An Amish Cookie Club Courtship

by Sarah Price

  Pausing at the door of the pantry, she turned around, scanning the room for a moment. Her eyes fell upon Ella Mae, who was wiping down the counter, her back toward Edna. It dawned on her that, if she had been correct about Jonas and Rachel, perhaps she had also been right about Jeremiah and Ella Mae.

  She thought back to her conversation with Jonas on Sunday. He’d seemed chipper and happy, more so than usual. While she’d originally thought that he simply hadn’t known Rachel didn’t care for him, now she suspected that his good mood had more to do with Rachel than she’d considered possible.

  And yet, that didn’t explain Jeremiah’s morose mood, unless she’d assessed his situation accurately. Perhaps Ella Mae didn’t share the sentiments that Jeremiah felt toward her.

  Only time would tell, she told herself. She reminded herself that she’d promised Elmer she had learned her lesson. She would have to let nature take its course. Once again, she’d attempted to intervene, going against her promise to Elmer, but God had managed to intercede, reminding her that she’d sworn off matchmaking. Or, rather, Rachel had interceded when she’d stepped forward, offering to take the tea to Jonas instead of Ella Mae.

  No, Edna had heard God’s voice in Rachel’s action. Loud and clear. His hand had guided the young woman to thwart Edna’s interference. With the reminder still fresh in her mind, Edna vowed to honor her promise to Elmer. She’d stay out of her sons’ business, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Of course, privately, she knew that she’d be watching and waiting. It was all she could do besides pray that neither of her sons would be hurt in their pursuit of the Schwartz sisters.

  RACHEL

  CHAPTER 38

  “What ho!”

  Jonas climbed down from the ladder near the back wall of the new kitchen, a broad smile welcoming Rachel to the building. He rubbed his hands on his brown pants as he crossed the room to where she stood in the doorway.

  “Refreshments? For me?” He pressed his hand against his chest in an exaggerated way. “How thoughtful of you, Rachel.”

  For a moment, Rachel almost commented that it was his mother, not she, who had sent the tea. But then, at the last second, she decided to keep that fact to herself.

  “Don’t get used to it,” she commented instead before pouring the tea into a cup and handing it to him.

  He laughed.

  Setting the pitcher on the makeshift counter, Rachel started to walk around the room. He’d made a lot of progress since the previous week. A large stainless-steel sink had been installed, and from the looks of it, the plumbing had been connected. Along the walls, Jonas had hung shelves instead of cabinets. She liked that concept, especially for Edna’s business. Having all of her supplies readily available, and not tucked into hiding, would be very handy indeed.

  “This has really come along nicely,” she said, turning around to face Jonas.

  He grinned. “A compliment?”

  She made a face. “Again, don’t get used to it.”

  “Aw, Rachel, I’d never do that,” he teased. “It’s your lack of consistency that keeps me so entertained.”

  She tried to hide her smile. “Is that all I am to you? Entertainment?”

  He stared at her, not responding right away. He pursed his lips as he studied her. Slowly, he set the cup on the counter and took four steps in her direction, his eyes locked on hers while he closed the distance between them.

  Rachel held her breath.

  Ever since Sunday, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Jonas. Something had happened while they were at Martha Schultz’s house—that much was clear. She’d had three sleepless nights, tossing and turning as she waited for Wednesday to arrive. And now here he was, approaching her with a solemn expression on his face. She wasn’t used to that. Normally he was teasing her, joking around, doing everything in his power to playfully irritate her.

  But not now.

  This was a new side of Jonas, and Rachel held her breath.

  Standing before her, Jonas remained silent, his eyes flitting back and forth as he focused on her face. And then, slowly, he reached up and brushed his finger across her forehead, pushing aside a stray strand of hair.

  He smiled.

  “Nee, Rachel, you are not just entertainment to me.”

  She moistened her lips. “Then what am I?”

  His chest rose and fell as he took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Only then did he speak. “That depends on you, Rachel. I know what I’d like you to be, but only if you are of the same mind.”

