by Reid, Ruth
“Reuben, I think those are our boxes being unloaded nau.” Aenti pointed to the stacked baggage and Daed went to retrieve their belongings. “He’s concerned for you, Grace.”
“I know. But I don’t want to be constantly hovered over. That’s nay life.”
Her father picked up the boxes and paused next to her and Aenti. “I hope you don’t mind, Grace. I’ve arranged for another ride home for you. I’d like to talk with Erma privately.”
Grace stole a glance at Erma smiling ear to ear. “I think that’s a gut—” Her concentration broke as Ben stepped into her peripheral vision. A shudder cascaded down her spine at simply seeing his smile.
“Hello, Grace.”
Emotions she thought she’d buried suddenly sprang to life as a mixture of anticipation and trepidation flooded her soul. “Ben,” she said, barely above a whisper. Disarmed by the depth of his stare, her mouth fell agape.
“It’s gut to see you again.”
“You . . . too.” Why did her knees have to wobble? And why was she disappointed he didn’t call her Gracie?
“Are you ready to go?”
She scanned the area for her father and aunt.
“They’ve already left.” Ben placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her toward the exit. “You don’t have to be nervous.”
“I’m just . . .” Trying not to fall apart.
Ben smiled. “The first time we met, you were as nervous as a mouse cornered by a cat. You wouldn’t look me in the eye then either.”
She glanced his way only to redirect her eyes to the automated doors opening.
Once in the parking lot, Ben motioned to the buggy parked under the lamppost. “I learned to drive while you were gone.”
“Jasper!” She hurried across the lot and threw her arms around the horse’s neck.
Ben untied the reins from the post. “Even the horse gets a better greeting than me,” he grumbled.
Grace withdrew her arms from around Jasper’s neck. Still smiling, she climbed into the buggy, taking the driver’s side.
Ben cocked his head sideways. “Slide over.”
“Jasper’s mei—”
“I’ve fed and watered this animal for the last six months, and he’s been staying at the bishop’s haus with me.”
“Well, I’m back nau.”
“Are you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Ben Eicher, you can’t steal mei horse.”
He sat on the edge of the seat and nudged her over, then, taking the reins in his hands, clicked his tongue.
She crossed her arms. “I thought you didn’t like horses.”
“We’ve kumm to an understanding, and he no longer nips.”
“Hmm . . .” She studied his profile. Oh, how she’d missed him.
“And you and I will kumm to an understanding too.” He smiled, staring straight ahead. “That is, if you want to borrow mei horse.”
“Your horse!”
“I need a horse to court mei girl.”
The air caught in her throat as jealousy stormed her thoughts. “You’ve been courting women in mei buggy?”
Ben ignored her and continued to stare at the road ahead.
She sank against the seat.
“I hope you’re nett going to sulk all day.” He turned off the pavement and onto a dirt road.
“Where are we going? Mei daed is expecting me.”
“He knows I don’t plan to bring you straight home.”
“Ben,” she said firmly. “It’s already late afternoon. I promised Mattie I would stop by as soon as I got back home.”
“Well, you’re nett back yet.” He paused, then, with less edge in his tone, continued. “Can’t I have a few minutes of your time?” He veered Jasper into a deserted roadside parking lot and stopped the buggy. “I missed you.”
If he missed her, he wouldn’t have said he was using her buggy to court his girl. “You wrote me three letters. Three. In six months.”
“That was two more than I received.” He slid closer on the bench. “You apologized for calling me a stray and gave me rubbish about being friends.”
She focused on the wrinkles in her dress and pressed them flat with her hand. “Can’t we be?”
“Nay.”
Her head shot up. “Nay? ”
“We need to talk, Grace. A lot has changed in the last few months.”
His sobered—almost humbled—demeanor took her by surprise. No longer the overly confident flirt, he wrung his hands as if he had more to say, but wasn’t sure where to begin. Her mind whirled. Philemon had been the same way. When he first broke the news of his plans to marry Becky, Philemon had even started the conversation with how much things had changed. Her mouth dried and a lump like cotton quilt batting lodged in her throat.
