The Amish Baker

by Marie E. Bast

  Sarah started for the kitchen. “I’ll get my bag while you finish eating. Then we can go.”

  In Caleb’s buggy, Sarah tried her best to shrink out of sight from the people walking on the sidewalk. When a buggy approached from the opposite direction, she tipped her head down.

  This wasn’t right. Why should she have to act like a thief in the dark when she wanted to help a friend? Yet was she prepared if someone from her church saw her and sent the bishop to her door again?

  Sarah glanced at Caleb and noticed how close his body was to hers. Ach. She needed to take her mind off him. He hadn’t said a word since they had climbed into the buggy. Worry lines etched deep in his face signaled he was thinking of his bruder. She gazed at the landscape, the sky painted with a veil of thin clouds and a light fog still hovering, concealing the low areas on the ground.

  She hoped the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves drowned out her pounding heart. His casual way of asking her to stay with his kinner felt as if he were courting her and she belonged here on the seat next to him.

  She wiped those impossible thoughts out of her head and tried to enjoy the ride to his house. Jacob was waiting for them on the porch when they arrived. He jumped off the last step and ran pell-mell over the grass to reach the buggy when it stopped. Sarah stepped down and into two small arms, which hugged her around the waist.

  He stepped back. “Sarah, can you stay all night?”

  “Nein, Jacob. I’ll be back before evening and take Sarah home. You must entertain her while I’m gone. Show her all the things we missed the last time she was on the farm.”

  “Jah, Daed. We’ll have a gut time.”

  “I brought you and your sister some cookies from the bakery.” She handed him the sack. “Please take them into the house.” He ran up the porch steps and into the house, letting the door bang shut.

  “I’ll try to be back before dark, but if I’m not, don’t worry. My driver can take you home.”

  “I’ll pray for your bruder.”

  Just then, a car pulled into the drive and stopped. “He’s early.” Caleb waved at the driver, hurried to unhook Snowball, said goodbye and climbed into the car. His face looked pale and fear pooled in his eyes. She knew that feeling well, as memories of Samuel’s accident came flooding back to her. She could still recall her ehemann lying on the ground after his horse bucked him off, his skull crushed on a rock. The only thing she could do was sit in a chair next to his bed and watch him slowly die. She prayed Caleb wouldn’t have to go through that with his bruder.

  She’d stay as long as Caleb needed her to watch his kinner. Who could find fault with that?

  Jacob came running out of the haus and skidded to a stop. “They’re in the cookie jar.”

  Sarah tousled Jacob’s hair. “So, what should we do today?”

  Jacob’s mouth broadened with a smile. “I’m going to take you to see Tiger first. I want you to see how much he has grown.”

  “Okay. Just let me see if Mary needs my help with anything.” She found her on the back porch, folding laundry. Sarah picked up a towel and took a whiff. “Mmm, I love the fresh, outdoorsy fragrance of laundry when it’s hung in the sunshine.”

  Mary wrinkled her nose.

  Sarah folded the towel and laid it on the pile. “Do you need help folding or help with anything else?”

  Mary looked up and rolled her eyes, with no attempt at hiding her rude expression. “Ah, nein. I can do it. You didn’t need to come. I told Daed I could handle this. I do everything when Daed’s out in the field, including all his chores.”

  “I’m sure your daed’s just worried since he wouldn’t be close and wanted an adult here.”

  Mary rolled her eyes again and huffed.

  Sarah turned to leave, but Mary clearing her voice made her turn back around.

  “Later, would you show me how to make Daed’s favorite dishes, Rouladen and Black Forest cake?”

  Sarah smiled. “Yes. I can do that. I’ll go with Jacob for an hour, then come back and help you.” She was surprised Mary suddenly needed her help, but at least it was a start.

  Jacob escorted her across the barnyard, toward the barn. The breeze whipped her untied kapp strings around, pulling a few strands of hair loose from her bun. She straightened the kapp and tucked the wisps behind her ear.

  Horse’s hooves and buggy wheels on the road grabbed her attention. What if someone saw her here and told the bishop? Jacob took off running ahead of her, calling for his cat. Sarah hurried behind him, hoping to reach the barn before anyone saw her.

