“What brings you by so early in the morning?” Amy asked.
“Can’t I just come and visit my sister?”
Amy smiled. “Of course, you can.”
“Where’s Andrew?”
“Outside somewhere. Probably in the fields.”
“Goodness, but Susie is growing fast, ain’t so?”
Amy nodded with pleasure. Although Susie wasn’t hers by blood, their bond of mother and daughter was as strong as steel.
“How’s Mamm?”
“Fine. She says to bring Susie by soon.”
Amy nodded. “I will.”
“I’m in trouble.”
Amy tucked a wisp of Susie’s hair behind her ear and then looked at Beulah. “What happened?”
“I went to a concert with Uriah and Seth—he’s one of Uriah’s friends. I got home late, and I was… Well, I was in Englischer clothes.”
Amy’s hand dropped to her lap. “What?”
“You heard me. I don’t see the big deal, really. I didn’t do anything…”
“You dressed fancy, and you went to an Englisch concert. What kind of concert?”
Beulah shrugged. “Does it matter?” She sat down on the floor with Amy and Susie. “I’m forbidden to see Uriah.”
Amy sucked in her breath. “I’ve told you from the start—”
“I know,” Beulah interrupted her. “I know. You’ve warned me and warned me about Uriah.”
“And you’ve never listened.”
“And I’m not going to listen now, Amy. Uriah is nice. And he’s fun, and I—”
Amy sighed. “And you love him. I know.”
Beulah shrugged again.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not going to stop seeing him.”
“Beulah!”
“I can’t, Amy. Don’t you understand? You have Andrew now. Of all people, I thought you’d understand.”
Amy grew silent. She stacked three blocks for Susie to knock down. “I do understand,” she finally uttered. “I understand perfectly.”
“Thank you.”
“I just worry. I don’t want you hurt.”
“I’m not going to be hurt,” Beulah said. Amy always told her that. Always claimed Uriah would hurt her, but Beulah knew better. Maybe Uriah wasn’t perfect, but he did love her. And he was fun—deserting her at the concert notwithstanding.
“Did you come for advice?” Amy asked.
Beulah grinned. “When have you known me to ask for your advice?”
Amy laughed. “Never.”
“I’m not starting now.”
“So, you just stopped by to visit?”
“More or less.” Beulah reached out and tugged Susie onto her lap. Susie grabbed at Beulah’s kapp strings and tugged. “Whoa, there, little one. You’ll pull my covering right off.”
Susie giggled and stuck her fist in her mouth.
“I have news,” Amy said. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes danced with excitement.
Beulah stared at her and realization dawned. “Nee!” she cried.
Amy nodded. “I haven’t even told Mamm yet.”
“Does Andrew know?”
“He does.”
“When are you due?”
“Just after the new year.”
“Ach, Amy! This is wonderful gut news. I’m so happy for you.”
Amy beamed. “Me, too. You won’t tell Mamm, will you? I want to tell her myself.”
“I won’t say a word.”
From that moment on, Amy chatted nonstop about the new baby. She’d already been to Old Mae, who confirmed her suspicions. Andrew was working on building a crib, as Susie still needed the one she was in. Beulah watched her sister’s joy, delighted with how Amy’s life was turning out.
But now, it was Beulah’s turn. And with her plan, she should be in the same happy place quite soon.
“Ach, I forgot to tell you. Andrew’s cousin from Wisconsin is coming. He’s looking into buying Ezekiel Lapp’s buggy shop. He’ll be staying with us until he decides.”
“He bringing his family? That’ll make a full house for you.”
“Nee. He’s not married. A nice fellow, according to Andrew. In truth, Andrew’s quite excited about him coming. Plus, he plans to put him to work out in the fields while he’s here.” Amy laughed.
“It’s always nice to have help,” Beulah said. She put Susie back down on the floor and stood up. “I think I’ll be going now. Don’t forget to come by soon with Susie.”
Amy leaned over and kissed Susie’s cheek. “I’ll remember.”
“See you later, Amy.”
“Bye.”
Chapter Five
Beulah went back outside and got on her bike. She pedaled in the opposite direction from home, heading east to the Umble farm. Please be out and about. Please be out and about, she thought. She slowed her bicycle way down when she got to the mailbox at the end of their drive and then stopped. She stood, straddling her bike and waited. She didn’t see anyone. Odd that it was mid-morning and so quiet, but everyone was likely involved with their chores.
Uriah often took care of the animals, so if he were anywhere near the barn, she should be able to spot him soon enough. She moved slightly so that she stood under the shade of a large maple tree to wait. The minutes ticked by, and still, she saw no one. She wondered how long she should stand there before heading back home. More time passed. She gave a huge sigh and was ready to leave when she caught a flash of blue to the side of the barn. Her breath caught when she saw Uriah. Oh, but he looked good. He wasn’t even moving slowly from lack of sleep. She wondered whether he got in trouble for being out so late like she had.
She doubted it. Uriah didn’t get in trouble for much. In fact, sometimes she thought his folks were half-afraid of him. She dropped her bicycle and began waving wildly, hoping he’d look her way. Just when he was about to disappear inside the barn, he caught sight of her. He grinned widely and jogged across the lawn and down the drive.
