Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2)

by Amy Lillard

  Elam smiled, then lowered his head and kissed the bishop’s daughter.

  Epilogue

  Somehow Emily and Elam managed to wait until the last week of October to get married. It wasn’t easy. Emily was so very ready to start her life with Elam, but he insisted they have time to court. He wanted her to have the experience of Sunday drives and picnics and all the other things girls enjoyed.

  Secretly she thought he wanted to replace all her memories of Luke with memories of him. And in truth she was okay with that, too.

  “I’ve never been to a purple Amish wedding before.”

  Emily whirled around at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. “Luke!”

  She wanted to throw her arms around him, but he looked barely secure on his own two feet. Aluminum crutches were clamped to his wrists, but all in all, he was the same ol’ Luke. If their presence was any indication, he hadn’t completely remastered the art of walking, but he was well on his way.

  “You remember Sissy?”

  Emily smiled at the pretty blonde standing to Luke’s left. “How are you, Sissy?”

  The young woman smiled. “Thank you for inviting us. It was a beautiful ceremony.”

  “Danki.”

  “Even if it was purple.” Luke made a face.

  “Technically,” she said, “it is lilac.”

  Luke rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “Technically it is purple.”

  “What’s wrong with purple?” Sissy asked, looking from one of them to the other.

  “Lilac is not a normal color for Amish weddings,” Luke explained.

  “So what color are Amish weddings usually?” she asked.

  “Blue,” Luke answered.

  “All of them?” Sissy’s eyes grew wide.

  “Jah,” Emily said.

  “She only got away with it because her dad is the bishop,” Luke groused good-naturedly.

  Emily stuck out her tongue at him, so grateful they could joke the way they used to. Even after all this time.

  “But why purple?” Sissy asked. “Is that your favorite color?”

  Emily smiled. “In a way, jah. But more importantly, Elam’s dat has a thing for purple. I couldn’t deny him this.” She pointed to where James stood holding two-month-old Hollis Fitch.

  Andrew and Caroline’s new son had been named after her father, Hollis Hostetler, and immediately dubbed Holly by those around him. Emily wondered if the child would ever live down the name. That and the fact that his gown matched the lilac James had chosen for the ceremony. It was a gut thing the Amish were against photography. There would be no proof of this to show in the years to come.

  “You look beautiful,” Luke said, staring at Emily with wonder in his eyes. “Very happy.”

  “I am happy.” She smiled at him. “What about you?”

  He cast a quick look at Sissy. “Yeah,” he said. “It’s been slow, but Sissy’s father has been good to me. I’m working a little in the garage. Fixing the cars and such. I don’t think I’ll be ready for the upcoming season, but the next one for sure.”

  “What about Justin?” Emily asked.

  “He came by the other day to check on everyone. I don’t think he’ll ever come back to racing,” Luke said. “His dat got him a job selling insurance.”

  She wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but Justin’s reluctance to drive again was understandable. After nearly being blown to pieces, it surprised Emily that Luke wanted to return to the fast-paced, dangerous world. Then again, Luke was a born driver: easygoing, adventurous, and cool under pressure. She was so very froh he had found happiness in the Englisch world.

  “There you are.” Elam came up behind her, standing close as he greeted their guests.

  A few short months ago she would have worried about his reaction to finding her talking to Luke, but those days were a thing of the past. Today they had pledged their love and their lives together. They were secure and committed. Funny how God’s will worked.

  Luke nodded in greeting to Elam, not exactly a warm welcome, but not all-out hostile either. He turned to Sissy. “Are you ready to go meet everyone?”

  She smiled. “Lead the way.” She looked to Emily and Elam. “Thank you again. Congratulations.” Then she and Luke disappeared into the crowd of well-wishers.

  “Have you seen Dat?”

  Emily pointed to where James cradled Holly Fitch in his arms.

  “I think he’s getting in some practice.”

