Daed, Joshua, and Nathaniel joined them.
Mr. Stutzman turned to her daed. “Mr. Lehman, danki for taking time out of your day to do chores here for us.”
“Joshua has done a great deal of work for me. It’s the least I can do.”
“Your dochder’s been a big help to me already. I don’t want to impose on you too.”
Mr. Lehman grinned. “Madeline enjoys helping people. You’re not imposing on either of us. We’re happy to do whatever you need.”
She and Daed chatted with the Stutzmans for about an hour. Ruthie entertained them with her giggles and undecipherable chatter. Mrs. Stutzman and Nathaniel took turns holding her. Madeline had relaxed, laughed, and had a good time with the Stutzmans. Her daed and the Stutzmans laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. She and her daed bid them good-bye, and they drove home with Ruthie in her arms, fast asleep. Mrs. Stutzman had sent home her honey sugar cookies. Madeline broke off a piece of one and put it in her mouth. They really could use a tad more sugar, but Madeline would never mention it.
They arrived home. Alone after supper, she knelt by her bed. “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being of little faith that You would work a miracle in the Stutzmans’ hearts to ever wilkom me in their home. I’m ashamed. I prayed but did not trust You as Joshua has done. Danki for the happiness You’ve brought to our families today. Please allow our families’ relationships to grow. You know how much I love Joshua. Please give us the acceptance we need from the Stutzmans to marry if it is Your will. I love You. Amen.”
* * *
Two weeks later, Dr. Livingston arrived to remove Mr. Stutzman’s stitches on the beautiful spring day of May twenty-first. “You don’t need a dressing any longer. Your wound has healed enough to go without it.” He examined his arm. “You’re moving your arm better. The swelling has decreased. How’s the pain?”
“Much better.”
Joshua and Nathaniel stood by Madeline and her daed and their mamm, both beaming.
Glad Mr. Stutzman’s arm strength and wound were healing nicely, she would miss her time with them. They’d had pleasant conversations and gotten better acquainted. She hadn’t broached her canceled wedding with Joshua and neither had they. She didn’t want to spoil their newfound camaraderie. She and Joshua had relaxed around them, and confidence had grown in both their hearts for the possibility his family was warming to her.
Her daed had talked to Mr. Stutzman each day after helping Joshua and Nathaniel. The two men had laughed and formed a tentative bond. Madeline’s heart burst with pride for her daed. He had, no doubt, done it for her and Joshua, and he’d benefited from Mr. Stutzman’s friendship at the same time.
Dr. Livingston bid them farewell and departed.
Madeline and her daed stood.
“We should go, but I’ve enjoyed our visits. Please kumme and visit us.”
Mr. Stutzman gestured. “Please, sit down. While we have both our families in attendance, we all have something to say, and I’ll say it for us. We apologize for our rude behavior toward you, Madeline and Ruthie. We don’t condone Catherine’s betrayal of Nathaniel or her abandonment of Ruthie. We were wrong to allow her bad decisions to cloud our opinion of your family. It would be our humble desire for you, Madeline, to reconsider becoming our dochder-in-law.”
Joshua had tears in his eyes. “Mamm, Daed, danki.” He crossed the room to Madeline. “Please say you’ll marry me.”
She faced him. “Jah! Jah! Jah!”
He picked her up and swung her around. “I’m so happy!” He lowered her until her feet touched the floor, then went to his daed. “I’m grateful to all of you. You won’t be sorry. As you’ve learned, Madeline is nothing like Catherine. She’s everything you’d want in a dochder-in-law.”
Nathaniel had been quiet. He stood and hugged Joshua. “I’ve been selfish, and I’ve wallowed in my hurt from Catherine long enough. It would be an honor and a privilege to have Madeline and Ruthie join our family. I couldn’t ask for a better schweschder-in-law and sweet little Ruthie as a niece.”
Mrs. Stutzman circled her arm around Madeline’s waist, holding Ruthie with her other arm. “I have grown to love you during these weeks. I’ve learned a lesson in humility watching you. In spite of our rude behavior, you stepped in and showed us you are a compassionate and selfless woman.”
