Two Suitors for Anna Page 4

  Anna shared with Mamm Daniel’s story about his parents’ passing. “Do you remember them?”

  “How tragic! And jah, I had met and saw them in church, but I didn’t know them well. I had heard his mamm was in bad health. They weren’t in Lancaster long before we moved here. So Daniel is Jonathan’s bruder then?”

  “Jah, Daniel took over Jonathan and Adele’s place.”

  Anna mashed her boiled potato and added butter and a dash of salt. “He’s a roofer, and I’m asking Grace if he can repair our leak at the shop. He promised to quote us a fair estimate.”

  Raising her eyebrows, Beth tilted her head. “Is he handsome, Leah?”

  “Jah, he has dark brown eyes and hair. His arms bulge with muscles threatening to tear through his shirtsleeves. He likes Anna. You should’ve seen the way he smiled at the sight of her. No one else existed for him but her. I was invisible.”

  “Leah, stop your silliness. He was kind and a gentleman. Nothing more.” She scooped out another helping of green beans. “Noah and Daniel met at the shop. Daniel overheard me inviting Noah to supper. I’m sure any interest he might’ve had in me diminished, so you can put your silly notion out of your head.” Anna’s cheeks warmed with embarrassment.

  “If Noah leaves, maybe you’ll give Daniel a chance. Anything can happen.” Beth grinned and forked a piece of ham.

  “I wish life was as simple as you make it sound, my dear little schweschder.”

  “Life can be simple, Anna. Let Noah go and get better acquainted with Daniel. Thomas is stubborn and won’t admit he loves me, but he does and we will get married someday.”

  Leah and Mamm chuckled at Beth’s innocence.

  Anna raised her hands in dismay. “You all are maddening at times, but I love you.” She smiled.

  They chatted about the day, finished their food, and enjoyed fresh peaches topped with fresh cream for dessert. After they were finished, Anna carried her plate to the dry sink, and Leah pulled out containers for the leftovers. “We love you too, Anna. I shouldn’t have teased you about Daniel. You’re not upset with me, are you?”

  “No, but the last thing I need is you trying to match me with another man. Noah is all I can handle.”

  Mamm lifted a large kettle with a wooden handle off a peg. “I’m not getting involved in this conversation. I’m going outside to pump water.”

  Leah and Beth put their plates on the counter.

  “Anna and I will wash the dishes.” Mamm set her pan of water on the counter. She poured half of it in the dishpan and the other half in a drinking pitcher. She lifted the teakettle off the stove and added hot water to the dishpan.

  Anna stuck her finger in the water and grinned. “The temperature is just right.” She put the dirty plates, glasses, and utensils in the water.

  Mamm smiled. “I’ll wash and you dry the dishes, Anna.”

  “I’ll wipe the table.” Anna slid a damp cloth across the smooth wooden surface.

  Leah waved to Beth. “Let’s play checkers.”

  Her schweschders skipped to the sitting room.

  Anna rinsed the lightly soiled rag in the dishwater and then hung it to dry on a peg next to the sink. She stepped to Mamm, grabbed a clean dishtowel, and accepted a clean wet plate from her. “Did Daed ever go through a phase where he suggested you change the way you do things?”

  “No, he and I were content and the thought never occurred to me to change him, and he didn’t try to alter me or anything I did.”

  “Noah’s strongly suggested I alter the way I do things.”

  “Give me an example.”

  “He asks me to rearrange the furniture, quilts, and other dry goods more often than I prefer. I don’t hold a fishing pole to his satisfaction. I don’t alter my routine enough to suit him. I could go on and on.”

  “I don’t believe you can change someone. They have to want to change. If you don’t wilkom his suggestions, you need to contemplate if Noah is the man you want to commit your life to. Search the Scriptures and pray to God for answers.”

  “But I love him so much.”

  “Love may not be enough. What sacrifices are you willing to make to marry Noah? You may not be compatible at this point. You’ve had time to learn more about each other. Maybe you and Noah are too different.” She dried her hands on her apron and circled her arm around Anna’s shoulders. “Like I told you yesterday, whatever your decision may be, I trust you, and I’ll support you. Your happiness is what’s important to me.”

