The Amish Millers Get Married BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: The Way Home, The Way Forward, The Narrow Way) (Boxed Set: Amish Millers Get Married) (3 page)

Malachi 3:16.

Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

Chapter 5
.

Hannah hobbled up the road on her crutches along to Mrs. Hostetler's quilt store. She knew where it was, but had never taken much notice of it. Now, she stood in front of it, taking in its gloomy appearance of faded, dark, wood planks.

Hannah's mood matched the building's exterior. She was tired and had been unable to follow the doctor's instructions to keep off her leg, as much as she'd wanted to. The only rest she ever got was at night, in her bed, not exactly what the doctor had in mind. Her arms ached from the crutches and she had developed a sore back, and her supporting leg ached most of the time. Still, her three sisters were worse off and she needed to visit Rebecca in the hospital, and help her already overworked
mudder
care for Esther and Martha. At least sewing for Mrs. Hostetler was something she could do sitting down. That was something to be grateful for.

Hannah knew Mrs. Hostetler from the church meeting every second Sunday and of course, they were both in the same community. However, since the accident, the Hostetlers and her family did their best to avoid each other. Hannah knew this was her
mudder's
doing. 

Hannah poked her head around the door, and looked straight into the face of Mrs. Hostetler who was hovering just inside. Hannah barely had time to look around the store's interior before Mrs. Hostetler took her by the arm and guided her to a room at the back of the store.

"Sit, sit. Take some weight off your leg. I'll make us a nice cup of hot mint tea."

Mrs. Hostetler went off to make the tea and Hannah stared at the obvious signs of electricity, not the least of which was the electric heater that was facing her.

Mrs. Hostetler returned and smiled. "I rent this place," she said, nodding at the electric heater.

Hannah wondered what that meant and made a mental note to ask someone. She knew that electricity was permitted outside the home in most cases, and her
daed's
store had electricity, but she didn’t know that smaller stores were permitted to use it. Hannah shrugged. She had no idea about such matters.

Mrs. Hostetler set a steaming hot mug of mint tea in front of Hannah, and a large piece of
Melassich Riwwelkuche
, Shoo-Fly Pie. "Eat," she encouraged. "It will warm you up, to have something inside you." She patted her own tummy.

Hannah at once relaxed.
Mrs. Hostetler is very friendly. I always remember her as being very nice
, she thought.
She must be awfully embarrassed that her son caused the accident
.

While Hannah ate, Mrs. Hostetler asked after her sisters. Hannah tried to gloss over their injuries as she felt compassionate toward Mrs. Hostetler. After all, she wasn't the one who had driven into their buggy and caused the accident.

"And now I'll tell you about your duties here," Mrs. Hostetler continued, "but please call me Katie."

Hannah nodded, a little embarrassed.

"Now, down to business. This store sells mainly quilts, but also wall hangings and quillows - you know, a quilt and pillow combined."

Hannah nodded.

"Everything is hand done, but I use a sewing machine to piece the quilts. It would take far too long otherwise, and I'm already getting behind with orders." Katie nodded to the door to the main section of the store. "I have a foot-operated, treadle sewing machine out there. The
Englisch
customers are intrigued by it." Katie laughed, but then looked somber. "I won't get you to sew on it yet, with your leg."

Hannah made to protest. "It's my left leg that's injured, and I'm sure I could use my right leg on the treadle. I'm sure I could manage."

Katie looked doubtful. "But surely, before…," she broke off and caught her breath, "the accident, you used both feet?"

"Yes, Mrs. Hostetler, oh sorry, Katie, but I'm sure it would be easy enough to do with one foot. I don’t think the cast would get in the way; I'm sure I could figure it out." Hannah was worried that Katie Hostetler hadn’t taken her leg into consideration when she had wanted to employ her and had been hoping she would sew on the machine.

Katie Hostetler cleared the plates and cups away. "When your leg is out of its cast, of course you may piece the quilts, but I have plenty of sewing for you to do before that."

Hannah breathed a sigh of relief.

"I sew in the front of the store," Katie Hostetler continued, "as the
Englischers
like to see me sewing, and it’s easier to serve customers if I'm already out there. There's plenty of room for us both to sit out there, and we can chat as we sew."

