“I will see you later this week,” he promised with a gentle smile.
“Ya, that will be good,” Annie said smiling back at him.
As he rode slowly home, Mark thought about his growing relationship with Annie. He had fallen in love with her – her gentleness, ability to accept what life threw at her and her ability to live the Plain life. As he drifted into a daydream, his horse walked slowly toward the farm, knowing the route well.
At the farm, Mark roused, realizing he was stopped in front of his parents’ farm. Flicking the reins once, he directed the horse toward the barn, where he unhitched him from the buggy and brushed him down. Mark’s thoughts continued as he imagined a life with Annie as his wife. He saw her in his kitchen, with blonde hair and large brown eyes. He saw them with several sons and daughters. Smiling, he realized the images felt right. He walked into the house with a jaunty step.
“Well, son, you look happy,” Hannah said.
“Ya, mamm, I am. I watched Annie at lunch today. She spoke with the Kurtz children, and I heard her tell them that she’s forgiven Barbara and their mother. She gave their father the names and numbers of therapists who could help them. It was so hard for Sarah to talk to her, but I think she sensed that Annie only wants to help them. Ben and Joseph were . . . polite to Annie. When I was driving home after our visit, I imagined us married . . . with children. Mamm, I’m going to talk to her about marriage. It’s too late for this year’s wedding season, so if we plan to be married at next year’s wedding season, I know we will be ready,” Mark said with a wide smile.
“Gut! She is a strong woman, Mark. I saw that after Barbara struck her and broke her leg. You will do well, marrying her,” Hannah said.
***
Two days later, Mark drove the buggy to Annie’s parents’ house, where they sat under the large oak tree once again. Annie had stretched to pluck a flower, holding it and gently stroking its petals with her forefinger as they talked.
“Annie, I was thinking the other night after I took you inside. We have been courting now for several months. I . . . I am falling in love with you. I would like to talk about marriage with you – of course, I need to talk to your parents first, but I want to let you know what I have been thinking,” Mark said.
Annie’s finger stilled on the flower’s petals as she looked at Mark. Her mind went back to the imaginings she had stored in her heart – marrying Mark and becoming the mother of his children – seeing several brown-haired, brown-eyed children sitting around the dinner table after a long day’s work – growing older with him.
She smiled. “I like that, Mark. It feels . . . right . . . when I think about spending the rest of my life with you. I know it won’t always be easy.” Here, she gestured at the cast still encasing her healing leg. “We will have hard times. But, as I have spent time with you and gotten to know you, I have gotten to know a man who is strong in faith and who is comfortable in the Plain life.”
The couple thirstily drank from their glasses of lemonade and munched on the cookies that Mark had accepted from Mary. “I have a successful business building furniture and cabinets, Annie. I am getting calls from new customers every month – they tell each other about my work, and new customers call me to ask me to build things for them, so we will have enough money to make a living. You are becoming a teacher this coming autumn, and we can talk later about you continuing to teach after we get married. If you would like to do so, this is fine with me,” Mark said as he gazed into Annie’s gentle eyes.
“Ya, I would like to continue teaching. I don’t want to make us rich, Mark. I just want to help us set aside enough funds so that, if we have an emergency, we can handle it,” Annie said. As she looked at him, she had to make herself resist the impulse to scoot near him and cuddle into his side. It wouldn’t be appropriate, and if they were seen from the adjacent road by other Amish, they would be in trouble.
Mark reached over and plucked a flower of his own. Playing with it, he forced himself to keep from touching Annie. Even touching her face would be frowned upon, and he didn’t want to do anything that would precipitate a visit from the stern-faced ministers of Peace Landing.
“Have you been making progress on your plans to teach next autumn?” he asked.
“Ya, I have. Mamm and I have been working on lesson ideas for each student. She has been telling me how each student has been progressing, even Ben, Sarah and Joseph Kurtz,” Annie said with a smile of anticipation.
“Gut,” said Mark. “That gives you time to adjust to your new role – as well as plan our wedding for next year.” Looking at Annie, he saw her head shoot up.
“Next year! Ach! Between beginning as a new teacher and planning our wedding, I don’t have much time!”
Mark chuckled. “It’s good we talked now, then. I will get permission from your daed, then. In one year, we will marry.”
THE END.
BOOK 2 – SIMPLE AMISH PLEASURES
A new school year. A new teacher. A hidden danger.
Newly minted Amish teacher, Annie Fisher is ready to start a new school year in Peace Landing. Having been baptized over the summer, Annie is excited to begin her life as an Amish woman. And when the Wedding season arrives, she and Mark will be married.
But there is a hidden danger that threatens everything Annie wants, everything she's worked for, and everything she loves. Can Annie face it, and if she does, will it destroy her?
CHAPTER ONE
“Mamm, what else do you want to have with the meat for dinner tonight? I was thinking of, maybe, broccoli and roast potatoes. What do you think?” asked Annie Fisher.
“Those sound good. Will you work on them while I . . . Oh, before I forget, have you gotten things ready for your first day as a teacher? Does the school board have everything they need so you can start on the first day?” asked Annie’s mother.
