Read Katie Opens Her Heart Online
Authors: Jerry S. Eicher
Katie Opens Her Heart (38 page)
James smiled as if he were pleased with himself. “I harnessed the horse before I came in for breakfast, so it won’t be long.” He disappeared out the door.
Mamm
grabbed her shawl and bonnet, and Katie did the same, following
Mamm
and Betsy outside. James had the buggy ready and stood waiting by the horse’s head, his hand on the bridle and his smile wide.
Katie climbed in the back, and Emma and Betsy climbed into the front seat. James slapped the horse on the neck, and they were off, heading to Bishop Miller’s place where the ceremony would be held and the noon meal served.
Mamm
had debated long and hard about having the wedding ceremony at the home place. But everything would have been cramped in either the barn or the house, so she had finally decided against the plan. There would simply not be enough room even though it was to be a small wedding.
Mamm
didn’t say anything on the drive over, and Betsy concentrated on driving. When they arrived at Bishop Miller’s place,
Mamm
said, “I’m going to faint, I think.”
“No you’re not!” Betsy asserted, patting
Mamm
’s arm. Betsy smiled as heads turned toward them. She continued to drive past the sidewalk and out to the barn. There one of the boys came running.
“
Gut
morning!” he greeted them.
“
Gut
morning,” Katie and
Mamm
replied together as they climbed out of the buggy. The boy took the horse’s reins and motioned toward the house. “Go on in. I’ll take care of your horse and buggy.”
“Thank you!” Betsy said climbing down.
Mamm
, Betsy, and Katie walked to the house.
Mamm
immediately disappeared upstairs. Ten minutes later Jesse arrived in a new black suit. He too vanished up the stairs. Katie kept watch by the kitchen window, and when Margaret and Sharon arrived with Esther, she met them at the front door to make sure they felt welcome.
The line of men beside the barn moved toward the bishop’s pole barn a few minutes before nine, when the service was scheduled to begin. Katie followed the women when they filed out. She was just sitting down when
Mamm
and Jesse walked out of the house. Katie held her breath for a moment, soaking in the sight of
Mamm
and Jesse coming toward them. Even Mabel, seated in the second row of girls, watched the couple with a hint of a smile on her face.
Mamm
and Jesse moved with slow steps and took their seats in chairs up front. The singing began. At the second line of the first stanza, the ministers all stood. Bishop Miller led the way to the house.
Mamm
and Jesse followed them to receive their last-minute marriage instructions. What instructions
Mamm
and Jesse needed was hard to imagine since they’d both been happily married. But perhaps the ministers would offer advice on how to help all the children get along.
Katie closed her eyes and sang along with the rest as they waited for
Mamm
and Jesse’s return. When they came back, Katie kept her eyes glued on
Mamm
and Jesse for a long time, and then she turned her attention to the preacher as the service progressed. The minutes ticked past, the hands seeming to turn slowly on the face of the clock hung on the pole barn wall. Suddenly ten minutes of twelve arrived!
Mamm
and Jesse stood up and answered
yah
to the marriage vows when Bishop Miller indicated.
Katie pressed back her tears as the bishop joined the newlyweds’ hands and said they were now husband and wife before the eyes of God and man. Katie glanced down the row of girls and caught a glimpse of Mabel’s face. She was actually smiling! What a miracle! Katie bowed her head and whispered a quick prayer. “Thank You, dear
Hah
, for this moment. Thank You for being so
gut
to us. I want to trust You for what lies ahead—even with Mabel and her feelings about
Mamm
and me.”
When Katie opened her eyes,
Mamm
and Jesse were seated again.
Mamm
’s face was glowing and Jesse beamed. Katie clasped her hands and allowed the joy of the moment to fill her. Opening one’s heart to love had, so far, been worth the cost.
Watch for the next books in the Emma Raber’s Daughter series!
Katie’s Journey to Love
(coming April 2013)
Katie’s Forever Promise
(coming October 2013)
Jerry’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 400,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, The Fields of Home, and The Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies.
Visit Jerry’s website!
To read sample chapters, log on to our website:
www.HarvestHousePublishers.com
HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS
EUGENE, OREGON
1. Is Katie justified in feeling unaccepted by the Amish youth?
2. Katie is known to others as “Emma Raber’s daughter.” Have you ever had a label attached to you that affected the way you thought about yourself?
3. Why do you think
Mamm
is so anxious about Katie? Is she justified in her feelings?
4. Why is Emma so unwilling to think about marriage again?
5. What do you think about Jesse? Why is he so persistent in pursing Emma when Ruth Troyer so obviously is interested in him—and in being a
mamm
to his children?
6. If you could offer advice to Emma Raber about dealing with her past and with the present feelings she has as a result of that past, what would you tell her?
7. Have you done something in your past that still bothers you? How do you deal with the memory?
8. What do you think of Mabel? Are you sympathetic to her feelings or unsympathetic?
9. Was Katie right in continuing to attend the Mennonite youth meetings, knowing how her
maam
felt?
10. What problems do you foresee for Jesse and Emma as they combine their households?
