River of Mercy, page 27
“Has anyone heard yet where Samuel went?” Gant asked.
“He’s back at the farm for now,” Doc said. As if to reassure Rachel, he quickly added, “But he’s not staying. He came back to put it up for sale and collect the household goods and furniture. If you can believe this, he’s actually calling himself a bishop again, and he’s assembled a few followers to accompany him to Indiana. They’ll be starting a new district there, and Samuel will be their leader. At least that’s what Malachi told me. It seems that the Riverhaven Amish are far too lenient for Samuel’s liking. He’s going to preside over a new community that more specifically follows the tenets of the ‘true’ Amish faith.”
“What about the boys?” Rachel said, her forehead lined with concern. “Surely they aren’t going with him. They’ve already suffered so much.”
“No,” Doc said. “They’re going to stay here, with their aunt. At least for now. Aaron, of course, will have to serve time once he’s sentenced.”
“Aaron.” Rachel shook her head, her expression sad. “He’s turned out to be just like Samuel, if not worse.”
“Rachel, Aaron is sick,” Doc pointed out. “He’s sick in his mind. He needs help—badly. It could be that time away from his father will do him good, even though he’ll spend it in jail.”
“Don’t count on that,” Gant said. “All too often a fellow comes out of jail worse than he was when he went in.”
At that point, Doc cleared his throat, saying, “I think we’ve had enough depressing talk for now. There is, however, another piece of news that you probably haven’t heard yet,” he said, turning to Gant and directing his words to him. “I know you like Malachi Esch and have a great deal of respect for him, as do we. I thought you’d like to know that he’s to be our new bishop. The lot fell on Malachi at the service today. We need to be praying for him.”
Susan smiled and said, “Malachi will be a fine bishop. He’s a gut man. A kind man. Always has been.”
Doc held Gant’s gaze for a long moment but said nothing more.
Gant was surprised and pleased by the news. And although any real hope for him and Rachel would be premature at this point, he couldn’t help but feel hopeful.
After Rachel helped to clear the table, she and Gant were the only ones left in the dining room. She started toward the kitchen again, but before she could get away, Gant caught her arm, saying, “Would you give me a minute, Rachel? I need to talk to you.”
She looked around, as if to see if anyone was watching. “I don’t know…I need to help in the kitchen—”
“Fannie’s helping Susan. It won’t take long. Please.”
She studied him for a moment and then nodded. “Dr. David and Gideon are in the living room playing checkers. We can talk here.”
“So…Malachi will be the new bishop,” he began.
She nodded, not looking at him.
“Then I mean to speak with him. Soon.”
She remained still as a stone.
“I mean to ask his permission to convert. Do you think I have a chance?”
Now she looked at him. “I…I don’t know.”
“Do you care?”
“Do I…well, if that’s what you want, Jeremiah, of course I care.”
“You know very well what I mean, Rachel. If Malachi grants his permission for me to become Amish…when the time comes, will you marry me?”
Her eyes widened. “You shouldn’t ask me that yet.”
“Why not? Surely by now you know if you want to marry me.”
“It’s much too soon for us to talk about marriage.”
“I need your answer, Rachel.”
He stopped. “A long time ago, I asked you if you’d marry me if I were Amish. At that time you told me you would. Did you mean it then?”
She brought her hand to her mouth in a self-conscious gesture, watching him. “Yes. I meant it.”
“And now?” Gant pressed, finding it difficult to get his breath. “If I convert, will you marry me?”
“Jeremiah…you mustn’t convert only because of me. It wouldn’t be right.”
“I won’t lie to you, Rachel. You’re the most important reason I want to convert. But you’re not the only reason.” He stopped and then went on when she started to protest again. “Listen to me, Rachel. I think…I know I want your life. The Plain life. I want what you and your family have. I want it for myself. I know I’ll have to change in a lot of ways. But I also believe I can. So I’m asking you again, Rachel. Will you marry me?”
She lifted her face to look at him. He felt as if those dark, gentle eyes were searching his very soul. “Yes, Jeremiah,” she said softly. “I will marry you.”
Relief mingled with joy, and he moved to embrace her but then stopped. He lifted a hand slightly and gave a small shake of his head. “I’m going to assume you want everything done properly, in keeping with your Amish ways. Right now I need to kiss you so badly I can scarcely breathe. But I also want everything to be the way you want it. So I’ll wait.”
Rachel smiled just a little. Then, closing the distance between them, she went into his arms.
“Just this one time, Jeremiah,” she said, lifting her face for his kiss. “Then we’ll wait.”
47
NO LONGER A STRANGER
Love transforms the heart
That once waited outside, looking in
To one that belongs and abides.
UNKNOWN
What a glorious day it was! Hints of spring were everywhere, with trees in bud and flowers poking their heads through the rich river soil. The light breeze carried a fresh, sun-warmed fragrance, so welcome after the winter months.
Rachel stood on the front porch, watching. Watching for any sign of Jeremiah.
He was speaking with Malachi today, meeting with him to request permission to convert to the Amish faith.
