Winter of Wishes (27 page)

Andy smiled at Rhoda. “You’re making me think outside my medical-school box, and that’s
a
gut
thing. Shall we go downstairs and see what Rebecca’s up to? I suspect she’ll have
other angles to consider, and she’s too sharp a young woman to ignore.”

“Ya got that right. We Lantz girls insist on bein’ heard,” Rhoda joked. “Got it honest,
from our
mamm
, ya know.”

Andy’s laughter rang in the stairwell as they descended. When they reached the landing,
Rebecca’s voice carried over to them as she spoke into her cell phone.

“. . . yeah, I think you’ll want to look this place over . . . I can bring you the
spec sheet,” she was saying in an excited voice.

And what did that mean? Surely Rebecca wasn’t giving someone else a heads-up on this
building when she knew he was pinning a lot of his future on finding workable, livable
space. Andy let Rhoda step into the main room ahead of him, reminding himself to keep
the faith . . . to believe that the best was yet to be, and that everything would
come together exactly as it was supposed to, if he kept God in on the process.

When Rebecca clicked off her phone, she turned toward them with an adorable grin.
“Andyyyy,” she teased, “what would you think of partnering with a tech-savvy, very
personable, extremely astute and sensitive—”

“That would be you, right?” Andy’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at Rhoda’s sister.

“Yup. And in addition to designing and maintaining your website for the local English
folks who will also welcome your nursing services,” she continued in a rising voice,
“I could manage your computer filing and whatever else your practice requires. Could
even sit at the desk as your receptionist, if you don’t need somebody with medical
expertise.”

“And?” He loved her enthusiasm, so similar to Rhoda’s.

Rebecca’s laughter echoed in the big empty space. “I’d like an office upstairs—or
wherever it’s best for you—to run my new design business. Most of my work’s online,
so I’ll be in the building whenever you need me.” She drew a line in the air with
her finger, over toward the center of the big room. “I’m seeing this as a natural
dividing point between your business area and your home, because a wall here would
leave the upstairs plumbing in a reasonable place for you to have a kitchen and bath
on the back wall, and your family room over here, and your bedrooms upstairs. But
then, what do I know?”

Andy looked at Rhoda and they both burst out laughing. “You girls are unreal, the
way you think alike. But as I was telling your sister, it might be a long while before
my home in New Haven sells. Meanwhile I’ll need to borrow a large amount of money
to float this whole idea, so you can’t be in a hurry to—”

“Give me a day or two, Andy,” she said with a big wink. “I’m working on that part,
too.”

His jaw dropped, and Rhoda hurried over to throw her arms around Rebecca’s neck. “You
kitty-cat! I know what you’re up to,” she teased. “But we’ll keep that as our little
secret.”

Once again Andy could only gaze at the Lantz sisters. Wasn’t it wonderful to think
that the two of them were conspiring to answer his prayers? They would enlist the
efforts of their mother and Rachel, no doubt, to create a synergy he’d not witnessed
before.

After he told the Realtor they’d be in touch, Rhoda pointed out each place to turn
as they toured the Willow Ridge countryside in the sleigh. Out past the Riehl place
they went, beyond the Kanagy farm where the girls’ Aunt Leah raised produce and kept
bees. At Rhoda’s direction, Andy drove the sleigh through open pastures and along
back roads he’d had no idea existed, getting the lowdown on each of the families whose
homes they passed. Neat, well-maintained places they were, too, where families took
pride in the appearance of their outbuildings and yards. As they passed the Waglers’
farm, two young men waved enthusiastically and the three of them returned their greeting.

“Matthias and Adam eat at the café quite a lot,” Rhoda remarked. “Matthias is our
local harness maker, and his brother does remodeling work.”

“Fine,
fine
-looking fellows, too,” Rebecca added with a laugh. “Seem to be a lot of handsome,
unattached men in this neck of the woods.”

“
Jah
, and they’re eyein’ you, too, Sister!” Rhoda shot back.

