Winter of Wishes (23 page)

The women streamed toward the kitchen to set out the meal, but Miriam made her way
against the current. When she reached Ben, she pulled him close so he could hear her
as the men talked of Hiram’s announcement.

“Better ask Jeremiah if he’ll marry us,” she suggested. “I’m not likin’ the way Hiram’s
betwixt and between—not voted back into the membership. Who knows if he’ll even stick
around Willow Ridge for the wedding?”

“
Jah
, you’ve got that right, perty girl.” Ben’s eyes glimmered as he stole a kiss. “Truth
be told, I was wonderin’ how things might go if Hiram was still ridin’ his high horse
when he married us, anyway.”

Hearing the snatches of the men’s conversations as they shifted tables into place,
Miriam sighed. “What on earth do ya think Hiram’s got up his sleeve? And where’s he
comin’ up with a tract of land big enough to start a new community?”

“Time’ll tell. I’m sure the folks here have their own ideas about all that.” He flashed
her a grin that made her shimmer all over. “Don’t worry, we’ll have the best wedding
ever, Miriam. I’ll see to it.”

Wasn’t that Ben’s way, to smooth out the rough places in her life? With a satisfied
sigh, Miriam headed back toward the kitchen. Reuben’s wife, Esther, their hostess,
had butchered several of the chickens she raised and then baked the pieces in seasoned
broth. She had also made up platters of deviled eggs sprinkled with paprika and parsley,
the red and green of Christmas.

“Esther, the smell of this chicken bakin’ made me want to get up during the sermon
to be sure it was cookin’ just right!” Nazareth teased as she handed the metal pans
out of the oven to her sister. “Back in Lancaster, our district had cold cuts or sandwiches,
mostly, so it’s been a real treat to join you folks for your common meals.”

“Oh, and would ya look at this perty pink stuff Hannah and Naomi brought,” Jerusalem
said. “I haven’t yet tasted it, but I can already tell ya I’m gonna have seconds.”

Hannah Brenneman grinned as she handed big glass bowls out of the fridge. “
Jah
, this is one of those fruit salads ya could just as well eat for dessert. Made it
with cherry pie filling, cream cheese, pineapple, and—”

“
Ach
, I’ve gotta have that recipe! Something different to serve for Christmas dinner,”
Lydia Zook remarked. “And would ya look at these wonderful-
gut
cookies Rhoda made for us today? I’d think you’d be so busy bakin’ for your
mamm
’s wedding, the cookies would’ve gone by the wayside this year.”

Rhoda looked ever so relieved after her confession, and it lifted Miriam’s spirits.
These women had welcomed her daughter back, had understood how a girl’s heart could
sometimes lead her off the narrow path of the Old Ways. It was a blessing to be among
these longtime friends, knowing everything had been set to rights again.

“Mamma’s cakes are in the deep freeze, waitin’ for Rachel to decorate them,” Rhoda
replied. “And it wouldn’t be Christmas without cookies, ain’t so? My favorites on
those trays are the brownies with a layer of raspberry jelly under the frosting.”

“And aren’t we mighty glad that Jeremiah Shetler didn’t press for a ban like Hiram
probably would’ve done?” Miriam’s sister Leah slung her arm around Rhoda’s shoulders.
“Would’ve dropped a wet blanket on Christmas Day and your mamma’s wedding, I can tell
ya.”

“So what do ya suppose put the bee in Hiram’s hat about startin’ up a new colony?
I sure didn’t see
that
comin’.”

Jerusalem Hooley’s remark brought the conversation back to the topic they had been
discussing at the service’s end. Miriam noticed how Annie Mae and Nellie Knepp kept
quiet as they unwrapped the relish trays they had made.

“I was thinkin’ you might have the inside story on that, Jerusalem,” Naomi remarked.
“Hiram was dead set against keepin’ the boys in the hospital, and now it seems he
was there gettin’ messages from God. He made it sound like when the Lord was talkin’
to the prophets in the Old Testament, where everything was spelled out just so.”

“Ya could’ve knocked me off the pew bench with a feather,” Jerusalem said in a low
voice. “Ever since he came home Friday night, declarin’ he’d leave the twins there
until at least tomorrow, things have smelled . . . fishy, if ya ask me.”

“He’s spent a
gut
deal of time at the hospital, too,” Nazareth added. “Yet when we ask how our boys’re
doin’, he has to think about it before he answers. He’s told us to stay at the house
with Timmy and Sara.”

Miriam’s eyebrows rose. While everyone here believed that God had spoken directly
to the prophets in the Bible—and that there was no reason He wouldn’t still be directing
His people that way—the whole situation was taking an odd turn.

