by Jessica Loft
He stroked his chin, deep in thought. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, nervous with anticipation. He’d probably say she should obey her parents.
“I appreciate you telling me this. And I agree that a grown woman should make her own choices, but wouldn’t you want to honor your parents?”
“Normally, yes. But in this case, I believe they’re wrong. I don’t think you’re half as bad as they think you are.”
“I have talked with the police once or twice. They’re not wrong about that.”
“But you’ve told me what sorts of things you do. I don’t believe you’re doing anything wrong, and I think they’re unfairly judging you. Isn’t it ungodly to blindly honor my parents when I so clearly see them sinning in judging you? God is not guiding me away from you. I need to hear from God for myself, not through them.”
“Lying is also sinful.”
“Yes, and I don’t plan to lie to them again. I’ll tell them the truth, whether they agree or not.”
“So long as you’re not lying about seeing me, I’d like to keep seeing you. I feel it’s fair to tell you that I greatly enjoy your company, as well. We do have differing faiths, and that would become a factor at some point, but we can get to know each other and decide what to do about that when we need to.”
“Really?”
“I don’t walk every girl I meet to her car every day, you know.” He smiled at her, and her face flushed.
“And I don’t let just anyone walk me to my car.”
That night, her parents were out on a date night. She hadn’t told them yet about her decision, but she would soon enough. She sat in bed reading, wondering what Samuel was up to. He’d said he was going out with his brothers, but what did they do when they went out?
A flash of movement by her window caught her attention and she set her book down. She got up and went to the window, then jumped back in shock when Samuel’s face appeared. He laughed as she opened the window.
“Sorry to startle you. I saw you sitting there and thought this would be easier than going to the door.”
She chuckled back. “What are you doing?”
“Will you come out with me tonight? I have the buggy for the night.”
“Right now?” She looked down at her sweatpants and baggy t-shirt. “Can I have a minute to change?”
“Of course. Come out front when you’re ready. Take your time.”
She did not take her time. She closed the curtains, ripped off her frumpy clothes, and pulled on the first cute thing she came across. After dusting some power on her face, she bolted out the door, leaving a note that simply said she was going out. She’d explain more later.
Chapter 6
The buggy ride was a strange experience. She’d seen them on the road, of course, but had never been inside one. It wasn’t as bumpy as she expected, though it wasn’t a very smooth ride, either. It was loud. The sound of the horses clopping along the road was rhythmic and soothing, but made conversation difficult. She wasn’t ready, either, for the strange looks people gave them. Or the nasty hand gestures when a speedy driver felt they were in the way.
They pulled up to an ice cream shop, deep in his part of town. Several other buggies sat along the edge of the parking lot, and she saw many people in the Amish dress.
He bought her ice cream, and they walked along a short path behind the building, talking and enjoying their cones. She was always amazed at how easy it was to be with him. They talked mostly about spiritual matters. They held similar views on most things, though he never argued with her when he didn’t agree. He didn’t get mad or upset. He’d look at her thoughtfully and take his time answering. And he always had a way of validating her, even when he then said something that made her feel like the worst Christian in the world.
His faith seemed even stronger than hers, but she liked that, too. He made her want to be closer to God and become a better person. And that, that fact right there, was the thing her dad had said was the most important thing to find in a spouse. Be with someone who will make you want to be closer to God because they are.
“I had an idea,” he said as they climbed back into the buggy, “but if you don’t want to, that’s quite all right.”
“Okay. What?”
“Would you like to meet my brothers?”
“I’d love to!” But then she thought of how it’d gone when he met her family. “Are they okay with this whole thing, us being together?”
“They are.”
He drove them to his large farm and took her hand to help her down from the buggy.
She’d been there before, but only long enough for him to get into her car. She hadn’t looked much then, but now she took in the view. The white wooden fence ran on until it was out of sight. The air was filled with the sounds of moos and neighs and animals moving. A field was plowed, probably ready for the fall planting. Several other buildings, probably barns of some sort, sat several hundred feet from the house.
A cluster of four young men, all dressed like Samuel with clean shaven chins, stood by the barn doors. They saw them pull in and had made their way to them.
“Sammy!” One of them slapped his shoulder. “We finally get to meet the lovely Katherine?”
“You do,” Samuel said, and introduced her to Jacob, Jeremiah, Dan, and Paul. “What have you been up to tonight?”
“We were just going to go for a walk, but then David came running over to find us,” Jacob said.
Jeremiah said, “Remember that problem he was having last month? It’s happening again and it’s worse.”
Samuel leaned over to Katherine and said, “He’s seen a married man talking to his unmarried daughter on a number of occasions and his intentions are less than honorable from what the daughter says.”
Katherine kept her voice low. “That sort of thing happens in an Amish community?”
“We’re human, too. We sin and make mistakes and sometimes lust inappropriately.”
“We already talked to the guy,” Jacob said. “And he hasn’t stopped. It looks like we need to take more serious action.”
Katherine grinned. “This is going to be fun.”
