An Amish Wife for Christmas

by Patricia Davids

  Jenny tipped her head to smile at him. “Maybe if I had a rabbit in my pocket instead of sausage she would do better.”

  “You may be onto something. Where can we get a bunch of pocket-size rabbits?”

  “You’re funny, Michael.”

  “You are, too, Jenny.”

  “Are you going to stay with us a long time?”

  He shrugged. “That’s a hard question to answer.”

  “Don’t you like it here?”

  “Truthfully, I don’t like the cold.”

  “Wait till summer. Then you’ll really love it here.”

  He brushed snow from the top of her hat. “I will be here that long, anyway.”

  “Why don’t you have a wife?”

  He leaned back to stare at her. “That’s kind of a personal question.”

  “Well? Why don’t you?”

  “I guess because I’ve never met someone that I wanted to marry.”

  “Gemma says my sister needs to be married so Ivan can stay here and not have to go live with our onkel Harvey.”

  “I know your sister loves Ivan just like she loves you. But when people get married it has to be because they love each other and not for any other reason.”

  “You don’t have a wife. You could marry Bethany and you’d sort of be my daed.”

  “It’s not that simple.

  “All the kids in my class have daeds. Sometimes they feel sorry for me. There is going to be a father-daughter program in the spring. It would be nice if you could come as my daed.”

  “Jenny, Bethany and I are not going to get married, but I will take you to the father-daughter program anyway. How’s that?”

  She smiled brightly. “You will?”

  “I promise.”

  “That makes me happy. Can we go in now? My toes are cold.”

  “Excellent idea. My everything is cold.”

  She got up and took hold of his hand to pull him to his feet. To his surprise, she hung on to his hand as they walked into the house.

  * * *

  Bethany was sitting beside the window, mending one of Ivan’s shirts, when Jenny and Michael came in. “How goes the training?”

  “We’ve decided that to be one hundred percent effective Jenny must have a rabbit in her pocket when she gets lost. Sadie Sue likes hunting rabbits a little bit more than she likes tracking down Jenny even for a bite of sausage.”

  The dog, who had been sitting quietly beside Michael, suddenly took off toward the front door. She barked several times when someone knocked.

  Bethany got up and went to answer the door. Her Englisch neighbor, Greg Janson, tipped his hat. “Good evening, Ms. Martin. I would like a few minutes of your time to discuss something that happened on my farm last night.”

  A sense of foreboding filled Bethany. “Does this have anything to do with Ivan?”

  “In fact it does. I’ve come to you first. But I’m not opposed to going to the sheriff.”

  Bethany invited him in. Michael stood in the hallway. Bethany indicated him with one hand. “Michael, this is Greg Janson. He has the farm south of here. Mr. Janson, this is Michael Shetler. He is a business partner.”

  Mr. Janson nodded. Bethany led the way into the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee, Mr. Janson?”

  “No, thank you, ma’am. I’ll get right to the point. Last night someone broke into my henhouse and stole three laying hens. The commotion woke my son. He looked out and saw Ivan running down the road with a gunnysack slung over his back.”

  “If it was nighttime, how was your son able to recognize Ivan?” Michael asked.

  “My boy is in the same class as Ivan. He knows him pretty well. They’ve even been in a scuffle or two together. Plus, the boy was dressed Amish with those flattop black hats you folks prefer.”

  “I appreciate you coming to me first,” Bethany said quietly.

  “We have heard a lot of good things about having the Amish for neighbors and for the most part you folks have lived up to your reputation. I don’t want to bring the sheriff into this if I don’t have to. Things like this can get blown out of proportion. Anybody who has a pig or goat come up missing, they can point a finger at the Amish without any proof. You folks just accept that and forgive the accusers. Nothing gets solved and folks keep on thinking you’re guilty. I don’t want to see that get started here.”

  “We appreciate your attitude, Mr. Janson. Would you like to speak to Ivan?” Michael asked.

  “I’ll leave that up to you.”

  “I will pay you what the hens are worth.” Bethany got up to find her checkbook.

  Michael stalled her with a hand to her shoulder. “I’m responsible for Ivan now. I will take care of this.”

  Mr. Janson held up one hand and shook his head. “I could just as easily have lost them to a lynx or coyote. I don’t want to be paid for them. I came here because I want your boy to know that he was seen and that next time he comes on the place I will call the sheriff.”

  The outside door opened and Ivan came in. He stopped and his eyes grew wide when he saw Mr. Janson. Bethany beckoned to him. “We were just talking about you.”

  “About me? Why?”

  “Because my boy Max saw you stealing our chickens last night,” Janson said.

  Ivan shook his head. “It wasn’t me.”

  “Max knows you. He was certain.”

  Ivan looked at Michael. “Honest, I didn’t go out last night. Why would I take chickens?”

  Michael laid a hand on Ivan’s shoulder. “Do you know who might have done it?”

  Ivan stared down at his feet. “I only know it wasn’t me.”

  Bethany turned to Mr. Janson. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention.”

  “Like I said, I don’t want it to get out of hand.” He tipped his hat to her and left.