But there had never been any predicting what Hiram might do, or what he might choose
to reveal. She could see how the Hooley sisters would be especially concerned about
what the bishop—or was he still their bishop?—might be cogitating. After watching
over his family these past six weeks of Hiram’s ban, these dedicated women probably
wondered if they should find a different place to live.

Or would they head back to Lancaster County? Originally, they had come to help Ira
and Luke settle in, saying it was only a temporary stay. As Miriam carried a big platter
of baked chicken out to the waiting tables, it seemed Ben had answered a lot of questions
with his observation: time will tell.

When they returned home from the meal at the Riehls’, something compelled Rhoda to
call Andy. Maybe it was the news about Hiram, or maybe she just needed to hear his
voice—and when she entered the phone shanty and found a voice message from him, her
heart fluttered. He had been thinking of her, just as she had been wanting to contact
him!

“Rhoda, I hope you’re okay after witnessing the twins’ accident,” his mellow voice
came through the message machine, “and I hope your confession went well today. You’ve
been in my prayers. I want to talk to you about an idea I have, whenever you find
time to call.”

Her fingers danced over the numbered buttons on the phone. She held her breath as
it rang. “
Jah
—Andy?”

“Rhoda! I wasn’t sure when you’d be back from church. How did everything go?”

“Oh, it was a lot more than preachin’ we got today,” she exclaimed. “My confessin’
went quick and easy—”

“Glad to hear it. If you’d been shunned—”

“—but Hiram didn’t even wait for the members to vote about lettin’ him back into membership,”
she continued in a rush. “He said God sent him a revelation while he was at the hospital,
about how he was to find a tract of land big enough to start a new Amish colony! Now
that
got everybody talkin’, I can tell ya!”

There was a pause before Andy said, “Is that the way new colonies are started? Somebody
finds land and declares he’s leaving the community?”

“Well, we split off to form new groups when we reach about twenty families, because
that’s about all a preacher or two and a bishop can handle,” she replied. “So if Hiram
moves away, that means we’ll have a drawin’ of the lot between our preachers, and
one of them’ll be the new bishop. I thought ya might want to know about that, if .
. . if you’re still thinkin’ to become Amish.”

He chuckled. “That’s about the best Christmas present I could ever hope to receive,
Rhoda. So how are your mom and Ben and the others reacting to Hiram saying God was
telling him to do all this?”

Did Andy know something he wasn’t saying just yet? Rhoda cleared her throat. “Well,
we wonder about it,
jah
. But nobody was tellin’ Hiram they didn’t believe him. He invited families to join
him, to get the new town started up, but so far I haven’t seen anybody jumpin’ in
with him.”

Once again there was a short pause. Rhoda shifted with the excitement of talking to
Andy again, and her curiosity was bubbling like soda pop. “So what was that idea ya
wanted to talk to me about?”

He chuckled. “It’s so good to hear you sounding happy again, Rhoda. I was wondering,
though,” he said in a more pensive tone. “If you’ve been forgiven and taken back into
the membership, does this mean you’re still forbidden to see me?”

“If ya really, for sure and for certain want to join us, I can’t see where that’s
a problem anymore,” she replied pertly. “As long as folks here understand your intentions,
why—I could even help ya with learnin’ our language and doin’ things the Amish way,
and—”

“What’s your schedule like this week, with Christmas coming up? I’d like to meet with
Preacher Tom, and you, and if your mother or Ben or anyone else would care to join
us, we can talk about exactly what I need to do,” he continued with quiet excitement.
“I want Taylor and Brett and Mom to be in on this, as well, so they understand the
big picture.”

Rhoda sucked in her breath. Andy was sounding very serious about changing his faith—for
her
. “But I want ya to know something,” she said in a somber voice. “If we tell ya things
that don’t sound like a
gut
fit for ya, or if your family thinks it’s not gonna work . . . I’ll understand.”

She closed her eyes, choosing her next words carefully. “And if that’s the way of
it, I won’t hold ya to joinin’ us. Even Rebecca, sister that she is, knows that bein’
Amish just isn’t the right thing for her. And that’s okay. I still love her.”

“Wow,” he said with a sigh. “You’re the best, Rhoda.”

She got all tingly inside, but then recalled the rest of his question. “Christmas
Eve we’ll all go to the schoolhouse for the program the kids put on each year. We’ll
spend Christmas Day at home with our families, ponderin’ on the miracle of Jesus’s
birth,” she began. “But then the next day is our Second Christmas, and that’s when
all the fun happens! Jerusalem wants us to come to Hiram’s house on account of the
twins needin’ to stay put once they get home—”

“Will that change, now that Hiram’s revealed his new plans?”

