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

  "It's very gut, Esther," was Amos's polite reply before he went back to speaking to Martha. "Can you cook well too, Martha?"

  "I don't know how well I cook, but I'm going to have my own chocolate business."

  Esther noticed her mudder moved uncomfortably in her seat. That was obviously not the response she was hoping for.

  Esther was relieved when the time came for her to place the cheesecake and shoo-fly pies on the table, as it signaled that dinner had nearly come to an end. She would not have too much longer to endure her mudder's enthusiastic matchmaking.

  * * *

  Later in the week, Esther was hanging out laundry. Black clouds were gathering in the sky, and Esther wanted the washing to dry before the storm hit. Esther loved thunderstorms, the feeling of serenity in the air, the feeling of anticipation, and the change in the air's atmosphere.

  Esther heard the sound of footsteps, and turned to see Jacob. Her heart always beat a little faster when Jacob was around.

  "Hullo, Esther."

  "Hiya, Jacob. You appeared out of nowhere; I didn't hear you drive up." She looked long and hard at Jacob. His usual smile was gone.

  "I've been trying to get a break in work to speak to you for a while. I heard you had Amos over for dinner again."

  Esther screwed up her nose. "Jah, my mudder invited him again."

  Jacob looked down at his feet. "Doesn't she know about us? Haven't you told her?"

  Esther stared into his face and saw that his usual crooked smile was replaced by a worried frown. "Jacob, you look so worried. It's as if you think that we're dating – for real." Esther laughed, and pinned a shirt on the line.

  Jacob's head hung low.

  "Jacob Hostetler, we are pretending to date and nothing more." Surely he wasn't mistaken about our deal, she thought. Nee, of course he knew that we were pretending to date and nothing more.

  Jacob's chin came up. "Jah, of course I know that. I'm just thinking of you and making it real. If we were dating for real and your mudder kept trying to match you up with someone else, then I'd be upset, wouldn't I?"

  Esther was ashamed of what she had just said to Jacob. He was trying to help her and she'd taken it the wrong way. "Forgive my harsh words, Jacob."

  "No words that come from your mouth could ever be harsh, Esther."

  Esther looked into his eyes as he spoke and she saw a gentleness that she had never seen in another person before. She considered that Gott had blessed her with a gut and kind friend.

  James 2:14-17.

  What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

  Chapter 10 .

  Esther, her parents, and her schweschders, Martha and Rebecca, arrived at the barn-raising at dawn, eager to help their neighbors, John and Lydia Glick, whose barn had been struck by lightning and had subsequently burned down.

  Many buggies were already there and parked along the side of the dirt road, their horses already unhitched and grazing in the field. The community's bench wagon was already there too, and men were unloading the tables and benches for the meals which would be served later in the day. Today the men would complete the whole timber frame structure of the new barn. The foundation had already been laid and the concrete had set.

  The early morning mist eddied its way down the surrounding hills. Esther loved this time of day; it always brought with it a promise of what the day could bring. She wondered what Jacob was doing, and then saw him; he was one of the menner already hammering away. A crane and operator had been hired, and Esther started up at it for a few moments.

  Esther and her schweschders helped their mudder unload the food they had brought with them, pans of roasting chicken, loaves of freshly baked bread, and countless pies. They carried all the containers of food into the Glicks' haus, where the women would spend the morning cooking.

  It was quieter in the haus; the only sound outside was the noisy hammering. Rebecca set to work making ham and cheese sandwiches, while Martha helped other women peel potatoes for the mashed potatoes and potato salad to be served later. Esther got to work making pastry. She had to make a considerable amount of pastry, as many varieties of pies were planned: rhubarb pie, sour cherry pie, black walnut pie, sour cream raisin pie, lemon custard pie, and coconut custard pie.

  Esther was busily rubbing the butter into the flour with her fingertips, when Jessie Yoder appeared at her shoulder, and looked at the large bowl. Esther was somewhat unnerved, but simply said, "Hullo, Jessie."

  Jessie took the bowl from her. "You're doing that all wrong, Esther," she said. "You're taking too long; you'll make the dough hot, and you're squashing all the air out. It won't be light."

