Rebekah's Quilt (18 page)

“Thank you kindly, Ma’am. That’s a mighty kind offer, considering all I’ve put you folks through. My apologies.” He tipped his hat to Elnora. “But I’d best be goin’.”

Rebekah’s heart sunk. The moment had been so perfect, it hadn’t even occurred to her that Peter would be leaving. She assumed he’d stay, though she hadn’t really given the matter much thought aside from her rapid assumption.

Pivoting on his spurred heel, Peter extended his hand to Joseph. Joseph accepted his hand and shook it in three brisk shakes. “Many thanks for saving my fingers. Surely, they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you making me stick them in that awful water.” He grinned and twitched his nose. “And my smeller, too.”

Dropping his voice low, Peter continued. “No one’s ever done anything so kind. Wasn’t expecting that kindness, especially after I was so horrible to you.”

“God commands us to love and forgive each other, Peter. Like He loves and forgives us.”

Peter looked genuinely puzzled. “That must have been what they said when they were speakin’ Latin. Don’t recall that.”

Rebekah smiled. “Says so right in the Lord’s Prayer.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
”

Peter broke from his handshake with Joseph. “Mr. Stoll, if I could collect my wagon, I’ll be on my way.” He jammed his hat on his head with a nod to Rebekah. “Goodbye Hannah-Rebekah Stoll.” A grin broke his stoic face into an array of happy creases as he stepped onto the porch.

Remembering his duster, which was still around her shoulders, she stepped out after him. “Wait, Peter!” Unwinding the coat, she held it to him. “Thank you for finding me.”

Leaning, Peter brushed the top of her covering with a light kiss. “Thank you for being you.” Slipping his arms in the duster, he descended the stairs without looking back.

In the warmth of the home she grew up in, surrounded by the people she loved on such a joyous occasion, Rebekah searched her heart, to the backdrop of Mr. Graber reading from the book of Ecclesiastes, for the reason her smile seemed forced. Joseph sat closer than usual on her father’s hand-hewn loveseat. Normally, that would be cause for her heart to soar and her smile to stay plastered across her lips, possibly for days. Glancing from face to familiar face, a rouge tear escaped and slid dramatically down her cheek.

Joseph bumped her with his elbow. “Are you alright?” He scooted over until their arms brushed together.

Biting her lip to keep the flood of sudden emotion from breaching their dam, Rebekah nodded. She slammed her eyes shut in a desperate attempt to keep the wall of tears from spilling over. “I miss my brother.”

A series of sharp knocks from the far side of the front door brought Mr. Graber’s sermon to a halt. “A day of surprises,” he muttered.

As he flung open the door, there stood Peter, his face tear-streaked and the tip of his nose red as a holly berry. Unable to be held at bay any longer, Rebekah’s tears cascaded down her cheeks in a shimmering veil. She stood slowly.

“I couldn’t leave,” Peter said, the tears beginning afresh. “I don’t have a soul in the world. Nobody except you.” His eyes locked with Rebekah’s.

Sobbing, she crossed the room, fully aware all eyes were fixated on her, but not caring; she rushed into Peter’s waiting arms. There, she wept in harmony with her newest – and finally older -- brother. “I’m so glad you came back.”

“Me too, Sister.”

Samuel Stoll cleared his throat. “Peter?”

Releasing Rebekah, Peter swiped at his eyes with the back of one hand. “Mr. Stoll, I’m sure there’s rules about stuff like this, but –” He flickered his watery gaze around the room at each of the faces that stared back at him. “If it sounds fittin’ to you, I’d like to stay on. I’m handy with steel and can make some of the strongest horseshoes north of the Mason-Dixon.”

From the corner of her eye, Rebekah saw Peter suck in his lower lip.
Just like me.

“I know that took courage, Peter,” Samuel stammered, “But you’re right, things like this aren’t normally done.”

Mr. Graber coughed. “Perhaps we could call a meeting of the elders and discuss the matter further?”

Mr. Yoder rose slowly, following Mr. Raber, Mr. Graber, Mr. Knepp, and Mr. Wagler into the Stoll kitchen. With a fleeting glance to Elnora, Samuel fell in step behind Mr. Odon and pulled the door shut behind them.

“I reckon they’ll decide then?” Peter’s voice broke the uneasy silence that had befallen the room. “I mean, if I can stay?”

Elnora plucked Beanie from his cradle, nestling him to her chest. The quilt Rebekah had given him as his very first gift was wrapped securely around him. “Tell me Peter, do you love God?”

The women of Gasthof Village stared at him, their faces stoic. Even Annie Knepp, who was normally bubbly, sat silent and still next to her sister Katie.

Twisting his hat in circles before him, Peter looked to Joseph, who nodded an encouraging nod. “We were church goin’ folk before my parents died in the wagon accident. Kind of lost my way after that.” He gestured to Rebekah. “As I was telling Hann—Rebekah – and Joseph last night, I attended Catholic Masses before.”

Elnora smiled. “That’s fine and good, but do you
love the Lord
.”

“I ain’t never professed it outright, but I got to see a little of His love since I found you folks. I could get mighty used to it.”

Mrs. Odom, perhaps the quietest woman in the settlement, spoke in her soft, singsong voice. “If you would like to receive our Lord as your savior, all you have to do is ask Him, Peter.”

“It’s as easy as all that?”

Annie and Katie’s mother answered. “It is. But in doing that, you’ve promised to live your life for Him and His Glory.”

Peter nodded. “That makes the most sense of anything I’ve heard in a while.” He eased down into an open spot on the floor. “All them churches I visited made it seem a whole lot more difficult.” The Yoder pup immediately bounded into Peter’s lap, his pink tongue flying on its own with reckless abandon.

