The Amish Deacon's Daughter

by Samantha Price

  Martha knew from the tone in his voice he thought her too nosey. Why wouldn’t she be inquisitive regarding her best friend in the world?

  “Saturday’s only two days away, which is enough time for me to arrange my bedroom comfortably to fit the two of us.” Moving to the comfortable chair by the window, she wondered why her father wasn’t anxious to marry her off. Amy had been nearly twenty when she’d been sent away, and Martha had just turned nineteen. Maybe they were content that at least they’d tried to marry Amy off, or maybe Mamm secretly wanted them all to live at home forever.

  Martha rubbed her neck in frustration. She had not even been on a buggy ride with a boy.

  As her father quietly read his Bible, Martha’s thoughts drifted to Gabbie. The only reason that she could think of for Gabbie being sent there was to keep her away from Joseph. In her letters, Gabbie had confided she was in love with Joseph, but he was marrying Ilsa. Was Gabbie’s father trying to keep her away from trouble? Martha was sure that was the reason, and her father probably knew it too by the way he avoided eye contact.

  “Are you doing a Bible reading with me?” Her father’s voice cut through her thoughts.

  “Err, yeah.” Martha rose to her feet and opened the nearby drawer of a bureau where her Bible lay. She opened the large, black leather book and looked at the page on which it had fallen open. Her Bible always opened to her favorite Psalm.

  Martha enjoyed the quiet times she had with her father since Amy spent most of her time sulking in her room. Her mother always went to bed after the after-dinner clean up, leaving the girls with their father, and Martha was always the last of the girls to head to bed.

  An hour later, Martha yawned and was ready for sleep. She closed her Bible. “Denke for letting Gabbie stay here, Dat.”

  Looking up, he gave a smile and a quick nod. “You’re off to bed?”

  “Jah,”

  “Gut nacht, Martha.”

  “Gut nacht, Dat.”

  As Martha climbed the stairs to her bedroom, she thought about what Amy had told her about the Millers' house. It was larger than their house but sparse and open. The weather was much colder and the community much smaller than theirs at Lancaster County. Amy longed to go back and be with Andrew, but Martha knew she could never move so far away, no matter how much in love she was with a man.

  On Saturday night, Martha and her father traveled in the taxi to meet Gabbie at the train station. As soon as Gabbie saw Martha, she ran toward her and wrapped her arms around her.

  “Hello, Mr. Yoder.” Gabbie tipped her head after she finished hugging Martha.

  “Nice to meet you, Gabbie.” He looked down at her suitcase. “Is this all you brought with you?”

  “That’s it.”

  Mr. Miller picked up her suitcase. “The taxis are this way.”

  Martha and Gabbie smiled at each other. “You look just the way I imagined you,” Gabbie said.

  “You too.” Both girls giggled. “Dat’s moved a bed into my room for you,” Martha said.

  “Wunderbaar. Denke, Mr. Yoder.”

  Martha noticed an amused smile on her father’s face. It was hard not to smile when Gabbie was around; she was full of enthusiasm.

  “Are you weary, Gabbie?” Mr. Yoder asked.

  Gabbie’s hazel eyes sparkled. “Nee, I slept nearly all the way. I’ve got plenty of energy.”

  Gabbie hoped her stay in Lancaster wasn’t going to be too boring ... boring like the Yoder girls. She did like Martha, from her letters, even though she might be too goody-goody. That’s what Amy was like.

  Throughout dinner the first night, Gabbie stayed bright and happy on the outside, but on the inside, she was seething at having been sent away from Joseph. Her father had to know she was in love with Joseph and instead of helping her get him, he had sent her miles away — a day’s journey. She would never be so awful to her children if she ever had any. And, thanks to her father, she probably wouldn’t because Joseph was the only man for her.

  She did her best to look on the bright side. While I’m here, I could meet a man who’ll take my mind off Joseph. Another man would be the best thing I can hope for, and it would serve Mamm and Dat right if I marry a man from Lancaster County and never return.

