Chapter 15
Sarah and Mrs. Miller were at the mud sale held to raise money for the local volunteer fire department. There were thousands of people present, and Sarah didn’t like crowds. Still, Mr. Miller served on the volunteer firefighting crews, as did all the Hostetler bruders, so Mrs. Miller wanted to attend.
Sarah stepped gingerly over the muddy fields. “I know why it gets its name,” she said to Mrs. Miller.
“It’s not bad this year; we haven’t had so much rain,” Mrs. Miller said. “Anyway, the earlier mud sales are much worse, due to the thawing snow.”
Sarah found the chaos disconcerting. There were tents, and she heard the call of several different auctioneers at once. She followed Mrs. Miller past horses going into the tent to be auctioned, and past tents filled with quilts. Everywhere she looked, people were inspecting items ranging from buggies to farming equipment, lumber, furniture, produce, baked goods, antiques, house wares and all manner of hand made crafts as well as a strange variety of livestock.
Mrs. Miller, clearly experienced at mud sales, led Sarah to a striped white and bright yellow tent, which they walked through into the fire hall. To Sarah’s delight, food was served in the fire hall. Both she and Mrs. Miller had missed breakfast that morning, as they had to do a whole day’s chores before leaving for the mud sale.
Sarah bought chicken corn soup, and Mrs. Miller chose pot pie. Both women also bought kaffi. They found a seat in the corner of the room. Sarah was relieved to sit down and catch a moment’s respite away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. She overheard someone say that there were twenty thousand people in attendance, and she was not surprised, not that she had ever seen so many people in the one place, Amish and Englischers alike. They were not strolling around casually; each person seemed intent on finding a bargain.
Soon both Mrs. Miller and Sarah were each tucking into a sticky bun. Sarah thought again how blessed she was to be with the Miller familye. Mrs. Miller treated her like one of her own dochders. Mrs. Miller hurried to finish her mouthful, and said, ““Why, look, Sarah, there’s Benjamin Shetler.” Mrs. Miller waved him over.
The old feeling of butterflies arose in Sarah’s stomach when she saw Benjamin, who walked toward them holding a funnel pie. “Hullo, Mrs. Miller. Hiya, Sarah.”
Sarah’s heart thumped loudly when he spoke to her, and she smiled and dropped her eyes.
“Sit with us, Benjamin,” Mrs. Miller said. It was a command rather than an invitation, and Benjamin sat down at once.
“I didn’t know you would be here, Benjamin.” Sarah was worried that Benjamin would think she was following him. It was likely an unreasonable thought, but people in love are sometimes given to unreasonable thoughts.
“I serve on the volunteer firefighting crew.”
Mrs. Miller nodded her approval, and Sarah said, “I didn’t know that.”
Benjamin smiled at her, and tingles ran all through Sarah.
Mrs. Miller’s hand suddenly flew to her mouth. “Oh, I forgot there was something I had to do. I won’t be long. Benjamin, would you mind staying with Sarah until I return?”
Without waiting for an answer, Mrs. Miller hurried away.
Sarah was awfully embarrassed. I wonder if I should say I’m embarrassed by Mrs. Miller’s matchmaking attempts, she thought, but then again, that would be criticizing Mrs. Miller. I wonder if there’s something I could say. Sarah could not think of anything to say, and so the two sat in silence for a moment. Finally Sarah said, “Are you here alone?”
“Jah,” Benjamin said, his cheeks flushing red. “Are you?”
“Jah, I mean nee, I’m here with Mrs. Miller.”
“Oh of course, silly me.”
The two laughed coyly. Sarah felt tongue tied. Mrs. Miller chose that moment to reappear, and Sarah at first thought that was strange, given that Mrs. Miller was trying her hardest to be a matchmaker and had not left them alone for long.
“I’ve just popped back to let you know that I have to assist a friend. Can I meet you back here at noon, Sarah?”
“Sure, Mrs. Miller.”
“I don’t like to abandon you. Benjamin, would you do me a favor and escort Sarah around the mud sale until lunch time?”
