Two Suitors for Anna Read online

  He scratched his dog’s nose. “Hopefully, my friendship with Anna will grow before another man approaches her. I am taken with her.”

  Otis rubbed up against his leg. His companion carried a book in his mouth and dropped it at his feet.

  Daniel picked up the dusty hardcover and patted the dirt off the cover. “What did you find, Otis?”

  Otis barked and stared at him.

  Daniel chuckled. “I wish I knew what you were thinking.” He slumped in the porch swing and opened the book.

  Otis joined him and lay beside him.

  His eyebrows raised. “Adele kept a journal.” He flipped through the pages and scanned the words. “She thanks God for introducing her to Jonathan, the love of her life.” He ran his hand along Otis’s back. Skipping through the book, he focused on the middle section. “Here she writes she loves Jonathan even more than the day they married. She mentions his infectious laugh, the sparkle in his big eyes, and his loving touch.” He closed Adele’s journal and leaned his head on the back of the swing. “Otis, I want my fraa to say those loving thoughts about me someday.”

  Otis lifted his head and barked twice.

  “I’m glad you agree.” He laughed. “Soon I’ll introduce you to Anna, the woman I’ve befriended. She has a delightful family, too. I’ll take you with me to paint their barn. Maybe Beth will keep you busy. You’ll have a wonderful time with her and her family.”

  Otis wagged his tail and licked Daniel’s hand.

  He’d never been happier, and he hoped nothing would happen to interfere with the progression of his friendship with Anna.

  A snake slithered up the porch steps.

  Otis jumped down and barked.

  “No, Otis!” Daniel rushed to the shovel behind the maple chair against the wall and grabbed the handle. The snake reared to strike.

  Otis jumped back and whimpered.

  Daniel slammed the shovel and killed the unwilkom intruder. He shivered. “Life is full of surprises, and not all of them good, Otis.”

  Chapter Six

  Anna greeted Lydia Keim Wednesday morning. “What a wilkom surprise! Kumme in. How’s Jonah? Your son captures the hearts of everyone in Berlin with his friendly personality.”

  “He’s sad. He misses Noah.” She rested her hand on Anna’s arm. “I told Noah before he left I thought you two would marry. He said he asked you to wed him and you said no. Why did you not want to go with him?”

  Anna’s hands flew to the warm heat on her cheeks. Lydia didn’t mean any harm and Anna believed the woman cared about her, but she was inquisitive. Anna opened her mouth, but no words came to mind.

  Leah joined them. “Anna doesn’t want to talk about Noah. He’s a sensitive subject at present. I’m sure you understand.” She walked around the counter and gently took Lydia’s arm. “Let me show you the new star-patterned quilt I put out for display earlier today.” She glimpsed over her shoulder and winked at Anna.

  Anna barely spoke above a whisper to Leah. “Danki.” Most of the women in the community wouldn’t ask her about Noah, out of common courtesy. Lydia had no problem blurting out what was on her mind. The woman cared for the sick and had a big heart, but she had no discretion and enjoyed spreading gossip. Anna’s precious schweschder had intervened on her behalf.

  Daniel stepped inside the shop. “Good morning, Anna. I bought supplies at the hardware store and thought I’d stop in. How are you and Leah?”

  His big smile diminished her awkward moment with Lydia. “We’re fine. Danki for checking on us.”

  Lydia rushed to Daniel. “Good morning. I’m Lydia Keim. I’ve noticed you in church, and my son, Jonah, has mentioned you. He said you were sitting with Noah in church one Sunday. My neighbor Phyllis Petersheim told me her husband, Josiah, stopped by your haus. They have a lovely marriageable dochder, Cora. She bakes the best sugar cream pies. She would make any man a wonderful fraa. You really should reconsider her daed’s offer.” She darted her eyes to Anna and Leah. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Smiling, Anna nodded. Lydia never ceased to amaze her. The woman knew no bounds in asking direct questions. She was the most forward of all the Amish women. Her friends in the community gossiped among themselves and with their husbands but not with any men.