The weeks had dragged by ever so slowly. So often it had seemed as though this day would never come. According to Gideon, Jeremiah, too, had been as restless as a caged bobcat throughout the waiting time.
Her brother often spoke of bobcats, particularly “Captain Gant’s bobcat,” now that he had seen the creature for himself. Rachel hadn’t forgotten Jake either. Jeremiah still puzzled over how and why the animal had turned up all the way out here that terrible night.
She had thought the creature magnificent. A lot like Jeremiah himself. Confident. No doubt headstrong. And handsome. Oh, he was a handsome animal! Probably unpredictable too. There again, like Jeremiah.
She was growing restless now. Anxious. Malachi was a kind man, a reasonable and fair man. But now he was also the bishop. He had to take many things into consideration, matters that dealt with spiritual guidance and tradition. Matters to be followed in accordance with the Ordnung. There was always a chance he would refuse Jeremiah’s request, forcing him to remain an outsider.
She would go in and make some coffee. Jeremiah might be hungry when he finally arrived. Besides, she needed something to do…she needed to keep busy. She’d make coffee and cut the fresh gingerbread she’d baked only that morning.
Then she saw him. Coming up the road, seated tall on Flann, his big red horse. She stood, fixed in place, holding her breath as she watched him dismount.
He tied up the horse, reached for his cane, and came hurrying toward the house, taking the biggest, broadest steps of which she knew him capable, given his bad leg.
His expression was solemn…too solemn…until he was halfway up the yard. Then suddenly he stopped, cracked an enormous smile, and tossed his cap in the air.
“So, then, Rachel Brenneman,” he called out in an exaggerated Irish accent, “do you happen to know of a good Amish language teacher in these parts? Oh and by the way, will you marry me, m’lovely?”
Rachel stared at him, too stunned for a moment to move.
When she delayed, he planted both hands on his hips, tilted his head to the side, and said, “Well…will you ever answer me, woman?”
Rachel finally found her breath and willed her legs to move, practically leaping off the porch as she ran to meet him, skirts flying, tears flowing even as she burst into laughter.
“Yes…yes…yes!” she cried, falling into his waiting arms.
EPILOGUE
RIVER SONG
Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known.
ISAAC WATTS
Riverhaven
Twilight in early December, two years later
Rachel Gant tiptoed through the back of the new house, intending to sneak up on her husband.
It was becoming more and more difficult to walk quietly, thanks to the ever increasing girth of her unborn baby. Mamma was convinced the boppli would be a boy, given Rachel’s quick and substantial weight gain. Rachel didn’t care whether their first child would be a girl or boy so long as their “wee wane”—Jeremiah’s term—was healthy and came soon. She was eager to be a mother and just as eager to lose this excess weight.
Somehow she actually managed to surprise Jeremiah. She moved in close behind him, grasping his shoulders and planting a soft kiss on the back of his head. He was kneeling on his good leg, apparently putting the finishing touches on the newly laid wooden floor of the kitchen.
With a yelp of surprise, he pivoted on his knee and then got to his feet and pulled her to him. “And just what is it you’re up to, Rachel Gant?” he said with feigned sternness. “Trying to give your husband a scare, is it?”
Rachel smiled up into his handsome, bearded face and produced the cookie she’d brought him. “I thought I’d bribe you into a short walk by the river.”
“Isn’t it a bit cold for you to be walking about?” he said, taking the cookie and biting into it. “Mm…delicious.”
“It’s actually mild for December. And remember, Doc said I should walk a little every day.”
“Even now? He also said the baby might come any day.” He finished off the cookie, wiped a fist over his mouth, and planted a light kiss on her forehead.
“Even now. Please?”
“All right. But we’ll not go far. Agreed?”
Rachel nodded. “Agreed. I wouldn’t last very long on my feet anyway.”
While she waited for him, she went from room to room, admiring his handiwork. She supposed some might find the new house a foolish extravagance, but she understood Jeremiah’s reluctance to live in a house built by her first husband. He wanted a place of their own, a home he would raise with his own hands, his own skill. Gideon and Doc and many among the People had helped, but the plans, the design, and much hard work were all from Jeremiah. He had always wanted to build a house, he’d told her.
And now he had. He’d built it in keeping with the Plain style of living—no fanciness or frills, just a good, solid home with much planning and fine workmanship. A house with three bedrooms besides their own. “One for the boys, one for the girls, and a bigger one for Fannie,” he’d said before the first wall was ever set in place. “A young girl’s room for as often as she chooses to visit.”
And then, of course, connected to the side of the house was his new workshop. He would be moving out of the shop in town as soon as the new work area was completed. Given the way his reputation had spread, no doubt he’d still have a good number of Englisch customers as well as Amish, but now he would work closer to home. The new shop was big enough for him and Gideon to be comfortable working together and was close to the road for the convenience of his customers and deliveries.
As it happened, the house Rachel and Eli had once shared would soon be occupied by Gideon and Emma, now that they were married. They had been staying with Emma’s family, waiting for their own place, which they would have as soon as Rachel and Jeremiah moved into their new home.
Rachel was delighted to know her brother and his wife—and eventually their children—would be living in her former home.
