“Naomi thought that we would make a good match and she’s worried about my provision after she passes on.”
He frowned. “Is she sick?”
“No, not that I know of.”
He took her hands in his and looked into her eyes, searching their depths for absolute truth. “Ruthie, is this what you want?” The question was difficult to ask, because it gave her a chance to reject him outright. But he didn’t want her against her will.
“Yes.”
“You’re sure and certain?”
A shy smile graced her face and her eyes met his. She nodded.
He shook his head. “What good fortune! I don’t know what you see in a man like me—”
“A man like you? There is none better, Bo. Truly. I am honored that you have agreed to this.”
He reached out and caressed her cheek. He could kiss her right now, but he wouldn’t. Not until she officially belonged to him. Wow.
“I’ll need to go and speak with the bishop first thing tomorrow. He…may not approve.” He grimaced.
Ruthie frowned.
“But don’t worry.” He rubbed her hand. “Derr Herr’s will shall be done.”
She nodded.
“Stay here tonight. It’s too late to go back home. We’ll stay out here on the porch, then I’ll walk you home in the morning before the town awakens.”
“Thank you, Bo.”
THIRTY
Ruth’s eyes flitted open as the sun’s rays caressed her eyelids. How long had she slept? The last thing she remembered was saying goodbye to Bo. Neither of them had slept at all the prior evening. They’d talked into the early morning hours, as though they’d been good friends their entire life. He’d dropped her off before the townsfolk began to stir, so as not to get tongues wagging. She suspected he hadn’t gotten any sleep.
Bo. Her soon-to-be betrothed, if the Lord willed.
A mixture of giddiness and sheer anxiety filled her heart. What would the bishop say when Bo went and spoke with him today? What if he declined their request?
“So, how did things go last night?” Naomi’s voice aroused her from her thoughts.
Ruth smiled. “Better than I expected. He’s going to talk to the bishop today.”
Naomi reached for her hand. “This is Gott’s will for you. I am sure of it.”
“I hope you’re right.” She chewed a fingernail. “Naomi, how do you think Mahlon would feel? You know, about me and Bo.”
She expressed a gentle sad smile. “He would want this for you, dochder. For certain, he’d want you to be happy.”
~
Bo still had a difficult time convincing himself that last night hadn’t been just a dream. Yet, Ruthie had still been there in the morning until he’d taken her home. And here he was now, pulling his buggy onto the bishop’s property.
The bishop ushered Bo into his home. The deacon and minister were present as well, as he’d requested.
“What is this matter you wish to discuss with us?”
“I’ll get straight to the point. I’d like to marry Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruthie.”
“The Englischer?” The deacon rubbed his beard and eyed the other two leaders.
Bo nodded. “She’s taking membership classes to join the church.”
“And you wish to marry her after this, I presume?” The bishop said.
“Jah. As soon as possible.”
The men chuckled.
“Is there not someone who might be better suited to her? Jerome Borntreger, perhaps?” The minister suggested.
Bo gritted his teeth. The widower was indeed a better match for Ruthie. He was ten years younger than Bo and he had three children who needed a mother. Children that Ruthie, no doubt, would long for. But she hadn’t asked Jerome. She’d come to him.
He suppressed the jealousy that threatened to emerge.
“I can speak with him first, if you’d like.” He wouldn’t mention that Ruthie didn’t even know this man. She’d have the final say so.
“Jah, that would be best.” The bishop confirmed. “If he declines, you are free to marry her after she has completed her classes.
Lord, please let Jerome not be interested in marrying Ruthie. He knew it was a long shot, but he prayed just the same. Hadn’t he already felt confirmation from God that he and Ruthie were meant to be together? Or was that just his own anticipation and overzealousness? He couldn’t be sure, as doubts now flooded his mind.
Fear reached inside and grabbed a hold of his heart as he dismounted his buggy and marched toward Jerome Borntreger’s barn.
“Bo? What brings you out here today?”
He’d conceal his interest in Ruthie the best he could.
“Hallo, Jerome.” He shook his hand. “There’s this matter, you see. Naomi’s widowed daughter-in-law is looking to get hitched. She does have a small piece of land that belonged to her husband’s family that whoever she marries would inherit.”
“I’ll marry her,” he said matter-of-factly. “My kinner need a mamm, and I could do with a good woman around.”
Bo’s heart plunged. God, no. Please…
“Wait a minute. Isn’t that the Englischer?” His brows knit together in the middle.
“Yes.” He wouldn’t volunteer any unnecessary information. He wouldn’t list her myriad of great qualities. He wouldn’t give Jerome one more reason to say yes.
“Nee, I don’t think I will. Now that I think about it.” He waved a hand in front of his face. “Too much drama to deal with. And then, who knows how she might could sway the kinner toward Englisch ways.”
“Are you declining?”
“Jah, for sure.” He nodded and scratched his beard. “Say, why don’t you marry her? You ain’t never been hitched.”
Bo cocked his head to the side, as though he were thinking on the idea. “You know what? I think I might just do that.”
