Just Plain Sadie (28 page)

He cleared his throat, then started toward her.

Her heart beat faster. What was he doing here? She could only hope. But she was afraid to allow herself the dream that he had come for the two of them.

He stopped in front of her, that familiar smell that was only Ezra surrounding him, that clean smell, the detergent, aftershave, and outdoors. “Are you going somewhere?” he asked.

Sadie nodded. Unable to find the words at first. “
Jah
. . . I mean,
jah.
”

“Do you need a ride?”

Were they really talking about this? Sadie shook her head. “I was coming to see you.”

“Yeah?”

Sadie nodded again. “I didn't mean any of it. All that stuff I said to you.” She shook her head. “I didn't mean any of it. I was just so afraid.”

“Then why?”

Sadie took a deep breath. She wanted to reach out, touch him, but she kept her hands wrapped firmly around the mare's bridle. “That night. That night of the fire.” She shook her head. “I had to go back and get Daniel. When we left the restaurant, he wasn't with us.”

Ezra inhaled sharply, but didn't comment.

She closed her eyes, then opened them again, the pictures of that night in her mind too vivid. “I was so scared. I was so afraid that I wouldn't be able to find them, and the fire was getting worse. I prayed and I prayed, I just wanted to find him. So I told God some things . . .” She shook her head.

“You told God what?” Ezra asked.

“I told God that if He would help me find Daniel and get him out of that building, I would stay in Wells Landing. I would be the good Amish girl, and I would marry Chris and I wouldn't go against the church.”

“I'm glad Daniel's okay,” Ezra said. “But we don't make bargains with God.”

“I know that now,” Sadie said. “But I was so grateful to have him safe . . . I don't know. It was so hard. I love you so much, but I don't know what we'll do. Do you think I could turn Mennonite? I didn't think my family would accept me. I didn't know how God would feel. But that never stopped me from loving you.”

Finally Ezra moved. He grabbed her hands into his, the leather straps of the horse's bridle tangling in his fingers as well. “We can do whatever you want. If you want to be Amish, then we'll be Amish. If you want to be Mennonite, then that is what we will do. I don't ever want to lose you again.”

Sadie's eyes filled with tears as she disentangled her fingers from the bridle and wrapped her arms around Ezra's neck. She buried her face in the crook of his shoulder and held on to him as if her life depended on it.

His arms came up around her and held her close.

She pulled away from him, and he used the back of one hand to wipe her tears from her cheeks.

“Why are you here?” she asked. She had become so caught up in her own emotions and her own guilt that she hadn't even thought to ask him why he had come out on Easter Sunday afternoon to see her.

“I came for you.”

“You mean that? And what you said about the church?”

Ezra nodded. “I don't know how to live Amish, but if that's what you want, that's what we'll do, Sadie. It doesn't matter what church we belong to, not as long as we have God and each other.”

“Are you ready?” Lorie asked.

Sadie looked up and smiled, biting back the tears that threatened. This was supposed to be a happy day, not one for tears, even if they were tears of joy.

Lorie bustled over to her, fussing as she came. “Don't cry. You'll mess up your dress if the tears get on it.”

Sadie looked down at her white satin wedding dress. It was so different than what she would've worn had she had an Amish wedding, but she and Ezra had decided that they would live Mennonite. She would move to the ranch with him and his mother. They would work the land and animals together, and she would learn to drive. Then she could go to Wells Landing any time she wanted and visit with her family. It was the perfect solution, but they needed to take the time and make the decision together before it all became clear.

“You look beautiful, sister,” Sadie said. Unlike Amish weddings, the bridal party wore different colors than the bride. Sadie had chosen a bright shade of green to celebrate hers and Ezra's joining. It was the green of spring buds, of new beginnings, and new chances. So fitting to use such a color today.

Lorie propped her hands on her hips and turned this way and that as if imitating an
Englisch
model. Today she was dressed more Mennonite than
Englisch
, but Sadie wouldn't have cared it she had come in jeans and a T-shirt. She was just happy to have her sister with her on this special day.

“It's time.” Melanie poked her head in the door, the bouquet of flowers in her hand beckoning to Sadie.

Today was the day. They had waited until late May to get married, though neither one of them really wanted to wait that long. It'd taken a little while for them to get the dresses sewn and the minster convinced that they were going to be the greatest couple ever.

Sadie enjoyed the Mennonite church. It was different to have church in a building, with one minister who spoke English and only talked for an hour every Sunday. But she was adjusting.

The main things were always the same: She loved Ezra and they loved God. After all, wasn't that what really mattered?

Sadie took another deep breath to calm her nerves. She shouldn't be so nervous. She was marrying the love of her life. The one man God had made for her.

Melanie handed off her bouquet and together they got in the line. Flower girls first, one of whom was Elam Riehl's little sister, Joanne. Behind them stood the bridesmaids, Melanie and Lorie, and then the bride herself.

Music played from the sanctuary as the others started to file out of the back room. Sadie smiled even though she was alone, knowing that this was exactly where she was supposed to be.

She walked to the door and nudged it open, then stepped out into the church. Her hands trembled, and the flowers shook. She paused there, allowing the gazes of their guests to wash over her.

It might have been the oddest congregation for a wedding they had ever seen in these parts, but she looked at each of those faces and was glad they were there.

Zach Calhoun sat next to Luke Lambright and his girlfriend, Sissy. Behind them sat Esther and Abe Fitch and next to them sat Hollis and his wife, Caroline, Emma, and baby Holly along with Andrew himself. Elam and Emily Riehl were there, as well as James and Joy.

Sadie lost count as she walked up the aisle of all the Mennonite friends she'd met. Even the people who had not welcomed her at first realized that she loved Ezra and made him happy. Somehow that love wiped the slate clean.

The love in the chapel was tangible. She could feel it, like the arms of her mother wrapped around her, comforting. She wished her dad had been there to see this, though she knew he was watching from above.

Her mother smiled and reached out a hand as Sadie grew even with her church pew.

Sadie squeezed her fingers and then moved to take her place next to Ezra at the altar.

“Friends and family, we have gathered here today to join these two people in holy matrimony.”

ZEBRA BOOKS are published by

 

Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018

 

Copyright © 2016 by Amy Lillard

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

 

To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.

 

If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

 

 

Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.

ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-3973-0
ISBN-10: 1-4201-3973-8

ISBN: 978-1-4201-3973-0