Rhoda thought for a moment. “I’m thinkin’ Jerusalem and Nazareth might spend Christmas
Day with Ben and his brothers, so the Knepp family can have their own day together.
Which means Second Christmas will be Hiram’s only chance for a big dinner—and no doubt
he’ll be talkin’ up his new colony while the rest of us are there.”

“What if I ask Preacher Tom to meet with us on Saturday, then? He’s probably spending
those two Christmas days with his own family—”

“
Jah
, he’ll visit his married daughters, most likely.”

“Ah, good. Now tell me the truth, Rhoda,” Andy went on in his low voice. “If you girls
and your mom will be smack in the middle of wedding preparations on Saturday—”

“We’ve got time for
you
, Andy,” Rhoda chirped. “Naomi and the Hooley sisters are headin’ up the wedding feast,
and they’re helpin’ us redd up the house for the ceremony, too. The dinner’s to be
held in the Brennemans’ shop again. We got lots of practice at this when Rachel and
Micah got hitched in October, ya see.”

Andy let out a low laugh. “This all sounds so delightful,” he remarked. “So
together
, with all your family and friends doing everything for each other, I . . . I yearn
to feel such close connections, Rhoda.”

“Well,” she replied quietly, “we can show ya how that’s done. I’ll tell Mamma and
Ben about Saturday, then. Just let us know the time and where we’re to show up.”

After immersing herself in the music of Andy’s voice as he told her how his family
would spend Christmas, she hung up with a happy sigh. This had been quite a day of
revelations.

 

 

Miriam gazed out the window in the loft apartment’s kitchen. The fresh snow sparkled
like a million little diamonds as the sun rose over Willow Ridge, and the rolling
hills and pastures around them shimmered in their Christmas morning finery. A brilliant
red cardinal perched on a bare branch of the sweet gum tree as though he were gazing
at her. Her heart felt happy yet subdued as she turned toward Rhoda, who was setting
the table for their simple breakfast.

“This is the first time in my life I’ve spent Jesus’s birthday with just one other
person to help me celebrate,” she remarked quietly. “But I’m glad that one other person
is you, Rhoda. A blessed Christmas to ya.”

“And back to you, Mamma.” Rhoda wore a deep red dress and a smile that held secrets,
yet she looked radiant. Truly happy. “What with Rachel spendin’ her day with Micah’s
family, and Rebecca bein’ with her
dat
, and the Hooley bunch all gettin’ together in the apartment above the mill, it seems
we all have our places. And we’re all with the folks we love best, ain’t so?”

“Ya said that just right, honey-bug. And that breakfast casserole’s smellin’ mighty
gut
while it bakes.” Miriam chuckled as she stirred the apples that were simmering in
the skillet with butter and cinnamon. “Never thought I’d say this, but it’s nice to
have some of our favorite leftovers from the café’s freezer for our dinner. And while
it’s felt mighty different, not gettin’ up in the middle of the night to bake this
week, it’s gotten me into the right frame of mind for thinkin’ about the Christ Child
. . . and contemplatin’ how different things’ll be after I marry Ben next week.”

Rhoda bussed her on the cheek. “You’ll adjust fast, Mamma. Seems like Ben’s been one
of us for a long time.”

“
Jah
, he blew in with a storm and just that quick I fell for him.”

Her daughter’s eyebrows rose as she pulled their casserole from the oven. “You understand
how it’s been for Andy and me then, ain’t so? I know ya think we’ve not known each
other long enough to be gettin’ serious, but I’ve told him he can back out of becomin’
Amish, if somethin’ doesn’t sit right.”

Miriam’s lips twitched. She’d left herself wide-open for that, hadn’t she? They sat
down, bowed their heads briefly, and then smiled across the little table at each other.
“It made me feel better, hearin’ Andy wanted to meet with Tom and the rest of us.
Nothin’ to hide that way. I’ve always told ya to go after what makes ya happy, honey-bug,
and I’m not all that surprised that ya chose an uphill road. Ya never were one to
accept the easy, fast way. And I’m proud of ya for that.”

“Oh, Mamma.” Rhoda blinked back tears. “It means ever so much to hear ya say that.”

