David stared at the man in the fancy Englisch suit. He expected to experience at least a little bit of trepidation, but somehow Gott had given him complete peace and confidence. “Jah. About this super store you want to build. Does it bring in a lot of money?”
The man smiled. “More than you can count, son.”
“Will it still bring in a lot of money if our Amish district is gone?”
The man shrugged. “A decent amount, I’d say.”
“What if no Amish shopped at this store at all?”
The man’s eyes widened. “What are you saying?”
“If you insist on taking our land, our bishop will speak with the other bishops, not just in Lancaster County, but in other areas too. We will shun your store and take our shopping to other more honorable places. Most Amish have pretty large families and they need many supplies. Some even have thirteen or fourteen children or more. I do not think your store—or the other stores your company owns—can afford to lose our business, ain’t so?”
The man frowned. “Your bishop would do this?”
“He would.” David stood tall, feeling every bit of it.
“But I thought the Amish don’t fight back.” The man ran a hand through his hair and mumbled. “This was supposed to be an easy takeover.”
“Gott has given us the land we own and He is the one Who fights for us.”
The man held up his hand. He picked up his telephone and touched it a couple of times. “Yeah, Connor? Did you run those sales numbers for me? Yes. And what were the numbers per capita? Per race? Are the Amish included in that number? And what’s the percentage? Okay, thank you. That’s all I needed to know.”
The man ended the call with a grimace. “Well, it looks like I need to call a meeting.” He stood up and reached for David’s hand to shake. “Well done, son. You’re one of the best negotiators I’ve ever seen. Would you like a job with my company?”
David shook his head. “Nee, denki. I cannot take the credit. It was Der Herr—Gott—Who put these words in my mouth.”
“You may tell your bishop he can destroy those papers. We’ll be building elsewhere.” The man sighed.
“I saw a nice piece of land that just went up for sale. It might be suitable for your big store.” David smiled.
“I’m quite sure our surveyors have combed every inch of this county.”
“I will draw you a map. It is just over the county line. Still close enough for Amish to shop.” He grinned.
The man handed him a yellow lined notebook and fancy pen. David wrote out a map, then presented it to the man.
“I don’t know if this will work, but I’ll definitely have Connor check it out.” The man smiled for the first time. “Are you sure you can’t use a job?”
“Jah, I am sure. I am plenty busy tending to my father’s sheep.”
“Sheep, huh?” The man scratched the back of his head. “I can’t believe I’m being turned down for a flock of sheep.” He chuckled. “Oh, well. Can’t win ’em all. Good luck with your sheep then.”
David squeezed his eyes closed after leaving the fancy office building. He probably thanked Der Herr a hundred times on the ride back to his community. He smiled all the way home. He couldn’t wait to share his wonderful news with the bishop. Der Herr had done it. He had given them a miracle.
~
The minute he returned home, before his driver had even exited the Kings’ driveway, David began saddling his horse.
His father walked into the barn. “Sohn, you are back.”
“Jah.” David grinned. He felt he would burst if he didn’t share his news with Bishop Saul right away.
“Leaving so soon?”
“Ach, jah. I have to go talk to the bishop.”
“How did your meeting go?”
“Wunderbaar! I’ll tell you all about it as soon as I get back. I told the bishop I’d come by first thing.” He stuck a boot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle. “I won’t be long. Tell Mamm I should be home in time for supper.”
Several moments later, David slipped off Warrior’s back and quickly wrapped his reins around the hitching post in front of Bishop Saul’s barn.
Jonathan met him as he marched toward the Kauffmans’ back door. “How did it go?” Jon smiled.
Surely he could tell what the news would be just by looking at David.
“Kumm, you need to hear what I have to say to your vatter.” David said no more.
Jon opened the back door and walked in before David. “Dat, Dave King’s here to see you.”
“Kumm in sohn, have a seat.” The bishop set his Bible down.
David and Jon both took a seat in matching hickory rockers adorned with thick blue cushions. The bishop’s fraa immediately came in and sat down as well, speaking a few words to her dochders, who were still in the kitchen. David’s knee bounced a mile a minute in anticipation of sharing his gut news.
“I’m guessing you have spoken with the Englsich man?” Saul address David.
“Jah, I did. It went sehr gut!”
The bishop nodded for David to continue his story.
“Ach, he changed his mind. He said you and the others can burn the papers he sent.”
Bishop Saul leaned forward and his eyes widened.
Michaela and her sister walked in, offering each person a mug of coffee and some popcorn.
“Denki,” David smiled. Did he notice a blush on Michaela’s cheeks? His gaze trailed her every step as she left the room.
The bishop cleared his throat and frowned at David. “The Englischer?” he reminded.
David didn’t doubt his cheeks were flaming red at the moment too. He shouldn’t have allowed the bishop’s dochder to distract his thoughts. Especially not in front of her vatter. “Ach, jah.”
“Why did he say this? What did you tell him?” Saul sounded like he wouldn’t be satisfied until he heard every last detail.
So, David shared the entire conversation.
“You told him the Amish would not shop at his stores?” Was that amazement or disappointment he saw in the bishop’s eyes? He couldn’t be sure.
