The Amish Millers Get Married BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: The Way Home, The Way Forward, The Narrow Way) (Boxed Set: Amish Millers Get Married)

by Ruth Hartzler

  "Nee, Esther, not with your back. You're not supposed to lift anything heavy."

  "My back feels okay now though."

  "Nee," Hannah scolded. "Remember that the doktor said that your back would feel gut long before it's healed? I did damage to my leg by walking on it much more than I should've."

  Esther nodded as Hannah placed all the clothes back in the tub, added fabric softener, and turned on the agitator again, pushing the clothes down with a plunger to submerge them under the hot water. This time she swung the wringer arm around and wrung out the clothes into the laundry basket.

  When Esther handed her a white shirt, Hannah said, "Nee, I don't wring out the white shirts. I let them dry on the line; it saves ironing."

  "I wish Mamm thought like you do," Esther said. "It takes me forever to iron all the wrinkled dresses, and Mamm's too fond of that horrible, old gas iron to replace it. I'm sure it's going to explode one day soon. When I marry, I'm going to hang all the dresses and shirts on the line without wringing them first to save me a lot of ironing."

  Hannah turned to her with a smile. "I thought you weren't getting married."

  Esther smiled. "Oh Hannah, that reminds me; I have something to tell you. Wait 'til we're hanging out the washing, though."

  Hannah carried out the laundry basket into the summer sun, and then turned the crank to bring in the double-lined clothesline. It was a lovely day for washing; the warm breeze would dry the washing quickly and infuse the clothes with the scent of lavender and the fruity scent of the Nanho Blue Butterfly Bushes growing nearby. True to their name, butterflies were clustering around the Nanho Blue bushes, and spilling over onto the nearby lavenders. Esther stopped for moment to look at the butterflies, some in colors of brilliant blues and others, reddish orange-brown with black spots.

  Esther picked up a shirt to pin on the line. "Hannah, you know what Mamm's like with matchmaking."

  "Hmm," Hannah replied, busily pinning clothes.

  "Mamm wants me to marry Amos."

  "Hmm." Hannah pinned another shirt to the line.

  "So Jacob and I are going to pretend that we're dating."

  Hannah stopped pinning clothes and turned to Esther. "What? Are you serious?"

  Esther was taken aback. "Why? Don't you think it's a gut idea?"

  Hannah stood there, and dropped a wet shirt back in the basket. "Whose idea was it?"

  "Why, mine of course. I told Jacob that Mamm was trying to matchmake me with Amos Troyer and asked him if he'd pretend to be dating me."

  Hannah took the shirt that Esther was about to pin from her. "Look, Esther, Jacob really likes you. Don't give him false hope; don't lead him on."

  Esther shook her head. "Nee, Hannah; it's not like that. Jacob and I are just friends." Why do I spend all my time telling everyone that Jacob and I are just friends? she thought, somewhat crossly.

  Amos 3:7.

  For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

  Chapter 6 .

  Church meetings were held every other week, and the following Sunday was one on which the church meeting fell. As Esther sat on one of the hard, backless, wooden benches in the Grabers' haus, she noted from time to time that Jacob was leaning forward and trying to catch her eye. She knew him well enough to realize that it was his way of signaling that he wanted to speak to her later, so when she stood up after kneeling for one of the long prayers, she nodded imperceptibly at him.

  Esther's mind floated away to when she and Jacob were children, and first skating on the pond together. She had been a little afraid at first, but then Jacob had taken her hand, and at once, all was right with the world. Esther had no idea why that memory had popped unbidden into her mind, for it was summer now, and many years later. She supposed that she had remembered the connection that she and Jacob had always had.

  The minister was preaching on moving forward, on not looking back to the past. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus," he quoted. The minister went on to explain that everyone should do everything that they can to keep moving forward in Gott's plan, rather than in their own plan.

  I hope Mamm's paying attention to the preaching, Esther thought, a little unkindly, and then she'll leave it to Gott to matchmake instead.

  The day grew hotter and more humid, and Esther was glad when the long service was over. She had nearly fallen asleep during the typically tremendously slow Singing followed by the lengthy preaching.