Nathaniel lifted Ruthie from his mamm. “I’ll be your uncle soon.”
Madeline’s knees buckled with her emotion. She wrapped her arms around Mrs. Stutzman, and they held each other and wept tears of joy. They parted, and she said, “I’m not satisfied with my stitching in dresses. Addie usually helps me, but I don’t want to add to her workload. Would you mind sewing my new dress for the wedding?”
“I’d be delighted.” She gestured them out of the room. “Off with the two of you. You’ve got much to plan. We’ll entertain Ruthie, or rather, she’ll entertain us.” She chuckled.
Mrs. Stutzman watched Ruthie and smiled at the boppli’s expressions. What a blessing to behold.
Joshua shook Mr. Lehman’s hand. “Finally, I’ll be your son soon.”
“I’m honored.” Mr. Lehman’s eyes watered with emotion.
Joshua motioned to the door. “Madeline, let’s go for a walk.”
They stepped outside, and he took her behind the workshop and planted a big kiss on her lips.
She tingled with joy.
He pulled her close. “I love you, Madeline, and I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Stutzman.”
She hugged him. “I asked God to forgive me for not believing He would work a miracle in our lives. I’d given up. You didn’t. You taught me a valuable lesson, Joshua. I’m blessed you’re such a faithful and loyal man of God.”
“Let’s pray.” He bowed his head, and she did too. “Dear Heavenly Father, danki for answering our prayers and changing the hearts of my family to wilkom Madeline and Ruthie into their lives. For their joy at anticipating our upcoming marriage. We ask You to heal my daed and give him patience to get through this difficult time. Amen.”
Madeline raised her head. “You had faith when mine wavered. Another example of the type of family leader you’ll be for Ruthie and me. I admire your fortitude, Joshua.”
“You put others first. You didn’t have to get in my buggy and pitch in to help Daed, but you didn’t hesitate. I love you for your giving nature and abundant capacity to pour out your empathy for others.” He kissed her again.
Her heart beat fast with happiness. “You give me too much credit. You have more patience than I do.” She tilted her head. “What date should we choose for the wedding?”
He tapped his finger to his lip in thought. “June eighteenth. I’ll stop by the bishop’s haus and ask if his calendar is still open for the date.”
“We’ll only have a little over a month to prepare and notify our friends. Do we have enough time?”
“I’m not waiting another moment to marry you. We’ll enlist the help of our friends and, together, we’ll enjoy a wonderful day.”
He kissed her hard on the lips. “I love you and Ruthie, Madeline. Our haus will be in good shape by the time you move in. I just need to buy more furniture.”
She and Joshua went inside.
Mrs. Stutzman used a strip of long cloth and took Madeline’s measurements, penciling them on a sheet of paper. “I’ll start on your dress tonight. I’ll send Joshua to get the fabric from you.”
“Danki.” Madeline and her daed waved good-bye and took Ruthie home. Joshua followed them to obtain the material.
Her daed flicked the reins. “I’m thrilled for you and Joshua, Madeline. God answered all our prayers and performed a miracle. This is one of the happiest days of my life, and I didn’t think I would ever speak those words again after your mamm passed.”
“You are, in part, responsible for making this day happen. You cultivated a relationship with the Stutzmans on behalf of Joshua and me. You’re a wise man, Daed, and a patient one. You could’ve had a hard
ened heart toward Joshua’s family, but instead, you turned the other cheek and forged ahead. Danki doesn’t begin to express my gratitude.”
“We’ve been through rough patches in our lives, but together, we’ve persevered with God’s help. He taught me a lesson through all of this to trust Him in the midst of a storm. To love others the way He loves us. At times, I had a notion to turn away from the Stutzmans, but God convinced my heart to do the opposite. And He was right. Everything has turned out wonderfully.”
“I couldn’t get out of my own way, thinking I had determined God’s will without giving Him a chance to work a miracle in the Stutzmans’ attitude toward me. Joshua never wavered in his faithfulness to God about us.”
“He’s a wise young man. I’m blessed he’s marrying my dochder. When’s the wedding? Have you picked a date?”
“June eighteenth, the same one we picked the first time. Joshua will ask the bishop today or tomorrow.”
