“Perhaps you were in the pigsty, bruised and battered for a time, but not harmed beyond repair. Ain’t so? It is gut you came back when you did. Your daed grows frail and needs you more than ever. This grove needs you, too. Solomon is one man. He can only do so much.” Otto tugged at his beard, gave Leviticus’s Englisch clothes a thorough once-over. The man’s hairy brows rose with disapproval. “Is it your intention to join the church and be baptized right away, or will you continue to fight the will of Gott and make your familye grieve further?”
The restrictions of military life had brought about much needed changes in Leviticus, but still, making the choice to be a Plain man wasn’t coming easy to him. He was making the choice mainly for Naomi, he told himself, but deep inside he knew better.
He understood the need for rules and uniformity better now, but he still didn’t like the feeling of being boxed in and held to guidelines he didn’t always agree with. No doubt, he would find it hard to live by the community’s strict Ordnung, but he could endure anything for his dochder. She’d need a stable familye, people to love her, and this tiny community could provide all that. “Yes. I realize the Amish way of life is best for me.”
Otto’s hand stilled on his beard. His eyes narrowed. “I’m told you have a dochder, but I see no fraa at your side.”
“That’s right.” His mouth went dry, but he managed to hold Otto’s piercing gaze. He had repented to God for his relationship with Julie but refused to be ashamed of Naomi’s existence.
“And is there a plan in motion? Someone you have in mind to marry, see to your dochder’s needs? Children can be a heavy burden for a mann with no fraa, no matter how much they love their kinner.” Otto settled back in his chair, not giving Leviticus a chance to answer his questions before he started speaking again. “It makes me wonder if an arranged marriage would be the best solution. There will be several eligible women coming to the community during the winter season. Perhaps you’ve considered this yourself and have already thought of someone suitable?”
Leviticus worked his jaw, not sure what to say. He had assumed Verity would continue to see to Naomi while he worked with his father and brother in the grove. “Verity—”
“Ya, this is a gut plan. Verity will make a fine fraa for you. She is a broad-minded woman with spirit. And her dochder needs a daed.” Otto nodded, a half smile curving his lips. “Verity was a gut fraa to Mark Schrock, and she will be faithful to you, too. Albert is already used to her ways, and content to have her around. You’ve made a gut choice.” Otto nodded vigorously. “Wasn’t there a time of walking about for you and Verity? An engagement, even? Perhaps bans were read in church?”
Alarms went off in Leviticus’s head. Sure, he needed a babysitter or full-time nanny, but a fraa? He wasn’t prepared to court anyone just yet. Not the way he was, and especially not Verity. It was apparent she still held a grudge against him for leaving her all those years ago. And who could blame her? He rose and shoved his trembling hands in his jeans pockets. “We did court for a time, but—”
“There’s no need to be troubled about the lack of remaining emotional attachment, if that’s what’s concerning you. Love will return, given time. Once you’re schooled, become a member of the church and are baptized, we can set the wedding date for December or sooner. With an immediate engagement, Verity’s family will have no need to be concerned about her reputation.”
“Her reputation? But Verity and I haven’t picked up where we left off.” His heart raced, almost thumping out of his chest. Things were moving too fast. He needed time to think, time to consider what would work for all involved. Certainly not this foolishness. What would Verity say?
Otto watched his every move and gesture, reading into it what he would. It was the man’s nature to scrutinize people. He spoke firmly, his look fierce. “You can’t expect Verity to live in this haus with you, a single mann, and not be touched by local gossip. She must stay. Albert can’t do without her. Not with his health still so unpredictable. Nee, one of Verity’s unmarried bruders must come and live on the grove until the wedding.” Otto nodded, deep in thought. “Ya, this is all gut.”
The sound of an ATV motor’s revving brought Otto to his feet. He moved toward the back door. “Komm. We must go. We’ll discuss this later in the day, after we’ve surveyed the damage to the grove.” He clasped his hand on Leviticus’s shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sure, given time, Verity will agree to a quick marriage of convenience and all will be settled.”
