A Marriage for Meghan (43 page)

Gideon met the gaze of his beloved Ruth across the lawn, and for a few moments they basked in parental pride. All three of their daughters had turned into fine women. His eldest, Abigail Graber, kept one eye on her sisters while the other watched Joanna Kauffman for any sign of early labor. And their sons? James and John, standing in the background, had become fine Christian men. They had already taken over most farm chores, leaving him to his books and prayers. Indeed, the Lord had been very generous to Gideon Yost.

When Catherine and Meghan finished addressing the district, the school board president spoke next. He commended the graduating eighth grade class and announced that the board would like to hire Meghan Yost as head teacher in the fall. Gideon watched his youngest daughter turn the color of ripe strawberries. Then all the students crowded around her with congratulatory hugs. Even Owen Shockley stood among the well-wishers.

The bishop watched the affectionate exchange until he spotted a late arrival to the picnic—a man who deserved his attention. Thomas Mast had slipped in unobserved. He stood viewing the ceremony from the buffet while eating a piece of fried chicken.

Thomas grinned as Gideon approached. “Your daughter looks rather pleased, Bishop.”

“You could say that, Agent Mast. I’m glad to see you here.” Gideon slapped the FBI agent on the back. “Has the district left you enough to eat? Some of those boys can consume food like oxen.”

“There’s plenty. Besides, I want to save room for pie.”

“Let me get us a couple of slices. Then I’d like to apologize for jumping to a wrong conclusion a while back.”

Thomas set down his chicken leg. “Bring me two pieces—different kinds, Bishop. But forget about your apology. There’s no need for that. Anyway, we have more important things to discuss.”

Gideon halted halfway to the dessert table and turned back.

“Do you recall a man named Solomon Trotsler?”

G
ideon began the nonpreaching Sunday with prayers and Scripture reading. From his bedroom window, he watched the sun rise over the hay and cornfields, his rolling green pastures where spring calves followed their bovine
mamms
, and the pine-covered hills in the distance. If he thanked God for His generous blessings a thousand times, it still wouldn’t be enough. Even his stiff joints didn’t ache as much as usual when he headed downstairs for breakfast.

“
Guder mariye
,” Ruth greeted. She was sipping coffee at the table, wearing a bright smile and her Sunday attire.

“Good morning to you.” He poured a cup of coffee and slipped into the chair beside her.

“I saw you talking with the other elders yesterday at the picnic,” she said. “Did the conversation go well?”

“It did. I didn’t want my
kinner
to know of my doubts and insecurities, so I said nothing last night before bed.”

“Didn’t want them to find out their
daed
is human?
Ach
, Gideon, I think they already figured that one out.” She winked one warm brown eye.

“I suppose so.” He sipped his coffee black, foregoing his usual fresh milk.

“I trust they offered support and the encouragement you needed.” She lifted an eyebrow.

“They encouraged me,
jah
, but it was God who restored my faith in myself.” He reached for a blueberry muffin from the plate, taking a bite before he shared his other news. “I also talked to Agent Mast yesterday when he came to the picnic. He stopped by for something to eat and to play a little softball.”

“I recognized him,
ehemann
. He does tend to stand out from the rest of the district.” A ghost of a smile flickered across her face.

“Two days ago he and the sheriff arrested Solomon Trotsler for the acts of vandalism in the county.” Gideon waited, knowing Ruth wouldn’t have forgotten that name.

“Oh, no. He was the one? Ripping down fences, destroying crops and quilts, and burning down barns and produce stands?”

Gideon nodded. “We knew he had left the district, but apparently he hadn’t gone far. He was living at the campground west of Shreve. They’ve been staying open year-round during the past couple of years.”

Ruth shifted uneasily in her chair. “Solomon wrote those awful words on the walls of the quilt shop?” Her face paled to paper white.

“He did. The man is filled with a snake’s venom. He blames the folks of our district for his life running off track.”

“But you and the other elders gave him a chance to repent and ask God to forgive his sins. He refused, saying that loving Edna Stoll wasn’t a sin.” Ruth spoke in a low whisper, despite the fact they were alone in the room. “Even though she was married to another.”

“He made his choice,
fraa
. Edna chose to confess her sins on her knees and seek forgiveness. She wanted to remain with her husband. Solomon couldn’t accept that she didn’t want to leave with him.” The bishop swallowed, unsure how much he should tell. He didn’t wish to gossip. “Agent Mast said Solomon turned to heavy drinking, which only heightened his anger and depression.”

“May God have mercy on him.” Ruth stared down at the surface of the well-worn table.

“Agent Mast said Solomon could be treated for alcoholism in jail and perhaps receive job training as well. Then maybe he can find a place in the English world.”

Ruth’s expression suddenly turned confused. “And the beating of our boys at the pizza shop? This had been Solomon Trotsler too? How could that be?”

“No, Agent Mast explained his theory on that to James and John and me. We feel it’s best to just forget the matter. The pizza shop and the mess at the schoolhouse weren’t related to the other vandalism.”

Ruth shrugged, indicating her opinion on the matter. “I’m thankful that peace finally has been restored.”

