Renewing Hope (In Your World #2) (34 page)

Waking up to Nathan's heavy arm as he snuggled against me had meaning.

Making love to my husband had meaning.

Living this life had profound meaning.

The Amish didn't believe in brunch.

We believed in living every moment and giving thanks for those moments. Even if it was over the laundry that needed to be put on the line before noon in order for it to dry in time before you went inside for supper.

Every day of this life was fulfilling.

Nathan and I found our rhythm in this new life. And with each morning as we woke up together, I felt more in touch with my place as Mrs. Fisher. Nathan and I seemed to know just what the other needed, from a soft kiss as I made breakfast, to the unspoken team work in building our new barn, to the quiet need to be one as the cold settled outside of our blankets at night.

We lived very well together.

And once we had the rudimentary beginnings of the stalls for the horses built, we were able to add to our daily list of chores. Horses taken care of, house tended to, fall crops salvaged. I walked over the hill every morning to help Fannie and Jonah with our cows, and Nathan joined us for breakfast.

Soon, with the onset of winter, it would be more difficult to go visit every day.

I hoped that Nathan would be able to sell his cows to the Snyders. We could handle a few. We could not handle the dozen. And Fannie and Jonah had their own worries. So as we made our way to the Yoders on a blustery Thursday, hands full of pies and treats for after Naomi's wedding, I thought about the fields that Nathan had let rest because they were too much for him.

"Nathan?"

"Yes, my wife?" he asked, smiling down at me.

I smiled and shook my head at his charming mood.

What was I thinking of just then?

Oh yes. Fields.

"This is serious, Nathan," I said, pretending to scold him.

He fought to hide his smile in a serious pout, but failed at it. Instead he looked like he was sucking on a hard candy, which was just as distracting when I thought of how he looked when he sucked on other things.

"I am sorry, Kate," he murmured, trying to be serious for a moment.

I looked out over the barren field that lay between our house and the Yoder’s. It was large, and looked to have been abandoned for some time.

"This is your field, right?" I asked, nodding to where we walked.

"It is our field, yes," he corrected and nodded toward an outcropping of trees far on the other side of the far hill. "It extends to the trees there. It is about fifty acres on this side."

I looked back the way we had come. Our house was obscured from the hill but I could make out the other side of his fields behind us.

"And back there?" I asked. "How many acres do you have total?"

He looked at me curiously and shrugged.

"About eighty total. Why?" he asked simply.

Had it been any other man, I might have bristled at why he asked. But with Nathan it was genuine curiosity that he asked me why.

"How much did you plant this year?" I asked instead, a plan forming in my head.

He frowned and looked ahead.

"Only about five acres. But I plan on doing more in the spring. We will be fine," he said, his voice more determined.

"That's not what I meant, Nathan," I said softly, drawing his eyes back to mine. "I had an idea that could help."

He was quiet for a moment, perhaps afraid of what I could be thinking.

"Go on," he replied finally.

"Well, in the old days, they had sharecroppers," I started, watching him to see if he was following. He nodded for me to continue.

"The land got used, and the owner took a percentage while the people planting and tending took the majority of the profits," I explained, and smiled when I saw his mind working hard behind his eyes.

"So," he said and paused. "You think we should offer up the land we cannot maintain for a small fee in order for someone else to grow crops?"

I nodded, wondering if maybe this went against some code.

He was quiet as we walked, looking out over the land.

"It is an interesting idea," he murmured, and then leaned in to kiss me on the forehead. "You have very good ideas, my wife."

I laughed and rolled my eyes at him.

"You like saying that, don't you?" I asked, smirking.

"I love to call you my wife," he whispered, and even in the cold breeze, I felt myself warm considerably from his heated gaze.

"I am glad, my husband," I said. "Because I love it when you say it."

His smile broadened and we walked happily the rest of the way to the Yoders, every moment together making us more and more comfortable as we learned how to please the other. We had learned much in just a week or so.

