Amish Dreams (Amish Romance)

by Hannah Schrock

  “If you like, but rather focus on becoming the best carpenter you can be. That’s all we want for you, Noah, to be happy.”

  Noah felt the emotion clog his own throat and nodded, afraid if he spoke his voice would crack with it.

  “Now, about supper, I made stew and baked bread. Anyone ready to eat yet?”

  In unison Noah and his father both said jah, causing his mother to laugh.

  No one made stew quite like his mother. The meat would be soft, the gravy thick and flavorsome and the bread fresher than anyone could ever hope for.

  The three worked together to get dinner on the table and when they closed their eyes in silent prayer, Noah not only thanked Gott for the blessing of the food but for the blessing of wonderful parents.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The Courtship

  After the final customers of the day stepped out of the store, carrying heavy bags, Jennifer closed the door behind them. “Two quilts in one day. At the rate you’re selling, I’ll have to get more suppliers,” she beamed at Ruth.

  Ruth laughed, shaking her head, “Amish quilts are the best there are. Not only do they last a lifetime if washed correctly, but they’re a wonderful gift.”

  “I believe you, I’ve had one for years that I’m very fond of,” Jennifer walked to the check out desk and started cashing up. “A while back you mentioned that your father was a carpenter. I’ve been thinking about it and I think you’re right. I think we should stock Amish furniture as well.”

  “Really? Are you sure?” Ruth asked, surprised. Months had passed since she told Jennifer about her father and she had all but accepted that Jennifer wasn’t interested.

  “Yes, I am. We used to stock furniture a few years ago until the carpenter passed away. I knew he was a big part of the community and didn’t want to offend anyone by getting furniture in from another community. If your father would be willing to work on the same basis, I’d me more than willing to stock his furniture.” Jennifer tucked the day’s takings into a bank bag before placing it in the vault. Leaning with both arms on the desk, she waited for Ruth to answer.

  “Same basis?” Ruth asked, confused.

  “I didn’t buy the furniture from him. He displayed several pieces at a time and once a piece sold, he would get paid and I’d take my commission. We’d do it on a consignment basis, do you think your father would be agreeable?”

  Ruth smiled, “Of course. I’ll talk to him tonight. Do you have any specific pieces in mind?”

  Jennifer twirled a pen between her fingers before she spoke. “The kists used to sell very well. So I’d say to start with, two or three kists, a few rocking chairs, most people buy them in pairs, and perhaps a writing desk and dining table with chairs. I was thinking we could take on the first stock at the end of the month.”

  Ruth’s eyes widened. That was a lot of stock at once, a lot of lumber and lot of time that Jennifer had just asked for. “That’s three weeks away.”

  “Look, I know lumber is expensive, so if your father can’t provide everything at once, I’ll understand, but the sooner we have the pieces, the sooner we can sell them. I’ll prefer if we could at least receive half of that at once.”

  Jennifer was an Englischer and Ruth had learned over the last few months that she was very business orientated. She was very strict on delivery times, and if their suppliers didn’t deliver on time, Jennifer would make it clear that it impacted her business.

  Was her father to take the offer and be unable to deliver on time, the business relationship would most definitely start off on the wrong foot.

  “I’m sure he’ll make a plan,” Ruth said crossing her fingers. She wasn’t sure her father would be able to make a plan at all.

  “Well, now that that’s settled, let’s go home. I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

  After gathering their things and switching off the lights, Ruth waited as Jennifer locked up the shop. Ruth spent the walk home thinking how her father would be able to produce so many pieces. Amish carpentry wasn’t about quantity it was about quality, her father’s words.

  She found him in the work shed working on a small wooden train. “Haven’t made toys in a while. Had an inkling for it.” He smiled at her warmly.

  “It’s very pretty,” Ruth said with a sigh. “Daed, I have to talk to you about something.”

  “Let’s hear it.” her father put the sanding paper away. The cut on his hand was now completely healed.