Gideon took another bite of muffin. “Let’s pray for an uneventful summer. Perhaps we’ll be tested only by mosquitoes and poison ivy for a while.”

Ruth brought the coffeepot over and refilled their cups. “I will remember Solomon in my prayers tonight—that he finds the help he needs.”

For a long moment, the bishop listened to utter silence in the house. “Where are my sons and daughters? Are they coming visiting with us? I hope to leave within the hour and be back by three o’clock. I invited Agent Mast to share a sandwich supper with us before he leaves. He’s driving back to Cleveland today.”

“James is in the shower, John is getting dressed, and our girls are still upstairs.” Ruth ticked off their offspring on her fingers. “Catherine will come with us, but not Meghan. She’s taking a drive with Jacob.” Ruth angled a sly smile toward him.

“Courting?
Gut
, especially since that Shultz boy has already joined the church.”

Ruth bent over to kiss the top of his head. “Let’s not count any new laying hens yet, as the English like to say.”

Gideon grinned. Ruth knew full well the correct wording of that expression but amused herself by changing the phraseology. She was in a jovial mood today. And that was only one more thing to be thankful for.

Meghan inhaled deeply at her bedroom window, savoring the mixed fragrances of honeysuckle and lilac that drifted on the breeze. By the middle of next month, the heat and humidity would curtail any inclination to sit by the window, brushing her hair and watching cows in the meadow. She watched lacy clouds dance across an azure sky. They took on the shape of ships bobbing on the ocean, and then they changed into the profiles of famous men before shifting once more into towering skyscrapers rising in an urban landscape.

A shiver of expectation and unbridled joy ran the length of her spine. A woman seldom allowed herself such emotions, for fear sorrow or disappointment would soon rear their heads. But they wouldn’t come today. The long summer stretched promisingly before her. She would tend
mamm
’s garden, sew a new dress or two, give her bedroom a fresh coat of paint…and enjoy the attention of Jacob Shultz.

Her former best friend was taking her for a ride in his courting buggy. Maybe they would stop in town for supper—sharing a pizza in Shreve sounded delicious. Jacob would listen to her tales of students’ antics during the past term. And she would laugh at his jokes, even those she’d heard several times before.

It was good to be courted.

It was good to be loved.

Meghan pinned her hair into a bun, replaced her
kapp
, and went downstairs to the kitchen.

Ruth sat reading a devotional at the table. She pushed a plate of muffins toward her daughter when Meghan slipped into the opposite chair. “Eat something so you won’t be starving later.” She cocked her head to one side and then the other, studying her. “Did you apply cosmetics to your cheeks, daughter?” asked Ruth.

“Of course not.” Meghan felt her face grow even warmer.

“
Ach
, then it must be the fact that Jacob is on his way. You look especially glowing today.”

Meghan grabbed a muffin and took a small bite. “And how exactly did you know Jacob was coming?”

“A
mamm
has her methods. We have a secret way of finding out what our
kinner
are up to.” Ruth winked and grinned. “You’ll learn those ways yourself someday—probably not that far off from now either.”

“Do you think so? You think I’ll have my own family some day?”

“
Jah
, if the Lord is willing.”

“Right now I’m so happy I don’t want anything to change. On the one hand, I want these spring days to last forever. But when I remember I’ll have my own classroom this fall, I can’t wait for September to come. I ordered a teaching manual on phonics from a mail-order catalog that I’m eager to try out.” Meghan swept muffin crumbs into her hand to dump in the trash. “I long for the day Jacob asks me to marry him and we move into the little house on his farm. But once
bopplin
start coming, I’ll have to quit teaching just like Joanna.” Meghan grabbed her head with both hands. “Goodness, I’m starting to sound
narrish
, aren’t I?”

Ruth Yost laughed good-naturedly. “Not crazy at all, dear girl. Just young and
en lieb
.” She patted Meghan’s shoulder. “Enjoy your summer vacation. Take each day as it comes, grateful for the gifts God places in your path.”

Meghan met her
mamm
’s eye. “Is it wrong for me to be so happy? The Good Book says to expect trials and tribulations, through which we strengthen our faith as Christians.” She spoke the words in a hushed tone.

Ruth burst out laughing. “You will doubtlessly get your fair share of trials and tribulations down the line. For now, rest easy. The second chapter of Ecclesiastes says God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness to the person who pleases Him. So it’s not wrong for you to be happy.”

“
Danki
.” Meghan peered into her mother’s face, feeling a rush of emotion.

“Off with you,” Ruth ordered. “I think I hear the sound of a buggy in the yard.”

Meghan flew to the screen door as a familiar standardbred trotted up the driveway. Stepping onto the porch, she called out between her cupped palms. “This isn’t a racetrack, Jacob Shultz. You’ll scare our chickens and they won’t lay any eggs.” She walked down the steps with feigned annoyance.

Jacob stopped the buggy a few yards from the side porch and jumped down. Like a whirlwind, he picked her up and swung her around. Her skirt and apron floated out in the breeze. “Just who do you think you’re scolding, Meghan Yost? One of your ornery eighth graders?”