  Leah put a hand on the small of Lydia’s back and guided her to the counter. “You are right. Cora is a sweet woman. Kumme with me to the counter, and I’ll wrap your quilt for you. I’ve taken up enough of your time dragging you around the shop to show you our new things.”

  “I’ve enjoyed my visit, but I better get home.” She smiled and darted her eyes to each one of them. “Good day, everyone.”

  “Give Jonah my best.” Daniel grinned.

  “Will do.” She paid for her purchase and waved as she left the store.

  Leah crossed her arms. “I love Lydia, but she is quite the busybody.”

  Putting a fist to his mouth, Daniel chuckled. “She is direct. News travels fast.” He shook his head. “Mr. Petersheim did ask me to meet his dochder.” He gazed into Anna’s eyes. “I politely declined.”

  Anna hadn’t thought about a man asking Daniel to consider marrying his dochder. She shouldn’t be surprised. He was handsome and kind and would provide a good living for a fraa. She would miss their conversations if he agreed to marry a woman in the Amish community. She felt a stab of regret. Their timing was off. If she’d had more time to get over Noah, she might have considered him as a prospective husband. “Lydia doesn’t mean any harm, but she should hold back from asking personal questions. She makes people uncomfortable with her inquiries.” She brushed a thread from her apron. “How’s Otis?”

  Daniel told them about the snake crawling on his porch and almost biting Otis.

  Anna and Leah gasped and shuddered.

  “I killed the serpent before it could bite Otis.”

  “What a relief!” Anna pressed her hands to her open mouth.

  Leah’s eyes widened. “You should bring Otis to the haus when you kumme over to paint. We’d like to meet your dog, especially Beth. Mamm already told you she doesn’t mind.”

  “I will. He’s well-behaved. You’ll enjoy him.” He bid them good-bye and left.

  Leah grinned and stowed the cashbox under the counter. She pulled the curtain below to shield its existence. “Cora Petersheim is a dark-haired beauty. If Daniel met her, he wouldn’t visit us as often. She would be a good catch for a young Amish man. She follows Amish law to the letter, never says a harsh word, and she’s always baking and giving away her pies and cookies to the less fortunate Amish families. All are reasons why we love her.”

  “I suppose many unwed women will ask their daeds to approach Daniel about an arranged marriage. Any Amish woman would consider him a good catch for her husband.”

  Leah tapped her finger on Anna’s hand. “Including you?”

  Daniel had surprised her with his cheery moods and friendliness. He’d made it clear he was rooting himself in Berlin, Ohio. “I’d be lying if I didn’t admit he piques my interest, but it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to entertain thoughts of friendship with another man since Noah left such a short time ago.”

  Slapping her hand on the counter with fire in her eyes, Leah glared at her. “Like you said, Noah chose to leave rather than marry you and stay here. I’m sorry Noah chose to leave Berlin and not marry you, but you can’t waste your life away pining for him. You have a chance to build on our friendship with Daniel and find out if it turns into something more. Don’t put restraints on yourself where Daniel’s friendship is concerned. You said your struggles with Noah began way before he left. He was too critical of you, and you and he had been arguing for months before then.”

  “There were a lot of traits I loved about Noah. Those are hard to forget, but I agree with you. I’m wasting time dwelling on him.” She wrinkled her nose. “Have I ignored or been rude to Daniel?”

  “No, but I’m warning you not to so you don’t make the mistake of shying away from his k
ind gestures. He’s not repairing the shop roof or our barn for fun. There’s no doubt in my mind he wants any excuse to be near you.”

  April muscled open the door against the strong breeze. “I meant to come in earlier, but my grandmother had an upset stomach this morning. I offered her tea and bread, and she was doing much better an hour later.”

  Leah ushered her to a chair. “You’re fine. Kumme join us.”

  Anna slid two more chairs next to April’s to form a semicircle, and she sat between them. “May I offer you anything to eat or drink?”

  She fidgeted with the red button on the cuff of her sleeve. “I had a big breakfast before I fed the animals. Our neighbor has been taking care of the garden and the corn and hay fields and cutting wood. We’re splitting the profits with him, and he’s generous and kind to look out for us. My husband left the day he found out I was carrying this child. He left a note saying he was moving to Wyoming to work for a friend’s daed who owned a big ranch. He said our marriage was over and he wanted no further contact. He sent me signed divorce papers.”