  Her heart pounded, and she felt flutters in her stomach as if a dozen butterflies danced inside her body. She knew what he was suggesting, but she wanted to hear him say it. To hear him say the words that would, most likely, change her future.

  “I can’t respond if I don’t know, Jonas,” she said in a soft tone.

  He gave a little shake of his head, chuckling to himself. “You’re really going to make me put it all out there, aren’t you?”

  “I am.”

  “Rachel . . .” He gave her a pleading look.

  “Jonas . . .” she teased gently.

  Sighing, he gave in. “All right then. Have it your way.”

  Patiently, she waited for him to gather the courage to speak what was on his mind. She knew he was struggling to find the right words, and she suspected he had never spoken to a woman about such a serious matter. Surely his constant teasing and joking were a way to mask his feelings and protect his heart. She’d come to that conclusion on Sunday when he’d exposed the softer, more caring side he kept hidden from others.

  And that was when she had known.

  “Rachel, I . . .” He shuffled his feet and narrowed his eyes. “I’ve never done this before, Rachel.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Well, I think you know that I have developed special feelings for you.”

  “Go on.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Go on? You mean there’s more that needs to be said?”

  She nodded.

  He rolled his eyes and she tried to not smile. “Fine.” He leveled his gaze at her. “You’re making this very difficult for me.”

  “It’s not that difficult, Jonas.”

  “Easy enough for you to say. You’re not the one exposing your heart like I am.”

  Her lips twitched.

  “But, seeing that you’re so insistent,” he began, “I’d like to think you feel the same way about me, and if you do, I’d like to start walking out with you.”

  “You mean like courting?”

  He nodded. “I mean like courting.”

  “Officially?”

  Another nod. “Officially.”

  “That would be fine, Jonas.” She paused before adding, “I’d like that very much.”

  His eyes widened, and a wave of relief crossed his face. “You would?”

  This time, she allowed herself to smile at him. “I would.”

  Immediately, Jonas let out a shout and did a little dance in place. Rachel laughed at his silliness.

  “Did you think I’d say no?” she asked when he sobered.

  He grinned at her. “I don’t know what I thought, to be honest. I just know that I’ve never felt so happy as when I’m with you, Rachel Schwartz. I like that you tease me right back and have learned not to take me too seriously. It helps that I can also talk to you. I’ve never talked with a woman before. Not like we do.”

  “I reckon I could say the same,” she admitted. She felt as if, now that Jonas had bared his heart, she, too, needed to entrust Jonas with her own intimate thoughts. “I’ve learned that I don’t feel uncomfortable being myself around you. And that’s unusual for me.”

  He made a noise, an affirmation that he understood what she meant. She was relieved that he didn’t make a smart remark about her confession. While she’d come to enjoy their verbal sparring, she also liked this serious side of him. In small doses, anyway, she thought.

  For a moment, they stood there staring at each
other. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking and realized, with a small laugh, that he was probably wondering the same about her.

  “Now what?” she asked, suddenly feeling a bit shy. This was uncharted territory for her. She needed guidance from him, even though she suspected he, too, had limited experience with courtship.

  He seemed to consider her question, and for a moment she thought he’d admit he had no idea. But then, his eyes took on a sparkle and he reached out to take her hand in his.

  “How’s that?”

  She felt heat rise to her cheeks. She’d never held a man’s hand before. His skin felt warm and wonderful as it pressed against hers. “I reckon that’s nice,” she managed to say.

  Jonas raised an eyebrow, and then, slowly, he leaned forward as if to kiss her.

  Immediately, Rachel pulled back. “We can leave it at hand-holding, Jonas Esh!” she scolded.

  He laughed and straightened up. “Can’t blame a guy for trying, can you?”

  Snatching her hand back, she gave him a dark look. “I think that’ll do for today.”

  He gave her a sheepish grin and shoved his hands in his pockets. Then, as quick as the blink of an eye, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

  “Jonas!”

  “Now that’ll do,” he proclaimed happily.

