The Courtship Basket (2 page)

W
HILE THIS NOVEL IS SET AGAINST THE REAL BACKDROP OF
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with any work of fiction, I've taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however, it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description, since each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

R
ACHEL
F
ISHER SMILED AS SHE STEPPED OUT ONTO THE PORCH
of her parents' large farmhouse. The crisp February air caressed her cheeks as a breeze brushed her blue dress against her legs, and she reflected on the day. Her older sister, Veronica, had married Jason Huyard while Rachel and her younger sister, Emily, stood by as attendants and more than two hundred members of their community filled the congregation gathered in her father's largest barn.

The wedding service had been perfect, and Rachel was bursting with joy and excitement for Veronica, who had lost her former fiancé in an accident nearly a year ago, but then met and fell in love with Jason.

As she moved to the porch railing, Rachel's thoughts turned to David Beiler, and she smiled. She'd been dating him for four years now, and she was certain their wedding would be next. Rachel had already started a mental list of everything she needed to do to prepare for the ceremony. She dreamed of marrying in November, the busiest wedding season.

Like Veronica, Rachel wanted to have the service in her father's large barn. She imagined her sisters and herself wearing hunter green dresses she would sew. Rachel would smile with happiness as she and David stood before their community and took those sacred vows that would join them together for life.

If only he'd propose to me . . .

Rachel tucked an errant strand of dark brown hair behind her
ear and leaned against the railing. Loud voices sounded from the house behind her as well as from the barn and pasture, signaling that the celebration continued despite a cloudy sky and dropping temperature. She breathed in a faint aroma of threatening rain and rubbed her arms where gooseflesh appeared, grateful that a late-winter snowstorm they'd feared had never materialized.

She searched the pasture where young people gathered and tried to find David's handsome face. She had seen him after the service, but then he disappeared into the crowd. After she helped deliver the food to the tables, she started looking for him. Her search led her to the house, where she thought he might be lounging in the family room, talking to her father. Instead, she'd found only a few women working in the kitchen.

When her ears caught the sound of soft voices around the corner of the house, Rachel moved to the far end of the porch to see who was there. She stopped short when she realized she could be interrupting a private conversation.

“I know,” a feminine voice said. “I was wondering if we were going to be able to talk alone.”

The voice was familiar, but it was too low for Rachel to place it. It was rude for her to listen in on the conversation, and she knew she should walk away. Yet something kept her cemented in place. She leaned against the corner of the house and listened more intently.

“I told you I would get away as soon as I could,” a masculine voice responded. His voice was hesitant. “I just had to find a way to be discreet. I left when she wasn't paying attention.”

Rachel gnawed her lower lip. That voice was so familiar too. Who was it?

Then it hit her like a thousand bales of hay falling from the loft in the barn. That voice belonged to David. An icy chill shimmied up her spine.

“So when are you going to tell her?” the young woman asked,
her voice holding a hint of a whine. “I'm tired of sneaking around. I'm ready to let the world know we want to be together.”

Rachel shook her head. Surely she was wrong about the voice. David would never cheat on her or sneak behind her back. Yes, she should just walk away and stop behaving like a voyeur.

“I promised you I'd tell her, and I will. I just need to find the right time,” the man said. “Don't you trust me?”

“Of course I do, David.”

Rachel swallowed a whimper. Who was the young woman stealing her dreams? She leaned forward on the railing and peered around the house. Her best friend, Sharon, was standing beside David.

Rachel's world tilted and a gasp escaped her mouth.

As if startled by the sound, David and Sharon spun, turning their gazes to Rachel.

“Rachel?” Panic flashed in David's eyes as he took a step toward her, then froze. “I was looking for you.”

Sharon gaped, then spoke. “Rachel?”

Rachel shook her head. This had to be a nightmare. How could the two people she loved like members of her own family betray her like this? Anguish at this treachery stole her words and nearly suffocated her. “How-how could you?” she stammered. She took a step back, turned, and ran toward the front door.

“Rachel, wait!” Rachel could hear Sharon coming around the corner, shouting, “It's not what you think!”

Rachel rushed through the front door of the house and raced up the stairs to her bedroom as Sharon's voice chased after her, begging her to stop. She stepped into her room, closed the door, and locked it before sinking down onto the corner of her double bed.

Grief choked her and tears trickled down her hot cheeks. All the plans she'd made for her life with David disintegrated into a distant memory as knocks sounded on her door.

“Rachel?” Sharon's wobbly voice sounded through the door. “Rachel, please let me in. Let me explain, okay?”

