by Linda Byler
11749 was the Petersheim place, but the fact that John had bought it and now lived there somehow eluded Ruth on that snowy morning. It must have been the minimal amount of sleep. Five hours of it, to be exact.
She walked along the winding driveway. It was on level ground with great trees on either side, and beyond them the whispering snow fell, creating a scene from some other world, a fictional land.
The house had two stories with a porch along the front. There was stone of brown and gray, low windows and a massive front door, alcoves, dark beige siding, and roofs of various levels.
It couldn’t be the Petersheim place. It looked like an English house, almost. Oh my.
Ruth had never actually been at the house before. Her church district stopped at the end of Hoosier Road, so a neighboring district had their church services there.
There was a large barn, a shop, a stone sidewalk that had been swept clear of snow. There were pine trees and bird feeders alive with colorful winter birds. Brilliant red cardinals vied for position with bold blue jays, and anxious little black-capped chickadees twittered about, while the wily nuthatches climbed down tree trunks headfirst.
The shrubs were numerous, trimmed with a shelf of snow. Oh, what a beautiful home. Hesitant now, her steps slowed. Carefully, she placed one foot on the stone sidewalk and looked at the house.
The front door moved, opening from inside. John Beiler stood in the doorway and welcomed her to his home. Blank, her mind not comprehending, she stopped.
“But…”
His heart pounded now, afraid.
“Come in. You must be cold.”
“No.”
“Aren’t you?”
“No. I just don’t understand.”
She stopped by the front door and pulled off her boots, one gloved hand going to the stone wall to steady herself. John told her to bring them into the house, and she set them carefully on the rug inside the door before looking up into his face. He was so pale, so obviously ill at ease.
“Why did you ask me to come to here? It was you, wasn’t it? What did Mamie have to do with this? What’s going on?”
Ruth looked so bewildered, so at a loss. John was so terribly unsure of himself, too. He knew he couldn’t wait until he’d shown her around the house to say what he had planned, so he left caution behind and put his hands on her shoulders, which were still wet from the snow.
“I’m nervous, Ruth. I….oh, come here.”
He pulled her into his arms, lifted her face after a few moments, looked deeply into her eyes, and slowly lowered his head. She closed her eyes as his lips met hers, hesitantly, afraid somehow, but her love spoke to him, and he kissed her with a new and wonderful love of his own.
“Ruth. Ruth.”
It was all he could say.
Tears streamed down her face, cleansing her of the months of grief and loneliness, the doubts and fears, the fires of widowhood, the times when she thought she could not go on for one more day.
When he realized she was crying, John was concerned, afraid he’d done everything all wrong.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have. Ruth, please.”
Clumsily, he handed her his red handkerchief, and she unfolded it to wipe her eyes and blow her nose, telling him she must look awful.
“But why are you crying?”
“I guess because I’m here, and you just kissed me, and it’s been so long, and being alone with six children is so hard sometimes. And because I love you so much.”
He drew in his breath.
“I’m sorry, John. I just do. I know you’re supposed to say that first, but…”
“I love you, Ruth.”
“As I love you.”
Then he took both her hands and held them together against his chest and said, “Will you marry me, Ruth?”
“Yes, I will. But not till April.”
“I figured.” And he kissed her again with a newfound possessiveness, and she felt her whole world tilt and right itself, the stars in her eyes and heart a harbinger of things to come.
“Do the children know?”
“Oh, yes. And Mamie.”
“Which means Ephraim and Hannah and whoever else she could get ahold of.”
They laughed together, then, warm and comfortable, as easily as if they had known each other forever.
He took her hand and led her throughout the house. As they moved from room to room, she realized how incredible it really was. The upstairs was still empty, but she noted that the children could have their own rooms now. And there was a guest room and two—no, three—bathrooms. The kitchen was far too beautiful, and she told John so. He replied that she deserved everything, all of it. They would buy bunk beds for Elmer as Roy would still want to share a room with his brother.
Ruth suddenly stopped. She looked at John and asked if they would always remember to place their trust in God in such a place. She was afraid she’d forget to do that, living here with him.
