Secret at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  The expression on his mother’s face was filled with compassion. “Every once in a while, I need him too, Eli. But we don’t stay on this earth forever. I learned a little bit from Old Sam. Tell me what’s on your mind. Maybe I can help.”

  Eli cleared his throat and related details of the afternoon.

  “Dear Old Sam. He loved Esther so much. Do you know what Jess will do with his gift?”

  “I don’t know.” He held up a hand to stop her from cutting in. “But Maemm, there’s more.” He went on to tell her about Jessica’s newfound belief in God.

  Annie Miller pulled in a deep breath. “My goodness, Eli. This could only be God’s hand at work.” She smiled a little. “And he used our Old Sam to get his task accomplished. What a blessing!”

  “It really is. Since I’ve met Jess, I’ve taken a personal interest in her.” He smiled. “I’ve been praying for her to know God. She’s such a special person and that’s why I need to finish telling you about our afternoon.”

  Eli opened his mouth to speak, but he guessed that his mother was already privy to his thoughts. She’d always had an uncanny ability to know what was on his mind. But she never judged. That was what was so wonderful about her. She and Daed accepted him with unconditional love.

  “Maemm, I love Jessica. And I told her.”

  Eli was quick to note the stunned expression on his mother’s face. Her eyes widened with excitement. Her jaw dropped.

  In a soft voice, he went on. “I also told her I want to court her and hope she’ll stay here.”

  To his surprise, Maemm grinned.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She wagged a hand in the air and crossed her legs at the knees. “You’re so much like me, Eli. It’s good, and it’s also bad. I’ve always worn my heart on my sleeve. When I was young, people told me I was much too outspoken and straightforward.” She rolled her eyes. “Especially for an Amish girl. That’s where you get your directness, I’m afraid.”

  “Was I out of line?”

  His mother swallowed before putting her hand on his. “First of all, let me ask you something. What did she say after you poured out your heart to her?”

  He slapped his hands on his thighs and lowered his gaze to his boots, shaking his head. When he lifted his chin, he turned to his mother and shrugged. “Nothing.”

  His mother frowned. She tapped the toe of her black shoe against the ground and crossed her arms over her lap. “The girl did go through an awful lot this afternoon. Accepting Christ is a life changer.”

  Annie lowered her voice to an emotional tone. “In the past twenty-four hours, Eli, Jessica Beachy has chosen eternity over death. We need to celebrate! Old Sam would rejoice!”

  “But did I ruin it by dumping my feelings on her?” Eli gave an impatient shake of his head. “She already had enough on her mind and in her heart. Why did I go and blurt my feelings for her?”

  Annie nodded. “I told you why, Sohn. It’s because you’ve inherited your mother’s genes for speaking your mind. But what you said, honey—you didn’t do anything wrong. You know that, right?”

  Before Eli could respond, his mother stood and began walking very slowly into the barn to the horse trough. As he followed her, he wondered what was going through her head.

  With a swift motion, she turned back to face him. “Do you really love her?”

  “Jah.”

  She lifted an inquisitive brow. “Are you sure it’s love? You haven’t known her long. And her lifestyle … Well, it’s much different than ours.”

  He nodded. “How can I be sure I love her?”

  He paced to the fresh bale of hay nearby and returned to meet his mother’s skeptical gaze. He lifted his palms. “It’s the way I feel when I think of her. I really care for her. I love her enthusiasm. Her caring nature. That’s why I’ve prayed every night for her to know Christ.”

  He studied her. “How did you know you loved Daed?”

  Annie smiled a little. “Let me tell you something, Eli. In my heart, I’m pretty sure I loved him since we were kids. Of course, we met after being apart for a decade, and our lives had changed.”

  She went on. “I guess you could say our feelings for each other grew. But I was sure I was truly in love with Levi, even though it’s something that I had never experienced. I’d been told about it, but love is something you just have to recognize in your own heart. And no one can tell you if you do love or if you don’t. It’s up to you to figure it out.”

