Promise at Pebble Creek

by Lisa Jones Baker

  She lifted an uncertain brow.

  While he decided his explanation, a fly buzzed in front of her face, and she swatted it away. She followed the motion by running her palms over her apron to rid it of a small crease.

  “Imagination: It’s just another unique trait God blessed you with.”

  That statement seemed to please her. Her eyes lit up.

  “Come to think of it, your imagination is kind of a creative thing, don’t you think?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  He nodded. “I believe it is.” He pressed his lips together a moment while he considered his train of thought. “Having an imagination is like being an artist. Or a writer. In fact, when you get right down to it, imagination comes in handy for a lot of things. Even cooking.”

  He pointed to the shelves that surrounded them. “Just look at these shelves.”

  She glanced around the shop before her gaze landed on his face.

  He continued, “Almost all your knickknacks were made with imagination.”

  She nodded in agreement. “What you say certainly makes sense. In fact, I’ve never thought of it that way. That’s an astute observation.”

  “It’s part of you, whether you like it or not. It’s something God stuffed into your DNA, Hannah. And being that you were born with that unique trait, I’m not sure you could get rid of it, even if you tried.”

  “I like the way you reason things out, Marcus. I’m really glad you offered your thoughts.” She sighed. “For years, I’ve been ashamed of my active imagination. Even tried to hide my adventure books. But now, after talking to you, I’m starting to see the upside of it.”

  “You’re welcome.” He lifted his chin a notch. “The more I think about it, I guess you could equate your imagination to my interest in cars.”

  She lifted a brow in interest.

  “In no way am I an expert in God’s reasoning for creating us the way He did . . .” He wagged a hand and chuckled. “But I think the interests God blessed us with are sort of like the color of our hair and our eyes.”

  She put a hand on her hip as she waited for him to go on.

  He shrugged. “They’re God-given, so I think it would be safe to say that an imagination is truly a blessing. And there must have been a reason He incorporated that in your unique self, Hannah.”

  As they faced each other, the clomp-clomping of hooves could be heard. At the same time, they glanced at the front window to see a horse and buggy traveling the blacktop in front of the shop.

  When the Amish mode of transportation faded into the distance, Marcus smiled a little at Hannah.

  “You, Hannah Lapp, are very different on the inside from the way you look on the outside.”

  She lifted an amused brow. “I guess this long dress and kapp make me look pretty quiet, huh?”

  He thought a moment. “There’s nothing wrong with that. At the same time, everyone’s got something they like to do. A sport. A hobby.”

  “I guess you can say reading adventure stories are my sport, then.”

  He contemplated her response. As he did, unexpected questions sprang into his mind, and an even stronger curiosity about this Amish woman filled his head until he had to have answers.

  “Hannah, your love of reading intrigues me.”

  “Don’t you enjoy reading?”

  “I do. But not like you do, I don’t think. I go for car magazines. Mechanic stuff.” Suddenly, he realized that he’d lost track of the time, and he glanced at his watch. He straightened and nodded toward the door. “I should get going.”

  Hannah followed him as they moved closer to the entrance. He turned the knob and glanced back at Hannah. “I’ve about used up my break.” He winked. “Now, it’s back to work.” He stepped away before turning to her.

  “There’s something . . .”

  She narrowed her brows. “What?”

  He shrugged. “I just remembered something I wanted to mention.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “It’s about going to church with you. Let’s make sure we’re on the same page.”

  His comment prompted Hannah to frown. “What?”

  “My past . . . I mean, I’m new at being a Christian. And to be honest, Hannah, I feel like I don’t quite measure up to your family.”

  Surprise flickered in her eyes. “Marcus, church people are simply that.”

  He cocked his head.

  She nodded. “People who go to church.” She lifted her palms to the ceiling. “That’s all we are. And believe me, nobody at church is perfect. In fact, Maemm used to say that church is a place for sinners.”

  He considered her reasoning.

