A Husband For Mari (The Amish Matchmaker 2) (5 page)

The space was a beehive of activity. Men and boys were setting up long tables and arranging chairs while women in Amish
kapps
and starched white aprons carried in large stainless-steel containers and placed them on counters along one wall.

“Mari!” Sara waved to her from the food area. “What do you think of my hospitality barn?”

She laughed. “You can hardly call it a barn. It’s beautiful.”

This building was nothing like the barns Mari remembered from her childhood; some had smelled of hay and animal feed, but others were not so pleasant. She shivered involuntarily, remembering her uncle’s dank and forbidding stable, all shadows, cobwebs and sagging doors and windows. She had spent many mornings and evenings there milking the cows in the semidarkness, and it wasn’t a memory that she cared to linger over.

She walked over to where Sara was standing. “When you said you were having dinner in a barn, I wasn’t thinking of anything like this. This is terrific.” In her memories, her uncle’s barn had always been damp and drafty, even in summer. This, in contrast, was a cheerful place, clean and welcoming.

“I’m pleased with how it came together,” Sara said, planting her hands on her hips. “If you’re looking for Zachary, I saw him just a few minutes ago. If I know Ellie, she’s pressed him into service back in the kitchen. Tacos tonight, so there’s a lot of prep work.”

“There’s a
kitchen
in your barn?” Mari asked.

“Right through that doorway.” She pointed. “Every hospitality barn needs a kitchen, don’t you think? You can go help if you like. I know Ellie needed someone to start the salsa.”

“What exactly is a hospitality barn?” Mari hung her coat on a hook on the wall. More Amish were coming into the building now, and two teenage girls were spreading the tables with white tablecloths. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“Made it up myself. I wanted someplace larger than my home where I could get young people together,” Sara explained. “For my matchmaking, so that men and women of courting age could meet. Also, our church community needed a safe place to hold youth meetings, singings and frolics. This barn was an answer to our prayers, and it practically fell into my lap. It’s more than a hundred years old and is in wonderful shape.”

“But the expense of moving the structure.” Mari looked around, still in awe. “It couldn’t have been cheap.”

“A bargain at any price. A lot of Amish communities have problems with their kids being lured into bad habits by the free ways of the English. Even Amish kids need somewhere away from adults to let down their hair, so to speak.”

Mari nodded in agreement.

“On Wednesday evenings our local youth group, the Gleaners
,
meet here. They do game nights, birthday parties and work frolics here, as well. It’s good that Amish children learn the value of work and responsibility, but boys have a lot of energy. If we can channel that energy in a positive way, the entire community benefits.”

“I didn’t realize you were involved in so many projects,” Mari said. “You haven’t lived here in Seven Poplars that long.”

“
Ne
, I haven’t, but ours is a close-knit and caring community. I feel like I was called to come here.”

“Sure seems nice.” Mari smoothed her skirt. “Not anything like where I grew up. I don’t think anything had changed in our town in a century.”

“Tradition is good.” Sara nodded thoughtfully. “It’s served our faith well for hundreds of years, but as I see it, we don’t live in a vacuum. We have to be open to change when it can be done without endangering our way of life.”

Mari had known that Sara, who never had children of her own, had always been interested in kids, but she hadn’t realized that her concern went so deep. “And you did all of this for other people’s children?”

Sara chuckled. “Not alone. It’s really for everyone. My socials are always open to the entire neighborhood. You rarely run into opposition from parents if you have a preacher or bishop present.” She lowered her voice. “I’m an obedient member of my church, but some of my ideas do stretch the boundaries of tradition.”

Mari nodded. She’d always admired Sara, and now she admired her even more. It was endearing to see that her kindness didn’t extend to just old acquaintances who’d fallen on hard times.

Families were filing in, and Mari glanced around, hoping to catch sight of Zachary. So many people who all knew each other was daunting to her. She could imagine how it might be difficult to her son.

The main door swung open again, and James and another man entered, followed closely by Zachary. “Mom!” her son called. He said something to James, who smiled at him and waved him toward her and Sara. Zachary ran to join them. “Hey, Mom.” He stopped short and shoved his hands into his pockets.

“I’ll be in the kitchen,” Sara said, giving Mari a pat on the shoulder. “Through that doorway.”