Heloise adjusted her splinted leg. “It can be difficult, but if you’re sincere in asking for His forgiveness and turning from sin, He will give it.” She smiled at Peter.

“Like I told you earlier,” Joseph added, “Love and forgive others as He loves and forgives us. That’s the main rule right there.”

Rebekah’s pulse quickened at Peter’s enthusiasm, and that of her family and friends to answer his questions. “Attend church meetings and do good works by helping your neighbors to show His love. That’s our way of life.”

Before Peter could answer, the kitchen door squeaked open. The elder men of Gasthof Village emerged, their stoic faces untelling of a decision.

Samuel Stoll stepped forward. “Peter?”

He rose, hat in hand. “Yes Sir?”

“Come here before us.”

Peter did as commanded, blue eyes wide as a child.

Samuel cleared his throat. “Your only relation is Rebekah, and you wish to join our community here in Gasthof Village, correct?”

Peter bobbed his head.

“Your intention is to join our Amish community. To live as us, dress as us, work as us, to love God, work for Him every day, and in turn be a member of our church and society?”

Puffing out his chest, Peter answered. “Yes Sir, that is correct.” His sure words echoed off the walls of the house.

Samuel glanced back at the other elders. “Alright, we have come to a decision.”

“Sir, may I say one thing before you tell your decision?”

Rebekah sucked in her breath and shared a glance with Joseph. He appeared as eager to hear the decision as her. All of the good-natured chatter had ceased with the men reemerging and an almost tangible tension hung in the air.
Just let Pa tell us yes or no!

“I understand if the decision is no. I see why you want to keep your ways on the straight and narrow. It’s a mean world out there. I’ve lived it, I know.” Peter glanced to the faces of the women. “But since meeting you all, my life’s already changed for the better. I can only imagine, if given the chance to become a part of you, a part of your faith, a part of your traditions …” He shook his head. “Well, that’d just be almost heaven.”

A few of the women bounced a knowing smile between each other.

Peter continued. “Despite what your decision is today, it’s important for me to tell you I’ve changed. Even if I leave here alone today, your family has changed my life for the better, and for that I’m forever indebted to you.”

Samuel crossed his arms. “One year.”

“Sir?”

“Live with us, as we do for one year.” Samuel glanced to the faces of his friends and family. “If on this day next year you still wish to join us, you may.”

Rebekah’s knees quaked as happiness bubbled in her stomach. Unable to contain herself, she clapped her hands together in a sharp snap. Joseph laughed.

Simon Wagler stepped forward, hand outstretched. “I’m Simon Wagler. It was my son, Elijah, who pointed you here in the first place.”

Peter’s eyes widened as he grasped Mr. Wagler’s hand.

“That there’s my wife, Sarah.” He nodded toward the throng of women. “We’d be much obliged if you’d stay with us for the duration of this year.”

“Thank you, Mr. Wagler. I’d be much obliged.” Peter’s smile was so wide that it seemed he could hardly force his mouth to form words.

Simon clapped Peter on the back. “Come on then, let’s get you into some more fitting attire!”

“Ma, can we come down now? Jeremiah’s read our Bible lesson to us
four times
already.” Thomas’s tiny voice sounded supremely put-out. Glancing down the stairs, his eyes lit on Rebekah. “Sissy!”

Quicker than a fish could find a hole in a fishing net, Thomas flew down the stairs and into Rebekah’s waiting arms. The rest of the Stoll boys thundered after him. “Sissy, oh Sissy, you’re alright! I prayed for you all night long!” Wrapping his little arms around her neck, he buried his face in her shoulder. His tiny hat fell to the floor.

“I love you, littlest brother.”

Thomas sniffled. “I love you, too.”

In the midst of the commotion, Rebekah noticed Joseph and her father slipping out the front door.
Probably getting something for Peter, or putting up his wagon.

Well-wishes from the Stoll boys ended with Jeremiah approaching Rebekah last. “I didn’t like your display at breakfast the other day,” he began.

“I’m really sorry, Jeremiah. I meant to apologize to you and the boys when I got home, but everyone was fishing and I went to wash the clothes –”

He held up his thirteen-year-old hand. “But I probably would have made an even bigger scene if I’d had gotten the same news.” Jeremiah grinned. “Welcome home.”

Grasping her biggest little brother in a tight embrace, she planted a kiss on the top of his best hat. “Thank you, I missed you.”

Flushing, Jeremiah waved her off and turned toward the kitchen, where Heloise Graber had started dishing up lunch. Before he stepped away, he turned back, lips tilted into a smile. “Missed you, too.”

“Rebekah?” Her Pa’s voice called her attention away from the feeding little men. “Joseph asked me to tell you that he’s on the front porch, if you need to find him.”

“Did he wish to speak with me, Pa?” She glanced from side to side. “Pa?”
Hmm, where’d he go?

Making her way through the families of Gasthof Village, she finally arrived at the front door.

“Rebekah?” Katie’s voice came from beside her.

“
Hallo
, Katie.” She smiled. “I finished my quilt, thanks to your squares.”

“Good. Um, Rebekah, I was wondering ….”

“Yes?”

Katie stared into her hands. “If, well, the next time you talk to Peter –” Her gaze danced around Rebekah. “If you might tell him I know a great place to picnic.” Spinning on her heels, she retreated back into the mass of people.

Jaw slack, Rebekah watched her.
Is her neck flushed? Oh my, Katie was blushing!

An invisible weight lifted, Rebekah slipped her cloak about her shoulders before stepping out to join Joseph on the porch.

“I’m glad you came out.” He stepped toward her. “It’s still below freezing out here, so this won’t take long.” His lips were quivering and his hands were deep in his pockets.