  She pressed her lips together, frowning as she feigned anger. But, secretly, she felt warm and tingly. The little kiss he’d planted on her face hadn’t upset her at all. But she certainly didn’t want to let him know that.

  “I best let you get back to work, I suppose.” She reached for the pitcher of tea, refilling his cup before heading for the doorway. But she couldn’t leave. Not without saying something else to him. Anything. Just to let him know that she wasn’t upset. Pausing, she turned around, her free hand on the doorframe. “Jonas?”

  He was leaning against the counter, his legs crossed at the ankles and his arms folded against his chest. A strange smile played on his lips, his expression clearly showing his amusement with her. “Ja, Rachel?”

  She hesitated, her eyes scanning the room before she met his gaze once again. “You’ve really done an amazing job in here,” she said at last.

  His smile widened. “Why, danke, Rachel Schwartz! Your approval means a lot to me.”

  Lifting her hand from the doorframe, she gave him a small wave and then turned toward the yard. She, too, smiled to herself as she practically skipped back to the main house. The sun couldn’t have shone any brighter or the flowers smelled any sweeter for Rachel. Today she’d realized exactly what it meant to feel the early stirrings of love in her heart.

  ELLA MAE

  CHAPTER 39

  Ella Mae had noticed the change in her sister as soon as Rachel returned to the house. She was smiling, a soft, wistful smile that spoke of pleasant secrets. New secrets. Secrets that made Ella Mae wonder what, exactly, had happened outside when Rachel had brought the tea to Jonas.

  If she only had time to pull her sister aside!

  But, as luck would have it, not even a minute after Rachel reentered the kitchen, the sound of a horse and buggy coming down the gravel driveway announced the arrival of Wilma, Verna, and Mary.

  “Edna?”

  Ella Mae turned around in time to see Bethany slip through the side entrance. She smiled at the young wife of John Esh, taking in the beautiful glow on her face. The slight bulge under her dress proclaimed the upcoming addition to the family. From the look of it, she was only four, maybe five months pregnant.

  “Oh, you’re here!” Edna beamed at her daughter-in-law. “I was afraid you’d be too tired to help with the baking.”

  Bethany shook her head. “Nee, I’m feeling rather well today.”

  “Oh, joyous day!” Edna clapped her hands. “Such wunderbarr gut news!”

  Within minutes, the kitchen was filled with new energy. Wilma’s loud voice and Verna’s constant clicking of the tongue brought vivacious life to the formerly quiet and peaceful kitchen. Ella Mae pushed her curiosity about Rachel to the far corners of her mind. She’d have to inquire later, when they had a moment to talk in private at home.

  “Land’s sake!” Wilma cried out as she plopped down at the kitchen table. “What a long, crazy morning!” She reached down and, after withdrawing her left foot from the shoe she wore—black Crocs—she rubbed her sole. “I must’ve walked ten miles today.”

  Mary made a face, but it was Verna who scoffed. “I doubt you walked one, never mind ten.”

  “Oh, you!” Wilma glared at her. “What would you know?”

  Verna gave her a fierce stare back. “I know you didn’t walk ten miles today.”

  “Hmph!” Wilma rolled her eyes. “Anyway. You’ll never believe what I heard.”

  Ella Mae glanced over her mother’s head at her sister. Rachel did not appear to be listening.

  “Oh?” Politely, Edna shifted her attention to Wilma, but not before Ella Mae caught her watching Rachel. It was more than apparent that Edna, too, had noticed the change in Rachel’s demeanor and was far more curious about that than any story Wilma had to share. “What did you see, then? No need to keep us all in such suspense.”

  “Well,” Wilma began slowly, an indication to Ella Mae that this would be quite a long, drawn-out story indeed. “After the girls left this morning”—she gestured toward Rachel and Ella Mae as if she needed to clarify whom she meant—“I went to visit my aendi. You know, Norma Fischer over in Nappanee?”

  Edna had to think in order to place the face with the name. “The one with two sets of twins?”

