The Amish Deacon's Daughter Read online

  “You’re grown up; you’re eighteen.”

  “I don’t feel it, and I don’t want to be an adult.”

  Any other time, Amy would’ve asked Gabbie why she felt as she did, but as she stared at Andrew, nothing else was important. Amy watched Andrew speak to the workers. Two more men appeared; it seemed he had at least four men working for him. “Where does he live?” Amy whispered.

  “Behind the mill, not too far away.” Gabbie turned back onto her tummy and looked over the rise again. “What do you think of him?”

  “He looks all right. Why hasn’t he found a fraa?”

  “Nothing or nobody is ever good enough for Onkel Andrew, but I guess he’ll have to settle for you since they’ve sent you all the way here.”

  “It’s not like that. I’ve only come to meet him.” Amy pressed her lips together.

  “Nee, the wedding is all arranged; it’s happening in a week.”

  “It can’t be; my parents won’t even be here, and they said I didn’t have to marry him if I didn’t like him.”

  “That’s how it is. They tricked you.”

  Amy stood up. “Nee, it’s not right. I won’t do it.”

  Gabbie took hold of her hand and pulled her back down. “Shush. I was joking.” Gabbie peeked back over the crest of the hill then drew back. “He’s seen you; quick, let’s go.” Gabbie stood, pulled Amy to her feet, and ran all the way to the bottom of the hill. They stopped behind a large tree once they were a little distance away.

  “He saw us?” Amy held her hand to her fast-beating heart.

  “Jah, he was staring up at the hilltop.”

  “He’ll surely think I’m weird for spying on him like this.”

  Chuckling, Gabbie slapped her on her back. “I was only having a joke with you about the wedding.”

  Amy rubbed her forehead. “I could strangle you.” Amy laughed with relief. She should’ve realized it was a joke. The rest of the walk home, Amy was silent as she listened to Gabbie chatter about many things.

  “I’ll show you the apple orchard.” Gabbie ran off ahead.

  “Wait,” Amy called after her. Gabbie wasn’t at all like Amy’s sister, Martha, even though the two were around the same age.

  She turned and ran backward. “I wait for no man. Woman. Whatever.” Then Gabbie turned back again and ran faster.

  Amy giggled at her; she was fun to be around. Gabbie stopped running once she reached the orchard, allowing Amy to catch up.

  “Do you work in the orchard?” Amy asked as they walked along the rows of trees.

  “Jah; when it’s picking time the whole familye works. Now, tell me truthfully what you think of Andrew so far?”

  “He looks handsome from a distance.”

  “He’s plain. He’s not handsome at all. Do looks matter to you?”

  “Nee, not at all.” Amy bit her lip. Looks weren’t that important – but she didn’t want Andrew to look like his bruder, so they must’ve been of some importance. “What about you? Do you like anyone?”

  Gabbie looked up, and then jumped up to pluck an apple from the tree. “There is one boy I like. Only trouble is …”

  “What?”

  Gabbie stared at Amy. “Only trouble is, he’s courting someone.” Gabbie took a bite of apple and then promptly threw it away.

  Amy looked to where the discarded apple landed. Wastefulness in Amy’s familye was frowned upon. “Ach, that’s a pity.”

  “What do you think I should do about it?” Gabbie fixed her eyes on Amy.

  Amy rubbed her chin. “The apple?”

  “No, silly. The boy I like.”

  Amy shook her head, still wondering why Gabbie had tossed the apple away. “There’s nothing you can do.”

  “I could break them apart.”

  Amy grabbed Gabbie’s arm. “You can’t do such a thing.”

  “Can if I want.”

  Amy had never met someone with Gabbie’s attitude. “Nee, just wait, and Gott will bring you someone. If you’re meant to be with him, it’ll happen.”

  Gabbie jumped up, grabbed another apple and threw it as far as she could. “You can’t be happy your parents expect you to marry an old man like my onkel.”

  “I wasn’t happy, but maybe it’s Gott’s will that I’m here. I mean, it is — because here I am.”

  “Then it’s His will I break Joseph and Ilsa apart.”