He patted Jerome’s back. “Thanks for the advice, brother.”
“Anytime.”
Bo smiled to himself as he drove back down the road. He blew out a relieved breath and hollered louder than necessary. “Thank You, Lord!”
Now, to share the news with Ruthie.
~
Ruth attempted to keep her mind on her sewing project, but she just couldn’t focus right now. Where was Bo? Was he still conversing with the bishop? What was the bishop’s verdict?
She finally set her quilt squares to the side and stood up.
Naomi chuckled. “He’ll be back soon.”
“I know. I’m just…anxious.”
“I think I hear buggy wheels.”
Ruth practically ran to the window. “He’s smiling!”
“Calm down, dochder.”
She threw the door open as soon as she saw him heading toward the house.
“Good afternoon.” Bo grinned as he approached the house. He and Ruth shared glances.
“Would you like to come in for a snack?” Naomi suggested.
“That would be great.” He stepped inside and removed his hat.
Ruth could stand the anticipation no longer. “Well?”
Bo chuckled, then he reached for her hands. He gazed into her eyes. “They said yes.”
Ruth felt like she could sprint outside and do a thousand jumping jacks and run ten miles. But she’d rather stay here with Bo.
“After you’ve completed your classes and joined the church, we’re free to be published.” He smiled. “Do you think you’ll be ready by fall?”
Ruth blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I hope so. I still have a lot to learn.”
“Well, it looks like you and I will be spending a lot of time together.” He winked.
She felt her cheeks warm at his affectionate gesture. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Me too.”
~
“Okay, let’s go over the Dordrecht Confession of Faith again,” Bo instructed.
“I’m so glad that I don’t have to memorize these. Naomi had me scared.” She blew
out a breath and leaned back in her chair.
“Articles One and Two?”
She stared out past the porch and tried not to let herself get distracted by the activity in the fields. “Okay, let’s see. One—‘God and the Creation of All Things.’ Two—‘The Fall of Man.’”
“Very good. Which Articles did the class review this week?”
“We’re on Eleven and Twelve – Foot Washing, and The State of Holy Matrimony.”
“Holy Matrimony?” Bo’s brow quirked and a gentle smile formed on his lips. “That means you only have two more classes before Baptismal Sunday, right?”
“Yep. Just six weeks!”
“Are you confident?”
“I think so. You know, when I began my classes, I was just doing it to join the church. But now, I feel more excited about finishing so I can marry you. Is that wrong?”
His grin widened. “I don’t think so. You just have a little extra incentive.”
“I feel kind of out of place being the only older person in the group. I think everyone else is under twenty.”
“That doesn’t matter. You were never Amish, so it’s going to be different for you.” He reached over the table between them and rubbed her hand. “I asked if we could be first in the lineup for our wedding.”
“And they okayed it?”
“I think they may have pushed someone else back to accommodate us.” He smiled and winked. “There are advantages to being older. They probably figured I’ve waited long enough.” He chuckled.
“You just had to wait until God brought along the right one.”
“Indeed.”
THIRTY-ONE
“I’d like to invite Olivia to the wedding. Do you think she’ll come?” Ruth slipped the invitation she’d just written into an envelope.
“That’s a wunderbaar idea, I think.” Naomi nodded. “How about your folks?”
She frowned, thinking of her family. “I…don’t know. They never were too fond of my and Mahlon’s relationship.”
“Ach, you and Mahlon were young when you got hitched. I think they should be over that by now.” She dismissed the words with her hand. “You don’t think they would be happy to know that you’ve found a gut man to marry?”
Ruth shrugged. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to send them an invitation.”
“Nee, it wouldn’t. And leave the rest up to Gott.” Naomi’s needle plunged into the quilt top she’d been working on. Although she hadn’t mentioned anything, Ruth guessed it was to be a wedding gift for her and Bo. It seemed Naomi had been a bit more vigorous since plotting Ruth and Bo’s nuptials. Ruth smiled as a soft hum lifted from Naomi’s lips.
This marriage would be a surely good thing for all of them, she suspected.
~
Today was a bittersweet day for Ruth. She’d alternated between tears of joy and tears of sadness all last night. Marrying a wonderful man like Bo would surely be a blessing, no doubt. But somehow she felt like she was letting go of a piece of her heart, letting go of their hopes and dreams, letting go of Mahlon—something she never intended to do.
She slipped into the new blue dress she’d sewn for the occasion and pinned on her white apron. This was certainly different from the way she and Mahlon had gone about their wedding. She remembered the simple white summer dress she’d spontaneously purchased at Walmart just before their impromptu wedding. She’d never worn it again. Those were crazy days, but, oh, how happy they’d been in their blessed ignorance of the trials to come.
She sighed and managed a cleansing breath. This is the day which the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Dear God, please help me to enjoy this day and to think of my soon-to-be husband, Bo. He is such a good man and I thank You for him, Lord. Help me to be a good wife and helpmeet to him. Remind us to keep You at the center of our lives and our relationship. Thank You. Amen.