“Beulah,” he cried. He came to her and picked her up, twirling her around.
She laughed and he put her down, leaning in to give her a firm kiss.
“I never expected to see you so early.”
“Hi, Uriah.”
“I’m sorry about last night. You know, about losing you after the concert. I got to thinking about it, and I was a creep.”
A creep? She giggled. “It’s all right. I’m just glad we found each other.”
He gave her another kiss. “I’m always glad I found you.”
“Uriah?”
“Hmm?”
“I got in trouble when I got home—”
“Oh, nee. I’m sorry,” he interrupted her.
“Dat has forbidden me to see you anymore.”
His brow rose, and he gaped at her. “I know they never liked me much. But … forbidding you?”
“Jah. And Mamm’s in agreement.”
He gave a low whistle and then grinned. “Yet, you’re here.”
She licked her lips. Suddenly, her plan seemed outrageously forward. “I, uh…” She paused.
“You what?”
“I was, uh, trying to think of a way around it.”
He laughed. “As I said, you’re here.”
“I was thinking of something a little more permanent.”
“Oh? You wanting to move in with my family?” He chuckled, and then frowned. “Wait. I know you, Beulah. Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”
She bit her lip and closely watched his reaction.
He took a step back, studying her. “You’re serious?”
“Why not, Uriah. I love you, and you say you love me…”
“But, marriage? We haven’t been published or anything yet.”
“Since when have those kinds of details stopped you from anything?”
He whistled again and shook his head. “You’re right. They don’t stop me.”
“Well?”
He shook his head aga
in. “Give me a second at least. What exactly are you thinking? That we’d get married and live here?”
“Or with my folks.”
“Okay, now I know you’re crazy. You’re dat won’t want me near his place if I marry you. We’d have to stay here.”
“Would your folks agree?”
He rubbed the side of his face. “They wouldn’t not agree.”
Beulah wasn’t exactly sure what the difference was, but she smiled. The Umbles were nice people. She wouldn’t mind living with them for a while—until she and Uriah could get out on their own.
“I doubt the bishop will let us marry. I’m not exactly in his favor.”
Beulah looked at him. “There are other ways to marry.”
Uriah’s brow rose. “My, my. You are feeling rebellious today, aren’t you?”
Beulah smiled. “Maybe.” It wasn’t so much rebellion as the fact that if she didn’t do something drastic, she wouldn’t be able to see Uriah again. Even with sneaking around, it would be much harder now that her dad had issued his proclamation.
“So. Have you thought about it?” she asked.
He laughed and kissed her. “Beulah, you’re something else. So, you mean it? You really want to be married?”
“I really want to be with you.”
“Married or not?”
She swallowed. She hadn’t really considered such a thing. That would be the height of wrong as far as her family and the district were concerned. And where would they live then? She didn’t think the Umbles would welcome them in their home if they weren’t married. No one would.
“I don’t know. Where would we live?”
“We could just say we got married…”
“But why? Why wouldn’t we just get married?” She was becoming nervous now, for she could see Uriah was warming up to the notion of deceiving everyone.
“If we live together, we’re as gut as married, ain’t so? In the eyes of Gott.”
Beulah stared at him. She’d never before heard Uriah use the term—in the eyes of Gott. In truth, their conversation rarely if ever ventured into the spiritual realm. She enjoyed it that way, growing weary sometimes of always having to put a spiritual emphasis on everything. It wore her out and made her itch to run free.
“Well?” Uriah said, grasping her arms. “Shall we just say we got married?”
“Most folks get licenses you know. Dat could check.”
“And some folks don’t,” he said.
“I know, but…” She was panicking now. Things were getting out of hand. “I think we should really get married. We can go to an Englisch judge.”
“That’ll cost money and take time.” He looked at her. “So, you want to be my wife?”
His look was tender, and she felt herself melt a little. “Jah.”
He grabbed her and pressed her to his chest. Then he bent his head down and kissed her long and hard. “Let’s don’t and say we did.” He pulled back, breathless.
She looked into his oh-so-familiar eyes, and her heart rate increased. He was so beautiful and so alive. He made even the air crackle around them.
“But we could get a license…”
“Beulah.” He put a finger to her lips. “Don’t worry. I like your idea. I want to marry you, too. Let’s have our own ceremony. By Edmund’s Pond. What do you say?”
“You mean marry ourselves?”
“Why not?”
“I… Well, I…” Indeed, why not? But then, she would never have a wedding ceremony, and didn’t all girls dream of that? Yet, she wasn’t like all the other girls. She never had been. Wouldn’t marrying themselves go along perfectly with who they were? She smiled, warming up to the idea.
It was wildly romantic. They could stand together before God and nature and declare themselves married. She grinned. “Maybe it is a gut idea.”
He picked her up and twirled her around again. “It’s a great idea.”
“When?” she asked, now breathless herself. “When should we do it?”
“I think by the light of the moon,” he said, his eyes gleaming. “Don’t I sound like a poet?”
She laughed. “That you do.”
“Tonight?”
“As soon as that?”
“You’re the one who brought all this marriage stuff up.”
