A Little Bit of Charm (45 page)

Rachel held up her hand. “Stop, please. I know you mean well, Jess, but I'm not even officially English. This needs to be toned down, especially if some of my relatives might show up. Let's think of it as a hybrid Amish-and-English wedding.” She placed her hand atop her future sister-in-law's and squeezed.

In the end, the orchestra playing show tunes was ruled out along with the soprano soloist in church. Rachel opted for a harpist during the nuptials, and a pianist playing classical music during the meal. And no dancing. On the topic of wedding photography, Rachel again refused to give in to Jessie's demands. The giant album with companion DVD to play on the television was ruled out. She'd been raised to believe photos were graven images and therefore forbidden. To respect Jake and his family, she agreed to a limited number of pictures that included her, but the photographer couldn't take pictures of any Amish or Mennonite guests.
Rachel decided that Jessie and Keeley could buy English bridesmaid gowns of their choosing. However, should Beth wish to participate, she would wear her Sunday black dress, even though she hadn't been baptized yet. No further discussion was necessary.

Suddenly her cell phone signaled an incoming text. Rachel read the words with a sigh of relief. Jake's message was short and to the point:
Get away from my sister while you still can. Meet me behind the family barn. Make sure you're not followed
.

Smiling, Rachel snapped her phone shut. “Something has come up, Jess. I'm afraid we must end our planning session. Thanks for all your hard work on our behalf.”

Jessie swept her brochures and catalogs into a large pile. “Well, we've made headway, at least. With me in charge, this will be the best wedding Casey County has ever seen. Wait until you hear my plans for your hair.” She winked playfully.

With that Rachel bolted for the door and didn't slow down until well beyond view of the house. Breathless, she found Jake leaning against an ancient elm, chewing on a long blade of hay. Because a straw hat shielded his face from the sun, he looked like an Amish lad instead of a part owner of a Thoroughbred farm. “I believe I shook off my tail.” She inhaled deep gulps of air.

Wrapping his muscular arms around her, Jake kissed the top of her head. “Just say the word and we'll elope to Nashville. We could see the sites, listen to some good country gospel music at the Grand Old Opry, and save ourselves the fuss.”

“And break your sister's heart? Think again, Mr. Groom. If Jessie hadn't hired me for tours, you and I never would have met. Let her do this for us. She's really enjoying herself.”

“I'll put up with anything other than karaoke at the reception to make you my bride.” His string of kisses from temple to jaw finally found her lips.

Rachel kissed him back with more passion than proper for
Amish courting couples. “What's this?” she asked, drawing away a little. She pulled a letter from his shirt pocket.

“That's the news I couldn't wait to share with you. I'd been hoping to find something to occupy my time now that Eager to Please has moved to Mr. Terry's stable.” Jake extracted a single sheet from the envelope.

“You don't wish to breed any more horses?”

“For clients, yes, but I don't want to breed any more Brady mares. I seem to turn into a monster with delusions of fame and fortune.”

“You never stopped being Jake Brady.” Rachel wrapped an arm around his waist and hugged him.

“Thanks, but this will give me an outlet that shouldn't corrupt my fragile soul.” He tapped her nose with the paper.

“Spill the beans already.” She plucked the sheet to read.

“I won a grant from the Kentucky Department of Development. Twelve Elms can now expand the therapeutic riding program to serve other disabilities besides the blind. We can provide private lessons, overnight rides, summer camp, and job training for equestrian careers. Dad and I will put up two hundred thousand and the state will match the amount to build additional barns, a specially equipped lodge, and add miniature horses. We'll even have a heated lounge so parents and other guests can relax and watch the arena activities while staying warm and dry.”

“Congratulations! I'm so proud of you. Isn't this better than winning the Kentucky Derby?” Because she needed to get back to the Stolls' before Sarah sent out her feathered posse, they strolled hand in hand in the direction of his truck.

“Yes, but who knows? In ten months we might enjoy that too, at least in our hearts. Maybe this is similar to giving up a baby for adoption. You might not have been able to meet the child's needs, but you pray they excel wherever they go in life.”

“Could be, but you'd better take me home, Jake Brady. If I'm late from work, Sarah might not let me go out with you tomorrow.”

“What have you got in mind for our date, Miss King?” He opened the door to his pickup like a gentleman.

“Let's head to the mall. Jessie insists we serve mango punch at the reception and something called tiramisu. I couldn't say yay or nay since I haven't a clue what they taste like. We'll check every restaurant in the food court until we find one that serves them.” She stepped up into the cab and pulled down her long skirt modestly.

“I can't think of a better way to spend an evening. After all, you should feel like Queen-for-a-day as the bride-to-be.”

“Please,” she begged. “Eager isn't the only one who can turn a humble person into a monster. Given any encouragement, your sister could easily turn me into Frankenstein with the blink of an eye.”

November

Rachel heard the knock at the back door somewhere in the far recesses of her mind. She had too many other details swirling around the gray abyss to process an everyday occurrence such as a knocking sound. Things had gotten out of hand due to her tireless wedding planner. Rachel had assumed those of that profession were supposed to make life easier for the bride and groom. Instead, she felt pulled in a dozen directions at once due to Jessie's wedding etiquette guide. Jake offered to sneak into his sister's room while she slept, steal the book, and burn it on the brush pile in the middle of the night. He would leave the window open and then cite news reports of an area cat burglar absconding with the oddest of items. Even if Jessie figured out the culprits, the source of their frustration would already be ashes.