  Anna sucked in a breath. “You must’ve been brokenhearted.”

  Red-faced, Leah huffed. “How could a husband abandon his fraa and unborn boppli?”

  “I ask myself the same question often.” April’s sad gaze met Leah’s.

  April had a lot of responsibility with expecting a child, taking care of her grossmudder, and managing their home and property. Anna wanted to help her. “If there’s anything we can do for you, please ask.” She covered April’s hand.

  Wiping her damp eyes, April looked at them. “Learning how to stitch quilts is something I’ve looked forward to since meeting you. Women have shied away from me since my husband left. Thank you for welcoming me here.”

  “My pleasure.” Anna wiped a tear from the young woman’s cheek.

  April’s simple plaid dress was worn and faded. Her brown leather shoes slid off her heels when she walked. The young maedel must have been having a hard time making ends meet.

  Mrs. Zook came in. She waved to Leah and Anna.

  “I’ll be with you in a few minutes. Please look at our new quilts on the wall.” Leah grinned.

  Leah patted April’s arm. “You stay as long as you like. I’ll wait on customers so you can have Anna’s undivided attention.”

  April nodded and gave her a shy grin.

  Leah pushed a small stool and lifted April’s swollen feet on top of it. “Relax and enjoy your time here with us. Anna, I’ll take care of Mrs. Zook. You stay here with April.”

  Anna grinned. Leah was taking good care of Mrs. Zook. Her schweschder was thoughtful to give her time with April. “I’ve got material swatches the size you need in dark blue and white already cut for a pinwheel pattern. You’re wilkom to rummage through a box of leftover fabric for anything else you’d like to stitch. I’ll bring it to you.” She went to the back room and brought the extra-fabric box over to the young woman and set it in front of her.

  April dug her hands into the colorful material. “I could sew the larger pieces together and make some dresses! Thank you.”

  “Help yourself.” The young woman’s excitement lifted Anna’s troubled heart. She waited for her to finish making her choices, bagged April’s selections, and set them aside. Grabbing a handful of three-by-three-inch squared swatches off a small table, she snatched a clean flour sack off a shelf with the other hand. She put the bundle in the sack. She opened a maple box and selected a needle and thread. “Watch me stitch these two pieces together.” Anna wove the threaded needle in and out of the material.

  “Your stitches are so perfect.”

  “Making stitches tiny and straight takes practice.” Handing her the threaded needle, Anna smiled. “Try a few stitches.”

  April did as she was told. “I was able to make them small and in a straight line!” She drew in her eyebrows. “What should I use for a filler?”

  “I have cotton batting I’ll send home with you.” She studied the young woman’s handiwork. “You did a good job.” She smiled. “Put your practice material aside and I’ll explain how you’ll pin and sew the clean flour-sack backing to your quilt.” Anna instructed April step by step on how to construct the entire keepsake pocket quilt. The young woman’s face grew serious. Her determination and attentiveness touched Anna’s heart. She was delighted to teach this young woman with child how to sew. “Let’s go to the front where Leah and I can watch your progress. If you want to bring your finished quilt to us, we can sell the coverlet in the store and give you a percentage of the profit.”

  “I’m fearful I’ll forget everything you’ve taught me.”

  Anna jotted instructions on paper. She handed them to the young woman. “Refer to these steps if you get confused. You’re wilkom to stop in and ask questions anytime. Stay as long as you like to work on it.”

  “It might be a difficult decision putting the quilt up for sale once it’s finished. I’m thinking of giving the coverlet to my grandmother with a letter tucked inside telling her how much her love and support has meant to me. My parents and my husband’s mother and father died young, and my grandmother took me in. My grandfather died two years ago. We miss him.”

  Leah pulled a basket out from under the counter. “Our grandparents passed before we were born. Our daed died soon after we moved here from Pennsylvania. God took good care of us. The community folk have helped us with our land and animals. Grace King and Sarah Helmuth owned this shop, and Grace hired Anna. Grace is the sole owner now. Then Anna hired me. Mamm works at the General Store.