  Amy was horrified. “You can’t do that. You can’t interfere in the lives of others in such a way.”

  “My dear, Amy, I believe such things happened in the Bible. People interfered in the lives of others to get their way. There were many schemers.”

  “Jah, and you should know that they never came to a happy end.”

  Gabbie threw her head back and laughed. “I’m having a joke with you, Amy.”

  Amy studied Gabbie’s face to see if she was indeed joking, then she laughed with her.

  “So you want to marry my Onkel Andrew?”

  Amy drew in a breath. Now Gabbie was pressuring her about Andrew. “I don’t even know him.”

  “I think you love him, and I think you fell in love with him as soon as you saw him.”

  Amy looked down as they walked. She would have to be careful what she said to Gabbie; she didn’t seem like a person who could be trusted.

  Gabbie said, “We had better get you cleaned up and looking nice for when you meet him at dinner tonight.”

  Amy looked down at her clothes that now had grass stains and dirty marks. “Jah, you're hard on my clothes. I need a gut clean up.”

  When they got back to the house, Amy had a quick shower, while pangs of nerves gnawed at her stomach. The man she’d seen was strong and handsome, and she hoped he wouldn’t think she was as silly as Gabbie. If his personality matched his looks, she wanted to make a good first impression. When she’d changed into a new dress, apron and kapp, she headed to the kitchen to help Jane just as she’d help her own mother at meal time.

  “You’re our guest, Amy. For tonight anyway, make yourself comfortable in the living room.

  “I do want to help you more around here, Jane. I feel terrible for not being around much today.”

  “There’s always tomorrow.” Jane put her hand on Amy’s shoulder. “Now, you can set the table if you insist on doing something, and don’t forget to lay an extra setting for Andrew.”

  No, she could not possibly forget Andrew was coming for dinner. Gabbie was helpful to her mother as they prepared dinner and it did not escape Amy’s notice that Gabbie behaved better in her parents’ presence.

  When the sun was disappearing behind the horizon, there was a knock on the door. Gabbie tugged on Amy’s sleeve, and whispered, “That’ll be him.”

  Still in the kitchen with Gabbie and Jane, Amy heard the muffled voices of men in the next room.

  Jane said, “We have five minutes to go. Gabbie, you can take Amy out to meet Andrew.”

  With her hazel eyes twinkling, Gabbie took Amy by her arm and pulled her into the living room without Amy having a chance to straighten her prayer kapp or apron.

  They stopped in front of Andrew, who sat on a couch opposite John, and Amy was relieved to see he was the man she’d seen from the hilltop. As silly as Gabbie had acted, she hadn't been sure what to expect. Both men stood. Amy looked up into a pair of bright blue eyes that stood out on his tanned face. Her heart pitter-pattered. He was more handsome up close and, when his lips turned upward at the corners, he was even more so. Somewhere in the distance, Amy heard someone speak.

  Chapter 5

  John said, “This is Amy, Andrew.”

  Andrew tipped his head. “Hello, Amy. I’m Andrew.”

  Amy giggled, as John had already said he was Andrew. Could he be nervous too? “Hello.” She regretted giggling like a girl, but it was done now. As long as she didn’t giggle again, it should be okay.

  “Please sit.” Andrew motioned to the couch next to him.

  Amy shot a look at Gabbie before she sat.


  “Mamm said dinner will be in five minutes,” Gabbie said.

  “Smells gut.” John rubbed his hands together.

  “It certainly does,” Andrew added before he looked around. “Where are the boys?”

  Gabbie said, “Can’t you hear them? They’re playing up in their bedrooms.”

  “You better tell them to get washed up for dinner, Gabbie,” Mr. Miller said.

  At once, Gabbie obeyed her father. And before long, Amy heard the scurrying of feet from the floor above.

  “How are you enjoying your stay, Amy?”

  “I’m having a lovely time so far. Gabbie showed me around today.”

  One of Andrew’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Was that you I saw on the crest above the mill?”

  Amy stared into his striking blue eyes and noticed a faint smile on his handsome face. “Ah, jah, Gabbie was showing me the sights.” Amy fiddled with the strings of her prayer kapp, hoping someone would change the subject. She was embarrassed to have been caught spying on him and she hoped he hadn't seen them running away.