Her daed chuckled. “He won’t waste any time. He’s been champing at the bit to marry you for a long time now. I don’t blame him.”
She laughed. “I’m anxious to wed him too.” She kissed Ruthie’s cheek. “She’s not budged since we left the Stutzmans’. She’s worn out.”
“I am too.” Her daed grinned.
Joshua halted his horse, held the reins, and jumped down. “Sweetheart, I’ll not stay. We’ve had a big day. A day we’ll never forget. I love you, Madeline Lehman. I wish we could have our ceremony tomorrow.”
Madeline beamed. “God has been very good to us.” She glanced at the front door. “I’ll fetch the fabric and be right out.” She went inside, put Ruthie in her cradle, and brought the unfinished dress to Joshua. “I never thought I’d be sending it with you for your mamm to stitch.”
“Mamm is stubborn, but she’s got a big heart. Now she’s accepted you, she’ll pour out her love on you and Ruthie. A true answer to prayer.” He kissed her hard on the lips, then got in his wagon and tipped his hat.
Chapter 7
Joshua whistled on his way to Bishop Kauffman’s haus. The birds were chirping in the trees, and squirrels ran through the yard. He enjoyed them, and his day couldn’t have been better. Madeline would be Mrs. Stutzman soon. Bishop Kauffman’s long lane and vast corn and hay fields painted a perfect picture with his white dwelling in the center. His barn could use a fresh coat of paint.
He halted the horse and tied him to the hitching post. He rapped on the door and the bishop answered, peering over his spectacles.
“Joshua, what brings you here today?” He motioned him in. “Have a seat. How’s your daed?”
“His head and arm are healing better each day.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Bishop Kauffman, you scheduled a wedding for me to marry Madeline Lehman on June eighteenth, and we’d like to keep the date. I wasn’t sure if you’d heard murmurings our wedding was cancelled for a period of time.”
Bishop Kauffman settled back in his big oak chair. “I had been told by several of our mutual friends your wedding had been called off. I’ve held the date until I was told by you officially.”
Joshua held his hat in his lap. “She worried my parents would never accept her, and she insisted we have their blessing. I had faith God would intervene and soften their hearts, and He did. I had hoped to get married on the tenth, but we need the additional time to prepare.”
“Some of our congregation are appalled about Catherine’s return and abandonment of Ruthie, and they are judging the Lehmans for Catherine’s bad behavior. My messages have been on love, forgiveness, and unjust judgment of others to show them their attitudes need to change. I suggest we choose a date in July or August, giving the gossip time to settle down. I’m hoping my messages penetrate their hearts and they’ll be glad to attend your wedding, rather than object to it.”
He shook his head. “With respect, bishop, I want to marry Madeline as soon as possible and present a united front to the community. Our friends and family who love us will be there, and they’re all we need.”
The bishop stayed silent a moment. “You’re right, and I admire your determination. I’ll be honored to marry you and Madeline on June eighteenth. Now Ruthie will have a daed. I’m proud of both of you for giving her a home.”
“We’ll tell our friends and family to spread our good news, but will you announce it in the next service?”
“Absolutely!”
Joshua shook the bishop’s hand and went home. He’d count the days until his marriage to Madeline.
* * *
Joshua rose early and milked the cows, fed the chickens, and worked in the garden. No time to make furniture before Madeline and Ruthie moved in. He washed his hands and face and went to town. The post office, general store, and Lancaster Inn had a whirlwind of activity with men and women entering and exiting. The clang of the blacksmith’s hammer annoyed him most days, but today, it was delightful.
He stopped in front of Lapp’s Furniture and secured his horse. He strolled inside.
Mrs. Yost and Mrs. Weaver admired the maple table and chairs in the corner. The elderly women were two of the worst gossips in their community. He avoided them and scanned the floor for a hope chest and clothespress.
Mrs. Yost had a loud voice. “Madeline Lehman is a sweet woman, but what man in his right mind would marry her? Now she’s stuck with her sinful schweschder’s boppli to raise alone. She should never have agreed to give the child a home.”
Mrs. Weaver nodded. “If Catherine would run off and live a sinful life, what makes you think Madeline won’t do the same one day? Their mamm died young, and their daed must not have disciplined them.”