“I’ll start them . . . and yes, I got everything in. I asked them for a list of what I needed and spent a few days this summer getting them ready. I turned them in to the board two weeks ago,” said Annie with a happy grin.
“Good! I’ll make a pineapple upside down cake. On this hot summer’s day, that will be a wonderful dessert.”
“Yes, thank you!”
“Are you and Mark seeing each other tonight? “asked Mary.
“I believe so,” Annie said as she washed and peeled small, red potatoes. She had already put fresh broccoli into a bowl to clean and soak. “He told me that he would come by after dinner this evening, as long as he finished his day’s work.”
Annie had been baptized into the Peace Landing community earlier that summer, rising to the status of full membership. Her time away from the Amish community had taught her that she was meant to live within the Amish faith. While her rumspringe had given her the space she needed to learn about the outside life, she had realized that she was supposed to live the Plain life.
After she had returned home, Mark Stoltzfus had approached her parents, asking for permission to begin seeing her. They agreed to his request, leading to Mark and Annie beginning to court under adult supervision.
***
That Sunday, Annie and her parents went to a neighbor’s house for that Sunday’s church meeting. After the service ended, she sat with her parents as she waited for her turn to eat the community lunch – the older church members were moving down the food-laden tables, taking their selections and filling their plates with rolls, salads, sandwich meats and homemade desserts.
“Mamm, are you going to miss going to the school house every day during the school year?” asked Annie.
“Yes . . . and no. I will miss seeing the excitement of my students’ faces as they realize they’ve learned something new, but I won’t miss the planning and preparation – or the grading. I am ready to retire!” said Mary with a hearty laugh.
“I will share that excitement with you, through my stories. Do you have any suggestions for making preparation easier?” Annie asked.
“Just one �
� Always stay on top of your planning. Keep all your grading and marking current. It will still be a lot of work, but much more manageable if you don’t let it get ahead of you,” said Mary sagely.
“Denki! Yes, Hannah? What is it?” Annie turned to speak to her former school mate, missing the expression of apprehension that filled her mother’s face.
“I should have gotten the Peace Landing teacher’s job. I’m more qualified than you are,” Hannah said rudely.
Jenny King, one of Annie’s closest friends in the Peace Landing community, overheard Hannah’s rude remarks and asked her father to get Jacob, Hannah’s twin brother. She edged closer, ready to help defend Annie.
Less than a minute later, Jacob ran over, panting.
“Hannah, Annie approached the school board about replacing her mother when she found out that Mrs. Fisher was going to retire. The school board members checked Annie’s qualifications out and decided she’s the best candidate for the position. For you to come up and demand that she give her position to you is wrong,” said Jacob.
“But, I can teach just as well as she can! I have a teaching certificate! Why should I have to sit to the side yet again while she takes over? How was I to know that her mother would choose this year to stop teaching?” Hannah asked in an angry and audible outburst.
Mr. Kopp, the leader of the Peace Landing school board, hurried up, apologizing to Annie and Mrs. Fisher for Hannah’s outburst.
“Let me take care of Miss Lapp. Miss Fisher, expect to report for your first day of teaching in the next two weeks.” After he finished speaking to Annie, he crooked his finger sternly at Hannah Lapp and beckoned her to join him at an empty picnic table.
“Miss Lapp, may I remind you that all teaching candidates must go through me and the other members of the board to be considered for a position. Miss Fisher approached us early last spring with all of her paperwork. She qualifies, we hired her and she has given us all of her paperwork. She begins teaching in two weeks,” he said.
By now, Hannah had begun sobbing angrily.
“Mr. Kopp, I was not aware that Mrs. Fisher was ready to stop teaching and step down! I had heard nothing!”
“Miss Lapp, how often do you come from the farm to visit Peace Landing?” he asked.
“My daed and mamm forbid me to come to town for anything other than church services. When I come into town, it is only with my father or with Jacob,” Hannah said sullenly as she wiped the tears from her face.
“I can see how this makes it hard for you to come into town very often, especially if your father and brother are busy with farming and planting.”
Hannah, hearing this, thought she might have found an opening for being able to come to town without her father or brother escorting her.
“Mr. Kopp, I would like to be able to come to town without one of them escorting me, if only to hear the news and find out about job openings for which I qualify,” she said quietly and rather deviously.
Mr. Kopp looked at Hannah with doubt clear in his eyes. He was well aware of Hannah’s reputation for restlessness and trouble-making.
“Miss Lapp, I can’t influence your parents. They make the rules in your house as they see fit. If they believe you need an escort, I must – and I will – respect that,” he said, refusing to budge on his decision for the new direction of the Peace Landing School.
“But . . . if I can come to town more often, I’ll find out what I need to know so I can find a job,” she said quickly.
“Miss Lapp. Take that up with your parents, not with me,” said Mr. Kopp firmly. Seeing how upset Hannah was that she hadn’t known about the Peace Landing opening, he relented somewhat. “Miss Lapp, there is a teaching opening in Hope Township. Their teacher will be leaving after this Christmas. If your father or brother will escort you to Hope Township, you can talk to Mr. Yoder. he’s the school board president for the school there.”
