On Her Own (32 page)

“She’ll surely be disappointed,” his sister-in-law said.

He turned to look at Margaret, whose pale blue eyes held a note of concern. “I’ll try to be back in time for dessert.” Paul hopped off the porch and raced for the barn.

As Paul’s buggy sped out of the yard, John looked over at Margaret and frowned. “Now, I wonder what’s gotten into him? As soon as we told him of our plans, he hightailed it right on out of here.”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but he did seem to be in a hurry to go somewhere.”

“Do you think he might be upset because I’m going to marry you?”

“I can’t imagine why he would be,” she replied.

“Well, it
was
Paul’s brother you were married to. Maybe he thinks it’s too soon for you to find another husband. Or maybe he doesn’t think I’m good enough for his sister-in-law.”

“He said he was happy for us, remember?”

John nodded slowly. “Even so, he’s never been all that friendly toward me, and it could be that he doesn’t want you to marry a bishop.”

Margaret reached for his hand and gave his fingers a gentle
squeeze. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. You’re exactly what I need.”

John smiled, relishing in the warmth of her hand and delighting in the look of love he saw on her sweet face. “You’re just what I need, too.”

Barbara felt relieved when her mother agreed to watch the boys. Mom was always so good about it, but Barbara didn’t want to take advantage of her mother’s willingness to help. Mom assured her she enjoyed spending time with the children. Today, when Barbara said she wanted to take a buggy ride and be by herself awhile, Mom had readily agreed.

As Barbara guided her horse down the lane, she was glad she hadn’t told her mother the real reason for this buggy ride. She didn’t want to tell either of her folks that she was planning to sell the harness shop until she had a buyer. Dad had said many times that he didn’t mind helping out, even though he wasn’t able to do a lot. He knew how important the shop was to her and said he’d do whatever he could to see that it kept running. And Mom, even though she often reprimanded Barbara for working too hard, had often said that she knew Barbara enjoyed her job and needed to keep working in order to support her family. Even so, she was sure they would support her decision to sell the place.

Barbara glanced at the darkening sky. “Looks like it could rain some more,” she muttered. She was glad she’d thought to bring an umbrella along. An open buggy offered little protection
from the unpredictable fall weather.

She’d only made it halfway to the Hiltys’ home when the wind picked up and droplets of water splashed against her face. As she reached for her umbrella under the seat, Barbara spotted another buggy coming from the opposite direction.

Barbara snapped the umbrella open as the buggy approached. She recognized the driver immediately. It was Paul, and from the way his horse trotted down the road, she figured he must be in a hurry to get somewhere.

She slowed the buggy and waved at him. Paul slowed his rig, too, and motioned for her to pull over to the side of the road.

They stopped under a nearby tree. Paul tied his horse to a sturdy branch, then came around to the passenger side of Barbara’s buggy and climbed in.

Barbara scooted over so they could share the umbrella. “The rain sure hit quickly, didn’t it?” she asked, feeling suddenly nervous and unsure of herself.

Paul nodded. “I just spoke to Bishop Frey over at my folks’ place. He informed me that he plans to marry my sister-in-law Margaret.”

“That’s what he told me yesterday afternoon, about the time you were picking Aaron up for the fishing trip.” She smiled. “I’m glad for them. I think they’ll be good for each other.”

“Jah.” Paul cleared his throat. “I. . .uh. . .wanted to speak with you yesterday, but after hearing what the bishop said, I figured it was pointless.”

“What does the bishop marrying Margaret have to do with your talking to me?”

“I thought it was you he planned to marry. And since I only
heard part of your conversation, I got the impression you had agreed to become his wife.”

Barbara shook her head. “He told me several weeks ago that he wanted to marry Margaret and that he didn’t love me.” She smiled. “I felt relief hearing that, because even though I have great respect for our bishop, I’m not in love with him. I loved David very much, and the truth is, unless love was involved, I could never marry another man.”

Paul sat, looking perplexed. “I totally agree with that, Barbara.”

“So what did you want to say to me yesterday?”

“I had a business proposition to discuss. But now that I’ve had time to think it over, I’ve decided it’s not such a good idea.”

She tipped her head. “Funny thing. I had a business proposition for you, too.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Really? What was it?”

“After much prayer and thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can no longer run the harness shop on my own.”

Paul leaned closer. So close that Barbara could feel his warm breath against her face. “Maybe you won’t have to,” he murmured.

“That’s the deduction I came to, as well.” Barbara bit her bottom lip, hoping she wouldn’t give in to the tears pushing against her eyelids. “I have decided to sell the business, and I was wondering if you might be interested in buying it.”

Paul shook his head. “I could never do that. I had thought I could at one time, but not now.”