  She looked away before returning her attention to him. “After Levi came back to town for his cousin’s wedding and we spent time together, I was pretty sure I wanted to be with him the rest of my life. So I went to my trusted source for information.”

  Eli lifted his lips into an amused grin. “Old Sam?”

  His mother nodded. “I once asked Old Sam how to know if I really loved your father. Of course, he couldn’t give me an answer. I’ve never really gone into detail about how Levi and I worked out our differences.”

  Eli frowned. “You mean, because his family had left the community?”

  She offered an uncertain shrug. “Actually, it was a little more complicated than that. Anyway, do you know what Old Sam asked me?”

  “What?”

  “If I loved Levi enough to move away from my parents.”

  Eli let out a low whistle. As he contemplated what hard decisions his mother had made to be with his father, he sat back and stretched his legs, crossing them at the ankles. At the same time, his mother sat next to him and turned to better face him.

  “What did you say?”

  “At first”—she shrugged—“nothing.” She followed with a roll of her eyes and a half smile. “I didn’t have an answer.”

  Eli swallowed the knot in his throat and realized how very different the world would have been had his parents not married. He wouldn’t be here talking to his mother. That made him realize how very important choosing the right spouse was.

  Maemm studied her sturdy black shoes for several moments as if deciding how to continue. Finally, she adopted a more thoughtful, serious tone. “I prayed, Eli. I asked God to help me decide what to do, because at first, when your father asked me to spend my life with him, he was Englisch.”

  “I know the story a little bit.” Eli chuckled at the thought of his daed driving a car instead of a horse and buggy. His father was such a good Amish role model, Eli couldn’t even begin to imagine him being anything else.

  “I also kept a journal. In fact, I still do. It’s funny, but when I have questions …” She paused to let out a small breath and widen her smile. “Because as Old Sam once told me, most of the things that happen to us in this life are out of our control, so how we deal with things really determines who we are.”

  Eli frowned and nodded. He really hadn’t expected this conversation to get so deep. But what his mother was telling him really made sense. And he would give great thought to her words.

  “To make a long story short, Levi made a special trip back here to tell me he wanted to join the Amish church and spend the rest of his life with me.”

  “So your prayers really worked.”

  “They certainly did.” Her eyes glistened with moisture as her voice cracked with emotion. “I can’t imagine being with anyone other than Levi, and I’m so happy our story ended the way it did.”

  He pressed his palms against his thighs.

  “So when you think about what you said to Jessica Beachy, consider several things, Eli. Would you move for her? I mean, Sam’s great-niece isn’t from this area. What if she wanted to be with you and for you to move out of state? Have you even considered that?”

  Eli didn’t respond. Because he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

  “And there’s so much more to take into consideration, Eli. For instance, the girl just took Christ into her heart. I imagine that she’s going through a very complicated process and deciding how she wants to live for our Lord. The Amish church certainly isn’t the only church
.”

  Suddenly, Eli realized the complexity of falling in love. Before he confessed his feelings to Jess, he should have given more thought to how their relationship might go.

  A gentle hand rested on Eli’s shoulder and he locked gazes with the one person he loved most in the world. His mother’s voice was soft, yet firm as she stood and looked down at him.

  “You’re fortunate, Eli. I know this all sounds very complicated, but after you pray on it, you’ll know what to do. I’m going to pray about your relationship with Sam’s great-niece, too.”

  Eli stood and looked down with great affection at his mother. “I really jumped the gun, didn’t I?”

  Her response was a kind, understanding smile. “It doesn’t matter.” She took his hands in hers and lowered her tone. “Because God guides our lives, and in the end, He’ll help you and Jessica to do His will.”

  *

  God is in charge of my life. Jessica ran an affectionate finger over the cross between the wooden hands. With great appreciation, she placed the art on the end table by her bed and proceeded to retrieve her great-uncle’s Bible. She closed her eyes, still trying to digest the significance of what had happened.