  Jacob pulled the squeaky barn door open, then waited for her. When she grabbed the door, he ran in.

  “Here, Tiger.”

  Sarah heard meowing.

  Jacob disappeared behind a stall door and, five seconds later, jumped out, holding Tiger in front of him.

  Sarah squealed. “Oh, he’s grown so big. You must be feeding him well.”

  “Jah. He’s a gut mouser, too. Do you want to hold him?”

  “Ah, well, he’s quite big. Why don’t you just set him down, and I can watch him?”

  Jacob lowered Tiger to the floor. Immediately the cat’s ears perked up. His nose began twitching; he took a crouched position and crept along the floor so quietly, Sarah couldn’t even hear him move. He rounded the corner and disappeared back into the barn.

  “Tiger’s probably on the scent of a mouse. I’ll show you the garden, and then I have a surprise for you at the pond.”

  “Okay. But after that, I promised to help Mary make a new dish for supper.”

  They walked out into the barnyard. The garden was spread along the drive and back behind the house. Her eyes roamed over the rows of vegetables and the strawberry patch. “Your garden looks great, Jacob. Nein weeds. And your tomatoes are so tall.”

  “We started the tomatoes in the house in January. I watered them.”

  “They are very nice plants. Gut job.”

  “Come on. I have a surprise for you at the pond.” Jacob hurried down to the edge of the water and pointed to the middle of the pond.

  “Is that a duck?” she asked.

  “Jah. She comes every year and Daed floats a nest for her to lay her eggs in. He said if I watch her closely, a few hours after the ducklings hatch, she’ll walk them to the English River, where they’ll be safe from predators.”

  “What a wonderbaar surprise. Now I need to get back to the house to help your sister make supper.” As she turned to leave, a buggy passed by on the road. She didn’t see the driver’s face, but he might have noticed her.

  “I’ll walk you back and then play with Tiger in the yard.”

  Sarah hurried to the haus, washed her hands and looked over the chuck roast Mary had cut into ten strips for the Rouladen. “You’ll need to pound the meat to a quarter of an inch. I’ll write down the recipes for the meat filling and the Black Forest cake.”

  Mary made the filling and spread it onto the strips, rolled the meat tightly into cylindrical shapes, then tied the bundle with twine and browned them. When done, she layered them in a Dutch oven to simmer until supper. Mary bent over the pot. “Mmm, it smells gut.” She looked at Sarah and smiled. “I’m ready to start the cake.”

  Sarah handed Mary the recipe and helped her gather the ingredients. Then she watched as Mary made the cake and the filling. She topped it with whipped cream, cherries and chocolate shavings.

  Sarah took a step closer and twirled the platter holding the cake. “Any bakery would liebe to have this in their display case to sell. It looks perfect.”

  Mary’s face beamed. “Danki.”

  Sarah stacked the dirty dishes and carried them to the sink. Mary scooted ahead and stood in front of the sink. “I’ll take care of the cleanup, Sarah. It’s my supper. I want to do it all. You can talk to Jacob. I’m sure he’s got something else to show you.” />
  “I’d like to help you. It would take half the time with both of us working.”

  “I’ll take care of it.”

  Jah, at least they got along for a little while, Sarah thought as she left the kitchen.

  She wandered out to the barnyard, sat on the grass and watched Jacob play with his cat. He held a piece of twine and pulled it over the grass, and Tiger chased it around. They ran back and forth across the yard until Jacob ran to the garden and back.

  “You two make me tired just watching you.” Sarah patted the grass.

  Jacob flopped onto the ground next to her. “I’m tired. Let’s rest, Tiger.” He told her about planting and hoeing the garden and what a big help he was.

  The dinner bell rang at 7:00 p.m. Sarah sprang to her feet. “Your daed must be home. Let’s hurry and see how your onkel is doing. I’ll race you to the haus. One, two, three, go!”

  Jacob outran her, continued up the porch steps and held the door open.

  “You beat me.” She panted as she entered the kitchen and looked around. “Is your daed here, Mary?”

