The Amish Baker's Rival

by Marie E. Bast

  She clenched her fist. “I’m not involved with Noah. He generously offered me space in his store so I can keep customers with standing orders.”

  “It’s time you thought about getting married, jah?”

  She cringed. “Did you forget that just a year ago Seth dumped me to go live with the Englisch? And after we both had been baptized and joined the church.”

  “I haven’t forgotten, but our faith tells us to forgive. Seth was immature. He was not ready to settle down when he decided to get married. He has repented and went through and the rite of restoration. He’s back now and willing to pick up where you two left off.”

  Mary straightened her back and sucked in a deep breath. “I can’t believe you’re encouraging me to marry him.”

  “He cares for you in spite of his careless actions. Think about it rationally, you will see he’s a gut fit for you.”

  “Mary,” Bishop Ropp interrupted. “Do you have any Bismarcks with the lemon filling like Sarah’s papa’s partner often made?”

  “No... Sarah never mentioned her vater had a partner. Who was he?”

  “That’s too many years ago, I can’t remember his name.” He waved a hand in the air as if to bat the question away.

  Mary stared at the old bishop, hoping he wasn’t getting senile. “Do either of you wish to make a purchase?”

  They each shook their heads.

  The old bishop shuffled out the door as Bishop Yoder held it open. As he turned to leave, he tossed Mary a stern look. “Go for a buggy ride, Mary, and give Seth a chance to explain. You know as well as I do that Noah will never give up his Englisch ways. If you leave our church, you will be shunned.” When the bishop let go, the door banged shut.

  She’d never marry Seth Knepp, no matter what the bishop said. But he was right about one thing, Noah would never give up the Englisch ways.

  The swinging door from the kitchen creaked and Noah’s footfalls grew louder with each approaching step.

  She turned as he reached the counter. His brow was creased, and lines pulled at his eyes. “You look tired. Did you do a lot of work helping your grossdaddi?”

  Noah stood silent a moment. “I drove out to help grandpa. Cyrus met me in the drive and said he thought it would be better if I didn’t come out there anymore. He claimed my grandparents were getting their hopes up that I’d join the community, which I have no intention of doing. I drove back out to see them when Cyrus was gone, and my grandpa said the same thing.”

  Mary flinched at his admission that he wasn’t going to join their community. “Noah, I’m so sorry they feel that way. But our bishop doesn’t encourage friendships with the Englisch.”

  “I understand, but I was still hoping for some kind of relationship.” He turned and headed back to the kitchen. “Have a good evening, Mary.”

  Jah, she knew that wasn’t what Noah wanted to hear. The bishop paying her a visit today was a not-so-subtle hint to her, too, about the same thing.

  Mary grabbed a wet cloth and started to tidy up the bakery counter before she left for home. She turned at the sound of shoes tapping the flooring toward the counter. “Jenny, I haven’t seen you all day. You must be really busy.”

  “I’m glad you haven’t left yet, Mary. I’m in the process of packing, and I’ll leave for school this weekend. I wanted to make sure I said goodbye.”

  After blotting tears from her eyes, Mary crushed Jenny in a hug. Over her days here at the store, she and Jenny spent many coffee breaks together each day talking about their girlhood, growing up and their dreams. “I’ll miss you and will pray for your success on the journey that Gott has set your feet upon.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.” Jenny stepped back with tears escaping down her cheek. She dug in her pocket, pulled out a tissue and wiped them away.

  Mary swallowed hard. Her life had changed so much in just a few short weeks. She loved her Englisch friends and didn’t want to say goodbye to Jenny...or to Noah.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Saturday, Mary laid a dozen strips of bacon in the iron skillet and fried a dozen eggs in another. She pulled the hot biscuits from the oven and scooped them into a waiting breadbasket with a small towel laid in the bottom.

  She flipped the bacon then turned the eggs. Hurrying to the gas refrigerator, Mary pulled out the milk, orange juice, and butter and set them in the middle of the table.

