The Amish Deacon's Daughter

by Samantha Price

  Gabbie grabbed Amy’s arm. “Let’s go.”

  Although the buggy was a large one, it was still crowded with so many of them in it. Amy was squashed against one side of the buggy, which she much preferred to being squashed in between two of the boys.

  Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Schrocks' house where the meeting was being held. The wagon with the wooden benches was already there, and six men were carrying the benches into the house.

  As they walked toward the house, Gabbie whispered to Amy, “Sometimes people come early to talk to Dat. He hears everyone’s problems.” Gabbie grabbed Amy’s arm. “Quick, let’s hurry inside; it’s cold.”

  Warmth engulfed them when they stepped into the house. A fire roared in the fireplace at the far end of the room. Gabbie took Amy to meet Mr. and Mrs. Schrock and then they sat at the back of the room. Gabbie stood and took off her coat and, when she sat back down, she spread it across her knees. Amy was still chilly, so she kept her coat on.

  As people walked through the door, Gabbie told Amy about nearly every one of them. A tall boy walked in and Gabbie fell silent.

  “Well? Who’s he then?” Amy asked.

  Gabbie’s gaze flicked to the ceiling and back to Amy. “That’s the boy I told you about.”

  “He looks nice.”

  “Jah, he is, and he’s the only one I like.”

  Amy giggled into her hand.

  “What’s funny?”

  “Just like at home. I’ve got four friends and there were no menner in the community for us — not any our age.”

  Gabbie blew out a deep breath. “So that’s why they sent you here?”

  Amy nodded. “That and my vadder didn’t want me to spend time around Englischers. One of my friends just married an Englischer.”

  The boy looked over at Gabbie then quickly looked away.

  “He just looked over here,” Amy whispered. “Did you see that?”

  Gabbie shrugged. “He’s still courting someone else.”

  Amy held her peace. She didn’t want to give Gabbie any encouragement in the wrong direction.

  Andrew walked in the door and waved to the two of them and they waved back.

  When Andrew got talking to someone, Gabbie said, “He was looking around for you.”

  “You think so?”

  Gabbie nodded.

  The number of people in attendance was much smaller than the meetings back home. Everything was run much the same, though, with the hymns sung in German, the prayers, and then Gabbie’s father delivered a sermon. There were only about twenty people who stayed through the afternoon for the nightly singing. Gabbie had gone home with her parents, but since Andrew was taking Amy home, she had to wait until he was ready.

  Andrew stood beside her at the drinks table when the last of the singing was over.

  “How did you enjoy our gathering?”

  “I enjoyed it very much.”

  “Are you ready to go?”

  She was on her first date. “Jah.”

  He walked her to his buggy and once they were away from the Shrocks’ haus, Amy’s heart pounded. It was awkward with him not knowing why she’d come. How was it that he didn’t know? She should’ve asked John or Jane why he hadn’t been told, but she didn’t want to be disrespectful. From how her father had spoken, Andrew had requested help in finding a wife.

  Chapter 6

  “I like this time of year,” Andrew said above the horse’s gentle clip-clop sounds on the road.

  “You do? I don’t like the cold.”

  “I think there’s something nice about it being cold outside when you’re warm and snug inside.”

  “It’s not horrible to be cold.”

  He chuckled. “Jah it is. What are your plans while you’re here?”

  She had to think fast; she couldn’t tell him she’d been planted there for him. “I hope to help Jane in the haus and maybe help make a nice garden. Although it’s not the season to plant.”

  “You like gardens?”

  “I love flowers. I like growing vegetables too. There’s something satisfying about seeing things grow.”

  He laughed as he drove. “I’m taking you up here a little way. There’s a place where we can see the town lights.” Andrew pulled the buggy off to the side of the road. “It’s a short distance up here.”

  Amy got out of the buggy and looked up into the dark night sky. The moon was luminous and seemed larger than it did at home.

  “The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” he said when he joined her.

  “It’s huge.”