  Esther knew she was doing it correctly; she had done it many times before and her pastry always turned out well. However, she did not want to argue with Jessie, so simply fetched another bowl, more flour and butter, and found a vacant spot on the other side of the kitchen. Soon Esther was kneading the pastry, but Jessie came over again. "Don't knead it so hard, Esther. You're overworking it. It's going to be tough."

  Esther rolled her eyes. "Here, Jessie, how about you make the pastry, and I'll go and peel potatoes."

  "Well, there's no need to be rude, Esther," Jessie said in a raised voice. "I was only trying to help." Jessie then strutted away.

  All the ladies turned to look, and Betsy Yoder, Jessie's mother, frowned at Esther disapprovingly. Esther wished she could sink through the floor; she was so embarrassed. She wished she could say, It wasn't me; it was her, but of course she couldn't.

  Esther's morning did not improve. She was working near the hot oven, and the day was growing warmer. Jessie didn't speak to her again, but every time she glanced up, Jessie shot her an irritated look before looking away. Esther wished lunch would hurry, so she could go out into the fresh air to take food to the menner. Maybe she would have a chance to speak to Jacob; that would lift her spirits.

  The morning passed quickly. With so much food to prepare, Esther barely had time to think. She helped the other ladies carry out vast amounts of food: roasted chickens, cold cuts, mashed potato, gravy, creamed celery, corn, applesauce, fruit salad, pickled relish, potato salad, coleslaw, tapioca pudding, and all manner of scrumptious pies and large tubs of ice cream and fruit salad.

  Soon the munching sounds made by the menner were rivaled only by the munching sounds of the buggy horses in the field nearby.

  Esther deposited platters of bread, butter, and jelly on the tables. She saw where Jacob was, and intended to go to his table next, but Jessie beat her to it. "Here you are, Jacob," she gushed, "I have a schnitz und knepp just for you. I know how much you like apples and dumplings. I made it just for you."

  The menner at the table turned to look, and John Graber, who was sitting next to Jacob, gave Jacob a congratulatory pat on the back. Jacob hung his head and slid down on the bench a little. Esther stopped in her tracks; she had no wish to go over to Jacob now, not now that Jessie was there and making a scene. How does she know what Jacob likes? Esther thought, with a flash of irritation and perhaps a pinch of jealousy. Well, I suppose Jessie's over at the Hostetlers' haus a lot. Besides, I full well know she didn't make that schnitz und knepp at all; it was one of the older ladies who made it.

  Jacob looked up and met her eye. His expression was pinched. Esther turned to another table, but too late realized that Amos was at that table.

  "Hiya, Esther! Wie gehts?" His voice was loud and booming.

  "Hiya, Amos. I'm gut, thank you. I have to go and get more bread." Esther scurried back to the haus, but not before she caught a glimpse of Jacob's troubled face.

  When Esther arrived in the haus, the women were grouped around Hannah. "I'm all right now," she protested.
"It was just that the smell of the meat suddenly made me feel badly nauseous for some reason; I don't know why. Perhaps I'm coming down with the flu."

  All the older women's hands flew to their mouths in unison. Mrs. Miller stepped forward, beaming widely. Esther couldn't remember the last time that she had seen her mudder look so pleased.

  Esther and Hannah exchanged looks, and Hannah raised her eyebrows. "What's going on?"

  "Silly child," her mudder scolded. "Maybe there's a boppli on the way, jah?"

  Hannah sat down on the first available chair, a look of shock on her face. Mrs. Miller smiled over at Noah's mother, Katie Hostetler, who was also highly excited. Perhaps this boppli will bring reconciliation between our familyes, Esther thought, while still trying to take in the fact she might be an aenti one day soon.

  Hannah held up a hand. "Nee, nee, it's too early to tell, really."

  "Don't worry, we won't tell the menner yet," Mrs. Miller said. "Hannah, you should go home and rest."

  "I'm not an invalid," Hannah protested, "and it's probably only the flu."

  That brought muffled laughter from all the older women present.

  Noah's mudder, Katie, stepped forward. "Your mudder's right, Hannah. Since the smell of the food is making you sick, you should go home and rest. I'll drive you."

  Mrs. Hostetler nodded. "Denki."

