“No that’s okay. She doesn’t need to know I was here.” Feeling as though he’d been kicked by a horse, Rueben headed back to his car. Ellen had a suitor, and he would do nothing to come between them.
Shipshewana
After filling his tank at a gas station, Rueben stopped in Shipshewana. He’d heard it was an interesting town with lots of gift shops and restaurants. Since his mother’s birthday was coming up, he would look for a gift in one of the stores.
Coming to Indiana had been a waste of time as far as connecting with Ellen. Now that he knew she was being courted by someone, there was nothing to do but go home and try to forget he’d fallen in love with her.
Rueben pulled into a parking spot and went into one of the buildings. He browsed around in the hardware store and then the store across the hall, hoping to find the right gift for Mom.
When he headed down the nearest aisle, a gray-haired English woman stepped in front of him with her cart. As Rueben tried to skirt around her, he spotted a young Amish woman at the end of the aisle and realized it was Ellen. His heart skipped. What should I do? Should I make myself known or get out of the store before she sees me?
Rueben didn’t want to draw attention to himself by shouting Ellen’s name, so he backed away from the English woman’s cart and went down the next aisle, thinking he’d start up the previous aisle. But by the time he’d gone the rest of the way down the first aisle and headed up the next one, there was no sign of Ellen.
Rueben was on the verge of calling her name when someone from behind tapped his shoulder. He whirled around. It was the same woman who’d blocked his way in the previous aisle.
“Excuse me, sir, but do you know where I might find women’s shoes?”
“Sorry, Ma’am, but I don’t work here. It’s my first time in this store. Maybe there’s a clerk around who can point you in the right direction.”
“Okay, thank you.” The elderly lady pushed her cart toward the front of the store.
I hope Ellen is still in here. A sense of urgency welled in Rueben’s soul. He didn’t want to miss an opportunity to talk with her before she left the store, if for no other reason than to tell her that he’d returned to Pennsylvania to talk with Arie’s folks.
Rueben was about to head down another aisle, when a young woman came up to him.
“I can’t reach that hat. Would you mind getting it for me?” she asked.
Rueben couldn’t ignore her request. “Sure. Which hat did you want?”
“That one.” She pointed to a wide-brimmed straw hat. “It’s my dad’s birthday, and he needs a new hat.”
Rueben got it down for her. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” With a sweet smile, the woman moved on.
“At this rate, I’ll never get to see Ellen,” Rueben muttered. In an act bolder than anything he’d ever done, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Ellen Lambright, if you’re still in this store, I need to talk to you. I’m in the aisle where the men’s hats are sold.”
Rueben remained where he was and waited. The people around him stared, but he didn’t care. Several seconds went by, and Ellen appeared at the end of the aisle. “Rueben?”
Nodding, he moved toward her.
With eyes as blue as the ocean, Ellen stared at him, motionless. She was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. More beautiful than the islands he’d left behind.
As Rueben approached, two redheaded girls showed up out of nowhere. Laughing and poking each other, they ran in front of him.
Rueben looked at Ellen and lifted both hands, while she stood with one hand over her mouth. He saw her dimples, and knew she was stifling a chuckle.
“There you two are.” A frazzled, pregnant woman entered their aisle, pushing an overflowing cart of items. She shook her finger at the girls. “You kids come with me right now. If you don’t behave, there’ll be no ice cream after lunch.”
That seemed to quiet the rambunctious children. Rueben watched as the pouting girls went to stand beside their mother’s cart. She looked up at him. “I hope these rascals didn’t bother you too much.”
“It’s okay. No harm done. I was a kid once too.”
As the woman and her children walked away, one of the little girls turned to look at Rueben. He winked before she disappeared around the corner.
Rueben started walking toward Ellen again. She did the same. He would not let her out of his sight now. As they approached each other, Ellen spoke first. “Rueben, I’m surprised to see you here. I’ve tried to call you several times, but you haven’t responded to any of my messages.”
“That’s odd. The owner of the bed-and-breakfast where I stayed said I had no messages.” Rueben scratched his head. “Didn’t your sister give you the piece of paper I wrote the phone number on?”
“No. When Lenore said you had stopped by, I called Mandy to ask for your cell number.” A touch of pink erupted on Ellen’s cheeks.
“I came by your house a second time,” Rueben explained. “Only I talked to one of your sisters that day. The reason you got my voice mail is because I accidently left my cell phone at my folk’s house.”
Her eyes widened. “You went to Pennsylvania?”
“Yeah. I stopped to see my folks first, and then I went to speak with Arie’s parents.”
Ellen offered Rueben a hopeful smile. “How did it go?”
“It went well, but I’d rather not talk to you about it here.” He gestured to the store entrance. “How about we sit in my rental car, so we can talk privately?”
She nodded.