David rubbed the back of his neck, but forced himself to meet the bishop’s gaze. “That is okay, ain’t not?”
“That’s….” The bishop sighed. “Well, whatever was said was said. The important thing is that he changed his mind.”
“You are not upset that I said that?”
Bishop Saul shook his head. “I think you overestimate my authority as bishop, sohn. Even if I were to make a suggestion such as that, it would not be part of any Ordnung. The people are free to shop where they choose, so long as it is not owned by someone in the Bann.”
“I did not know what I would say beforehand. I prayed and asked Der Herr to put words in my mouth.”
Saul grinned. “Well, it appears He has. He knew exactly what it would take to get the owner to change his mind.”
“Would you like to stay for supper, David?” The bishop’s fraa smiled.
“Ach, nee. I told Mamm I’d be home in time for supper. I guess I should be going now.” He stood up.
“I will speak with the others and let them know,” Bishop Saul informed him.
David nodded. “Denki for the coffee and snack.”
He lifted his hat off the rack and plopped it on his head. He snuck a quick wink at Michaela before heading out the door.
SIX
Jon leaned over and whispered in David’s ear as they sat on the long wooden benches before the Sunday meeting started. “I talked to Dat. He is agreeable to you dating mei schweschder.”
David’s brow shot up. “He is?”
“For sure and certain.” He patted David’s back and grinned. “No doubt your success with the Englisch business man helped him make up his mind. Everyone seems to be talking about that today.”
David frowned. He didn’t want his victory with the Englisch man to be the motivating factor behind the bishop’s approval. Especially since he refused to take credit fo
r it. It was Der Herr Who had won for them. But he admitted that he was pleased that the bishop had agreed to let him court Michaela, the reason notwithstanding.
David glanced to where the single young women sat in the first couple rows. Michaela caught his eye and smiled. Heat spread up his neck and warmed his ears and he quickly looked away.
He covertly glanced at her again without her noticing. She was pretty cute, he acknowledged. He swallowed and whispered to his friend. “Should I ask her to ride home with me after the singing tonight?”
“I’m sure she’d like that.”
“Are you going to talk to Nehemiah about his sister?”
Jon’s grin widened. “Already did. If she is agreeable to it, Katie Rose and I will be riding home together tonight.”
“Aren’t you—” David’s curiosity was halted by the beginning of the service. He and Jon would have plenty of time to talk afterwards during the common meal.
He was certain he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the minister’s words.
Once again, he peeked over at Michaela while she sang the words of the Lob Lied with the rest of the congregation. He never really took notice of her before—or any girl, for that matter—but now that he might actually begin a friendship with her, he realized how beautiful she was. He was rather fortunate to have the bishop’s daughter take an interest in him, he acknowledged.
If he was to get hitched to someone, what better catch was there than their leader’s dochder? Perhaps this was Der Herr’s will for his life.
He caught Michaela’s eye and grinned. She smiled back and his heart leaped in his chest. Jah, he would look forward to the singing tonight. He didn’t know what Gott had in store, but he was certain he could trust Him.
SEVEN
David’s hands trembled as he approached the barn door where Michaela stood looking out at the young folks playing volleyball. The sun was descending quickly and the game would end soon. The young folks would all be gathering in the barn to sing and enjoy snacks and fellowship.
He hadn’t expected to be this nervous. Goodness, it wasn’t like he didn’t eat supper with Michaela’s family three nights a week. He willed himself to keep calm.
“Who’s winning?” he asked, sidling next to her.
She turned at his question and tucked her lower lip between her teeth. “Mei bruder’s team.”
“Gut.” David swallowed. “I…uh…I talked to Jon.” So much for keeping calm.
Michaela stared at him and laughed. “It is my thinking that you talk with my bruder every day yet.”
“Jah, you’re right.” He tugged on his ear. Perhaps he should try the direct approach. Ach, did his hands have to shake like this? “Would you like to ride home with me?”
Her cheeks darkened in the lantern light. “I would like that.”
“Are you ready now?”
“Oh. Now?”
“I’d hoped to get an early start. I have quite a drive planned.” He hoped she’d like his surprise. Was it too much for a first date? What if she discovered that she didn’t really like him?
She shrugged. “Jah, I reckon so. That sounds gut.”
“You can finish your snack while I hitch up the buggy. I’ll meet you by the driveway, jah?”
“Sure.”
Several moments later, he stopped the buggy and Michaela quickly hopped in on the opposite side.
Jon came near on his way into the barn. “Leaving already?” He grinned at David.
David rubbed the back of his neck and dipped his head. “Jah.”
“You two have a gut time.” Jon winked at his younger sister, as though they shared a secret. He waved goodbye.
David hadn’t told Jon where they were going. Nobody was even aware of the place, as far as David knew. He jostled the reins to set the horse in motion.
“Where are we going?” Michaela eyed him with curiosity.
“It’s a secret.” He tossed her a sly smile and winked.
“I like secrets.”