I wondered what more we would learn this winter. Alone.

I smiled and winked at my husband as we parted ways at the porch steps, Nathan going out to help the men with benches for the basement while I helped the ever present Sarah Jensen and Mrs. Yoder with laying out the food for the inside buffet.

The house was teaming with people, it being too cold to hold the wedding outdoors.

It would be cramped quarters and we would have to eat in shifts.

"At least this is the last wedding of the season," Sarah said, sighing as she wiped at her brow.

"This is a late one, right?" I asked, curious to learn more of my world.

"Just for this reason," Mrs. Yoder explained. "It is too cold to do much else than Sermons. Naomi reduced her invitation list to accommodate. But Zachariah did not ask for much, he simply wishes to marry."

Both women smiled at that and continued with shuffling food around the tables in the kitchen. I stepped in to carve one of the three roasts resting on the counter. Even with a short list of invited guests, there was enough food in the kitchen for about a hundred people.

Sitting with Nathan in the warm basement, it was obvious there were nearly that many people wedged into the large room. Perhaps because of that, Benjamin kept the Sermon short, allowing Nathan to lead in song before we were presented with the husband and wife.

Naomi and Zachariah made their way through the tiny aisle to the front of the room, her eyes already bright with emotion. Zachariah looked nervous, as most young men seemed to in that moment. But as soon as they were announced, both of them seemed to beam with the excitement.

I understood the feeling well.

Especially when Nathan came up and walked with me out of the basement and up the stairs. I was shocked to find the kitchen cooler than the basement with so many people in attendance. But soon those people were making their way through the house, plates in hand and finding any surface to sit on or lean against. The basement was full, and the happiness of the newly married couple spread through those of us staying for the meal.

It wasn't until I was storing the leftover foods that I noticed the young woman who had taken lemonade to Benjamin during our barn raising. I watched her from the corner of my eye as she helped gather dishes from the house, her smile timid as she interacted with the people around her. There were few people from her town due to the cold weather; she must have felt a little out of place.

And I was curious.

Maybe even a little devious.

As she drew near to me in the kitchen I turned and smiled toward her, her eyes widening a bit when she noticed me. She slowed down, walking with care as she drew close.

"We have not yet met," I said, smiling and extending my hand. "I am Katherine Fisher."

She looked sheepish as she took my hand and looked down toward her feet.

"I know," she whispered. "You are Benjamin's friend."

I nodded, still smiling at how nervous she seemed.

Was I like this when I first arrived?

"He is more of a brother than a friend, really," I said simply.

She blushed and nodded.

"I am Judith Snyder from Friendship."

"Welcome, Judith. Would you like to sit with me while we let the men talk? Aside from my sisters, I do not have many I can sit and speak with, and my husband looks busy," I said, glancing at Nathan, who was in deep conversation with an older man and Benjamin.

"That is my father," Judith replied and walked with me to the front room. "He is interested in your husband's cows."

I smiled and pretended to be surprised.

"Oh really? That would be nice. It is a lot to handle for the winter with just the two of us," I said casually, settling us near the corner of the room so we could talk.

She looked around the room, at the groups of women as they talked quietly, some with knitting already out, others catching up and laughing amongst themselves.

"So," I said, startling her as she turned to look at me once more. "You are from Friendship. I have never been there. Have you lived there all your life?"

She relaxed some and nodded.

"I was born there. Father and Mother were some of the first to move there, along with the Ropps," she said. "But I hear you are new to the Way."

I smiled and nodded.

"I am."

"You have settled in so well. And found a nice man," she said and let out a quiet sigh.

I was itching to ask her about Benjamin, but I held back, wanting to find out a little more about her first. She seemed nice enough. Maybe a little quiet, just as I was with strangers. So I opened up to her.

"Nathan was very kind and had faith that I would enjoy this life. I cannot see myself anywhere else. I am glad he took that risk with me," I said.