Right now Rachel sat at her desk writing and addressing a stack of thank-you notes for the harpist, pianist, minister, church organist, each of the celebrity chefs, florist, photographer, and their wedding cake creator. Jessie explained that if she finished these now, she wouldn't have to do them after she got home from their honeymoon in Nashville. Rachel sighed as she finished one of the cards. In the world she had grown up in, a sincere
danki
to those providing a gift or service was all that was required.

These handwritten cards followed on the heels of more than sixty thank-you notes for her shower gifts. Although Rachel appreciated each generous present, did anyone truly need an electric iced tea maker? A clear glass pitcher of water and tea bags sitting in a sunny window worked just as well. And who had thought up a bread machine? Her
mamm
and
grossmammi
would fall off their kitchen stools laughing. However, now that she lived in a home connected to the electric power grid, she adored the microwave, automatic coffeemaker with timer, and her new crockpot. She could throw in chunks of round steak and chopped vegetables, go to work, and then come home to beef stew…or in Sarah's case, chicken stew. Soon she and Jake would move into their own bungalow on the grounds of Twelve Elms. Each day she marveled at the progress of the construction of their first home.

Her cousin stuck her head inside Rachel's bedroom, interrupting her daydreams. “Could you run downstairs to see who's pounding on the door? I've been on the third floor cleaning out the attic. My knees are acting up today.”

“Certainly. I didn't know you were above me instead of below.” Rachel sprang from her chair and down the steps.

“It's probably another delivery man bringing more stuff you don't need. I can't understand why folks are buying both shower and wedding presents. One or the other should be enough. The Queen of England probably never had this fanfare for her
marriage.” Sarah's comments trailed Rachel throughout the house, her voice rising in volume to accommodate the distance.

Rachel might have responded, but when she yanked open the door after another knock, the sight rendered her speechless. A small green-eyed Amish girl stood clutching a battered suitcase in both hands. Peering out from an enormous black bonnet, she was practically swallowed up by the dark, heavy material.

“Don't you recognize me,
schwester
? It's only been five months.”

“Beth!” Rachel pulled her younger sister into an embrace, almost crushing her slim frame. “Of course I do. I just gave up hope that any of my family would attend the wedding.”

Beth squirmed after a few moments. “You can hug me later. I want to get out of these traveling clothes.” She dropped her bag on the floor and began peeling off layers.

“Are you alone?” Rachel checked the driveway before shutting out the cold wind.

“
Jah
.
Grossmammi
had planned to come with Aunt Irene…but something came up.” Beth plopped down into a chair. “Do you have anything to eat and drink? I would love a sandwich and glass of cider.”

“Your wish is my command.” Rachel hurried to the refrigerator. “I can't believe she let you travel by yourself.”

“I'm fifteen, not ten, and I'm officially on
rumschpringe
. But like I said,
grossmammi
wanted to come even though the bishop advised against it. ‘That's my baby out there in Kentucky. Somebody needs to make sure she will be taken care of and hasn't fallen in with a rough sort.' That's what she told Bishop Esh. After hearing that, he changed his mind.” Beth picked up the glass of cider as soon as Rachel set it down. Half the contents disappeared in a hurry. “
Gut, danki
.”

“What came up with
grossmammi
that she wasn't able to come after the bishop gave his permission?” Rachel finished making a
ham-and-Swiss sandwich, added a handful of chips to the plate, and then sat down next to her sibling.

“Must we discuss our grandmother now? I just arrived five minutes ago.” Beth's eyes squinted into a beady glare.

“Yes, we must. You're frightening me.” A shiver of anxiety ran up Rachel's back.

Biting into the sandwich, Beth chewed before speaking. “All right then.
Grossmammi
has cancer but it's treatable. Amy and John and their baby are on their way to Lancaster to make sure she gets those treatments. Nora and Lewis had planned to surprise you at the wedding, but her doctor said no. She's too far along to make the trip and must stay put. You know…”

“Yes, I am aware of her condition.” Rachel chuckled at Beth's shyness.

“Nora will send the quilt her district is helping to make once it's done.”

Rachel tried to hold back an unexpected wave of tears. She took a moment to gather herself, and then she said, “Jake and I will visit Missouri after Nora's you-know-who arrives, and we'll schedule a trip to Pennsylvania as soon as possible.”

Beth didn't answer until she devoured the sandwich. “That would be a
gut
idea. Say, do you think Sarah would mind if I have another one? I'm still hungry.”

“I don't mind at all.” Sarah swept into the room carrying a huge bag of discards for the church rummage sale. “But I don't know why Rachel feeds you deli ham when there's a bowl of fresh chicken salad with pecans and grapes.
Welcum
, cousin.” Sarah brushed a kiss across Beth's
kapp
.

“I would love some chicken salad!” Beth exclaimed. “
Danki
.”

“Didn't our grandmother give you money for the journey?” asked Sarah over her shoulder at the sink. “You're practically starving.”

“
Jah
, she did, but I saved it to buy Rachel a wedding present.” Beth lifted her pale green eyes to meet Rachel's blue gaze.