Patchwork Dreams (23 page)

Daniel hesitated. Even got up and poured a glass of milk, taking the time to sip it slowly. Finally, he came back to the table and sat down, shaking his head. “Nein. Your daed didn’t say much of anything. He did mention that he thought you were on the verge of making a serious mistake, so he was signing you up for the swap of Amish buwe. He wanted you to kum down in hopes that you would see the error of your ways. He didn’t say what the ‘serious mistake’ might be.”

Jacob nodded.

“Your attraction to my Becky, though…that was pretty plain.” Daniel took another sip of milk and swallowed. “Most young men shy away, knowing Becky’s history, and that she is part of a twosome, having a daughter already.”

“I know now is not the time, especially considering what she just said. But, when the time arrives—if it arrives—do I need to talk to the bishop first before approaching Becky about marriage?” At home, the bishop wanted to be approached first, and then he would talk to the girl, preparing the way. Would it be the same here?

Daniel hesitated, then reiterated a reminder. “Becky has a boppli. You’d be an instant daed.”

“Jah.” He’d thought of that. Looked forward to it. Emma, and more boppli in God’s time.

Daniel nodded. “Then, you talk to the bishop first. He likes to be kept informed. And he’ll require you to go through instruction and join the church before you are published. Always there’s plenty to do before a wedding. We’ll plan for December, jah?” Daniel grinned and slapped Jacob’s back, as though the matter was settled.

Maybe it was—at least as far as the two of them were concerned.

A December wedding. It sounded good to him. Now, to convince Becky. To win her heart.

Could he recruit her friend Annie to help him?

***

After the church service, Becky helped the other women set out food for the meal. She hurried to slice the pies and cakes and arrange the cookies that had been brought for the noon potluck. Annie joined her, armed with knives and pie servers.

Becky didn’t feel very social. She’d had a rough night, tossing and turning, reliving every moment of the evening’s conversation with Jacob and Daed. She muttered a greeting to Annie, then looked down, carefully cutting into a chocolate cream pie that Mary Zook had made. Right now, Becky just wanted to grab a fork and eat the whole thing. Maybe it would make her feel better.

“You’re quiet today. Something wrong?” Annie rearranged the desserts so that they were placed alphabetically—cakes, cobblers, cookies, and then pies. Like anyone would notice. Or care.

“Bothered by thoughts last night. Running into…well, you know.” She hadn’t meant to spill it out like that. Jacob’s bluntness must have affected her.

Annie nodded. “Jah. Did Jacob demand answers?”

“Not ‘demand’ so much as ask for them.”

A soft laugh escaped Annie’s lips. “Of course. He needed to know.”

Becky turned the chocolate cream pie tin in a circle, studying it from all directions. Maybe nobody would miss it if she took it and disappeared. There were a lot of desserts.

“He is gut-looking. And if it weren’t for you, I’d definitely be interested. But, Becky, Jacob sees only you. When are you going to realize this?”

Becky turned the pie in another circle without answering. That chocolate pie was hers, all hers. She could almost taste it.

Annie groaned. “Don’t look now, but….” She shivered. “I’ve got to go. You, too. Run.” With that, Annie twirled and hurried toward the house.

That Annie was too dramatic. Or maybe not. Becky peeked over her shoulder to see Amos Kropf approaching at a fast clip.

“Rebekah. Kum, take a walk. I want to talk with you.”

Jacob and Matthew made their way toward the long tables laden with food for the noon meal—homemade bread, cold meats, salads, vegetables, and more. Jacob’s stomach rumbled just looking at the spread.

Men always went through the line first, while the women and children waited, but they never seemed to mind. Jacob smiled as he remembered Mamm saying that she always sampled the food while she set it out. So, in reality, the women ate before the men. Jacob scanned the group of women but didn’t see Becky.

Then, a movement caught his eye, and he looked at the field beyond the blacksmith shop. Becky walked that way with a man who grasped her upper arm. She didn’t seem to be resisting.

For a second, Jacob felt as if his heart had been physically ripped from his body. He stared at the couple. No wonder she’d rebuffed his efforts. She had a beau that neither he nor Daniel knew anything about.