“Now this is quite a spread,” Andy remarked as they approached a tall white house
on top of a rise. A remarkably large barn sat behind the home, and the property was
set off by white plank livestock fencing that stretched for as far as he could see.

“That would be Hiram’s place,” Rebecca remarked from her seat in back. “Home of Bishop’s
Ridge Belgians. I still can’t believe he’s leaving this impressive property behind
to start from scratch at a new colony.”

“
Jah
, well, we’ll hear lots of surprisin’ details in the next couple of weeks,” Rhoda
said, shaking her head. “And if ya think Hiram’s finished chastisin’ Annie Mae and
Nellie for leavin’ him with the four littlest kids—”

“I don’t think he’s done with Mamma or Ben or the other Hooleys, either,” Rebecca
stated. “And you’re probably near the top of his hit list for sheltering his daughters.
Things are going to get very
interesting
in Willow Ridge, Sister.”

Andy listened to this banter, believing it. From the way Preacher Tom had reacted
to Hiram’s method of obtaining the land and money for his new venture, he sensed Knepp
might be in for a few surprises, as well. It was indeed a fascinating time to weave
himself into the fabric of this little community, for the Amish who lived around New
Haven weren’t nearly so . . . feisty. It made him admire Rhoda all the more because
she had fearlessly given her friends a place to stay, despite the probable consequences.

As they pulled into the Sweet Seasons parking lot, Andy breathed deeply of the wintry
air, feeling more than satisfied with the way this day had gone. “Do I just show up
for the wedding on Thursday?” he asked as he helped the girls out of the sleigh.

“
Jah
, and we start the church service bright and early, too. Eight o’clock sharp.” Rhoda’s
cheeks bloomed with the cold and her good health as she gazed up at him. “Then follows
the wedding ceremony and the feast, and a lot of visitin’ for the rest of the day,
includin’ a supper. If ya can’t stay for the whole thing, we’ll be glad to see all
of ya for as long as we can have ya.”

“And since Rhoda will be up front as one of the side sitters—”

“
Jah
, a
newehocker
, alongside Luke Hooley,” Rhoda clarified.

“—I’ll be happy to sit with your mom and your daughter, if you’d like,” Rebecca offered.
“You and Brett will sit on the guys’ side. Would you like to hook up with my dad?
He’ll be looking for other English guests so he won’t feel so strange wearing a suit
and tie among all those black trousers, vests, and white shirts.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you, Rebecca.” Andy’s brain already buzzed at the prospect
of all the details he’d be absorbing . . .

But the detail that intrigued him most was the smile the two sisters shared, as though
they passed information between them with that secret code twins and triplets were
wired with before they were even born. Thursday would be quite a day, for sure and
for certain!

As Rebecca pulled into the Sweet Seasons lot on Thursday morning, she chuckled. What
a crazy combination she was, wearing a royal-blue Plain dress and a white kapp while
driving a red sports car. But wasn’t that the picture of her life lately? The best
parts of both her worlds seemed to be coming together very quickly, thanks to the
unconditional love of the Lantz family and the way her dad understood her need to
reunite with her Amish
mamm
and sisters.

When she walked into the café’s kitchen, heavenly aromas enveloped her: baking chicken
. . . the savory spices and butter in the dressing . . . the sweet scent of boiling
celery.

“Happy New Year to ya, Rebecca!” Naomi called out from where she, Hannah, and Priscilla
Schrock were peeling a mountain of potatoes. “And don’t ya look perty in that blue
dress? Your
mamm
’s gone up to Rachel’s already. She’s a happy woman this mornin’, and you’re one of
the reasons why.”

Rebecca’s breath caught in her throat. All the women bustling around in the café’s
kitchen smiled as they greeted her. Mary and Eva Schrock waved from the dining room,
where they were cutting dozens of pies. Her aunt, Leah Kanagy, looked up from the
tubs of fresh vegetables she was arranging on relish trays. “Hullo, Rebecca!
Gut
to see ya!”

