Katie's Forever Promise (41 page)

“So you did see me then?” Katie snuggled tightly against him.

“How could I not see you? Your presence filled the entire place.”

Katie laughed. “You'll really have to tone down all this talk. I'm just plain old Emma Raber's daughter, Ben, just in case you've forgotten.”

“The girl everyone overlooked…except me.” He stroked the stray hairs hanging on her forehead.

“Now don't get so full of yourself, Ben.”

“Isn't that what you liked about me?”

She touched his face with her fingers. “I liked what I saw in you. I saw a man who charmed my heart. But I never thought it could really happen—that you would notice me.”

Ben laughed. “So tell me, what was with all the plainness, the drab dresses you used to wear, the hiding behind people at the youth gatherings, the sober face? What was that all about? Were you pretending? Testing me? Seeing if I'd notice?”

Katie rested her head on his shoulder. “
Nee
, I'm afraid not. It was all quite real. And I'm still plain, Ben. I'll always be. I was brought up that way.”

Ben grinned. “And with a heart of gold. Maybe that's what
shines on your face, making the beauty outside even more beautiful.”

“Careful now, Ben,” Katie teased. “I'll be getting old before too long.”

He regarded her steadily. “Maybe it's best you don't know how beautiful you are, Katie.”

“Hush,” she said, kissing him again.

Ben stroked her cheek. “Don't believe me? Just look how Mahlon Bontrager was mooning over you when I came back.”

Katie laughed. “How do you know about Mahlon?”

“Because I was watching you, and so was he. I'm not blind, Katie.”

“You never had anything to worry about.” She glanced up at his face.

He smiled. “Katie, one more thing. Can you tell what they're thinking of me in the community? Have you heard any…any more complaints?”

Katie sat up straight. “Of course not! You've suffered enough for what you did wrong. And you chose jail time to uphold the community's beliefs.”

Ben shrugged. “I think they're accepting me because of you more than anything.”

Katie laughed. “Because of me? Ben, you're wrong.”

“I don't think so. The love of a
gut
woman helps, Katie.” Ben kissed her on the cheek.

They both sat quietly, perfectly content.

Ben reached down, picked up his plate, and finished off the pie. He looked at her, smiling. “So tell me how the program for the last day of school is coming along?” he finally asked.

Katie sat bolt upright. “Oh, Ben! I've plumb forgotten there was to be one. Just like I forgot the Christmas program. What's the matter with me?”

Ben laughed. “Nothing is the matter with you. Do you need my help planning it?”

“You? But you don't have time. Carolyn helped me for the Christmas program. I'm sure she'll have
gut
ideas again.”

“I have a very
gut
idea. Shall I tell you?”

“
Yah
, please do.”

“Have the children reenact your trip to Switzerland—some of the highlights perhaps. Things that stood out to you. The adults would love it, and the children would learn a lot about our faith.”

“But I've already told my story to the women at the sewing.”

“You haven't told it to the men or to me. Not in that way, at least.”

Katie thought about it for a moment. “I don't know, Ben. You really think they'd like it?”

“They'd be charmed. And it would wash away the last doubts anyone might have on whether they should have hired you back.”

Katie tried to collect her thoughts. “Well, maybe.”

Ben continued. “I could stop by after school some days, and give you suggestions the brilliant Carolyn might miss.”

“
Yah
, let's do it! We can begin this week already. You can stop by whenever it suits you. And I'll tell Carolyn about it tomorrow evening so she can start planning.”

“They'll be plenty of time, I'm sure. And here's the bonus—I'll get to see you more often!”

Katie leaned against him. “Ben, this is so beautiful. All of this. You being here with me, loving me enough to ask if I'd be your
frau
this fall.”

Ben appeared embarrassed. “Now you'll have me turning red. Shouldn't we begin planning for the wedding soon? It'll be here before you know it.”

“We have all summer for that, Ben. Right now I just want to enjoy you. I don't want this night to end.”

“Me neither.”

“Where are we going to live, Ben?”

Ben didn't hesitate. “There's a little place not far from
Mamm
and
Daett
's place. It's for rent right now. I'd have to take it before the wedding, perhaps begin to live there by myself…”

Katie's face glowed. “So you've already been thinking about it—before you even asked me?”

Ben laughed. “
Yah
, I couldn't help myself, Katie. But I wouldn't make the plans, not without your consent.”

“That's a very smart decision, Ben Stoll.” She glanced at his empty plate he'd put back on the floor. “Would you like more pieces of pie?”

“
Nee
, I have to go. It's close to midnight already.”

Katie followed him to the door. “I can't believe this is really happening. It hardly seems real. It's like I'm dreaming.”

“Then don't wake up, dear,” he whispered.

Katie pulled him close and lingered in his arms.

Ben soon pushed away and slipped out into the night. Katie watched as his buggy lights came on, and Ben guided Longstreet down the lane. Not until they had vanished from sight, did she close the door. After putting the pie plate in the kitchen, she went to her room and looked out the window. There was nothing in sight except the twinkling of the stars overhead.

“Thank You, dear
Hah
,” she whispered toward the heavens. “Thank You for everything. And for everything which is still to come.”

Epilogue

Five Months Later

Fall arrived in full force, and after a final rush of wedding preparations, Katie was married. And to Ben Stoll! She pinched herself to see if it was a dream, even though people were still standing around talking with them. The wedding had just been that morning, and now the hymn singing was over. A long line of well-wishers were coming past the corner table to shake hands. Katie stood beside Ben, glancing up at his face every chance she had. The moment when she'd promised to be his
frau
was now hours past, but the glory wasn't fading away.

