The Trespasser (Amish Country Brides)

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  Instead, they stood at the edge of Miller’s Pond. He watched in amazement as Kayla, and then the other baptismal candidates one-by-one, went into the water with two of the leaders, then were submerged. His district did it differently, but he’d thought this way seemed much more like how they’d done it in the Scriptures during Bible times. This had been something he’d never even considered before.

  But none of those things took precedence in his thoughts at the moment. Nee, he could only think that now Kayla was an official member of the Amish church, which meant he could marry her with the church’s blessing. Ach, what a wonderful day indeed!

  ~

  Disappointment hadn’t been a strong enough word to express how Silas felt when his brother Paul called to tell him that Dan Yoder had sold his farm while they’d been in Pennsylvania. Of course, he couldn’t blame Brother Yoder for not wanting to wait an entire year for Silas to get his buggies in a row.

  With a heavy heart, he hung up the phone call.

  Ach, where would he and Kayla and Bailey live now? The Yoders’ property had been perfect. He hated the fact that he’d have to break the news to Bailey and Kayla. In truth, he felt like a failure. How would it look if he had to move the three of them into his folks’ dawdi haus? Nee, he didn’t want to do that. He didn’t want to chance friction between Mamm and Kayla. He needed to peruse the real estate ads to see if he could find anything suitable for his soon-to-be family.

  Either way, he’d need to tell Kayla. He’d do so on their buggy ride this evening.

  ~

  Kayla’s heart practically overflowed with joy as she sat next to the love of her life. The gentle clip-clop of the horse and buggy enhanced the romantic electric feeling of this late summer evening. In just a few months, she would be Mrs. Silas Miller. Nothing could put a damper on this moment.

  “I need to tell you something.” Silas heaved a sigh.

  Was something wrong?

  “About what?”

  “I don’t know how to say this.” He shrugged, his shoulders heavy. “Yoder sold his property.”

  She took his hand and stroked it gently. “It’s okay, Silas.”

  “Nee. We will not have a place to live now.” His voice shook with emotion.

  “Silas.” She stroked his cheek. “Look at me.”

  He pulled the buggy off the road at the next turn, then offered his undivided attention.

  She smiled. “I was hoping it would be a surprise, but apparently Paul can’t keep his mouth shut.” She laughed. “I bought the Yoders’ property with the money I had from my parents’ life insurance policy. I wanted it to be a surprise wedding gift. My parents would be pleased to know that they provided a home for our family.”

  Silas’s jaw dropped. “Y-you bought it?”

  “Yes, lieb, the Yoders’ property is now the Millers’ property. Or it will be once we’re married.”

  “Ach, I don’t know what to say.”

  “I hope you’re happy.”

  “I’m beyond happy. It’s ours? For real?”

  “Yes. I knew how much you loved that place, and Bailey and I really like it too.”

  “I don’t know how to…” He hopped down and hitched the horse to a tree, then he helped Kayla down. He pulled her into the nearest wooded area, without saying a word.

  She giggled. “What are we doing?”

  “Sorry, I just can’t wait another minute.” He tugged her near, cradled her head in his hands, and his lips dropped to hers. In a moment, she found her back against a tree as Silas bestowed delicious kisses on her like they hadn’t indulged in for months. Warmth permeated her entire being as his strong form pressed against her, igniting a slow-burning fire in her heart that spread with every second. He groaned then forced himself away, his eyes simmering with desire. “I love you, Kayla. I cannot wait to make you my fraa. You know my heart.”

  She finally caught her breath. “And you know mine. You have for a long time.”

  If this is what being married to Silas was going to be like, she wished they could say their vows tomorrow.

  “We will make a wonderful gut family, ain’t so?” His thumb trailed her chin.

  She wished he’d kiss her like that again. “The best ever.”

  “Jah, I agree. Let’s go home now?”

  “Home?” Her eyes widened. “But we haven’t had our wedding yet.”

