Where Grace Abides (32 page)

Because it was November, the day was cool and had a sharp bite to it. But the sun was a golden sphere in the bright autumn sky, and no one seemed to notice the chill.

Gant went to offer his congratulations to the bride and groom, trying not to mind the sight of Samuel Beiler hovering about Rachel, his sternly fixed features now gone almost soft with attention to her. He was perversely pleased to see the way she avoided Beiler's closeness. In fact she seemed to keep her gaze deliberately averted from his, and he didn't think he imagined the way she backed off every time Beiler attempted to close the distance between them.

Clearly, though, the Amish deacon couldn't take a hint. Beiler seemed determined to shadow her every step, causing Gant to grind his teeth to the point of an aching jaw.

Platters and trays and buckets of food were carried from the house and set upon the tables, which soon looked fit to topple. Never in his life had Gant seen so much food in one place! The sight of such bounty tempted him to join the others for what looked to be nothing less than a veritable feast, but he simply wasn't comfortable doing so. He still keenly felt the sting of being an
outsider
in their midst.

He glanced at David and Susan, saw them surrounded by well-wishers, saw Rachel still being tracked by Beiler, and started to walk away, leaning heavily on his cane.

At the edge of the lawn, he was stopped by Fannie Kanagy rushing up to him and tugging at his sleeve.

“You aren't leaving, are you, Captain Gant?”

“I'm afraid I must, Miss Fannie. I have much work to do yet today.”

“You can't go
now
!” she insisted. “You don't want the People to think you're
rilpsich,
do you?”

“And what would that mean—
rilpsich
?”

She frowned at him. “It means
rude,
” she said pointedly. “You're supposed to stay and eat.”

Gant made an encompassing gesture with his arm. “Look at all these people, Miss Fannie. No one will even know I'm gone.”

“
I'll
know,” said a quiet voice behind him.

 
E
PILOGUE
 
A T
ASTE OF
H
OPE

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart,
All ye that hope in the L
ORD
.

P
SALM
31:24

I
'll know…”

Gant whipped around to find Rachel standing behind him. She met his eyes, then glanced at her sister. “Fannie, I want to speak with Captain Gant, please. Would you go and see if there's any help needed in the kitchen before you eat?”

Fannie looked from one to the other, shrugged her shoulders, then ran to the house.

“Rachel…”

Gant stared at her, dizzy with her nearness. Caught totally off guard by her approach, her words, the way she was looking at him, he felt frozen, unable to speak or to move.

“Please stay, Jeremiah. Mamma and Dr. David would want you to share their wedding meal with us.” She paused, her gaze never leaving his face. “And so do I.”

Gant struggled to collect at least a thread of composure. “I—thought it would be best if I were to leave,” he said.

She actually smiled, as if she sensed his confusion, his awkwardness. “You don't really want a lecture from Dr. David, do you?”

Gant studied her, finally managing to breathe again. “I can handle Doc. He's all bluff, you know.”

He hesitated, fumbling for something civilized to say, inane as it might be. “It was a really nice wedding. I'm sure you had a lot to do with that.”

“Not really,” she said. “Amish weddings don't take a lot of planning. I've heard that
Englisch
ceremonies are more—involved.”

Gant pulled a face. “Some of them are a bunch of foolishness, to my way of thinking.”

She laughed, and he couldn't stop a smile. It was just so good to have her standing close to him, talking to him, hearing her laugh. Somehow it almost seemed…right.

Even though he knew it was anything
but
right.

“They'll be happy,” Gant said. “Doc and your mother.”

Her smile brightened still more. “Oh, I know they will! They're so—good for each other. They've known each other for years, after all. Mamma said last night that she was marrying her best friend.” She stopped. “Well, there was Phoebe, of course…”

Gant nodded. “I know what you mean. You must miss Phoebe too. You were close friends, after all.”

“I
do
miss her. A lot.” She raised her eyes to his then. “I miss you too, Jeremiah. We were friends as well.”

“We're still friends, Rachel,” Gant managed.

She studied him, her eyes raking his face as if in search of something hidden. “Are we?”

On impulse he reached toward her, meaning to take her hand, but stopped. “Yes, Rachel. We are.”

“I thought—there's something I think you should know.” She paused. Her next words spilled out quickly and randomly, like glass marbles falling from a jar. “The bishop—Bishop Graber—may have to retire soon.”

Gant stared at her, his throat suddenly going dry. “What—
why
?”

“He's ill. I only learned about it last night. I shouldn't say anything, but since you were at the wedding today and saw that he wasn't there, I knew you'd wonder…”

Gant nodded, his mind racing. “This other fellow—”

“Bishop Shrock,” she put in.

“Aye. Will he take Bishop Graber's place?”

“No. He just came today to fill in. Bishop Graber didn't feel well enough to participate. If it becomes necessary, the next bishop will be chosen from among our own men.”

