Anna's Return (32 page)

But there he was, leaning on the fence, watching the young colt grazing in the ring. Like a bird heading for its nest, she went to him.

He shifted toward her as she walked across the grass and joined him at the fence. His face was so battered that she grew in a shaken breath at the sight, but his eyes were peaceful.

“How are you?” She touched his hand where it lay on the rail, and he clasped hers instantly.

“I am well.” He smiled. “Contented, I think, is the right word. Do you know what I realized today, when I was lying on the barn floor?”

“That you should never have gotten involved in my troubles?”

“No. Never that.” Gentle humor edged the words. “I realized how foolish I’d been, with all my worries about whether I would make the same mistakes my father did.” He turned to face her, clasping her hand in both of his. “I knew then that I was ready to die for you and Gracie. If I would die for you, how can I doubt that I would live for you, always?”

He’d stolen her breath away. “Are you so sure of me?” she said when she could finally speak. “I have a bad history of running away when things are difficult.”

“I’m not worried.” His eyes were tranquil. “You will not run anymore. I love you, Anna, but I won’t rush you. Take as much time as you want to answer.”

She realized the answer didn’t require any time at all. It was already there, in her heart. She’d come home in desperation, but it was God leading her to the place where she needed to be. The only place where she could be the person she really was in her heart.

She smiled, looking at him. “November is not so far off,” she said. “If Bishop Mose thinks I’m ready to be baptized into the church, we can be married then. I have a feeling I would like to follow tradition in that.”

“Anna Beiler, following tradition,” Samuel said. “Think of that. Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” She lifted her face for his kiss. “The prodigal is home to stay.”

Anna
took the black prayer kapp from her head and set it carefully on top of the bureau. She picked up the white one that sat waiting and placed it on her head.

The act seemed almost as solemn as the vows she and Samuel had taken moments earlier before Bishop Mose and the gathered community. She and Samuel were husband and wife. In a moment she’d meet him to go back downstairs to take part in the wedding meal—their first appearance together as a married couple.

“Anna, do you need any help?” Leah paused in the bedroom doorway, smiling at her. “You are a bride, little sister. I am so happy to see this day.”

“Denke.” Anna blinked back the tears that sprang to her eyes. “I wish Mammi—”

Leah came quickly to hug her. “I know she would be very happy. She always liked Samuel so much.”

“She did, didn’t she?” Even when Samuel had been just Joseph’s friend, Mammi seemed to have a soft spot in her heart for him. Now he was her daughter’s husband. Leah was right; Mammi would be pleased.

“The food is ready to start serving.” Myra came in, her eyes growing moist as she looked at Anna. “But first I had to come and see my sister.”

“Twice your sister,” Anna said, her heart filling with love.

Myra was rounder now, though it didn’t show so much when she wore the cape, as she did today in honor of the occasion. She and Joseph had moved past the difficult adjustment they’d had to make into a state of serenity about the baby. The shadows were gone from Myra’s eyes, and she seemed to look ahead with joy.

“Your friend from the city didn’t know what to think of the wedding.” Myra’s eyes twinkled. “She asked if you were forbidden to wear a bridal gown because of the baby. I told her this is your bridal gown, but I don’t think she understood.”

Anna smoothed her hand down the skirt of the deep blue dress she wore, made by her own hands with a little help from Myra. And the white apron, which would be kept to be put on over her dress when she was buried. She wouldn’t tell Liz that—it would be too much culture shock.

“No, Liz wouldn’t understand, but I think she is happy for me.” Liz had gotten over her initial surprise at learning Anna was Amish. She’d probably been a little hurt, too, that Anna had kept that from her, but she seemed to understand. And she had traveled all the way from Chicago to sit on a backless bench in a barn for three hours to see her friend married.

“Rosemary has taken her in hand,” Leah said. “She’ll explain it all.”

Anna nodded. Rosemary had proved to be a staunch friend to the Amish. She’d begun volunteering at the medical clinic, filling her days with work that was valuable to the whole community.

“I have gut friends and family. I owe you all so much . . .” She couldn’t find the words.

“Ach, enough,” Leah said. “There’s no talk of owing among family.”

“Besides, your groom is here, waiting to take you downstairs.” Myra gave her a little shove toward the bedroom door.

There in the hallway, Samuel stood waiting, holding Gracie in his arms. He’d been solemn for the ceremony, but now his lips curved with pleasure at the sight of her.

She went to him quickly. “I thought Elizabeth was watching the little ones.”

“Ach, how could our Gracie not sit with us at the eck table for our wedding?” Samuel cuddled her close. “She is our daughter, so she must share the joy of this day.”

“Until she starts to fuss at being still for so long,” Anna said, but her heart was touched by his gesture.

No, not a gesture. Samuel really did feel that way. He had been willing to lay down his life for Gracie. No one could love more than that.

