”

  “Invite them in,” his father said.

  Jaden walked to where they could see him. “You heard him. Kumm.”

  Josiah flicked a worried look at Silas, who nudged him forward.

  “Just get it over with,” Silas whispered.

  One foot in front of the other, Josiah moved toward the kitchen. Jaden put up a hand to halt him before their parents saw him.

  “Mamm, Dat,” Jaden began. “There is someone here. It’s going to be a really big surprise and I think I need to warn you, first.”

  “What are you talking about, sohn?” His father’s chair scraped the floor. He was getting up.

  Josiah and Silas stepped into the dining area. “Mamm, Dat, it’s me, Josiah. I’m alive.”

  His mother squealed. Like a flash of lightning, she had vacated her seat and wrapped him in a motherly embrace. “I knew it! I knew it all along. In my heart of hearts, I knew. I never could believe that you were dead. I never accepted it.”

  He awkwardly patted his mother’s back. He never remembered her being this affectionate.

  She stepped back and examined him. “Yep, it’s definitely our Josiah. Kumm, Alvin.” She waved his father over with her hand.

  His father eyed him suspiciously. “Where have you been the last eighteen years?”

  He shrugged. “Just drifting around, I guess.”

  “Drifting around?” He frowned.

  “I’ve been working in New Jersey for the last ten years. Before that, I was traveling abroad and I was in school.”

  “So, you let your family believe you were dead so you could go off and see the world?”

  He didn’t blame his father for being upset.

  “It was wrong. I’m sorry, Dat, Mamm. I’ve come asking for forgiveness.”

  Mamm put a hand on Dat’s arm. “Our sohn is home now. Let us rejoice,” she pleaded.

  His father glanced from him to his mom, to Silas to Jaden, then nodded. “Jah, okay. Kumm, sit. Have some supper.”

  Josiah released a long breath. He looked at Silas, who nodded and smiled.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving,” Silas said.

  His mother set two more plates at the table. “There is plenty. Your other brothers are gone for a few days.”

  Josiah frowned. He’d hoped he’d get to reconcile with the whole family. But he supposed his folks were enough for now.

  His father looked at Josiah and a faint smile teased his lips. His father reached for his hand. “Let us pray and thank Der Herr. For the prodigal has come home.”

  Josiah bowed his head. It felt like a ten-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He uttered his own silent prayer of thanksgiving.

  The remainder of the evening was mostly joyous as they all caught up on each other’s lives. Silas and Jaden admitted their part in the keeping of Josiah’s secret, but Josiah accepted full blame for it. His folks had been thrilled to hear that he’d connected with Bailey.

  “Are you planning to settle and join the g’may now?” His father’s voice sounded hopeful.

  “I haven’t decided exactly what I’m going to do just yet. But because Bailey’s in Indiana, I might just end up moving out that way too.”

  “And I hear he’s got an eye on a certain Amish widow as well.” Silas smiled.

  “Wait.” Josiah stared at him. “How did you know that? Where did you—Michael! You heard it from Michael, didn’t you?”

  His parents looked back and forth at each other as if they harbored some secret. They were obviously pleased with his words, although he’d said nothing about joining the Amish church.

  Josiah beheld the rural far
m scenery as fireflies sprouted from the grass, taking their evening flight, and lighting up the night. He sipped on a refreshing glass of Mamm’s peppermint iced tea. Tonight, he’d be tucked away in a bed he hadn’t occupied in eighteen years with his Mammi’s quilt covering him in a work of love. And all the world—or at least his world—was right once again.

  TWENTY

  Bailey had been a mess ever since Emily had shared the news about Timothy with her. She probably shouldn’t be working in the store in such a state, but Mamm had been busy in the house with the kinner and the chores, especially since Silas had been gone. Technically, Bailey had the easy job.

  Just so long as Timothy or MaryAnn Kinsinger didn’t come in. And just the thought of Timothy’s betrayal caused her to break down in tears—again.

  She hardly believed it until she saw them looking at each other at meeting on Sunday, and then the singing. She should have never attended the singing, but she’d hoped to get a chance to talk to Timothy in private. It never happened. And then, at the end, sure enough, he’d taken MaryAnn Kinsinger home. What had she been thinking?

  She didn’t think her heart could stand to go to another singing ever again. She couldn’t even imagine riding home with anyone except Timothy.

  “Bailey!” Onkel Paul rushed into the store, his eyes frantic. “Is your mamm here?”

  “Nee, she’s at the house with the kinner. Why?”

  “It’s Jenny. The boppli’s coming!”

  “Ach, for real?”

  “Jah. Could you close up the store and go watch the kinner for your mamm? I’m going to tell her about Jenny so she can go stay with her, then I’m going to fetch the midwife.”

  “Why don’t you call her on the phone?”

  “Tried. No answer. But I have an idea where she might be. Anyway, I need to hurry.” He charged out of the store.

  “Uh, jah. Okay. Go!” Excitement charged through Bailey’s veins at the thought of holding another tiny niece or nephew in her arms. This would be their fifth child.

  Someday, Gott willing and at the right time, Bailey hoped to have a boppli of her own. Sorrow clenched her heart when she realized it would likely never be with Timothy—the only one she’d imagined as the father of her kinner.

  ~

  Josiah couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he and Silas traveled back to Indiana. The meeting with his folks had gone better than he could imagine. Thankfully, for him, forgiveness was the Amish way and a virtue held dear by their culture. To not forgive would be to pass judgement on someone, and that right belonged to God alone. Which made Him wonder…

  “I want to ask you something, Silas.”

  “About what?”