  Andrew turned his face toward the sky once more. “It doesn’t normally look as big. Must be a full moon tonight, or nearing a full moon.”

  He walked on, and Amy walked beside him trying to keep up with his long strides. A few more steps and the lights of the nearby town lit up the darkness.

  “See?” he said.

  “Ach, that’s very pretty.”

  “I thought you’d like it. I could show you around the town. John and Jane mightn’t have the time, and I don’t think they let Gabbie go too far.”

  “Jah, I’d like to have a look around.”

  “I’m busy tomorrow and the next day. How about Wednesday afternoon?”

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  “There are many things to see.”

  Amy trembled and pulled her coat tighter around her waist.

  “Cold?”

  Amy nodded.

  “Best we get back into the buggy and get you warm.”

  Disappointed their time together would be so short, Amy walked back to the buggy with Andrew.

  As they traveled back to John’s house, Andrew told Amy about the history of the town. Once they arrived, Andrew stopped the buggy and said, “I had a nice time with you, Amy. There’s something calming about being around you.”

  Amy smiled. “I had a good time too.”

  He lowered his voice. “I’m looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday.”

  “I should check that it’s okay with Jane.” Amy remembered she was to help Jane in exchange for board.

  “I’ll call in on Tuesday night after dinner to make sure it’s all right.”

  Amy smiled. “Okay.”

  As she stepped down from the buggy, Andrew said, “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  He joined her outside the buggy and they walked up to the house. The front door swung open and John stood in front of them. “Don’t mind me. I heard a noise and didn’t know it was you two. Come in.”

  “I won’t stay. I’m just delivering Amy home.”

  John nodded as Amy walked through the doorway. “Denke, Andrew.”

  “Bye, Amy.”

  “Goodnight, Andrew.”

  Seeing no one in the living room, Amy walked upstairs to her bedroom all the while listening to the muffled conversation of John and Andrew.

  Once she’d closed the door, she leaned against it until she heard Andrew’s buggy leaving. She was half expecting Gabbie to burst through the door any minute to find out how she’d gotten along with Andrew. Changing into her nightgown, she knew she had to put Andrew out of her mind. It would be hard, and she wouldn’t see him for two whole days.

  When she was lying beneath the covers in the slowly warming bed, her thoughts drifted again to Andrew. He was older than the husbands and boyfriends of her friends, but none of that mattered anymore. Tingles of satisfaction spiraled through her body knowing she was to see him on Wednesday. Tonight had been the best night of her life.

  * * *

  The next morning, Amy was determined to help Jane as much as she could. She sprang out of bed at first light and went into the kitchen. Jane was already cooking breakfast and John sat at the kitchen table. “I’m sorry, I wanted to wake earlier.”

  “We rise early here,” John said.

  Jane pointed to the table. “Sit and I’ll get you some breakfast.”

  “Nee, let me do something,” Amy said.

  “You can
help me later today. Sit and I’ll fix you some eggs. You can help me make breakfast for the boys when they wake.”

  “Okay.” Amy sat opposite John.

  “How do you like it here so far?” John took a mouthful of coffee.

  “I like it very much.” What she meant was she liked Andrew very much — and what she’d seen of the town so far was all right.

  “I’m glad you like it. And Andrew?”

  “John, don’t put Amy under so much pressure. You told her vadder you wouldn’t.”

  Amy’s eyebrows rose at Jane’s comment. She didn’t think her vadder would’ve considered such a thing important. Now that they had raised the subject of Andrew it was a good time to voice her concern. “It surprised me that Andrew doesn’t know why I’m here.”

  John looked away from her then stared into his mug of coffee. After a moment, he looked up at her. “Andrew’s a complex person. He wouldn’t like this. That’s why we didn’t say anything when he came here for dinner.”

  Amy twisted her lips. “I understand that but who decided I should come here? I was told there was a mann looking for a fraa. I thought he was the one who wanted me here.” Couldn’t anyone see how awkward she felt?

  “He’s alone, and he needs a fraa,” Jane placed a mug of coffee in front of Amy.