  She breathed in and relived the moment when she’d acknowledged that God was real. What had happened wasn’t her imagination. She’d be a Christian for the rest of her life. She wasn’t sure what being a Christ follower entailed, exactly, and the truth was, she knew next to nothing about God’s Holy Word.

  But now that she realized that she belonged to the Creator of the universe, she couldn’t wait to learn everything she could about the One who had control of life on earth and eternity.

  Eternity. That very word left her breathless. Light shivers of excitement darted up her arms and landed at the base of her neck. While she sat on Sam’s bed and rested the back of her head against the large headboard that touched the wall, she continued reading more of the book of John.

  The Bible wasn’t easy to understand. She would ask Eli to help her. Within the past twenty-four hours, she’d learned two significant things. Christ loved her. So did Eli.

  As she closed the Bible with great care, she felt grateful, but she also recognized that knowing God presented a huge responsibility. There would be a lot to live up to.

  What about Eli? He loved her, too. His declaration of his feelings prompted her to close her eyes in bliss and imagine a life with the Amish man she loved with all of her heart.

  She hadn’t responded to his declaration. Had he expected her to? If she had replied, what would she have told him? She’d been so stunned and so happy, she had been at a loss for words.

  Jessica stood and quickly moved to the back of the house, where she gazed at Pebble Creek. Still contemplating Eli Miller’s unexpected admission, she opened the door and proceeded to walk outside. As she passed the flower bed, she bent to touch Old Sam’s rose that had almost died. Another miracle.

  From where she stood, she could barely see where the creek curved like an S. As she contemplated the place that meant so much to the Millers, Eli’s sincere, honest words floated through her mind until the words morphed into a single message: I love you. Stay here.

  Many questions flitted through her mind. She wanted to be with Eli. But could she? What would she do for a living? And what about Pebble Creek? She contemplated the contract that needed her signature.

  She swallowed an emotional knot. She loved Eli. She had no doubt about that. But there was much more to a relationship than love. He’d asked her to join the Amish church.

  As she considered the sacrifices she’d be making, she breathed in and out. Nothing’s wrong with being Amish. But I would have to give up so much. Am I strong enough to do it? I wouldn’t even be able to drive my car.

  She whispered, “Dear God, You are in charge of my life. There are so many things I’m unsure of. But what I am certain of is that You’ll guide my life in the right direction. Please tell me what to do. Is joining the Amish church what You want of me?”

  As she contemplated that question, she made her way back into the house, closed the door, and stepped to the table to look at the contract for the sale of Pebble Creek.

  The loud whinny of a horse prompted her to go to the side door. “Annie!”

  Jessica rushed to help Eli’s mother tie Storm to the post next to the house.

  “I’m so glad to see you!” Jessica hugged her. “Annie, I’ve got so much on my mind. I need to talk. Please, come in.”

  At the table, Jessica sat opposite Annie. As they drank iced tea, Annie’s gaze landed on the contract.

  She lifted a curious brow.

  Jessica shoved out a defeated breath. “I’m torn. I don’t know what to do. I want to stay here with—”

  A soft voice cut in. “Eli?”

  Jessica nodded.

  “Pray. Jessica, when you came to Pebble Creek, you were our miracle. Since then, God has come into your heart. That’s the greatest miracle of all. Compared to that, everything else is simple.”

  Jessica smiled a little. “As always, Annie, you’re right.” She eyed the contract.

  As if reading her mind, Annie spoke in a soft, thoughtful tone. “You’ll know what to do about that. But don’t act before you’re sure you’re following your heart. I remember not knowing what the future would bring with Levi and me, but you know what? We never can predict the future. But with prayer, God will guide us.” She offered a gentle shrug. “We just have to trust Him.”

  Jessica stood. “I’ve got something for you.” She made her way to her bedroom and returned with the gift Old Sam had made for Esther.

  She handed it to Eli’s mother.

  When Annie held it, tears slid down her cheeks. “I can’t take this, Jessica.”