“You’ve fallen in love with someone?” She steeled herself for his answer.
“Jah.”
A sharp gasp caught in her lungs and burned. Tears welled in her eyes and she turned to look out the side window. Only she couldn’t see anything through blurred vision.
“I fell in love with Jesus,” he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “I never really knew Him before and . . . while you were gone, I talked a lot with the bishop. I’ve been reading the Bible every day.”
She cleared her throat. “That’s wunderbaar, Ben.” Her voice screeched as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.
“I’m getting baptized and joining the church on Sunday.” His arm came around her shoulder and he turned her to face him. “Why are you crying?”
“I’m happy—”
He stole her words when he kissed her cheek. “Hmm . . . salty.” He trailed feathering kisses along her jaw.
“Ben, I don’t think—” Oh, Lord, I can’t breathe.
His mouth captured hers with a light, airy kiss that lifted her off the bench and summoned her heart to flutter. “You’re mine, Gracie.” His voice rasped. Then, taking his kiss deeper with an even greater need for possession, he placed his hand on her lower back and pressed her closer. “I love you.”
Grace pushed him back. “We can’t be . . . doing this.”
“Marry me.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
His eyes bored into hers. “Why?”
“Mei tests came back positive. I have muscular dystrophy. I wouldn’t make a gut fraa.”
“Your daed wouldn’t say that about your mamm.”
“That’s different.”
He shook his head. “Nay, it isn’t. I had a long talk with your daed. Your mother’s condition didn’t change his love for her.”
Grace wiped her tears with her dress sleeve. “She didn’t find out about her condition until after they were married. Had they known . . .”
“What are you saying?”
“Maybe they wouldn’t have gotten married knowing what was ahead of them. She passed this disease to me without knowing . . . don’t you see? Nau that I know, I wouldn’t want to risk having children. Besides, I’ll start to decline. You wouldn’t want to spend your days—”
“Hold your thought.” He jumped out of the buggy, removed a brown-paper bag from the back, then opened the door to her side of the buggy. “Okay, I’m listening,” he said, reaching for her leg.
“How can I finish mei thought when you’re unlacing mei shoes?”
He removed a pair of black leather shoes from the bag. “I made these for you.”
Tears pricked her eyes as she turned the shoe over. He’d made the left heel higher than the right. “You’re a shoemaker nau?”
“Fifth generation.” He guided her foot into the comfortable shoe. “Nau you’re ready for a journey. And I’m going to walk that path with you.”
“Ben . . .” Words wouldn’t come. She wiped her tears with the palms of her hands.
He climbed back into the buggy and slid across the bench. “Grace, I want to spend mei days with you.” He drew her into his arms. “I know what I’m getting into and I willingly want to walk with yo
u on the path where God leads us.”
“Ben . . .”
“I’m sure, Grace.”
He pulled her into a tighter hug. “Say that you’ll marry me.” Before she could answer, he kissed her, stopping only to whisper, “I love you.” Then, with a growing intensity that left her breathless, he deepened his kiss. “Do you have an answer for me?” She hadn’t even caught her breath before he took her mouth once more.
“Yes,” she rasped.
“Yes?”
She nodded. “I love you, Ben Eicher. I’ll marry you.”
“I love you, too, Gracie.” He gave a quick peck on the cheek. “Nau, let’s go fishing.” He motioned to the back of the buggy. “I brought the poles.”
“Fishing? It’s going to be dark soon.” But despite her protest, he was already unloading the poles and tackle. She followed him along the pine-needle path that ended at the river.
“I’ll be leaving with the men for camp in a few months. We need to get some fishing in while we can.” He clasped her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. “I plan to marry you the minute we get back, so don’t fall in love with any strays that show up on your porch while I’m gone.”