  Ruth told him about Jennifer’s proposal, stressing the number of pieces she wanted in a very short time. Ruth saw the excitement bloom on her father’s face before it was replaced with defeat. “Ruth, I’ll never be able to make that many pieces in such a short time. Maybe I can afford the lumber, I still have some savings, but time… You know that Amish carpentry isn’t about quantity, Ruth, it’s about quality.”

  “I knew you would say that, Daed, but maybe you could make the pieces and as they’re finished, deliver them to the shop.”

  “But if they sell fast, Ruth, I wouldn’t be able to make replacements quickly enough. I just don’t know… I appreciate the offer, but…”

  Ruth sighed, sitting down, “Daed, this is a gut opportunity for you. I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but Noah could help when he has the time. I could help with the sanding…”

  “Even if Noah came to help when he had time and even if you helped to sand… I think this is just a little too big for me at the moment.”

  “Do you want to do it?” Ruth asked wondering if her father was eager at all.

  “Of course! It’s a great idea, especially the consignment stock. That way I wouldn’t be making fifty pieces and only selling ten. If we had a few examples to showcase in store, we could even work on orders.”

  “Then we’ll pray for Gott to help you find a way,” Ruth said with a smile. “Kumm, let’s get you fed first.”

  Her father laughed as he followed her into the haus. “I have an yearning for chicken soup, any chance of that?”

  Ruth smiled over her shoulder. “Actually, I was thinking of making just that.”

  Together they prepared the ingredients before Ruth added everything to the pot. She made them each a cup of kaffe and sat down with her father at the table while the soup simmered.

  They spoke of the weather and trivial matters, avoiding the subject they had broached earlier. After a while, Ruth stood to check on the soup, and thought of Noah. She knew how much he would enjoy working with her father, but also knew that he couldn’t. He didn’t want to disappoint his parents and neither did she. She just wished there was a way for them to understand what Noah wanted.

  It was as if just when she thought everything was going well something would happen to throw her off guard. Her courtship with Noah was the highlight in her life. He was everything she had dreamed of in a mann, and she hoped that one day he would ask her to be his.

  A smile curved her mouth as she thought of her answer undoubtedly being yes, when her father sighed heavily. “Ruth, I’d really like to do this. Perhaps you could ask Jennifer for a little more time.”

  “I’ll try, Daed, but she’d like the first pieces at the end of the month.”

  “If only I had an apprentice like I did in Ohio.” Her father shook his head.

  An unexpected knock at the back door startled them.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Warming Hearts

  The door opened and Ruth smiled, “Hullo, Noah.”

  “Hullo, Ruth, I’m so sorry for intruding so late, I was hoping for a word with your daed,” Noah felt his heart bounce in his chest. It had taken all his courage to excuse himself from dinner to call on the Yoders, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink tonight if he did not speak to Peter.

  Ruth’s welcoming smile warmed his heart. He was falling deeper and deeper in love with her, but he had to be sure of his future before he could pursue what was growing between them. “Of course.” She turned to Peter, “Daed, Noah came to speak with you. I’ll be in m
y room if you need me.” Ruth turned to leave.

  “Nee,” Noah quickly stopped her by touching her elbow. “You’re welcome to stay.”

  Ruth looked to her father who nodded his approval for her to stay in the kitchen. Noah moved towards the table accepting Ruth’s offer of kaffe before taking a seat. He knew that Ruth had just arrived home from work, yet the haus was clean and tidy, which indicated that she didn’t leave for work until the haus was sorted. She took as much care with cleaning their home as she did tending the vegetable garden that was already boasting seasonal vegetables such as squash and pumpkins.

  He imagined his own home one day with Ruth and knew it would be just as tidy. Would it still be as tidy with a few little ones running around? A smile curved his mouth before he remembered the reason for his visit.

  “I’ve just spoken to my parents,” Noah started. “They’ve hired on the Hostetler boy to help with the dairy.”

  Peter nodded, clearly not understanding the significance.

  “I asked them since they now have extra help if they would be offended if I spent more time with you in the work shed. If possible, as an apprentice? I know we haven’t spoken of this and it’s forward of me to ask, but it’s what I’d hope to do. I’ll understand if you don’t want to take me on,” Noah drew in a breath waiting for Peter’s reaction.

