A Cousin's Prayer (24 page)

Freeman woke up with a start. The room was dark, and at first, he didn’t know where he was. Then he remembered that right after supper he’d gone back to the living room to rest one more time while Fern cleaned up the kitchen. They were supposed to head over to Katie’s as soon as Fern got done with the dishes. Apparently, he’d fallen asleep. What he couldn’t figure out was why Fern hadn’t awakened him. It made him wonder if she’d let him sleep so he couldn’t see Katie. From some of the things Fern had said in the past, Freeman knew that she liked Eunice a lot and hoped Eunice and Freeman would become a couple. He also knew that Fern saw Katie as an immature girl who had too many emotional problems, so it wouldn’t surprise him if Fern purposely had let him sleep.

Freeman pulled himself to a sitting position, turned on the gas lamp on the table near the sofa, and groaned when he looked at the clock above the fireplace mantel. It was almost midnight! It was too late to go over to Katie’s now. He wished he knew exactly what time she planned to leave in the morning. Now he’d have to set his alarm clock to go off early and hope he would make it over to the Millers’ place before Katie left. If he didn’t get there on time, he might be making an unplanned trip to Florida.

“I wish you’d change your mind and stay here with us,” Mom said tearfully as Katie set her suitcase by the front door.

“I wish I could, but going back to Pinecraft is the best thing for me right now. Maybe someday I’ll come home again, but that might be a long time off.”

Mom pulled Katie into her arms and gave her a hug. “I want you to know something before you go.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m sorry if I’ve seemed pushy or controlling. Since you’re the youngest of my kinner, it’s been hard for me to let go and allow you to make your own decisions.” She gently patted Katie’s back. “I hope you know how much I love you and only want what’s best for you.”

Katie nearly choked on the sob rising in her throat. “I know that, Mom, and I love you, too.”

“Your mamm and I will come down to Florida to visit you this winter,” Dad said, joining them in the hall. “It’ll be good to get out of the cold, snowy weather we’ll no doubt have here.”

“I’d like that,” Katie said as she hugged him. “Maybe I’ll even have a place of my own by then.”

Beep! Beep!

“That must be Clarence and Mae’s driver,” Dad said. He picked up Katie’s suitcase and opened the door.

She followed him outside, and Mom walked beside her to the van. Clarence and Mae were in the back, but when Dad put Katie’s suitcase inside, they both got out to say their good-byes to Mom and Dad.

“Take care of our girl,” Mom said, hugging Mae.

“We will,” Clarence and Mae both said.

Katie wanted to remind Mom once more that she wasn’t a little girl but figured there was nothing to be gained by that. In her parents’ eyes, she would always be their little girl.

Katie grimaced at the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
If I never get married, I’ll never know the joy of being a mother.
That thought hurt more than she cared to admit. Ever since Katie had been a little girl playing with her dolls, she’d wanted to be a mother. But some things weren’t meant to be, and she’d have to learn to accept them and make a life for herself without a husband or children.

“We’d better get into the van now,” Clarence said. “Our driver, Bill, is anxious to get going.”

Katie gave Mom and Dad one last hug good-bye. She was just getting ready to climb into the van when a horse and buggy rumbled up the driveway. She waited to see who it was, and her breath caught when Freeman climbed down from the buggy.

“Thank the Lord I’m not too late,” he said, walking slowly toward her.

“Too late for what?” Dad asked, looking at Freeman.

“Too late to speak to Katie.” Freeman stood at her side. “Could we talk in private for a few minutes?”

The rhythm of Katie’s heartbeat picked up speed. “Well, uh, we were just about to leave.”

“I don’t want you to go until you’ve heard what I have to say.”

Katie looked at Dad, hoping for his approval. He stuck his head into the van and said something to their English driver. Then he turned to Freeman and gave a nod. “Bill said he’d wait another five minutes.”

Freeman took Katie’s arm and led her over to the porch. “Can we sit down? My ribs are really hurting.”

She felt immediate concern. “You probably shouldn’t be out of bed. What were you thinking, driving your buggy over here like that when you just came home from the hospital?”

