When everything was off loaded, Jennifer clapped her hands together in glee. “This is so exciting, Mr. Yoder, I just know they will sell. Come, I’ll give you the money for one of the kists, but I can guarantee you most of this will be sold within a couple of weeks. I’m going to put them on my website as well.”
Ruth watched as her father followed Jennifer to the cash register and she turned to Noah. “She’s very happy.”
“So am I. I never thought we’d be able to make so much in such a short time.” Noah smiled at her but Ruth couldn’t help but wonder if he was distancing himself from her.
She knew he had been busy over the last few weeks and couldn’t be sure if she was just imagining it. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?” Ruth asked, watching as her father and Jennifer shook hands.
Noah shrugged, “I have a few in errands in town and then your daed said we should take the afternoon off. Tomorrow we’re starting on more pieces.”
Ruth nodded, wishing she could have spent the afternoon with him, but she knew that wouldn’t be possible.
“Noah, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Peter said, shaking Noah’s hand. They had come in a separate buggy and wagon to deliver everything at once. Her father had used both horses to haul the load, and Ruth knew he would be eager to get home
“Bye, Ruth. Have a gut day.” Noah tipped his hat and followed her father outside. Ruth locked the back door and found Jennifer marveling over the furniture once again.
A few hours later, a couple from Harrisburg stopped by for a look see and bought the dining set right away. Jennifer was over the moon and Ruth couldn’t wait to get home to tell her father of the sale.
After they locked up the shop, Ruth headed home. She stopped by the grocer for a few necessities and bumped into Rachel on the way out.
“Hullo, Ruth,” Rachel beamed, pulling her into a bear hug. “How’ve you been?”
“Hullo, Rachel,” Ruth smiled. “I’ve been gut.”
“That’s gut to hear, especially since I take it you and Noah aren’t courting anymore?” Rachel asked carefully.
Ruth frowned, “How do you mean? We are still courting?” Something twisted in her tummy but she chose to ignore it as she waited for Rachel to explain.
“Ach, I must have confused him with someone else then,” Rachel quickly added. “I thought I saw him in town earlier today meeting another girl for kaffe?”
Ruth forced a smile even as she shook her head, “You must have mistaken him for someone else.”
She made small chat with Rachel for a few minutes before they greeted, each heading in their own direction. As Ruth walked home, she couldn’t help the worry that hounded her heart. Noah had said he had errands in town and she didn’t think Rachel had mistaken him for someone else. Who would he have met and why didn’t he tell her about her?
An uneasy feeling made Ruth’s heart drop to the soles of her feet. Was that why he had seemed cold towards her over the last few weeks? Had he met someone else and just didn’t have the heart to tell her?
She arrived home and told her father about the dining set that had already been sold. Her excitement was much less than she had intended. After making dinner and finishing her chores, Ruth headed to bed early. She pulled the covers over her to ward off the cold, but it didn’t ward off the frost or the worry that had taken hold of her heart.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Coldness
The following morning Noah was excited to head over to the Yoders. It was Ruth’s day off and he hoped to spend some time with her if the work load at the workshop allowed for it.
But the main reason for his excitement was to see Peter. Yesterday, after delivering the pieces at the Amish Gift Shop, he had headed into town to run errands when he bumped into his cousin from two counties over.
Surprised and happy to see her, Noah had invited her for kaffe. She had come to town for the day to take her father to the Englisch doctor, returning home by bus later that afternoon. But Noah had enjoyed talking to her and telling her about Ruth. His cousin was just as excited as Noah at the thought of Noah asking Ruth to be his wife. She had eagerly encouraged him to make Ruth a piece that she could cherish forever now that he was a carpenter. A piece that would not only win her heart but would prove his love for her.
When he arrived, Ruth was busy hanging the laundry. She waved to him, although her smile wasn’t as bright as always. Noah returned her wave but headed to the work shed to find Peter.
“There he is!” Peter said with a broad smile as Noah stepped inside.
“Hullo Peter,” Noah said, smiling. “What are you working on?”
Peter kept sanding the piece of wood in his hand. “A foot bench,” Peter laughed. “When you get to my age, you’ll understand that when a mann wants to rest in the evening, he wants to put his feet up.”
Noah smiled, “I want to ask you something.” Noah took a deep breath as he sat down across from Peter. “I know it’s not proper to ask, but I want to. I’d like to ask Ruth for her hand in marriage and I’d like your blessing.”
Peter laughed, “You have it. That’s the best news, even better than the news I have to share.”
“Denke,” Noah said relieved. “What news do you have to share?”
“The dining set, it’s already been sold,” Peter laughed, shaking his head. “Ruth said an Englisch couple from Harrisburg bought it yesterday afternoon. It’s being shipped tomorrow.”
Noah’s eyes widened, “Already?”
“Jah, I couldn’t believe it myself,” Peter sighed. “This is gut, Noah, we’re going to do well with this business.”
Noah nodded, “Definitely. Before we make another set, can I ask you a favor?” Noah took a deep breath, hoping Peter would agree, especially now that they already had a dining set to make.