Unless it was the bishop. Daniel had said he would talk to him, but Jacob had figured it would be on Monday. Sunday wasn’t a day for business. But another glance at the food table revealed the bishop filling his plate at the head of the line. The other ministers were lined up behind him.

Could it be Amos Kropf? Jacob scanned the crowd. He wasn’t certain, but the man talking with Daniel looked like Amos. Considering how much the man had visited Daniel recently, it seemed to Jacob that they would be all talked out.

Jacob sighed. After one last look, he turned his back on Becky and her beau. He didn’t want to see them or witness any more of their tryst. She’d made her choice. And, clearly, Jacob didn’t factor in. She must have laughed to realize that she had Daniel and Jacob completely fooled. And that she’d won his heart.

No wonder she hadn’t agreed to let him court her.

But why couldn’t she have simply explained that she was seeing someone else? She wouldn’t have had to say who.

Matthew nudged his arm and said something. Jacob nodded automatically, though he had no idea what his friend had said.

He stared at the spread before him, wondering how he could force a bite down. How could he have completely ignored all the ways in which Becky had told him she wasn’t interested?

Looking back, he could see it all so clearly now.

Matthew speared a slice of roast beef with a fork and slid it onto his plate. “Isn’t that your Becky?” He nodded with his chin toward the field.

Jacob didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t keep his eyes from going in that direction. Becky and her beau walked farther out into the field. “It would appear that she’s not my Becky.”

Matthew bumped Jacob’s shoulder with one fist. “You deserve better.”

Jah. Maybe so. But that was no consolation.

***

Becky tried to disengage herself from Amos’s grip, but he didn’t seem inclined to let go. Even a sharp jerk of her arm failed to dislodge his hand. She would probably have more bruises to match her hip by nightfall.

All the way into the field, Amos expounded on the many failures of one Jacob Miller from Pennsylvania. He’d been seen fighting with the Englisch, as well as riding a bicycle through Seymour. That was clearly against the Ordnung for this district. He’d gone to at least one party. Maybe more. The unmarried girls were all tittering about him.

But causing girls to titter wasn’t a sin.

Just fact.

“Besides which, this newcomer seems to have no practical skills,” Amos continued. “Why else would Daniel spend so much time teaching him blacksmithing?” He grunted in disgust.

Becky studied the clouds in the sky. “Daed said that Jacob was ser gut.”

Amos ignored her. “And that’s not all. I just heard from some kin back in Pennsylvania, and they told me that Jacob Miller was trouble. He’d been associating with the Mennonites, and he courted a girl who wore Englisch clothing. And he got into several fights. Even got hauled into the police station once.” Amos shuddered. “I even heard that he owns and operates a motorcycle. Keeps it behind his daed’s barn. No wonder they sent him down here. The boy is trouble.” He nodded. “Jah, definitely trouble.”

Jacob? Trouble? The only trouble she found with him was the way her heart responded. And as for the allegation that he owned a motorcycle, she simply couldn’t imagine that. Motorcycles were loud, noisy, and, as far as she could see, dangerous.

But she did know about the bike and the girl.

And by the way he handled Kent, she could have guessed about the fights.

“See, he’s not a wise choice. You need a man who will take care of you and Emma. I’m established, Rebekah. Established.” Amos nodded decisively. “I own my haus and farm. I have five hundred head of cattle. A chicken coop. I could let you sell eggs for money. I have plenty of buwe to help, and you have Emma to eventually help in the haus. I’ll work up a big garden plot for you.”

Becky swallowed. “But your oldest son is almost my age. You are as old as Daed.”

“Age doesn’t matter. And my bu says he doesn’t mind about you being so young. You should see his eyes light up when I mention marrying you. I think he has a crush on you.” Amos chuckled, as if that was funny.

Her stomach churned.

“But….” Mamm had told her they’d move away, if necessary, rather than force her to marry Amos. Not to mention, she’d rather remain single. Forever.

And she loved Jacob.

Maybe she’d tell him so when she returned to the house. Tell him she didn’t want him to court Annie. That she was sure—really, truly sure—she wanted him to court her.

He’d told her the intent was there for a promise.

Daed approved of him.

He’d been helping with Emma.

