At Home in Pleasant Valley (66 page)

“I am well.” He smiled. “Contented, I think, is the right word. Do you know what I realized today, when I was lying on the barn floor?”

“That you should never have gotten involved in my troubles?”

“No. Never that.” Gentle humor edged the words. “I realized how foolish I'd been, with all my worries about whether I would make the same mistakes my father did.” He turned to face her, clasping her hand in both of his. “I knew then that I was ready to die for you and Gracie. If I would die for you, how can I doubt that I would live for you, always?”

He'd stolen her breath away. “Are you so sure of me?” she said when she could finally speak. “I have a bad history of running away when things are difficult.”

“I'm not worried.” His eyes were tranquil. “You will not run anymore. I love you, Anna, but I won't rush you. Take as much time as you want to answer.”

She realized the answer didn't require any time at all. It was already there, in her heart. She'd come home in desperation, but it was God leading her to the place where she needed to be. The only place where she could be the person she really was in her heart.

She smiled, looking at him. “November is not so far off,” she said. “If Bishop Mose thinks I'm ready to be baptized into the church, we can be married then. I have a feeling I would like to follow tradition in that.”

“Anna Beiler, following tradition,” Samuel said. “Think of that. Are you sure?”

“I'm sure.” She lifted her face for his kiss. “The prodigal is home to stay.”

A
nna
took the black prayer kapp from her head and set it carefully on top of the bureau. She picked up the white one that sat waiting and placed it on her head.

The act seemed almost as solemn as the vows she and Samuel had taken moments earlier before Bishop Mose and the gathered community. She and Samuel were husband and wife. In a moment she'd meet him to go back downstairs to take part in the wedding meal—their first appearance together as a married couple.

“Anna, do you need any help?” Leah paused in the bedroom doorway, smiling at her. “You are a bride, little sister. I am so happy to see this day.”

“Denke.” Anna blinked back the tears that sprang to her eyes. “I wish Mammi—”

Leah came quickly to hug her. “I know she would be very happy. She always liked Samuel so much.”

“She did, didn't she?” Even when Samuel had been just Joseph's friend, Mammi seemed to have a soft spot in her heart for him. Now he was her daughter's husband. Leah was right; Mammi would be pleased.

“The food is ready to start serving.” Myra came in, her eyes growing moist as she looked at Anna. “But first I had to come and see my sister.”

“Twice your sister,” Anna said, her heart filling with love.

Myra was rounder now, though it didn't show so much when she wore the cape, as she did today in honor of the occasion. She and Joseph had moved past the difficult adjustment they'd had to make into a state
of serenity about the baby. The shadows were gone from Myra's eyes, and she seemed to look ahead with joy.

“Your friend from the city didn't know what to think of the wedding.” Myra's eyes twinkled. “She asked if you were forbidden to wear a bridal gown because of the baby. I told her this is your bridal gown, but I don't think she understood.”

Anna smoothed her hand down the skirt of the deep blue dress she wore, made by her own hands with a little help from Myra. And the white apron, which would be kept to be put on over her dress when she was buried. She wouldn't tell Liz that—it would be too much culture shock.

“No, Liz wouldn't understand, but I think she is happy for me.” Liz had gotten over her initial surprise at learning Anna was Amish. She'd probably been a little hurt, too, that Anna had kept that from her, but she seemed to understand. And she had traveled all the way from Chicago to sit on a backless bench in a barn for three hours to see her friend married.

“Rosemary has taken her in hand,” Leah said. “She'll explain it all.”

Anna nodded. Rosemary had proved to be a staunch friend to the Amish. She'd begun volunteering at the medical clinic, filling her days with work that was valuable to the whole community.

“I have gut friends and family. I owe you all so much . . .” She couldn't find the words.

“Ach, enough,” Leah said. “There's no talk of owing among family.”

“Besides, your groom is here, waiting to take you downstairs.” Myra gave her a little shove toward the bedroom door.

There in the hallway, Samuel stood waiting, holding Gracie in his arms. He'd been solemn for the ceremony, but now his lips curved with pleasure at the sight of her.

