My Secret Alpha Step SEAL

by Paula Mabbel

  “Miriam! I’m leaving!” Hannah called out. She heard Miriam reply something from the barn, but she didn’t stay to talk about it further. Barn raisings were fun, and she didn’t want to miss when they put up the first wall.

  Isaac Troyer was there. So were both of his parents, but Hannah made a point to stay in the house with the other women. Isaac’s mother was in the kitchen with her most of the morning, but neither one spoke of Isaac.

  They were all chatting with Mrs. Yodel about her plans for the winter, and when she was going to start a family. They had been married for almost two years now, and still no children.

  Mrs. Yodel blushed at the conversation, but didn’t give a straight reply. Hannah was actually having a good time with the women. It was nice helping them without anyone telling her that she was doing it wrong, and the more she helped, the more comfortable she felt.

  Hannah mixed up a bucket of sweet water. She flavored it with a bit of lemon, ginger, and honey, and she headed out to give it to her father and the other men who were working. Her father was pleased to see her, and smiled as he took the ladle.

  Hannah laughed as his eyes lit up when he tasted the sweetness of the water, and she chatted with him as the men passed around the bucket. When the bucket was empty, they handed it back to her, and she excused herself to head back into the kitchen with the other women.

  As much as she wanted to deny it, and as much as she told herself she was just seeing things, Hannah knew that Isaac Troyer had kept his eyes on her the entire time she was out in the barn with them.

  *****

  Miriam hadn’t said another word about Isaac to their father, but whenever she was alone with Hannah, she quizzed her about what was going on. The fact that Hannah had gone to the barn raising without her was enough to make her curious, but even more so when she heard that Isaac had been there, too.

  “I’m telling you there is nothing to tell!” Hannah said, sharply this time. She did feel sorry for her sister, but she also knew that Miriam was going to have to handle things like this on her own. Hannah was close with her father, and she didn’t want her sister’s desires to put her at odds with him.

  “Why don’t you focus on that pie you’re making for the fair? You know you were so close to winning last year, and with how you are able to make crust now, I bet you are going to take the blue ribbon!” Hannah smiled, and her sister looked away.

  “I should have gotten it last year. Besides, aren’t you going to enter a pie? It wouldn’t be kind of me to enter a pie the same day you do. You know I will win, and how do you think you would feel about that?”

  Hannah looked down. She knew that her sister was better at, well, most everything, but it still stung when she said things like that.

  “I don’t mind if you win. I know you’re better at making pies and I’m okay with it. I just put one in to make Father happy anyway.”

  Miriam smiled. She did seem to be feeling better, which put Hannah more at ease. She didn’t like it when things were amiss, and whenever her sister and her father were upset with each other, she felt unsettled.

  “Okay, let’s get the things out and start baking. Remember what I told you about the crust. You have to let it chill for a couple of hours then—”

  “You must knead it and beat it and spread it out flat,” Hannah finished in a rather singsong tone. She was glad that her sister was feeling better, but she wasn’t happy that her boss was now back.

  They got to making pies, and began chatting the day away. To Hannah, it was perfect. There was no talk of husbands or children…or Isaac.

  They both made their favorites. Hannah made her peach pie and Miriam made her cherry. They were both careful with the crust and picked out the best of their pick of the fruit.

  Hannah was pleased with her pie. She had never before done so well with the crust or the fruit. Her peaches came out that beautiful golden color she always tried for, and the crust didn’t get too dark. All in all, she thought that it was the best pie she could have ever dreamed of making.

  Miriam’s pie was just as nice, and she had even taken the time to cut out little leaves to put on the top and around the edges. It looked like something out of their cookbooks.

  “Oh, Miriam,” she exclaimed, “with a pie like that, the blue ribbon is yours! It just has to be!”

  “Yes, I do believe this one is a winner, but tomorrow we will know for sure.”

  The day of the fair was always one of great excitement. The girls both got up earlier than they usually did, and they hurried through their chores. The pie contest was one of the last contests of the day, but if they were to be part of it, they had to have their entries in early.

  They were both down at the fair as soon as they could be, and Hannah nervously held her pie in her hands. She hoped that she would at least get a ribbon of some kind, but she doubted that it was going to happen for her.

  Ribbons and prizes were meant for Amish girls who were good at what they were doing, the ones who knew how to make pies and the ones who knew how to patch quilts. Hannah wasn’t one of those Amish girls. She was one who barely made it through her day.

  They both got into line in the entry tent and patiently waited their turns. Miriam was whispering all kinds of orders, but Hannah’s mind was wandering the entire time. She heard Miriam say something about how she ought to straighten her head covering, or smooth out the wrinkles in her apron or—

  “Hannah! Miriam!” Her thoughts were broken into as she heard their names called. Her sister gasped and almost dropped the pie that was in her hands. Isaac came running up to greet them.

  “I have been wanting to talk to you two for some time now. It’s been forever!” He seemed thrilled to see them both, but Miriam’s word’s caught in her throat. She mumbled something about the pies, and that they should get going.

  Hannah laughed and held up her pie for Isaac to see.