“I mean, John, that isn’t…ach, how can I say it? For months, I’ve had to trust God to help me daily. With things like the coal fire in the basement, the propane tanks—everything Ben always took care of, and now I cannot begreif (comprehend) the safety and security of living here with you.”
She slipped her small, soft hand into his large, strong one, and he held it as carefully and as reverently as he knew how as they stood in silence. Some things just had to stay in the heart until the right time, he decided. He had a whole lifetime ahead of him to speak of his love and to distribute it over the years, enriching their marriage repeatedly and building that love into a satisfying union that eclipsed all expectations.
The snow fell around them, the pine tree branches bending with the weight of it, as they stood hand in hand on Christmas Day. Ruth’s heart was full with the richness of the many sudden and unexpected blessings in her life—ones that she would never be able to take for granted following the lonely and difficult months she had endured. She knew her days as an arme vitve would enrich her life with John far above anything of earthly value.
The End
—
Arme vitve — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “poor widow.”
Begreif — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “comprehend.”
Chide — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “right.”
Dat — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word used to address or refer to one’s father.
Denke — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “thank you.”
Dienna’s frau — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “minister’s wife.”
Do net — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “don’t.”
Doddy — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word used to address or refer to one’s grandfather.
Fa-recht — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “for real.”
Fasht dag — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “fast day.” October eleventh is the day most Amish people set aside as a day of fasting and prayer in order to prepare themselves for the fall communion services. Another fast day takes place in the spring on Good Friday.
Fa-schnopped — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “gave away” as in “revealed.”
Gay — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “go.”
Gel — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “right.”
Gooka-mol — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “let me see.”
G’mya — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “g’morning.”
Huvvel — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “planer” or “grater.” It can be used to designate someone who works with these tools.
Ich gleich dich so arich — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “I love you so much.”
Kaevly — A Pennsylv
ania Dutch dialect word meaning “basket.”
Komm — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “come.”
Kesslehaus — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “wash house.”
Luscht Gartlein — A devotional book used by the Amish that can be translated as “Lust Garden” or “Love Garden” because it encourages the development of a spiritual lusting or longing after God.
Machs uf — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “open it.”
Mam — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word used to address or refer to one’s mother.
Mommy — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word used to address or refer to one’s grandmother.
Of age — One is considered “of age” at 21 years old.
Ordnung — The Amish community’s agreed-upon rules for living based on their understanding of the Bible, particularly the New Testament. The ordnung varies from community to community, often reflecting leaders’ preferences, local customs, and traditional practices.
Rissling — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “sleeting.”
Rumspringa — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “running around.” It refers to the time in a person’s life between age sixteen and marriage. It involves structured social activities in groups, as well as dating, and usually takes place on the weekends.
Sark — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “care for.”
Sark feltich — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “caring.”
Schnae — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “snow.”
Schnitzing — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “fibbing.”
Schputting — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “mocking.”
Schtruvvels — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “stray hairs.”
Sei — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “his.” In communities where many people have the same first and last names, it is customary for the husband’s name to be added to that of his wife so it is clear who is being referred to.
Shay — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “pretty.”
Siss net chide — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “it isn’t right.”
Sits ana — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “sit down.”
Undankbar — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “unthankful.”
Unfashtendich — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “senseless.”
Vee bisht doo — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “how are you?”
Zeit-lang — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect word meaning “loneliness and longing.”
Ztvett Grishtdag — A Pennsylvania Dutch dialect phrase meaning “Second Christmas.” This is the day after Christmas when many Amish people continue their holiday celebrations with their large, extended families.
Linda Byler was raised in an Amish family and is an active member of the Amish church today. Growing up, Linda loved to read and write. In fact, she still does. Linda is well-known within the Amish community as a columnist for a weekly Amish newspaper.
Linda is the author of the Lizzie Searches for Love series, the Sadie’s Montana series, as well as the Lancaster Burning series, which includes the novels Fire in the Night and Davey’s Daughter. She is also the author of The Little Amish Matchmaker, as well as Lizzie’s Amish Cookbook: Favorite recipes from three generations of Amish cooks!
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Good Books
Cover design by Koechel Peterson & Associates, Inc.
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