  “Dinner’s ready,” Jane called from the kitchen, providing the hoped-for distraction.

  The sound of heavy footsteps rained down from the stairs as four boys barreled down them.

  “No running,” John ordered.

  The boys obeyed and walked quickly to take their places at their smaller table next to the adults’ one. It was a home designed to cater for a great many people.

  “Can I help you serve, Jane?” Amy asked.

  “Denke kindly.”

  Amy placed vegetables and meats on the boys’ plates, hoping she was giving them enough. She knew growing boys ate more food than girls. When she finished that, she helped Gabbie and Jane place the large bowls of food on the main kitchen table.

  Once everyone was seated, they bowed their heads for the silent prayer. Then their eyes opened and everyone passed the food bowls around.

  Amy looked across at Andrew when she felt him looking at her. “What are you doing so far from home, Amy?” Andrew asked.

  Amy’s mouth fell open and she looked at John and when he kept his head down, she looked at Jane, who quickly looked away. She closed her mouth, took a deep breath, and opened her mouth again to give an answer, but no words came out. Didn’t he know why she was there?

  When she failed to answer, Andrew said, “Here for a time away from home — a vacation?”

  In desperation, Amy looked at Gabbie, and she too was of no help. In fact, she smiled as though she enjoyed the awkward scene. Amy looked down at her food. “Something like that.”

  After no one had spoken for a time, Andrew asked, “Amy, do you have many in your familye?”

  “I’m the eldest; then there’s Martha, Mary, Rose, Lily, and the youngest is Sally. And you?”

  “Just my bruder here.” He nodded his head toward John.

  She already knew John was not his biological brother, they were stepbrothers. His mother had been involved in some sort of scandal, but it seemed to have been covered over or forgiven before she married John’s father.

  The silence was awkward as John and Jane continued to keep their heads down. Gabbie smiled, still enjoying the awkward silence; that was plain to see.

  Amy asked, “How long have you had the sawmill?”

  “About ten years now. I started working there when I was eighteen. A few years later, the old man who owned it retired and I bought it from him.”

  Okay, now what else can I ask? Amy looked over at the younger boys hoping they’d make a noise so they would be scolded. At least that would be a distraction.

  Andrew also looked around. “So, Amy, do you work back at home?”

  “I had a job with a wunderbaar Englisch family. I cooked and cleaned for them. I was their maid.”

  “Why did you leave?” Andrew asked.

  Oh dear, what could she give as a reason for leaving? “Pardon?”

  “You said you had a job?” Andrew set his fork on the edge of his plate, and laced his fingers together.

  “Ach jah. My vadder thought it not suitable to be spending too much time amongst Englischers. My vadder is a deacon.” It was partly true. She just left out the part about leaving the job to meet a man whom everyone hoped she’d marry — except the man himself, who obviously knew nothing about it.

  “Jah, it can be hard for the kinner of deacons and bishops, can’t it, Gabbie?” Gabbie narrowed her eyes at him and Andrew chuckled, and said, “I’m only teasing, Gabbie.”

  Gabbie remained silent and popped a forkful of chicken pie into her mouth.

  When the weirdly quiet dinner was over, Amy and Andrew were shuffled to a separate living room, which the Millers called their sunroom because it had many windows and faced toward the south. In the back of her mind, Amy thought how wonderful it would be on a chilly winter's day.

  Andrew leaned across to Amy, and whispered, “What’s wrong with them tonight? Have you done something or are they upset with me?”

  Amy put her hand to her mouth and giggled. She knew they were embarrassed to be caught out in their scheming. “They aren’t always like that?” she said softly. “This is only my second dinner here, and last night I was too tired from the trip to pay much attention.”

  Andrew leaned back in his chair. “You wouldn’t know, would you? Nee, they aren’t like this and it’s odd. Something’s going on, I’m sure of it. We’re the odd ones out, you and I and that’s why they’ve sent us in here. They’ll be talking about us right now.”

  Fiddling with the strings of her prayer kapp, Amy asked, “Have you always lived around here?”

