by Sarah Price
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. This time, Mary didn’t have to wonder who it was. Surely it was John.
She watched as Bethany hurried over to the door to let him in, a quickness to her daughter’s step that brought a wistful smile to Mary’s lips. Young love was always a special time in a person’s life. Over the years, Mary had always enjoyed attending weddings and witnessing the coming together of two young—and sometimes not so young—people for a lifelong union. The thought that, just maybe, her daughter would soon be standing before the congregation to exchange her vows before the bishop, claiming John Esh as her husband, a lifelong commitment before God, made her feel warm inside.
John entered the kitchen and paused, sniffing at the air. “It sure does smell like Christmas in here!”
His cheerful greeting brightened the room. “You think so?”
He nodded. “Oh ja. I definitely smell cranberries.”
Mary gestured toward the mold on the counter. “We just finished making the Christmas mold.”
John glanced at it. “If it’s as good as it smells, I’ll be certain to have two helpings of it.”
“Just wait until you taste my maem’s corn casserole,” Bethany said. “It’s always a favorite on the Christmas table.”
The compliment made Mary flush. While she always enjoyed cooking, she wasn’t used to hearing such flattery. “Oh, now.” She waved her hand at Bethany, modestly dismissing her words. “No more so than Edna’s, I’m sure.” Turning her attention to John, she motioned for him to take a seat at the table. “We won’t be finished for you to bring food home with you, I’m afraid. But please sit. Bethany can fetch you some coffee while I finish up supper.”
He made himself comfortable, removing his coat and hanging it from a peg on the wall near the door. “Feels like snow out there again. Sure am glad that we got all that wood cut up. Will be cold working outside this upcoming week.”
“Looks like it’ll be a snowy winter this year, that’s for sure.” Mary took a mug out and handed it to Bethany. “And your maem? Is she ready for Christmas Eve? Such a lot of work for her after she’s been so busy these past few months.”
Once Bethany had given John the coffee, she stood by his chair as if wondering what to do. Mary tilted her head toward the table, urging her daughter to join John.
“Oh ja, she’s busy as all get-out today.” He sipped the coffee. “But she always was a hard worker.” He set down the mug and examined Bethany with great regard. “Mayhaps that’s why you got on so well with her. You bustle about, too. Active like a little bee!”
Mary watched her daughter blush.
It was heartwarming to listen as John playfully teased Bethany.
A few minutes later, John stood up. “Well, I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to renege on supper tonight.”
Mary heard Bethany catch her breath.
“Oh?” She sounded disappointed.
“Ja, I’m terribly sorry.”
Mary felt just as saddened by his announcement. She’d been looking forward to getting to know John better. “Is everything all right?”
“Oh ja, right as rain. Or snow, in this case.” He gave a little laugh. “Something came up and I’ve an unexpected errand in town. I need to get there before the stores close and then get back to the farm.” He leveled his gaze at Bethany. “But, if you’ve a moment, mayhaps you’d walk outside with me to the buggy?”
As they walked to the door, John paused to collect his coat. Mary saw him observing Bethany reach for her shawl.
“Ach! Not that shawl!” He made a tsk, tsk noise as he shook his head. “It’s too cold. You’ll get sick.”
“Germs make people sick, not the cold air,” she said as she pulled the shawl over her shoulders. “Plus, I like my shawl.”
He made a face at her. “You’ll catch the flu and will miss all the holiday festivities.” He wagged his finger at her. “You’ll miss your maem’s corn casserole!”
She smiled at him as he opened the door, and she slipped under his arm.
Mary stood near the counter, watching from the window as John took Bethany’s arm and helped her down the stairs. Just as John had predicted, a few flurries were falling from the sky, a soft blanket beginning to grace the tips of the bare trees and ground. As they crossed the yard, they left footprints behind.
Sighing, Mary turned away and gazed across the room. There was a feeling of emptiness there, one that she suspected she’d have to get used to soon enough. It was a bittersweet realization that it might be a foreshadowing of what life would be like in the future if John and Bethany did marry.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Her heart pounded as she walked beside him. He didn’t stop at the horse and buggy but guided her along the driveway. They moved together, their feet in tandem as they made their way to the edge of the property.
“Something happened today,” John said quietly.
She lifted her face, the tiny snowflakes brushing against her cheeks, so that she could see him better. He stared straight ahead, wearing a serious expression. She hoped that whatever he had to tell her wasn’t bad news. And then she remembered that he’d told her earlier in the week that he had to discuss something with her. But whatever had happened today couldn’t have been related to that.
“What is it?”
He stopped walking and shoved his hands into his coat pockets. He appeared to be avoiding looking at her, and that caused Bethany a moment of concern.
“I did what you suggested, Bethany.”
Her mouth dried and she had trouble swallowing. What had she told him to do?
“And . . . I never would’ve had the courage to do it if you hadn’t pushed me.”
Her eyes widened. She didn’t remember pushing him to do anything at all.
“Now I have the chance to do everything I’ve wanted to do in life.” His blue eyes sought hers. “All thanks to you.”