Rueben took a couple deep breaths and headed for the door. Seeing Ellen again made him wish even more that they could establish a permanent relationship. But if all she could offer was friendship, he’d take it.
As Ellen slipped into the passenger’s seat, her stomach fluttered. She’d never been this nervous with Rueben before. By the way his knees bounced, she figured he was apprehensive too.
He opened his mouth, then shut it.
“What did you want to say?” she asked.
He clenched the steering wheel and looked straight ahead. “I know you’re being courted by some fellow name Ezra, but I—”
“Now where did you hear that?”
“When I stopped by your house Saturday night, your sister Lenore gave me the address of the place you’d gone.” He let go of the wheel and swiped a hand across his damp forehead. “So I went there, and when I drove up the driveway, I saw you talking to a young Amish man near a buggy.”
She nodded. “That was Ezra Bontrager. He works at my dad’s shoe store.”
“Yeah, I know. One of your other sisters told me that when I stopped by your house again this morning and found out you weren’t home.” Rueben paused. “Between seeing you two together, and a comment your sister made, I got the impression you and Ezra were courting.”
Ellen shook her head so hard her head covering ties whipped across her cheeks. “Ezra and I are not courting. He’s just a fellow I’ve known since we went to school.”
Rueben released an audible sigh. “That’s a relief.”
She watched as his expression softened. When Rueben lifted his hand and stroked Ellen’s cheek, her throat constricted.
“After completing my mission in Pennsylvania,” he continued, “I came here to tell you that for the first time since Arie’s death I feel free of the guilt. I asked God’s forgiveness, her parents forgave me, and I forgave myself.” He continued to caress Ellen’s face. “I feel like a new person inside, and I’m ready to move on with my life.”
“Oh?” The one word was all Ellen could manage. Her throat felt swollen, and her eyes stung with tears.
“I want you to be part of my life, Ellen. I know it’s too soon to speak of marriage, but I love you, and I’d like to stay in Indiana so we can court. That is, if you’re willing.”
Ellen’s body felt weightless. She could hardly believe Rueben was here and had confessed his love for her. “I love you too, and I�
��d be honored to have you court me.”
As Rueben gazed at Ellen, she took in his brown eyes and the darkness of his hair. His skin, still tan, was smooth beneath her fingers as she reached up to touch his face.
Gently, Rueben pulled Ellen into his arms and kissed her lips.
Ellen melted into his embrace and sighed. What a wonderful discovery she’d made when she met this young man in Hawaii. She closed her eyes and offered a short prayer. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayer.
EPILOGUE
One year later, Middlebury
Ellen stood in the living room, with arms folded, watching delicate snowflakes swirling outside the window.
She released a contented sigh. It was hard to believe all that had happened in the last year. In addition to Rueben joining the church in her district and them getting married in the fall, they were now the happy owners of a bed-and-breakfast—the same one Mandy and Ken used to own. The couple who’d bought the business from Ellen’s friends decided it was too much for them to handle, even with the help of their daughters. Their main complaints were not wanting to be tied down, and having to deal with sometimes picky clientele.
Ellen didn’t mind staying close to home or dealing with a variety of people. She found running the B&B to be fun and rewarding. Her dream of owning a bed-and-breakfast had finally come true.
Rueben enjoyed running their new business too. They’d changed a few things back to the way the B&B had been before the previous owners made some modifications. Now, it almost felt as if she’d never left. Someday when children came along, Rueben might add on to the house.
Ellen’s life seemed perfect, and daily she counted her blessings.
She shivered and put more wood on the fire. I’ll bet it’s warm in Hawaii.
Ellen had heard from Mandy the other day and was pleased to learn they were planning a trip to Middlebury in the spring. They would stay a few days at the B&B and spend the rest of their time with Mandy’s parents.
Ellen couldn’t wait to see her friends again, as well as their precious little boy. From the pictures Mandy had sent, it wasn’t hard to see how much the little guy had grown. Ken had improved, although he still used a cane, and their bed-and-breakfast in Kapaa was thriving. Ken’s mother was happy, and they’d enjoyed a recent visit with Dan and his wife.
Rueben stepped up behind Ellen, disrupting her thoughts as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
She leaned against his muscular chest and closed her eyes. “Mandy, Barbara, and I are all happily married,” she whispered. “I hope that someday my dear friend Sadie will find someone who will make her as happy as I am.”
Rueben turned her around to face him. “And you, my pretty fraa, make me happy too.”
HAWAIIAN LEMON CHICKEN
Ingredients
1½ pounds boneless chicken breast cut into small pieces
1½ teaspoons soy sauce
1 cup cornstarch
½ cup milk
2 cups olive oil or coconut oil
Lemon Sauce
¾ cup water
¼ cup white vinegar
½ cup sugar or sugar substitute
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
5 lemon slices cut thin
Marinate chicken in soy sauce for 10 minutes. Dip in cornstarch, then milk, then cornstarch again. Fry in hot oil for three minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towel. Mix all sauce ingredients, except lemon slices. Cook in saucepan on medium-high heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil. Add lemon slices and cook another minute. Pour over chicken and arrange lemon slices for garnish.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Ellen left her home in Indiana to be with her friend Mandy in Hawaii because of an emergency. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to leave all that was familiar to help someone who lived far away? How did you deal with the feelings of homesickness?