  “Ja, that’s the one.” Wilma turned to look at Mary. “Did you know that? Two sets of twins! Can you imagine? A total of nine children, and they all grew up in that small farmhouse across from the fire station.” She paused, placing a finger to her cheek as if thinking. “I reckon that’s more Wakarusa than Nappanee.”

  “Get on with it, Wilma,” Verna urged.

  “Oh, hush you.”

  Verna clucked her tongue.

  “Anyway,” Wilma continued. “The driver was headed south on Nappanee Street, but there was construction, so we had to take some back roads. Oh, we got all sorts of turned around. It’s a wonder we’re not still lost! Well, we wound up on route six and, you know what I saw?”

  Edna raised an eyebrow. “I can hardly imagine.”

  “The Amish Round Theater is closing!” Wilma paused before adding, “At the end of the year, anyway.”

  Ella Mae’s eyes flew to Edna.

  For a moment, Edna did not react, but then the color drained from her cheeks. She stood there, completely still, silently processing the information that Wilma had just shared. Ella Mae didn’t have to be a mind reader to know what Edna was thinking, however. The closing of the Amish Round Theater could be quite disastrous for her business.

  “Are you okay?” Mary asked.

  “Ja, fine,” Edna said at last. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “We’ll have to make some adjustments, I’m sure. See how it impacts the guests. It could be bad for bookings, or, perhaps, it might help some.”

  No one spoke, but Ella Mae suspected everyone else in the room was doubting that the theater closing would be good at all. Most of the people who came from out of town stayed at the inn next to the theater. They usually came to visit and tour, but always for the plays. Would they still come if the theater closed?

  For a long while, the room remained silent as the women began focusing their attention on making the cookies. Why had her mother thought Edna needed to know that now? The entire kitchen felt as if a cloud of darkness hung overhead. Ella Mae wanted nothing more than to leave. She had hoped she’d run into Jeremiah that afternoon, but he hadn’t returned yet. And clearly Rachel intended to stay and help the women.

  Several times, Ella Mae glanced at the clock. If only she could tiptoe out of the kitchen, unnoticed by the other women. Maybe she’d run into Jeremiah on the road and she could talk to him without worrying that anyone might
overhear. But she knew sneaking out was an impossibility.

  By the time the second batch of cookies was baking in the oven, Ella Mae could barely contain herself. It was after three o’clock. Where was Jeremiah? She tapped her toe on the floor, her nervous energy causing her to feel jittery. She thought she’d jump out of her skin when, just a few minutes later, she heard the distinct sound of an approaching horse. Her eyes flew to the clock once again. Surely that was Jeremiah returning home at last!

  Wilma looked up when she heard the horse and buggy pulling down the driveway. Her eyes sought out Ella Mae’s.

  “Oh help,” Wilma exclaimed suddenly, which caught everyone, even Ella Mae, off guard. She looked around wildly and then made a face. “I must’ve left my purse in the buggy.” She frowned as if truly irritated by this realization. With an overexaggerated sigh, she turned toward Ella Mae and, with a wink that no one else saw, said, “Would you please fetch it for me?”

  At once, Ella Mae understood. Her mother didn’t need the purse. Perhaps she hadn’t even brought one. But the made-up errand would afford Ella Mae the opportunity she had hoped for: a moment alone to talk with Jeremiah.

  “Of course, Maem,” she managed to say as she suppressed a smile and then dutifully hurried out of the kitchen.

  Outside, she saw Jeremiah’s buggy next to her mother’s. Lounging in a sunbeam near the back wheel, the small gray kitten sat licking its paw. Ella Mae smiled and hurried toward the buggy. She bent down and stroked the kitten’s soft fur. “You’re looking quite content, ja?” The kitten rubbed against Ella Mae’s fingers for a few seconds before shifting its attention to an ant on the driveway. Ella Mae stood up and looked around. She didn’t see Jeremiah anywhere. She peeked around the front and then walked over to the stable. It was dark inside the open doorway, and the only noise came from the other two horses, who were inside eating their hay.