Hannah practically ignored the news about the other school’s opening in her desire to teach in Peace Landing.
“But . . . I want to . . .” She stopped her plaintive protest, sighed and said, “I’ll see if my father or brother will take me to Hope Township so I can ask about that position.”
“Good. They need a qualified teacher there, just as we have one here. I am sure you will be considered as a serious candidate, Miss Lapp. Please remember – Miss Fisher came to talk to us as soon as her mother told her that she was stepping down. Her mother knows how qualified she is to teach. We feel she is qualified to each. Hope Township is only three miles away,” said Mr. Kopp firmly.
Annie sat with her friends, Ruth Beiler and Jenny. Listening to the quiet exchange between Hannah and Mr. Kopp, she began growing increasingly concerned. She remembered Hannah’s habits from school – the other girl liked getting her own way in all matters, regardless of her father’s wishes and influence. She startled as she felt a large hand on her shoulder.
“Miss Fisher, I am so sorry for what Hannah has tried to do to you! Please wait while I speak with Mr. Kopp,” said Mr. Lapp. He strode over and shook hands with Mr. Kopp, asking if he could join in the conversation with his daughter.
Mr. Kopp waved him to a spot on the picnic bench.
Mr. Lapp looked firmly at Hannah, telling her to go and join her mother.
Hannah looked at her father, trying to see if she could protest. Seeing that he was firm in his resolve, she sighed noisily and stood up, going to sit with her mother.
“Mr. Kopp, is there a quiet place where we can talk?” he asked.
“Inside the barn,” said Mr. Kopp. Moving inside with Mr. Lapp, he waited to hear what the other man would say.
“Mr. Kopp, despite the fact that Hannah has chosen to stay in Peace Landing, she is restless. The quietness of life here and the expectations of the Ordnung chafe at her. She wants more excitement than what is available here. We – Mrs. Lapp and I – are trying to help her to understand that she needs to live within our faith. She is very restless, and we are aware that we might lose her to life outside with the Englishers.”
“Ach, that is always a difficult realization for parents. When a child wants more than the Plain life offers, sometimes they can do no more than let that child go,” said Mr. Kopp.
“But, you know that leads to Shunning if the child decides not to return. That will be very difficult for Hannah’s mother – and for me,” said Mr. Lapp sadly.
“Ya, Mr. Lapp. I know. Take Hannah to Hope Township so she can speak to Mr. Yoder about that teaching position. Perhaps teaching in another community will help her to broaden her horizons a little more. Maybe that will be enough,” said Mr. Kopp hopefully.
“Denki. One of us will take her this week,” said Mr. Lapp.
CHAPTER TWO
The first day of school for the Peace Landing township school arrived. Annie woke up feeling as if a colony of butterflies had set up residence in her stomach. She forced breakfast down, knowing lunch was several hours away. Checking on the lesson plans she’d written out, she took the lunch she had made the night before and bade her mother goodbye.
“I will see you after school and tell you how it went,” she told her mother.
“You’ll do a wonderful job, Annie. You know what you’re doing and your students will only benefit from having you as their teacher,” Mrs. Fisher said with a wide smile. “Just don’t let them get away with anything, especially the two Kurtz boys. Be firm above all, and remember the rules the school board has set up.
“Ya, I will,” Annie promised breathlessly. Hurrying to the barn, she found her father had already gotten the buggy hooked up to their horse. He smiled at her proudly as she tossed her things in on the seat.
“You’ll do a beautiful job, Annie. Your mother taught you well and you learned everything you needed while you were on your rumspringe,” said her father.
“Denki, daed,” said Annie. She gave him a quick hug and boarded the buggy. At the school, she guided her horse into the small barn attached to the school and gave
him food and water. Hurrying to the front of the school, she unlocked the door and put her lunch bucket away. Walking around the large room, she made sure she had everything she and her students would need. Turning with a wide smile, she began welcoming her students in. As they sat down, she introduced herself to them.
“Good morning, I am your new teacher, Miss Fisher. I have taken over from Mrs. Fisher, who decided it is time for her to stay at home now,” she told them. “I know what grade each of you is in, and I’ve looked at examples of your past work. That tells me what you need to work on and what you already know. For now, let’s begin with older students. Please write an essay about how you spent your summer and whether you accomplished everything you planned. Use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation, please. Younger students, I will be working with you on letters and numbers. Intermediate students, please work on this math worksheet. Show your work and I will figure out where you need additional instruction.
Annie spent much of her day in this way, instructing each age group of her students and giving the other age groups independent work. At lunch time, she and all the students were outside, eating and playing. Annie remembered how the Kurtz children had been traumatized by the mental breakdowns of their mother and oldest sister, Barbara, the previous school year. She spent most of her time supervising both Kurtz boys and encouraging painfully shy Sarah to speak out in class.
She’s at the age where their breakdowns caused her some significant embarrassment, so, if she doesn’t know the answer, move onto another student – but always encourage her to speak out and participate. I can see the anger in the boys. I will talk to Amanda about working with them in therapy, but before I do that, I need to let Mr. Kopp know what I have found.
Simple Amish Love 3-Book Collection Page 7