  “Nein. Since he was worried about Onkel Peter, he might stay late at the hospital. We’ll eat without him.”

  “I’m sorry he didn’t make it home to try your dinner.”

  “The leftovers will still taste gut. Sit. I’ll say the prayer since Daed’s not here.”

  It seemed strange to sit and eat without Caleb’s presence at the head of the table. Sarah filled her plate and tried the Rouladen. “Mmm. It’s delicious. Gut job, Mary.”

  Mary’s face glowed with pride.

  Sarah cleared the table and wouldn’t take nein from Mary this time. She planted her feet in front of the sink and stayed there, helping Mary wash dishes until the last one was placed in the cupboard.

  Sarah wandered to the sitting room, sat in the wooden rocker and relaxed. She hadn’t expected Caleb to stay so late at the hospital. Maybe his bruder had gotten worse.

  She pulled her mending out of her bag and worked for an hour on repairing a frayed seam in an apron. She examined her stitches, then tucked it back in the bag.

  At nine o’clock the kinner stepped into the sitting room smelling all clean with a lavender soap scent lingering on their hands “Gut nacht, Sarah.” They chirped in unison.

  “Sweet dreams, kinner.” As their footfalls drummed on the stairs, their hushed voices but distinguishable words floated back to Sarah.

  “Why did you ask Sarah to help you with supper? Thought you didn’t like her?”

  “It’s a gut thing you’re not a snitch or I wouldn’t tell you. ’Cause if I can cook well, Daed won’t need to get married.”

  Stunned, Sarah stopped the motion of the rocking chair. Mary’s words washed over her like a tidal wave. It wasn’t going to be easy to win her over, if she ever could.

  Sarah turned the lantern up, steadied the chair with her hands on the armrests and rose from the rocker. She strolled around the room. A quilt stand stood against the wall with two quilts laying over it. One had a double wedding ring pattern in green colors and the other had autumn-colored leaves set in blocks. The needlework stitching looked perfect.

  Some handiwork that didn’t look finished sat in a sewing basket. The basket had blue fabric covering the lid, and underneath the fabric was cotton stuffing to make it a pincushion. A handle attached to the lid had Martha stitched across it. Sarah wandered back to the rocking chair and pulled a well-worn Bible off the end table. She noticed the inscription on the first page. Presented to Martha Brenneman.

  Sarah pressed a hand to her chin. Martha’s memory remained very much alive in this house. Her heart skipped a beat as her eyes took another quick survey around. Was Caleb ready to remarry? A smidgen of dread wrapped around her middle and inched its way to her throat. She turned the lantern out, sat in the rocker, laid her head back and closed her eyes.

  “Wake up, Sarah.”

  A voice penetrated her hazy head. “What?” She opened her eyes slowly as she tried to erase the trailing effects of sleep.

  Caleb stood before her, still wearing his coat.

  “How is your bruder?” She stretched and sat up.

  “He finally came out of the coma and is doing better. He’s going to be okay.”

  “That’s wunderbaar news, Caleb.” She stood and smoothed the winkles out of her dress. “What time is it?”

  “It’s 4:00 a.m.”

  “What! I’ve been here all night. I need to get to the bakery. I should be starting the baking right now.” She grabbed her bag.

  “The driver is still here and will take you to Kalona.”

  “I didn’t plan on staying the whole night at your home.” Panic swept through her.

  “I’m sorry, Sarah. No one will know.” His annoyingly calm voice did not reassure her.

  If the bishop found out, who knows what would happen to her this time. Her knees shook as she closed the car door.

  The bishop might even ask her to explain her behavior, or worse, to confess on bended knee in front of the entire church.

  Fear prickled the hair on her arms. Next Sunday, she could be facing community discipline.

  Would they accept her explanation and give her a pardon?

  Chapter Seven

  Sarah slumped against the bakery’s counter. Staying with Caleb’s kinner until 4:00 a.m. had drained her. She inhaled a deep whiff of lemon bars, chocolate cake and a medley of pastries that assailed her senses. Even the sugary-sweet smell made her sluggish this morning.