“Go away.” Rachel's words were muffled as she covered her face with her hands.

“Rachel, please listen to me. I never meant to hurt you.” Sharon's voice quavered. “We've been best
freinden
since first grade. I can't imagine losing your friendship.”

Rachel swiped her hands across her face and tried to clear the lump from her throat. “Just leave.”

“No.” Sharon's voice was determined. “We need to talk about this.”

“There's nothing to talk about. You and David betrayed me. It's over.”

“We were going to tell you. We were waiting for the perfect time to let you know.”

“That's why you were sneaking around.” Rachel shook her head as if Sharon could see her through the door. “I was so naïve. I thought you were my best
freind
.”

“I
am
your best
freind
,” Sharon insisted. “This wasn't planned. It just sort of happened.” She sniffed. “Please let me in. I want to tell you how sorry I am.”

“Just go away.” Rachel stretched out on her bed, resting her cheek on her cool pillow.

Closing her eyes, she allowed her tears to finally flow, washing away her fantasy of marrying David and raising a family with him. For four years she'd believed he'd one day be her husband. Now she was alone. She was twenty-two and didn't have a boyfriend with whom to plan a future.

“Rachel?” Sharon's voice asked from the hallway. “Rachel, please let me in.”

Rachel pulled a pillow over her head to shield herself from Sharon's pleading voice. She longed for Sharon to leave. There
was nothing her former best friend could say to make this better. Rachel's whole world was falling apart.

The hallway outside her room grew silent, and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. She just wanted to be alone. As a fresh rush of tears filled her eyes, Rachel turned and buried her face in her pillow.

A few minutes later, another knock sounded on her door.

“I said go away!”

“Rachel?” It was Emily. “Are you all right?”

Rachel climbed from the bed and unlocked the door.

“
Ach
, no. What happened? I've been looking for you and someone said she saw you run upstairs.” Her younger sister's pretty face clouded with concern as she stepped into the room. At twenty, she was the shortest of the Fisher sisters, and like their sister, Veronica, she had the same blue eyes and blonde hair as their mother.

“David and Sharon have been seeing each other behind my back.” Rachel sat on the corner of her bed.

Emily sat down beside her and shook her head. “I can't believe it.”

As Rachel recounted the conversation she'd overheard, she felt her hopes and dreams shredding into a million pieces. Her life would never be the same. But as Emily stroked her arm and listened, Rachel was grateful she still had her sisters.

R
ACHEL STOOD AT THE FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM AND WROTE
the day's schedule on the dry-erase board. She breathed in the sweet aroma of the marker as she worked.

Today is the day!

The small trailer that housed the school was on the same property as a larger, traditional, one-room school building. She turned to glance around the small classroom and butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

The trailer was spacious enough for their needs. It had an area in the center of the room for the students' desks, and learning stations were situated around the room. Brightly colored photos of farm animals featuring the names of the four students hung on the wall in one corner. A colorful alphabet, complete with a pictured item illustrating each letter, was displayed on the wall above the dry-erase board. Large, open windows lined each wall, and an unusually warm, late-March breeze filled the room with the smell of spring and new beginnings.

It had been only two weeks since she'd accepted her cousin Malinda's invitation to start teaching there. After speaking to the parent committee and then observing the class, Rachel was finally ready to take her place at the front of the classroom with Malinda. Although she'd never imagined herself working as a teacher, Rachel quickly poured herself into learning the teaching techniques Malinda used for the students at this special school,
which offered more one-on-one attention than the larger, one-room schoolhouses could offer.

Rachel looked at the five small desks in the center of the room. A new student was going to join their class today, and she couldn't wait to meet him. The school was for students who needed extra help, including children from different school districts in all of the Lancaster County Amish community, so Rachel wasn't acquainted with the new student or his family.

“I'll have to make a name sign for John Lantz,” Rachel said. “Do we have more of those farm signs?”

“
Ya
, we do.” Malinda pointed to a drawer unit near the desk. “You can write his name on one and his parents' names on another picture. His parents' names are in the file by our desk. I'll get the animal pictures out for you.” She paused, frowning. “I wonder if you should only write his
dat
's name. His
mamm
passed away.”

“
Ach
, no.” Rachel shook her head. “That's so
bedauerlich.
”

“I know.” Malinda nodded. “His
dat
is very ill. His older
bruder
, Mike, is raising him.”

“That has to be difficult for him.” Rachel crossed the room to the desk, picked up John's file, and placed it on the table near the front of the room before flipping it open. She leafed through, finding each of his work papers from his previous teacher covered in red ink. “He's really been struggling with reading and math.”

