The Amish Millers Get Married BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: The Way Home, The Way Forward, The Narrow Way) (Boxed Set: Amish Millers Get Married) (25 page)

Deuteronomy 33:21.

He chose the best of the land for himself,
for there a commander's portion was reserved;
and he came with the heads of the people,
with Israel he executed the justice of the LORD,
and his judgments for Israel.

Chapter 13
.

While Martha was trying to clear her head, Gary appeared. He was clutching a large jar and looking awfully pleased with himself. "Look, I bought some Sweet Pumpkin Hummus," he announced. "You’d even think there was such a thing? Oh hi, guys." He nodded to Moses and Laura. "Did you come here together? Are you an item?"

Moses and Laura both looked shocked. "No, no," they said in unison. "I just happened to see Laura when I arrived," Moses added, "so we came looking for Martha."

Martha was surprised at Gary's lack of tact, but grateful that his questions had bought out the answer that Moses and Laura were not dating. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Moses turned to Martha and smiled. She melted under his smile, and suddenly, all felt right with her world again. "Can I have a word with you?" he asked. "Perhaps Rebecca can mind the stall for a moment."

Martha nodded. "And Gary, can you please help Rebecca?"

Moses raised an eyebrow. "Gary's here helping me today," Martha explained, but then saw a cloud pass over Moses' face.
Oh no, he's jealous
, she thought.
He must think that Gary and I are more than just friends
.

"I'll help too," Laura said, casting a sidelong glance at Gary, a glance that didn't escape Martha's notice. Martha smiled to herself and thanked Laura.

"Come, let's get
kaffi
," Moses said, leading Martha away. They walked in companionable silence under a pleasant canopy of trees which provided welcome relief from the sun. Moses kept walking, away from the markets.

"Where are we going?"

"Just a little grocery store that's also a café," Moses said, "It’s close to the markets and has better
kaffi
. I thought we could have lunch."

"That's a
gut
idea, and we can avoid any Amish people," Martha said.

Moses looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

"Well, I feel a little strange wearing
Englisch
clothes," Martha said. "I don’t want to answer questions about
rumspringa
."

Moses nodded, but didn't answer as they had arrived at the café. He opened the door for Martha to enter, and she was immediately struck by the cheerful atmosphere of the little café. The walls were painted mint green, and some of the tables were glass-topped wood, while others were covered with pink tablecloths. There were pretty flowers on every table. Pine shelves lined the walls and they were filled with all manner of produce, in bottles with brightly colored lids. Other walls had brightly colored abstract paintings. Martha's spirits lifted just by being in the place.

As soon as she took her seat, Moses asked, "Has there been any word from Sheryl?"

Martha shook her head. "
Nee
, and I'm quite worried. The police wouldn't keep her locked up all this time, would they?"

It was Moses' turn to shake his head. "They wouldn’t, but it’s strange that she hasn't contacted you."

"Perhaps she's embarrassed," Martha said, enjoying Moses' proximity and the fact that she had him all to herself, at least for lunch. "So you didn’t come to the markets with Laura?" Martha was at once dismayed by her words as she had not wished to voice her concerns aloud.

Moses merely smiled. "Are you jealous?"

"Of course not." Martha tried to fix him with a stern and convincing look.

"And Gary's helping you today?" he asked.

"Yes." Martha smiled. "Are
you
jealous?"

"
Jah
, as a matter of fact, I am."

Martha's mouth fell open. She had no idea that Moses was jealous, and had even less idea that he would actually admit to it. She did not know how to respond, so stared at the menu. When Moses did not speak, Martha considered how she had felt when she was jealous over Laura, so thought that the right thing to do would be to set Moses straight. "He's just a friend, and that's all." She avoided Gary's eyes when she spoke. "I am hoping he and Laura will start dating."

She risked a glance at Moses, and he was smiling. "Let's order lunch."

Martha's stomach growled as if on cue. "I've haven’t had breakfast."

Moses frowned. "That's not
gut
, Martha; you mustn't skip meals, especially with a hard day's work ahead of you."

Martha smiled. It was nice that Moses cared for her wellbeing. Her feelings for him were strong, but could she go back to the Amish and stay there forever? The growling of her stomach turned her thoughts, for now, to food. Martha ordered black bean and cheese quesadilla with home made guacamole, and Moses, fishermen's stew. They both ordered lemonade to go with their meal, and
kaffi
to come with the raspberry lavender pies afterwards.