“I didn’t drive myself. Fern’s waiting for me in the buggy.”

“Even so, it’s not good for you to—”

Freeman put his finger against Katie’s lips. “I need you to listen to what I have to say.”

Katie nodded and motioned for him to take a seat in one of the wicker chairs on the porch. Once he was seated, she sat in the chair next to him. “What’d you want to say?”

Freeman grimaced, as though in pain.

“Are you hurting really bad?” she asked.

“Jah, right here.” Freeman placed his hand against his chest. “Why are you going back to Florida, Katie?”

She swallowed a couple of times, hoping she wouldn’t break down in tears. “I ... uh ... think I’ll be happier there.”

He crinkled his nose. “I don’t want you to go, Katie, and well, I wanted to say that if you ever decide to love again, I ... I’d like to be the one.”

Katie’s heart began to pound, and her mouth felt so dry she could barely speak. She’d never expected to hear Freeman say such a thing to her. “What about Eunice? I thought you were going to marry her.”

Freeman shook his head vigorously. “I never planned to marry Eunice. She may have wanted it, but I can’t make a lifetime commitment to someone I don’t love. Truthfully, I don’t think Eunice really loves me, either. I think she’s just looking for a husband, and in due time she’ll find someone else—hopefully someone she really loves.” He reached for Katie’s hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “It’s you I love, and after I’ve joined the church this fall, I’d like us to be married.” His face sobered. “That is, if you’ll have me.”

A wide smile spread across Katie’s face. “I love you, too, and I’d be honored to be your wife.” The words came out in a wondering tone as the meaning of his words sank in. Freeman loved her, not Eunice.

Freeman stroked Katie’s cheek as he gazed into her eyes. “You’re the girl—I mean, the woman for me. I’ve known it ever since we were kinner.” He leaned closer until their lips were almost touching.

Beep! Beep!

Katie’s eyes snapped open, and her gaze went to the van waiting to take her away. “I’ll be right back!” she hollered over her shoulder as she tore across the yard. When she reached the van, she leaned inside, grabbed her suitcase, and shut the door. “I’m not moving to Florida,” she said, smiling at Mom and Dad. “I’m staying right here, and when the time is right, I’m going to marry Freeman.”

Mom looked at Dad, and Dad looked at Mom. Both of their faces broke into wide smiles.

Katie handed her suitcase to Dad then hurried back to the porch and took a seat beside Freeman.

“Were your folks happy to hear that you’re staying?” he asked.

Katie nodded and smiled. “I used to think that God never answered any of my prayers, but I’ve come to realize that He answered every one—just not always the way I wanted Him to.” She reached over and boldly took Freeman’s hand. “‘God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’ He’s answered my prayers and helped me deal with my panic attacks. Best of all, He’s given you to me.”

Freeman leaned close to Katie, and this time there was no horn honking to stop his tender kiss.

Being careful not to cause further injury to Freeman’s ribs, Katie gave him a gentle hug. “I pray that all of my cousins will be there on our wedding day,” she whispered in his ear. “And I pray that God will give us many years together as husband and wife.”

Mix all ingredients thoroughly and pour into a greased and floured 9x13x2 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35–40 minutes.

WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life. Wanda’s interest in the Amish and other Plain communities began when she married her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. Learning about her Anabaptist great-great grandparents increased Wanda’s interest in the Plain People. Wanda has made numerous trips to Lancaster County and has several friends and family members living near that area. She and her husband have also traveled to other parts of the country, meeting various Amish families and getting to know them personally. She hopes her readers will learn to love the wonderful Amish people as much as she does.

Wanda and her husband have been married over forty years. They have two grown children and six grandchildren. In her spare time, Wanda enjoys photography, ventriloquism, gardening, reading, stamping, and having fun with her family.

In addition to her novels, Wanda has written two Amish cookbooks, an Amish devotional, several Amish children’s books, as well as many novellas, stories, articles, poems, and puppet scripts.

Visit Wanda’s Web site at www.wandabrunstetter.com and feel free to e-mail her at [email protected].