Lavina was making no effort to hide her tears. “He’s a very precious boy to us.”
“And he’s a precious man to me,” Katie assured Lavina.
“Mamm, stop saying such things,” Ben interrupted. “Someone will hear you.”
Everyone laughed as Ben’s parents moved on.
Bishop Miller and his frau were next in line. They must have heard what had been said because the bishop stuck his hand out to Ben. “It’s gut to hear parents praising their children. And in this case, I must say it’s well deserved. I’m glad to have all of you getting along so well.”
“Thank you,” Ben told him.
“You’re too kind, I think,” Katie said as she shook his hand and then Laura’s. “Thank you for marrying us, Bishop Miller.”
“It was a great honor,” Bishop Miller said. “A great honor indeed. And I have a request for you, Katie, since you’re the schoolteacher again this year. Could you get everyone together from last term and repeat that “last day of school” program? I know some people who would love to see it.”
“I’m not sure,” Katie replied. “The children may have forgotten by now, and the eighth graders aren’t in school any longer.”
Bishop Miller leaned closer. “It’s for the minister’s meeting we’re having around Thanksgiving. Could you have it ready by then? Surely, Katie, the children know it well enough. Even if it’s only half as gut as it was the first time, I’d be happy.”
Katie tried to collect herself. “You want us to give the program for the ministers?”
Bishop Miller’s eyes twinkled. “And for their wives so you wouldn’t just be looking at long beards, shall we say? Think about it, Katie. It would be quite gut for everyone. This would put in a nice word for the progress of our school—educating our children in the ways of the forefathers.”
Ben interrupted, taking Katie’s hand. “Of course we’ll get the program ready. Katie, I’ll come up after work and help you prepare. And maybe Carolyn can stop by during school hours. She was also involved in planning it.”
“That will be wunderbah!” Bishop Miller was all smiles. “And I’m glad to hear that there’s been no more trouble from the people who were after you, Ben. We’ve been praying all summer for your safety. Maybe things have blown over by now?”
“I sure hope so,” Ben said, adding quickly, “Since I didn’t testify, they’ve sort of cooled off, it seems.”
“Da Hah be praised!” Bishop Miller said. “And the best of wishes to your married life together. May it be all Da Hah desires.”
“Amen!” Ben agreed as the bishop and Laura moved on.
“Do you know what you’ve just committed us to with that school program?” Katie whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
“It’s an honor to do it for the bishop, and you’re my frau. You have to obey!”
“Ben Stoll! You’re a rascal!” Katie whispered back with a giggle.
“That’s why you love me.”
She made a face at him, and Ben laughed, turning to shake hands with the next person in line. His Aunt Rosemary and her husband lingered for a long time, wishing them well and telling them stories of the earlier years of their marriage—about their misunderstandings over cooking and child training. They apparently expected Ben and Katie to have some of the same experiences.
It might happen, Katie thought, but at the moment all that paled to what they’d been through already. And Bishop Miller had been correct with his surmising about the further trouble Ben might have been in since the trial. She also had prayed much this summer, but Ben was sure both he and the community were out of danger. And there had been nothing to indicate Ben was wrong. Indeed, Da Hah had been with them, and He surely would continue to be there offering His aid.
“Thanks for the advice.” Katie smiled as Ben’s aunt and uncle turned to leave.
“You’ll make it, so don’t worry,” Rosemary assured her. “I can see you’re quite in love with each other.”
“That we are,” Ben said.
Katie turned to face the next people in line.
“Margaret and Sharon!” she gushed, “Thank you for coming!” Katie hugged both of them. Ben looked nervous for once as he shook their hands.
“We wouldn’t have missed your wedding for the world,” Margaret offered for both of the women.
“It was such a solemn ceremony this morning,” Sharon said. “It almost brought tears to my eyes.”
“And you’re obviously so in love,” Margaret cooed. “I can see it in your eyes. And he’s handsome too. How did you catch him, Katie?”
“She chased me down with her buggy,” Ben offered.
Both Margaret and Susan laughed.
“He’s witty too,” Katie said. “He’ll keep me entertained through the easy times and the hard times.”
“I’m sure he will, so be sure to take good care of him,” Margaret said. Then the two girls moved on, giving a quick wave over their shoulders before blending into the crowd.
“You pick such decent friends,” Ben said.
“You’re just trying to build up your own stock because I married you,” Katie shot back. “But they are wunderbah.”
Ben turned to shake hands with Jesse and Mamm. “You have a great daughter, Jesse. Thank you for allowing me to marry her.”
“It’s an honor, Ben,” Jesse said, giving Ben a firm handshake. “And the best to you and yours. Take care of Katie now.”
Mamm hugged Katie close and tears began to fall. “Oh, Katie, I’m going to miss you so very, very much. The house will seem empty and cold.”
“Now, Mamm,” Katie comforted her. “Time moves on, and it won’t be that bad. You still have four children at home. We’ll visit often…”
“You do that!” Mamm wiped away her tears and shook hands with Ben. “I wish both of you the best. And you’re getting a very gut frau.”
“I know,” Ben said. “The absolute best. And don’t worry. I’ll see to it that she makes it home often.”
Jesse and Mamm moved on. Behind them Mabel appeared with Norman following her. Behind the two of them were Enos and his frau. Katie really had no desire to see Norman or Enos, but one had to be charitable, especially on one’s wedding day. And Enos was now decent to her whenever she had dealings with him as the head of the school board.