“Rachel—”

She went on as if she hadn't heard him. “If Bishop Graber does have to retire, a new bishop will be chosen by lot. There are three men in our community who would be eligible—our ministers, Abe Gingerich and Malachi Esch, and our deacon…Samuel Beiler.”

Gant pulled in a ragged breath but said nothing. All he could do was look at her. He felt as if he were falling into her heart. He knew as well as she did what this might mean. A chance at least.

Depending on the man.

He could almost taste the hope struggling to rise within him, yet he knew it could also spell the
end
of any hope.

Depending on the man.

He was aware that his hands had begun to tremble. In truth his entire body felt shaky, as if he might simply break and fall to pieces.

Instead he knotted his hands into fists and clenched his jaw, forcing himself to a steadiness that he knew might betray him at any moment.

“You won't say anything—to anyone else?” Rachel asked.

Gant shook his head. “No. Not to anyone. But Rachel—”

She looked at him, then shook her head and put a finger to her lips. “We mustn't talk any more about it. There's nothing to do but pray.”

“
How
do you pray about something like this, Rachel? Tell me. Tell
me
how
—and I'll pray too,” he said, finding the words awkward to voice but sincere. “What do you ask for?”

As he watched, her features settled into a gentle look of serenity. “You ask for God's choice, Jeremiah. God's choice…and the grace to accept His decision.”

Her expression changed then, brightening, even turning lively. She lifted a hand as if in invitation. “And now I'm asking you again—come and share the wedding meal with us. Please. As a friend among friends.”

Gant hesitated, drinking in for one more moment the goodness and loveliness of her face, the hint of a promise in her eyes, before stepping out to follow her.

 

Did you miss book one in The Riverhaven Years…

 

R
ACHEL'S
S
ECRET
by BJ Hoff

Bestselling author BJ Hoff promises to delight you with her compelling new series,
The Riverhaven Years.
With the first book,
Rachel's Secret,
Hoff introduces a new community of unforgettable characters and adds the elements you have come to expect from her novels: a tender love story, the faith journeys of people we grow to know and love, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning quickly.

When the wounded Irish American riverboat captain, Jeremiah Gant, bursts into the rural Amish setting of Riverhaven, he brings chaos and conflict to the community—especially for young widow, Rachel Brenneman. The unwelcome “outsider” needs a safe place to recuperate before continuing his secret role as an Underground Railroad conductor. Neither he nor Rachel is prepared for the forbidden love that threatens to endanger a man's mission, a woman's heart, and a way of life for an entire people.

1. Early in the story, Gant refers to the rules of the Amish ministerial brethren as “manipulation.” He seems to believe these rules have been established to prevent the Plain People from being infected by the “worldly influence” of the English (the non-Amish). What's your understanding of these regulations? Do you agree with Gant? Are they a means of manipulation, or what is the primary purpose behind them?

2. When Gant tells Rachel of the bishop's refusal to allow him to convert—thereby making it impossible for them to marry—she seems to accept the decision as the final word on the subject and tells Gant she can't go against the bishop. Could you do that? If your church required that you give up any hope of marrying the person you love or that you disassociate yourself from a loved one, even a family member, would you be able to obey, or would you be more inclined to give up your church?

3. Rachel and her mother, Susan, approach the assurance of salvation from different perspectives, which prompts the question from Rachel: “Do you really think it's so wrong to have questions about God's will for us? Don't you think He would
want
us to understand His teachings?” How would
you
answer that question?

4. What do you believe was the purpose behind Gant's special gift to Rachel's younger sister, Fannie?

5. Why did Gant and Asa seem surprised to see Gideon doing the supper dishes? What's the typical division of labor between Amish men and Amish women? How do you feel about this? Are tasks clearly marked in your household as to who does what? Does the system work well for you and your family?

6. What do you believe to be Gant's motivation for helping runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad? What prompts him to risk his own freedom to help others gain
their
freedom?

7. Incidents of harassment, persecution, and oppression have followed the Amish across time and place throughout the years. What do you believe accounts for such mistreatment? Can you relate their experience to other religions or ethnic groups?

8. How does Gant feel about the Riverhaven Amish? What does he see in them and their community that he secretly longs for in his own life?

9. What was your initial impression of Terry Sawyer, the newcomer to Riverhaven? Did your opinion change with the progression of the story? If so, why?

10. We often find experiences out of our “comfort zone” difficult to endure. Little about the flight North held any “comfort” for the runaway slaves. Obviously their primary concern and the source of their courage had to do with freedom. What would motivate you to submit to some of the harrowing events, dangers, and discomforts faced by the refugee slaves who were so desperate to make their way to the North?

11. What is the first sign to some of the Plain People—including Rachel and her mother—that something might be wrong with the bishop? Dr. Sebastian is also concerned, but what's the reason for their hesitancy to discuss the possible problem?

12. As much as Gant and Rachel love each other and want to be together, their prayers for each other take a different turn and begin to go in an unexpected direction. What do you believe accounts for this?