  “Danki, Mamm.” She dried the rest of the white porcelain dishes she’d eaten from all her life and stowed them in the cabinet. Anna grabbed a large pail with a thick wire handle, went outside and pumped water, returned to the kitchen, and placed it on the stove to boil. Using hot pads, she tackled the handle of the hot pot of water. She carried the big pail to the barn and made it without spilling any. She returned to the kitchen to gather two quarts of oats, one of bran, and a half pint of flaxseed. There was just enough of each. Tomorrow Mamm would have to buy more at the General Store and replenish the supply. She returned to the barn, snatched a stable bucket, poured the oats in it, and added the flaxseed. She drenched the dry mixture with the boiling water, dropped in the bran, and covered the blend with an old rug.

  Standing back, she studied the bucket. The contents should be fine in the corner behind the hay. The combination needed at least five hours to rest. The time would allow it to absorb the water and the flaxseed to bind the oats and bran together. The horses hadn’t experienced any digestive problems since she’d started them on the combination. She was careful with their portions and made certain they were given enough hay to maintain their good health. She wished she could fix her and Noah’s problems this easily.

  She drew in a deep breath. I need private quiet time. She went to her favorite hidden spot by the pond not far from the haus. She threw a stone in the water and watched it disappear, leaving an ever-widening ring of ripples. She wasn’t sure if she could watch Noah walk out of her life any more than she could envision leaving her family and friends. Were their problems temporary? Would he accept her as she was like he had when they first met, given time?

  Leah’s joyful personality had been more so this evening. She hoped her schweschder had put any notions of taking up with Butch Winter out of her head. Her schweschders needed her counsel, and she wanted to share life with them. Another reason to stay in Berlin. Hopefully, reading her Bible before bed, saying her prayers, and getting a good night’s rest would give her clarity.

  * * *

  The sun streamed through the window Wednesday morning. Anna had enjoyed doing chores in the warm air on this beautiful day. She returned to her room and poured water from her white porcelain pitcher into a large bowl sitting on the washstand. After splashing her face, she blinked her tired eyes. She’d tossed and turned most of the night. I’m exhausted. Noah and I have to kumme to an understanding soon, so I can enjoy life again. She grabbed a thin white cotton towel off a peg a few feet above the washstand and dabbed her face and wiped her hands. Returning the towel to the oak peg, she peeked out the window and listened to the birds sing. A warm breeze brushed her cheeks.

  Clothes changed and ready for work, she joined her schweschders and Mamm in the kitchen.

  They hurried to finish their biscuits and beef gravy.

  “Make sure you have your bag before leaving!” Anna grabbed hers. “Enjoy your day.”

  Beth scampered to the neighbor’s haus.

  Anna, Leah, and Mamm climbed in the buggy and headed to town. She listened to Leah and Mamm discuss the yellow chicks that had hatched early in the morning. After pulling in front of the General Store, her Mamm climbed out. “I’ll meet you at the livery at five, like usual.”

  Nodding, Anna drove to the livery and left her buggy. She and Leah strolled to the shop.

  “Anna, you were quiet on the way here. Have you kumme to any conclusions regarding Noah?”

  She had kumme to a conclusion, but she wasn’
t ready to discuss her decision with anyone yet. She wanted to give herself time to mull over the conversation she would have with Noah. “I’m getting closer to making a decision.”

  “I won’t press you. Tell me when you’re ready.” Leah touched her arm and smiled.

  Anna nodded and unlocked the store, and they entered the shop.

  Several minutes later, Grace came in bouncing Joy, her beautiful little maedel, on her hip. “Anna, Leah, how are you?”

  “Grace, what a nice surprise.” Tucking her fingers into Joy’s tiny fist, Anna smiled. “You have such cute rosy cheeks and beautiful hazel eyes. You are a pretty little maedel.”

  Joy grinned and wriggled in her mamm’s arms.

  “Grace, how are you?” Leah reached for Joy. “Let me hold you, little one.” She carried her to the colorful quilts displayed on the wall. “Do you like these colors?”

  “I’m fine, Leah. Joy takes to you easier than she does most people.”

  “Her name fits her. You and Anna talk. I’ll entertain her.”