“Are you sure?” Samuel asked. “I can take you home, or we can let them go on without us. I wouldn’t want to involve you in something questionable.”
“It’ll be fun to have a girl come along,” Jacob said. He laughed and slapped Samuel on the shoulder again. “Loosen up a bit, Sammy.”
“I think you’d do better to tighten a bit, Jake,” Dan, the oldest, said.
Jacob’s smile faded. “Do we have a plan?”
“We’ll confront him again,” Paul said. “And make sure he knows it’s his last warning.”
“Let’s roll,” Jacob said with a grin.
She expected them to hop into a buggy, but instead, they went to the barn and saddled up several horses.
“Have you ridden before?” Samuel asked her.
“Just once, years ago.”
“Would you prefer to ride with me or have your own horse?”
“With you, if that’s okay.” She thought of how close they’d be. The idea made her warm all over, but she didn’t know if that sort of thing would be allowed here.
They started to mount the horses, and Dan helped Katherine get into place behind Samuel. She put her arms around his waist and they all rode off.
Chapter 7
The horses ran at a gallop, their hooves kicking dirt into the hot summer air. Katherine didn’t want to think about how close she was to Samuel and how it made her feel. She wished they could hug and be this close all the time. She treasured every second and when the horses slowed and Jeremiah hopped down, she was disappointed.
Once again, Dan took Katherine’s hand to help her. She slid down, landing hard on the ground, and Samuel jumped down beside her.
“Are you kidding me?” Jacob said. “Look!”
He pointed to a horse tied to a post.
“It’s definitely not David’s,” Pa
ul said.
“Is this David’s house?” Katherine whispered to Samuel.
He nodded. “We were going to talk to his daughter first, but it looks like maybe Matthew is here. And he shouldn’t be.”
“Matthew is the married guy?”
He nodded again.
“Jeremiah, come with me to the back door,” Paul said. “In case he tries to run.”
Jacob rubbed his hands together. “I can’t believe this!”
Dan put a hand on his shoulder. “We’re only here to talk.”
Jacob nodded.
They approached the front door of the small farmhouse. Dan walked a few feet down the porch and peaked in a window. Then he ran to the door and threw it open.
Katherine didn’t know what was going on, but she was following the men as they rushed into the house.
“Take your hands off her!” Samuel shouted.
Katherine saw a young woman, crouched down in the corner, looking frightened. The brothers struggled with Matthew as he tried to break free and run for it. Paul and Jeremiah came in and went to help them.
Matthew seemed to calm a bit, and stopped fighting. He stood, panting, while each arm was held tight.
“I saw what you were doing,” Dan said.
Matthew shook his head fervently. “It’s not what it seems!”
“Go find David,” Dan said to Paul and Jeremiah.
They took off at a run.
“No!” Matthew said. “Please.” He started struggling again. This time he fought harder since there were only three men holding him instead of five.
Dan broke away from them to go to the woman in the corner. He bent over to talk to her. Katherine couldn’t hear what was being said, but she seemed upset. She stepped a few feet closer, wanting instinctively to help in some way.
Matthew tore his arm loose of Jacob’s grasp. Samuel still held tight to his other arm, but now that he had a hand free, Matthew pushed against Samuel, trying to escape. Katherine dashed over, helping Jacob grab hold of his flailing arm.
Jacob whispered in Katherine’s ear, “Cut off his beard.”
“What?” She wasn’t sure she heard correctly.
“There’s a knife on the table,” he said. “Grab it and cut off his beard.”
She turned and saw the knife. Jacob pulled Matthew’s arm straight, keeping him stiller than he’d been. She reached out and took hold of his beard, then swiftly swiped the knife across it.
“Katherine, no!” Samuel shouted, but it was too late.
She stood with the knife in one hand and Matthew’s beard in the other.
The room fell into silence. Matthew didn’t move. He stared at her, eyes wild with disbelief. He no longer struggled. Samuel, Dan, and the woman stared at her, wide eyed. Jacob glared at Matthew with the tiniest hint of a smirk on his mouth.
“You deserve the shame for what you’ve done,” Jacob said.
“Come on,” Samuel said. “Get him out of here.”
Matthew didn’t resist as Samuel and Jacob led him from the house. The woman sat on the couch and watched them go.
Dan came to her and took the knife from her hand. “Did Jacob tell you to do that?”
Katherine nodded.
He gently took the hunk of beard from her hand and wrapped it carefully in a handkerchief.
“Was that…” She swallowed hard. “Was that kind of a big deal?”
He looked at her solemnly and said, “Yes. He should not have told you to do that. It’s not something honorable people do.”
“Oh.” She dropped her head and wanted to cry. But it was just a beard. What was the big deal? And Jacob had told her to. She never thought one of Samuel’s brother’s would have her do something she shouldn’t. She’d trusted them all.
“You didn’t know,” Dan said, his hand resting briefly on her shoulder. “Jake is the one at fault here, not you. You’re unfamiliar with our ways.”