  “We have to get them entered if we are going to be in the contest. Spots fill up quick in these parts! It doesn’t matter, though. I think Miriam is going to win the blue ribbon, hands down.” Miriam blushed as her sister spoke, but Isaac’s eyes twinkled.

  “Oh I have no doubt that she is going to do quite well, as I am sure you will, too. And, I am glad to see that both you girls are going to enter your pies. I am one of the three judges.”

  *****

  “Miriam! You’re not even paying attention!” Hannah was growing impatient with her sister. Ever since she had heard that Isaac was one of the judges, it was as though she couldn’t concentrate at all.

  “Pay attention to what, Hannah?! The horses? As if I have never seen a horse before! I have way more important things to think about right now.”

  “You were going to win the blue ribbon even before Isaac was a judge. I don’t see why you are so worried about this.” Hannah rolled her eyes and went back to admiring the mare she was petting.

  “Don’t you see? He is on the judges’ panel. That means that he has been accepted back into the community fully. That means that Father has accepted him. That means that he must have forsaken the outside world!” Miriam had a look in her eye that made Hannah shake her head.

  “So?”

  “So! That means once he tastes my pie, I’m as good as married! You know he has been around for all of the latest events. He has seen how well I can sew and quilt and tend to small children. Now all he needs to do is taste my cooking and he will know for sure that I am the one for him.” Miriam chuckled to herself and gave the horse in the stall a shove.

  Hannah protested the act, but her sister was already out the door. She tried to coax the mare back over to her, but the horse was on the other side of the stall and refused to move.

  Hannah sighed and put her face in her hand. Part of her wished that her sister would just forget about this whole Isaac thing, but another part of her wished that she would just get married and be done with it.

  “Hannah!” Are you coming? The baking judging is coming up in a few minutes, a
nd you don’t want to miss it!” Miriam had poked her head back into the horse barn and was back out again before Hannah could reply.

  “You mean you don’t want to miss it,” Hannah muttered under her breath as she pulled herself away from the stall and headed for the door.

  “Is the pie contest next?” Hannah whispered to her sister. They had been sitting in the baking tent for more than a couple hours, and Hannah was getting bored. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the judging, but it was long and she wasn’t really looking forward to the way Miriam would take the prize.

  Miriam hushed her sister and leaned forward on the seat. She was clearly trying to make eye contact with Isaac, but he kept glancing around the crowd, as though he were looking for someone specific.

  His eyes scanned over Miriam and her sister once or twice, but they always seemed to hesitate over them. Each time that it happened, Miriam’s heart would beat faster, and she would smile or try to hold his gaze, but Hannah gave him a bold wave.

  He nodded toward them, and Miriam told her sister to behave.

  “Oh, please! He looked right at us, what was I supposed to do?” Hannah straightened her head covering and smoothed her skirts down around her legs.

  “Ignore him! He isn’t looking for us. He is just looking at the crowd.”

  “You know just as well as I do that he can see us, otherwise you wouldn’t give him that smile you give when you are feeling awkward.”

  Miriam’s face turned bright red, and she looked as though she wanted to slap her sister. She opened her mouth to retort, but one of the older judges stood up to announce the winner of the bread contest.

  All of the room applauded as an older woman rose to walk up to the front and take her blue ribbon from the judge. Miriam gave her sister a look, but said nothing, and both were hushed when the judge announced that the pies were up next.

  It was a long half hour, as each pie was taken up out of the display case and sliced. All three judges were given small slices of each pie, and they each took their time in tasting each one.

  When they finally came to Miriam’s pie, both girls were on the edge of their seats. This was the moment that Miriam had been waiting all day for, and she watched Isaac like and eagle as he pressed his fork into the pie and lifted the golden brown bite to his lips.

  They couldn’t determine what he was thinking from the look on his face, he looked the exact same as he did when he tasted all of the other pies. Isaac didn’t look at either one of them as he took another bite, then slid the plate away and sampled Hannah’s pie next.

  “He loved it. I know he did,” Miriam said to her sister as they continued to watch the pies being judged. Hannah had a hard time knowing what to say, but she smiled at her sister, putting her hand on Miriam’s knee.

  “I’m sure you are going to get the ribbon, Miriam. If anyone deserves it, it’s got to be you.”

  “I know, but I hope the judges feel the same way.” Miriam bit her bottom lip and sat on the edge of her seat.

  Finally, the last of the pies was sampled, and the judges took a moment to discuss together which one they were going to award.

  Isaac walked over to the ribbon display, and picked up the blue ribbon, and walked over to the edge of the stage.

  “Ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to announce that we have a winner. The blue ribbon for the best pie in the county, awarded for a perfect crust and succulent taste goes to…Hannah Miller!”

  *****

  The crowd cheered, but Hannah couldn’t hear a thing. As soon as her name was called, she felt this pounding in her head and heard a ringing in her ears that drowned out everything else.

  She heard Miriam exclaim something, but she couldn’t make out what it was, and she saw her face turn bright red.

  “Miriam! Miriam, I’m sorry!” she tried to say to her sister. There were tears in Miriam’s eyes as she turned away from her sister, and although Hannah wanted to give the ribbon to her sister instead, and tell them that Miriam was the one who deserved it, she was being pushed to the front of the room to get her ribbon.