As soon as the waiter left, Moses said, "I have a lawyer for you."

"You do? How much will he cost? I still have some money I've saved, and I'm hoping to do well today, too."

Moses shook his head. "
Nee
, Martha." He laid his big hand over hers. Vibrations ran all through Martha and a warm, tingly feeling settled over her like a spring cloud. "I'll be paying for your lawyer," he added, patting her hand gently.

"But you can’t; we're not married," Martha blurted, much to her own embarrassment.
Why I can't I think before I speak?
she silently berated herself, feeling her face grow hot and the tips of her ears burn. She wished she could sink right through the floor.

"Well, unless you're planning to marry anyone else soon, I hope you'll allow me to pay for your lawyer." When Martha didn’t reply, he added, "You're my closest friend, and I want you to allow me to do this for you."

Martha thought for a bit. "Thank you, Moses; that's very
gut
of you and I appreciate it. I really should ask my
daed
to pay for it, though, as it sounds like it’s going to be expensive." The waiter returned and deposited a glass of lemonade in front of each of them. When he had left, Moses said, "
Nee
, Martha, you can't tell your
familye
, or your
mudder
will force you to move back home."

Martha was shocked. "But isn’t that what you want, Moses?"

Moses smiled, and his eyes were full of warmth, and something else, but Martha did not know what. "Of course I want you home. But
rumspringa
is all about deciding for yourself. I wouldn’t want you just because you felt obligated; I'd want you to come home to stay forever only if that's what you wanted with your whole heart."

Martha met Moses' eyes and something passed between them. She held his gaze and felt unable to look away. Martha knew there was more to his words than on the surface, that Moses meant more than her returning to the Miller
haus
.

Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

Chapter 14
.

Martha and Moses arrived at the lawyer's offices. Moses had assured her that the lawyer was a good one, and Martha knew that Moses would have been careful in that regard. However, she had expected to find the lawyer in a tall building, all steel and glass, so was surprised when the taxi pulled up outside a red brick and stone, Georgian-style building. The fact that the lawn needed mowing gave Martha pause. There was a statue of Justice outside the porch, and that would have been fine, had not the statue been leaning to one side. That statue and the sign saying "William Griffits, Attorney at Law" were the only clues that this was in fact, the office of a lawyer.

Martha looked down the street. It was well kept, with nicely manicured lawns unlike the lawyer's and had a variety of Georgian homes. The building next to the lawyer's building was white with pretty, green shutters on the windows.

As she approached the front steps, Martha felt a rush of anxiety. Moses held the door for her and she walked in. There was no one else in the waiting room, but Moses had told her that he had chosen the appointment time of 9 a.m. so that they would not be kept waiting. The elderly and efficient-looking receptionist looked up at them from behind her massive, timber desk.

"Martha Miller to see Mr. Griffits," Moses announced. Martha was glad that Moses had spoken; in fact, she was glad that Moses had arranged absolutely everything pertaining to the lawyer for her. She was so nervous and upset that she was sure that she wouldn't have been able to speak at all. She looked to Moses for reassurance and he smiled at her.

"Mr. Griffits will be with you in a minute," the receptionist said automatically as if she were reciting a dull poem. "Please take a seat."

Martha sat down and looked around her. The carpet was floral, and looked very old indeed. It was slightly worn around the edges. The waiting room was drab and had little, if any, natural light. The fluorescent light overhead flickered and Martha was sure it would give her a headache. Her temples were already beginning to pound.

Soon there was the distant sound of a door opening, and an elderly man came down the hallway toward them. He was bent over, and appeared to have difficulty walking even with his walking stick, which Martha noticed was very fancy with a shining silver and white handle. His white, bushy eyebrows swooped upwards to meet high in the middle of his forehead, giving him an expression of constant surprise. When he reached the pair, he bent over Martha and said, "Miss Miller, please come in." His voice was booming, and seemed out of place with his fragile appearance.

Martha and Moses stood up to follow him, and follow him they did, all the way down the long corridor, and at a very slow pace. Mr. Griffits opened the door to his office and nodded to them to enter.