“I’ll be in in just a minute to help.” Mari turned back to her son. His cheeks were bright red, and she noticed that the cuff of his hoodie was torn. She thought about telling him to run back to the house and grab one of the spare coats from Sara’s house, but he looked so happy that she didn’t want to seem critical. And to his credit, he was wearing a wool cap pulled down over his ears, like the other boys. She’d thought of Zachary often today, wondering how he was making out. It was a relief to see that he seemed in good spirits.

“I was helping James with the horses.” Zachary bounced on the balls of his feet. “He’s teaching me how to clean Jericho’s hooves. Stones get stuck in there.”

“He learns quick, your boy.”

Mari looked up to see James walking over to join them. “I hope he isn’t being a bother,” she said.

James shook his head. “No. Not at all.” The warmth of his expression told her that he wasn’t simply being polite. “It’s a good thing to find a young man who’s interested in the care of animals.” He raised one shoulder in an easy shrug. “With a horse, feet and legs are everything. They’re surprisingly frail for such a large animal. You have to pay close attention to their health.”

“Absolutely,” she agreed. “My uncle had a horse that had to be put down because a sharp rock caused a hoof infection that spread up the animal’s leg.”

Zachary looked up at her with obvious admiration on his face. “You never told me that your uncle had a horse.”

A lot I haven’t told you
, she thought. But she just smiled. There would be time when he was older to tell him the whole story of her life before he became her life. “I’m going into the kitchen to help Sara, Zachary. Want to come along?”

“Can’t. James says the men have things to do.” He glanced at James again. “I can’t believe we’re having tacos tonight. I didn’t know you people...” Mari saw the hint of a flush creeping up his neck and face as he averted his gaze from James’s. “Ate stuff like tacos,” he finished, suddenly fascinated by the toe of one of his sneakers.

“I love tacos,” James said. “And I like them spicy.”

Zachary grinned, his eyes wide with admiration. “Me, too. And lots of sour cream.”

James looked to Mari. “I could use Zach’s help,” he said. “If it’s all right with you. I’d like him to meet some other neighborhood boys his age. We’ll be right here in the barn.”

“Please, Mom,” her son begged. “I’ll come and help you later. Promise.”

James waved to a slender boy with an olive complexion. “’Kota, come here,” he called.

’Kota ran to join them. Mari didn’t think he was Amish because he had an English haircut, but his plain blue sweater and hand-sewn denim jacket were similar to what the other Amish boys were wearing.

“’Kota is one of Hannah’s grandsons,” James explained. “’Kota, this is Zachary. Do you think you could take him up to the hayloft? I’d like you two to roll down eight bales of straw. Sara says we’re going to play a game later, and we’ll need the straw.”

’Kota nodded. “Sure. We can do that. Come on, Zach. It’s neat up in the loft.” The two boys dashed off together.

Mari watched Zachary follow ’Kota up a ladder and climb through a trapdoor overhead. It was all she could do not to call out to him to be careful. “Are you sure that it’s safe?” Mari asked James. “Zachary hasn’t had any experience in barns.”

“Don’t worry,” James assured her. “Nine-year-old boys climb like squirrels. It comes as natural to them as breathing. ’Kota’s a good kid. Zachary will be fine with him.”

“Is he Amish?” Mari asked, her gaze still fixed on the now-vacant ladder.

“Mennonite. His mom, Grace, is married to John Hartman, the local veterinarian. You’ll like Grace and John. They’re good parents. And Zachary needs to make some friends in Seven Poplars.”

“You’re right,” she said. “He does. And I appreciate your help.” She smiled at him, thinking how nice it was that he was taking such an interest in Zachary.

She looked at him and he looked at her. He was dressed like all the other Amish men milling around inside Sara’s barn, but there was something that made him stand out. “Well,” she said, beginning to feel awkward. “Guess I’d better go give Sara a hand in the kitchen.”

“
Ya.
Because there will be a lot of hungry people here tonight.” He returned her smile. “Me included.” He paused and gave her a thoughtful look. “And no need to keep thanking me. I like Zachary, and I’ve spent enough time with him to already know he’s going to be fine. You really don’t need to worry about him. I think you just need to give him time and a little breathing room and he’ll settle in just fine.”

“Easier said than done.” She chuckled. “The
don’t worry
part.”