Mabel shook hands with Ben, and turned to give Katie a hug. “You looked so gorgeous today. You’re a wunderbah sister, and I love you so much!”
“And I love you, Mabel,” Katie said, their hug lingering. “Thanks for all the help you were with the wedding. Mamm and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Mabel patted her rounded stomach. “You exaggerate as usual, Katie—at least when it comes to me. But I’m glad I could help before I got too big.”
“Is the baby doing okay?” Katie whispered.
Mabel glowed and nodded.
Katie turned her attention to Norman, who was chatting with Ben. He looked quite nervous, but he managed to smile as he shook her hand. “Katie, I think I need to apologize about something.”
Katie waited. She couldn’t remember Norman doing anything against her lately, but apologizing would be a gut exercise for him—whether it was needed or not.
Norman hung his head. “About our wedding…or at our wedding, I should say. I shouldn’t have objected to you being Mabel’s bridesmaid. It was mean of me. And I hope you can forgive me.”
“Oh!” Katie searched for the best words to say. “That was a long time ago, but yah, of course I forgive you.”
“Thank you.” Norman looked appropriately humble as he moved on. Mabel took his hand as they disappeared into the crowd.
Katie looked back to face the equally nervous Enos Kuntz. He extended his hand, and Katie shook it. Enos seemed to search for what to say. “It’s a gut day for you, Katie. And I’m glad things turned out okay. And, yah, we appreciate your teaching. Abram’s doing quite well.”
“He’s improving every week,” Katie said. �
��And I suppose everything turned out for the best.”
Enos muttered something and moved on. His frau shook hands with Katie, not saying anything. She was a quiet woman and always had been, Katie thought. She must be or she’d have given Enos Kuntz a piece of her mind a long time ago.
“They’re nice people,” Ben whispered in her ear.
Katie pinched his leg. “Stop it. This is a serious moment.”
He looked away to keep from laughing.
Katie felt she would soon do the same herself if Ben didn’t stop teasing. So much happiness was rising up inside her she thought she might burst.
The line finally came to an end, and people left for home. Bishop Miller came to push the pole barn doors shut as the couple walked outside. Willis had Longstreet hitched to Ben’s buggy waiting in the front yard.
“You didn’t have to stay around so late,” Katie protested even as she smiled.
“It’s with my pleasure and best wishes,” Willis said, slapping Longstreet’s neck in delight.
Ben gave Katie a hand to help her into the buggy, and they took off. He drove slowly out of the lane, holding the lines gently. Once on the road, he bent his head sideways to kiss Katie, and his hat fell to the floor. Katie giggled, picked it up, and threw it behind the seat.
“I have to see to drive,” he muttered, as she kept pulling his head toward her.
She let go, but snuggled up to him as Ben drove faster. The moon now hung high in the sky, the hour close to midnight. Katie didn’t care—even if they had to get up early tomorrow morning to help clean the pole barn at Bishop Miller’s. This was a day she wanted to remember for the rest of her life. There would never be another man in her life other than Ben. How could there be?
Ben pulled into their driveway, and Katie helped him unhitch. She waited by the buggy until he returned from putting Longstreet in the barn. Together they walked toward the house, hand in hand. Someone had been here and left a kerosene lamp burning on the living room desk. The warm light crept through the window, welcoming them home as Ben opened the front door.
Discussion Questions
1. Should Katie have been more cautious in her acceptance of the offer from the chairman of the school board—Enos Kuntz—to become the new schoolteacher?
2. How well do you think Katie handled Ruth Troyer’s unexpected visit to the schoolhouse?
3. Should Katie have accepted Norman Kuntz’s attentions when he asked to drive her home from the hymn singing?
4. Should Ben have testified against his former comrades-in-crime? Why or why not?
5. Was Katie wise when she agreed to accompany Willis to the hospital for a visit with Ben?
6. Do you think Mabel was in love with Norman when she interfered with his relationship with Katie? What other motives might she have had?
7. When Norman came to the schoolhouse, should Katie have promised never to see Ben again?
8. When does Katie really understand that she still loves Ben, and that Da Hah will restore their love?
9. Would Katie have forgiven Norman for his explosion of anger, if he’d asked? Would it have made a difference in their relationship?
10. How well does Katie do with her struggle to accept Norman as family once it becomes apparent that Mabel intends to marry him?
11. Should Ben have agreed to testify against the shooter? What do you think of the community’s request that he refrain?
12. What do you think of the ministry’s request that Ben separate from the community?
13. What did you discover about restoring broken relationships and healing wounds?
14. What do you think the main theme of Katie’s Forever Promise is? Why?
About Jerry Eicher
Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 500,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, Hannah’s Heart series, The Fields of Home series, Little Valley series, and stand-alone novels. His nonfiction includes My Amish Childhood and The Amish Family Cookbook (with his wife, Tina). After a traditional Amish childhood that included living in Honduras, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies.
If you enjoyed the Emma Raber’s Daughter series,
watch for Jerry’s new series:
The Beiler Sisters
Book 1: Holding a Tender Heart
coming January 2014.
About the Publisher
To read sample chapters of Jerry’s other books, log on to our website:
www.HarvestHousePublishers.com
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
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Katie's Forever Promise Page 29