  Bethany waited until the door closed and then she turned to Ivan. “How could you do something so foolish?”

  “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”

  Michael kept his hand on Ivan’s shoulder. “I believe you. Why would someone want to make it look like you are the one who took them?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “But you do have an idea who it was, don’t you?”

  Ivan turned his pleading eyes to Michael. “I can’t tell. I promised I wouldn’t tell.”

  Chapter Ten

  Bethany was shocked that Michael believed Ivan. Even she doubted her brother’s innocence. Yet the crime didn’t make any sense. Why would Ivan steal three chickens?

  Why would anyone? The vast majority of farms in the area had their own chickens as she did.

  “Go on and get ready for supper, Ivan.” When her brother left the room, Bethany looked at Michael. “What are we going to do with him?”

  “The next time there is a report about something Ivan is suspected of doing, I think it would be best to involve the police.”

  “The bishop would not agree to that. Our community has taken great pains to avoid any involvement by the Englisch law.”

  “The police can easily rule out Ivan as a suspect by fingerprints or by DNA. Their findings will carry weight with the Englisch community.”

  “You really think someone is deliberately blaming Ivan?”

  “I do.”

  She wished she could be so positive. This setback was crushing. “I’m not sure I can simply wait for another incident to occur.”

  “It’s the only choice we have unless Ivan can be convinced to break his promise and tells us what he knows.”

  “Do you know who he’s protecting?”

  “I think I do but I have no proof. I think you know, too.”

  “Jeffrey?”

  He nodded. She shook her head in bewilderment. “But why? Do you think we should tell the bishop about t
his?”

  Michael took his time answering her. “I’d rather not, but if you feel you should, then I’m okay with it.”

  “What do we do?”

  “We keep to a normal pattern of activity. And we keep a good eye on Ivan. What are your plans for this week?”

  “I have a lot of things that need to be done. Christmas is getting closer by the minute. I have a ton of baking to get finished. On Saturday I plan to send the children out to collect fir branches and winterberries for the house and for wreaths. I was hoping that you would go with them.”

  “I can.”

  “On Sunday Pastor Frank is coming to supper.”

  “Why?” He looked at her suspiciously.

  “Because he’s a friend. We enjoyed his company. He frequently drives us and other Amish people in his van at no charge.”

  “I see.”

  She walked to the window and stared out at the low gray clouds scuttling across the sky. A few snowflakes floated down from them. She wound the ribbon of her kapp around one finger. “I had asked Frank to speak with Ivan about his behavior but I never took Ivan to see him. He’s been doing so much better lately. You have been a good influence on him. But now this.”

  Michael walked up to stand behind her. She could see their reflection together in the window. She was becoming dependent on him for advice and for comfort. She longed to rest her head against his shoulder and feel she wasn’t facing this problem alone.

  “I know you’re worried,” he said quietly.

  If she leaned back, would he take her in his arms? It was a foolish thought. “To worry is to doubt God’s mercy. I try not to, but it seems to be my best talent.”

  He chuckled. “I thought speaking Cow was your best talent.”

  She smiled. “Don’t tell Frank I get my advice from Clarabelle. He went to many years of school to become a psychologist and counselor so he could advise folks.”

  “Jenny thinks you should marry. That way Ivan won’t be sent away.”

  Bethany looked down as her face grew hot. “She’s been listening to Gemma. Husbands don’t exactly grow on trees in New Covenant.”

  “Anyone you chose would be getting a fine wife.”

  She looked up to study his reflection in the glass but it wasn’t clear enough to let her see what he was thinking. “Are you making me an offer?”

  “You would be getting a very poor bargain if I was.”

  She turned around so she could look into his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because it’s the truth.”

  There was so much pain in his voice and deep in his eyes that she wanted to hold him and promise to make everything better. She couldn’t. She knew that, but it didn’t lessen her desire to help him.

  The letter from Mr. Meyers hadn’t told her why Michael didn’t return to work in his store or why he left his family in Ohio to come to Maine. He could have easily fixed watches for Mr. Meyers there the same way he was doing here. “What’s wrong, Michael?”

  He laid a hand against her cheek. “Nothing that you can fix.”

  “How do I know that if you can’t tell me what troubles you?”

  “Trust me. You don’t want to know.” He turned and walked down the hall and out the back door.

  He was so wrong. She wanted to know everything about Michael Shetler. Her mother’s voice echoed from the past. If you don’t know a man inside and out, don’t marry him. He’ll bring you nothing but pain.

  * * *

  Michael was up early on Saturday because he knew Ivan and Jenny would be over as soon as they could. He hoped that Bethany would accompany them on their trek into the woods to gather winterberries and fir boughs for wreath making but he wasn’t sure that she would. It was hard for him to believe that he had only been in New Covenant a little over two weeks. So much had happened. So much had changed. He hadn’t had a flashback for thirteen days and not a single panic attack. Maybe his PTSD episodes were behind him for good. He prayed it was true.

