Last Bride, The (Home to Hickory Hollow Book #5) (4 page)

She prayed more fervently in her perch, asking the heavenly Father to permit things to go smoothly tomorrow. It troubled her that Dat had mentioned Levi Smucker again just today, but if he was holding out hope for a match between them, it was a poor excuse for him to reject Marcus, she thought with a grimace. Just look at how her father had finagled things with Mandy, getting the upper hand in her marriage! But Mandy wore a mostly cheerful face, and she rarely talked about what was basically an arranged marriage.
Unheard of around here,
thought Tessie.

Yawning, she stared at a glimmer of lights coming from a buggy as it made its way down Hickory Lane, the sound of the horse’s hooves muted in the growing darkness. Over yonder, at Bishop John Beiler’s farm, she saw what looked to be a large flashlight bobbing along—the bishop must be out
checking his barn animals once more before heading inside for the night.

She imagined the lights of Bird-in-Hand farther to the west in the distance. And Tessie realized this was the last time she would sit up here praying and thinking her private thoughts as a single woman.

“Some things happen exactly once,” she murmured, thinking of the moment she’d first noticed her beau’s contagious smile. It had been on his eighth birthday, as he received a pony from his grandparents. The sight was something akin to spotting your first-ever sunrise or the joyous, breathtaking birth of a brand-new calf.

Or . . . uniting in marriage with your one and only love.

T
essie awakened the next morning to the soft, lamenting sound of mourning doves . . . and prickles of anticipation. She flung off her quilt and flew out of bed, heading downstairs to wash and dress.

Swiftly, she returned to her room, where she pushed the only chair over near the window and looked out at the nicely landscaped flower beds she and Mamma had created together when Dat purchased this new place. So many satisfying hours spent with her mother, talking about what to plant and where.

Sighing, she turned to the Psalms in the Good Book.
Cause me to
hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee
do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein
I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto
thee.

As she read, she kept her ear tuned for sounds of life in the kitchen below. Her fondest thoughts were of dear Marcus, and she prayed for a blessing on this, their rather strange wedding day. With all of her heart, Tessie hoped this was God’s will for her.

For us,
she thought.

When it was time, she made her way down the long staircase to help her mother make oatmeal and sausage patties for breakfast. She mentioned the mourning doves, and Mamma said she, too, had noticed quite a few flitting about the trees down near the road, singing their haunting song.

Later, Tessie dusted the entire upstairs, paying special attention to the many windowsills and making note that the windows all needed cleaning soon, inside and out.

By that time, Mamma had taken their fastest road horse and family carriage to run errands, which was a godsend, since Tessie wanted to bathe and put on her best blue dress and matching apron before leaving to meet Marcus. She wouldn’t wear her white for-
gut
apron, though, not wanting to call too much attention to the nicer clothes.
Ach, I’m
breaking with Amish tradition in
every way possible.
She didn’t recall Marcus saying anything about dressing up for the day, although typically he dressed better when going to town, just as all the men did—Tessie’s father included.

Oh, Dat.
She struggled with apprehension.
I hope you can forgive what I’m about
to do. . . .

She made her way down their long paved lane to the main road and glanced at the sign her father had constructed the day they’d moved in. Mandy’s husband, Sylvan, had helped dig a post hole to secure the pole at the end of their driveway, and Dat had painted the words
Ammon’s Way
in perfect black lettering, large and bold enough to see for quite a distance.

Ammon’s way,
she thought. “In every way,” she whispered, conscious yet again that she was defying her parents’ wishes.

Turning onto the wider road, Tessie walked toward Marcus’s
house and purposely pushed away such thoughts. She lifted her gaze to the remarkably clear blue of the sky and saw not a puff of a cloud anywhere.

Perhaps it’s an answer to my first
prayer today,
she mused.

She spotted a buggy coming toward her and soon recognized round-faced Rhoda Kurtz and her friendly neighbor Rebecca Lapp, both women waving and smiling. “Isn’t that one of your best dresses?” Rebecca asked when the carriage drew near. “It’s too late for market, so you must be goin’ visiting, ain’t?”

Tessie dipped her head and raised her hand to wave, not commenting.

“Have a pleasant day,” Rebecca called behind her as the buggy continued on.

Not far behind Rebecca and Rhoda was another buggy. Tessie was surprised to see Levi Smucker with his towheaded twin nephews—little Jake and Joey—perched on Levi’s knees. The horse began to slow to a trot, then halted. “
Guder Mariye,
Tessie Ann.” Levi grinned, his light brown hair blowing in the breeze, a straw hat on the front seat beside him. “Ain’t the Lord’s Day, is it?” he teased.

She couldn’t help but laugh, though she hoped he wouldn’t ask more questions.

By now the two boys with him were waving and grinning, as well. And young Joey pushed his little hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a small black coin purse. “I’ve got my money from shelling peas,” the darling boy said, blue eyes blinking as he looked down at her, jingling his coins.

“
Gut
for you!” Tessie said, unable to keep from smiling.

“Mamma gave us five cents a cup this summer.”

“You saved it all this time?”

Levi spoke up. “This one’s a penny pincher, let me tell ya.
Schpaarsam
—frugal.” He reached up and tousled Joey’s twin’s hair. “Ain’t so, Jake?”

Both boys chuckled.

“Well, have yourself a
wunnerbaar-gut
mornin’,” Levi said, a twinkle in his hazel eyes.

“Denki, and you, too.”

