An Amish Reward

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  “Surprise!” Isaac and Mamm said at the same time.

  “Ach, Mamm!” She rushed over to her mother and gave her a hug that lasted a good thirty seconds. She then moved to her father, then her siblings.

  “We couldn’t miss your wedding,” Dat said. “And we wanted to meet Isaac.”

  Becky noticed that Isaac winked at her father. Were they keeping secrets? Apparently so!

  “Abraham arranged it all,” Mamm said.

  Just then, Abraham, Ezekiel, and Aunt Lucy walked out.

  “Ezekiel,” Dat moved to shake his hand. “It’s gut to see you again.”

  “Dat, Mamm, everyone,” Becky said, “this is Isaac, my soon-to-be husband, and Abraham, his father.” She felt like her cheeks would explode, she was so ecstatic. Ach, life couldn’t get much better than this!

  She watched in amazement as everyone exchanged greetings. Isaac then moved back and boldly took her hand in his. Her sisters exchanged pleased glances with her. No doubt, they were happy their older sister had finally found love.

  ~

  The day had been full of activity and a little exhausting. Once Becky and Isaac had everybody situated in their rooms, they’d all enjoyed a lively supper. Instead of cooking, they’d had several pizzas delivered to the house. After supper, they’d all settled in and played games. It was a memorable evening, to be sure.

  But now, Isaac was ready to spend some time alone with his future fraa. Ach, just a few more days and they’d become husband and wife. Just a few more days and he’d be able to walk up the stairs with her and actually stay in the same room. Just a few more days and he’d get to hold her in his arms all night long, if he wished.

  They now walked hand-in-hand down their dirt road. Isaac stopped, then looked up at the night sky. Becky did likewise.

  “Aren’t they wonderful? All those beautiful stars?” He breathed a sigh of contentment.

  “Jah. They’re magnificent.” She seemed just as mesmerized by the night sky as he was.

  “It’s hard to believe that the God who made all those stars cares about us, ain’t so?”

  “Jah. It’s amazing.”

  “I mean. We’re so small and insignificant in the scheme of things, yet, He saw fit to bring me…” Ach, he was overcome with emotion. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nee, that’s okay.”

  He brushed away the cursed tears. “I hate that.”

  “What? To show emotion? Ach, it is one of the things I love about you. A man should never be so callous that he cannot cry. Even Jesus wept.”

  “Jah, I suppose you’re right. I just, I feel embarrassed.”

  “You don’t need to be. Not around me. Never around me.”

  He sighed. “What I was trying to say is, it’s incomprehensible that Der Herr saw fit to find me the perfect fraa. Ach, Becky, I love you so much. I feel like my heart can hardly contain it.”

  “I feel the same way about you, Isaac.”

  “I have no doubt we were meant for each other.”

  “Me neither.”

  He pulled her near and kissed her lips. “I plan to do a lot more of that.”

  He leaned close, took her face between his hands, and pressed his lips to hers again, lingering a while. “Ach, Becky. I just can’t seem to get enough of you.”

  He kissed her again for as long as he could stand it. She seemed to enjoy it as much as he did.

  “We’d better stop now, ain’t so?” Her voice sounded timid.

  “Jah, you are right. We will save it for another day.” He stepped back, but held her hands in his. “I am glad we had some time away. I get the feeling we will be having less and less opportunity until our wedding is over.”

  “It is gut that my family is here, ain’t so? We will have more helpers now.”

  “Jah, perhaps our folks will get to sit down and enjoy some of the festivities with all the extra hands.” He looked at her. “Did you and Aunt Lucy finish up the wedding favors?”

  “Jah, you did not see them?”

  “Nee, but the house smelled wunderbaar.”

  “I will show you when we go back in.” She turned to him. “Ach, Isaac, I’m so happy.”

  “Jah, Der Herr has been gut to us.”

  “Yes, He has.”

  “Let me kiss you one more time before we go back in to see those favors, jah?” He didn’t give her time to respond before pulling her into his arms and meeting her lips with his. Ach, he couldn’t wait to give her his last name. It would truly be an honor.