  Sadie alerted him that the children had arrived by scratching at the door and woofing softly. He opened the door and she shot outside, barking and bounding around Jenny. The girl was pulling a red toboggan. She dropped to her knees and threw her arms around Sadie’s neck. The dog responded by licking her face. Jenny’s giggle was so much like Bethany’s that anyone could tell they were related. Ivan stopped to pet the dog, too.

  Bethany came up the hill behind the children. Her bright welcoming smile was like the sun breaking through on a dreary day. He was happy to see her smiling again after the depressing visit with Mr. Janson.

  Michael’s refusal to talk about his past troubled her, too. He knew that, but his decision would never change.

  Bethany pulled a blue toboggan with a bushel basket on it. Like the children, she was bundled for the outdoors with a heavy coat, mittens and snow boots. The red-and-white-striped knit scarf around her neck was identical to the one Jenny was wearing.

  Ivan patted Sadie and then hurried to Michael’s door. He was pulling a yellow disk sled. “Guder mariye, Michael.”

  “Morning, Ivan. So where are we going?”

  The boy pointed up the ridge. “I know the perfect place to get pine boughs. It isn’t far.”

  Michael looked at the pine-covered forest stretching up into the mountains. “I hope that’s true. I’m not sure my leg will hold up in all this snow. Besides, don’t we have about a million trees to choose from close to home?”

  “It has to be balsam fir and we will pull you on the sled if you get tired.” Bethany stopped beside Ivan.

  “I give up. Why balsam?” Michael returned her smile. The darkness of his past was etched deep in his soul, but just being with her gave him hope that he could be healed. He prayed that God would show him mercy.

  Michael couldn’t plan any kind of family life until he was sure, but he could dream of the day when he had the right to tell Bethany how he felt about her.

  “I want balsam fir because of its wonderful, spicy scent, its lovely color and its short dense needles.”

  Michael looked at both of their sleds. “Are we planning to bring back a lot of branches? I was thinking we’d have an armful or two.”

  Bethany began counting on her fingers. “Gemma and her mother want some. We need enough for our house and for your cabin. Plus, I will make some for friends and I also plan to sell a few at the grocer’s. Mr. Meriwether lets us set up a display in front of his store. Last year I sold thirty-eight of them and made almost a thousand dollars.”

  “I didn’t know you operated a seasonal business.”

  “We have to make ends meet any way we can. Are you ready?”

  He nodded even though he wasn’t looking forward to the hike. Sadie Sue took off after a rabbit.

  Ivan put Jenny on her sled and pulled her along as he walked beside Michael. Ivan met Michael’s gaze. “The snow might get too deep for her. A man takes care of his family, right?”

  Michael smiled. “Right.”

  When Sadie Sue returned without a bunny, Jenny coaxed her to sit on the sled with her. She and Ivan took turns pulling the dog along. Sadie wasn’t sure she liked the ride and kept jumping off and then back on. Their antics had Michael and Bethany laughing as they made their way up into the forest.

  Ivan was true to his word. He led them to a small grove of the fir trees less than three hundred yards beyond Michael’s cabin. The trees were almost all the same size at about eight feet tall and evenly spaced.

  Michael glanced at Bethany. “Someone planted this grove. Do we have permission to harvest these?”

  She gave him a reassuring grin. “We do. This land belongs to Pastor Frank. We are free to use what we like. If we take a whole tree, he asks that we replant one to replace it.”

  “He’s a generous man.” Michael hadn’t seen him since the night of his flashbac
k. Although he had been tempted to attend the survivors’ group meeting, he wasn’t ready to have others know about his problem.

  Bethany distributed clippers to everyone and they set about filling the sleds with piles of the wonderfully pungent branches. When the children had finished cutting, they went exploring while the adults cinched down the loads with lengths of rope.

  Michael tied off the last knot, dusted the snow from a nearby fallen log and sat down to rest. Bethany came over to join him. The view spread out before them was breathtaking. They could see the winding course of the river down below, the silver ribbon of highway that paralleled the river’s course and the houses of Fort Craig. In the distance the Appalachian mountain range provided a beautiful backdrop. It was a lovely spot and he had a beautiful woman beside him.

  She rubbed her hands up and down on her arms. “It’s getting colder.”

  He slipped his arm around her and she moved closer, making his heart beat faster. Not with fear but with joy.

  “How long have you been taking care of your brother and sister?” Michael asked gently. He leaned forward to see her face.

  Bethany smiled. “A long time.”

  “What happened to your parents? Does it bother you to talk about it?”

  She shook her head. “My mother passed away shortly after Jenny was born. The doctor had a medical reason but I think she died of a broken heart. My father had left us about a month before that.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Neither did I. If you are thinking that my father died, you are mistaken. My father packed up and moved away. He didn’t want to be Amish anymore. It was the third time he had come back into our lives, begged for forgiveness, and was welcomed by our Amish community. I would like to give him credit for trying to shoulder his responsibilities, but I’m not sure he tried very hard.”

  “He left your mother twice before that? Left her and his children?” Michael could barely believe what he was hearing.

  “The first time he went away I was six. I woke up on my sixth birthday to find my mother crying and my father gone. Just gone. He didn’t bother to tell me goodbye.”

  “I’m sorry. That was cruel.”