“
Ya
, he has. I spoke with his former teacher, and she was hoping he could finish first grade with her. But she said he was struggling, and it was becoming a behavior issue. That's why Mike and his father made the decision to move him to this school. John needs a lot of extra help.” Malinda took two farm animal pictures from the storage unit and then a black Sharpie from the cup on the desk. “Here. You can write the names.”

“
Danki
.” Rachel found John's parents' names on the front of the folder. She wrote
John Lantz
on the picture featuring a cow
and then stared at his mother's name. She looked at the wall at the far end of the room where the other students' and parents' names were displayed. “I'm going write his mother's name. I'm certain her memory is still a part of his life.”

“I agree.” Malinda stood, and her gaze moved to the back of the room. She was a couple inches shorter than Rachel. Like Rachel, she had brown hair and brown eyes. “And we don't want him to feel left out when he sees both of the other scholars' parents listed there.”

“Exactly.” Rachel wrote out
Vera and Raymond Lantz
as she pondered John. Her prayers went out to the little boy, who was only six years old. He didn't have his mother, and his father was ill. No wonder he struggled in school. She silently vowed to be the best teacher she could be for him.

Rachel took the tape dispenser from the desk and went to the back of the room. She taped the two farm pictures near the others. “I think we're all set for his arrival now. I'll make sure we have his books together.”

“
Danki
. I'd like to try having the scholars read aloud today,” Malinda said as she organized a stack of papers on the large desk they would now share at the front of the room. “I think Lizzie is ready to read in front of the class. She's becoming much more confident since I started working with her more. She showed a big improvement last week.”

“I'm not surprised she's improving so much
.
I could tell when I visited your class that you're a really
gut
teacher,” Rachel said. Concern suddenly filled her. “I hope I will do as well as you do with the
kinner
.”

Malinda gave Rachel an encouraging smile. “I have complete faith that you will be a
wunderbaar
teacher. I'm so thankful you agreed to come and help me with this school.”

“
Danki
for asking me.” Rachel moved to the front of the
classroom and arranged a stack of books for John as Malinda began to place math worksheets on the students' desks.

“How is Veronica doing?” Malinda asked.

“She's doing well.” Rachel set the dry-erase marker on the ledge in front of the board. “She and Jason moved into their new
haus
last week and she's really
froh
. He's going to build her a bake stand by the road so she can sell her pies when it warms up.”

“That's
wunderbaar
.” Malinda's smile faded. “How are you doing?”

“I'm fine.” Rachel needed to change the subject. She didn't want to think about David or Sharon. Although it had been a month since the breakup, it was difficult enough seeing them together at church services and youth gatherings. Their happiness was apparent in their shining smiles and intimate whispers. Rachel's belief that David loved her and was going to marry her had been nothing but a childish fantasy. He had been in love with her former best friend all along, or at least for a while now. The thought still caused her chest to ache, but the sting of the breakup had softened slightly.

She turned toward the windows and saw a white van with an unfamiliar driver parked behind the schoolhouse. “I think our new student is here.”

“Oh?” Malinda turned toward the window. “
Ya
, I think so. Would you like to go meet him? I met with his family last week, so he's already met me. You can go introduce yourself, and I'll get the other scholars ready for the day.”

“That's a
gut
idea.”

Rachel stepped outside the trailer and walked down the steps to the small rock driveway where the van was parked. The back door slid open revealing a small, blond boy with bright blue eyes sitting by a man with the same blond hair and blue eyes. Rachel realized he must be Michael Lantz, John's brother. A young woman
with brown hair and brown eyes was with them, and Rachel wondered if she was a member of the family too.

Rachel was ready to greet all of them, but the boy and man were engrossed in a conversation and were oblivious to Rachel's presence.

The young woman climbed from the van and smiled. “
Gude mariye
.” She gestured for Rachel to step away from the van so they could talk. “You must be Rachel. Malinda told me about you. I'm Marie, John's cousin. I help take care of John and his
dat
.” She nodded toward the van. “John is a little
naerfich
. He wasn't
froh
when Mike told him he had to come to another school, but we've been doing our best to encourage him.”

“We'll take
gut
care of him,” Rachel said. “Malinda and I are excited for John to join our class.”

A flurry of activity and noise filled the air as children entered the schoolyard and filed into the two schoolhouses. Rachel nodded greetings at students before turning her attention back to Marie. She looked past her into the van, where John and his older brother were still talking. John's little face contorted with a frown as he stared up at his brother. The boy looked determined to stay in the van.

