A Widow's Hope (41 page)

“Who?” Hannah asked, happy to see the “Welcome to Sugar Creek” sign at last. The drive always took longer than she thought it would.

“The English family that raises sheep like we do. We met the son at Mrs. Dunn’s store. He invited us to his farm to see their operation, but we never went. Of course, we’ve had our share of things going
on since the fire.” Emma busily wiped her hands and face with a towel she’d brought along.

“Emma, you can’t be serious. We’ve never met Mr. and Mrs. Davis. And we were introduced to their son only briefly. You don’t invite complete strangers to a wedding.”

Emma smoothed down her
kapp
and apron. “It was just an idea, seeing that you and I are in the same line of business as they are. Oh, my, look at that. There’s barely room to tie up. Everyone decided to come to Sugar Creek today.”

Hannah had reached the central parking area for Amish buggies and wagons, and it was indeed crowded. “There’s a bit of shade if I can squeeze in between those two buggies in the back,” she said, and clucked to the horse.

Emma jumped down before Hannah could set the hand brake. “I’ll fetch water for the horse and meet you inside the fabric shop. I can’t wait to see their selection.” Emma skipped off, swinging the bucket like a character from a children’s book.

Seeing that you and I are in the same line of business?
Hannah shook her head. Emma was changing from a child to a young woman before her eyes.

But one had to admire her boundless energy. By the time they left town, they had purchased fabric and notions for her wedding dress in a warm, dark navy, ordered a date-nut cake with walnut buttercream frosting, and arranged to rent a cooking trailer and cooling trailer for the big day. Hannah had argued against both as unnecessary, but in the end she relented. If Simon invited many of the people who had helped on the barn, they would need the rolling kitchen with cookstoves, sinks, and a large supply of dishes, cups, and flatware. The cooling trailer, equipped with propane refrigerators, would keep cold foods safe until serving time. They had also dropped off the spun wool yarn and raw wool at Mrs. Dunn’s shop. Mrs. Dunn had read about the fire in the local paper and was willing to wait longer for the natural fabric dyes they’d been working on. Emma verbally
invited her to the wedding with far more enthusiasm than necessary. Finally they bought netting for Jordan almonds and paper products at the dollar store. And still Hannah had to practically drag her niece to the buggy.

So much for a quiet wedding…if Emma had her way, the entire Amish population would be invited.

T
he sun shone with the slanted, soft rays of early autumn, lending a divine quality to the light. A cool breeze blew from the west, chasing away the last of the summer humidity. Large flocks of migrating birds added happy music from the treetops as Hannah opened her window and inhaled the crisp air on her wedding day. She had slept deep and dreamless, without a worry or troublesome thought. Her sister and niece had already fretted over each small detail, so she could savor this last, special day in their loving home. Hannah was happy beyond what any God-fearing Amish woman had a right to be. She was gaining Seth for a husband and sweet Phoebe for her daughter, while keeping her flock of sheep. And Julia’s family would still be just around the corner. Hannah chanted prayers of thanksgiving as she made her bed, lest God think she’d forgotten that everything was by His hand.

After a final deep gulp of brisk air, she closed the window, washed carefully from her pitcher and bowl, and dressed for the occasion. The deep blue dress fit perfectly, a testament to the skill of three women putting their heads together on short notice. She glanced in her small hand mirror and felt happy to see her burnished cheeks and some of her freckles had begun to fade. “A wider brim,” she
mumbled, brushing her freshly washed hair. “A wider bonnet brim if I’m gonna spend so much time in the fields.”

“Who are you talking to, Aunt Hannah?” Emma stuck her head through the doorway and then stepped in and peered around curiously. The young woman was already wearing her bridesmaid dress, which was a lovely soft rose color, suitable for someone who hadn’t joined the church yet. She settled herself next to Hannah on the bed, trying not to wrinkle her skirt.

“Just the one silly woman who’s in here,” Hannah replied, tugging her hairbrush through a nasty tangle.