  “I came here when I was young. My vadder died and Mamm met John’s vadder at a wedding. He was a widower by then. They got married soon after they met.”

  Amy nodded. “And where did you live before that?”

  “We lived in Lancaster right up until we moved here.”

  Why didn’t anyone mention he’d come from the same place as she? “Do you remember anything about it?”

  “I was too young, but I’m sure I remember my old haus and playing in the snow, running in the fields, that kind of thing. Just vague images.”

  They smiled at one another, and Amy felt more of a connection to him knowing that he’d come from her hometown.

  “Would you do me the honor of allowing me to drive you home after the gathering tomorrow?” Again, he spoke in a quiet voice so the others couldn’t hear.

  “I’d like that.” After Amy spoke, the rest of the familye joined them.

  The family played Dutch Blitz and board games for the next couple of hours before the younger children were sent to bed. Then there was a round of coffee and cookies for dessert. When the evening drew to an end, John suggested that Amy and Gabby go to bed.

  Then he had quiet words with Andrew before he left. Was John telling Andrew why she was really there? It was awkward that Andrew hadn't been the one to instigate her coming there. Did he even want a wife? Was coming all this way a total waste of time?

  As she changed into her nightdress, Amy prayed there would be a gut outcome from her visit. She decided it didn’t matter if she might be wasting her time regarding Andrew; she was meeting different people and seeing a different part of the world. Her vadder always said you could learn from every experience. Amy rubbed her bare arms and reprimanded herself for not bringing a warmer nightdress. She jumped into her bed and moved her legs quickly in an effort to warm the bed.

  As she closed her eyes, her lips turned upward into a smile. She was going on a buggy ride with a man. She had never been on a buggy ride or any kind of date with a man before. Amy took a deep breath and imagined Andrew’s handsome face. His coloring was unusual with dark gold-blond hair, tanned skin, and those blue, blue eyes. When he had smiled, he'd revealed even white teeth.

  “Wake up, Amy. You have to get ready.”

  Amy opened one eye to see Gabbie, fully dressed and ready. Amy threw the bedcovers off and sat up. “Morning already? Am I lat
e?” Amy looked at the window and saw that the sky was already light.

  “Nee, but you will be if you don’t get up now. I’ll brush your hair.”

  “Okay, denke.” Amy slid out of bed and changed into her grape-colored dress. After she pulled on her over-apron, she unbraided her hair. She loosely braided her hair every night so it would not get into knots and tangles during the night.

  “Sit here.” Gabbie used her foot to push a chair toward Amy.

  Amy sat, and Gabbie ran the brush through her hair. “This is nice. My little schweschder used to brush my hair for me. She’s about your age; I think I told you, her name’s Martha.”

  “I suppose you miss them all.”

  “Jah.”

  Gabbie said, “Sometimes Mamm lets me do her hair.” After she firmly braided Amy’s hair, she said, “We fix our own breakfast on Sundays.”

  “We do at home as well,” Amy said while pinning up her hair.

  “We have to be quick because when daed says it’s time to go we have to leave right then.”

  Amy placed her prayer kapp on and then followed Gabbie down the narrow, wooden staircase, and into the kitchen. The boys sat quietly while they ate their breakfast. Gabbie handed her a plate and both girls sat.

  “Mamm makes this every Saturday so we can have it for breakfast on a Sunday. It’s baked eggs with vegetables, and it’s got small pieces of bacon in it. Sometimes we don’t have bacon and it’s chicken or sausage instead.”

  Before long, John appeared in the kitchen. “Five minutes, then we’re going.”

  The boys rushed to the sink to clean their own plates while the two girls stayed sitting.

  “Are you looking forward to seeing Andrew today?” Gabbie asked with a twinkle in her eye.

  “I’ve not thought much about it.”

  Gabbie chuckled and spooned the last portion into her mouth.

  “Are you ready, girls?” Jane bustled into the kitchen and spooned some egg casserole into her mouth. She put the leftovers into the refrigerator. “Got to go now,” she said as soon as she had swallowed.

  Gabbie stood and took Amy’s plate and her plate to rinse them off.

  “Denke, Gabbie.”