  While the haus was cleared so that that the benches could be converted to tables for eating, Esther walked outside to look for Jacob. She figured she didn't have long, as soon everyone would be ushered back for the meal, and the young men and women usually ate in separate shifts.

  To her dismay, Esther saw that Mary Graber had Jacob cornered near a tree by a horse pasture, and was talking to him in an animated fashion. Esther wandered over, trying to look casual. She swatted some flies away and screwed up her nose at the smell of horse manure. Esther loved the smell of horses, but the fresh manure on a hot day was not her favorite fragrance, especially as it attracted the annoying, buzzing flies.

  Jacob looked up with some relief when he caught Esther's eye. "Hiya, Esther!"

  "Hiya!" Esther returned his greeting. Mary turned around and it was clear to Esther that Mary wasn't too happy to see her.

  Mary didn't leave, so the three of them stood around awkwardly. Finally Mary broke the silence. "It's the Singing tonight," she said, stating the obvious.

  Jacob and Esther nodded. Jacob frowned at Esther as if to say, I need to talk to you.

  Esther raised her eyebrows at him as if to reply, What can I do about it?

  Mary continued, shooting a sidelong glance at Esther. "You're going to the Singing, aren't you, Jacob?"

  "Jah." Jacob looked at his feet, and another awkward silence ensued.

  Finally Esther decided to take matters into her own hands; time was running out and soon the women would be called inside to eat. "Jacob's driving me home after the Singing tonight."

  Mary gasped, and hurried away. Esther at once felt bad. "Sorry I told Mary that you were taking me home after the Singing, Jacob; is that all right? I just thought of it on the spur of the moment. Or did you want to take Mary home after the Singing?"

  "Nee, Esther, don't be silly. We're supposed to be dating, or have you forgotten already? Anyway, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I was actually going to suggest that I drive you home after the Singing, so that word will get out that we're dating."

  Esther swiped at a fly a few times until she realized that it was a bee. "So you don't mind that I said that then?" When Jacob shook his head and smiled at her, she continued. "Are you certain you don't like Mary though? She sure was upset when you said you were taking me home."

  "Jealous?" Jacob's eyes twinkled.

  "As if, Jacob Hostetler," Esther snapped. "As if. I'm being considerate, that's all. I don't want my own plans to ruin your future plans for a fraa."

  "You don't have to explain yourself to me, Esther," Jacob said in an amused voice. "If you say you're not jealous, then I'll believe you."

  "Hmmpf," Esther snorted. "You're the most infuriating mann."

  Esther went to strut off but Jacob caught her by the arm. "You'd better think something up next time instead of leaving it all to me."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I came up with the idea of driving you home from the Singing - well, you also thought of it, but I was about to suggest it. It's what courting couples do. You know, your mudder's no fool. She knows you don't like Amos and she could easily suspect that our dating's actually fake."

  Esther rubbed her chin. "Jah, gut point. I actually hadn't thought it through."

  At that moment, the women were called inside to eat. As Esther made to leave, s
he said, "I'll have to think up what else to do."

  "It's easy," Jacob said in a low tone, as Esther's schweschders were heading over to her. "Just think what dating couples usually do. How about I take you on a buggy ride soon? That'll put a stop to anyone's suspicions."

  "Jah!" Esther exclaimed. "That's brilliant, Jacob. Denki so much for all your help with this." Esther thought it over some more. "The only thing is, Martha and Rebecca will tease me relentlessly; I'm not sure it's such a gut idea after all."

  Jacob shrugged. "It's what dating couples do. What would you prefer, teasing, or your mudder pushing you and Amos together?"

  Martha and Rebecca had reached them, so Esther simply said, "Jah, you're right," before leaving Jacob to go inside the haus with Martha and Rebecca, feeling blessed that she had such a gut friend as Jacob, who was putting quite some effort into helping her pretend that the two of them were dating.

  Esther took her seat at the table in the room for the young women, flanked by Martha and Rebecca. "Why didn't you tell us?" Martha hissed.