  Instead Peter turned to Ruth who clapped her hands together with glee. “Noah that’s wonderful,” Ruth shook her head in disbelief. “You have no idea how gut your timing is.”

  Peter frowned although Noah could see a smile hiding underneath. “Are you sure, son, its hard work?”

  Noah nodded. “Jah, I don’t mind the hard work. I enjoy learning at your hand. I’ve already learned so much and I hope to learn even more. I’ve never been as sure of anything in my life as I am of this,” he glanced at Ruth. “Perhaps one other thing.”

  He noticed the blush in her cheeks as she quickly turned to stir the soup.

  “To be honest, this is a godsend,” Peter said, a smile curving his mouth. “Ruth’s employer requested a few pieces from me today. She’d like almost twelve pieces, in only three weeks. I was just telling Ruth earlier how much I needed an apprentice. With only me working the wood, there is no way for me to finish all the pieces on time. We’re going to work hard and fast and make sure we don’t cut any corners along the way.” Peter’s eyes bored into Noah’s, making it clear what was expected of him.

  “I’ll work as hard as you want me to. As long as that’s a jah. Will you take me on?” Noah asked eagerly.

  Peter laughed, “I’d be honored to have you as an apprentice.”

  “This is wunderbaar,” Ruth said bringing the kaffe to the table. “With Noah’s help full time, Daed, you’re sure to be able to make all the pieces.”

  Peter laughed, “Possibly even more.” He took a sip of his kaffe, closing his one eye before setting the cup down again. “Jennifer requested three kists, a few rocking chairs, a writing desk and one dining table with chairs.”

  Noah’s eyes stretched wide. “That’s a lot of pieces. I’ve barely just made a chair and a kist.”

  “Don’t worry; if we work together, we’ll manage. The most work will be the chairs, rocking and dining. We’ll start with those.”

  “Do you have enough lumber?” Noah asked as the rich fragrance of chicken soup started to waft in the air.

  “Nee, but I have some savings. If you’re able to come with on Monday, we’ll go order the rest of the lumber. We’ll take what we can on the buggies and have the rest delivered. We’ll get started as soon as we return to the work shop.”

  “I’ll be available after morning chores,” Noah said feeling lighter than ever before knowing he wouldn’t spend the whole day tending the cows. The little guilt that remained, he pushed aside. It wasn’t wrong to pursue happiness and he felt with all his heart that this was part of Gott’s plan. At least he knew his parents would have the Hostetler boy to help them. He knew the boy was as eager to learn and to work in the dairy as Noah was in the carpentry.

  “Gut. And you say your parents are agreeable with this,” Peter’s eyes narrowed carefully, and Noah understood. Peter didn’t want to cause trouble with his neighbors for taking their son away from the dairy farm.

  “Jah. Apparently they’ve noticed my heart isn’t in dairy farming. My mamm said she’s known for a time but they wanted to see how things played out first. They didn’t want to ask me outright until they hired the Hostetler boy this morning. Once they knew they had the help they needed, they decided it was time to talk straight.” Noah sighed still struggling to believe his parents had known about his reticence for dairy farming all along.

  “It’s gut to be honest, dishonesty just causes misunderstandings,” Peter added as he stood and moved towards a drawer to retrieve a pad of paper and a pencil.

  Noah glanced at Ruth who he could see was suppressing a laugh at her father’s words. Noah couldn’t help but return the smile as he remembered the misunderstanding that had kept him from pursuing Ruth at first.

  Peter returned to the table and began sketching a seven-piece dining suite. Noah was awed by his drawing technique as Peter sketched the piece in detail. Hope bloomed in his chest, realizing he was going to be working at Peter’s side, learning from him more than he ever dreamed possible. He wasn’t certain he’d ever be able to draw as magnificently, but hopefully he could make the pieces Peter drew with more accuracy.

  Ruth joined them at the table once she was certain the soup could simmer further on its own. “That’s a beautiful chair. Isn’t it like the one you made for the bishop back in Ohio?” she asked leaning over to glance at the sketch.