  A flush started somewhere around her neck and worked its way to her hairline. “Are you talking about us?”

  She knew Elam wanted a family. She did, too. It was something they had talked about many times in the last few months.

  It tickled Emily that Elam blushed at the meaning behind her words as well.

  “I mean Mamm.” He pointed to where Joy Riehl stood one hand on her midriff, the other resting at her side. A slight curve rounded a body that months ago had seemed thin and frail.

  “I thought maybe she was just putting on a little weight. You know, after everything.”

  Elam smiled and shrugged. “I think it might be more than that. Just a hunch.”

  Emily’s heart surged. What wonderful news! “You’re not worried about him, are you?”

  Elam shook his head. “He might not be the same as he was a couple of years ago, but he’s still a gut man, a gut father.”

  James was kind and loving. He cared about his children and his wife. Emily was proud to be a part of such a wunderbaar family.

  “Elam.” Becky hurried over to where they stood, hooking her arm through her bruder’s before trying to tug him away. “You said you would talk to Billy Beiler today.”

  “I did?” He looked to Emily for confirmation. “Did I?”

  “Better get it over with.”

  Everyone expected that soon Billy would ask Elam and James to be allowed to court Becky.

  Mary, Becky, Aaron, and Billy had all joined the church at the end of the summer. Emily had a feeling a big wedding season was building for next year.

  Elam shrugged and allowed his sister to lead him away.

  “How does it feel to be married?” Caroline Fitch sidled up to Emily and slipped one arm around her waist.

  “Oh, Caroline. I’m so very happy.” She returned her friend’s sideways hug.

  “You look happy,” Caroline said.

  “And no one deserves that more.” Lorie Kauffman came up on Emily’s other side.

  “You’re next,” Caroline joked.

  But Lorie shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  “Trouble with Jonah?” Emily asked.

  But it was more than that. Lorie hadn’t attended the baptism classes that had been held in the spring. It would be another two years before the next classes would be held. She couldn’t join the church until then. Even though Jonah Miller, her on-again, off-again boyfriend had bent his knee that very summer.

  “Let’s not talk about such things today,” Lorie pleaded. “Today is supposed to be a joyful day.”

  And it was.

  Emily let her gaze wander around the room at all the familiar and happy faces. All their sisters were sprinkled throughout the room, easily recognizable in their distinctive lilac dresses. The twins with their shiny red hair, Norma and Johanna eating cake from the same plate, two forks, one slice. Becky looked both shy and knowing as she watched her brother and Billy Beiler talk. No doubt Elam was stunning him with talk of the new milking machine he’d purchased just last week. Bea stood next to Rose as she talked to William Brontranger. If Emily knew that look at all, a romance was budding between the two young teens. Susannah talked in her over-the-top, animated way while Mary scanned the crowd, no doubt looking for Aaron Miller. Emily would be surprised if Aaron didn’t ask her father for permission to court Mary in the next couple of months.

  Jonah, Andrew, and Luke stood together, all laughing and talking about subjects only buwe understood. Sissy stood close, a confused wrinkle across her brow, even as he
r lips continued to smile. James cooed at baby Holly while Joy looked on, a sweet smile on her lips.

  And her husband. From across the room, Elam’s clear green eyes met hers, and Emily felt his gaze, like a caress. She never knew it was possible to love someone as much as she loved Elam. Her steady and true husband. She was grateful, fortunate, and blessed that he was a part of her life.

  His lips lifted at the corners in a smile full of promise and more. Emily smiled in return, thinking of the night ahead. Her first night as Elam’s wife.

  Jah, God’s hand was indeed at work. And Emily was so glad He touched the lives of them all.