Martha at once saw that the room was oversized, and she hurried to sit in one of the equally oversized, brown leather chairs, which creaked and crackled as she lowered herself into it. The walks were yellowing beige and Martha wondered for a moment if they were moldy, as the smell of damp hung on the air.

Moses took the other chair and Mr. Griffits finally made his way to his large wooden chair and sat down on it with obvious relief. He then drank some water from a nearby glass and then sneezed violently.

"As you would be aware," he began, "I am Mr. Griffits."

"Oh yes, Mr. Griffiths," Martha said.

Mr. Griffits fixed his gleaming eyes on her. "I am not Mr. Griffiths, but rather, Mr. Griffits," he said sternly.

"Oh yes, I knew that, Mr. Griffiths,
err
Griffits, Griffits," Martha stammered, fighting back the urge to laugh nervously. "I'm just very anxious."

Mr. Griffits smiled thinly. "There is no need to be anxious. I have practiced law for over forty years. I provide an aggressive defense for all matters including theft."

"But I didn't do it," Martha said.

"There is one thing I tell my clients," Mr. Griffits said in his booming voice, "and you would do well to heed it. The law has nothing to do with justice. Do you understand?"

Martha nodded, although she didn't quite understand, truth be told.

"Mr. Hostetler has given me an overview of the situation; now be so kind as to give me your version of events."

Martha told him the whole story. She was nervous at first, but Mr. Griffits looked up from his notes from time to time and nodded encouragingly, so she began to relax somewhat.

"When do you intend to return home from
rumspringa
to your community?" was his first question when she had finished speaking.

Of all questions, that was the one that Martha could not answer, especially not in front of Moses.

"Um, I'm not sure," Martha said, looking away from him at the thick and aged volumes of leather-bound legal books on the overburdened bookshelves.

"You must return home soon," the lawyer advised.

"But I haven't finished
rumspringa
," Martha said, worried where this was heading.

"No matter." Mr. Griffits waved a hand at her dismissively. "You will return home soon, and, more importantly, wear Amish clothes to all and any court hearings." Martha made to speak but Mr. Griffits waved his hand at her again. "It should not be so, but appearances
do
matter in a court of law. Oh, if only that were not the case. But it is," he boomed, "and so you will appear dressed in your Amish clothes in court. Is that understood?"

Martha nodded meekly.

"Further," he continued, "you are to have nothing to do with Sheryl Garner. If she calls, you do not accept her call. If you see her on the street, you cross it to avoid her. You do not speak to her under any circumstances. You are to move out of her apartment as soon as possible."

"I will," Martha said in a small voice. "What do you think my chances are? My chances of being found not guilty, I mean."

Mr. Griffits raised his eyebrows even higher than appeared possible. "Sheryl Garner has a lengthy criminal record."

Martha and Moses both gasped at the disclosure.

"You answered her newspaper advertisement to rent a room in her apartment, having not known her prior to that date. You, an innocent young Amish woman, naive to the ways of the world, and having no non-Amish clothes, simply borrowed clothing from Sheryl at her insistence, during your first foray out of your sheltered community." Mr. Griffits clasped his hands together with excitement. "The police have no evidence that will stand up to examination. I cannot make any promises, Miss Miller, for the law is a fickle beast, but I would not lose any sleep over this matter if I were you. I have won serious cases, and this case, although it has caused you great concern, is quite straightforward. Do not worry."

Mr. Griffits stood up, which Martha took as their cue to leave. He opened the door for them, and they walked through. The receptionist was on the phone, and there were two people in the waiting room.

Moses turned to Martha as soon as they were outside, on the porch. "Feel better now?"

"Oh yes." Martha breathed a long sigh of relief. "He doesn't seem worried at all."

"Yes, he’ll win the case for you. There's no need to worry, Martha, truly, but you must do as he says."

As Martha lay in her bed that night, she felt relieved that her lawyer appeared confident that she would win her case, but she did not want to return home, not yet. If she went home now, she would never be sure that she did so entirely willingly. She needed to decide once and for all whether she wanted to be Amish or
Englisch
, as she would have to live with that decision for the rest of her life. Also, if she returned home now, her
mudder
would find out that she was charged with theft, and would never let her continue her
rumspringa
at a later date. There seemed to be no solution in sight. Martha tossed and turned, and had not a wink of sleep until she turned the whole matter over to
Gott
, at least for the night.