  TWENTY-SIX

  Becky glanced at the familiar women, situated on the couches and chairs in the Kings’ spacious, yet comfy, living room. She couldn’t describe how happy she was that some of her family could make it out to Kentucky for the ceremony.

  Which was tomorrow. Tomorrow!

  Mamm smiled. “We have a gift for you. Well, it’s for you and Isaac, actually. But you can show him later.” She continued, “Each of us pitched in, along with your schweschdern at home and a couple of your friends.”

  Aunt Lucy handed her a large wrapped box with a twinkle in her eye. She still hadn’t revealed her and Ezekiel’s secret to the family yet.

  Becky shared a knowing smile.

  “What?” Ruby caught on. “What are you two secretly communicating about?”

  “Well, if it was any of your business, we would have told you by now, don’t you think?” Aunt Lucy huffed, concealing a smile. “This is Rebekah’s day. Let’s let her have her moment before I step in and steal the show.”

  Becky giggled.

  “You better hurry, Rebekah. I think your aunt has something to say.” Mamm smiled.

  Becky turned back to the task at hand. She carefully loosened the tape, then pulled off the wrapping paper. She’d save some of it for crafts later.

  After Mamm handed her a pair of scissors, she cut through the thick tape that held the cardboard box closed. She removed the tissue paper, then gasped when she recognized a piece of material from one of her favorite dresses she’d worn when she was little. She lifted the beautiful quilt out of the box.

  Aunt Lucy explained. “It’s made from your clothes and Isaac’s clothes mostly, but there are also contributions from your mamm, your dat, Isaac’s folks—”

  “Ach, Isaac will love that! Especially since his mamm has passed on.” She began unfolding it, then her sisters each took a corner and spread it out to its full size. “It’s wunderbaar!”

  “As I was saying, it has a little piece of each of us in it,” Aunt Lucy finished.

  “We put our names on the pieces we sewed,” Janie said.

  “That way, you and Isaac will always be wrapped in love,” Ruby added.

  Becky’s cheeks heated when thinking of being wrapped up in this quilt with Isaac. Ach, it would be wunderbaar indeed!

  “There’s even something of Ezekiel’s in there,” Aunt Lucy added.

  Ruby stared at Aunt Lucy. “Why on earth would there be something of Ezekiel’s in there? He isn’t even related, is he?”

  Becky and Aunt Lucy shared another glance.

  “All right, that’s it!” Janie eyed them both. “What is going on, you two?”

  “They’re keeping secrets, that’s for sure and certain,” Mamm agreed.

  Becky shrugged.

  “Well, I guess I might as well just tell you since you’re too impatient to wait for the surprise.” Aunt Lucy huffed.

  “Surprise? What surprise?” Mamm and her sisters all looked at each other, then back to Aunt Lucy and Becky.

  “It’s going to be a double wedding tomorrow,” Aunt Lucy said calmly.

  Becky grinned.

  Mamm and her sisters looked at each other in confusion, as though trying to put the puzzle pieces together and figure out the mystery.

  “May I tell them?” Becky asked.

  “Go ahead.”

  “Aunt Lucy and Ezekiel are getting married tomorrow too!” She beamed.

  “What?” The three asked in unison.

&nb
sp; “Does Ben know this? Have you told him?” Mamm asked.

  “My brother has no idea unless Ezekiel or one of the other guys have said something to him,” Aunt Lucy said.

  “Ach, Aunt Lucy!” Ruby squealed and gave their aunt a hug. “Congratulations!”

  “I’m happy for you,” Janie said.

  “Wow, I still am having a hard time…” Mamm shook her head. “Are you sure this is what you want to do, Lucy?”

  “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have said yes.”

  “Wow. Well, Ezekiel seems like a pretty nice man.” Mamm assented.

  “Nice? He’s smokin’ for a man his age!” Aunt Lucy retorted.

  Becky and her sisters giggled.

  “Now, enough about me, I’ve got another little gift for Becky.” She handed Becky a gift bag. On it, the message said Best Day Ever.

  Jah, it would be.