  Glossary of Amish Terms

  ach oh

  Aemen Amen

  allrecht all right

  baremlich terrible

  bu/buwe boy/boys

  brechdich magnificent

  bruder brother

  danki thanks

  Dat/dat Dad/dad

  Deutsch Pennsylvania Dutch

  dochder/dochdern daughter/daughters

  dummle hurry

  eck special place for the bride and groom at the corner of the wedding table

  eldra parents

  Englisch non-Amish person

  fraa wife

  frack dress

  freind/freinden friend/friends

  froh happy

  geb acht be careful

  geh go

  Gern gschehne You’re welcome

  Goedemiddag Good afternoon (greeting)

  grank sick

  grossmammi grandmother

  guck look

  Guder mariye Good morning (greeting)

  gut good

  gut himmel good heavens

  halt stop

  haus house

  hochmut pride

  hungerich hungry

  jah yes

  kaffi coffee

  kapp prayer covering, cap

  katzfisch catfish

  kinner children/grandchildren

  kumm come

  liebschdi dear child

  mach schnell hurry up (make quickly)

  maedel girl

  Mamm/mamm Mom/mom

  meidung shunning

  middawk noon meal

  mudder mother

  nachtess supper

  naerfich nervous

  nay no

  nix nothing

  Onkle/onkle Uncle/uncle

  Ordnung book of rules

  riewe red beets

  rumspringa running around time (at age sixteen)

  schee pretty

  shveshtah sister/sisters

  sohn son

  Vatter/vatter Father/father

  Was iss letz? What’s wrong?

  wunderbaar wonderful

  Please turn the page for an exciting sneak peek of Amy Lillard’s next Wells Landing Amish romance,

  LORIE’S HEART,

  coming in August 2015!

  Lorie Kauffman’s black walking shoes squeaked against the overly waxed tile floor as she made her way down the long corridor. One arm was wrapped around her stepmother, Maddie. Her mamm pulled her close, neither one of them ready for the task before them. In fact, Lorie wanted nothing more than to turn and run from the coroner’s office as fast as she could. As far as her feet would carry her.

  The doctor walked in front of them, slower than she wanted, faster than she could take. He didn’t say a word as he led them into the cold, sterile-looking room. It was so different than Lorie had ever seen. Stainless steel and buzzing lights.

  Only the squeak of their shoes could be heard as he led them to a wall that appeared to be a large filing-type cabinet, like her father kept in his office at the restaurant. Except this one took up the entire wall.

  She randomly wondered how the doctor knew which drawer to pull out. But he did.

  The drawer opened, the body inside covered with a plain white sheet.

  Mamm squeezed Lorie’s hand so hard her fingers started to tingle. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched the doctor pull back the sheet to reveal the lifeless face of her father.

  With a gasp, Mamm turned away, only briefly looking at the man she had been married to for as long as Lorie could remember. But Lorie herself couldn’t tear her gaze away. Her eyes were transfixed, as if by staring at him long enough she could somehow bring him back to life. She took in his wavy brown hair, normally so carefree, now pushed unnaturally back from his face. His beard matched in color, with only a few streaks of gray in the chest-length strands. Gone was the sweet smile that graced his lips. His eyes, normally the color of the afternoon sky, were closed, still behind their lids.

  A cut slashed across his temple, the skin surrounding it dark. It was the only mark to testify that he’d been in an accident. A freak injury they called it, that caused his brain to die when his body was still able to function. One tiny cut that ended his life.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the coroner said. Lorie wondered how he did it. How he worked day in and day out with crying, grieving families.

  Beside her, Lorie heard Mamm stifle a sob. Typical Amish, Mamm tried to hide her feelings. Yet the only emotion she readily shared was her displeasure. Lorie pushed away the uncharitable thought. She would pray about it later, but for now all she could do was ignore the twinge in her gut and focus on what remained of her father.

  “Jah,” Mamm finally said. “That is my husband.”

  From the corner of her eye Lorie saw the man nod, then he started to pull the sheet back over her father’s face.

  Her hand flew up of its own accord to stop him. She wasn’t ready yet. She wasn’t ready to say good-bye, to have him covered and locked away from her forever.