Grace smiled. Last year, when the men left for camp, she’d been heartbroken by Philemon’s engagement decision, and this year, she would count down the days with great expectation of becoming Mrs. Benjamin Eicher. They reached the water and sat along the riverbank.
Ben hooked a worm, then handed her the pole.
“Grasshoppers usually work better—”
He frowned. “Are you going to talk so much that you scare the fish?”
She squared her shoulders. “And if I do?”
“I have ways of quieting you.” He baited his hook, tossed the line, then leaned toward her and kissed her. “That’s one way.”
“What other ways do you have?”
He waggled his brows. “You’ll find that out as soon as you’re Mrs. Eicher.”
Her cheeks warmed. The end of her line tugged. “I think the fish like the sound of mei voice.” She stood and reeled in her catch with Ben’s help.
Ben tapped her shoulder and motioned with his head toward the path.
Grace spotted the fox and gasped.
“He won’t hurt you,” Ben said as the fox approached. “He led me to you that nacht.”
The creature sniffed the bottom of her dress and Ben’s pant legs, then slowly walked away. He stopped at the foot of the path and turned to look at them. A moment later, the fox disappeared.
“Ben.” Grace’s voice shook. “Do you think God sent him?”
“I know He did that nacht in the woods.” Ben wrapped his arms around her waist. “If God can make Balaam’s donkey talk and order ravens to feed Elijah, He can use a fox to perform a woodland miracle for us.” Ben kissed Grace’s forehead. “God is with us. And I believe He has many more miracles in store.”
Reading Group Guide
1. Ashamed of his past, Ben felt as if he would never regain his father’s respect. Do you think those feelings contributed to his getting into trouble with the law?
2. Do you agree with Grace’s thoughts about her nephew Mitch’s faith being based on someone else’s words? How much easier is it to believe in God’s power when you’ve already experienced it in your own life? Once you experienced God’s faithfulness, how did it change your faith?
3. Although it was a constant struggle for Grace to accept the increasing weakness of her limbs, how did she finally come to understand the meaning behind 2 Corinthians 12:9?
4. How did Grace’s limp help form a bond between her and Gordon?
5. Gordon accepted his lot in life with seemingly more understanding than Grace. Do you think his childlike mental state played a role? If so, how was his acceptance different than Grace’s?
6. In the Bible, God used a raven to bring the prophet Elijah food. What role did the fox play in helping Ben?
7. Gordon seemed to cling to earthly treasures, but what significance did the buried treasure have once it was found? What value did it have?
8. Wanting to protect his daughter, Grace’s father didn’t want her to see a specialist about her muscle weakness. Was his apprehension of her moving to Ohio justified?
9. Ben lost his father’s respect after keeping Neva out all night. He worked to earn his father’s forgiveness but always felt as though he fell short. Do you think those feelings could have contributed to his doubts about God’s ability to forgive so easily?
10. Grace was so self-conscience of her infirmity that she nearly missed out on finding love. What did Ben say love was (1 Corinthians 13:7)?
Acknowledgments
A simple thank-you isn’t enough to truly acknowledge all the support, prayers, and encouragement I received while writing this book. My family is the best. Dan, you had the patience of a saint—even though I know you’re not always listening to me ramble. Lexie, I’m so proud of you going to UF and still finding time to help me with my computer issues. Danny, I hope this book doesn’t disappoint you. A bear does not eat the main character. But thank you for that brain-storming suggestion. Sarah, your sweet prayers have seen another book to completion. Thank you for always believing!
I’m truly blessed to have such supportive parents, Ella Roberts and Paul and Kathy Droste. You’ve all helped so much in promoting my books and I am so encouraged by your continuous love and support. I would also like to thank Joy and Gary Elwell for explaining the process of how to extract and boil sap in order to make maple syrup. Yours is by far the best I’ve tasted.