“I’d be happy to, Mrs. Miller.”
Mrs. Miller smiled at Benjamin and then hurried away, but Sarah was mortified. This time she felt she had to say something. “I’m so sorry, Benjamin. I don’t want to be an imposition. I can find my own way around.”
Benjamin beamed at her. “Nonsense! I will enjoy your company.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes and stared into Benjamin’s face. He did sound genuine. She hoped he was not just being polite.
“Sarah, where would you like to go first?” Benjamin smiled and held out his hand to Sarah.
Sarah took his hand, but he dropped it as soon as she stood up, much to her disappointment. “I’m not sure; I’ve never been to a mud sale before. Could we perhaps just walk around?”
“Gut idea.”
An idea suddenly occurred to Sarah. “Err, you weren’t here with anyone were you, or meeting someone?”
“Nee, I’m here alone. Or was,” he added quietly.
Sarah’s heart fluttered at his words, but she didn’t know if he meant anything by them.
As Benjamin and Sarah walked side by side, she thought this would be what it would be like to be married, walking in happy companionship with her husband. There would be bopplis too, several of them.
Sarah was so lost in thought that she did not realize that Nash Grayson had suddenly materialized in front of them, right outside the horse auction tent. “What you are doing here?” she blurted without thinking.
“Err, I’m just looking for a horse for a friend. Not for a horse as such, just seeing what prices the good ones go for. So I can tell my friend,” he added.
Sarah frowned. Did Nash have any friends in the community? None that she knew of. Yet why would he lie?
“What are you doing here?” Nash directed the question at Benjamin.
“I’m on the volunteer firefighting crew.”
Nash laughed, a dry, bitter laugh. “That figures.”
“What do you mean?” Sarah did not mean to snap, but she was offended on Benjamin’s behalf.
“Oh, I just mean that Benjamin is a good person; he’s always doing good. It figures that he’d volunteer.”
Sarah did not know what to make of Nash’s words, but before she had time to formulate a response, a man led a tall, black horse from the tent. The horse was prancing and Sarah thought that the horse looked a little wild. The man nodded to Nash as if he knew him, and Nash looked uncomfortable. Just then the horse shied violently, and the man hurriedly led the horse away.
“Oh look!” Benjamin bent down and scooped up a tiny, scrawny kitten. “The poor little mite. This is what must’ve frightened the horse.” Benjamin held the little kitten to his chest, and the kitten started to purr.
Sarah’s heart melted. He will make such a gut father, she thought. Look how compassionate and caring he is. She reached over to stroke the little kitten, and Benjamin smiled at her. The two of them looked into each other’s eyes for a moment, until Nash spoke.
“I saw some kids selling kittens; looks like this one is one of theirs. It must’ve got away from them.” He took the kitten from Benjamin, and cradled it, looking into its little face and making cooing sounds to it. “The kitten’s half starved,” he said angrily. “Kitty, kitty, kitty, don’t worry; you’re safe now.”
Benjamin and Sarah exchanged glances. Was this the Nash Grayson they knew? “What are we going to do with him?” Sarah asked Benjamin. “I’d take him, only my cat Tom is set in his ways and might not take kindly to a kitten, and besides, Mrs. Miller might not agree to have another cat.”
“I’d take him,” Benjamin said, “but I wouldn’t be allowed to have a pet at the B&B.”
“What’s going on?”
The three turned around to see Jessie Yoder st
anding behind them, her hands on her hips. Without waiting for an answer, she took the kitten from Nash. “Where did you find him?” she asked.
Benjamin was the one to answer. “He seems to be a stray,” he said, “or he might’ve escaped from some children who were selling kittens. We were trying to figure out what to do with him. I can’t have him, being at the B&B, and Sarah can’t have him either.”
“I could sneak him into my room,” Nash said.
Jessie stroked the kitten. “Why, he needs a good feed.” She held the kitten close to her, and he purred even more loudly than before. “My cat Calico died a year ago; I had her since she was a kitten. I’m ready to have another cat now. I’ll take him.”
“But I wanted him.” Nash’s voice sounded petulant.