  “Your dochder is mesmerized by the quilts. Maybe she’ll like stitching them and carry on the tradition of the keepsake pocket quilts.” Anna stole a glance again at Leah and Joy then shifted her attention to Grace. “Have you talked to Hester lately? Does she have any news about Becca?”

  Grace lowered her tone. “I miss Becca each day. I could tell her anything, and she never passed judgment on me. I’m blessed to have Hester to keep me informed about her. Even though she’s not Amish, I’m relieved our laws allow me to birth bopplin with her. She visits Becca a couple of times a year. Becca’s got two kinner, she’s involved in her church, and happily married to Matt.”

  “Does she still work as a nurse in his office?”

  “Hester said she stays at home with the kinner. Mrs. Carrington, Matt’s mamm, keeps her busy with fund-raising events and parties.” Grace’s lips quivered. She lowered her chin to her chest. “Danki for asking about Becca. You’re the only one who understands. You and Mark are the only Amish I can talk to about my dear friend without being reprimanded, or worse, shunned for mentioning her name since she became an Englischer.”

  “You can always share what’s on your mind with me. I’m sorry you both can’t spend time together. Shunning is a difficult law for me to follow, so I understand. I’m glad she’s happy. I’m blessed she and Ruth suggested you and Sarah sell the keepsake pocket quilts in your dry goods shop. I love working here.”

  She gave Anna an endearing smile. “I’m so blessed you came into my life when you did. Your timing was perfect, and you’re doing a great job.” She beamed. “I’m excited Mark bought the shop from Levi, Sarah’s husband, and my father. He’s finished the new sign, ‘Grace’s Dry Goods Shop,’ and I’m anxious to have the marker hung.” She winced. “Mark’s more interested in building products for his store than he is in hanging my sign.”

  “I have a solution for you. Daniel Bontrager, Jonathan’s bruder, has moved to Berlin. He’s living in Jonathan and Adele’s haus. He has offered to repair the shop roof. He’ll give me an estimate Friday, and I’ll run his price by you first before giving him the go-ahead. If you choose to accept his offer, he could repair the roof, and I could ask him to hang the sign. He said the cost for the repair would be minimal.”

  “If you consider his price fair to hang the sign and repair the roof, tell him to go ahead. I trust you. He can pick up the sign at Mark’s store. He’s got it in the back.” Her facial features turned sad. “Poor Daniel. He must be sad with the loss of his family. I miss Adele and Jonathan. They were such a sweet couple.”

  “He’s lost his entire family. His parents were killed in a robbery at the Lancaster General Store. In spite of suffering such tragedy in his life, he has a positive attitude. I admire him for not allowing the tragedy in his life to weigh him down.”

  “I hope he’s successful and content in Berlin.” She cocked her head to the side. “Do you have anything else you’d like to discuss about the shop?”

  “Everything is good. I enjoy the customers, keeping the records, and ordering supplies. Of course, having Leah work with me is wonderful.” Grace allowed her to display the dry goods however she chose, and she had given her the freedom to raise the prices or put things on sale. Grace’s leniency made managing the shop easier and more fun.

  “I’m so pleased Leah accepted your offer and enjoys working in the shop. She’s such a sweetheart, and my neighbors have told me how helpful she’s been with them when looking for dry goods.” Grace touched Anna’s shoulder. “You aren’t your usual cheery self today. Your eyes are ringed with dark circles. Is something weighing heavy on your mind?”

  They’d formed a close bond since the day Grace had hired her on the spot when she inquired about a job. Anna blew a sigh of relief. Grace was here. She could talk to her about Noah. Grace wouldn’t mince words or sugarcoat her answer to anything Anna asked her. “Noah asked me to marry him.”

  Eyes big, Grace hugged her. “When?”

  “Before we set a date to wed in Berlin, he wants me to agree to move to Lancaster shortly after our wedding. His aunt and uncle have offered to have us stay with them. He would work for his uncle managing his farm and livestock.”

  “He wants to leave here? Why? He and I don’t get a chance to chat much when he’s working on our property. We’re both so busy. Mark hasn’t mentioned Noah’s leaving Berlin. Noah must not have shared his plans with Mark yet. I assumed you two would get married eventually and maintain a life here. I’m shocked.”