  “Let’s get married in Indiana. I will talk to Judah to see if he will come home to marry us there. If not, we can stay here a little while longer.”

  ~

  Judah Hostettler’s eyes shone with that familiar sparkle. “I’ve talked to Jerry Bontrager and he has agreed. I will come to Indiana the first week in November and conduct your wedding ceremony.”

  Silas felt like jumping for joy at Judah’s words. “Ach, denki!”

  “I trust you will provide a place for us to stay?”

  “Yes, for sure. You will stay in our new home.”

  “I look forward to it.”

  “Me too.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Kayla noticed that the mail carrier stopped in front of the mailbox near the road and placed a couple of items inside. It was great being back home again, although they’d had a wonderful time in Pennsylvania. Now that she was officially Amish, Silas’s family had seemed much more accepting of her and Bailey. Just yesterday, his mamm and sisters had dropped off a plate of cookies and a loaf of bread. They’d stayed for about an hour and talked like she was an old friend. It had been a great feeling to be accepted.

  “I’m going to walk to the road and check the mail. Do you want to come with me, Bailey?”

  “Nope. I wanna swing with Sandy.” Bailey had missed her feline friend while they’d been gone. But Emily had taken good care of him in their absence.

  “Okay. I’ll be right back then. Stay on the swing.” Kayla walked down the long driveway and breathed in deeply. She loved this new life God had given her. Very soon, she would marry the man of her dreams. They’d all be moved into their property and set up their own household, complete with a little store out front where she could sell whatever she made—be it food or crafts. Silas would be home most of the time if their store and crops brought in enough business. She could spend a thousand years with Silas and never tire of him. What on earth had she done to deserve such a wonderful, God-fearing man who loved her like crazy?

  She opened the mailbox. An advertisement wanting them to sell their timberland—that would go into the trash. They would keep their beautiful trees, thank you very much. The latest edition of The Busy Beaver—Silas would want to look over that, no doubt. She tucked it under her arm. And the last item seemed to be a greeting card of some sort, addressed to her. She smiled. A love letter from Silas? Nee, it was postmarked Pennsylvania. No doubt it was someone in Judah Hostettler’s district wishing her and Silas well on their upcoming wedding. Or perhaps a note from Alvin and Ada Beachy. She’d wait and open it when Silas was here so he could share in it as well. Or should she just open it? It was addressed to only her, after all.

  She waltzed into the house and slipped the envelope into her Bible but deposited the rest of the mail on the table. She glanced out the window. Where was Bailey?

  She hurried to the door then went to the side yard where Silas had tied a rope swing to the large tree. No Bailey. She wouldn’t panic.

  “Bailey!”

  “I’m right here, Mommy.” She came around the corner of the house, holding Sandy in her arms. The cat wriggled to break loose of her hold.

  “I think Sandy might need to go free for a while. He doesn’t look happy.”

  Bailey’s bottom lip jutted out.

  “Cats are independent, sweetheart. They like attention sometimes, but not all the time.”

  Bailey sighed and let Sandy down. “Okay.”

  “Why don’t you play with the doll Emily made for you?”

  “My Amish doll? Her name is Lyddie, Mommy. Like Mrs. Lydia.”

  “I’m su
re Judah Hostettler’s wife will be pleased to hear you named your doll after her.”

  “She will?”

  “Yep. And you can tell her yourself because she and Judah will be arriving tomorrow.”

  “Yay! Are you and Mr. Silas getting married tomorrow?”

  “Not tomorrow. On Thursday.”

  “And then I’ll get to call Mr. Silas my daddy?”

  “Yep, he will officially be your daddy then.”

  “I can’t wait!”

  “That makes two of us.” She nodded toward the house. “Come on, let’s go inside. It’s a little chilly out here.”

  As soon as they walked inside, Bailey headed for her bedroom. “I’m going to play with Lyddie and Kathy. They’re friends now, just like me and Emily. Except Kathy’s still an Englischer.”