  * * *

  After dinner with Gabbie, it was all Amy could do to wait until she got to her room before she cried. Gabbie reminded her of her stay in Augusta and that reminded her of Andrew. Secretly, she’d hoped Gabbie would deliver a message to her from Andrew, or a letter, but there was no word from him. He didn’t even ask Gabbie to say hello to her. It seemed he’d forgotten her completely.

  She would’ve heard if he’d gotten married. Why had their correspondence ceased? She couldn’t start writing now that she’d stopped, and anyway, he should be the one to chase her.

  Chapter 15

  “I’m so glad you’re here, Gabbie.” Martha sat cross-legged on one of the two beds in her room. She slowly unbraided her hair as she spoke.

  Gabbie lay on the other, on her tummy and with her feet in the air. “Me too.”

  “I’ve been asking you to come for ages. What made your vadder suddenly decide to let you?”

  “It’s because of Joseph. Dat found out I like him, and that’s why I’m here. He wanted me out of the way.”

  Martha drew a brush through her long hair. “I thought it might be something like that.”

  Gabbie rolled onto her back and huffed. “I don’t know what to do, Martha. I’m so in love with him that it hurts.”

  “I’ve never been in love.”

  “If Joseph marries Ilsa, he’ll be lost to me forever. I’ll be forced to marry someone boring, someone I don’t love at all.”

  Martha licked her lips trying to think of a comforting thing to say. “Things will happen how they’re meant to. You could meet someone else, someone you’ll love even more than Joseph.”

  Gabbie sat bolt upright. “What if Gott is punishing me?”

  Martha gave a giggle and then glanced at Gabbie’s face to see she was serious. “Nee, I don’t think Gott would punish you. What for? Have you done something terrible?”

  “I don’t think so. Not something terrible, just the usual stuff.” Gabbie tore her prayer kapp off.

  Martha frowned and wondered what she meant by, ‘the usual stuff.’ She placed her brush down on the bed and sectioned her hair ready to braid. “Gott forgives, He doesn’t punish.”

  “Do you want me to plait your hair?”

  “Okay.” Martha turned around and placed her feet on the floor, sitting at the side of the bed while Gabbie came to kneel behind her.

  “I love fixing hair. I wish I could’ve had just one schweschder.”

  “You’ve got me.” Martha giggled.

  “Hold still.” Gabbie yanked on Martha’s hair.

  “Ow.”

  “If you move I won’t be able to do it properly.”

  “I only want it braided so it doesn’t tangle during the night. It doesn’t have to be perfect,” Martha said.

  “Dat says if you’re going to do something, do it the best you can.”

  Martha could tell from Gabbie’s dominating and bossy manner she was the eldest child. Even though they were the same age, Gabbie was bossy toward her.

  “Tell me about this boy who’s coming to dinner next week.”

  Martha drew her eyebrows together. “You’ve heard about him?”

  “Your mudder told me there’s a new boy in town, and he’s coming to dinner next week.”

  Martha rolled her eyes. “He’s come here from Ohio because his onkel broke his arm – no, I think it was his leg or something. Anyway, he's helping him on the farm.”

  “You’ve met him?”

  “Nee, not yet. We’ll most likely see him at the meeting tomorrow if you’re not too tired to go.”

  Gabbie scoffed. “That’s never an option where I come from. We always go even if we’re sick. Anyway, I slept most of the way today. I might not sleep at all tonight
.”

  When the lights went out, Martha kept talking, but after a short while the responses stopped and all Martha could hear was Gabbie’s deep breathing. She’d fallen asleep before Martha.

  Sunday-meeting mornings were always hectic, as Martha’s parents tried to get everyone out of the house for the early morning meetings. Other mornings were more organized because Amy was up early and in charge. The girls were all old enough to get themselves ready on a Sunday while Amy rested.

  “Let’s go, Gabbie. You’ve got to wake up now if we’re to get there on time.”

  Gabbie opened one eye and then the other. It seemed the long trip from her home was catching up with her.

  Martha continued to stare into Gabbie’s face. “Everyone’s downstairs already.”

  Gabbie sat up in bed and stretched her arms over her head. “Brush my hair for me?”

  Without wasting time, Martha took Gabbie's brush and drew it through Gabbie’s long hair. After a few strokes, she said, “There,” and handed Gabbie the brush.