  “I’m giving it to you, Becky, but I think Isaac will enjoy it the most.” Aunt Lucy grinned.

  She pulled out a gorgeous silky pink night dress with lace on the top portion. Ach…she blushed just thinking of wearing it in front of Isaac.

  “It’s okay, we’re all married here. Or have been. It’s no secret what husbands like.”

  “Ach, you guys are embarrassing me.” Becky giggled.

  “Just wait till you see what I got him to wear.” Aunt Lucy smiled.

  “You didn’t!” Becky thought her face might just burst into flames. Ach…

  “No, I’m just teasing you. I wouldn’t embarrass Isaac like that.”

  “Gut.” She sighed in relief.

  “I got you something too,” Janie said, handing her a box. “It’s not much.”

  “What is it?” Becky pulled the paper off, glad to be distracted from her last gift. “Ach, these are nice!”

  She held up two towels embroidered with the letter K. There were also a few bath items, including a loofah sponge, a back brush, a poufy thingy, and a pumice stone.

  “I thought that would go good with your soaps.”

  “Ach, jah. It will. Denki.”

  Ruby brought the last package forward. “Mamm and I pitched in and got you this together. We weren’t sure if you really needed it or not, so you can take it back to Walmart and exchange it for something else.” She shrugged.

  Becky opened up the package that included food storage containers, different sized mixing bowls, and quilted hot pads. “Ach, denki. I’m sure I can put these to good use. I love the pot holders.”

  She stood and offered each of them a hug. “Ach, denki for everything.” She wiped away a tear. “I wasn’t even expecting you to come and now all this. I am so blessed.”

  “I couldn’t not see my eldest dochder get married off, now could I?” Mamm smiled. “I’m just glad Der Herr picked out a gut one for you.”

  Becky chuckled. “I don’t think Der Herr picks out bad ones.”

  “Nee,” Ruby said, “We pick those on our own when we get impatient and don’t wait on Gott.”

  “Well, I’m glad I waited on Gott. I couldn’t imagine marrying anyone but Isaac. He’s so sweet. Did I show you my clock?”

  “Nee. I want to see it.” Janie smiled.

  “You’ll have to kumm upstairs. It’s in our room.” She smiled.

  “Our room?” Mamm’s brow shot up.

  Becky led the way up the staircase. “We call it our room although Isaac doesn’t sleep there yet,” she clarified.

  “He’ll be sleeping there plenty after tomorrow night,” Aunt Lucy added.

  Becky’s cheeks warmed again. Ach, would she always feel shy about becoming Isaac’s fraa?

  “Ach, your house is so wunderbaar!” Ruby exclaimed as they climbed the steps behind her.

  “Wait until you see the view from the balcony. It’s a dream.” She opened the door to her room.

  Janie gasped. “Ach, Becky! You even have your own fireplace?”

  “And bathroom.” She nodded, then opened the double doors and walked out onto the balcony.

  Her sisters followed along. “This is magnificent! Wow, I’m speechless.” Janie shook her head.

  Becky’s grin couldn’t stretch wider if she tried. Ach, she’d never smiled so much in her life. “Sometimes I can see Isaac out there working with the horses.” My husband, beginning tomorrow.

  “The quilt will look lovely on this bed,” Mamm eyed all the beautiful furnishings.

  “It’s the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on. It’s wunderbaar.”

  “This is nice,” Mamm noted, running her fingers over the bedpost.

  “I know. When I first came, I had to ask Isaac if this was okay. It hardly even seems Amish, ain’t so? I almost feel like an Englischer with everything so fancy.”

  “It would seem like this district is a bit faster than ours,” Mamm agreed.

  Becky moved to the clock and pushed one of the buttons. “Kumm, sisters.”

  Her sisters and Mamm watched in amazement the same way she had when she’d first seen the clock.

  “I’ve never even seen such a thing!” Ruby exclaimed.

  “I know. Don’t you just love it?” Becky beamed.

  “It is schee, for sure.”

  “Yep, that Isaac is a keeper,” Aunt Lucy chimed in.