“Do you think I should help get John from the van?” Rachel offered. “Maybe I can coax him to meet the other
kinner
?”

Marie craned her neck to look into the van. “
Ya,
that's a
gut
idea. John argued with Mike and me during the drive here. It's not just that he doesn't want to go to this school. He thinks he should stay home and take care of his
dat
. I told him that's my job, but he won't listen.”

Rachel shook her head as empathy washed over her. “That poor
bu
. I promise I'll do my best to make him feel comfortable.”

“
Danki
.” Marie touched her arm. “Things have been difficult for him.”

“I understand. Let's see if I can help.” Rachel moved to the van. “Hi, John. I'm Rachel.”

Mike and John both turned toward her, and she forced a smile despite their frowns.

“I'm a new teacher,” Rachel said. “Today is my first day here, just like it's yours. We can help each other. Would you like to be my helper today?”

John looked skeptical, but Mike's frown eased slightly. She studied his tense expression, and his eyes seemed to plead with her to help him get John out of the van.

She looked back at John. “Would you like to walk in with me and meet the other students?”

John gnawed his lower lip.

“They can't wait to meet you. Malinda told them you were coming this week, and they're very excited.” Rachel held out her hand, and John stared at it. “I promise we'll have fun today.”

John turned to Mike. “You come too.”

Mike pressed his lips together. “John, I told you. I'm already late for work.”

John's face crumpled, and alarm rang through Rachel. He was going to cry. She had to do something to encourage him to join the class—fast!

“I have an idea,” Rachel chimed in. “What if Mike came to the door and watched you step into the classroom? He could see you walk to your desk and then say good-bye.”

John thought about the suggestion and then nodded. “
Ya
, that's
gut
.”

“
Wunderbaar
.” Rachel held out her hand again. “Let's go inside.”

John took her hand and jumped out of the van. But then he unexpectedly released her hand and rushed toward the trailer.

“Don't run,” Marie warned. “You might fall.” She jammed her thumb toward the van. “I'll wait here.
Danki
, Rachel.”

“
Ya, danki.
” Mike sidled up to Rachel. “I didn't know what to do. But he suddenly seems eager to see what's going on inside.”

Rachel looked up at him as he towered over her. He was taller than David, and she surmised he had to be close to six foot two. He was handsome with a long, thin nose and clean-shaven face. His eyes reminded her of bright blue hydrangeas she'd once seen at the grocery store, but they held both sadness and tension.

“
Gern gschehne.
” She shrugged. “I'm just glad it worked.”

“We had a rough start to the day,” Mike continued, cupping his hand to the back of his neck. “He fought with me all morning when I tried to get him ready, and then he begged me to ride in the van with him. He doesn't understand that I have to get to work.”

“I'm sorry to hear that,” Rachel said. “Marie told me John wanted to stay home with your
dat
.”

Mike sighed. “
Ya
.”

“Mike!” John called from the doorway to the trailer. “Come see my desk.” He waved and then disappeared into the schoolhouse again.

Mike gestured toward the door. “We'd better go.”

Rachel followed him up the steps, and as they entered the schoolroom they found John already standing by his desk.

“Teacher Malinda says this is my desk,” John said. He pointed at Peter King standing beside him. “This is Peter. He sits next to me.”

“That's
gut
.” Mike smiled and relief sparkled in his eyes. “I need to go now. I'll see you tonight.”

John nodded and then waved, for the moment at least, all hesitation gone. “Bye!”

Mike turned to Rachel. “
Danki
.” His eyes held her gaze for a few moments before he nodded. “I really appreciate it.”

“Gern gschehne
,” she said. “I'll write in his daily journal and let you know how each day goes.”

Rachel watched him walk toward the door. As he stepped
out into the sunlight, she turned toward her class and took a deep breath. Her teaching adventure was about to begin.

“H
OW WAS YOUR FIRST DAY
?”
M
AMM
ASKED AS
R
ACHEL STEPPED
into the kitchen later that afternoon.

“It was
gut
.” Rachel dropped her tote bag and lunch pail on a kitchen chair and sat down on the chair beside it. “It was very busy.”

Mamm
brought a plate of rolls to the table, along with a butter dish. “Supper will be ready in about thirty minutes. Emily and I made a chicken casserole.”

Rachel inhaled the aroma, and her stomach gurgled. “I worked up an appetite.” She grabbed a roll, pulled it apart, and began slathering it with butter.

“Rachel!” Emily rushed into the kitchen from the stairwell. “I was just wondering how your day went. How do you like teaching?”