  “Denke, Jane.” Amy placed her hands around the mug and looked across at Bishop John hoping for answers.

  “It’s a difficult situation, but that’s the way things are.” John looked again into his coffee.

  “I feel like I’m keeping a secret from him and that makes me tense. I guess … I am keeping a secret from him.”

  Jane cleared her throat. “He would not have done this for himself, Amy. He’s been too long by himself to know what’s good for him.”

  Amy was now in a difficult position and she hoped both Jane and Bishop John knew how awkward she felt about this. It wasn’t fair that she was now forced into a position of keeping their secret. Would Andrew be upset when he found out this had all been arranged behind his back?

  When Bishop John left, Jane went back to cooking the eggs and Amy drank her coffee.

  When the younger boys had gone to school and Bishop John had left for work, taking Joseph with him, both Amy and Gabbie gave the house a thorough cleaning.

  When their work was done, Amy went to her room and wrote to her friends. Firstly, she wrote to Claire, who was newly married to Donovan, the Englischer. Claire’s marriage to Donovan was partly what had spurred Amy’s father to send her away. Amy figured she could just as easily meet an Englischer where she was right now, but her father seemed convinced otherwise.

  Amy pulled a chair near the window, so she could write and look out over the land at the same time. After her letter to Claire, she didn’t want to write much anymore, so she addressed an envelope to Olive but wrote one letter to her and Jessie and Lucy, so the three of them could all read it together at the coffee shop. In her letters, she told her friends about the family she was staying with and how different it was there, but she did not tell them about Andrew. That kind of thing couldn’t be explained so easily in a letter. Lastly, she finished with a letter to her parents.

  Gabbie burst into her room as she was sealing the envelopes. “Do you want to do some quilting?”

  “Jah, I’d like that. I haven’t done any for a while.”

  “Mamm’s helping me make a quilt. You can help me, too.” Gabbie giggled.

  Amy stood and placed her envelopes on the top of the dresser where she would see them and remember to post them. She followed Gabbie downstairs and into the sunroom. Cut pieces of fabric lay on the small table near two couches. When Amy sat down next to Jane, she looked out the two large windows, which looked over the Miller’s land and across to the forest.

  “Have you done much quilting, Amy?” Jane asked.

  “Mamm and I used to do a lot, but we haven’t done any lately.”

  Jane loosely tacked the fabric pieces together.

  “I do cross-stitch mostly and embroidery,” Amy said. “I brought some with me so I could do it on the train, but I didn’t get to it.”

  “Why ever not?” Jane asked.

  Amy smiled. “I didn’t feel like it. All I did was look out the window trying not to be sick.”

  Gabbie giggled. “You were train-sick?”

  “I think so.” More like homesick.

  Chapter 7

  For two whole days, Amy had looked forward to seeing Andrew again and he’d said he’d stop by Tuesday evening. It was after dinner when Gabbie and Amy were busy cleaning the kitchen that Amy heard Andrew’s voice coming from the living room.

  “Andrew’s here,” she said to Gabbie.

  “Go then; I’ll finish this.”

  “Denke.” Amy wiped her hands on a cloth, straightened her prayer kapp and licked her lips before she walked into the living room.

  “Ah, here she is. Hello, Amy. I told you it would be all right,” Andrew said, smiling.

  “I wanted to be certain,” Amy said.

  “You’re not a prisoner here, Amy, you can come and go as you please. You’re a guest,” John said.

  Jane stood up. “I’ll make some hot tea. Amy made an apple pie today.” Jane winked at Amy as she walked past. All Amy had done was wash and peel the apples.

  “Sit with us, Amy,” John said.

  As Amy sat on the couch, she was relieved to see Gabbie come out of the kitchen and walk toward them.

  “The boys are quiet again,” Andrew said.

  Gabbie sat down with them. “They’re playing in Joseph’s room before bedtime, and that’ll be very soon.”