2. How difficult do you think it was for Mandy and her husband, Ken, to sell their bed-and-breakfast in Indiana and move to Kauai to help Ken’s mother? Have you ever had to make a sacrifice such as moving in order to help a relative?
3. Change was difficult for Ellen, and when the bed-and-breakfast where she worked was sold, she had to find another position that wasn’t to her liking. Have you ever lost a job you really liked and had to take something you didn’t enjoy? If so, how did you deal with the situation?
4. When Ezra took over for Ellen’s father during his hernia surgery, he became an overbearing boss. What could Ezra have done to make things more workable between him and Ellen? Have you ever had to deal with an overbearing employer? How did you handle the situation?
5. Taavi reached out to Rob/Rueben when he didn’t know him well and gave him a place to live. Have you ever helped someone you barely knew? What does the Bible say about helping strangers?
6. When Ken’s accident occurred, Mandy’s faith was put to the test. She was not only concerned for her husband’s welfare, but worried that they would not have enough money to pay the bills. Between Ellen coming to help out and others donating money, Mandy and Ken’s needs were met. Mandy accepted it with gratitude, but some people in similar circumstances are too proud to ask for or accept help. Have you or someone you know been in a comparable position? If you were on the receiving end, how did you respond? If you were on the giving end, how did it make you feel to help someone in need?
7. When Ken realized some of his injuries would hamper his ability to function in the manner he’d been accustomed to, he became depressed and withdrawn. How can we help someone whose life has been altered by sickness or an accident to rise above their circumstances and have a sense of self-worth?
8. Ezra thought he was in love with Ellen. If he had expressed those feelings and been kinder to her, what do you think the outcome would have been?
9. Rob/Rueben hid from his past and had become bitter and angry at God. He blamed himself for an accident that took someone’s life and chose to deal with it by moving away and pretending to be someone else. What should he have done in order to deal with his guilt? And should he have been honest about his situation?
10. When Ellen found out about Rob/Rueben’s deception, she felt betrayed. Have you ever been deceived by a friend? How did you respond to their deception?
11. Ken’s mother, Vickie, suffered a devastating blow when her husband died. A short time later, her oldest son, Dan, unable to cope with his father’s death, left Kauai and moved with his wife to California. This left Vickie with only Ken and Mandy’s help in running her husband’s business. She needed both sons, not only for their physical help, but for emotional support as well. How would you feel if an adult child or close family member moved away from you during a difficult time?
12. Did you learn anything new about the Amish by reading this story? If so, what was it?
13. Did you learn anything in particular about the Hawaiian culture you felt was similar to the way the Amish live?
14. Were there any verses of scripture in this story that spoke to your heart or bolstered your faith?
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Wanda E. Brunstetter is one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre. She has written close to 90 books translated in four languages. With over 10 million copies sold, Wanda’s stories consistently earn spots on the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists and have received numerous awards.
Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are well-read and trusted by many Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.
When Wanda visits her Amish friends, she finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties. Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, bird-watching, beachcombing, and spending time with her fami
ly. She and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with two grown children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. To learn more about Wanda, visit her website at www.wandabrunstetter.com.
Jean Brunstetter became fascinated with the Amish when she first went to Pennsylvania to visit her father-in-law’s family. Since that time, Jean has become friends with several Amish families and enjoys writing about their way of life. She also likes to put some of the simple practices followed by the Amish into her daily routine. Jean lives in Washington State with her husband, Richard Jr. and their three children, but takes every opportunity to visit Amish communities in several states. In addition to writing, Jean enjoys boating, gardening, and spending time on the beach. To learn more about Jean, visit her website at www.jeanbrunstetter.com.
COMING NEXT FROM AMISH COUNTRY’S MOST BELOVED STORYTELLER …
The Hope Jar by Wanda E. Brunstetter
What happens when making an elderly Amish couple very happy means going along with a lie that gets bigger by the day? Michelle is not who her new family believes her to be, but how can she tell the truth without hurting the ones she has come to truly love?
Paperback / 978-1-62416-747-8 / $15.99 / August 2018
The Christmas Prayer by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter, takes readers on a journey in 1850 along the California Trail when a sudden snowstorm traps three wagons in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and forces Cynthia Cooper to evaluate the man she has promised to marry against two other worthy men in their party.
Paperback / 978-1-68322-657-4 / $12.99 / September 2018
Don’t Miss Book 1, The Hawaiian Quilt!
The Hawaiian Discovery Page 25