“Faith and love can weather any storm. I’m willin’ to help you and Andy, long as ya
follow the path Preacher Tom sets out as the proper way to do this.” As Miriam stepped
into her open blue bedroom to fetch a gift she’d been keeping in her nightstand, her
heart overflowed with so many feelings. Her three daughters were so much alike, yet
each had grown up her own way with such confidence and grace. Miriam handed the wrapped
gift to Rhoda and then sat down again. “I’m hopin’ you’ll use this as your guidin’
light when it seems your biggest questions don’t have any easy answers.”

Rhoda slipped her finger beneath the tape, saving the wrapping paper as they did whenever
it was possible. “Oh, Mamma,” she murmured again. “A New Testament—”

“The one my folks gave me on my baptism into the church. I wanted ya to have it.”
She paused, as a lump had risen into her throat. “When your
dat
and I published our intent to marry, Mamm and Dat were none too happy. Oh, they thought
Jesse Lantz was a nice enough fella, but they’d had their hopes set on a boy my age
from down the road, because his
mamm
was best friends with mine.”

She smiled as she recalled that time, so many years ago. “Jesse grew up in a different
community. He’d set his sights on comin’ to Willow Ridge because they were in need
of a farrier, and he’d found this piece of ground he liked. Had the house built as
my wedding present . . . even if I had nothin’ to say about how it all came together,”
she added with a wry smile.

Rhoda smiled sweetly. “So ya broke your parents’ hearts and hitched up with him anyway.”

“That was the way of it,
jah
. And I never looked back. It was the right thing for me to do, and they eventually
accepted him.”

Rhoda ran her hand reverently over the old Bible’s cover and then set it on the kitchen
counter to keep it clean. “
Denki
, Mamma. I’ll treasure it always.” Then she flashed a kitty-cat grin and walked over
to pull her Murphy bed down from the wall of the pale green bedroom . . . took something
from between its mattress and the frame. In this tiny apartment with its rolling walls
and open rooms, hiding Christmas gifts was a challenge. “Haven’t quite finished your
present, Mamma, but here’s what I’ve been doin’ while ya were up so early bakin’ that
last week before we closed up the café.”

At the sight of so many fabric colors, Miriam stood up to finger them. “My word, child,
what on earth—?”

“New dresses, Mamma! You’ve been too busy to sew, what with Rachel’s wedding and runnin’
the café,” Rhoda said as she laid the stack of cut-out pieces on the loveseat. “So
I thought ya might like some perty new colors for your perty new life with Ben. Some
are for winter, and some for spring.”

Oh, but her eyes feasted on the bright apple green . . . the deep pink of the fuchsias
that hung in baskets on the porch . . . a blue like robins’ eggs . . . the yellow
of the tulips in her spring garden. “My word, Rhoda, I’d have chosen these colors
as a younger woman—if the bishop back then would’ve allowed us such bright dresses—”

“Puh! Ben thinks you’re plenty young enough. And as for what the bishop thinks, well—”
Rhoda shrugged. “It won’t be Hiram tellin’ ya these colors are unfit for Plain women,
ain’t so? It’s all worked out to the
gut
, for those who love the Lord.”

“
Jah
, there’s that.” Miriam’s eyebrows rose as Rhoda returned to her bedroom and shifted
some of the dresses in her small closet. What could she be up to now? To think this
daughter had slipped up to the house to use the sewing machine on those cold, dark
mornings . . . well, it was a gift such as Miriam had never expected. And it meant
Rachel was in on the surprise, too, yet she hadn’t given the least hint!

When Rhoda pulled out a brilliant royal-blue dress, along with a glimmering white
voile apron, Miriam’s hand fluttered to her mouth. “Oh, honey-bug—”

“
Jah
, it’s your wedding dress, Mamma. Rachel and I made it, and a new kapp for ya,” she
said with a quiver in her voice. “Not many daughters get to do that for their
mamms
. It was a special treat to sew it for ya, because you’re a truly special woman, Mamma.”

Miriam grabbed her daughter in a hug, laughing and crying all at once. “You girls
and your secrets! I was thinkin’ I needed to stitch up a new dress, but ya beat me
to it.”

“We’ve been keepin’ each other’s secrets since we were born, Mamma.” Rhoda eased away
to gaze into Miriam’s eyes. “There’s more to that, but let’s eat our breakfast before
it gets cold.”

And what did
that
mean? Miriam savored each bite of the cheesy bread casserole studded with sausage
chunks, onions, and bits of bacon. It was best to let her girls carry this through
rather than spoil the morning’s fine mood with too many questions. She and Rhoda were
sharing the last sweet spoonfuls of their fried apples when Miriam heard the smithy’s
outside door open and bang shut. Sure enough, a familiar pattern of footsteps ascended
the stairs and their visitor knocked before she entered.