According to Annie, he had eyes for her alone.

In spite of knowing the truth.

Jah, she loved Jacob, for sure.

She quit walking and stumbled a bit when Amos dragged her along, taking a couple of steps before he realized she’d stopped.

He released her arm.

“I’m sorry. So very sorry. You do have a lot to offer.” She tried not to choke. “But, really, I’m already spoken for.”

Was that a lie? Her heart had been claimed.

“You can do better with me, Rebekah.” He bowed his head. “I’ll be here if you change your mind. You take some time and think. You’ll see that I’m right about Jacob Miller.”

“You’re very kind. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”

But she wouldn’t change her mind. Nein, it was made up.

There was a spring in her step as she turned back toward the house. And her smile wouldn’t be restrained.

She couldn’t wait to tell Jacob.

***

Becky was smiling.
Smiling.
He’d done everything but handstands and splits to try to coax a grin out of her and had gotten nothing.

Of course, he wasn’t the one she loved.

He should be glad that she’d found happiness. That she had someone to love and would not have to marry Amos Kropf. That had been Jacob’s original goal, after all—to help Becky find someone better to marry.

And now, she had a beau.

But instead of feeling joy, his heart broke with the knowledge that he wasn’t the one she’d chosen.

Jacob didn’t even look at the man. Didn’t want to know who he was. Instead, he watched Becky approach the gathering with that beautiful smile brightening her face, lighting her eyes. He wanted to cry because it wasn’t directed toward him.

As Becky drew nearer, Jacob felt like a coward; he took his plate and went to hide someplace where he could eat in peace, even though he didn’t feel like choking down a single bite.

Matthew, being the good friend he was, followed him and kept up a one-sided conversation about the goings-on at the Stoltzfuses’. With all those kinner, it sounded like a busy place, but Jacob was thankful that Matthew didn’t seem to expect him to respond.

Maybe he knew that Jacob’s heart had been broken in two.

He had to pull himself together. After all, he would still be working for Daniel at the blacksmith shop. Still be staying in the dawdi-haus.

Still seeing Becky every day.

Still living in Missouri.

Right now, that was too close.

How could his heart mend if it was ripped asunder day after day?

With his mind attuned to Becky’s every move, he didn’t even have to look up when he heard the soft footsteps headed his way.

Why was she being so persistent in tracking him down? Did she want to rub in her rejection even more?

There was no need for that. He’d gotten the message, loud and clear.

Jacob started to scramble to his feet, his full plate in hand, ready to beat another hasty retreat, when Matthew put his hand on his arm, stalling him.

He stared down at the food he’d managed only to move around and shred, his stomach churning. He took a deep breath.
Lord, help me bear this.
The ultimate rejection.

Matthew stood and faced Becky. “I think you need to leave Jacob alone. He has no need of a two-timing girl like you.”

Jacob heard Becky suck in a gasp.

“Go. Now. Leave him be.”

He didn’t know whether to be happy or sad that she turned on her heel and walked away without saying a word.

Two-timing? The term still hurt. Jacob should have known better than to allow Matthew to call her that. She hadn’t been out with anyone except for Jacob, and she’d figured he knew that, but now she wasn’t so sure. He was avoiding her. So much for thinking that once everyone left, she would have an opportunity to tell him about her change of heart.

His behavior had nipped that in the bud. He’d disappeared for the afternoon and shown up again only for the evening Bible reading. And he hadn’t asked her to join him for the singing that night. But then, she was the one who had told him the truth about herself, and now, her worst fears were coming true.

Monday didn’t get much better. Jacob made no unexpected visits to the house, and when Becky found time to venture down to the shop, Jacob was either busy talking with a customer, or he made himself scarce.

Even worse, he completely ignored her at meals and other times when he was forced to interact with the rest of her family. She blinked back the tears. She’d known he’d reject her eventually after learning the truth.

When Becky walked down to visit Annie on Monday afternoon, she found out that he’d asked another girl, Annie’s older sister, Cathy, to ride home with him.

That hurt, too, even if she was thankful that Jacob would not come between her and Annie. All of a sudden, Becky didn’t like Cathy very much, though they’d had no disputes in the past.