  “Marcus, that’s why we go. Of course, we go to worship. But we also are there to repent. As a new believer, you might think that everyone in church is pure.” She offered a disappointed shrug. “We’re not.”

  “I’ve never really thought of it like that.”

  “Still, I would never want you to be uncomfortable. I’d hope that wouldn’t be the case. Even though you’re not Amish.”

  He looked at her to go on.

  “You don’t have to be Amish to worship Gott, Marcus.”

  She stopped. He studied her. The expression on her face was uncertain. It was as if she might go back on what she’d said. But she didn’t. And finally, she smiled a little.

  “You’re gut for me, Marcus.”

  “In what way?”

  “You make me think about things. Before, I’d never really given much thought to the way others worship. But just now, I realized that we can’t all worship the same. What I am sure of is that Scripture speaks the truth. In the Book of John, you’ll find a verse that says whoever believes will have eternal life. And with all the people in the world, being raised by different mothers and fathers who’ve had different life experiences, there’s no way everyone could ever worship in the very same way. In fact, that would be impossible.”

  Marcus parted his lips in surprise and contemplated what he’d just heard.

  She softened her pitch. “The point of going to church is to worship and to glorify Gott. At least, that’s the way it should be.”

  Marcus nodded in agreement.

  “And I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t want to be forgiven of their sins. I suppose that there’s this big misconception by many.”

  He lifted a brow.

  “That churchgoers are without sin. But Marcus, they’re not.”

  “I like the way you see things, Hannah. You’ve just convinced me to come. That is, if it’s okay with your parents. I would like their approval. And I also want to make sure folks know I’m there because of Ben’s invite, not yours.”

  After clearing his throat, he went on. “I mean, I know how strict your faith is about dating and things like that. I guess what I’m saying is that I want to make sure gossip doesn’t start about the two of us. Because I’m there with your family.”

  She looked at him with an expression that was an odd mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.

  “Both you and Ben have invited me, and I’m grateful. At the same time, I want to make sure that it’s obvious I’m there with your brother.”

  Outside, Miracle let out a loud whinny. Automatically, Hannah glanced toward the sound.

  “It might sound like a ridiculous request, but you’ve got an impeccable reputation to protect. And I can only imagine what people would say if they thought we were together. An innocent Amish woman and an Englischer from the city,” he added.

  She considered his wisdom and realized that he did make a gut point. She could imagine the talk that would start if her congregation got wind that she’d invited him to church. And that talk would most likely turn into gossip. Sad, but true. Even more disappointing was that Marcus was being mentioned as a possible suspect in the robbery.

  Hannah carefully weighed the advantages of having Marcus at church against the disadvantages. Her opinion automatically left her lips. “I know how easily talk coul
d start about us. At the same time, I’m sure Gott wants you at our church.”

  Hannah wanted so desperately to warn Marcus of the gossip that was brewing. But what purpose would it serve? He had enough on his plate right now, and the last thing she wanted was for him to know how cruel and irresponsible people could be. And she definitely wouldn’t mention that she was trying to think of a way to catch the thief.

  They studied each other for several moments before Marcus furthered the conversation. “I really like you, Hannah.” A long silence ensued, until he finally added another sentence. “I guess what I’m afraid of more than anything is that people will be able to read my thoughts.”

  * * *

  The following day, Marcus contemplated his conversation with Hannah while he helped Ben carry a long pipe for water irrigation into the welding room. The more he thought about her dream of hiking with her husband and children, the more he wondered who she’d marry. He found himself imagining a life with Hannah. He smiled a little before looking around and returning to reality.

  A strange sense of déjà vu hit him. He swallowed an emotional knot. Everything around him looked pretty much like where he’d worked in Chicago. As a mixture of noises filled the air, he took in the particulars. To his right was a bench grinder to sharpen tools. To his left was a hand grinder to bevel edges. His former company even had the same off-white paint on the walls.