  Kayla chuckled. “Have fun.” The door to Bailey’s room clicked.

  Kayla went into the kitchen to figure out which meals she’d make while the Hostettlers were visiting, then remembered the card addressed to her. She opened her Bible, pulled it out, and opened the flap.

  She frowned, attempting to figure out who it was from. Ach, Brianna! But no…

  Her eyes moved over the page to the name at the bottom. Her jaw dropped. No, it couldn’t be!

  “No. God?” She whispered as her heart pounded in her chest.

  Dear Kayla,

  I’m sure this letter comes as a complete shock to you. Surprise, I’m alive! I don’t doubt that this revelation stirs up all kinds of feelings for you, and I won’t blame you if you hate me.

  I didn’t know you’d gotten pregnant from our whirlwind romance. To tell the truth, I don’t know what I would have done back then if I’d found out. I would have contacted you sooner, but I lost your contact information. Nobody knew it, but I was bent on leaving the Amish at that time in my life and nothing was going to stop me. I went on to pursue higher education and have now graduated from college. I’ve only learned of our child and your present circumstances recently. My brother is the one who gave me this address. He is sworn to secrecy, so you don’t need to worry about anyone finding out about my existence.

  Since we have a child together and you’re about to get married, I figured I was obligated to at least give you a choice. I’m guessing you’re in love with my former best friend. You must be, because I don’t know of any other reason you’d willingly join the Amish. Silas is a very good person and you will be happy with him. But, if for whatever reason, you have doubts or you don’t really want to marry into the Amish church, I would be willing to help you raise our child. If you’re content as you are, then I will walk away and you’ll never hear from me again. You can be confident that Silas will be a good father to our child. I’m sorry, I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl.

  If you want me in your life, respond to this letter as soon as you receive it. If you don’t, then ignore it, get married, and live happily ever after. Whatever you do, do not let anyone read this (especially not Silas) until after you’ve been married a little while. Don’t ask why. Just trust me on this one.

  If you ever need to get ahold of me, my brother will have my information. My parents don’t know I’m alive and I’d kind of like to keep it that way. No one in the Amish church, with the exception of my brother and now you, knows that I’m alive and well. I know it sounds wrong, but I have my reasons.

  I wish you and Silas the best.

  Josiah

  Kayla folded the letter, her hands trembling. Josiah was alive? She sank down into the chair at the table and dropped her head into her hands. Tears burned her eyes. Emotion threatened to overwhelm her. Why? Why now?

  If she ignored this letter, Bailey would never know her biological father. If she didn’t, she might lose Silas—the best man she’d ever met. And this letter just went to prove that Silas was a better man than Josiah. He hadn’t mentioned that he loved her or wished they could be together. When she, on the other hand, had been pining after him, longing to see him, waiting for his promised letter. The letter that never came. If he’d really cared, wouldn’t he have looked her up? Searched for her online? She wouldn’t have been that difficult to find. He’d used the word ‘obligated.’ As though the only reason he’d contacted her at all was because Bailey was his flesh and blood. So, the love they’d shared had been one-sided after all. He had lied, not only to her but to Silas too. She should have known. That was what she’d figured after not hearing from him. She’d been right. And he’d led Silas and Josiah’s family and everyone else to believe he was dead. What kind of a person did that?

  Yeah. She would respond to Josiah’s letter, but only to give him a piece of her mind. He didn’t deserve to know their daughter. If he’d cared, wouldn’t he have at least asked his brother about his child’s gender? He’d said he’d written the letter out of obligation, which meant he might have some decency. But as far as Kayla was concerned, Josiah could go to… No, she shook her head. She shouldn’t be having thoughts like that. They weren’t pleasing to God. What she needed to do was pray for Josiah.