“Joshua Stutzman almost married Madeline, until his family forbade him to. Why on earth he’d consider such a thing is beyond me.”
“I ran into Mrs. Stutzman earlier this morning.” Mrs. Weaver gave her friend a sly smile. “She said the wedding is on, and she’s in full support of her son marrying Madeline and accepting the child as his own.”
“Has she gone mad?” Mrs. Yost raised her hands in disgust. “What in the world changed her mind?”
“She went on and on about how Madeline came over every day to change Mr. Stutzman’s bandage, and they are convinced she’s nothing like Catherine. She adores Catherine’s child.”
“I would never let my son marry her if I were in the same predicament.”
“Me either.” She picked up a breadbox. “I’ll buy this one. Are you ready to go?”
Joshua approached them. “Mrs. Yost and Mrs. Weaver, I’m glad I ran into you. Madeline Lehman and I would like to invite you to our wedding on June eighteenth. We don’t have much time to alert our friends, so if you’ll spread the news, we’d appreciate it.”
He watched their eyes widen and mouths open. He stifled his chuckle. They’d been caught exchanging nasty gossip. Their red-faced expressions were priceless. His mamm talking to one of the two biggest gossips in their community about her support of Madeline and Ruthie becoming a part of their family surprised and elated him.
He didn’t wait for them to speak but tipped his hat. “Good day, ladies.”
They turned and bustled to Mrs. Lapp at the checkout counter.
Joshua grinned and approached Mr. Lapp. “Good afternoon. I’ll purchase this cedar hope chest and clothespress.”
“I heard your conversation with two of my customers. I understand congratulations are in order.”
“Jah, I hope you and your family will attend our wedding on June eighteenth. The bishop will announce the time after the next Sunday service.”
“We’ll be delighted to attend. You know how we Amish find any reason to have a good meal. All kidding aside, I’m happy for you, Joshua. Ruthie needs a daed, and she’s blessed you’ve chosen to take on the responsibility.”
“Danki.”
“Pay Mrs. Lapp for the chest, and the clothespress will be our wedding gift to you and Madeline.”
Joshua stepped back. “You’re very
generous to offer such a gift. Danki.”
He slapped Joshua on the back. “I’ve known you since you were little. It’s my pleasure.”
Joshua waited until Mrs. Yost and Mrs. Weaver left, then stepped to the counter and paid for his purchase. “Mrs. Lapp, you’re invited to my wedding.”
“So I’ve heard. You should reconsider, son. I wouldn’t want you to suffer if this Lehman woman leaves you like her schweschder did to your bruder. There are plenty of eligible young Amish women in our community who would better suit you. An unwed woman with a boppli isn’t a proper woman for you to marry.”
He sucked in a breath. Not a statement he expected from Mrs. Lapp. The family had always treated him with kindness and respect. Mr. Lapp didn’t share his fraa’s opinion. “I trust her, Mrs. Lapp. Once you get to know her, you’ll understand why.” He raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you’d say such a thing. Your husband is in support of my choice.”
Mrs. Lapp waved a dismissive hand. “My husband is a good man, but he doesn’t understand these things. Marry a respectable woman and have kinner of your own.”
“On June eighteenth, I will be taking your advice. I hope you’ll join us for the happy occasion.”
Mr. Lapp joined him. “She’ll be there, along with the rest of my family.” He grinned. “I had my two boys load your furniture into your wagon.”
“What a kind gesture. I appreciate it.” Joshua smiled and, with a lilt in his step, walked out the door. His wedding announcement would spread faster than he thought. The two biggest gossips in town would make sure of it.
He passed his family’s haus and noticed Madeline’s buggy. “What is she doing here?” Turning around, he drove down the lane, secured his horse, and went inside. The love of his life stood in a new dark blue Amish dress with her arms extended, and his mamm knelt on the floor pinning the hem. What a beautiful picture. “How are my two favorite ladies doing?”
Ruthie cried in Nathaniel’s arms. “Ruthie is hurt. I’m sure you meant to say three favorite ladies.” He laughed.
Amish Brides Page 18