  The kitchen screen door squeaked as Daed stepped in from the porch, crossed the kitchen and set a bucket of milk on the counter next to her. “Morgen, Mary.”

  “Gut Morgen, Daed.”

  “Are you running late getting to the store?”

  “Nein, Amanda is starting our bread and rolls this morning. I wanted to help Mamm since the twins have a cold.”

  Daed cleared his throat. “I ran into Bishop Yoder yesterday in town.”

  Mary recognized that tone from when she’d misbehaved as a young girl. She squared her shoulders for the lecture that no doubt would follow.

  “He said you were out riding in the buggy with Noah Miller.” His words held an edge. “You know he’s not the kind of man you should be seeing. His values are different than yours.”

  “We’re not involved in a personal relationship. I work in his store. Emily badgered me for a buggy ride, and she wanted Noah to ride along. I couldn’t very well say no. I’m not going to treat him rudely.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to, but he is a nice-looking lad, and I wouldn’t want you to get your expectations up and your feelings hurt. From what I’ve heard, he’s not planning on joining our community.”

  “Daed, the bishop insinuated that since Seth is back, I should consider allowing him to court me again. Did he mention that to you?”

  “It would be understandable for the bishop to think that. At one time, you had your heart set on marrying him.”

  She drew a deep breath, simmered down and blew it out. “I’m not leaving my faith, and I’m not going to marry Seth. That’s over and done with.”

  “Listen, tochter, I do worry, as every Amish vater does that one day his kinner might want to try the world of the Englisch. I’ve seen the hurt on many parents’ faces.”

  She nodded. “I know. I felt it when Seth left, and that’s why I could never trust him again. And it’s why I could never trust Noah Miller.”

  Daed patted her shoulder. “Jah, liebe hurts sometimes. I have a surprise for you. The Plain community plans to start rebuilding Sweet Delights next Monday, so it should be ready in no time. Of course, it will only have the basics inside. Since the fire started in the old wiring, there might have been an overload so I asked for more electrical outlets and an additional circuit breaker. That will make it safer.”

  “That’s wunderbaar.” Mary lunged at her daed and threw her arms around him. “Danki.”

  Jacob and Michael Paul tore through the door from the porch, washed up and raced to the table for breakfast.

  “I beat you.” The four-year-old beamed.

  “You are the best at running, munchkin.” Jacob nodded.

  Mary dished up breakfast and walked to the doorway. “Mamm, breakfast is ready.”

  Sarah slid onto the chair next to Mary and gave her a hug. “Danki, sweetheart.”

  After cleaning the kitchen, Mary headed her buggy to town.

  As she entered the kitchen, Noah glanced her way. “Morning.”

  “Jah, you’re back from the other store already?”

  “I didn’t go to Iowa City this morning. I wanted to practice my entries. I heard the festival committee has received a thousand entries. They’re going to eliminate most in the first round with three rounds of judging. That means our entries will need to be perfect.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “They sent out letters. Your mail is lying on the counter over there.” He gestured toward the end o
f the counter.

  “Danki. With that many entries, I’ll never win.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, Mary. You’re a wonderful baker.”

  After reading her mail, she pulled out her ingredients, stirred up chocolate chip cookies and began dropping them on a cookie sheet with two spoons.

  Noah grabbed two spoons, stood beside Mary, and began to help.

  “Danki.”

  “Don’t mention it.” His hand bumped hers as they both went for the same spot of dough. His touch sent a tingle up her arm. She inhaled a controlling breath and blew it out slowly, trying to hide the thumping in her chest. “Hey, Noah, I’m planning on winning the contest, just so you know.”

  He laughed. “That’s funny, because I plan on winning it.”

  “Jah, and so does every one of those bakers that entered.”

  He dropped several cookies on the sheet. “Mary, tell me about your faith.”

  “We live by Romans 12:12, ‘be not conformed to this world.’ We seek to lose the idea of self and live instead for the community and putting others first. We believe happiness comes from putting Jesus first, others next and ourselves last.”