Emma took the brush away from Hannah and applied it with long, smooth strokes, using her fingers to ease out snarls. “You’re not silly, not at all. You’re the smartest woman I know. You, and
mamm,
and Miss Stoddard.” She reached for the pin box and carefully wound Hannah’s hair into a tight, neat bun, pinning it securely. After settling Hannah’s new
kapp
in place, Emma tucked stray locks under the heavily starched cloth and leaned back to admire her handiwork. “There you are. Perfect.”

“
Danki,
dear one,” Hannah said, steadying her nerves with deep breaths. “I have no patience with snarls. I might have yanked a bald spot if you hadn’t come to my rescue.”

“Even a bald spot wouldn’t change a thing,” Emma said softly. “You look so beautiful today, Aunt Hannah.” Her voice brimmed with emotion. “You shall be the most beautiful bride.”

When Hannah looked, she saw tears in Emma’s sea blue eyes. “You are sweet, dear child. Every woman looks her best on her wedding day. It is the promise of a new life, a new beginning—all part of God’s plan for man and woman.”

Emma laid her hand tentatively on her aunt’s arm. “Do you think some man will one day choose me?” She sounded like the little girl she so recently was, not the grown woman she was trying so hard to become.

Hannah didn’t mean to laugh at so sincere a question but
couldn’t help herself. “I do indeed think some lucky young man will choose you, but I know your
daed
is hoping that day will be long in coming.”

“What day is that?” Julia asked, joining them in the small bedroom.

“The day you see your eldest daughter wed,” Hannah said softly, meeting Julia’s eye. Her sister looked well rested today, almost serene. Pain no longer contorted her fine features.

“
Ach,
Simon and I have already decided we’ll run any suitors off with that ornery ram of yours. They’ll be afraid to venture from their buggies with the sharp horns on that one.” Julia laughed from deep in her belly, the way she used to.

Emma rolled her eyes. “See what I’m up against, Aunt Hannah? Now they’re putting a watch ram on patrol.”

“Tell any future suitors to keep a bag of apples handy at all times,” Hannah whispered in Emma’s ear as she slipped the brush and pins into the drawer.

“Time for breakfast,” Julia announced. “Both of you need to eat something. It’ll be a while before the wedding feast. You don’t want your stomach growling and drowning out the preacher. Our mamm and Miss Stoddad are already at the table. Do you want those two to finish all the hotcakes I fixed?”

“Where’s
daed
?” Hannah asked, hoping she’d get a chance to spend time with her parents today.

“Outside with the men. He has already eaten. Let’s hurry.”

Hannah and Emma rose to their feet simultaneously. They both eyed one another and then ran for the doorway like schoolgirls on recess. Once in the kitchen, they indeed found mamm and Laura Stoddard with tall stacks of pancakes on their plates. But plenty more waited on Julia’s large stoneware platter. Either the men had eaten like sparrows or Julia had fried up several dozen on her stovetop griddle.

Her mother rose to embrace each of them in turn before they settled down to the business of eating.

“A lovely day,” Laura said as she took another dainty bite. “Not a rain cloud in sight.”

Hannah grinned so broadly it felt as though her face might break. Laura, who’d been instrumental in getting Seth and Hannah back together at the haystack dinner, would stand up for her along with Emma. Because she’d already been baptized, Laura’s dress was a deep wine color, but it was still as lovely as Emma’s.

Hannah ate two hotcakes and drank a glass of milk. Anything more than that she couldn’t handle with her current level of excitement.

Just when butterflies started to take flight in her stomach, Simon opened the back door and announced, “It’s time. The bishop is ready to start the preaching service.” Wearing his best Sunday clothes with an unusual twinkle in his eye, Simon looked younger than his age by a decade. “Anybody who’s coming I s’pose is already here and seated inside. Time to get you hitched, Hannah.”