When Rebecca saw the Knepp girls filling salt and pepper shakers at the serving window,
she made her way through the crowd. While so much activity and chatter had once seemed
like chaos to her, she now understood that these wonderful women had been working
since the wee hours and wouldn’t quit until after this evening’s supper, because they
loved her mother. Such support, given so cheerfully, still boggled her mind.

“So how’s it going?” she asked quietly. “Can’t be easy, deciding to go your own way
instead of with your dad.”

Annie Mae’s eyes were ringed with dark circles. “
Jah
, we’re lookin’ for Dat to burst through that door any minute to haul us outta here,”
she replied with a glance in that direction.

“But Jerusalem and Nazareth are watchin’ out for us,” Nellie added, nodding toward
where the Hooley sisters were chopping onions and celery for the stuffing. “And Rhoda’s
been a real patient roommate while we’ve done our cryin’, wonderin’ what’s to happen
to us.”

“But we’re hopeful.” Annie Mae screwed the lid on a salt shaker with a firm twist.
“Even though he’s not preachin’ today, we think Dat might make a scene during the
wedding, to announce how wonderful-
gut
his new colony’s gonna be.”

“We’re happy to spend the day in here cookin’,” Nellie agreed as she reached for a
fresh can of pepper. “Can’t thank your family enough for takin’ us in, knowin’ how
Dat’s gonna get back at them for it.”

Rebecca looked around, noting the absence of little children. “So . . . how are the
twins doing? And Sara and Timmy?”

Nellie sighed. “That’s the stinger in all this,” she admitted. “Far as we know, they’re
with Dat. When we were movin’ the last of our stuff on Saturday, he ordered us to
stay away from the house until we were ready to beg his forgiveness.”

“
Jah
, the dishes and food were still sittin’ on the table from that nice dinner on Friday.
But Jerusalem and Nazareth marched right on past that to Ben’s truck with their clothes,
and we followed along.” Annie Mae smiled glumly. “It’s not the way I’d pictured my
life goin’, but then I never figured on Dat pullin’ such a stunt, either. Whatever
he’s been doin’ since Joey and Josh’s wreck just doesn’t set right.”

“Well, if there’s anything I can do, just say the word,” Rebecca insisted as she grasped
their arms. “Sometimes my being English is an advantage.”

Annie Mae chuckled and tugged on a string of Rebecca’s kapp. “Ya look mighty Plain
to me, girlie,” she teased. “But
denki
for sayin’ that. Means a lot.”

Ya look mighty Plain.
And wasn’t that a fine compliment for a day when she wasn’t wearing any makeup? Rebecca
spoke with the Hooley sisters, Hannah, and Lydia Zook as she made her way back to
the door, filled with a sense of goodwill and unity despite the way these women’s
spiritual leader was wreaking havoc on their orderly, purposeful lives.

Up to the old white Lantz house she drove, to park at the far end of it. At the sight
of her dad’s Buick, her heart beat a little faster—and here came another car up the
long lane. When she saw Andy waving through the windshield, she motioned for him to
pull up beside her car.

“Rhoda! Rhoda!” Brett crowed as he hopped out, followed by his grinning sister, Taylor.

Rebecca grabbed them in an eager hug, but then gazed into their eyes. “OK, I’m really
Rhoda’s sister, Rebecca, but I’m tickled you think I look like her. We’re all so glad
you’ve come to the wedding!”

The kids’ faces fell, but then Brett lifted the back of her kapp. “Aha! Now we’ll
know you by your short hair.”

“Yup.” She pointed to the door that led into the kitchen. “If you go inside you’ll
find who you’re looking for. And I bet she’ll come running to see you, too, even though
there’ll be dozens of people in there.”

Taylor grabbed her brother’s hand. “Let’s go, Brett! I want to see what they all look
like in their Amish dress-up clothes.”

As the kids hurried toward the door, Rebecca smiled at the older woman getting out
of the car with Andy’s assistance. “Betty, it’s so good to see you again,” she said,
taking the woman’s hand. “Would you like to sit with me today?”