  Ben’s voice pulled him from his reverie. “Hey, I have something to share with you. Something that’ll make you smile.”

  Glancing at him, Marcus was careful to balance his part of the pipe before setting it down. “One, two, three.” At the same time, they laid their ends on the cement floor.

  “It was nice having you at dinner last night. Apparently, you made quite an impression on my boys. After you left, you’re all they talked about.”

  An amused smile tugged the corners of Marcus’s lips up as he recalled racing the energized youngsters who were so full of life. And happiness. For a moment, Marcus recalled his own childhood and knew that his joyful life had quickly evaporated with the loss of his parents. The moment he’d learned of his parents’ auto accident, his life had gone south.

  Marcus rubbed his hands together and eyed Ben. Then he realized that Ben was awaiting a response. A laugh escaped Marcus’s throat. “Ya know, that’s the most fun I’ve had in years. And I owe it all to you. And your kids, in particular. They’re fantastic.”

  “Denki, Marcus.”

  Memories of being with the large family, with all the casserole dishes in the middle of the table, brought on a warmth inside him. “In fact, everyone at your house was so down-to-earth and so kind. And the dinner . . .” Marcus let out a low whistle. “I’ve never had anything like it. And if I understand correctly, everything, even the butter, was homemade.”

  “You’ve got that right.” Ben gave a firm shake of his head before he grinned. “It could be I’m partial, but Amish women are great cooks.”

  “I won’t argue that one.”

  As Marcus stepped to his work spot to light his torch, he grabbed his protective goggles. Before he put them on, Ben came over to where he was and lowered the pitch of his voice to a concerned tone. “I hope everything at the house is okay.”

  Automatically, Marcus offered a quick nod while he moved the beam so it would have direct sunlight from the side window. He let out a satisfied breath and assured Ben he had everything he needed. “Hey, and thanks again for the bed frame and mattress. And especially Ruth’s meals.”

  An amused grin curved Ben’s lips a little. “We were concerned about how little you brought with you. I’m not one to probe, but Ruth and I do care about you. My wife’s got this protective nature. And she wants to make sure you’re okay.”

  While Marcus considered his friend’s statement, he reassured him that everything was fine. And because of all the Lapp family had done for him, he figured Ben deserved a brief explanation.

  “My life in Chicago . . .” He gave a sad shake of his head and looked down at his boots. “Like I told you, it was bad. I don’t want you to worry about me or anything, but after I lost my parents to a car accident some years ago, everything changed with a snap of the fingers, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m sorry. Losing two parents at once . . .” Ben’s smile sank, and so did his shoulders. “That’s a tough one.”

  “Yeah. But my three brothers took it worse than I did. I guess you could say they went off the deep end. Started doing drugs, and selling them. I’m ashamed to admit that they even landed themselves in jail.”

  Ben’s jaw dropped. Several moments later, he edged his voice with sympathy. “I’m praying for them every night, Marcus.”

  Marcus lifted his shoulder a confident notch. “God led me here.” After a brief silence, Marcus softened his voice to an emotional pitch. “And I already feel like He’s putting me on the right path. By my meeting your family.” After he cleared his throat, he softened his voice. “There’s something I promised my mom. A long time ago.”

  Ben arched a curious brow.

  “To follow my heart. And I guess you could say that my heart brought me here.”

  Ben’s eyes sparkled with moisture. Marcus was quick to catch the emotion that edged his voice when he spoke. “Gott works in amazing ways. Now I not only consider you a brother, but you’re a brother in Christ, and know that I’ll do everything within my power to help you grow in the Christian faith.”

  “I appreciate that, Ben. I want to learn everything there is to know about the Bible and, eventually, get involved in some way to help young people find Jesus, just like I did.”

  “The Amish, well, we’re a bit different from you Englisch folk.” He winked. “But one thing’s for sure: We try to follow the Bible and Scripture. And I sure am glad you’re coming to church with us on Sunday.”

