The Amish Christmas Sleigh (19 page)

“I'm glad you understand. Otherwise, I'll be apologizing every five minutes while you're here. Their words either make me laugh, embarrass me, frustrate me, anger me, or melt my heart. It doesn't matter how many times I ask them to mind their manners, they always say whatever comes to mind anyway. I've given up.”

They both laughed.

She passed a bowl to him. “The Zellers said you mentioned your business is carpentry repairs for townsfolk and our community members. Will you farm and tend a garden?”

He accepted the bowl and spooned a heap of green beans onto his plate. “Jah. I can manage a small farm and garden and still have time for my business. I can control how much work I accept, and I enjoy it.”

“I appreciate the repairs you've done for us.” She sipped her water. “Danki for your patience. Josiah couldn't take his eyes off of you as you worked. I'm not smart about such things. It's kind of you to teach him how to use tools.”

His heart caught in his throat. The gleam in her eyes while talking about her son's happiness touched him. Charity was vulnerable and open. Not haughty or stubborn. He yearned to protect and take care of her, but at the same time, he wanted to run from her. She had awakened something deep within him. He barely knew this woman, but something about her and her kinner had already pricked his heart. He'd better be careful and not get too close to this small family.

“Do your parents live in Berlin?”

“Daed died a few years ago. Mamm woke to find him dead next to her. Dr. Harris wasn't sure what was wrong with him. He'd had trouble breathing the last few months before he passed. Mamm lives next door.”

No wonder Josiah and Beth gravitated to him. Like him, they had no daed or grossdaadi.

Beth wiped her lips with her napkin. “Grossmudder helps me with my spelling words. Today, I learned to spell the words kindness and peace.” She spelled each word.

Luke held Charity's gaze and grinned, then glanced at Beth. “You're a smart maedel. I'm impressed.”

Josiah stood and adjusted his tool belt. “I'm a carpenter like Luke.” He paused and peered at the empty pockets around his waist and then looked sheepishly at Luke. “Do you have any other tools I can have?”

Charity leaned in. “Josiah, it's not polite for you to ask Luke for things. Please apologize.”

Luke patted the child's back. “I want him to ask me anything. I'm happy he's interested in learning about tools and doing repairs. I enjoy teaching him how to repair things. Josiah, I'll find some for you.”

“He's thrilled to have you pay attention to him. Danki.”

The kinner were cheerful and well-behaved, but they had a lot of energy. They'd kept Charity occupied much of the time he'd been there. What a patient and loving mamm she was to her boy and maedel. It must be exhausting, but she didn't complain. She was attractive and young—would she ever consider marriage again?

C
HAPTER
2

L
uke knocked on the bishop's door. He'd gone from one haus to another and repaired doors, floors, and furniture for members in the community the past week. Yawning, he stretched and rubbed his aching arms. He'd sleep gut tonight. Word of his skills had spread since he'd arrived. No longer would he fret there wouldn't be enough work for him to do in Berlin. He wrinkled his eyebrows. The bishop had requested he come fix his step and said he wanted to see him first. Maybe the bishop wasn't home after all. He rapped again.

Bishop Weaver opened the door. “Would you like to put your horse in the barn?”

“No. It won't take me long to repair your step.”

“Come in and have a seat. I'd like to talk to you for a few minutes before you mend the broken step on the porch.”

The bishop accepted Luke's coat and hat and hung them on a knotted maple coat tree. He gestured for Luke to sit on the blue cushioned settee. A fire crackled in the fireplace. “Would you like coffee or hot milk?”

“No, danki, I'm fine.”

Bishop Weaver opened a desk drawer and pulled out a piece of paper. “Bishop Yoder recommended that I and our membership accept you as part of our church. He wrote that you are an upstanding and fine Amish man who abides by our laws and has helped many in need in your Lancaster community. He considered your parents close friends.”

“He is a gut friend, and jah, my parents thought a lot of him, too.”

“He mentioned your fraa divorced you to wed an Englisch man you hired to help you. He explained you are innocent in this situation.”

The bishop in Lancaster had told Luke he'd write a letter to Bishop Weaver passing along his recommendation and explanation of his divorce. Luke hadn't known when this conversation would take place.

He stiffened and pushed back in the settee. The familiar ache each time someone mentioned his former fraa coursed through him. “Jah, she did.”

The bishop's sentence had summed it up. He had nothing more to say on the matter. He hoped his divorce wouldn't blemish his reputation.

“You are not at fault. We do not need to discuss the matter further, and I will not be telling anyone.”