Hannah's heart fell. As nice as Katie Hostetler was, Hannah did not wish to spend hours chatting to her. What could they have to talk about? Hannah's sisters, injured by Katie Hostetler's son? Hannah's mother, who was just as upset with Katie Hostetler's son, Noah, as Hannah herself was?
This is going to be awkward
, Hannah thought. She hoped that Katie Hostetler had plenty of work to do on the treadle which would make talking over the noise difficult.

By lunchtime, Hannah was more relaxed and even enjoying herself. Katie Hostetler had talked about aspects of quilting all morning, much to Hannah's delight. Hannah had always been keen on sewing.

"Lunch time," Katie suddenly announced.

Hannah was embarrassed. She hadn't thought to bring lunch with her as she wasn't sure how long she'd be working that first day. The thought had also occurred to Katie. "Hannah, I'm so thoughtless. I should've said that I wanted you to work 'til 3 today but only to midday other days. Never mind, I have plenty of lunch here for you."

Hannah made to protest but then stopped herself. "
Denki
, Mrs. Hostetler."

"Remember I said to call me Katie." With that, Katie smiled and went into the back room. After a minute or two, she poked her head around the door. "Come on, Hannah, lunch."

Hannah stood up, and immediately noticed that her back pain had gone and her arms weren't aching.
The morning's rest, sitting down, has done me a power of good,
she thought.

Hannah hadn't realized how hungry she was until she saw the little table laden with
schnitz und knepp
, ham and apple dumplings. As she sat down on the wooden chair, she looked around for a cookstove but couldn’t see one.

Katie laughed. "I use a small gas cook stove, just over there. Anyway, how did you find the morning's work?"

Hannah smiled. "I enjoyed it,
denki
."

"Your sewing is very good. Do you make quilts?"

Hannah looked up, surprised, and then realized that Katie was asking her if she made quilts at home, not quilts in her shop. "
Jah
, I do."

Katie set a plate of
schnitz und knepp
in front of Hannah. "If you're interested, I could sell your quilts here on commission. They do bring good prices here."

"
Jah
, I saw." Hannah had been surprised at the high prices of quilts in Katie Hostetler's store. This could be a further way to help her parents' financial problems over the medical expenses.

The bell over the door sounded and Katie Hostetler went into the front room to attend to the customer. Hannah followed, but far more slowly. As she opened the door she heard Mrs. Hostetler hiss words such as "Ferhoodled,"
confused, mixed up
, and "Ab im kopp,"
crazy
. Surely Mrs. Hostetler wouldn’t be speaking to a customer like that?

Hannah hesitated, wondering if she should enter the room, but she was there to work after all. No doubt Mrs. Hostetler would take the person into the back room if she wanted to have a private conversation with him or her.

Hannah hobbled forward on her crutches, only to look up into the face of Noah Hostetler.

"You!"

The word came out as an accusation, but Hannah had no time to mind that, as, in surprise, she stepped forward without her crutches and fell forward hard onto the floor.

It seemed to happen in slow motion and she saw both Mrs. Hostetler and Noah start toward her, shock on their faces.

Noah reached her first, and helped her to her feet.

"
Denki
." Hannah knew the word had come out stiffly, but she was fortunate that she had managed to speak at all. Noah's proximity had set her heart racing, and vibrations were running through her. She felt as if she had placed her hand on a generator. Her breath came in short bursts.

Mrs. Hostler reached her and helped her to a chair, her face full of concern.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Hannah protested to Mrs. Hostetler who was bending over her while at the same time nodding to the door in an attempt to get Noah to leave. "I'm just
doplich
."

"You're not clumsy, Hannah." Mrs. Hostetler fussed over her like a mother hen. "Are you hurt?"

"
Nee
."
Only my heart is hurt
, Hannah thought. She looked past Mrs. Hostetler, but Noah had gone. He had left the store.

Why did her heart race so when she saw him? How could her feelings for him still be there after everything Noah Hostetler had done to her, and not only to her, but to her sisters too?