  Esther started at her mudder. Had she actually thanked Mrs. Hostetler, and with genuine thanks too? Maybe Gott was already working through this boppli, although, as Esther reminded herself, no one was as yet certain that there was a boppli on the way.

  With Hannah gone, Esther set herself to carrying out the pies that she had spent all morning making. She looked around but couldn't see Jessie, so headed straight for Jacob's table. Yet again, Jessie popped up as if from nowhere, and placed a pie directly in front of Jacob. "I know sour cherry pie is your favorite pie, Jacob, and I made it especially for you."

  Esther felt as if she had a bad case of déjà vu, with Jessie's repeat performance. Jacob was slumping down in his seat, just like he did earlier.

  "How was your schnitz und knepp, Jacob?" Jessie leaned right over Jacob.

  "Go on," one of the men encouraged him, "tell her it was appeditlich." The menner all smiled. It was obvious to Esther than the menner at the table thought that Jacob and Jessie were courting, and this made her mad, so mad in fact, that she had to set her jaw and clench her teeth to stop saying anything. Esther would have liked to have said, I made that sour cherry pie, not Jessie, and, He's mine; stay away from him!

  It was only as she lay in bed that night, listening to the late rain beating rhythmically on the tin roof of the workshop, that she wondered why she was, in fact, so dreadfully upset about people thinking that Jessie and Jacob were courting.

  Daniel 2:28.

  But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these.

  Chapter 11 .

  Esther was sitting at the Hostetlers' kitchen table. For the first time since she had asked Jacob to fall in with her plan and pretend that they were dating, she felt bad. Throwing her own mudder off the track was one thing, but she had no wish to deceive the Hostetlers.

  The Hostetlers appeared delighted that she was dating Jacob, a fact which made Esther feel even worse. Mrs. Hostetler had refused her offer of help with the dinner, so she sat talking to Mr. Hostetler, Jacob, and Jacob's two younger bruders, Moses and Elijah. They put her at her ease at once, and she enjoyed spending time with the happy familye.

  Of course, it was easier as her sister, Hannah, was married to Noah, the oldest Hostetler boy, and Hannah worked part time for Mrs. Hostetler in her quilt store. After Mrs. Hostetler returned with beef soup with dumplings, she chatted for a while about Hannah and the quilt store, but the conversation was soon cut short by the clip clop of hooves approaching the haus.

  Mr. Hostetler turned to his wife, "Are you expecting anyone, Katie?"

  "Nee." Mrs. Hostetler shrugged.

  Mr. Hostetler went outside, and soon returned with Jessie Yoder, who bounced into the room looking quite smug. "Hullo, Mrs. Hostetler. My mudder sent me over with this for you."

  "Denki, how kind of her." Mrs. Hostetler took the basket and looked inside. "Oh, lovely, walnut gingerbread. Please thank your mudder for me. Won't you have dinner with us?"

  Esther's stomach churned. People visited each other at dinner time without notice all the time, but this could not be a coincidence. Jessie Yoder had her sights firmly set on Jacob, and she was not going to make it easy for Esther. Esther suspected that Mrs. Hostetler was aware of Jessie's ploy, but it was the done thing in their community to invite people for dinner.

  Jessie sat on the spare chair next to Jacob, opposite Esther. She sat a little too close to Jacob for Esther's liking, and even Jacob gradually moved his chair a little further away from her.

  Just look at her, Esther thought. Could she be any more obvious? Doesn't she realize that Jacob likes me, not her? Then Esther caught herself. What am I thinking? I'm playing my part too well; I almost thought I was dating Jacob for real. The thought that she was jealous for a moment unsettled her. I do have an over active imagination, like Mamm said, she thought.

  Jessie looked at Esther from under her eyelashes. "How is Amos?"

  "Amos?" Esther wanted to snap, "How should I know?" but caught herself in time. Instead she said, "I don't know. I'm sure he's fine."

  Jessie simply narrowed her eyes and continued to glare at Esther. The familye ate in silence, which Esther figured was due to Jessie's unsettling presence. It was well known throughout the community that Jessie had a crush on Jacob and it looked as if she was going to put up a fight for him.