  “Yes, he most definitely is.” Becky sighed in contentment.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Isaac took a deep breath as he carefully dressed and combed his hair for one of the most special days of his life. He still couldn’t get over the fact that he’d just met Becky a month ago.

  Dat had been so right.

  And to think that he almost hadn’t agreed to Dat’s plan. Ach, he would have been ab im kopp. A dummkopp, for sure.

  It was interesting to think about his doubts and fears then, in light of his present circumstances. Der Herr had it all figured out. All he had to do is walk by faith and let Gott lead him.

  Gott, help me to walk by faith every day of my life. Help me to lead Becky and the family You give us into paths of righteousness. Give me strength for this journey, Herr Gott.

  “You almost ready?” Becky’s brother walked in. He’d be one of their side sitters, they’d decided. They’d paired him up with one of the single young women in their g’may.

  “Jah, I was just praying.”

  His brow shot up. “Praying?”

  “Jah. Don’t you ever pray? Ask Der Herr for guidance? That sort of thing?”

  “Nee, not really.” He shook his head.

  “Why not?” Isaac frowned.

  “Why would I?”

  “Ach, I would think that you’d need His help.”

  “Why? What for? I mean, what does some judge in the sky have to do with my life? How can uttering prayers that nobody ever hears help me?”

  “Do you not have faith in Der Herr?”

  “Well, I’m Amish. That’s about as gut as I’m going to get.”

  “But why are you Amish?”

  Laban shrugged. “I was born this way. It’s all I know.”

  “But there is more to life than just being Amish.”

  “Oh, I know that. Why do you think I’ve been up in Montana so long?”

  “To hunt?”

  “Jah, to hunt. But also for freedom. I have a lot more liberty to do as I please there, without my folks and the leaders looking over my shoulder.”

  “But life isn’t about just doing as you please. We were made for Der Herr. To bring Him glory.”

  He chuckled. “Ach, you’re perfect for my sister. The two of you even talk the same way.”

  “I’m serious, Laban. Der Herr wants a relationship with you.”

  “A relationship?”

  “Jah. He wants to communicate with you every day. He wants to be your Heavenly Father.”

  “I thought He was.”

  “Nee, until you are born again, you are a child of the devil.”

  “What?”

  “Jah, it’s true. You have not been redeemed.”

  “Why do I need to
be redeemed?”

  “Because you are fallen. You are sinful.”

  “And you’re not?” Laban challenged, offended.

  “Jah, I am. But my sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus. That is the difference. And because of Jesus, I can go to Heaven. It is nothing that I did.”

  “I thought everyone was going to Heaven except the really bad guys.”

  “Nee, that is not true. Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. To be included in the book of life, you must accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and become born again.”

  “So, I have to be baptized into the church?”

  “Nee, the Apostle Paul said baptism doth not save. Only Jesus saves. Baptism shows that you are a follower of Gott.”

  “Well, then, how does one become born again?”

  “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

  “I don’t know about all that.” Laban shook his head.

  “Well, just think on it. Will you?”

  “Jah, I’ll think on it.”

  “Gut.” Isaac nodded. “Ach, I think it’s about time now. Should we go get the maed?”

  “Jah. Let’s do this. Mei schweschder has been waiting a long time for this day.”

  “Well, I hope she thinks I was worth the wait.”

  “Jah, she does. For sure.”

  ~

  Becky opened the door as soon as she heard the knock.

  “Ach, you just get prettier every time I see you.” Isaac’s grin stretched wide across his face. He leaned close and whispered, “I’d take you in my arms and kiss you right now if we didn’t have an audience.”

  Was she really marrying this wunderbaar man? If this is a dream, please don’t ever let me wake up.

  “You ready?” Isaac reached for her hand.

  “Jah, more than ready.” She smiled and placed her hand in his.

  “Gut. Let’s go.”

  ~

  The next three hours, filled with singing, praying, Scripture reading, and the taking of vows—times two—were hours Becky would remember for as long as she lived. To some, they would have wanted to rush through it to get to the food, the fellowship, the games, and of course, time alone with their spouse. And she was excited for those things too. But Becky wanted to cherish every moment of this day.