The Beekeeper's Son (The Amish of Bee County Book 1) (37 page)

Until the next wedding, which Phineas suspected would be in the spring. Daed had waited long enough for his new start. So had Abigail.

“Phineas. Now.”

Jesse’s whisper, followed by an elbow to his ribs, made Phineas realize he’d missed his cue. Leroy’s shaggy eyebrows were raised behind wire-rimmed spectacles. Deborah marched ahead of Phineas, her step sure, her witnesses scampering behind her, heads ducked, faces bright with smiles. Deborah turned. Her eyebrows raised, she cocked her head as if to say, “Hurry up, don’t keep me waiting, we’ve a life to live.”

He jerked to his feet. He couldn’t wait another moment. He crossed the space in two long strides, holding her gaze as he walked. Together they turned and faced the bishop. Phineas’s jitters dissipated, replaced by wonder and a curious light. Deborah would never change her mind. He was as certain of that now as he was of the presence of God above.

She answered the questions posed to her with an enthusiasm that made Phineas smile. His throat tightened at the sheer joy of knowing she committed to staying with him until death, to being loyal and caring in times of adversity, affliction, sickness, and weakness. Those times would come. They both knew that because they had weathered bad times before. Her character had been honed by circumstances. His also. They were evenly yoked, praise God.

When it came his turn, Phineas had to clear his throat. His voice was hoarse and low in his own ears. Heat flamed across his face. “Jah, I will.”

Finally, Leroy took Deborah’s hand and placed it in Phineas’s. The bishop’s big, bony fingers covered theirs. Deborah’s skin felt warm and soft against Phineas’s. Her blue eyes, filled with emotion and what surely must be tears, mesmerized him. She would yoke herself to him and he would try to be worthy of such an honor. The
lump in his throat swelled.
Gott, make me worthy of her. And don’t let me embarrass myself in front of all these people. Danki.

“So then I may say with Raguel, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you and help you together and fulfill His blessing abundantly upon you, through Jesus Christ. Go forth in the Lord’s name. You are man and wife.”

Leroy’s hand dropped away, but Deborah slid her fingers between Phineas’s, entwining them in a tight grip. He would never let go and he knew, without a doubt, neither would she.

They turned to face their church family. Everyone rose and stood before them, honoring their blessed union.

A shrill bark broke the silence. Butch bounded down the aisle toward them, his muzzle wide, tongue hanging over the side of his mouth.

“Stop that dog!” someone in the back yelled—probably the person responsible for leaving the door open a crack. “Butch, get back here!”

Caleb tried to catch him, but the wily mutt eluded them and made a beeline for Deborah. Laughter filled the air as their friends and family broke into a round of applause.

“I guess Butch is anxious for us to get on with living our lives.” Phineas laughed as he dropped to one knee and hugged the dog, who showered his face with wet, sloppy kisses. He leaned back and looked up at Deborah. “I know I am.”

Deborah knelt next to him, joining in the hug, but she kept her gaze on his face. All her hopes, her heart, her love, everything she offered him, shone in her face. “Let’s go get started. Right away.”

He rose and helped her to her feet. With Butch dashing back and forth in front of them, together they made their way through the crowd and out into a beautiful south Texas day.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Today’s society puts an enormous premium on physical beauty, from fashion models to actresses to elaborate homes and attractive automobiles. What does Scripture say about physical beauty? How would you answer Deborah’s question regarding the barren “ugly” countryside she sees when she arrives in Bee County for the first time?

2. Do you know people who physically are unattractive by the world’s standard who seem beautiful to you? What attributes make them beautiful in your estimation?

3. When Deborah first arrives in Bee County, she’s struck by the ugliness of the homes in her new Amish district. Some areas look like a junkyard. The houses are rusted, the yards in disarray. She wonders if God would mind if they cleaned up a bit, painted, made their homes more attractive. Visitors to the Bee County district have expressed similar sentiments, not finding the district like the beautiful ones typically seen in Lancaster County. Why do you think the Bee County Amish don’t clean up more? Do you think God cares what their homes look like? Why or why not?

4. Hazel asks Phineas if the doctor can fix his “owie.” Even at three she knows his face is different from hers. What does the world teach children about beauty, disfigurement, and disability? What can we do to counteract those messages about the beauty of others and of themselves?

5. Deborah is still grieving the death of her father two years earlier. Her faith demands that she believe that God had a plan for her father and his life was complete when he died young by our worldly standards. How is it possible to reconcile the loss of a loved one with your faith in God’s plan for you?

6. Abigail believes she has come to Bee County to marry Stephen, but she finds herself drawn to Mordecai instead. Have you ever thought you knew what God’s plan was for you, only to find yourself facing a completely different set of circumstances? How did you react? What can you do to assure yourself that the path you take is the one God chooses for you and not the one
you
think is best?

7. Even after twelve years, it’s hard for Phineas to understand why God would allow him to be so disfigured and his mother to be killed in a horrific accident. He suggests that only a cruel God would allow someone as beautiful as Deborah to experience similar disfigurement. Do you think God “allows” these things to happen or “causes” them to teach us lessons about life? If not, how do you reconcile these accidents and their repercussions in our lives with the knowledge that God loves us and wants what’s best for us?

8. In order to accept Deborah’s love for him—just as he is—Phineas has to learn to see himself through her eyes. He
has to believe she finds him beautiful and worthy of her love. Ecclesiastes says God makes everything beautiful in His time. Do you believe God finds every one of His children beautiful?

9. When you look in the mirror, do you see a beautiful person, or do you find fault with your weight, your height, your hair, or the color of your eyes? How is your self-image shaped by the world’s standards for beauty? What can we do to measure ourselves by God’s standards instead?

10. Deborah’s community chooses not to press charges against Raymond Southerland for assaulting Phineas and terrorizing Deborah. How do you feel about that? Would you be able to do the same? Does the fact that he’s going back to prison regardless of their choice make a difference?

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

My stories often start with the question, “What if . . .?” What if this were to happen or what if that were to happen? Often that question and the subsequent answer have nothing to do with reality. That’s why they call it fiction. All of this is my long-winded way of saying that the characters and situations in
The
Beekeeper’s Son
are products of my feverish, overactive imagination. The Amish folks who live in the tiny Bee County, Texas, district keep to themselves, and they appear very happy in their simple, industrious, conservative way of life. I respect their privacy and hope others do the same. I can only imagine what they would think if they were to read this story. If I have taken liberties with the rules that govern their particular district, it is for the good of the story. I hope my readers are blessed, entertained, and in some small way, edified. My thanks to the folks at Zondervan and HarperCollins who took a chance on something a bit different in Amish fiction. A special thanks to Mary Sue Seymour, my agent, who gave me a nudge—okay, a shove—in this direction. As always, my love and thanks to my husband, Tim, for his patience and support as my chief website guru, graphic artist,
photographer, and business manager. And to my children, Erin and Nicholas, for understanding and sacrificing for my dream. Love you guys.

But the L
ORD
said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The L
ORD
does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the L
ORD
looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Psalm 34:5

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11