  Noah stopped his hands a second and glanced her way. “Would it be possible for me to visit your church sometime?”

  Her heart skipped a beat. She finished dropping the last cookie, set her spoons down and popped the sheet in the oven. “Church Sunday is tomorrow, and it’s your grandparents’ turn to host. That might be a gut time for you to visit. It’s a three-hour service, then a common meal at noon.” A few minutes later, she pulled the cookies from the oven.

  She glanced at Noah and tried to read his face. Was he thinking about joining the Old Order or just curious? But she wouldn’t allow this to give her false hope.

  * * *

  Noah gathered the baking pans and set them in the sink. “How about we practice our entries again? I could help you if you need an extra pair of hands.”

  Mary tossed him a wry smile. “Oh no, you don’t, you’re not tasting it.”

  Laughing, he scooped a big bag of apples from the cooler. “You don’t trust me?”

  She pulled a bowl and colander from a cupboard and faced him. “Based on my experience with Seth, trust is more fragile than liebe.”

  “Someday, Mary, I hope you find someone you can love and trust.” When he reached for an apple, her hand was already there, and his slipped over her soft skin. His heart galloped at her nearness as his fingers fumbled to grasp an apple. He wanted to reach over and pull her into his embrace, press a kiss to her lips and never let her go. He wanted to be that someone she could love and trust...but it wasn’t going to happen.

  She grabbed an apple and pulled her hand away quickly. He stepped to the side to calm his racing pulse, pretending to give her more room.

  It was nice having Mary in his kitchen every day. He was going to miss her, miss her smile, and miss her sweetness when she went back to her bakery.

  He opened the oven door, and they both set their pies on a hot rack. “How about a muffin and a glass of tea?” His gaze caught hers and held it for a second.

  “Jah, a break sounds gut right about now.” She followed him to the baked goods in the front of the store.

  He handed her a poppy seed muffin. “Try this and tell me what you think.” He poured two glasses of tea while she ate. “Has your dad decided yet whether to rebuild Sweet Delights?”

  “Jah, just this morgen he said our community is going to raise it a week from Monday. But the new structure will only have the bare minimum in it. I still need to win in order to buy the extra things I need to expand the menu. So next Monday, I’ll stay busy baking for the workers.”

  “That’s not a problem. I can watch Sweet Delights while you and Amanda bake for the workers.”

  “Noah, why the interest in our church?” She took another bite of muffin. “Mmm.”

  He shrugged. “I just want more information about the Amish faith so I can understand my grandparents and their ways better.” He bit into his muffin.

  Mary licked a crumb from her lip. “Where did you get this poppy seed recipe? It’s divine.”

  “From Mom’s collection. My recipes are from either Mom or Dad. My great-grandfather owned a bakery until he died, and my father helped him. That’s how Dad got interested in starting his own bakery which he then expanded into the farm-fresh grocery and delicatessen.”

  Mary turned quiet. Noah glanced at her, and followed her gaze until he saw Bishop Yoder’s frowning face and Seth standing next to him.

  “So here you are, Mary.” Seth said as if he had a right to know her whereabouts.

  Noah flinched as if he’d been caught smoking behind the barn.

  “What do you want, Seth?” Mary’s voice whipped across the aisle at her ex-fiancé.

  “Just to talk.”

  “Nein. I don’t want to talk to you, and quit telling people you want to pick up where we ended. Because as the word says, it’s ended.”

  Noah felt the tension. This conversation was none of his concern. He took a step back, turned and slipped quietly away. He heard Mary’s footfalls close behind as he pushed the swinging door open and held it for her. As soon as she entered, he closed it. “Are you okay?”

  “Jah. Seth’s been telling the bishop and Daed, I think, that he wants to court me again, hoping the bishop will talk me into it. But I can’t trust him, and I’m not going back with him. Ever. Seth doesn’t know if he wants to live as Englisch or Amish. He’s an Englischer, and that’s what we call an Auswendiger—an outsider. He can’t be trusted!”