  “Noah craves change. He wants to experience living in a new location.”

  “Do you want me to ask Mark to talk to him? Your families should kumme first. He’s being immature.”

  “No, please don’t ask Mark to speak to Noah. They have a special friendship, and I don’t want to cause trouble between them.” Anna leaned on the counter. “My heart rips in two when I consider packing up my belongings and waving good-bye to those I love. He and I haven’t seen eye to eye on a lot of things for the past several months. He suggests I change one thing after another, and his constant interference and dissatisfaction with my ways irritate me.”

  Grace’s tone became serious and she held her gaze. “I’m fond of Noah. He’s a good man, but he is different from most Amish men. Mark has told me about Noah’s need for adventure, and his desire would be unsettling for most women, I’d suspect. He can’t stand to leave things the same in his life. You are the opposite. In my opinion, you have to accept each other for who you are to find happiness together.” She put a hand to her chin and shook her head. “I never thought he’d want to leave Berlin, since you and he have become serious. When did he first mention his idea to you?”

  “He brought up moving to Lancaster more than once this past year. I’d hoped he’d abandon the notion.”

  Grace put a hand to her stomach. “I hurt for you. These are major decisions.”

  “What should I do, Grace?”

  “You have to consider what type of life you want. Would you enjoy moving from community to community, or do you want to grow roots here and maintain long-lasting relationships with your friends and family? Would you resent him as time goes on if he asks you to continually change things you’re content to have remain the same? You must ask God if Noah is the man for you. Marriage is forever. You want to choose a husband who shares your values.” Grace patted her arm. “I’ll always be close with you no matter where you live. We can write letters and, hopefully, you’ll return to Berlin for occasional visits.”

  Anna beheld her dearest friend. Grace had an apple-sized birthmark on her cheek, but it did nothing to diminish her loveliness. Her wisdom, kindness, and close friendship meant more to her than she could put into words. The woman was a midwife, shop owner, fraa, and mamm. Grace was determined, strong, caring, and dependable. She admired her deep faith in God. “I’m glad we had a chance to talk about Noah. Danki for listening.”

  Grace brushed Anna’s cheek. “I love
you, dear friend. Your happiness means a great deal to me. Face your fears and don’t give in to them. You are questioning marrying him for good reasons. Don’t ignore them. Settle these problems with him before you commit to marriage.”

  Anna dipped her chin to her chest. “Danki for your advice. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet.”

  “I don’t envy you.”

  Leah bounced Joy on her hip and approached them. “Your little maedel is a sweetheart. She’s easy to please and delightful.” Leah came alongside Anna, cuddled Joy, and nuzzled her face in the boppli’s neck.

  Wiggling and laughing, Joy reached for her mamm.

  Taking her boppli from Leah, Grace chuckled. “She is good most of the time.”

  Joy fisted her hands and rubbed her eyes.

  “Time to get my dochder home for a nap.”

  “Take care, Grace.” Anna waved.

  “Enjoy the rest of your day.” Her dear friend grinned over her shoulder.

  “Bye, bye.” Joy flapped her hand, then stuck her thumb in her mouth.

  Anna and Leah waved.

  Shutting the door, Leah paused. “Did you enjoy your time with Grace?”

  “I really did. She’s not afraid to speak her mind, but she’s kind and gentle when giving me advice. I admire her for not letting her birthmark destroy her confidence. I don’t know if I’d be as strong had I been born with it. I’ve noticed the strange looks she gets from Englischers. It can’t be easy for her.”

  Leah nodded. “I admire her too.” She wrinkled her nose. “Anna, did you tell Grace about Noah pressing you to relocate? I’m curious as to her reaction.”

  “Jah. She was surprised and concerned. She told me to consider if I wanted change or consistency in my future.”

  “You are a homebody and comfortable in your routine. Noah’s innovations in constructing wood products and rearranging how he does his chores are harmless, but constantly suggesting you change the way you do tasks to suit him is troubling. Moving to Lancaster would disrupt your orderly life in a big way, and resenting him for trying to alter you would cause problems for your marriage.”