“Why not? Is it because you prefer living in Pennsylvania?”

Paul lifted Barbara’s chin with his finger and stared into her
eyes. “I’d rather stay here with you and your boys.”

She swallowed hard. What was he getting at? Could he possibly mean. . . “If you want to stay in Webster County, then why not buy my business?”

He inched his head closer. “If I stay and work at the harness shop, it would have to be on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“That it be as your husband.” There was a pause as he took her hand. “I’m in love with you, Barbara.”

The shock of Paul’s words sent a shiver up Barbara’s spine, and she let the umbrella drop to the floor behind them. “Are— are you asking me to marry you?”

“Jah, if you’ll have me.”

Barbara thought about the verses from Ecclesiastes that talked about two being better than one. She thought about the feelings Paul evoked in her whenever he was around and about how much her boys liked being with him.

She swallowed again. “I can hardly believe the way God has answered my prayers.”

He raised one eyebrow. “A prayer to keep your shop open, or a prayer to find love again?”

She touched the side of his face. “Both. But mostly to find love again. I do love you, Paul Hilty, but I’ve been afraid to admit it.”

“Why?”

“Because I was scared to open my heart to love again. And I didn’t know if you felt the same way toward me.”

“Does this put your fears at rest?” Paul’s lips sought hers in a kiss so gentle and sweet she felt as if she could drown in it.

“Oh, jah,” she murmured as she stared at his handsome
features. “I don’t want to be on my own anymore. I need someone to share my life with—the joys and the sorrows, the present and the future. I want that someone to be you, Paul.”

“Does that mean you’ll marry me?”

She nodded slowly. “I want you to be my life partner as well as my business partner. . .for as long as we both shall live.”

I
can hardly believe our first wedding anniversary is next week,” Paul said as he cut a hunk of leather and handed it to Barbara.

She smiled and reached up to stroke his beard. “Would you mind very much if I give you my gift now?”

“A whole week early?”

“I can’t wait a moment longer.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Paul chuckled and set the leather aside. “I always did have a hard time waiting for things.”

She grasped his hands and placed them against her stomach, her heart hammering like a stampede of horses. “My gift to you is a son or daughter of your own.”

His eyes grew large. “A boppli?”

She nodded. “Are you happy about that?”

Paul wrapped his arms around Barbara and pulled her close. “Oh, jah. I’m very happy.”

“Does that mean I’m gonna be a big bruder again?”

Barbara and Paul turned at the same time. Aaron stood off to one side, his arms folded and a strange look on his face. Barbara hadn’t realized he’d come into the harness shop. “That’s exactly what it means,” she said, praying he wouldn’t react negatively.

Paul moved toward the boy. “I hope you know that the boppli coming won’t change anything between you and me or affect the way I feel about Joseph, Zachary, or Davey.”

Aaron grinned up at him. “I know. You’ve been my new daed for almost a year already, and I won’t let nothin’ change that—not ever.”

Paul gave Aaron a hug, and Barbara joined him. “Now we need to tell our other three sons,” she said, blinking against tears of joy.

Paul nodded and gave her a kiss.

“Aw, do you have to do all that mushy stuff?” Aaron asked, shaking his head.

“You’ll be doing the same thing someday when God brings the right woman into your life.” Paul chuckled and boxed the boy playfully on the shoulder. “And if you’re really lucky, she’ll be able to make Webster County Fried Chicken as good as your mamm’s.”

Aaron grabbed a chunk of leather and headed for the back room. “I ain’t never gettin’ married,” he called over his shoulder.

Barbara smiled at Paul.

He winked, then kissed her again. “When the time comes, I hope our boy finds someone as wunderbaar as his mamm.”

She smiled and nodded. “No one should spend their whole life on their own. I’m glad I finally realized that I couldn’t do everything on my own. And that I trusted God enough and made the decision to spend the rest of my days with you, for two really are better than one.”

B
ARBARA
’
S
W
EBSTER
C
OUNTY
F
RIED
C
HICKEN

1 cut-up frying chicken

1 cup sifted flour

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Shortening

Combine flour, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle some additional salt over the chicken. Roll the pieces of chicken in the flour mixture. Melt a few tablespoons of shortening in a heavy frying pan. Add the chicken and brown on both sides. Then cover the pan, turn the heat to low, and continue to cook until the chicken can easily be pierced with a fork.

W
ANDA
E. B
RUNSTETTER
enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life. Wanda’s interest in the Amish and other Plain communities began when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Wanda has made numerous trips to Lancaster County and has several friends and family members living near that area. She and her husband have also traveled to other parts of the country, meeting various Amish families and getting to know them personally. She hopes her readers will learn to love the wonderful Amish people as much as she does.