  Noah took a step back. Mary’s words stabbed at his gut. She didn’t trust Englischers.

  Chapter Sixteen

  On Sunday morning, Noah parked in his grandparents’ barnyard at the end of a long line of buggies. He glanced at the cloudy sky, hoping the rain would hold off, then ran his hands over his suit coat to smooth any wrinkles and prayed his attire was appropriate.

  He walked to the barn and stopped inside the doorway. The women sat on one side and men on the other. His gaze scanned the benches until it caught Mary’s eye. She tilted her head toward the men. He skirted around the benches and found a spot on the last one...next to Mary’s ex-fiancé, his cousin. Seth nodded, and Noah sat.

  The bench was hard, and Noah sensed the tension filling the space between him and Seth. In a few minutes, a man announced a hymn number and started the singing, which they all joined in, except the preachers, who left the area. When they returned, the singing stopped. The preachers sat, but one remained standing and spoke a few opening words.

  He began, “Blessed be the God...”

  He concluded with a reminder to the congregation to prepare their hearts and listen to the Word of God and to trust God. He spoke in a mixture of Pennsylvania-Dutch, German and English, which put Noah at ease for a few minutes.

  After prayer, a preacher began the main sermon. “May grace and mercy be with you and the peace of Gott.” Words Noah had often heard his mom speak in German.

  Mary had prepared him, but the service seemed never ending. He tried not to squirm, but it was hard. Since his parents had spoken German, he understood a few words and phrases. The minister said a few words in English, Noah thought for his benefit: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

  The rest of the sermon was a blur. When it was over, Seth stood and disappeared with a crowd of men without saying a word. Noah jabbed his hands in his pockets and mulled around. It was tempting to leave, but he’d wait until after the meal. The men congregated in their own groups, so he strayed away from them. He looked around, but his grandpa was busy.

  “Hallo, Noah. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  He jerked around and let out a soft sigh. “Hello, Aunt Judith. Well, I was curious.”

  “Are you thinking abou
t joining our Order? That would be wunderbaar.”

  “After meeting the family, I wanted to understand your religion and what you believe.” Guilt squeezed his chest. Truth was, his parents’ death had torn his heart in two, and he was tired of hurting and feeling alone. He was angry at God for the accident that killed them, and it was time he got right with Him. He wanted to find God, have it out with Him, and make Him say why He had to take them. And he figured he’d find God at their church.

  “Danki for coming, Noah,” Judith said. “Whether our daed says it or not, I know he enjoyed seeing you here.”

  “I haven’t talked to him. I’m not sure he knows I’m here.”

  “He knows you’re here. I saw him watching you. Maybe I’ll see you later. But now I must help serve the meal.”

  Noah turned and almost ran into Mary. “I was wondering if I’d see you.”

  “I’m helping the women, but I thought I’d better tell you that the men all eat together at that long table.” She pointed, and he nodded.

  The men didn’t ask his name. But he was sure they recognized him as Thomas Miller’s grandson, from his Englisch son Jeremiah. But no one acted like they were curious enough to ask what he was doing here. Or they were just polite.

  Noah ate his meal with the men on either side of him asking him casual questions. It helped ease the butterflies churning in his gut.

  When he saw Mary cleaning up after the meal, he excused himself and headed in her direction.

  He sprinted the last few yards. “Hello, Mary.”

  She turned toward him. “What did you think?”

  “It was nice, different. Sometimes I thought the preachers were talking directly to me.”

  She smiled. “They were talking to all of us.”

  “Emily stayed with a friend, and I said I’d pick her up on the way home. So I need to get going, but I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” He glanced past her, and noticed that her dad had a bead on him. She’d been hurt once before, and judging by Caleb’s face, he wasn’t going to let his daughter get hurt again. “Is my grandma in the house?” Noah asked. “I want to say goodbye to her.”