  Jessica grinned. “I want you to have it. Because of you and Eli, I’ve come to love my great-uncle and God.”

  Jessica closed her eyes and took in an emotional breath. “Annie, I’ll miss you!”

  Several heartbeats later, Annie set Old Sam’s gift on her chair as she stepped to the door. “One moment …”

  Jessica’s gaze followed her, and when Annie came back inside, she held the miniature hope chest Old Sam had made her. She extended her arms to Jessica. “I’ll miss you, too … if you go.” After a slight pause, she whispered, “Here. It’s for you.”

  *

  The following day, Jessica tried to absorb all that had happened since she’d come to Pebble Creek as she fastened her seat belt in her Chevy. She stared at the real estate contract in her hand and smiled before laying it on the passenger seat. This morning, to her amazement, what she needed to do had become crystal clear, thanks to Eli’s kind mother. And Old Sam’s gift to Esther.

  She looked in the rearview mirror while she backed out of the lane, put the car in drive as soon as she reached the blacktop, and headed to Sandy’s real estate office. She’d made a commitment. And she’d keep it.

  *

  Saturday morning, Jessica sat on one of the stones on the hill overlooking Pebble Creek. As she took in the beauty and the magnificence of the view, she closed her eyes and pressed her hands. “Please guide me.” For long moments, she kept her eyes closed and savored her newfound happiness.

  The moment she opened them, she glimpsed Eli coming up the hill.

  When he joined her, he smiled a little. “I was sure you’d be up here.”

  “But how did you know?”

  He shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and hooked his thumbs over the tops. “Because I knew you wouldn’t be able to sign that contract without one final look at Pebble Creek.” He motioned to the stone next to hers. “Mind if I join you?”

  “I’d love for you to.”

  Next to him, contentment swept through Jessica’s entire body until she felt whole. As always, being near Eli Miller made everything in her life okay. His presence comforted her. Reassured her. She felt secure.

  “Eli, I have so much to thank you for. The kitchen …” She shook her head.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s beautiful. I could tell halfway through the improvements that it would be hard to leave it when it was finished.”

  He lowered his gaze. “Jess, that was real nice of you to give Old Sam’s gift to Maemm. It means a lot. To all of us.”

  When she glimpsed him from her peripheral vision, she noticed his fingers shook as he placed his hands on his thighs. He didn’t say much, either.

  She looked down at the ground. “I took the contract to the real estate agency. Your mother told me to make sure I knew what I wanted before I acted. And I won’t ever look back. It’s a done deal.”

  Eli offered a slow nod. A long, thoughtful silence passed while the sun slipped behind a large fluffy cloud. For a moment, the brightness disappeared until the sun escaped the cloud. Finally, Eli spoke in a tone that was so soft, she could barely hear him. And his voice cracked with emotion. “Jessica, please don’t go.”

  She continued to look down at the creek. “Eli, I’ve given a lot of thought to what you told me. And also about how I feel. And I prayed about what to do.”

  He smiled a little and turned toward her. “You don’t know what it means to me to hear you say that, Jess. That you prayed.” After a slight hesitation, he added, “What did you decide?”

  She faced him and smiled. “To stay here.”

  She took in his expression of surprise as he seemed to absorb what she’d said. Then the corners of his lips lifted into a wide grin.

  “Would you say that again?”

  She raised the pitch of her voice. “I’m staying here, Eli. I tore up the contract. Old Sam’s gift for Esther made my mind up to stay. Like I said, when I looked at the cross between the hands, I felt that the gift had really been meant for us. And at that moment, I committed to staying here.”

  He closed his eyes for several seconds, and when he opened them, she saw his commitment.

  She whispered, “Eli, I love you. And I want to be with you. Forever. And to join the Amish church.”

  With one swift motion, he was on his feet, pulling her up to a standing position. They hugged each other in a tight, emotional embrace. When his arms were around her, the comfort and security that only he could offer enveloped her like a warm blanket. And to her benefit, she never had to leave him. Ever.