* * *

Noah stumbled out the door, heartbroken. This was the first time he had spoken to Hannah since the accident. The very first word she had said to him had been nothing less than an accusation.
She must really hate me
, he thought despondently.
And who can blame her? If it wasn't for me, Hannah and her three schweschders wouldn't be injured. It's all my fault. I'm sure she'll hate me forever
.

The bishop had warned Noah to keep away from Hannah's
mudder
, Mrs. Miller, as it would likely take her some time to come to terms with the accident. Even the kindly Mr. Miller had told Noah the same thing. Noah was surprised that Hannah had agreed to work for his own
mudder,
but he figured that Mr. Miller must have had a hand it, perhaps to try to force reconciliation between the
familyes
.

It had been a mistake to come here today; Noah knew that now. Yet it was so hard for him to keep away from Hannah. He had been about to tell her his feelings for her, right before the accident. Now his hopes and dreams had all been cruelly shattered, just because he'd gotten behind the wheel of the car that day. The worst thing of all, was that he had no one to blame but himself.

Luke 13:2-5.

And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Chapter 6
.

When Hannah arrived home that night after visiting Rebecca in the hospital which she did after working in the quilt store, she felt happier than she had in quite some time. Rebecca was in high spirits as her regular hospital physical therapist was pleased with her improvement. Further, Hannah had enjoyed chatting with Katie Hostetler, but even more, had enjoyed the good rest that hours of sitting had afforded her. In fact, the only parts of her that hurt somewhat were her eyes, from close stitching. Her leg did not pain her at all, for the first time since the accident.

Hannah's heart was singing but that did not last when she entered the
haus
and saw their dinner guest, David Yoder, the son of her
mudder's
close friend Beth Yoder. Her
mudder
had been doing her best to be a matchmaker and had her heart set on Hannah marrying David. Before the accident, her mother had approved of Hannah's attraction to Noah Hostetler, but of course that had all changed.

David's face lighted up when he saw Hannah and she did her best to smile. She was not attracted to David, not in the slightest. He was good looking enough, being tall and wiry, but he always had an arrogant manner and a cold, thin-lipped smile. There was no warmth about him whatsoever. She had heard rumors that he had been seen with
Englisch
girls.

David continued to stare at Hannah.
He's looking me over like I'm a cow at the market
, Hannah thought, and she could not suppress an involuntary shudder.

On the other hand, Mrs. Miller clearly did not share her opinion of David. She gushed all over him. "Look who's here, Hannah."

Hannah resisted the urge to say something sarcastic, and merely said, "
Hiya
, David."

Mrs. Miller's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, silly me. I forgot to collect the eggs. Hannah, would you and David go and collect the eggs for me?"

David leaped to his feet, but Hannah stood there staring at her mother. "But,
Mamm
, it's night, and besides, the chickens aren’t laying at this time of year."

Her
mudder's
face turned beet red, and Hannah at once realized that this was a matchmaking ploy. "Okay,
Mamm
," she said, before her mother could rebuke her. The last thing she wanted was any time alone with David, but her
mudder
had other ideas.

Hannah put her warm mittens and her long, wool coat back on, and hurried out to the barn carrying a lantern, followed closely by David. She figured if she kept ahead of him, that there would be less opportunity to speak to him. Hannah rushed into the coop and shut it behind her. She hurried to look in the nest boxes despite knowing that there were no eggs, but then she could at least say she had looked. She turned around and hurried out of the coop.

When the latch was shut, Hannah turned around but David was standing directly in front of her. She was unable to step back, so quickly took a step to the side. David attempted to put his arm around her waist, but she pulled away. "David Yoder!" Hannah said by way of rebuke.

David removed his arm, but blocked her way. "Hannah, I was wondering if you'd come on a buggy ride with me one afternoon."

"
Nee
, David," she snapped, and made to push past him. Hannah felt bad for snapping, but she most certainly did not want to date David Yoder. She had heard rumors that he'd been seen with
Englisch
girls, and had paid the rumors no mind, but his act of trying to put his arm around her in a darkened barn did not help her opinion of him. That was most certainly inappropriate behavior. She had never given him any encouragement whatsoever. Still, she at once wished that she had turned down his invitation graciously, but his physical proximity had alarmed her.