I’d like to thank my critique partners for their prayers and input. Having other authors to bounce questions off and to give honest feedback makes writing much more fun. Jennifer Uhlarik, G.E. Hamlin, Sarah Hamaker, Susanne Dietze, and Colleen Scott, we’ve critiqued each other’s work for several years now and I treasure the friendships we’ve formed.
This book wouldn’t be possible without the expertise of my agent, Mary Sue Seymour, and the publishing team at HarperCollins. It means so much that Daisy Hutton, Vice President and Publisher, would take a chance on me. I’m still awestruck. I owe a huge amount of gratitude to my editors, Becky Philpott and Natalie Hanemann. I am so blessed to have your guiding knowledge. I adore working with both of you. Jodi Hughes, you do a wonderful job proofing and typesetting the pages. Thanks for making it easy to turn in my corrections. I don’t want to forget Laura Dickerson and Katie Bond, whose wisdom for marketing is outstanding. I’m in awe of your promoting abilities.
I’d like to give a special thank-you to my Amish friend who has read all of my books to date. Your feedback is so valuable and I appreciate the time you’ve spent reading the ever-changing drafts.
To God be the glory above all! Lord, it’s through Your power that I can finish a book, and I thank you and praise YOUR HOLY name! Let it always be about You.
AN EXCERPT FROM
Her Christmas Pen Pal
BY RUTH REID
Chapter One
Joy Stolzfus tossed the basin of dirty water from the foot-washing service over the porch banister. The tradition of humbling herself before God and the members of her district during the foot washing was good for the soul, but Joy couldn’t think of anything but the loss of her parents in last year’s fire.
Meredith came up beside her and laid her hand on Joy’s shoulder. “Are you doing all right?”
Joy forced a smile. “The fire was a year ago today. It doesn’t seem possible.”
“I know.”
“I still think mei parents must have left the oil lamp burning for me. If Henry hadn’t been late driving me home . . .” Joy touched her throat. Dry with a lump the size of a bar of lye soap.
“No one knows what caused the fire.”
The bishop had tried to reassure her of that too. But the memory of flames shooting out the window where the lamp table sat led her to believe otherwise. Maybe the cat had knocked the lamp over as Joy’s sisters thought. Still, her pa
rents couldn’t be saved. A section of the roof caved just as more help arrived.
The screen door snapped and several other women brought their basins outside to empty. The women chatted about the upcoming annual quilting bee, which served to jump-start Sugarcreek’s fall tourism sales. Joy’s thoughts drifted back to her mother who had looked forward to the all-day frolic every year.
Meredith took Joy by the arm. “Let’s go to the kitchen and get a glass of water.”
Her friend always seemed to know exactly what she needed. Entering the house, Joy scanned the sitting room where Henry had been standing, but didn’t find him. He must’ve gone out the back door with the other unmarried men. She followed Meredith into the kitchen.
“Are Lois and Sarah holding up all right?” Meredith removed a glass from the cabinet.
“We had a gut cry earlier today and we spent some time reminiscing about Mamm and Daed. I suppose it’s gut for the soul.”
Meredith handed Joy the glass of water. “I think you should focus on Christmas. Isn’t October when you start planning what you’re going to serve for the Second Christmas sleigh ride?”
Joy nodded as she raised the glass to her mouth. The long drink brought a cooling relief to her sore throat. “Danki,” she said. Then added, “For everything, Meredith.”
Her friend reached out and patted her arm. “Your parents would be proud of how you’ve taken over the bakery. But I don’t think they would want you to stuff yourself in a hole and become a recluse.”
“I haven’t done that.” Joy tapped her thumb against her chest. “And I’m nett a recluse. Maybe a workaholic, but that isn’t all mei fault. Sarah isn’t interested in the bakery, and Lois isn’t able to spend time in town with a new boppli. Besides, I do get out of the kitchen. I have to wait on customers at the bakery, don’t I?”
Meredith smiled. “There’s the spunk I’ve missed all week.”