“That’s what my sister says. She tells me that it’s part of the requirements for being a mother. But you need to give yourself some credit. You’ve done a good job with Zachary. He may kick up his heels at times, like any high-spirited colt, but he’s got a level head on his shoulders. He’s a son you can be proud of.”

“Thank you,” she said. “That means more than you can guess.” She grimaced. “It’s just been the two of us, and sometimes...” She hesitated, surprised that she was talking so easily about her private feelings with James. Again. But oddly, although she’d only known him a few days, James didn’t feel like a stranger. He seemed like an old friend. “Sometimes I wonder if I’m being the kind of mother he needs.”

“I’m sure you are,” James said. “He thinks the world of you.” He nodded. “Now I’d best get on with my assignments or Sara will want to know where her straw bales are.”

He strode off in the direction of the loft ladder, and Mari found her way back to the well-equipped kitchen. A plump woman that Mari hadn’t met was standing at a big gas stove, stirring sizzling ground beef in several cast-iron frying pans. “Reinforcements have arrived,” Mari announced to Ellie. It was funny that she’d been tired when she walked to the barn but now she felt so full of energy. And happy to be included in the evening.

“Goot.”
Ellie was standing on a wooden stool to reach the counter. “Anna, this is Sara’s Mari Troyer. Mari, Anna Mast, one of Hannah’s daughters.”

“Welcome to Seven Poplars.” Anna smiled broadly. She was a big woman with bright red hair tucked under her
kapp
and a smile that warmed Mari to her toes. “Sara told us all about you. We’re so glad to have you here. You want to take my place or start making up the salsa?”

“Whatever would help most.” Mari liked Anna at once, with her warm expression and laughing eyes. “You’re Grace’s sister, right?”

“One of them,” Anna replied. “Take my spatula and keep this meat from burning. I’ll mix up the salsa. Watch me, and you’ll know how to do it next time.”

“Everyone will be starving,” Ellie said.

Jerushah and another young woman who Anna introduced as her sister Rebecca came into the kitchen and began to chop onions and grate cheese. Soon the five of them were laughing and talking in
Deitsch
. Rebecca, a pretty girl a little younger than the rest of them, was as friendly as her sister Anna, and Mari liked her at once, too.

“Oh, don’t forget,” Rebecca said to Anna after a few minutes, “tomorrow is the coat exchange at
Mam
’s. She’ll need help.”

“I’ll be there.” Anna glanced at Mari. “You should come. Sara says you’re a good organizer. We could use your help.”

“
Ya
, come,” Rebecca urged. “We have a good time, and our
mam
really does need extra hands.”

“I’d love to.” Mari added more fresh ground beef to a frying pan. “But I have to work until noon.”

“Perfect,” Rebecca said. “I’ll pick you up a little after one. It doesn’t start until two o’clock, but there’s a lot to do there before the moms and grandmothers arrive. You have a son about... What is he? Eight years old?”

“Nine.” Mari dumped the pan of cooked ground beef into a strainer.

“They grow like weeds at that age, don’t they?” Anna asked. “Anyway, if you have any boots or coats, sweaters or hats that he’s outgrown, bring them. We call it a coat exchange, but really it’s a clothing exchange for our kids. The whole afternoon is a little crazy, but it’s fun. You’ll enjoy yourself.”

Mari smiled but didn’t say anything. She loved the idea of a coat exchange; she just wished she had a coat to contribute.

“And be sure to take something home with you,” Rebecca insisted. “If you have a boy, you can always use another winter coat. We do this twice a year, midwinter and summer before school starts.”

Anna chuckled. “Mari may not want her Englisher boy wearing an Amish coat. They’re warm, and they hold up good, though.”

“You can meet our mother and most of the women in Seven Poplars,” Rebecca offered. “And you and your son should stay for supper. My sisters will be there, and your son can meet our kids. It will be fun—I promise.”

Mari wavered. “I’ll be glad to help out, but I’m not sure that your mother will want me to stay for—”

“Our mam?”
Anna laughed. “The more at our mother’s table, the happier she is.”

“She’s coming,” Rebecca told her sister. Then she glanced at Mari. “You’ll have a good time, I promise you. And so will your son.”

“All right.” Mari gave in with a smile. Everyone was so nice that she wanted to pinch herself to prove she wasn’t dreaming. “Thank you.”