"The men in West Grove seem to be very sensitive," she murmured and blushed when I grinned.

"I am sorry," I said quickly. "I think you might be right. At least from where I am from, there was no one like Nathan."

"It has been nice to come and visit with your friends," she said, looking down bashfully.

"You are welcome anytime, Judith. And perhaps, if it is not too forward of me, I can invite you to supper after Sermon sometime. I have a feeling we will see more of one another, what with Naomi married to Zachariah, and Benjamin being Bishop," I said, trying to provide her a way to discuss Benjamin.

She glanced around and was quiet for a moment before leaning in to whisper.

"Benjamin seems like a nice man. I do not understand why he is not married. What with being the Bishop," she said quietly.

"He was newly made Bishop,” I explained.

“But you have had a Bishop Yoder for years,” she said and then nodded to herself, blushing. “Of course he would not have been Bishop for years. He is not that old. Still strange, a man his age not yet wed.”

I patted her on the hand to ease her embarrassment.

“Perhaps he is waiting to find the right woman to balance his life. Someone that can give him hope and love," I whispered back and offered her a friendly smile.

I liked Judith.

There was something about her that just seemed calm and loving.

Something that Benjamin needed.

He had seen the other world.

But he lived in ours.

He needed someone who would strengthen his hold on our Way.

I watched as Benjamin and Nathan stepped into the room, Judith's eyes tracking Benjamin as they drew close, only to drop her gaze when they stood before us.

"Katherine, you have been entertaining Judith, I see," Benjamin said, a brief look of fear in his eyes before he recovered and offered a tremulous smile when she looked up at him, smiling.

"Katherine was telling me how much she has enjoyed coming to West Grove, Bishop Yoder," she said, and I smiled behind her when I looked up at Benjamin's blush.

She had said his name a little breathily.

Nathan tried to hold back his grin behind Benjamin, but it was clear that he was enjoying this as much as I was. We sat together, speaking quietly about the Sermon, Nathan and I asking questions to the shy couple in order to get them talking. I felt his finger trace across my shoulder once or twice, and that simple touch made me feel all the love he had for me while we sat with our friends.

All too soon, the afternoon drew near. Those from Friendship bade farewell, a long trip ahead of them by buggy. I pulled Judith close while Nathan shook hands with her father, the deal for the cows done and arrangements made.

"You will have to come and see us, Judith. Perhaps when Benjamin and Nathan bring the livestock to your farm, I will come and visit?" I asked, happy to see her smile light up.

"I would like that," she said and turned to her father’s buggy, a small smile playing on her lips when Benjamin helped her in. I held back a chuckle when Benjamin shook hands with her father and then drew back, letting out a long breath.

As the buggy slowly made its way down the road, I stood quietly with Nathan at my side, Benjamin on the other. Nathan and I both glanced at our Bishop, his concentration on the disappearing buggy.

"I go to deliver the cows on Monday next," Nathan said, trying to appear serious. "I will need help."

"I would be happy to help," Benjamin said, looking back at me nervously.

"Perhaps she will have lemonade," I teased and pulled Nathan with me to our home, a wide grin appearing on his face as he waved at his friend.

"He is enamored of her," Nathan said into the cold wind as we walked.

"She fancies him," I replied calmly.

"I think it was meant to be, then," Nathan said, and pulled me close to kiss me against the temple.

"We will have to figure out where they will live," I replied, hoping that it would not be with us.

I liked Benjamin, and Judith was nice, but I wanted my alone time with Nathan.

"The community will help with that. The Yoders own the property across from me, where the gazebo sits," he said simply.

The idea that they would be our neighbors would be perfect.

A new friend for me, and Nathan's best friend.

Right next door.

CHAPTER 21

I bundled up against the wind as I stepped outside, looking to see if Nathan was back from picking up supplies from town. I noticed Magnus in the pasture as I made my way toward the barn, where the wagon sat, half unloaded. Peering inside I heard him above me in the hayloft.