Leviticus followed close behind Otto, his feet dragging and thoughts frantic. What would Verity think about this situation they found themselves in? Trapped in an Amish till-death-do-us-part trap. Thanks to my big mouth.
Chapter Five
Verity did her best to slip a clean cloth diaper under Naomi’s bottom, but the kind squirmed and fought valiantly, insisting she be allowed to roll on her belly and crawl away. “You’d best be still, little schatzi, before we both get stuck by this pin.”
She smiled and then laughed out loud as the boppli babbled and attempted conversation. Naomi’s easy-to-read eyes expressed sheer joy at the trouble she was causing and resisted the distracting kisses Verity tried to rain down on the kind’s forehead and nose.
Clara came into the bedroom and inched in beside the cot. She helped hold the roly-poly boppli down long enough for Verity to close the big diaper pins and pull a tiny dress over the kind’s head. With a laugh in her voice, Clara asked, “Where’s Faith?”
“Sulking in her room.”
Her hip supported by the edge of Verity’s double bed, Clara slipped off her shoes and sat, her swollen ankles crossed. “What did she do?”
“The usual. Got lippy with me and didn’t want to take nee for an answer.”
Verity lifted Naomi out of her bed, kissed the child’s soft curls and then moved to the rocking chair.
Clara covered her toes with the hem of her long skirt and settled in for one of their girlie talks. “I expected to find you out of sorts and ready to explode.”
Verity raised her chin, her forehead wrinkled. “Why would you think that? I’ve changed a million diapers in my life. What’s one more?” Verity offered a warm bottle to Naomi and grinned as the kind reached out and jerked the food toward her rosebud mouth. Her pudgy fingers grasped the bottle and held on tight.
“So you’re all for it?”
“For what?” Verity looked closely at her frowning friend. “Is this one of your jokes?”
Clara’s expression turned perplexed. “You can take my word for it. I wouldn’t kid about something as serious as this. Why in the world hasn’t someone told you? I thought for sure the bishop, or at least Leviticus, would ask you if you were all right with the proposition.”
Verity leaned forward, careful not to jostle Naomi, her interest piqued. “What proposition? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. It sounds like I need to be told about this scheme since it involves me.”
Clara slipped off the bed and with some effort shoved her feet back into her plain black shoes. “Maybe it would be best if someone else explained it to you. I really didn’t overhear everything, even though Otto does tend to talk loudly.”
Clara tried to slip out of the room, but Verity latched onto the hem of her friend’s dress and tugged her back in. She loved Solomon’s wife and Leviticus’s sister-in-law as much as she loved her own sisters, but sometimes Clara’s teasing and nosy ways drove her to distraction. “Sit! Tell me what you know.”
Clara’s eyes twinkled innocently. “Seriously. I didn’t hear much of what was said. And besides, I could have gotten it wrong.” She laughed, but the sound held a nervous edge. “You know how rattle-brained I am.” She jerked her skirt away from Verity’s grasp and inched toward the door.
“Please tell me.”
Clara’s pace slowed. She shrugged. “But...I’m not sure I should be the one to tell you.”
Their gazes met and held. Verity’s brows knitted.
Clara reluctantly shuffled back to the bed and sat on the edge with a bounce of defeat. She refused to meet Verity’s hard stare. She thrust her hands into her apron pockets and they stayed there.
Verity rose and stood over her. “Once this boppli finishes her bottle I’m going to go find Otto and ask what all the excitement’s about. He might be interested in hearing you’re spreading gossip again.” She wouldn’t tell on Clara, knew her friend loved a good tongue wag, but one way or another she was going to find out what was up.
“Nee, don’t do that! He’ll know what I was doing. Solomon’s warned me to stop listening in on other people’s conversations. Otto’s sure to preach on the sin of eavesdropping come Sunday service.”
“Then tell me.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you can be a very hard woman, Verity Schrock?” Clara’s pink lips pouted, but her eyes glowed with excitement as she began talking. “I was just standing by the door, minding my own business, innocently waiting for Albert to move away so I could go in the house.” Slightly top-heavy with child, Clara slid a hand out of her pocket and placed it against her gyrating stomach.