  “I’m so tired. Do I have to go?”

  Martha scoffed. “You said that you always have to go at home, even when you’re sick. And jah, you do have to go. There’ll be a lot of people who want to meet you.” Besides that, she’d already told her father that Gabbie had said she’d go.

  Gabbie huffed and changed into her dress. “At least braid my hair? I’m way too tired.”

  Martha had finished dressing, so she didn’t mind helping Gabbie. “We won’t have time to eat at this rate. That is if there’s anything left by the time we get downstairs.”

  Gabbie remained silent.

  Once Martha had braided and pinned Gabbie’s hair, she popped her prayer kapp on top of her head. “There, finished.”

  “Let’s go,” Gabbie said and pulled on Martha’s arm. They walked arm in arm down the stairs.

  Martha’s younger sisters were making a ruckus in the kitchen.

  “I never knew girls could make so much noise,” Gabbie said.

  “They’d never get away with it if Dat were in the haus. He must be out hitching the buggy.”

  Amy walked in and hushed her sisters, and they immediately fell quiet.

  “Where’s Mamm?” Martha asked Amy.

  “She’s not come down yet.”

  Martha pulled a face. “I’ll go up and see if she’s okay.”

  “Why wouldn’t she be? Has she been sick?” Gabbie asked.

  Martha nodded but didn’t want to say too much in front of the girls. “You eat, I’ll run up and see her.”

  As she rounded the corner of her mother’s doorway, she saw her mother lying in bed with Micah playing on the floor beside her. “Mamm, are you sick?”

  “I just feel a little tired. Can you take Micah for me today? He's had breakfast already. I’ll feel better if I have a gut rest.”

  “Of course, Mamm. Do you want anything before I go?”

  “Your vadder’s already made me a cup of tea.”

  “Come on, Micah.” Martha put her arms out and he jumped into them. She carried the heavy toddler down the stairs.

  “She’s not well?” Gabbie asked when she saw Micah in Martha’s arms.

  Martha shook her head. “She’s staying here, and we’re taking Micah.”

  “I could stay and look after her,” Gabbie suggested.

  Amy shook her head. “Nee. She’ll be okay. She’ll just sleep while we’re gone.”

  “Here, you eat, Martha, and I’ll take him.” Gabbie clapped her hands and then reached toward Micah. He giggled and leaned toward her.

  But Martha had no time to eat anything, as her father already had the buggy at the front of the house. “Time to go.” Mr. Yoder strode through the haus clapping his hands as he did every meeting-Sunday morning to hurry the girls into the buggy. The younger girls ran ahead with Amy following, leaving Gabbie, Micah and Martha the last ones.

  Rose ran back into the house. “Dat, what’s wrong with Mamm?”

  “She’s sick again. I’ll have Martha take her to see about that tonic later in the week.”

  “Okay, Dat,” Martha said.

  The gathering was held at the Zooks' house, a thirty-minute buggy ride away. The younger girls hurried out of the buggy excited to see the Zook girls who were around the same ages.

  “Do you want me to carry Micah, Gabbie? He gets quite heavy,” Martha said.

  “Nee, he’s okay for a while.”

  When they were seated, Gabbie whispered to Martha, “Are there always this many people, or are there visitors from another community?”

  “Nee, it’s always this size.”

  “It’s three times as many people as we have.”

  “I know, Amy’s told me all about it.” Martha’s eyes were drawn to a man who walked through the door. He was one of the tallest men at the gathering; his dark wavy hair fell just above his shoulders and from the distance she was to him, his eyes were dark. “That must be the new mann there now.” Both girls looked at the young man. “I’ve never seen him before.” Martha studied him.

  “He’s handsome,” Gabbie whispered behind a cupped hand.

  Martha gave a quick nod with her eyes still fixed on him. He walked with purpose and confidence, walking forward to shake her father’s hand and then the hand of the bishop.

  “I’m glad I came when I did,” Gabbie said.

  Frowning, Martha couldn’t help but be annoyed. Gabbie was already in love with someone else or said she was. How quickly she had forgotten Joseph.