"I'm afraid of buggies, after the accident," she added in a more measured tone.

David reached for her hand but she pulled it away. "Is that why you won’t come on a buggy ride with me then, as you're scared of buggies now." He said it more as a statement than a question.

"
Nee
." Hannah wished she hadn't opened her big mouth and made that remark about buggies, as she could see why it had given David the wrong idea.

Still, David was persistent. "Are you seeing anyone else?"

"
Nee
," Hannah said again before thinking. It was none of David's business whether she was seeing anyone or not.

"Is it Noah Hostetler? You always were following him around. I thought him causing your accident would cure you of him."

David loomed over her, so close she could feel his breath on her check. Hannah pushed him away, hard, and then hurried back to the
haus
as fast as she could, holding the lantern in front of her.

When Hannah returned to the
haus
, she helped her mother serve
Dutch Goose
to the family and their guest. Her sisters were already sitting at the table. Hannah noticed that David seemed to be in a sulky mood. He had certainly gone quiet. Hannah could not help but shoot him a furious gaze from time to time but he simply smirked at her.

Both her sisters were watching the exchange and Hannah knew she would have to answer their questions later. Still, she was grateful for their unspoken support.

"I sat up for longer today," Esther announced. "My back doesn’t hurt as much."

"
Wunderbaar
," Mr. Miller said. "And how were you today, Martha?"

"Getting there," Martha mumbled, trying to eat with her left hand.

"And how was your first day working for Mrs. Hostetler, Hannah?"

"
Gut
,
Datt
. I enjoyed it."
That is, until I saw Noah Hostetler
, Hannah silently added.

Hannah's
mudder
muttered under her breath, but it was David who spoke up. "You're working for Mrs. Hostetler!" he exclaimed.

"David." Just the one word from Mr. Miller caused David to go silent, but a tension had descended over the room. The tension lasted the entire meal. David left after dinner, and Hannah helped her
mudder
clean up.

"What do you think of David?"

Hannah knew her
mudder
wouldn’t be happy with her answer. "
Mamm
, I have no interest in David."

Her
mudder
turned to her, surprised. "Hannah, you're not getting nay younger. David's a good man."

A chill ran up the back of Hannah's spine. "But
Mamm
, I'm not in love with him."

Mrs. Miller snorted rudely. "Love? Lots of men and women aren’t in love when they marry. They grow to love each other. If it's in
Gott's
will, it works out well between them, and then the
bopplin
come along."

Hannah shuddered at the thought, a fact which was not lost on her
mudder
.

Mrs. Miller turned her back to Hannah and banged some pans around. "David is a wealthy man from a wealthy family, and bills will be taken care of if you marry him. It will take a burden from us."

Burden? That's how Mamm sees me?
Hannah bit her lip and did her best not to burst into tears. It was so unfair. She hadn’t caused the accident; she was the victim. There was no way she was going to marry David Yoder. The very thought made her cringe. Even if she had to sit up half the night making quilts to sell in Mrs. Hostetler's store, along with all her other duties, it would be worth it to avoid such an unpleasant situation. Besides, her
mudder
could not force her to marry David Yoder, and she was sure her
daed
was on her side. After all, her
daed
had always approved of Noah Hostetler.

Noah
. The very thought of him caused Hannah's heart to race. Today was the first time they had spoken after the accident. He had visited her in the hospital more than once, but each time she had shut her eyes until she heard him leave the room. Tears had pricked her eyes each time when he again and again poured forth his heartfelt apology, but she simply could not open her eyes and face the man who had caused such harm. Her previous feelings for him only made the situation so much worse.

Hannah lay on the mattress that night, unable to sleep. Hannah had assumed that her old feelings for Noah had left, but seeing him again today had made her doubt that. Even thinking about him now, her heart yearned for him, to her dismay. "Don’t be so stupid," she said aloud to herself, and then put her hand over her mouth when Esther stirred.

Whatever future there might have been between her and Noah Hostetler had been destroyed the day he ran into their buggy.