“Ya, I think we’ve established you were snooping at the door, seeing what you could see and hearing what you could hear. So, go on.”
Clara grunted her displeasure at Verity’s less-than-gracious remark. “Otto found out about Naomi not having a mamm. Since Leviticus has no fraa to care for the boppli, Otto asked how he planned on managing the daily grind of the grove with a kind on his hip.”
Nerves tingled up Verity’s spine. She didn’t like where this conversation was going. “And?”
Clara’s eyes became liquid virtue. “Leviticus didn’t seem to have a permanent solution and hem-hawed around a bit.” The volume of her normally loud voice lowered to a whisper. “You know how fond Otto is of arranged marriages, especially since his and Theda’s worked out so well.”
“Ya, theirs was one of the blessed ones. But what has this got to do with me?” Verity took in a long, cleansing breath. Clara could test the patience of the Lord Himself. “Is this one of your jokes or another chance to spread gossip?”
Clara’s shoulders stiffened. Her eyes narrowed with indignation.
I’ve hit a nerve.
“Nee, of course it’s no joke. This really does concern you and if you’ll be quiet long enough I’ll tell you the rest.”
“Seriously, Clara. Talk.” Verity pulled the empty bottle from Naomi’s damp lips and placed the child’s chubby body against her shoulder. She patted and rubbed the kind’s back, hoping to lull her back to sleep. “Tell me only the parts of conversation that concern me.”
Clara nodded, her grin mischievous. “Otto suggested an arranged marriage for Leviticus.” She leaned forward. “You should have been there to see his face when Otto explained his plan. I thought Leviticus was going to swallow his own tongue.”
A strange sensation gripped Verity’s stomach. She sighed. Her impatience grew by the minute. “Please, repeat only the parts that involve me, Clara.”
“If you’d stop interrupting I might be able to get to the good bits.” Clara’s brow arched. “Leviticus blurted out your name when pressured about a prospective mamm for Naomi, and Otto became as happy as a child on Christmas morn.” Clara smiled. “I mean he smiled a really big, robust smile and nodded a lot, convinced Leviticus’s plan was to marry you. By then, Leviticus looked ready to throw up, his eyes bulging like a fresh-caught catfish.” A grin flashed at the corners of Clara’s mouth, but she went back to nattering, then got serious again. “Otto asked if you two had courted back in the day.”
“That was a long time ago.” Verity’s stomach clenched tighter, not liking what she was hearing. “I no longer have a romantic interest in Albert’s soh.”
“Ya, well, you might want to dig up some of those old feelings, because Otto already has your wedding date planned for the month of December.”
A trembling began in Verity’s legs and crept up to her arms. It took every ounce of willpower she had to keep herself standing. “Are you sure of this? You couldn’t have gotten my name mixed up with someone else’s?”
“Nee, it was you, all right. Otto even mentioned what a sensible woman you’ve always been.”
Verity’s mouth became so dry she could barely get her words out. Sensible. Ha! I’ll show him sensible. “And Leviticus agreed to this marriage arrangement?”
“Well, he didn’t belabor the point, or say nee. They both walked past me a moment later, and I did notice Leviticus looked red in the face and flustered.”
Verity fought for breath. Everyone in their small community knew about Otto’s fondness for arranged marriages, but she’d never dreamed she’d become one of his victims. Hysteria rose and built to a crescendo pitch until she thought she’d scream out loud.
“Don’t you utter a word of this to anyone else, you hear me, Clara Hilty?”
Clara chuckled, making Verity’s tension grow. She gave up trying to make sense of what her friend had just said. Drawing in a deep breath, she looked down at Naomi. The child was sleeping peacefully in her arms. She felt compassion for the tiny girl, but not enough to get herself tangled up with a half Englisch, half Amish man. We Amish marry forever. There would be no divorce.
“I may be a sensible woman, but I won’t be railroaded into a loveless marriage. Otto will just have to understand and make other arrangements.”
“You are single and do need a daed for Faith. Otto may give you an argument.”