  Esther reached for the kaffi pot. "What do you mean?'

  "Don't play innocent with us," Rebecca said in low tone. "We overheard what you said to Datt and Mamm last week. We were waiting for you to tell us, but you didn't." Her voice rose in indignation.

  Esther poured herself a mug of kaffi. "You two tease me too much," she said, hoping she wouldn't have to lie to her schweschders.

  "We knew anyway," Martha said.

  "You did?" Esther was puzzled.

  "Jah, we knew Jacob and you liked each other; everyone knows."

  Esther raised her eyebrows. "They do?"

  Esther made to take some bread but Rebecca moved the plate away from her. "Stop answering our questions with questions. We know all about you and Jacob, so there's nothing more to be said. We just wish you'd told us, that's all."

  "I'm sorry I didn't tell you both, truly. Now, Rebecca, eat some bread before you eat any schnitz pie."

  Rebecca rolled her eyes. "If I had der Bo, I'd tell you about it; it's not fair."

  "I'd tell you too," Martha said, "but my boyfriend will be Englisch; wait and see."

  Esther put her hands over her ears. "My whole familye's ferhoodled," she said to no one in particular.

  Her sisters didn't appear to be offended at being called crazy, and just tucked into the apple butter, bread, cheese, pickles, snitz pies, and Church spread of marshmallows and peanut butter.

  As Esther put some cheese onto her bread to make a sandwich, she felt eyes upon her. She looked up into the face of Jessie Yoder who had just arrived and taken a seat opposite her. Esther smiled automatically, but Jessie looked away, not before she had fixed Esther with a withering glare.

  Esther remembered then that Hannah told her some time ago that Jessie had a crush on Jacob. I hope I haven't put my foot in it, she thought. I must ask Jacob how he feels about Jessie. It seems obvious to me how Jessie feels about Jacob.

  * * *

  Jacob smiled to himself as he watched Esther walk away with her younger schweschders. Esther had suggested that he drive her home after the Singing later that night. Jacob wanted to jump up and down and scream with joy, even though on Esther's part, it was all pretence. Esther had held Jacob's heart for as long as he could remember, and he had always wanted to marry her.

  Esther had even seemed jealous, but Jacob didn't want to get his hopes up. Still, today had gone well.

  Jacob looked out at the horizon of rolling hills and trees. There was quite a wind today, and Jacob watched absently as it picked up leaves and spun them around. He looked up, and saw Jessie Yoder watching him from a window. He didn't know why, but a shiver ran up his spine.

  1 Samuel 16:7.

  But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

  Chapter 7 .

  The songs at the night Singings were never sung as slowly as were the hymns in the church meetings. The church meeting always used the Ausbund as their only hymn book, but at the night Singings, Heartland Hymns was the most used hymnal. Esther was strangely looking forward to tonight's Singing, although she couldn't really figure out why.

  Esther and her sisters often spent time socializing and fellowshipping with the other younger members of the community after the morning church meeting, but today, her mudder wanted all three girls at home.

  As Esther left in the familye buggy driven by her daed, she looked back wistfully at the youth enjoying themselves. Jacob caught her eye; he was talking to Jessie Yoder. The two of them were by themselves, several yards from the others. Esther felt a small pang of unease.

  Later that night, Esther was heartily singing In the Rifted Rock I'm Resting, one of the gospel songs in Heartland Hymns, when she saw Jacob looking at her. She smiled back, and a warm, fuzzy feeling enveloped her.

  As Esther sang the chorus, she thought about Jesus.

  Now I'm resting, sweetly resting,

  In the cleft once made for me;

  Jesus, blessed Rock of Ages,

  I will hide myself in Thee.

  She thought how Gott loved the world so much that he gave His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. She thought how we are reconciled to Gott though faith in the precious blood of Jesus.

  As Esther sang the last verse, her thoughts turned to Jacob.

  In the rifted rock I'll hide me,

  Till the storms of life are past;

  All secure in this blest refuge,

  Heeding not the fiercest blast.