Luke blew out a sigh of relief, crossed his legs, and relaxed. “I appreciate your understanding and acceptance of me. Danki.”

Bishop Weaver handed him three sheets of paper. “I've penciled out the rules we consider our Ordnung. It's what I do for each new member. Read it over. If you have any questions, come back tomorrow and I'll answer them. I suspect they are not much different from yours in Lancaster. Your bishop there and I are in agreement concerning our laws and rules.”

Luke glanced over the small but precise print. “I will read them, but I doubt I will have any questions or issues with them.”

“Gut, are you attending church tomorrow?”

“Jah, I am.”

“After the service I'll ask the members to vote. How does this sit with you?”

This discussion had gone much better than he'd anticipated. “I appreciate your confidence in me. Please be assured I am a devout believer in God and in upholding our Amish laws.”

“After reading this letter and talking to my friends here, I have no doubt.” The bishop stood and stoked the fire. “I stopped by Charity Lantz's haus the other day to check on her. She told me you have been stockpiling her wood and repairing things for her. Josiah and Beth are happy you live next door and told me you took them sledding.”

Luke's jaw clenched. Would the bishop reprimand him? “They've been kind to me.”

“She is a hardworking widow, and I suspect it is difficult to make ends meet at times. Her late husband was a gut man. Aaron Lantz had a quick wit and a gut sense of humor. I enjoyed his company.”

Why was he worried? He and Charity had done nothing wrong. The kinner were present anytime they were together. He bit his lip. The guilt came from his heart racing at the mention of her name. There was a spark there the first moment they met, but he'd pushed the attraction from his mind. He rubbed the stubble on his chin. Josiah and Beth had touched on the subject of their daed. He hadn't wanted to pry, but he wanted to learn more about Aaron. “What did he do for work?”

“He carved handles for knives, miniature toys, and different-sized building and hanging pegs. He sold them and earned a gut living. His friends helped him do chores, and he hired a man to farm his land and split the profits. Aaron said he was sick a lot as a child and had bouts of illness often as an adult. He was a gentle soul loved by his family and friends.”

From what the bishop had told him, he would have liked Aaron. How sad his kinner wouldn't be able to ask him questions, learn from his talents, and enjoy his company. “I wish I'd had the chance to meet him.”

“You do not have a fraa. Maybe you should consider Charity for a potential fraa. You and she are not getting any younger.”

Luke cleared his throat and blinked a few times. The bishop was far from shy. He shuffled his feet and stared at the floor. “She's a gut woman, but I'm not interested in finding a fraa.” He headed for the door. “I'd better get to work before we run out of daylight.”

The bishop passed him his coat and hat. “Consider my suggestion. You would not want another man to snatch Charity away.”

Halfway out the door, Luke pushed his arms through his coat sleeves and placed his hat on his head. He couldn't leave the bishop fast enough. The man meant well, but he had pushed the issue far enough. The hairs on his neck prickled as he considered the bishop's words. How would he react if another man showed interest in Charity? His head began to pound. He barely knew her, but he wouldn't like it one bit. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get her sweet voice and beautiful face out of his mind, as well as the faces of her kinner.

He flexed his gloved hands, strode to his wagon, and lifted out a new wood plank. The bishop's words rolled over in his mind. He shivered and pounded the nails into the new wood on the porch step, then bounced his feet on it. Sturdy, it would hold much better.

Footsteps crunched the snow behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and fought to hide the irritation welling inside. He had chores to finish at home, and Charity wasn't a subject he wanted to discuss any further with the bishop. “You didn't have to come outside. I'd have come in to bid you farewell.”

The bishop's red cheeks dimpled. He pressed coins in Luke's gloved hand. “I needed fresh air and to stretch my legs. I've been inside too long.” He studied Luke's work. “I've been watching you. You do fine work. I appreciate your coming out today.”

Luke swallowed. A pang of remorse rushed through him. The man was gracious. He passed the coins back to the man. “I appreciate your willingness to pay me, but I'm happy to help you.” He put a hand on the man's shoulder. “Several of your friends told me you have been spreading the word I'm a handyman. Danki.”

The bishop shoved his hands in his pockets. “I like to help young Amish men find work. It strengthens our community.”

“Danki. You go inside and get warm.”

“All right, but remember what I said.”

Uh-oh,
he'd better dash off quick before the bishop cornered him about Charity again. Luke waved and quickened his pace. He climbed in the wagon and headed home. Would the bishop mention his idea to her? He hoped not. He wouldn't want any awkwardness between them.