Marriage stuff? His status as a poet plummeted.
“I did. But I never expected it to happen immediately.”
“And why not? If we’re going to do it, let’s do it.”
Her heart was hammering in her chest now. She looked up at Uriah and smiled. She loved him. She wanted to be with him. She wanted him to be the first person she saw every morning.
“Let’s do it,” she said, trembling.
“Meet me at Edmund’s Pond at ten o’clock. It’ll be dark, but the moon is near full. I noticed it last night.”
“All right,” she said, wishing he’d offered to fetch her. But she could get to Edmund’s Pond without him. It wasn’t that far of a walk.
“You’d better get back home,” he told her. “I don’t want you getting in trouble again. Otherwise, you might have trouble sneaking out.”
She nodded, feeling a sudden urge to cry—which made no sense at all. She climbed back on her bike and waved.
“See you,” she said.
“Tonight,” he answered.
Chapter Six
Uriah ambled back to the barn. Married, huh? He supposed that’d be fine. Granted, this wasn’t exactly the conventional way to do it, but since when did he ever do anything in the conventional way? Promising to love Beulah forever under the moonlight seemed quite a pleasant thing to do.
Forever…
The word rang in his mind. Forever was an awful long time. He wondered if he would love Beulah forever. He’d loved her for quite a while now. What was it? A year? Maybe two? It seemed like she’d always been in his life. He liked her. She was nervy and fun and usually pretty sassy.
He chuckled. He liked sassiness.
So. Tonight, they’d be married. More or less. And that meant… He grinned. He wanted to have her. Have her in every way possible. In truth, Beulah energized him. She made him feel like he could do anything.
They probably couldn’t live together right away. He’d have to ease his folks into the knowledge they had a daughter-in-law. He didn’t get along with his folks. Hadn’t for quite some time. But they didn’t fight with him much. His mother sighed a lot, and his dad got angry. Real angry sometimes. But he always kept it in check, usually resorting to leaving the room. Uriah shook his head, half amused. It was easy to win an argument with his dad—just get him good and mad and he’d leave. Argument won.
He should clean up his room some. His mother had long since stopped coming in to tidy up. He’d yelled at her once about invading his space and that was the end of it. But in all fairness, he couldn’t bring Beulah into the mess. There wasn’t a whole lot in there anyway. It shouldn’t take long to spruce it up.
What would it be like to have Beulah living right there with him? He thought about sharing his bed with her every night. That, he would like. He was sure of it. And he’d been hankering for a long time to see her hair down and flowing about her waist. Soon—that night, in fact—he could run his fingers through her hair. His throat went dry just thinking about it.
He went inside the barn to grab the post hole digger. A section of fence was growing wobbly, and he’d promised his dad he’d fix it. His mind went back to Beulah. Sure. Getting married was a great idea.
But her folks were going to hate him; that was for sure and for certain.
Well. It couldn’t be helped.
* * *
Beulah could hardly make it through the day. Her mind was fixed like cement on Uriah. She was going to be his wife that very night. Every time her mother spoke to her that day, she felt guilty. Fiona would come unglued if she knew what was going to happen that very night. But Fiona didn’t know. And she wasn’t going to know.
“You’
re all right, aren’t you, daughter?” Fiona asked her that afternoon. “You’re not angry at your dat any longer?”
“Nee,” Beulah answered, swallowing her nerves. “I ain’t angry.”
Fiona let out her breath in a gush. “I was worried. This is for your gut, you know. We’ve been worried.”
“You worry too much,” Beulah responded, knowing full well that she herself was spending the entire day in a low hum of worry.
Fiona grinned at her. “Maybe so,” she admitted. “Even so, I’m glad you’re not angry.”
Beulah began chatting about Amy and Susie, eager to change the subject. Guilt surged through her for deceiving her mother. But you aren’t lying, she told herself.
Maybe not. But she certainly was misleading her.
She sucked in a huge breath. Soon, it wouldn’t matter. She and Uriah would be married and then her father wouldn’t be able to do a thing to split them up.
She and her mother moved about the kitchen, getting supper ready. Beulah continually glanced up at the clock, watching as the minutes trudged by with excruciating slowness. Had time ever gone so slowly? Surely not.
Somehow, she made it through the rest of the afternoon, supper, clean-up, and even two games of checkers. She was ready to yelp with nerves by that time. Finally, she excused herself to her room. She closed her door and breathed a sigh of relief. Alone at last. No more pretending it was a normal day. For it wasn’t.
Today was her wedding day.
She planned to wear her church dress. It wasn’t new and it wasn’t blue—the traditional color of wedding dresses. But its deep green was pleasant and brought out the light of her eyes. She quickly put it on. Then she took off her kapp and brushed out her long hair, twisting it into a fresh bun. She replaced her kapp with the new one she saved for special occasions. It was crisp and clean, and she hoped it was light enough for Uriah to appreciate it.
She nearly laughed out loud. He wouldn’t give it a second thought. He would just want to take it off and see her hair down—he’d mentioned that often enough through their months of courting. Her fingers trembled as she slid the bobby pins in place.
The Buggy Shop (Hollybrook Amish Romance) Page 3