She nodded, but tears tripped down her face.
Paul and Jeremiah entered the house with a man she assumed was David. He ran to his daughter and talked with her.
“What’s done is done,” Dan said. Then to Paul, “There’s little more we can do. Has David talked to him?”
“Yes,” Paul said.
Dan gestured for her to follow him out. They walked a few feet to where Matthew sat on the ground, his forehead in his hands. Samuel and Jacob stood by his side, no longer holding him.
“We’re done here,” Dan said.
They mounted their horses. Katherine slid into place beside Samuel and leaned forward to whisper to him, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He turned his head and said, “I know.”
Was he mad at her? Would this be the end of them spending time together? Her stomach twisted with uncertainty and regret. But, like Dan said, it was done. She couldn’t take it back. Instead, she prayed and hoped God and Samuel would forgive her.
Chapter 8
They stopped at Samuel’s house to get the buggy, and he took her home. They didn’t talk much. When they arrived, her parents had not returned yet. He helped her down from the buggy and walked her to the door.
“Samuel, I am so sorry. I didn’t—”
“Katherine.”
She stopped and looked at him, at the pained expression on his face. Her heart raced. She didn’t want to lose him, and not like this.
He stepped forward and took her hands in his. She was shocked at the sudden touch.
“I am ashamed of the way my brother behaved tonight. I am ashamed of myself for putting you in such a situation and letting you see that. I have acted very dishonorably toward you tonight. You have no reason to apologize to me, but I will ask for your forgiveness.”
“I forgive you, absolutely. You didn’t make me go, I wanted to. And you didn’t make me do what I did. I liked seeing you in action, defending that woman. I find that very honorable.”
“Perhaps.”
“Definitely.” She squeezed his hands. “I’m sorry for what I did. I hope it doesn’t affect Matthew too much.”
“He needs to understand there are consequences for his actions.”
“Samuel… I think I like you even more after tonight.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “You sure about that?”
She grinned. “Yes.” She did something daring then. It seemed to be the night for that. She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. Just for a quick moment.
His cheeks turned pink and he smiled. “I guess that’s pretty sure.”
“So, I’ll see you again?”
“A whole lot, I hope.” He leaned forward, returning her fast kiss, then hopped into his buggy and drove away.
Chapter 9
A knock at her door woke her. “Katherine?” her father said. “Are you awake?”
“Yeah.” She rubbed her eyes and sat up, smiling at the thought of Samuel and their night together.
“Can you come out here, please?”
She slid out of bed and trudged to the living room, where her parents sat with a man. It took her a moment to realize who it was, but when she saw the short beard, she knew immediately.
“Katherine, this is Matthew Byler. I believe you met him last night?” her father said.
Her mother sat on the couch beside her father, wringing her hands.
“Yes, sort of,” Katherine admitted.
“He’s accusing you of a very serious crime.”
“Crime? I know it wasn’t a nice thing to do, but I didn’t commit a crime.”
Matthew cleared his throat. “Actually, the cutting of one’s beard is considered a hate crime and carries a sentence of jail time, should it be taken to court.”
“What?” Katherine’s body went numb. Jail? What in the world was he talking about? All she did was cut a little hair.
“Have a seat,” her father said.
She sat hard in the closest chair.
“You want to tell us what happened?” her father asked.
She
blinked for a moment, then spoke. “I went out with Samuel last night and someone came to their house to get them. We went to David’s and found Matthew there, and I’m not sure what he was doing exactly, but they were all very upset. Something about Matthew being a married man and he was alone in the house with an unmarried woman and he maybe was touching her or something. I just remember Samuel telling him to take his hands off her. Matthew tried to run, but Samuel and his brothers had him and then Jacob told me to cut off his beard. I didn’t know it was a big deal or anything. I mean, for the English, it’s just a haircut. Men shave every day.”
Her father nodded and was quiet for a moment. “Samuel. Do you see why I told you not to spend time with him? Look at the trouble he’s gotten you into. You could be facing charges. You could go to jail for this, Katherine. Because of Samuel.”
“No, he had nothing to do with it!” Tears sprung to her eyes. “Jacob was the one who told me to, and Samuel felt really bad about the whole thing. I didn’t know it was bad, but isn’t being caught in a house with an unmarried woman bad, too? I mean, the whole reason we were there was because of what you did, Matthew. You know that.”
“I do,” he said. “And that’s the main reason I’ve decided not press charges. I came here today to forgive you and to ask you to forgive me in return.”
“Oh, but then….” She glared at her father.
“You need to understand the consequences of your actions and the people you’re spending time with,” her father said. “Had Matthew not decided to act godly, you would be getting arrested today.”
“Thank you, Matthew,” she muttered. “I forgive you.”
“I did not mean to cause you any further harm, Katherine. Your father asked what had happened and I explained. I did not hold myself unaccountable.”
“No, you did not,” her father agreed. “You very clearly acknowledged your part, and I appreciate that. It’s a very Christian thing to do.”