Levi nodded and urged the horse onward.

For pity’s
sake,
she thought, wondering how many more folks she’d encounter. Still, she had to smile at Levi’s comical reaction to her nice dress and apron. He had always been one of the more amiable, easygoing young men at the Singings and other youth gatherings, yet work always found its way to his door—both attributes must have attracted Tessie’s father’s enthusiasm. Even so, Tessie didn’t have an iota of regret about not letting Levi date her back when, though she had felt a bit sorry for him when she’d heard months ago that he was no longer courting Preacher Yoder’s vivacious granddaughter.

The
Lord will surely bring someone along for him. Without Dat’
s help!

Tessie hastened her steps, lest Marcus wonder if she was dawdling, having second thoughts.

As they walked up the courthouse steps in West Chester, Tessie looked at Marcus for reassurance and welcomed his confident gaze.
We’re actually doing this—
we’re going to be married!

Pleased though she was, it was impossible later for her not to compare this so-called ceremony to the Amish wedding she
was sacrificing. Nor could she stop thinking about the worry her parents and sisters would experience once the truth about this moment was known.
They’ll come around,
she thought.

Providentially, they’d met another couple,
Englischers
at least several years older than Marcus and Tessie, who also needed witnesses to fulfill the legal requirement for the union. So they agreed to take turns with them, and presently this affectionate couple stood back behind a roped-off area as witnesses for her and Marcus while she and her soon-to-be husband sat with their right hands in the air and their left hands resting on Marcus’s Bible, vowing that the information on the marriage license was indeed correct.

Marcus smiled endearingly at her, and she smiled back. Yet it wasn’t until they were declared husband and wife and the appropriate papers were signed that Tessie began to feel somewhat relieved. All they lacked was the final prayer, which Marcus would surely offer later, after they left the courthouse. The tension concerning what she’d done without her parents’ permission began to diminish, as well. She was thankful for the familiar sense of security she always felt with Marcus, who had attended to every detail. She wondered how he’d managed to line up the appointment with the judge, for instance, but it wasn’t her place to ask. Nor to question.

The fact was, they were wed now in accordance with the law of the land. Yet what about the Lord God’s approval? Oh, she so longed for that, too. Had Marcus been right that this was the answer to his many prayers?

They took time to politely thank the other newly married couple before heading outside to wait for the Mennonite van driver. “I love my beautiful bride,” Marcus whispered in her
ear once they were sitting behind the somewhat inquisitive driver who would drive them to the restaurant where Marcus wanted to treat her to their first meal as husband and wife. Though he remained close by her side, he did not lean over to kiss her, and Tessie wondered when they might seal their love.

Mandy laid out a blue-and-white-striped tablecloth on the kitchen table, set it for two, and then stepped back to admire the corner where she and Sylvan would sit alone to eat this noon, a rarity. Sylvan’s widowed great-aunt, Elaine Beiler, lived in the smaller of their two Dawdi Hauses, but she was under the weather and staying put today. It made this the ideal occasion for Mandy to seek out her husband’s opinion on something she’d already gone ahead and discussed with Cousin Emmalyn, who was over the moon about Mandy’s grand idea.
Surely he won’t dismiss it out of
hand,
she thought, going to the back door and seeing him coming this way across the yard.

“Hope you’re
gut
and hungry,” she said as she greeted him inside the back porch. “I think I’ve made enough for two families.”

He removed his straw hat. “Maybe you can take leftovers to
Aendi
Elaine later . . . if she’s up to eating.”

“Jah, thought of that.” She waited for Sylvan to roll up his shirt sleeves and scrub his big callused hands and sunburned arms in the large basin on the indoor porch.

“Mmm, smells
gut.
” He sniffed the air like a hungry hound, blue eyes wide.

“It’s veal cutlet with mashed potatoes and gravy.” She hoped
that all the hours she’d put into their dinner and the delicious dessert of black raspberry pie might please him. She’d put up more berries last summer than usual, with help from her older sisters, Marta and Molly, along with Tessie and Mamma. Thinking now of her youngest sister, Mandy felt the urge to pray, not knowing what had been bothering Tessie the last two times they’d seen each other. Mandy knew from her own experience that prayer was vital.

Sylvan made small talk after they’d bowed their heads for the silent blessing. “I heard from your father that Marcus King moved into a rental house on the outskirts of the hollow. Seems mighty odd before getting hitched up, jah?”

Mandy recalled what she’d witnessed on the road between Marcus and Tessie. “Just maybe the place came up for lease before wedding season.”

“He must be sweet on someone, then—planning to marry soon. Why else would he secure a place ahead of time? It’d make better financial sense to stay under his father’s roof till it’s needed.” Sylvan took a large helping of potatoes, then dug in.

“Does seem peculiar.” Mandy reached for the water pitcher and poured some in both their tumblers. “Hope ya don’t mind just water at the meal,” she said almost as an afterthought.

He glanced toward the fridge. “Is there any meadow tea left?”

She nodded her head. “Jah, sure, but—”

“Do ya mind?”

She rose quickly to get the desired drink. Sometimes it seemed Sylvan wanted altogether different things than what she’d planned—and not just at mealtimes. She wondered just then if it was such a good idea to bring up her idea, excited though she and Cousin Emmalyn were about it.

Sylvan seemed rather content presently, enjoying his meal. He said no more as he helped himself to seconds, then raised his glass of sweetened meadow tea and drank it straight down.