“You can’t have a cat at the B&B,” Jessie said, but after a moment, added, “We’ll share him then. But he lives with me.”
Nash smiled broadly, and he and Jessie walked away, their heads together, speaking in baby talk to the kitten.
Benjamin and Sarah stared after them in surprise.
* * *
Nash was little annoyed that Benjamin Shetler was a volunteer on the firefighting crew. He’d never met such a do-gooder in all his life. Surely Benjamin had to be hiding something; no one could be that good. Besides, Nash was a little jealous, and concerned that Jessie might find Benjamin attractive. After all, Benjamin was a goody goody Amish man, whereas he was, well, a little on the wild side.
Nash sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Gott that Jessie had not seen him talking to the man about the horse. Nash did not have the money to buy a buggy horse, let alone a buggy, yet, as he had to sell his car and pay his gambling debts first, but he wanted to make himself known to the horse dealers. And to think that he had nearly been caught looking at the horse by the self-righteous Benjamin Shetler. Oh well, there was no way that Benjamin would figure out he was talking to a dealer about his intention to buy a buggy horse later on, let alone returning to the community.
* * *
Jessie walked away with Nash, speaking to the kitten which she was holding close to her. She was pleased that she finally had found a replacement for her much loved cat, Calico. She was also pleased to see that Nash was so caring over the kitten. He’ll make a gut husband, she thought. He’ll be gut to the kinner. I’ll just have to straighten him out first.
Isaiah 40:31.
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Chapter 16
Sarah and Benjamin continued on their way, taking care not to step in the worst of the mud. “I suspect those two might be courting,” Sarah said, expecting Benjamin to disagree.
“I think you might be right,” he said with a chuckle. “I also think that Nash is in the market for a buggy horse.”
“Nee! Really?” Sarah tugged on her prayer kapp. “That means that he’s going to come back to the community.”
Benjamin laughed. “Jah, and perhaps he wants to take a certain young lady on a buggy ride.”
With that, the atmosphere at once turned from jovial and companionable to tense and drawn. Sarah was at once upset again that Benjamin had never asked her on a buggy ride, and after stealing a glance at Benjamin, she could see he was self-conscious too. Her happiness had fled, leaving a gloomy black cloud of disquiet in its place.
Still, the mud sale was not a place where one could remain miserable for long. “Goodness me,” Sarah said, pointing to a strange creature standing beside a tall Englischer.
“That’s an alpaca.”
Sarah was intrigued. “What do they do?”
“They have fleece, like sheep, only they’re way more expensive. Don’t go too close,” Benjamin warned. “Some of them spit, although that one looks friendly enough.”
Sarah hung back, admiring the animal, and then stepped aside as two cute ponies were led past, their golden bodies contrasting with their long, white manes and tails.
“Oh they’re so cute,” Sarah gushed.
Benjamin chuckled. “A little too short for you to ride.”
“They’d be gut for kinner.” Sarah rolled her eyes at her own stupidity, as soon as she said the words. How could I be so thoughtless, she thought, saying that so soon after Benjamin mentioned the buggy ride. She stole a glance at Benjamin and saw that he too was most uncomfortable, to the extent of wringing his hands.
“At least it’s warm today,” Benjamin said, interrupting the silence. “I went to a mud sale earlier in spring and I froze.”
Sarah agreed, and they walked off again. The noise was overwhelming, and it seemed that every large tent had an auctioneer making a sound that to Sarah seemed like yodeling. In one tent there were Amish quilts of every type and size, and Sarah made a mental note to return there later with Mrs. Miller. Another tent was full of antiques, and the bidding was spirited. Yet another tent had all kinds of furniture, dressers, tables, and chairs, and the area outside the tents was just as crowded. One tent was filled with all types of well groomed buggy horses, along with mules, and even adorable, little ponies. Everywhere Sarah looked, she could see lumber, plants, field sprayers, pressure washers, lawn tractors, walk-behind mowers, manure spreaders, wood saws, rakes, as well as buggies.