  “It was something that Bailey said. And something that I’ve observed with you and Michael and Sammy.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Well, God. Bailey mentioned having Jesus in your heart. I’d never heard that preached in the Amish church. Is that really a thing?”

  He nodded. “I never knew that it was before studying it. And technically, the phrase ‘Jesus in your heart’ is not in the Bible, but the concept is. Ach, if I had my Bible here, I could show you.” He frowned.

  Josiah pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Here, you can look it up on this.”

  Silas held the phone in his hand and stared down at it.

  “See that little microphone in the rectangular box right there. Tap it with your finger then speak what you want it to find.”

  Silas did as told. “Okay, here is one place that talks about it. It’s in Ephesians, so it was written by the Apostle Paul. He writes here, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

  Josiah’s lips twisted. “You understand all that?”

  Silas shrugged. “I think so. But what I wanted you to see is that this passage mentions the concept three times. It talks about God’s Spirit being in the inner man, Christ dwelling in your heart by faith, and being filled with all the fullness of God. Now, he’s only talking to believers. God does not dwell in everyone’s heart, only those who have trusted in Christ.”

  Josiah nodded. “I think I’m getting it. Maybe.” He chuckled.

  “You’re not getting it.” Silas frowned. “Let me explain it this way. When a person accepts Jesus as their Saviour—”

  “Wait. What do you mean by that…accepts Jesus?”

  “Okay. The Bible says that all have sinned. It also says that the wages of sin is death. Do you understand that much?”

  “Well, I definitely know that I have sinned. But wages?”

  “What our sin earns us—death.”

  “Okay.”

  “We sin because we are born in the likeness of Adam.”

  “But I thought we were born in the likeness of God?”

  “No. Adam was originally. When he sinned, he lost that. He died spiritually. That’s why God told him that if he ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that he would surely die. And I don’t know if I’ll ever figure out why they ate that fruit. They already knew good. Why would they want to know evil?”

  Josiah shrugged. “Curiosity, maybe?”

  “I guess curiosity kills more than the cat.” Silas shook his head. “Anyway, Adam’s sin is handed down to each person born, so we are all sinners. And because of his sin, the first death occurred.”

  “Are you referring to Cain and Abel?”

  “Yes and no. That was the first murder. The first physical death was when God had to cover Adam and Eve with coats of skins. They tried to cover themselves with leaves but it wasn’t good enough. And that was a picture, an example, for what is required of us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, payment for sin requires a blood sacrifice. We cannot pay for it with our own deeds, our own works, because it is not what is required. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. But when Jesus died on the cross and shed His perfect sinless blood, he became the sacrifice for all men, for all time. He died once, for all. So, when we accept Jesus’ sacrifice as a payment for our sin, it is acceptable to God. His blood justifies us before God.”

  It was beginning to make sense. Josiah smiled. “Okay, I get that part. Jesus paid for sin.”

  “Right. The Bible says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Silas studied him. “So, Jesus is called the second Adam. In the first Adam, all die. So, in the same way, through the second Adam—in Christ—all can be made alive. And the life that Jesus gives is everlasting life. Remember I said how the wages of sin is death?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, the second part of that verse is but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

  “So, eternal life is a gift?”

  “Yes. Which means you cannot earn it. The only way for you to get the gift is by receiving it. Calling upon the Lord for salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

  “You’re telling me that all a person needs to do to get eternal life is to believe and ask God? That sounds so simple.” Was it really?

  “Exactly. God made it simple because He wants everyone to be saved. It cost Him His Son. Not one drop of His blood need be wasted. But unfortunately, not all choose God’s way. Many choose their own way. And sadly, God’s Word says that their own way leads to death and hell.”

  “I want to choose God’s way. Does that mean I have to be Amish, though?”

  “Did you see the word ‘A
mish’ in any of the verses I just quoted?”

  He frowned. “No.”

  “It’s not even in the Bible.”

  “It isn’t? But I thought…” He shrugged. “I don’t know what I thought. Except that some Amish leaders say that you go to hell if you leave the Amish church. I’m confused.”

  “Do you remember the story of when God led the Israelites out of Egypt?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, remember the plague about the death of the first born?”

  He nodded.

  “The Israelites were told to kill a lamb and put the blood on the doorposts. Do you remember what He said?”

  “No.”

  “God said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” He didn’t say, “when I see that you’re an Israelite or in our case Amish, or Catholic or Baptist or Mormon or whatever. He didn’t say when I see all the good works you’ve done.” It was the blood. And only the blood. The blood of Christ is what cleanses us and saves us, if we believe.”

  “Wow.”

  “That’s why it’s important to read your Bible. When you hear something that is different than what the Bible says, always stick with the Bible. God is right one hundred percent of the time. Man, whether Amish or not, is often wrong or has a wrong understanding. That is why the Bible urges us to study the Scriptures. Know what God says. Learn to rightly divide God’s Word. If you study and pray and seek God, He will give you wisdom and discernment.”

  “Wow, I feel like you have so much more of that than I do.” Josiah shook his head.

  “Only because I’ve done what I just told you. I read and I study and I pray. And sometimes, if there is something I don’t understand or can’t figure out or it seems to contradict, I’ll ask someone who has more spiritual wisdom than I do.”

  “Who? Your bishop?”

  “I do occasionally talk to Bishop Bontrager about the Bible. But the person that led me to the Lord and opened my eyes to God’s Word was a Christian pastor. He was just a driver for me at first. And then we started talking. I was amazed at how many answers he had, answers to questions the bishop didn’t know. And he found them in the Bible. I didn’t even know that they were there.”