“Of course,” Peter set down the piece of wood and the sanding paper. “How can I help you?”
“I’d like to make something for Ruth. Something special that she can use that will remind her how much I care for her.”
“A dresser,” Peter said before Noah could finish. “She’s been begging me for one for a while. She wants a dresser to stand against her one wall.”
“Then a dresser,” Noah said as a smile spread across his face. “I’d like to make it special.”
“And you’ll make it yourself,” Peter said with a cocked brow. “I’ll guide you and tell you what to do, but if a mann makes a piece for a fraa, he should make it himself.”
Noah laughed, “That was what I was hoping you’d say. But now that we have the dining set to make…”
“We’ll make it as well; we’ll put time aside for the dresser.” Peter laughed, picking up the piece of wood and the sanding paper. “I think tomorrow is soon enough. Why don’t you go find her and spend some time together after we cut the pieces for the dresser?”
Noah nodded and set to work.
Once they were done, he found Ruth in the kitchen scrubbing the floors. “Hullo, Ruth,” Noah greeted with a smile, his heart swelling in his chest at the thought of what he had started on today.
“Hullo,” Ruth said as she continued scrubbing, barely looking at him.
“Would you like to take a walk?” Noah asked.
Ruth shook her head as she continued to scrub. “Nee, I’ve got too much to do still. Maybe tomorrow.”
Noah couldn’t stop the frown that formed on his face. He’d interrupted when she was busy before. Usually she would ask him to wait until she finished, or she would tell him to stop by again later, never had she denied him before.
“Is everything all right?” Noah asked, confused.
“Jah, of course. Just a lot of chores to do today,” Ruth sighed and continued scrubbing.
“All right. Good bye then,” Noah waited for her to turn and tell him the chores could wait but she didn’t. Instead she barely looked at him when she said good bye.
Noah headed home, wondering what was bothering her. Had he missed something? Was she
no longer interested in him? Why would she be so cold towards him so suddenly? He knew he had neglected her over the last few weeks but surely she understood that they were busy?
No, Noah mused as he crossed the field. Something must have happened for Ruth to be so cold towards him, but for the life of him he couldn’t think what it was.
He arrived home and noticed the Hostetler boy cleaning out the barn. It was hard work and right now that was exactly what Noah needed to keep his mind off Ruth’s cold treatment. He grabbed a fork and started helping without explanation. After thirty minutes his muscles were burning from the exertion and all thoughts of Ruth had quieted, for now.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sweet Kisses
Winter moved in over a matter of weeks. Frost, sleet and sub-zero temperatures hit Lancaster valley with more force than ever before. The leaves that clung to the last remnants of Fall fell to the ground as the cold froze them. Ponds froze over as coats, gloves and thick socks were pulled out of closets. All who had lived in the valley for more than a year knew that such a fierce cold front would mean a very cold winter.
For Ruth it was especially cold because she was still unsure of what was going on with her and Noah. They went on buggy rides on church Sundays and when they spent time together it felt forced, almost as if the frosty breeze was pulling their relationship apart.
Ruth prayed for Gott’s guidance, to help her talk to Noah about what was bothering her, but she couldn’t find the courage. What if he told her the truth? That was her greatest fear. What if he didn’t love her anymore, if he had found someone else?
That thought scared her even more than the cool conversations they shared. Once or twice her father had tried to ask about their relationship, but Ruth always evaded his questions. How could she answer her father if she wasn’t even certain herself?
It was a cool Saturday afternoon when the first flutters of snow hit the ground that morning. Noah knocked on the door. Ruth knew it was him, she had seen him cross the field between their homes from their kitchen window.
“Hullo Ruth,” Noah said timidly. His dark brown eyes still drew her in but instead of making her feel warm and loved, they made her fear rejection.
“Hullo, Noah,” Ruth noticed the little billows of fog as she spoke.
“I’d like you to come for a walk with me,” Noah said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his coat.
Ruth frowned. It was ice cold outside, the last thing she wanted was to go for a walk in the cold.
Noah glanced over his shoulder before meeting her gaze, “I know it’s cold, but I need this, we need this.”
Ruth sighed, knowing what was about to come. He was going to break up with her. Resigned to what was about to happen, she grabbed her coat and gloves and joined him. They walked across what used to be a flower-covered meadow in spring beside what was now a frozen pond.
She turned to Noah, tears already burning behind her eyes. “Just make it quick, I can’t stand the thought of you pitying me.”
Noah frowned, “Ruth, I don’t know what you mean, but I asked you to walk with me so we can talk. Why have you been so distant, as if you’re no longer interested in being courted?”
Ruth shook her head, biting back the tears, “I know, Noah. I know about the girl you met in town and I guess you’re going to break things off with me today.”
“What girl?” Noah asked, confusion clouding his eyes.
“The day you dropped off the furniture in town, you met a girl for kaffe. Rachel told me. Since then, you’ve been distant; different.”