“Oh, I’d . . . like that. I don’t know a soul except for . . . you Lantzes,” she replied
in a halting voice. “But I’m so excited to . . . be here.”

“Come on in where it’s warm. I’ll see how many names I can remember for you, until
Rhoda and Miriam can help us out.” She flashed a smile at Andy, who looked a little
flustered, yet as eager as his kids. “We’ll find Dad lurking in there, too. He’s really
looking forward to chatting with you.”

Andy’s raised eyebrows made her pulse flutter in anticipation. In her mind, she’d
played out how this day would unfold a dozen times . . .

“It’s a big day,” Andy remarked as they stepped into the noisy kitchen. “Thanks for
helping us make the most of it.”

Immediately they were engulfed by Mamma’s cousins and other ladies from around Willow
Ridge, but before she could make any introductions, her mother grabbed her in a tight
hug. “Oh, honey-bug, it’s so
gut
to have ya here. And Betty, you’re lookin’ right perty in that red poppy dress, too!
Come nibble a little somethin’ before the sticky buns and muffins get put away.”

“Andy! There ya are!”

Rhoda’s voice rose above the chatter and Rebecca’s heart swelled. Her sister’s arms
were around Andy’s kids and theirs were around her, a happy sight indeed. And how
Rhoda glowed when she gazed at Andy while he returned her intense gaze. If any couple
had ever been more attuned to each other, she didn’t know who it would be—except maybe
for Mamma and Ben. As her sister began to introduce Andy and his mom to her aunts,
uncles, and cousins, Rebecca glanced toward the front room. It still amazed her, how
interior walls came down and the men strategically squeezed in so many pew benches
to seat the crowd they expected today.

“Aunt Lovinia . . . Aunt Mattie,” she said as she hugged Mamma’s sisters. “It’s so
gut
to see ya again, so soon.”

“
Jah
, and it’s a fine way to start out the New Year, too,” Lovinia replied. “Quite an
honor for Mose to be preachin’ at his sister’s wedding.”

Rebecca spotted her dad in a corner chatting with Derek Shotwell, so she made her
way through the happily chattering crowd in the front room. As he kissed her cheek,
Rebecca felt especially blessed that Dad, too, was welcomed by these Plain folks.
“Andy’s meeting Mamma’s relatives from hither and yon,” she said. “I think you three
English fellows will be good company for each other. And I hope your conversation
goes well.”

Derek chuckled. “Whenever I’m consulted about a project in Willow Ridge, it’s anything
but ordinary.”

“Good people here,” her dad agreed. “Sincere and hardworking. A solid investment opportunity—well,
maybe if you don’t count Hiram.” He glanced around the gathering crowd of bearded
men wearing black trousers and vests with white shirts. “Do you think he’ll show up?”

“Every person here is wondering that very thing, Dad.” Rebecca caught Andy’s eye and
waved him over. “Let’s get you fellows seated before the service starts. It’ll last
about three hours before everyone heads over to that big metal building next door
for the wedding feast. Good food, good conversation. It’ll be a memorable day for
us all.”

 

 

Lord, I’m going to remember this day forever
, Andy thought as he gazed out over the huge crowd assembled in Miriam Lantz’s extended
living room. He and a few other non-Amish guys sat to the rear of the men’s side,
but when he peered over the top of the male heads with their home-style haircuts,
he could see Rhoda. She sat beside Rachel, in the front row of the women’s side. Bishop
Shetler, Preacher Tom, and Preacher Mose—Miriam’s brother from out of town—nearly
bumped into her knees as they gave their sermons or directed the church service that
preceded the wedding.