  “Don’t you think he’s handsome, Martha? Look how fine and tall he is. I’d say his voice will be deep and smooth.”

  “I guess he’s all right.”

  Micah squirmed out of Gabbie’s lap and climbed into Martha’s arms.

  “So, you don’t like him?” Gabbie asked.

  Martha knew Gabbie was asking hoping Martha didn’t like him, that way Gabbie would have a green light. “I don’t know him. I haven’t met him yet.”

  “Gut. Then you won’t mind if I get to know him, will you?”

  The first halfway decent stranger to visit in ages, and now Gabbie was going to get in first? “What about Joseph?”

  “He’s marrying someone else.” The annoyance in Gabbie’s voice was clear.

  Martha let out the breath she’d been holding onto. “He’s coming over for dinner this week, so I guess we’ll both get to meet him then.”

  A smile spread across Gabbie’s face. “I must ask your mudder what day he’s coming and I’ll cook the entire meal.”

  “I do that,” Martha said while making signs with a finger over her lips telling Micah to stop squealing.

  “You and Amy can have a rest, and I will cook.” Gabbie put her hands together and rubbed them briskly.

  Before Michael sat down, his eyes swept across the women’s side of the room.

  Gabbie dug Martha in the ribs. “Did you see him look at me?”

  Martha pressed her lips together. “He looked this way, that’s all.”

  “You don’t think he stopped and gave me an extra look? I mean, didn’t his eyes linger when he saw me?”

  Unable to speak, Martha shook her head.

  Gabbie whispered, “He was looking over at the women, so that means he’s looking for a fraa.”

  “That’s understandable at his age. I wonder why he hasn’t married.”

  “You think there’s something wrong with him, Martha?”

  Martha put her finger up to her lips again, this time to shush Gabbie. If her father found out she’d been whispering, she would never hear the end of it, not for weeks. Now that Martha was older she, just like Amy, had the pressure of being a good example to her younger sisters and the rest of the community. Being a deacon’s daughter wasn’t easy sometimes.

  Rather than the bishop speaking, Martha’s father delivered the sermon. Martha loved to hear her father preach God’s word. Thankfully, Micah had gone to sleep in her arms.

  When the service was over, one of th
e older ladies minded Micah and the other little ones so Martha and Gabbie could help the ladies with the meal afterward.

  “Your mudder’s not having another boppli, is she?” Gabbie asked Martha when they carried bowls of food to the trestle tables.

  Martha’s jaw dropped. “What? Have you heard something?”

  Gabbie laughed. “Would that be so terrible?”

  “She’s old, so jah. I think it would be. She’s been feeling so poorly, and she only had Micah a little over a year ago.”

  “Girls, I’d like you both to meet Michael Glick,” the bishop said as he caught Martha’s eye.

  The girls had been so busy talking they hadn't noticed the bishop approach with the 'new man in town.'

  Gabbie gave a giggle. “Hello, Michael.”

  The bishop said, “This is Gabbie and this is Martha.”

  Michael tipped his head. “Pleased to meet you both.”

  “Martha’s the deacon’s second-oldest dochder, and Gabbie’s vadder is Bishop John in Augusta.”

  “I liked your father’s sermon, Martha.”

  Martha smiled. “Denke. I did too.”

  “Does your family live close by?”

  All Martha could do was nod.

  “I’m from Augusta,” Gabbie said as she stepped forward.

  “You’re a long way from home,” Michael said.

  “I’ve just arrived, and I’m to stay awhile. I’m staying with Martha and her familye. That gives us something in common. We’re both new to the community.”

  The bishop put his hand on Michael’s shoulder. “I’ll introduce you to some others.”

  The girls watched Michael walk away.

  “Why didn’t you speak to him, Martha?”

  “I did.”

  “He’ll surely think you find him uninteresting. Is that it, is that why you didn’t speak?”

  “I think he’s fine, but I didn’t have a chance to say much.” Truth was, she couldn’t find words other than to say hello and answer his questions. “He was talking to you and then he had to go with the bishop.”

  “We had a real connection. Could you feel it too; did you see the look in his eyes when he spoke to me?” Gabbie clasped her hands to her chest in a dramatic fashion.