  “Do you have any other siblings?”

  Anna grinned wide and circled her arm around Leah. “We love our younger schweschder, Beth. She entertains us with her inquisitive and cheery personality. She stays with our neighbor while we are working, until school starts in September.”

  After biting the end of her thread with her teeth, April stabbed her needle in the small, quilted, cotton-stuffed pillow Anna had given her. Tying the thread off, she cut the end with scissors and rethreaded her needle. “I’m an only child. I’ve often wondered what life would’ve been like to have brothers and sisters.”

  Anna couldn’t imagine growing up without Leah and Beth to play with, tease, and work alongside. She could tell Mamm some things, but she and Leah talked about everything. Beth’s outspokenness and innocence were refreshing and exasperating. She’d sit close, listen, and then ask questions. There was never a dull moment in life with Beth around. “We do enjoy one another. We also have our times of frustration.”

  Leah’s mouth upturned in an impish grin. “Beth and I fuss over doing the laundry, feeding the animals, and other tasks. Anna and Mamm get annoyed with us.”

  April gave them a reassuring smile. “I’m sure the good outweighs the bad.”

  Anna nudged Leah. “Jah, it does.” Her family’s encouragement and support since Noah left soothed her hurt and lessened her anguish. They pitched in to earn money and take care of maintaining their property. How did April and her grossmudder fend for themselves with food and supplies? She got the impression from the worn clothes they might not have much money. “Are you in need of food or supplies? I hope I haven’t offended you by asking.”

  Leah nodded and handed her a ham sandwich, jar of lemonade, and clean, light blue cloth napkin.

  “Thank you. Since I’ve been with child, I’m hungry most of the time.” April put her needle and thread aside, placed the jar on the small table next to her, and took a bite of the sandwich. Talking with her mouth half full, she said, “The neighbor who farms our land and tends our garden provides us with meat and vegetables. He splits the money from the corn with us for supplies and other food. Grandmother and I knit mittens and scarves and sell them in the neighborhood. We get by.”

  April’s life had been filled with hardship and tragedy. She must be close in age to Leah, and she would soon care for her grossmudder and a boppli. The child would add to their expenses. “Please visit and let us help you wit
h food or whatever else you need. We always have plenty of dry goods we’ve sewn or food we’ve canned to share.”

  Leah lifted the basket. “I’ve got extra sandwiches and ginger cookies you can take home.” She passed Anna a sandwich and water-filled jar and took one of each for herself from the basket.

  “You’re both so kind. I’m blessed to have met you. God has supplied all my needs. I have no complaints. Our crops and garden have flourished the past few years, and the man helping us has been generous. His wife provides us with meals sometimes. Grandmother is diligent in praying and reading her Bible three times a day. I pray and read my Bible, but not as often as Grandmother. God has definitely been good to us.”

  Anna prayed for God’s will in her life whenever she was baffled about something. Through Scripture and prayer, God had given her a peace about staying in Berlin. She trusted Him to guide her through life. She hadn’t always made the right decisions, but she got back on the proper path after prayer. Human, she had let her Heavenly Father down often. She kept tight-lipped about most information she’d overheard concerning others’ lives, but she’d participated in gossip, gotten angry at her schweschders, and been selfish at times. “God cares about every detail of our lives and forgives us whenever we fail Him, and we can trust Him in every aspect.”

  Leah sighed. “I don’t always jump for joy at our Heavenly Father’s answer to my prayers, but it soon becomes clear His answer was best for me in every situation. I get in trouble acting first and thinking about the consequences later.” She gave Anna a small shrug and remorseful grin.

  “Do you have names picked out for the boppli?” Leah swiped the crumbs from her lap.

  “Daniel or Augustus for a boy, and Daisy for a girl.”

  Leah raised her eyes to Anna. “We have a new friend named Daniel. If you met him, you’d probably choose his name. He’s a kind and gentle soul, although strong. Don’t you agree, Anna?”