Even though all those female faces and kapps looked nearly identical—so nobody drew
attention to herself—Rhoda’s smile and shining eyes set her apart. As he observed
the standing and kneeling, he became even more aware of how much he had to learn.
Brett shifted against him occasionally, but he’d found an Amish boy a few rows ahead
of them to study. The kid, a bowl-cut blond, was turning to gaze curiously at Brett’s
red sweater, tie, and striped dress shirt, while Brett probably wondered about wearing
a home-sewn black vest and pants with suspenders rather than a belt. But Brett was
absolutely quiet, keeping his wiggling to a minimum, mostly because Rhoda had asked
him to.

It amazed Andy that these folks fell to their knees to pray on the hardwood floor,
without grimacing. He missed having a piano or any other musical accompaniment to
the slow, methodical hymns he didn’t recognize. But there was no denying the close
attention everyone paid to Bishop Shetler’s sermon . . . the quiet joy on these Plain
faces as they worshipped God without worldly distractions.

After another hymn and a prayer to conclude the church service, Miriam and Ben came
to stand before the bishop, Tom, and Miriam’s brother Moses. A murmur rose from the
crowd when Hiram Knepp stepped out of the kitchen, where he had apparently been following
the service. He strode to the front, nodding to the three leaders. “I’m calling a
Members’ Meeting to inform you of God’s further instructions to me—His blessing that
has provided land for the new colony of Higher Ground, Missouri,” he said in his resonant
baritone voice. “I have run an ad in
The Budget
—”

“No, Hiram, this is not the time or the place,” Jeremiah Shetler interrupted. “We’re
here to marry Miriam and Ben.” As he, Tom, and Moses moved in closer, everyone in
the congregation shifted so they could see what was going on. Miriam and Ben stood
staunchly, refusing to give up their place of honor.

“There’ll be no coaxin’ folks into your new venture,” Preacher Tom continued in a
peeved voice, “because ya didn’t follow through on your confession—and because of
what we’ve learned about this tract of land in the meantime. We were gonna address
this after Sunday’s service, but maybe now’s the better time. What do
you
say, Ben and Miriam? It’s your day.”

Silence filled the room as all present gazed at the couple to be married.

“I’m for settlin’ the matter right now,” Ben replied.

“
Jah
, me too,” Miriam affirmed. “Can’t in
gut
conscience let any of my friends believe your proposal for a new colony is legitimate,
Hiram.”

Folks sucked in their breath. Hiram’s face turned as red as a raw beefsteak. But before
he could protest, Preacher Tom looked out over the crowd. “Brothers and sisters, we
are concerned mostly with how our bishop stands before us without havin’ been reinstated
into the membership. Instead of waitin’ for our decision last preachin’ Sunday, he
told us how God spoke directly to him about startin’ up a new colony,” he said in
a loud, clear voice. “But I’ve learned, from a fella I trust, that the man who ran
into the horse pullin’ Joey and Josh’s sleigh has offered Hiram quite a nice settlement
so Hiram won’t take him to court.”

An outburst of whispering and exclamations rose from the crowd.

“Thomas Hostetler,” Hiram replied in a tight voice. “Are you telling me you trust
what some
fella
has told you, over what the God who chose you to be His minister has proclaimed?
That’s blasphemy, pure and simple.”

The women gasped and every man in front of Andy scowled as they muttered among themselves.
Andy felt odd, being that source the preacher had trusted . . . and surely Hiram would
figure that part out. Yet he’d done the right thing, informing Tom, Miriam, and Ben
of their leader’s wrongdoing.

Jeremiah Shetler raised his hand for silence. “Because this sort of brazen disregard
for the
Ordnung
rides on the coattails of other serious sins Hiram has committed,” he continued,
“Tom, Gabe Glick, and I recommend that Hiram Knepp be excommunicated from the Willow
Ridge district. You’ll need to vote on that, of course.”

Faces fell in shock, and once again silence enveloped the crowd. Soon, however, heads
were nodding and hands were clasped in laps as folks prepared to do what must be done.
“
Jah
, that’s the way we’ve gotta settle this,” Henry Zook declared. “The will of God is
made known through His People. The Bible tells us that wherever two or more are gathered,
the Lord’s present, too. He’s expectin’ us to act on this matter right here and now.”