  Esther considered that Gott had truly blessed her with a friend such as Jacob. Jacob had always been her refuge, someone she had always gone to when she was troubled by anything, from the time she was a little child.

  The heat of the gas lamps gradually raised the temperature of the humid summer night, and Esther's throat was dry from singing. When the community water cup was passed around, Esther took a deep gulp.

  The Singing finished around ten o'clock, and most people headed for the tables, not to eat, but to drink the water which was freely provided along with kaffi. Esther was so intent on relieving her parched throat that she didn't hear Amos walk up beside her.

  "Hiya, Esther."

  "Ach, hullo," Esther said with some surprise.

  Amos fidgeted on the spot. "Esther, would I be able to drive you home tonight?"

  Esther caught her breath. This was a disaster. Driving a girl home from a Singing was generally the first step in dating. "Nee, sorry, Amos, but Jacob's driving me home." Esther searched Amos's face for signs of disappointment, but to her surprise, he showed none. In fact, Esther even thought she could detect some relief. Perhaps his mudder's trying matchmaking too, against his will, Esther thought, pleased that she hadn't hurt Amos's feelings.

  Esther looked at her younger sisters, Martha and Rebecca, and saw that they were eating and standing with other. She cast her glance wider and saw that Jacob was taking to Jessie Yoder. They were standing close to each other.

  Her stomach immediately knotted and her heart thumped loudly. If Jacob wanted to date Jessie, he should've come straight out and told me, she thought. Esther wondered why she was so upset, but figured that it was due to the fact that she did not want her mudder to keep up her matchmaking efforts and try to force her onto Amos Troyer, who, from all appearances, was just as unwilling as she was.

  Jacob looked up and saw Esther's eyes on him. He said something to Jessie and walked over to Esther, leaving Jessie scowling after him.

  "Jacob, if you want to date Jessie, please don't let me stop you," she whispered. "I'd feel bad if you missed out on dating Jessie just to help me out."

  "Nee, I think Jessie has a little crush on me," Jacob whispered back.

  Esther nodded. "It seems to have been going on a long time."

  Jacob smiled his crooked smile, which made Esther's heart beat wide
ly, although she had no idea why. "I can't help it if girls find me irresistible."

  "Jacob!" Esther exclaimed. "Don't be so prideful. Eegeloob schtinkt." Self-praise stinks.

  Jacob chuckled. "So you're not denying that I'm irresistible?"

  Esther rolled her eyes and gave his arm a playful swipe.

  Jacob ducked out of the way. "Anyway, do you want me to drive you home now, or do you want to stay around and eat first?"

  Esther caught a glimpse of Jessie's narrowed eyes. "Let's go; we can eat something at my haus."

  Jacob raised his eyebrows. "So, we're carrying it as far as that, are we? Eating at your haus?"

  "Jah," Esther hissed, "of course; Mamm's the main person we have to fool so we have to do what a dating couple would normally do, or she'll be suspicious. Well, only if it's okay with you, of course," she added.

  "Of course I don't mind. No point in taking half measures." He looked quite pleased with himself.

  Esther stared at Jacob. There was something behind his tone, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

  "Why are you staring at me?"

  Esther put her finger to her chin. "You're up to something, aren't you?"

  "Who me?" Jacob put both his hands in the air and then chuckled. "Anyway, come along, Mei Lieb, I had better be driving you home."

  When Jacob called Esther My Love, her stomach twisted into one big knot and her heart fluttered. She knew that Jacob was only saying that to keep up appearances, but the thought of a handsome mann calling her My Love made her tremble delightfully, even if that mann was only Jacob.

  As Esther sat next to Jacob in his open-topped courting buggy, a thought occurred to her. "Jacob, why have you never taken a girl home after Singing?"

  Jacob looked over at her and smiled. "Well, I am now."

  Esther rolled her eyes again. Jacob always had that effect on her. "You know what I mean."

  Jacob just shrugged and kept driving.

  "I see you're dressed in your for-gut clothes," Esther continued. She looked at Jacob, his strong hands holding the reins, his kind face with its strong jaw, and his better-than-usual clothes.