  Marcus offered a quick nod. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Ben’s eyes lightened, as if an idea had struck him. “Me too.” Several heartbeats later, he softened the pitch of his voice. “Would you like to ride in the buggy with us?” Before Marcus could respond, Ben cut in. “I know the boys would love it.”

  Marcus smiled and offered a definitive nod. After Ben placed a friendly pat on his shoulder and walked away, Marcus pulled his welding goggles over his head. His thoughts about the boys drew a smile, but when he thought about being in church with Hannah, his heart warmed. As an image of Hannah came to mind, he envisioned her hiking up Pebble Creek with a baby clutched to her chest. The sleeves of Hannah’s blue dress were rolled up to her forearms. Loose hairs had escaped her kapp. A string of toddlers followed her. Some were skipping. A small boy, barefoot and wearing suspenders, stopped to pick a wildflower along the way. And a little girl ran up to walk between Hannah and the man who walked beside her.

  A knot stuck in his throat. Because that man was him.

  * * *

  Sunday morning, Marcus sat on the bench of Ben’s buggy with Isaiah and Mervin on the left and David on the right. As their horse swished its tail, Marcus took in the uneven clomp-clomping sound.

  Ruth and Samuel were in front with Ben. Marcus couldn’t stop thinking with an amused smile that, apparently, there wasn’t a law against having seven in a buggy. They were all bunched together. And warmth filled his heart.

  As Marcus contemplated what he was about to do—attend an Amish church service—he straightened, suddenly acknowledging that he was nervous. “Ben, will we sit together?”

  He nodded. “Basically, the women all sit in one half of the room, and the men sit in the other. We take communion twice a year.” After a slight pause, he added, “Oh, and the sermon will be in German.”

  “Okay. Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll try to understand as much as I can. My high-school German sure is coming in handy these days. I look forward to meeting Annie and Levi Miller, and Rebecca and William Conrad.” He let out a small sigh of relief.

  What is there to fear, really? I want so very much to lear
n about the One who created me and gave me breath, and this is as good a place to learn as any. Of course, my German is far from proficient. Dear Lord, please help me to relax and enjoy this time of worship with others who want to serve You. Amen.

  I will get to see Hannah. That particular thought made the speed of the pulse on his wrist pick up to a quick pace. I know I must be careful to hide my strong feelings for her. I’m sure rumors could spread like wildfire about me and the beautiful, kind Hannah.

  He decided to relax and make conversation. Before he could get a word in, two little voices piped up, “Marcus, are you going to eat lunch with us?”

  Marcus couldn’t stop the grin that tugged the corners of his lips upward. He glanced at the boys, who were dressed to perfection, from their crisp white shirts and suspenders to their shiny shoes. He couldn’t help but note the difference from the boys who rode their bikes with such vigor. “That’s the plan.”

  “Gut!”

  When Isaiah became restless and kicked the back of the front bench, he got a quick, stern scolding from his dad. Immediately, the youngster sat back quietly.

  “So church is at the Yoders’ house today?” Marcus inquired as the sun brightened a notch. In the distance, the landscape looked the same as when they’d started their morning ride a short time ago.

  On both fields, tall corn and soybeans loomed, with an occasional white, two-story house stuck in somewhere. Marcus spotted another horse-pulled buggy on a different blacktop.

  Ben offered a quick nod as he veered his horse and carriage to the side of the road to allow an oncoming car to get by. As Marcus bounced in his seat, he couldn’t help but compare the narrow blacktop that was raised in the middle to Chicago’s six-lane I-94. Also, this seemed to be a relaxed ride. Buggy drivers didn’t try to pass other buggies the way cars did on the freeway. And there wasn’t loud music blaring.

  Sadness swept through him as he thought of his brothers. He was most certain they wouldn’t be inside a church today. What were they doing? He squeezed his eyes closed and said a silent prayer. Dear Lord, please take charge of their lives and lead them to follow You. Amen.