  A tickle twinged at her cheeks, and she wiped at it with her fingers, surprised to find them damp with tears.

  “Lorie?” Mamm asked.

  “Not yet,” Lorie whispered in return. “Just a little while longer.” She had to look all she could. What if she forgot his face as time passed? That happened with her own mamm. Her mother had died and over the years Lorie had forgotten her face. She couldn’t let that happen to her dat as well.

  “Lorie.” Mamm tugged on her hand, but Lorie resisted. She needed to get one last look at him to hold in her heart. The strong slant of his jaw, the straight line of his nose, the mark just above his heart.

  She blinked. It couldn’t be. It went against everything the Ordnung stood for, the Bible, and all that God wanted for his people. Yet there it was, penned just above where his heart once beat, another heart. This one had wings on each side and a name in such intricate letters she almost couldn’t make it out. May not have been able to had the name not been as familiar to her as her own. Belinda.

  That was her mother’s name. Her mother who had died so long ago.

  “Kumm.” Mamm tugged on her hand, pulling Lorie away from her father as the doctor covered him up again. But it didn’t change anything. The mark was still there. The heart, the wings, the name.

  Her father had a tattoo.

  In the days that followed, Lorie didn’t have much time to think about the tattoo, yet it was never far from her thoughts. Still there were preparations to be made. A coffin to be bought, a funeral to be planned. A father and husband to be laid to rest.

  The police had given them a box of things that had been found in her father’s car. How did her father have a car? He was Amish!

  When they arrived back in Wells Landing, Mamm had taken the box to the storage room above the restaurant. She taped the box shut and dusted her hands as if a dirty job had been completed. Lorie itched to climb the stairs and go through the box. What other secrets were hiding there?

  She scanned the dining area of the restaurant. They had closed today in honor of her father. Maddie had wanted everyone to gather there to pay their last respects, eat, and otherwise spend time talking about Henry Kauffman. More than half the town had shown up to say good-bye to her father. He was nothing if not loved and admired by his community.

  But there wer
e too many people. More than Lorie could easily handle. Of course some of the mourners were Englischers that her father had worked with over the years. They didn’t know a person needed to be invited to the funeral and had just shown up instead. Thankfully there was enough food to go around. But not enough room in the restaurant for the crowd and her own grief.

  She glanced over to where her stepmother sat, tissue in hand as she talked with Helen Ebersol, the bishop’s wife. The few remaining people at Kauffman’s were starting to clean up the mess left behind from the wake. Paper cups and plates were tossed in the trash. Empty aluminum casserole pans disposed of as well. So much needed to be done that Lorie was overwhelmed with the prospect of doing anything at all.

  “Lorie?” Emily Riehl grabbed Lorie’s hand and squeezed.

  Lorie shot her a watery smile and returned the reassuring clasp. She and Emily had been friends for as long as Lorie could remember, though so much had changed over the last couple of years. Their other close friend, Caroline Fitch, just had a new baby, a sweet baby boy they named Hollis after Caroline’s father. Emily herself had just last fall married Elam Riehl. Now this.

  “You want to talk about it?” Emily asked.

  She shook her head. There wasn’t anything left to talk about.

  Emily glanced over to where Lorie’s mamm talked with her own mother. “Not your vatter,” she whispered. “But whatever else is bothering you.”

  Lorie attempted another smile. “Why would something else be bothering me?”

  “You and I have been friends ever since first grade. Do you honestly believe that I can’t tell when something is on your mind?”

  Lorie thought about protesting again, but Emily was tenacious as a bulldog. If she felt something needed to be done, she held on until it was complete. Lorie had no cause to believe that this would be any different.

  She cast another glance back toward her stepmother and hooked her arm through Emily’s. “Can you walk to the park with me?” She needed some fresh air, a new perspective, her father back.

  “Jah. Of course.”

  Lorie didn’t bother to tell Mamm where she was going. She just pushed out of the restaurant with Emily close behind.