Charity sat in church next to Josiah and Beth on Sunday. She searched for Luke. He must have arrived early. He sat in the third bench on the other side across from her. The sight of him sent her heart in a spin. Like her late husband, Luke had ignited a fire in her. What was it about him? He had chopped and stockpiled wood for her, brought her food, and paid attention to Josiah and Beth, but those weren't the reasons she couldn't put him out of her mind. She liked his voice, neat appearance, and energetic way of living.

He'd joined them for supper almost every day for three weeks. On the days he hadn't joined them, she missed him. She wished he'd open up more about his life in Lancaster. Had he ever been married or even considered a fraa? Surely he wanted kinner. He'd gone out of his way to entertain Josiah and Beth.

Bishop Weaver lifted his Ausbund. “Please join me in lifting your hymnals and turning to page five.”

She lifted the book and flipped the pages. She shook her head a little and chastised herself. Her mind should be on the service and not on Luke, but his face popped into her mind when she least expected it.

The bishop led them in a song, then requested they kneel while he recited the Lord's Prayer. He raised his head and asked everyone to sit.

In his sermon he reminded them they should seek God's will for their lives and in each situation they encountered. She stared at her Bible. What would God have in store for her this year?

An hour and a half later, the bishop asked, “Luke Fisher, please join me at the front.”

Luke joined the bishop, and the man prayed over him aloud. She found it hard to concentrate. A thrill coursed through her bones. This meant that Luke had grown roots in Berlin. She'd feared someone or something in his past would pull him back to Lancaster, until now.

The bishop's request to join him in prayer again jerked her out of her thoughts. The bishop asked Luke questions about his belief in God and his commitment to obeying God and the Amish law. Luke answered each question.

“Does anyone here object to Luke joining our membership?” The bishop waited. “Men, raise your hands to accept Luke into the fold.”

“Luke, you've received a unanimous vote. Wilkom.”

Luke stared right at her and smiled. Her cheeks warmed.

Josiah and Beth waved to him. He waved back and grinned.

After the bishop said a few more words and prayed, he dismissed the members for the after-service meal.

Josiah and Beth tugged Luke's hand. “Come sit by us.”

Charity approached him. “You're officially one of us now. Congratulations.”

Men and women crowded around them to wilkom him. Charity noticed mamms introducing their dechder to him. She tightened her lips and stared at the pretty young women fawning over Luke. She had been silly. Why would he be interested in her when he could wed a younger woman who had no kinner? She gestured for her kinner to join her.

She glanced over her shoulder to Luke. “We'll go prepare for the meal.”

She smoothed her black plain dress and righted her kapp. She stole glances at Luke, dressed in his black pants, suspenders, and a crisp white shirt as she uncovered her dishes. Relief washed over her. He'd joined a group of men. He had no problem making conversation. Setting the table, she turned her back to him. His laughter rang in her ears. She paused and recognized the pleasant sound right away. Her cheeks grew warm. His voice and laugh had become familiar. She couldn't pinpoint when it had happened, but she cared about him. She put a hand to her throat. It scared her a little but excited her more. He approached her.

“I fixed you a plate.” She slid it over to him.

“Danki.”

Josiah and Beth separated. Josiah patted the spot next to him. “Sit here, Luke.”

She thought her heart would melt at his smile as he sat between her kinner. He'd joined her and the kinner, and not any of the other available women who were staring at him. She smoothed her cloth napkin on her lap and closed her eyes for a moment. She must stop swooning over him. He treated her like a schweschder. She raised her spoon to her mouth but lowered it. She sat and listened to him chat with Josiah and Beth. He would be perfect for a husband and daed for her kinner. He was the first man she'd considered a potential husband since the untimely death of her beloved Aaron. He'd not broached the subject or even hinted at it. She wouldn't want to pry.

She closed her eyes. “Dear Heavenly Father, did You send Luke here for us? I don't know what Your purpose is for bringing Luke into our lives, but danki for him. Give me the right words to say to Luke to make him comfortable to encourage him to open up to me. I praise You and danki for Your mercy, grace, and power. Amen.”

 

A week later on Saturday, a loud scream pierced the air outside. Josiah. Charity tossed the Amish doll she'd been stitching on the chair and opened the door.

Beth ushered her bruder inside the haus. Her face paled. “Josiah's hurt real bad. I'm scared.”

Charity rushed over to him. “What's wrong?” He held his right hand with his left hand. Blood flowed down his arm, dripped from his elbow, and stained the floor red. Chills coursed through her.