What was Bo thinking right now? Was he apprehensive at all? Did he have any doubts? After all, she’d been the one to approach him about marriage. Was he simply performing out of duty or did he really love her? Did she really love him?
Yes. Yes, to both of those questions. She did her best to dispel her anxious thoughts.
A knock on the door prompted an answer. “Yes?”
She opened the door for Naomi. “Ruthie, are you finished? Bo is ready whenever you are.”
She sucked in a breath and smiled. “I’m ready.”
~
Bo reached for Ruth’s hand under their corner table and she allowed him to grasp it. The look of love and admiration in her husband’s eyes was enough to make any wife’s heart melt.
She’d sensed the trepidation in his mien as they stood before the bishop taking their vows, but she suspected it wasn’t from apprehension. No, his calm voice assured her of that. He’d been exacting when executing his vows and she guessed that he probably took them very seriously. No doubt, he saw their wedding as a sacred event.
Not that she hadn’t. But this was her second marriage and because of that, it was different for her.
Somehow though, Bo’s steadfastness told her that she was the only one he would ever love. It told her that no matter what trials would come upon them that he would be there by her side. It told her that she was his everything.
She sincerely hoped she would never disappoint him.
“Naomi seems happy,” Bo leaned close and whispered in her ear.
“Yeah, she does. I’m glad that Olivia was able to come.”
“She is your sister-in-law, right?”
“Yes. She thinks she may have met her future husband.” She swallowed the sadness that threatened to dampen her mood. “I’m happy for her.”
“I pray her future husband will know the joy that I am experiencing right now.” He squeezed her hand.
“I love you, Bo.”
“I share your sentiments. I pray I can bring you joy all of your days.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I would like to argue that point, but I’m refraining from an argument since this is our wedding day.” He winked. “But I strongly disagree with your opinion.”
She boldly moved her hand to his leg under the covert of their table and eyed him with a coy smile. “How long do we need to stay?”
He ducked his head and swallowed. “Just a little longer.” He reached for her hand and grasped it with his own, quickly removing it from his leg.
“Good.” She winked.
THIRTY-TWO
Bo yawned. The sun was already peeking over the horizon, and the rays bathed his face in warmth as he stood on the porch, promising a beautiful morning. He’d slept longer than usual, but how could he not, given his current circumstances? Circumstances he could’ve only dreamed he’d ever find himself in.
Who would have thought he’d have a beautiful wife? And fifteen years his junior? He shook his head in dismay. What had she seen in a man like him? He never would understand that. The Lord had been wonderful gut indeed. Ruthie had still been resting peacefully as he tiptoed from his bedroom. Their bedroom. He’d hated to leave her, but he had big plans for today and they were already set in motion.
Now he stared out the window of the breakfast nook, admiring God’s handiwork. It seemed like he’d been doing a lot of that lately—admiring God’s handiwork.
Last night, it had been his beautiful bride. His wife. Wow. He’d thought all of the air had evaporated from his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe. His heart had seemed as though it were a horse galloping on a racetrack, vying for first place. She had snatched his breath away and left him weak as a newborn colt. Just the sight of her unabashed beauty caused him to tremble…and her touch, he swallowed and took a deep breath. Jah, she was perfect in every way.
He now understood how Adam must’ve felt when God presented Eve to him for the first time. No wonder Adam chose to eat the forbidden fruit. Was it possible that he couldn’t bear the thought of not being with his wife? Of losing her? But, oh, if he’
d had any idea of the pain and turmoil that decision would exact for millennia to come!
Bo was just glad that he wasn’t the one required to have made that decision, because after being in his wife’s arms, he wasn’t sure he would have made the right decision either. Did women have any idea the power they held over men?
He’d never known the joys of marriage that he’d been missing all these years, and by the grace of God, he’d never take it for granted.
He finished off his first cup of coffee, rinsed his mug, and set it by the sink. If he was going to get anything done today, he needed to stop daydreaming.
Now, to prepare a special breakfast for his new bride. He began removing the ingredients for French toast, her favorite breakfast meal. He’d enquired of Naomi earlier and made sure to have the ingredients on hand so he could make it. Since he knew she hadn’t had it in a long time, he hoped it would be a treat for her.
At the sound of footsteps, he looked up to see his wife heading in his direction. That was new too. Usually, he was alone each morning. It had been that way for years. Just him and God.
But he could get used to this.
A hint of pink splashed her cheeks as she walked into the breakfast nook. Her eyes glowed as they had last night in his arms. He drew her close and a shiver of delight tempted to distract him from the task at hand. He pressed her close to him and claimed her lips for just a few tantalizing moments. He then forced himself away, lest he become completely useless.
He cleared his throat. “I brewed some coffee and there’s water for tea, if you prefer that.”
“You know, you spoil me.”
“I hope so.” He kissed her hand. “You are a dream come true, Ruthie.”
She shook her head. “I don’t see how. I’m nothing special.”
“Oh, but you are, my beautiful wife.” He took a mug from the cupboard. “Coffee or tea?”
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