She went to him quickly. “I thought Elizabeth was watching the little ones.”

“Ach, how could our Gracie not sit with us at the eck table for our wedding?” Samuel cuddled her close. “She is our daughter, so she must share the joy of this day.”

“Until she starts to fuss at being still for so long,” Anna said, but her heart was touched by his gesture.

No, not a gesture. Samuel really did feel that way. He had been willing to lay down his life for Gracie. No one could love more than that.

She reached toward him, and Samuel drew her immediately into the loving circle of his arm for a warm, strong hug.

“So,” he said, dropping a kiss lightly on her lips, “are you ready to go downstairs and greet our friends as husband and wife, Anna Fisher?”

“I am.” She said the words like a vow. She linked her arm with Samuel's, and they started down the stairs toward the waiting crowd.

Below, she saw the happy faces of those who waited for them—the dear, familiar faces of all who loved and supported them. Her family, her church, her friends. They would stand by this new family through all the years ahead, God willing, and she would be forever grateful that God had brought her home.

Chicken Potpie

For noodles: Mix together 1 tablespoon butter, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 cups flour. Add 2 beaten eggs and 2 tablespoons milk. Mix together until a firm dough forms, then turn onto a floured board and roll out in a thin layer. Let stand for 30 minutes. Cut into 2-inch squares.

2 potatoes

2 onions, sliced thin

3 cups cooked chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 cups hot chicken stock

salt

pepper

parsley, chopped

Slice potatoes ¼-inch thick. Line the bottom of a heavy kettle with potato slices. Add a layer of noodles, then a layer of onions, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parsley. Add a layer of chicken. Repeat all layers, including potatoes, using up all the ingredients. Pour boiling chicken stock over all. Cover tightly and simmer on the stove top for 20 to 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Funnel Cakes

3 eggs

2 cups milk

¾ cup sugar

3–4 cups flour

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

vegetable oil

confectioners' sugar

Beat eggs in a small mixing bowl, then add milk and sugar. In a separate large bowl, sift together half the flour with the salt and baking powder. Add the milk and egg mixture. Beat batter until it is smooth. Add only as much more flour as is needed to make a batter just thin enough to run through a funnel. To a large, heavy skillet add vegetable oil until it is two inches deep. Heat oil until hot. Drop dough through the funnel into hot oil, twisting the funnel as the batter falls to make swirled shapes, each one seven to eight inches round. Cook until the bottom is light brown, then turn and cook the other side until it is also light brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper or linen towels. While still warm but not hot, dust with confectioners' sugar.

End-of-the-Garden Relish

12 large green peppers

12 sweet red peppers

12 large onions

1 small head cauliflower

1 stalk celery

3 cups sugar

3 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons mustard seed

1 quart apple cider vinegar

Substitute cucumbers or other types of peppers as desired. Core and remove seeds from peppers. Remove ends and outside layers from onions and the ends from the celery. Remove stem and any leaves from cauliflower. Chop the vegetables to a fine dice and combine them in a large stockpot. Add the sugar, salt, mustard seed, and apple cider vinegar (white vinegar can also be used). Cook over high heat for about 15 minutes. While still boiling, ladle into hot, sterilized canning jars and
cap.

Dear Reader,

I hope you've enjoyed meeting the people of Pleasant Valley. Although the place doesn't actually exist, it seems very real to me, as it is based on the Amish settlements here in my area of central Pennsylvania.

I would love to hear your thoughts on my book. If you'd care to write to me, I'd be happy to reply with a signed bookmark or bookplate and my brochure of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. You can find me on the Web at martaperry.com, follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/MartaPerryBooks, e-mail me at [email protected], or write to me in care of Berkley Publicity Department, Penguin Random House, 375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.

Blessings,

Marta
Perry

A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led
Marta Perry
to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. She is the author of more than fifty inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse.

Visit the author online
at martaperry.com
and facebook.com/MartaPerryBooks.

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Visit Penguin.com for more about this author and a complete list of their books.
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