  Peter nodded. “Jah the design is simple but striking in itself.”

  “It looks amazing,” Noah’s hands were already itching to get started. “At least I can make some of the kists on my own, I think.”

  Peter smiled proudly, “You’ll do just fine.”

  “You’ll both do just fine,” Ruth said with a broad smile. “I can’t wait to tell Jennifer on Tuesday.”

  Noah sat with Peter for another thirty minutes, watching as he sketched piece after piece in detail. Once all the pieces were sketched, Peter took another piece of paper and drew up a list of the lumber, tacks, screws, varnish and supplies needed. With the list complete, Peter turned to Noah with a broad smile, “It’s going to be a busy few weeks, Noah, but once we’ve got these pieces to Jennifer’s store, we’ll be guaranteed more business.”

  “You think?” Noah asked.

  “I know. The Englischers love Amish furniture and I’m sure some of the Amish would like to order a few pieces as well. Of course the prices will be lower for those in our community. The one hand washes the other.”

  Noah nodded as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He had been there for almost two hours, completely forgetting the lateness of the hour. “Well, I better get home, it’s getting late.” Noah stood up, not at all eager to leave but knowing it was late. First thing Monday morning they would get started.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Ruth said, following him outside.

  As soon as she closed the door behind her, Noah turned to her, framing her face with his hands. “Ruth, I can’t explain how happy I am. To have met you and now this. I’ve been so worried about my parents and the dairy farm, and they knew, Ruth. All along, they knew.”

  “They usually do. I’m happy for you, Noah,” Ruth leaned into his hand.

  “I thought I had no choice, I thought I’d become a dairy farmer just like them and now… it’s as if everything is falling into place.”

  “Gott has a plan for us, Noah, I can feel it. With your parents letting you come to apprentice for my daed. Us moving here, it’s like He’s revealing what He has in store is even greater than we imagined.”

  Noah looked into her loving eyes and believed every word she said. “I love you, Ruth.”

  Ruth smiled. “I love you too, Noah.”

  “As much as I’d
like to stay and plan with your daed for the rest of the night, I’d better head on home.”

  “Will I see you tomorrow?” The moonlight touched her face and made her look even more beautiful.

  Noah smiled with a nod. “Jah, on Sunday and Monday and every day after that.”

  Ruth laughed as Noah waved goodbye and headed into the darkness of night across the field.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Happiness

  Ruth stood at the back door of the shop, watching as Noah and her father unloaded Jennifer’s completed order three days ahead of schedule.

  The past three weeks had been a flurry of activity at home. When her father wasn’t cutting lumber, he was sanding it, and when he wasn’t sanding, he was varnishing. On the days Ruth worked, she arrived home after Noah had already left, and on the days that she didn’t work she barely saw him at all.

  Noah and her father were closed up in the workshop working against time, and although she felt a little left out, she couldn’t help but be grateful for the change she saw in her father. It was the first time since her mother had passed that Ruth could see happiness bubbling through the grief. Instead of staring into the distance at dinner every night, he was upbeat with news about their progress and how fast Noah was learning.

  She could see the same change in Noah as well. Even though his fingers were blistered and she could see from his gait that his back ached, the happiness shone in his eyes. He no longer carried the earthy scent of a dairy farm, instead he smelt of lumber, varnish and wood shavings. Just as he did now as he moved past her, helping her father carry in the large dining table.

  The dining table hadn’t taken long to assemble, but the finishing of the table top had taken almost a week. It had been sanded and varnished many times over to obtain the sheer satin finish it now boasted.

  They set it down in the area that Jennifer had allotted for the furniture and headed out to collect more pieces. Ruth followed Jennifer to the table and couldn’t help but feel pride as Jennifer ran her hand over the table top. “When you said your father was a carpenter, Ruth, I expected good Amish pieces. Never in a million years did I except this caliber of work. It’s amazing.” Jennifer shook her head marveling at the chairs that were carried in two by two. The spindle backs were neatly turned and sanded, soft to the touch and striking to the eye.