  “Come on up here, Miss Miller! You have earned it.” Isaac smiled at her, using one of his most charming smiles, and Hannah couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.

  “Is there anything you want to say, young lady?” an older judge asked her as she took the ribbon from Isaac.

  Hannah could feel the words gather up in her throat, and she grappled with what to say. She so desperately wanted her sister to be happy for her, and part of her wanted to hand this ribbon down to her sister then and there.

  It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. Miriam was the one who was good at everything, and Miriam was the one who deserved the ribbon. She was the one who wanted it, and she was the one who had spent so much time daydreaming about it.

  Hannah had never dreamed that she would ever get a ribbon of any kind. The best that she had hoped for was a ribbon that said that she had entered a pie in the contest, but she certainly didn’t think that she was going to place.

  She turned to face the room, but nothing came out of her mouth. Finally, she mustered up the courage to speak.

  “I…I really don’t deserve this,” she stammered.

  “Nonsense! Your pie was the best tasting pie in this entire contest, and I must say that your crust was perfect. If anyone deserves the blue ribbon, my dear, it is you.”

  Hannah’s face flushed as the judge spoke, and she could see in Isaac’s eyes that he agreed with everything that the judge said. Miriam got up and headed for the door, but she was stopped by their father at the opening of the tent.

  Hannah couldn’t see what was said, and there was too much noise to hear, but Miriam turned and applauded her sister while everyone else did. As soon as she was able, she ducked out of the tent and disappeared from sight.

  Hannah thanked the judges for the ribbon, and she hurried down to meet her father.

  “I’m so proud of you!” he said as he scooped her up in his arms. Hannah hadn’t known that he was there to see it, and she beamed when he complimented her on her success.

  “Thank you, Father! I never thought that it would be me! My crust never likes to cooperate, and to think that it would be the best pie in the county! But…Miriam…”

  “Oh, don’t you worry about your sister. She is going to be okay. I know that she had her heart set on winning, but she is an excellent cook, and she is going to have her chance later on in the future. Now, I am going to bring up the buggy if you want to ride home with me.”

  He roughed up her hair, just as he had done since she was nothing more than a little girl, and she smiled.

  “I’d love to.”

  Hannah had hoped that her winning the ribbon would help things between her and her sister. She told Miriam as soon as she had her alone that she thought she was the one who ought to have won the ribbon, but Miriam refused to talk about it.

  Maybe now she will at least ease up on telling me what to do all the time. I know that I don’t always do things like she would do them, but I am pretty good at what I do.

  She was wrong, though. Very wrong.

  Things didn’t get better with Miriam, they got a lot worse.

  Now it didn’t matter what they were doing, Miriam was telling her what to do constantly. At first, Hannah ignored her sister’s nagging and tried to go about her life as usual, but the worse it got, the harder it was to ignore.

  “You know, I did do pretty well at the fair when I did my pie this way the last time…” Hannah said to her sister as they were making crust in the kitchen. Miriam was trying to tell her that she was doing the pie crust wrong, and Hannah had finally reached her breaking point.

  “Oh, so now that you won a ribbon at the fair you think you know everything there is to know about pies?” Miriam snapped, and Hannah’s eyes widened.

  “I didn’t say that. I am just saying that I don’t think I am going to ruin the pie if I add in a little more of the butter. It does make the crust a litt
le less likely to break when you put it in the pan that way.” Hannah tried to make it sound logical, but her sister ripped off her apron and dropped it on the counter in front of Hannah.

  “If you are so good at making pies, then why don’t you just go ahead and do it all yourself?!”

  “Miriam, wait!” Hannah tried to get her sister to stop and come back, but Miriam had stormed out of the kitchen and into the back yard.

  Hannah took off her apron as well, and was heading for the door, but she stopped short when she saw her sister talking to Isaac in the yard.

  Hannah ducked behind the wall in the kitchen. She knew that it was wrong to listen in on what they were saying, but she couldn’t help it.

  “… That is indeed a shame. I thought for sure that he had said he was going to be home today,” Isaac was saying. “Would you do me a favor and tell him that I called, and that I should very much like to speak with him as soon as he is able?”

  “Of course, and I am sorry again that you missed him. He is very busy this time of year, with the harvest coming and such things. Good day, Isaac!” Miriam sounded her happy and flirty self again, and Hannah felt a knot form in her stomach.

  “And one more thing. Is your sister here? I was wondering if I might ask her a question,” Isaac said before Miriam could turn away.

  Hannah couldn’t see either one of them, but she could tell by the sound of her sister breathing that Miriam was having a hard time keeping control of herself.

  “I am afraid that Hannah has gone with Father on his errand. But, as I said, I am sure you are going to be able to catch them soon. Now, I must tend to the animals before it gets late. Good day, Isaac.”

  “Thank you for your time, Miriam. Good day!”

  Hannah could hear Isaac’s voice fading as he spoke, and she knew that he must be walking away from the house. She heard Miriam burst into tears, followed by the sound of her running to the barn.