  She glanced at the clock, pushed away from the counter, meandered to the front door and turned the sign to Open. Tuesday was normally a slow day, and she hoped today was no exception. The steamy aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted in her face as she came back around the counter.

  Ach. A cup of medium-roast would perk her right up. Her hands cradled the cup as she sipped the rich black liquid. “Mmm.”

  The doorbell jingled. She turned and faced Elder Abraham Glick. “Gut mornin’, Abraham. What can I get you?” She set her cup out of the way.

  “If you have a minute, I’d like to talk with you.”

  Abraham had been her daed’s best friend and a man whom she’d more than once trusted with a secret. Like the time she skipped school to go fishing and he caught her at the pond. He said he wouldn’t tell her daed. He didn’t, but instead convinced her to confess.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll? It’s on the house.”

  “Just coffee.”

  She set the cup in front of Abraham and sat opposite him. “What’s this about, Abe?”

  “Yesterday, I went past Caleb Brenneman’s farm and saw you in the yard with his bu.”

  She drew in a deep breath. “Caleb’s bruder was critically injured and in the hospital in a coma. He wanted to stay with him and asked me to watch his kinner.”

  “Sarah, the bishop warned you. I know Alvin’s not at the top of your list of men to marry. But you need to avoid Caleb Brenneman. He’s New Order, and nothing can come of it but trouble.”

  Her cheeks burned as she caught a hint of judgment in Abe’s voice. “That’s why watching Caleb’s kinner shouldn’t make any difference. I do not plan to leave my church, nor do I want disciplining. But I will help a friend in need, especially in an emergency.”

  Abe shrugged. “You don’t want Bishop Yoder discovering you disobeyed his warning. If others know you went to his farm unescorted, they’ll talk. Then you’ll have to confess. I’m here as your friend, Sarah. Take care.”

  “Danki, Abraham, for stopping by.” Sarah walked him to the door, unshed tears blurring her vision. She wasn’t sorry she’d helped Caleb, but she was sorry for the chaos her actions had created for friends like Abraham when they were put into the difficult place of keeping a secret. Abe even took a chance by warning her. The bishop would ex
pect Abe to report her.

  All day she worked alongside Hannah in the kitchen as much as possible, trying to keep from watching and waiting for a visit from the bishop. Abraham’s warning spun around in her head. She wasn’t a child. She wasn’t skipping work to go fishing. It had been an emergency, helping Caleb and his kinner.

  Sarah glanced at the clock. One hour until closing.

  A breeze swirled through the shop and a commotion at the door pulled Sarah’s attention from cleaning the counter. Caleb and Jacob heaved a large toolbox over the threshold and plunked it on the floor. She propped her hands on her hips. “What are you two up to?”

  “You helped me out while I was at the hospital, and I wanted to repay the debt. We are here to do repairs in the kitchen. Should only take an hour or so. I brought a helper.”

  “Jah, I see that.” She surveyed the bu’s attire.

  Jacob patted his tool belt, which drooped on one side while his other hand held it up at his waist. He pulled out a tack hammer and held it up. “I’m going to do a lot of work for you today.”

  “Then it’s a gut thing you’ve come dressed like a carpenter. Follow me and you can get started.”

  “Sarah, before I forget. Mary was wondering if you could show her how to make strawberry jam.” Caleb grabbed his toolbox and fell in line behind his sohn as they made their way to the kitchen.

  “Jah, for sure and for certain, I can do that sometime.” She watched as they started removing cupboard doors to replace the worn and loose hinges.

  Hannah stepped to the sink and pointed to the faucet. “Can you fix this leak?”

  Caleb examined the faucet, furrowed his brow and nodded.

  Sarah showed Caleb where to place the new towel holder and ceiling saucepan rack, which she had stashed in the closet a month ago.

  She ducked out of the kitchen and returned to the front to finish cleaning. After emptying the display case, she set the sheet pan of leftover baked goods in the cooler, then cleaned and sanitized the case like she did every night.

  When she glanced in the kitchen and saw the faucet was fixed, she got the impression Hannah wasn’t letting the guys leave until all the repairs were completed. She also noticed her friend had a pastry tray waiting on a table for them.