She moved closer to him on the bench. Not that there was all that much room in the first place. It seemed most courting buggies he was familiar with all had pretty narrow bench seats. On purpose. Enough for two and maybe a little one on the lap.
Ach, this was all so strange. To be thinking of courtship and marriage and little ones. Jah, he was growing up for sure. Not a boppli anymore like his brothers thought him to be. What would they think if they knew he was courting a maedel? The bishop’s dochder, no less.
David turned to her. “Tell me about yourself.”
“You want to hear about me?”
“Jah, sure. Why wouldn’t I?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It just seems that Dat…” She shook her head. “Well, never mind about him.”
“I’d like to know. You can open up to me. I’m a pretty gut secret keeper.” He kept one eye on the pretty girl beside him and one on the road. Although he was quite certain he could drive this road blindfolded.
“For sure?”
He nodded.
Her voice softened. “Well, Dat doesn’t usually let us kinner talk much, except Jonathan. You know, seen and not heard.”
“I am not your vatter. You may speak to me whenever you please. I like to hear your voice.” He briefly touched her hand, igniting an explosion of sparks. Had she felt it too?
“You do?”
“Jah. I’ve heard you singing. Der Herr has gifted you.”
She beamed. “Ach, do you think so?”
He loved hearing the excitement in her voice. “Wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it.”
She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek. Right out in the open. In broad daylight. Okay, maybe it wasn’t broad daylight but it was still light enough for folks to see if they happened by.
David opened up his mouth to speak, but he was speechless. No sound would be coaxed out.
Michaela giggled. “I think I’ve thoroughly stunned you.”
David nodded silently and she laughed again.
He cleared his throat, a smile playing at his lips. “What’s it like being the bishop’s dochder?”
“Ach, I don’t know. I suppose it’s like being anyone else’s dochder.”
“It is not different, yet?”
“How so?”
“Do you feel he is more strict than other vatters?”
“Perhaps. But he is the only vatter I have had.”
David rubbed his chin. “I see.”
“What about you?”
He shrugged. “The baby of the family.”
“So, does that mean you’re spoiled?”
“More like left out of everything.” He thought of his brothers’ words he’d heard all too often. You’re too young. You stay home. Hopefully, his meeting with the Englischer would garner respect with his brothers. It would be wunderbaar if they stopped treating him like a boppli. He was a man now.
“Did you miss out on a lot?”
“I’d thought so at the time. How many times did I have to stay home from the auction and watch my brothers get to go with my vatter?”
“Between you and me, I think auctions are overrated.” She winked, sending a rush of heat up his neck and straight to his ears. Surely Michaela must be a forward kind of maedel. How many boys had she gone riding with?
What were they talking about again? Oh yeah, auctions. “Well, for a little boy, they were exciting. And there was always gut food there.”
“You’re right about that.” She grinned. “What’s your favorite thing to eat?”
“Ach, just about anything, I reckon. I’m not too picky when it comes to food. I just like to eat.”
“Well, that’s good to know. Makes it easy on a young fraa.” Now her cheeks flamed pink, as though realizing the implications of her words.
“Your vatter has said the same thing.” He nodded and pretended not to notice the enhanced color on her face. “Ach, we’re almost here.”
“Your folks’ place?”
> “Jah.” He maneuvered the rig into the driveway.
She frowned.
“We’re not going inside. There’s something I want to show you.” He brought the buggy up to the hitching post near the barn, then jumped off the seat. He quickly tethered Warrior, the buggy horse he and Dat had picked out at the auction, while Michaela dismounted and met him near the barn.
He reached for her hand. “Kumm.”
He led her to the barn and lit a lantern. She followed close behind until he came to one of the stalls. Fluffy, his favorite ewe, came frolicking over as if seeing David was the best thing in the world. The others took note and crowded near the gate as well.
He kneeled down and beckoned Michaela to do the same.
“Maa…” Fluffy called.
David petted her head and softly groomed her wool with his fingers. He grasped Michaela’s hand and placed it on Fluffy’s back.
Michaela giggled. “Ach, she’s so soft. And cute.”
David beamed. “Isn’t she? Don’t tell the others, but Fluffy’s my favorite,” he whispered the words as though speaking them loudly would offend the other sheep.
“I raised this flock. Do you like them?”
She smiled. “Jah.”
“Gut. Because I plan on having a large flock someday. If that’s Gott’s will. Sheep are my favorite animals.”
He rose and took her hand again, then led her out of the barn.
“Where are we going?”
“Shh…it’s a secret and we don’t want my vatter to come out.” He turned to her. “Are you up for a walk?”
She nodded, looking as if she’d follow him anywhere. That was a gut quality to have in a fraa.
“Watch your step.” He led the way down a small ravine, over a creek, up a hill, through a wooded area, until they came upon his desired destination.
“What was that noise?” She grasped hold of his arm.
“Ach, maybe a coyote. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.” He told her about the time he’d rescued Fluffy from a rattlesnake, but somehow he didn’t think that brought any comfort.
“Oh, my!” She stood in the middle of the meadow staring up at the heavens, mesmerized by God’s glory. “David!” It sounded as though she could barely catch her breath.
An Amish Betrayal Page 3