  * * *

  Jacob was not happy that Jessie Yoder had dropped in out of the blue. He didn't wish to be harsh with her, but he had never given her any hint that he returned her affections, yet she had been pursuing him for ages. He also didn't appreciate the snide remarks she frequently made about Esther. What's more, only the other day, Jessie had reported to him that Amos had been to the Millers again for dinner, and that Mrs. Miller had told her gut friend Betsy, Jessie's mother, that Esther would marry Amos if she had anything to do with it.

  That had unsettled Jacob. While he knew that Mrs. Miller could not force Esther to marry anyone, she could certainly apply plenty of pressure, and he had seen for himself just what a forceful person Mrs. Miller was. He was glad that Esther had not taken after her in temperament.

  Psalm 44:21.

  Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

  Chapter 12 .

  When the last piece of sour cherry pie had been polished off, Jessie stood up. "Denki, Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler. I'd better be going now so I can help my mudder."

  It was all Esther could do not to breathe a loud sigh of relief. She wouldn't have guessed that Jessie would leave the second that dinner was over; she'd suspected she would stay around for ages.

  Seconds later, there was a loud yell, and everyone leaped to their feet and hurried outside. Jessie was lying, crumpled, on the ground, at the bottom of the stairs.

  Mr. Hostetler reached her first and helped her sit up. She clutched her ankle in a rather dramatic fashion, and then reached out her hands for Jacob. He looked around at everyone and then took a step closer to Jessie.

  "I've broken my foot." Jessie made little, crying sounds, but Esther couldn't see any actual tears. I'm sure this is an all act to get Jacob's attention, she thought, and then hoped she wasn't being unkind.

  "Jacob, take me to the hospital."

  Mrs. Hostetler came forward and spoke to her husband. "Take her into the haus, Reuben, and Moses, you can go fetch the doktor."

  "Nee!" Jessie's screech reached ear-splitting proportions. "Nee! It's broken, I tell you; take me to the doktor!"

  Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler exchanged glances. "All
right then, I'll take you to the doktor," Mrs. Hostetler said.

  "I'll go harness up Barney," Mr. Hostetler added, and hurried to the barn.

  "Nee!" Jessie screeched again, reaching out her arms for Jacob. "I want Jacob to take me."

  Jacob stood a step back and looked at Esther, his forehead furrowing into a deep frown.

  "All right then. Jacob, take Jessie to the doktor." Mrs. Hostetler gave Jacob a sympathetic look as she said it. "Jessie, you had better not come around here again until your ankle is well healed."

  Esther bit back a smile at Mrs. Hostetler's words. Her smile was short lived, however. As Mr. Hostetler brought the buggy up to where Jessie was sitting, Jessie flung her arms around Jacob's neck. He helped her stand up, but she collapsed back onto the ground. "It hurts; it hurts! You'll have to carry me, Jacob."

  Jacob sighed out loud, and then bent down to pick up Jessie. He picked her up easily, and carried her the short distance to the buggy where he deposited her on the front seat. Esther would have admired his strength if it not were for the fact that she was distracted by her irritation with Jessie. She had been having a nice dinner with the Hostetler familye, and Jessie had ruined all that.

  Before he drove off, Jacob called to Esther. "Sorry about this Esther; I'll call on you tomorrow." With that, he clicked up Barney and they drove off in the direction of the doktor's haus.

  Mrs. Hostetler put her arm around Esther's shoulders. "Come inside and wait for Jacob; I don't think it'll be long before he returns. I'm sure the doktor won't find much wrong with Jessie's ankle."

  Esther nodded and allowed herself to be led back inside. She sat at the kitchen table while Mr. Hostetler, Moses, and Elijah went into the living room.

  Esther sat wringing her hands while Mrs. Hostetler went to make some hot garden tea. Surely Jacob isn't in love with Jessie? she thought. He didn't look too happy to have to take her to the doktor's, although it was obvious that she was faking that fall. What if Jacob and Jessie planned it all to have some time alone? What if Jacob is only helping me because he's a gut friend, and doesn't want to tell me that he's in love with Jessie? That would explain why Jessie is so angry with me, she thought. A tight knot formed in the pit of her stomach.