She reached toward him, and Samuel drew her immediately into the loving circle of his arm for a warm, strong hug.

“So,” he said, dropping a kiss lightly on her lips, “are you ready to go downstairs and greet our friends as husband and wife, Anna Fisher?”

“I am.” She said the words like a vow. She linked her arm with Samuel’s, and they started down the stairs toward the waiting crowd.

Below, she saw the happy faces of those who waited for them—the dear, familiar faces of all who loved and supported them. Her family, her church, her friends. They would stand by this new family through all the years ahead, God willing, and she would be forever grateful that God had brought her home.

ach.
oh; used as an exclamation
agasinish.
stubborn; self-willed

ain’t so.
A phrase commonly used at the end of a sentence to invite agreement.

alter.
old man
anymore.
Used as a substitute for “nowadays.”

Ausbund.
Amish hymnal. Used in the worship services, it contains traditional hymns, words only, to be sung without accompaniment. Many of the hymns date from the sixteenth century.

befuddled.
mixed up
blabbermaul.
talkative one
blaid.
bashful
boppli.
baby
bruder.
brother
bu.
boy
buwe.
boys
daadi.
daddy

Da Herr sei mit du.
The Lord be with you.
denke.
thanks (or
danki
)
Englischer.
one who is not Plain
ferhoodled.
upset; distracted
ferleicht.
perhaps
frau.
wife
fress.
eat
gross.
big
grossdaadi.
grandfather

grossdaadi haus.
An addition to the farmhouse, built for the grandparents to live in once they’ve “retired” from actively running the farm.

grossmutter.
grandmother
gut.
good
hatt.
hard; difficult
haus.
house
hinnersich.
backward
ich.
I
ja.
yes

kapp.
Prayer covering, worn in obedience to the Biblical injunction that women should pray with their heads covered. Kapps are made of Swiss organdy and are white. (In some Amish communities, unmarried girls thirteen and older wear black kapps during worship service.)

kinder.
kids (or
kinner
)
komm.
come
komm schnell.
come quick
Leit.
the people; the Amish
lippy.
sassy
maidal.
old maid; spinster
mamm.
mother

meddaagesse.
lunch
mind.
remember
onkel.
uncle

Ordnung.
The agreed-upon rules by which the Amish community lives. When new practices become an issue, they are discussed at length among the leadership. The decision for or against innovation is generally made on the basis of maintaining the home and family as separate from the world. For instance, a telephone might be necessary in a shop in order to conduct business but would be banned from the home because it would intrude on family time.

Pennsylvania Dutch.
The language is actually German in origin and is primarily a spoken language. Most Amish write in English, which results in many variations in spelling when the dialect is put into writing! The language probably originated in the south of Germany but is common also among the Swiss Mennonite and French Huguenot immigrants to Pennsylvania. The language was brought to America prior to the Revolution and is still in use today. High German is used for Scripture and church documents, while English is the language of commerce.

rumspringa.
Running-around time. The late teen years when Amish youth taste some aspects of the outside world before deciding to be baptized into the church.

schnickelfritz.
mischievous child
ser gut.
very good
tastes like more.
delicious
Was ist letz?
What’s the matter?
Wie bist du heit.
how are you; said in greeting
wilkom.
welcome
Wo bist du?
Where are you?

Slice potatoes ¼-inch thick. Line the bottom of a heavy kettle with potato slices. Add a layer of noodles, then a layer of onions, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and parsley. Add a layer of chicken. Repeat all layers, including potatoes, using up all the ingredients. Pour boiling chicken stock over all. Cover tightly and simmer on the stove top for 20 to 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender.

Beat eggs in a small mixing bowl, then add milk and sugar. In a separate large bowl, sift together half the flour with the salt and baking powder. Add the milk and egg mixture. Beat batter until it is smooth. Add only as much more flour as is needed to make a batter just thin enough to run through a funnel. To a large, heavy skillet add vegetable oil until it is two inches deep. Heat oil until hot. Drop dough through the funnel into hot oil, twisting the funnel as the batter falls to make swirled shapes, each one seven to eight inches round. Cook until the bottom is light brown, then turn and cook the other side until it is also light brown. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper or linen towels. While still warm but not hot, dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Substitute cucumbers or other types of peppers as desired. Core and remove seeds from peppers. Remove ends and outside layers from onions and the ends from the celery. Remove stem and any leaves from cauliflower. Chop the vegetables to a fine dice and combine them in a large stockpot. Add the sugar, salt, mustard seed, and apple cider vinegar (white vinegar can also be used). Cook over high heat for about 15 minutes. While still boiling, ladle into hot, sterilized canning jars and cap.

I’m so glad you decided to pick up this book, and I hope you enjoyed it. I appreciated having the opportunity to tell the story of Anna and her growth since she was first introduced in
Leah’s Choice,
and also to visit Pleasant Valley again.