  John chuckled. “That’s why they’re quiet. They know if they’re too noisy they’ll be sent to bed earlier.”

  “Would you like to have your own kinner, Onkel Andrew?” Gabbie asked.

  Amy frowned at her, but Gabbie had her eyes fixed on Andrew.

  Jane returning with a tray of tea was the perfect interruption. “Gabbie, go fetch the milk, please.”

  Amy wriggled in her seat. “Can I do anything, Jane?”

  “Nee, that’s all that's lacking.”

  Gabbie scowled and took her time leaving the room, but was back in no time with the milk, placing it on the coffee table.

  Once everyone had a cup of tea in hand, Amy was pleased Gabbie’s question to Andrew had been forgotten about.

  When Andrew finished his tea, he slapped his hands on his knees. “I won’t hold you up. I only came to ask about stealing Amy away tomorrow.” Andrew stood. “Would you show me out, Amy?”

  Amy noticed everyone’s smiling faces as she rose to her feet. “Jah, of course.”

  “Take your time, Amy. Gabbie and I will clean up here.”

  “Denke.” She walked with him to the door. When he opened it, a cold draft swept through the house.

  He quickly closed it and they remained in the house, but still, they were far enough away from prying ears “Don’t come out with me; it’s too cold. I wanted to see you alone to tell you I enjoyed our time on Sunday night.”

  “I did too.”

  He seemed relieved when she said so. “I’ve not been able to think of much else. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

  Amy smiled and nodded. “Me too.” Arrghh, think of something to say rather than keep on agreeing with him, Amy chided herself.

  They stared into each other’s eyes for a second before he opened the door fully and left her gazing after him. Her body flooded with a strange sense of calm as she closed the door, knowing she’d met the man she was going to marry.

  “Gut nacht,” Amy called to everyone before she hurried up the stairs. Rather than talk with the others, she wanted to savor the moment by herself.

  Everyone bidding her a good night echoed around her head as she climbed the stairs. Amy changed into her nightdress and flew under the covers, snuggling into her pillow. She replayed every word he'd said from the moment he’d entered the house. After all these years without a
beau, who would’ve known love could be so easy?

  The next morning, Amy worked hard doing the chores, so she wouldn’t feel guilty about spending the whole afternoon with Andrew. It was right on one o’clock when Amy heard Andrew’s buggy outside the house. She hurried upstairs and gathered up her letters.

  She swung her coat over her shoulders as she heard Jane call, “Amy, Andrew’s here.”

  “I’m coming.” Amy walked downstairs trying to steady her rapid breathing and when she got to the bottom there stood Andrew with his hands on his hips. “Hello.” She nervously held up her letters. “Can we stop somewhere to mail these?”

  “Jah, we’ll go to the post office.”

  Once they were a little way from the house, he said, “I forgot to tell you not to eat much today.”

  She giggled. “I haven’t had much.”

  “That’s gut. I’d like to take you to a little restaurant I know. Actually, it’s not so small.” He chuckled. “I go there often. After that, I’ll show you around, and we can mail those along the way.”

  “Sounds good.”

  * * *

  As the buggy traveled down the roads, which were not dissimilar to the ones at home, Andrew talked about the climate of Augusta and what it was like in every season. Amy tried to look interested when all the while she was admiring his large hands and strong legs.

  “Give me the letters,” he said, as he stopped the buggy unexpectedly.

  Amy handed the letters to him, he got out and she watched him drop the letters in a box, just two stores up. When he jumped back into the buggy, he rubbed his hands together before he picked up the reins. “It’s chilly out there. Not far to go now.”

  A little way up the road, Andrew parked the buggy behind the restaurant and covered his horse with a blanket. “Quick let’s get inside. We’ll try to get a seat near the fire.”

  The tables close to the fire were taken, so they sat opposite each other in a booth in one corner. Andrew handed Amy one of the menus already on the table. “They have an all-day breakfast here. They also have delicious muffins and we must take a dozen away with us.”

  Amy giggled at his excitement over the muffins. “Okay.”