She narrowed her eyes, trying to make sense of what he was telling her. “I’m sure I don’t understand.”
He reached out and hesitated just a moment before he took her hand in his. “The farm. Daed says I’m to return to the farm full-time after the New Year.”
Bethany caught her breath. She knew how John had wanted that to happen, and she remembered encouraging him to talk to his father. She hadn’t realized that he had actually followed her suggestion. “Oh, John! That’s wunderbarr gut news!” How happy she was for him!
He nodded his head. “And both Jonas and Jeremiah will be working off the farm.”
At this news, Bethany frowned. “I don’t understand.”
John gave a nervous laugh. “Daed’s going to leave the farm to me, Bethany. That’s what it means. Neither of those two ever wanted to be a farmer. But because I was older, I had to look for a job off the farm.”
“But both of them? Won’t that mean more work for you? You’ll be doing the work of two men.”
He made a face. “Have you seen them work?”
An image of John’s two brothers came to mind. “You have a point.”
He laughed again and tightened his grip on her hand. “There’s more, though, Bethany. Remember I said I wanted to talk with you about something?”
She nodded.
“Well, I wanted to talk to my daed first and knew I’d have to wait to hear his decision. You see, even though I’ll now have the farm, there’s still something missing.”
“Oh?”
“I can’t run the farm like this.”
Stunned, Bethany stared at him. What did he mean by that? It was what he had told her he wanted. “But I thought you wanted to run the farm. What could possibly be missing?”
He took a deep breath. “I do want to run the farm, but I can’t. Not alone.”
She didn’t understand. Wasn’t his father still going to help him?
“Mayhaps I’m not saying it right, Bethany.” He shuffled his feet as he stood before her. “I want to run that farm, but I can’t. Not u
nless I have you by my side.”
Standing before him, his hand holding hers, Bethany felt light-headed. Oh! How she had hoped and prayed that this might be what John wanted to talk to her about. But now that he had said the words, she almost didn’t believe she had heard him properly. Had he truly just said that he wanted to marry her? Or did he mean something else?
“I . . . I think I know what you’re saying.”
He laughed. “I’m not saying anything, Bethany Ropp. I’m asking. I’m asking you to marry me and move onto the farm.”
She felt dizzy and was thankful that he was holding her hand. “Oh.”
“You said you wanted to live away from town,” he hurried on. “And I want to give that to you. I want to help you grow a big garden so you can have those canning bees in the late summer—”
“I’d have no one to invite!”
“I’d come, Bethany. And so would your maem!”
Her heart pounded, and she had to will herself to breathe. “Where would we live?”
“We’ll stay in the main house until I can build us a dawdihaus that we can move into come spring.” He bent his knees so that he could stare at her eye-level. “And you could help my maem with her business. Mayhaps, as she grows older, you could even take it over.”
She gasped. “Take it over?”
He nodded. “She won’t want to do that forever. And you bake the most wonderful pies.”
“How do you know?”
His eyes sparkled. “Maem saved some for us. You’d have people coming from all over the state just to sample your apple pie, that’s for sure and certain.”
“But . . .” Her mind whirled with a dozen questions. How could she run a business? Would she have to move away from her mother? When would they tell their families? And yet, as she looked into John’s eyes, she knew there was only one question that truly mattered, and that was whether or not she wanted to spend the rest of her life with the man standing before her.
John must’ve read her mind. “So, what do you say, Bethany? Will you marry me after the New Year? Shall I talk to the bishops tomorrow after worship?”
She nodded, slowly at first and then with more emphasis. “John Esh, I will marry you.” She felt as if she might cry, there was so much joy overflowing inside of her chest. Everything had happened so fast, but she knew it was the way God intended it. “Happily.”
A smile broke onto his face and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest as he embraced her. She heard him sigh, a satisfied sound. “You’ve just given me the best Christmas gift ever.” He leaned down, placed his hands on either side of her face, and then pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead. Staring into her eyes, he whispered, “I love you, Bethany.”
She could hardly believe that she’d just heard those words slip through his lips, and yet, upon hearing them, she knew how right they felt.
“And I love you, John.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
“Well, Edna,” Susan Schwartz said, underscoring the “well” as they waited for the rest of the congregation to arrive at the Millers’ house for Sunday worship, “what’s this I hear? Whispers about a Christmas wedding?”
As she stood with the other women in a semicircle, all of them dressed in black, waiting to greet newcomers, Edna felt a need to collect her thoughts. Susan’s words had indeed caught her off guard. Was it possible that other people in the church district knew about John and Bethany? She couldn’t imagine how such a rumor would have started. As far as Edna was concerned, their discretion had been complete.
“Oh, Susan,” Edna replied at last, “I wouldn’t pay attention to such gossip.”
“Truly?” The older woman sounded disappointed. “We had only one wedding this past season. I had rather enjoyed the idea of a late December wedding.”