Noah laughed, shaking his head, “One day there won’t be any misunderstandings between us. It’s my cousin from two counties over. I bumped into her while I was doing my errands. She was in town to bring her daed to the Englisch doctor.”
“Your cousin?” Ruth asked, confused. Had she been distant and cool and expecting the worst simply because Noah had kaffe with his cousin?
“Jah,” Noah laughed. “Ach Ruth, I would never betray you. I love you, don’t you know that? I know I neglected you for a few weeks while we were finishing the shop’s orders, but you’ve avoided me ever since. Please tell me you still feel the same way.”
Rachel smiled as a tear slipped over her cheek. “I thought… ach Noah. Of course I love you.”
Noah laughed pulling her into a hug before stepping back and framing her face. “Ruth, I didn’t want to do this today, I hadn’t planned it, so the words might come out all muddled, but I can’t wait another day. Will you be my wife? Will you build a home, a familye and a future with me?”
Ruth laughed, shaking her head, “Of course I will, Noah, of course.”
“You will?” Noah said with wide eyes. “I wasn’t sure, after these few weeks.”
“We’ve both been fools, too afraid to say something. Promise me we’ll never be fools again, Noah.”
Noah pulled her in close and pressed a gentle kiss against her mouth. “No one calls my wife a fool.”
The kiss was sweet, as snowflakes started to drift to the ground. Their gazes met and in that moment, Ruth knew that she would spend the rest of her life loving the mann in front of her. Loving the mann that had fought for her affections even through misunderstandings.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Epilogue
Yoder and Fischer Furniture occupied the store space beside the Amish Gift Shop from which Ruth had resigned four years before. Ruth sat in the small office in the back, the desk covered in journals and books. Soon after her and Noah’s wedding they had all decided to open a shop from which to sell their own furniture. Of course Jennifer welcomed the shop beside her as it attracted even more customers.
Their wedding had been an intimidate affair but one that Ruth would never forget. On the evening after the wedding, after vowing to love, obey and cherish Noah for the rest of her life, she had found the most beautiful gift in her room. An oak dresser made especially for her. It was the first piece Noah had completed by himself, the first piece he had made for their home.
Her heart still warmed every morning when she sat down at the dresser to brush her hair. She had never imagined she could love someone so much, but it seemed she loved Noah a little more every day.
Yoder and Fischer Furniture had grown rapidly, now providing furniture to shops even three counties away. Ruth couldn’t help but be proud of the success her husband and her father had achieved. Besides the Englischers that frequently commissioned pieces, the Amish community also embraced the new carpenters in town.
Since neither of the menner bothered with the books, Ruth had started coming in to the shop three days a week in the mornings to make sure their books were balanced. When she wasn’t in the shop, she cared for their home, for the vegetable garden and for the last two years, for Esther. Their little girl looked just like Noah, with the same dark hair and dark eyes, and the same gentle personality.
While Esther played with her wooden blocks on the floor, Ruth worked, eager for Noah to return. Just this morning she visited the Englisch doctor in town and she couldn’t wait to tell Noah the news.
Her father stepped into the office, scooping up his granddaughter. “Why don’t you come and visit your grossdaadi tonight?” he crooned as Esther giggled.
Noah and Peter had built a dawdi haus adjacent to the original house a year after the wedding. Peter had been eager to move into a place of his own just as Noah and Ruth were eager to have their own place. They still shared all their meals and most of their time together but each had their own space to retire to when they felt like it.
It was a perfect arrangement, Ruth thought with a smile as she tried to focus on her work although she knew focus wouldn’t come until she had spoken with Noah.
“What did the doctor say?” Peter asked his daughter with a wink.
Ruth only smiled and laid a hand on her belly.
“Here’s Noah now, I’m going to take my little girl for a walk outside.” He winked at Ruth before disappearing around the corner
with Esther in his arms.
“Hullo,” Noah said, stepping into the office, pressing a chaste kiss to his wife’s cheek. “How are you feeling, did the doctor give you something for the flu?” He had changed so much since the first time Ruth met him. No longer did he work on a dairy farm, harboring a dream. Now he worked his dream while the young Hostetler boy took charge of the dairy farm. Noah’s parents were very satisfied with the boy’s work and there was talk of officially making him the dairy farm manager in the near future.
Ruth suppressed a smile and shook her head with a heavy smile. She had claimed stomach flu because she didn’t want to get Noah’s hopes up before she had confirmation from the doctor. “It’s going to take a little longer to go away than stomach flu.”
Noah kneeled in front of her, taking her hands, “What is it, Ruth, what did the doctor say? Should I be worried?”
Ruth sighed again, shaking her head, “It won’t help if you worry, Noah, it won’t change anything. There’s nothing the doctor can do, at least not for nine more months.”
Noah frowned before his eyes started to widen, “You’re pregnant?”
Ruth laughed, “Jah, come spring, Esther will have a sibling, my husband.”
Noah pulled Ruth up and spun her in circles, “Just when I think life can’t get any better.”
Amish Dreams (Amish Romance) Page 7