  For now, she’d tuck this letter away. She wasn’t sure whether she’d tell Silas about it at all. She wasn’t about to ruin her chances of marrying this wonderful honorable man.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Never in a million years would Kayla have pictured this as her wedding day. She looked down at her blue dress and white apron. Blue? Really? She’d always pictured herself in a long white gown adorned with beads and lace. If she was marrying anyone besides Silas Miller, she’d be disappointed in her unfulfilled fantastical dreams. But she was marrying Silas. And this day, even with her blue dress, couldn’t be any better. She couldn’t be any happier.

  White dresses were overrated anyway. How many friends had she known who had their dream wedding only for their marriage to end far too soon? But her marriage would be one that lasted a lifetime. It would be one that would stand the test of time. What was a wedding dress anyway? Just something a person wore for a few hours and most likely never again.

  White dress or not, this was still the best day ever. Regardless of that fact, she couldn’t wait for it to be over. There was still a slight chance Josiah could show up—or someone who knew the truth would disclose his secret—and this whole wonderful dream would come crashing down. That couldn’t happen. It. Could. Not. Happen.

  God, please.

  “Kayla, are you all right?”

  She brushed away a tear and turned at her beloved’s voice. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “What is wrong? Why are you trembling?” He came near and caressed her cheek. “Ach, you are beautiful.”

  “Nothing is wrong. This is the best day of my life.” She gazed into his eyes. How blessed she’d be to get to wake up to those eyes every morning.

  “Nee. The day you met Jesus was the best day. This is the second-best day, ain’t so?”

  She smiled. “You’re right.”

  “I cannot wait to make you my fraa.” He reached for her hand. “Kumm, it is time now.”

  “Silas, wait.” No, she wouldn’t tell him. She couldn’t.

  “What? What is it, lieb?

  “Whatever happens, just remember that I love you.”

  He stopped in his tracks and dropped her hand. His eyes searched hers. “Kayla, what is wrong?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just don’t want anything to mess this day up.”

  “Ach, you have too many worries. This is Der Herr’s will for us. And there is nothing or no one that could mess it up.”

  If only his words were true. She prayed they would be.

  “Kumm, now. They are waiting for us.” He paused. “Unless you are having second thoughts about marrying me.”

  “Never. Silas, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

  He shook his head. “Nee, Jesus is.”

  “But I would have never met Jesus if it weren’t for you.”

  He brought her close and kissed her forehead. “I love you and Bail
ey with all my heart.”

  She knew his words were the truth. Yes, today would work out just fine. “Let’s get married now.”

  He smiled. “Jah, let’s do that.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  “Daddy, Mommy said breakfast will be ready in a couple of minutes!” Bailey hollered from the door.

  “Tell your mamm I’ll be there in just a bit.” Silas wiped the perspiration from his brow and grinned. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of Bailey calling him Daddy. It was too bad that Josiah had missed out on the joy of having this wunderbaar family. Thankfully, though, his friend’s misfortune had resulted in Silas’s blessing. And it was a blessing he’d never take for granted.

  Silas headed out of the barn stall but stopped in his tracks. His head shot up at the unmistakable sound of a vehicle entering their driveway. Their driveway. Ach, he could hardly believe all the good fortune Der Herr had poured out on him. He had a brand-new family with a wife and dochder he loved like crazy. He had this home that he’d longed for ever since he could remember. Soon, they’d have the store up and running. And according to Kayla, they just might have a little one on the way. It seemed impossible for his life to get any better. His heart was so full, he felt like it might burst.

  He set down his pitchfork and went to see who had pulled up. Most likely an Englisch customer looking to buy some Amish goods.

  The vehicle rolled to a stop and the driver cut the engine. As the person stepped out of the vehicle, Silas felt like the wind had been knocked out of him.

  Josiah? Ach, it couldn’t be! Nee, his eyes must be playing tricks on him. Josiah was dead. Yet…it couldn’t be, could it?

  “Silas.” The Englischer smiled. “It’s me, Joe. Josiah.”

  Silas’s stomach churned. Nee, this was not gut. Not gut at all.