They'd been married here at Bishop Miller's place, where
Mamm
had said her vows with Jesse and where Mabel had begun her married life. In every way now, she was one of them. And so was Ben now that his baptismal vows had been said last month. The
wunderbah
“last day of school” program Ben had helped direct had been months ago. Life couldn't be happier.

Outside, the moon had risen, its full globe visible through the open pole barn door. Soon the couple would be riding in the buggy behind Longstreet to their new rented home where Ben had been living since late May.

Ben was busy talking with his
mamm
and
daett
right now. On the other side of Katie, Carolyn slipped away, following Marlin Stoll outside. Carolyn had been such a beautiful bridesmaid today, but now she probably wanted a few moments alone with Marlin. He was one of Ben's relatives from Lancaster. Carolyn had never met him before today, but she was smitten from all indications. She'd been stealing sideway glances at the young man for most of the day. Katie smiled. How neat would that be if Carolyn met her future husband at her wedding?

Brenda, Ben's eldest sister, had been the bridesmaid chosen from his side of the family, and now she slipped over to shake Katie's hand. “It's been a great day, Katie. And I wish the absolute best to the both of you. You deserve each other.”

“
Yah
, we probably do,” Katie said with a laugh.

“
Nee
,” Brenda hastened to correct, “I meant that in the best way.”

Katie nodded. “I know. Thank you. You've been so sweet today.”

“Take care of Ben, then.”

“You know I will.”

Ben's
daett
was moving closer to Katie now, offering to shake her hand. She took it with a big smile. “Thanks for raising such a great son, Leon.”

A tear formed in his eye, and he didn't wipe it away. “I think you had a lot to do with that, Katie. You'll make Ben a
wunderbah frau
. I appreciate you so much.”

“Thank you. I'm very happy to be a Stoll now.”

Leon turned to Lavina, who had just given Ben one last hug. “It's all true, isn't it,
Mamm
!”

Lavina gave them both a big smile. “I didn't hear a word you said, but I'm sure it's all true. At least if you're saying
gut
things about Katie.”

Katie gave Lavina a tight hug. “Thank you both for bringing up such a nice son.”

Lavina was making no effort to hide her tears. “He's a very precious boy to us.”

“And he's a precious man to me,” Katie assured Lavina.

“
Mamm
, stop saying such things,” Ben interrupted. “Someone will hear you.”

Everyone laughed as Ben's parents moved on.

Bishop Miller and his
frau
were next in line. They must have heard what had been said because the bishop stuck his hand out to Ben. “It's
gut
to hear parents praising their children. And in this case, I must say it's well deserved. I'm glad to have all of you getting along so well.”

“Thank you,” Ben told him.

“You're too kind, I think,” Katie said as she shook his hand and then Laura's. “Thank you for marrying us, Bishop Miller.”

“It was a great honor,” Bishop Miller said. “A great honor indeed. And I have a request for you, Katie, since you're the schoolteacher again this year. Could you get everyone together from last term and repeat that “last day of school” program? I know some people who would love to see it.”

“I'm not sure,” Katie replied. “The children may have forgotten by now, and the eighth graders aren't in school any longer.”

Bishop Miller leaned closer. “It's for the minister's meeting we're having around Thanksgiving. Could you have it ready by then? Surely, Katie, the children know it well enough. Even if it's only half as
gut
as it was the first time, I'd be happy.”

Katie tried to collect herself. “You want us to give the program for the ministers?”

Bishop Miller's eyes twinkled. “And for their wives so you
wouldn't just be looking at long beards, shall we say? Think about it, Katie. It would be quite
gut
for everyone. This would put in a nice word for the progress of our school—educating our children in the ways of the forefathers.”

Ben interrupted, taking Katie's hand. “Of course we'll get the program ready. Katie, I'll come up after work and help you prepare. And maybe Carolyn can stop by during school hours. She was also involved in planning it.”

“That will be
wunderbah
!” Bishop Miller was all smiles. “And I'm glad to hear that there's been no more trouble from the people who were after you, Ben. We've been praying all summer for your safety. Maybe things have blown over by now?”

“I sure hope so,” Ben said, adding quickly, “Since I didn't testify, they've sort of cooled off, it seems.”

“
Da Hah
be praised!” Bishop Miller said. “And the best of wishes to your married life together. May it be all
Da Hah
desires.”

“Amen!” Ben agreed as the bishop and Laura moved on.

“Do you know what you've just committed us to with that school program?” Katie whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

“It's an honor to do it for the bishop, and you're my
frau
. You have to obey!”

“Ben Stoll! You're a rascal!” Katie whispered back with a giggle.

“That's why you love me.”

She made a face at him, and Ben laughed, turning to shake hands with the next person in line. His Aunt Rosemary and her husband lingered for a long time, wishing them well and telling them stories of the earlier years of their marriage—about their misunderstandings over cooking and child training. They apparently expected Ben and Katie to have some of the same experiences.

It might happen, Katie thought, but at the moment all that paled to what they'd been through already. And Bishop Miller
had been correct with his surmising about the further trouble Ben might have been in since the trial. She also had prayed much this summer, but Ben was sure both he and the community were out of danger. And there had been nothing to indicate Ben was wrong. Indeed,
Da Hah
had been with them, and He surely would continue to be there offering His aid.