Everyone in the room laughed, but no one more merrily than the bride. “Don’t sound so eager, brother-in-law. I’m only moving around the corner,” Hannah teased while Julia stacked the breakfast dishes in the sink. Hannah rose from the table and walked with calm assurance out the back door, brushing a light kiss on Simon’s cheek on her way by. Emma, looking as though she might float into the wispy clouds overhead, and Laura, glowing with joyous anticipation, followed her down the flagstone path to the barn.

After the three-hour preaching service, the bishop performed the marriage ceremony. While Laura and Emma stood up for Hannah, Joshua and Thomas Kline stood up for Seth. Simon had deemed Matthew too young for the honor.

If the bridegroom was nervous, he didn’t show it as Seth Miller pledged to love, honor, and cherish Hannah Brown forever in front of friends, family, and half of Holmes County. Hannah promised to love, honor, and obey the man who had captured her heart. While Simon beamed, Julia cried, Emma sniffled, Leah giggled, Matthew
rubbed at a scratchy collar, and Henry appeared fascinated by a bee trapped on the wrong side of the windowpane.

And Hannah? Hannah glowed both inwardly and outwardly, hoping her joy wouldn’t seem prideful.

After the service, they moved to the other end of the barn, which had been decorated and set for the noon meal. Hannah looked over the bountiful buffet and the beautifully appointed tables, including a bridal table filled with special cakes and goodies. There were the bowls of Jordan almonds Emma had insisted upon, Julia’s blackberry tarts, which had been Hannah’s childhood favorite, and the date-nut wedding cake.

As the guests milled about the festive barn, selecting a seat or lining up for the lunch buffet, Seth led his bride to the willow tree for a quiet word. “Well, you’ve gone and done it, Mrs. Miller. There’s no running away now.” He brushed kisses across the back of her hand.

“I hope you haven’t married me because of my sheep,” she said playfully.

He laughed with good humor. “Are you kidding? I only learned to love those smelly bags of wool because I fell in love with you. I pretty much agreed with Simon in the beginning.”

Hannah stared into his dark eyes. “You’re teasing me, right?”

Seth wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her tenderly. “Let’s just say I
do
like them now, but sheep—same as pickled beets— take some time to grow on a person. But once they do, you never want to be too far away again.” He kissed the tip of her nose and added with a wink, “Let’s go cut into the chow line. I’m hungry.”

Hannah wanted to pinch his ribs or give his beard a good tug, but with Thomas and Catherine heading their way from one direction, and Laura and Joshua from the other, she didn’t want the future brides learning any bad habits.

Seth would get away with his mischief this time because Hannah loved him so much. After all, it was their wedding day.

And if God saw fit to grant them a long life together, she would get plenty of chances to get in some pinching and beard pulling.

Singing and visiting lasted all afternoon, and games were played by the younger set. Many a couple strolled hand in hand through the red and golden woodlot and down by the stream. Although wedding gifts were discouraged as it was a second marriage for both, Hannah thanked each woman who brought a bag of sheared wool or dried flowers for making natural dyes. Seth received some new tools from those men who couldn’t resist bringing something to the event.

English neighbors and friends began to arrive for the evening meal, parking their cars and trucks in neat rows down by the road. The tables had been reset with dozens of scented votive candles and plenty of lanterns hung from the rafters on gold cords. The rustic barn felt elegant in the soft, warm glow of candlelight.

Dr. and Mrs. Longo stopped in with a certificate for one free farm visit and a large sack of pecans from their recent vacation. Mrs. Dunn and her husband came by, bringing an extra spinning wheel she’d picked up at auction. Mr. and Mrs. Lee arrived with jars of homemade applesauce and grins that didn’t cease all evening. Mrs. Lee winked at Hannah each time their gazes met, happy that she helped stop the move back to Pennsylvania. After dark many families wished the couple a safe wedding trip and drifted to their buggies or cars. But a handful of young people stayed until almost midnight, singing, sipping cider, and nibbling desserts.

When no one was looking, Hannah and Seth stole away toward the house, tired but content—not wishing the special day to end but eager for the sweetness yet to come. As they climbed the steps to Hannah’s old room, both uttered silent prayers that the love they felt tonight would last a lifetime.