“It’s so kind of people to donate so many things,” she said. “This mud sale should raise a lot of money.”
Benjamin agreed. “It’s needed; the fire trucks need updating, and the building is quite old; they want to replace it as soon as they can.”
Just then a rowdy group of Englischer teenagers ran past them, knocking Sarah over. They didn’t stop, but disappeared into the crowd. Benjamin helped her to her feet, and held onto her arms, his face full of concern. “Are you hurt?”
Sarah shook her head. “Nee, just shaken up. What happened?”
“I’m not sure; it happened so fast. Are you sure you’re okay? You’re trembling.”
Sarah was, in fact, trembling because of Benjamin’s close proximity to her. “Sorry.”
“What for?” Benjamin finally released her arms.
“You’re always helping me up.”
Benjamin smiled warmly. “I’m not complaining.”
Is he flirting with me? Sarah wondered. I don’t understand him. He acts if he likes me, but he never follows through.
Benjamin took Sarah’s arm, which sent tingles coursing through her and set off what felt like a thousand butterflies to flight in her stomach. “You’re still shaking; you’d better sit down.” He looked around and then pointed, “Over there.”
A sign, “Chicken corn soup take outs and chicken pot pie,” hung from a small, beige painted wooden building with a gray tiled roof. Visitors streamed in and out.
Sarah went to walk but her ankle gave way under her, and she would have fallen again if not for Benjamin seizing her around her waist. His muscular arm around her waist set Sarah off into a fresh bout of trembling.
Benjamin appeared alarmed. “I’ll fetch a doktor.”
Sarah hurried to reassure him. “Nee, nee, Benjamin, I’m all right. I can walk I think, slowly. I must’ve just twisted it when I fell.” I can hardly tell Benjamin that he’s the one making me tremble, she thought, and no doktor can fix that.
With Benjamin’s hand on her arm, Sarah walked slowly to the building. They managed to find a little, vacant table pushed up against the far corner, with two seats, which they quickly claimed. “How is your foot now?” Benjamin asked.
“Better now that I’m sitting down. It will be all right, I’m sure.” Sarah was grateful for Benjamin’s concern. He would make a wonderful husband, she thought, and then silently chided herself for thinking such a thing.
Benjamin went away to see what food was on offer, and then soon returned. “There’s chicken corn soup, chicken pot pie, pretzel log rolls, and you can have the pretzel stuffed with ham, roast beef, or sausage, with cheese. Oh, I forgot the rest.
I’ll be right back.”
Sarah smiled at him. “Nee, that’s fine. Would you get me a pretzel stuffed with sausage, please and a hot tea with sugar, no cream?” Sarah opened her purse but Benjamin waved his hand at her.
“Nee, nee, allow me.”
“Denki, Benjamin.” Oh why doesn’t he like me, she lamented, watching Benjamin’s back depart.
Benjamin returned with the food, and the two enjoyed easy conversation for a while. “How is your ankle now?” he asked when they had finished their meal.
Sarah stood up to test it. “A little sore, but it’s taking my weight fine now.”
Benjamin nodded. “Gut. Well, we must be getting you back to Mrs. Miller.”
Sarah and Benjamin walked away, slowly, Sarah downcast that her time with Benjamin was drawing to a close.
Before they reached the fire hall, Benjamin stopped walking, so Sarah did the same. “I’ve enjoyed this time with you, today, Sarah.”
Sarah smiled, encouraged by his words. “I have too, Benjamin,” she said shyly.
He smiled tenderly, and then continued walking.
That night, Sarah lay in bed, watching the rain fall through the window. She jumped as a lightning flash lighted up the night sky, and then jumped again when it was followed soon after by a deafening crack of thunder. I hope the lightning doesn’t strike anything, she thought.
Sarah was glad the rain had not fallen earlier that day and ruined her time with Benjamin. Yet what good had that time alone done her? Benjamin was attentive and sweet, but it seemed he did not want to court her. He had certainly made no move to do so and he had certainly had every opportunity.
Colossians 3:12-15.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Finding the Way (The Amish Millers Get Married Book 5) Page 6