Verity gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “He can argue all he wants. Unless Gott Himself sends a message from heaven, I won’t be marrying Leviticus Hilty come December.”
Verity jumped when the back door slammed shut and Mose Fischer began urgently calling her name. Leaving Naomi with Clara, she hurried through the hall but stopped short when she entered the kitchen and saw the washed-out look on the big man’s face. “What’s happened?”
“It’s Albert. He’s been rushed to the hospital.”
* * *
Sitting behind the wheel, Leviticus waited for Mose to come out of the house and jump in the back after alerting Verity. The back door slammed, and Leviticus watched as Mose, followed by Verity, flew over to the passenger side where Albert sat slumped on the truck’s bench seat, his head resting against Solomon’s shoulder.
The truck rocked as Mose jumped into the back. Solomon took the time to roll the window down, so he could address Verity’s fears. “I’m sorry but we have to go. There’s no time for explanations. I’ll call you as soon as I know something.”
“But wait. What’s happened? Is it another stroke?” Verity’s voice was high with anxiety.
“We don’t know. Leviticus and I were speaking and Daed just slumped over. Now, nee more talk. We’ve got to go.”
Leviticus glanced in his rearview mirror as they sped away, gravel flying from under the fast-spinning wheels of the truck. Verity stood alone in the distance, her skirt blowing in the wind. She needed someone to comfort her. He inwardly groaned. She’d have words to say when she found out he and Solomon had been arguing.
Leviticus pulled his attention back to driving and turned onto the main road. Tempted to speed, he made his way through the traffic, his eyes glancing over to Solomon from time to time. His bruder held up their dad’s body as best he could. What fools they’d been for arguing over differing opinions in front of their frail father. Stress was the last thing Albert needed.
Regret tore at Leviticus. He couldn’t seem to do anything right. Perhaps he’d come home too late to make peace with his brother. As kinner they’d been close, shared a strong bond. But now? Now they were strangers and he had no one to blame but himself. He’d been a fool to leave his family, his community. Especially his faith. Gott had taught him many lessons, all of them har
d to stomach now that he saw the foolishness of his actions all those years ago. If he’d had issues with the way his mamm was treated, he should have spoken up, tried to change his father’s mind-set. To Albert, hard work was expected of all Amish. Both men and women. It was their way. But his mother’s failing health might have been avoided with rest and time to do what pleased her. He pictured his mother, her face smiling in whatever task she took on. Had he been too young to see how content she was?
His time with the Englisch had taught him many things, some good, but most not. He’d talk to his father if given the chance. Clear the air between them. God willing, he’d have the opportunity. Another glance at his father’s pallor warned him not to take too much for granted. There was no promise his daed would live through this latest heath scare. No promise at all.
Father, I release Daed’s fate into Your hands. Forgive my doubt. Heal my mind. Give me strength to deal with whatever lies ahead.
Chapter Six
The noxious scent of chemicals and disinfectant hung heavy in the air.
Leviticus could smell it, and wondered if Solomon could, too. He put his hands over his ears, trying to block out the sound of the nurse’s squeaking shoes, the conversations all around him. Someone’s heart monitor beeped loud and fast. It could have been hooked up to him, his heart was beating so hard. Hospitals brought back memories he’d buried deep and didn’t want uncovered.
Slumped in a chair across the hallway, Solomon cleared his throat. Leviticus looked up. Blue eyes that had once sparkled with mischief as a bu now appeared gray and lifeless, his mouth an angry slash. Sand and mud stains covered his brother’s trousers up to his bent knees. Leviticus looked down at his own casual pants, at his borrowed boots caked in mud. They’d brought the muck and mire of the flooded grove into the hospital with them after their father had fallen ill.
Solomon hadn’t spoken a word since they’d arrived with their daed in tow. Not even as they waited in ICU while Albert was being worked on. Hours passed and still the silence continued. Leviticus didn’t have to be told that Solomon blamed him for their father’s sudden attack.
Their Convenient Amish Marriage (Pinecraft Homecomings Book 2) Page 5