She was glad, too, that soon she and Jeremiah would have a secret room nearby, on their own land, instead of in town in the carpentry shop barn. Completed only a few days ago, it was built below ground in the new barn, with a concealed door and stairway well hidden behind another small room where feed and other supplies were stored. This is where they would continue to offer protection and seclusion to any refugee slaves in need of safe harbor.
The practice of harboring runaways was never spoken of throughout the community, never acknowledged, but conductors always seemed to know how to find a station when needed. Now that a few other Amish and Englisch families in the area were contributing to the efforts of the Underground Railroad, the secret rooms were becoming more numerous.
Before they were married, when Jeremiah asked Rachel her feelings about providing refuge for the runaways, she had insisted he continue. She knew how strongly he felt about helping the slaves gain their freedom, and she wasn’t about to interfere.
In truth, she had come to share his abhorrence of slavery. She intended to work alongside him in his work to defeat the odious practice.
Gideon, too, had expressed his desire to help in any way he might be needed. So with Asa planning to build a small cabin on the adjacent land Jeremiah had deeded to him, they would all be able to work together—at least when Gideon and Asa weren’t on the road—in providing refuge for runaways. It was important work, and although it was risky work as well, Rachel felt blessed to be a part of it.
Outside, Jeremiah took her arm as they started toward the river. “Warm enough?” he said.
“I’m fine. But I imagine you’re tired. You said you had a busy day in the shop, and now you’ve worked for hours on the house.”
“We’ll have some real winter soon. I want to get most of the work done and the shop moved out here before then.” He squeezed her arm. “You’re still feeling all right?”
Rachel nodded. “You surprise me,” she said after a moment.
“That’s good. I wouldn’t want to bore you.”
“As if you ever could.”
“So how do I surprise you?”
“I never thought you’d be much for fussing. But you fuss over me all the time.”
“Some things are just worth fussing over, m’lovely. You’re one of them. Besides, I’ve never had a wife to fuss over before. I’m rather enjoying it.”
As they approached the river, Rachel leaned closely into his warmth. “I rather enjoy it myself.”
He stopped, leaned over, and kissed her.
“Jeremiah! Not in public.”
He looked around. “Do you see someone I don’t?”
She elbowed him and started walking again. “We need to keep working on your language lessons, you know.”
“Malachi says I’ve done very well. He wouldn’t have allowed me to convert otherwise.”
“Oh, you have done well,” she said dryly. “But you’re still speaking the Amish language with an Irish accent. You can use a little more work.” She paused. “And you should probably refer to Malachi as Bishop.”
He waved off her suggestion with his free hand. “He doesn’t mind. Doc still calls him Malachi too.”
“Mmm.”
They walked along in silence for a short time before he pressed her arm to stop. “That’s enough walking for you. Here’s our bench.”
He had built a sturdy wooden bench on the riverbank nearby where they could sit during the evenings in good weather and watch the river. Rachel loved being close to the water, listening to its song, watching its flow. But she knew Jeremiah loved it even more.
“If you’re cold,” he said after a few minutes, “let’s go back to the house.”
Rachel delayed only a moment before saying, “I’m ready to go.”
He looked at her. “You seem distracted tonight. Are you really all right?”
“And you seem overly anxious. I’m fine, Jeremiah. Really.”
He studied her for another moment and then nodded. “Let’s go then.”
Halfway to the house, he said, “I almost forgot. I have news.”
Rachel also had news, in truth had been bursting to tell him all evening, but at the moment she thought she might wait. She was feeling a little breathless, and her legs seemed strangely heavy.
“Tell me,” she prompted.
“Well, it seems that your Englisch friend Ellie and the doctor are also going to have a new wee wane.”
“Oh, I’m so glad, Jeremiah! That’s wonderful!”
Rachel and Ellie Sawyer had become friends over the past year. When Ellie married the new doctor in town, Rachel had made one of her more colorful birdhouses and given it to them as a wedding gift. It was hard to believe and embarrassing to think that she’d once struggled with jealousy over what she’d perceived as an attraction between her friend and Jeremiah. Now she could look forward to sewing baby things for Ellie’s new little one in addition to her own.
By the time they reached the house, Rachel knew she’d walked too far. Her breath was fairly labored, and her feet felt as if she were wearing bricks for shoes. She plopped down on a kitchen chair the moment she shrugged out of her coat.
“Rachel? Are you sure you’re all right?”
She tried to wave off Jeremiah’s concerned frown. “I’m fine. Just a little out of breath. I was starting to get cold.”
“Let me fix you some hot tea.”
Rachel watched her husband move with ease around the room. One nice thing about marrying a man who had been on his own a few years and hadn’t always been Amish was that he knew his way around a kitchen and didn’t mind doing “woman’s work.”
He sat down beside her and watched as she drank her tea. “Better?” he said.
She nodded, though it was a bit of a pretense. Still, there was no sense in worrying him. At least not yet.
“I have news too,” she said, straightening as she tried to find a comfortable position.
“And you’re just now telling me?”
“Well, it’s…big news. I was waiting for the right time.”
Now she had his attention. “So?”