Late December? Edna blanched at the idea. That seemed far too soon. She’d only just gotten used to the idea of John courting Bethany! “I don’t know why you listen to such things. There have been no announcements, and considering there’s only a week or so left in the month, I wouldn’t put much stock in silly tittle-tattle.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s more than tittle-tattle.” Susan leaned over and lowered her voice. “Seems a certain young man”—she raised an eyebrow—“was seen in Shipshewana just yesterday evening.”
Edna pursed her lips and made a stern face. She remembered John leaving the house yesterday afternoon, but she had thought that he was having supper with the Ropps. And he’d returned early enough. How could he have managed to find time to go into town?
“And he was shopping!”
Edna clucked her tongue and rolled her eyes. “My word, Susan! There’s nothing suggestive about shopping, I’m sure.”
“Oh?” Susan wore a smug expression, clearly enjoying the fact that she had a secret she intended to share. “What if I tell you that he was at Lehmans’ Variety Store and he purchased a motion clock!”
Edna’s mouth opened. “A . . . clock?”
With a satisfied smirk, Susan nodded. “You know. The big ones that play melodies on the hour.”
“Oh my,” Edna whispered. Her eyes scanned the room as if seeking John, but the men were still outside, for there was still time before the worship service started. “Are you absolutely sure?”
“I’m as sure as I’m standing here talking to you. My cousin Dorothy heard it from her neighbor Karen, who was there shopping in the store when John walked in, and she heard him talk to the salesclerk about the clocks.”
Edna wanted to comment that it sure seemed Karen had wasted no time in telling Dorothy, who, as quickly, had found a way to share the news with Susan. “Mayhaps she mistook John for someone else?”
“Nee, it was none other than your son, John Esh. She recognized him from the auction haus. He does work there, right?”
None of this made any sense. “A clock? Are you sure?”
“I’m quite sure that’s what they told me.”
But Edna couldn’t quite believe it. Surely Karen thought she’d seen John Esh, but it was really someone else. After all, a young man usually bought the clock for his girl after she’d accepted his proposal. It was a common engagement present from a man to his future wife. If that were indeed the case, it would mean that John had already proposed to Bethany; but when would that have happened? And why on earth wouldn’t he have told them?
She tried to remember how John had behaved that morning. He had seemed a bit more quiet than usual, but given the excitement of the previous day, when Elmer had held their family meeting about changes in the upcoming year, it was no wonder. Jonas and Jeremiah were both still sulking about it, although Edna suspected that was partially for show.
No. Nothing at all had seemed terribly different that morning.
“Now, now, I wonder whom your son would be buying a clock for,” Susan went on, putting her finger to her cheek.
Edna knew that Susan surely suspected someone, but she wasn’t about to make her own suggestions. Anything she said would surely filter back to the grapevine. “I’m sure I couldn’t say.”
“Couldn’t?” Susan laughed. “Good choice of words, I’m sure.”
Edna gave her a look of reproach.
“I’m sure your good friend Mary Ropp might be able to say.” The older woman reached over and patted Edna’s arm. “Don’t worry. His secret is safe with me. Just make certain I get an invitation, ja?”
Two women entered the house and Susan straightened to greet them, leaving a perplexed Edna wondering about what she’d just learned. If John had already proposed to Bethany, he had given no indication of it. Clearly, he hadn’t wanted to let anyone know yet. She’d just have to wait for John to announce the news. In the meantime, she hoped that Susan Schwartz would be able to keep that secret to herself for just a little while longer. Surely she didn’t want to ruin John’s surprise.
Chapter Fifty-Seven
After Sunday worship, while the tables were cleared from the first seati
ng of fellowship, Mary noticed that Bethany seemed anxious. She kept looking at the clock and then at the door, as if expecting someone to show up.
“What’s going on with her?” Verna asked as she carried some platters back to the kitchen.
“I’m not quite sure.”
“I’ve never seen her so antsy.” Verna set the plates on the counter and turned around, standing beside Mary. “I wonder if it has anything to do with our little project.”
Mary didn’t need to ask what “project” Verna was referring to.
“Speaking of John,” Verna went on in an even lower voice, “how was supper last evening?”
Mary took a deep breath, visibly embarrassed that she had to admit the truth. “He didn’t stay for supper.”
Verna widened her eyes, clearly incredulous at the news she’d just heard. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Did he just not show up?”
Mary shook her head. “Nee, he came, visited for a few minutes, and then left. Said something had come up and he had to go to town. It’s a shame. I really hoped to get to know him better. Even Abram was disappointed.”
Verna squinted at her as if not believing what she’d just been told. “He visited and then left? Right away?”
“Well, he did talk with Bethany outside, and when she came back in, she didn’t talk much, either. In fact, she was quiet all evening.” Mary felt a tug at her heart. Bethany was not one to be overly talkative, but she had been even more pensive than usual after John had left. And after supper, she’d quickly retired to her bedroom. “What if he broke it off with her?”
Verna waved her hand impatiently. “Nonsense!”
“I’m serious, Verna.” Mary scanned the room to make certain Bethany wasn’t nearby. “She seemed so distracted when she returned to the haus. And she had been so happy and cheerful when he first arrived.”
