An Amish Christmas Quilt (27 page)

He cupped his hands on the top of his head as if to keep it from exploding. “That sounds painful.”

She giggled and carefully cut the little green apple into sixteen slices. “Here you go,” she said, handing him some slices and putting the tin cup between them. “This is like caramel-dipped apples, except they're chocolate-dipped.”

“Hey,” he said. “I got ten pieces and you only got six. No fair.”

“You built the fire for our little party, not to mention the fact that you saved my life. You deserve more.”

“You cooked Christmas dinner for Lou and sacrificed your potholders to my fire. You deserve them just as much as I do.”

She ignored his attempt to be gracious and dipped one of her apple slices into the chocolate. The silky melted chocolate combined with the crisp, tangy apple tasted better than the best batch of
lebkuchen
she'd ever made. It tasted like Christmas memories and Christmases yet to come. It tasted like being home safe with her family's arms securely around her.

“Are you okay?” Gid asked.

She sniffed back the tears as they pooled in her eyes. “It wonders me if Mary and Joseph felt like this. Alone and away from home, with no one to rely on but each other.”

“And God.”

The emotion welled inside her. “
Jah
. God is watching over us tonight.”

He slid close and wrapped his arm around her. “Warm enough?”

She'd never felt so cozy. She gazed into his sky-blue eyes and nodded.

Smiling back, he tightened his arm around her and began to sing. “
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht
.” “Silent Night” in German. He had such a rich tenor voice, as if all the herald angels joined with him.

“
Alles schläft; einsam wacht, Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
” All are sleeping, alone watches only the close, most holy couple.

“
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar
.” Blessed boy in curly hair.

“
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh! Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
” Sleep in heavenly peace.

Although her voice wasn't near as angelic, she joined him on the second and third verses. Her heart ached to think of the lonely couple from Galilee. How forsaken they must have felt. In comparison, Dottie knew she had nothing to be sad about and every reason to rejoice.

When the last strains of their carol floated to the ceiling, Dottie thought her heart might overflow with gratitude. She was safe and warm. Gid had trekked through a blizzard to save her, and God had sent His Son to save them both.

Gid put another log on the fire, sat down, and grinned at her. “In eighth grade they asked me to recite the Christmas story for the school program because I was the best memorizer.”

She rolled her eyes. Gid Stutzman, cocky and braggy.

“Do you want to hear it?”

“Of course,” she said. “It's Christmas Eve.”

Gid leaned in and pressed his lips to her forehead. She ignored the somersaults her head was doing. “
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn
.”

The fire crackled as Dottie nestled deeper into his embrace.

“
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

“
And it came to pass, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger
.”

The firelight danced on the contours of his face as he fell silent and stared into the flames.

One by one, Dottie picked up the foil squares that had been wrapped around the Kisses. She molded each of them into a tiny silver star and laid them in a line on the edge of the brick fireplace. “To remember the wise men who followed the star,” she said.

“And found the Light of the World.”

“Do you know ‘In the Bleak Midwinter'?” she asked quietly.

“It's my favorite.”

Gid smiled. “Do you want me to hum it?”

“How about just singing?”

“I'm a wonderful-
gute
singer.”

She shook her head indulgently and kissed him on the cheek. “That's one of the things I like about you.”

He held his breath momentarily as he stared at her mouth. After a pause that seemed to last for hours, he began to sing. “
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
”

A gust of wind rattled the boards on the window. Dottie shivered involuntarily.

“
What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part. Yet what I can I give Him . . . give my heart.
”

She leaned her head back against him and savored his warmth. “Merry Christmas, Gid.”

“Merry Christmas, Dottie.”

He didn't take his eyes off her lips as he wrapped his arms all the way around her and pulled her close. Her heart pounded so hard in her chest that she thought her ribs might crack. He brought his lips down on hers and kissed her gently.

Slipping her arms around his neck, she pulled him closer. He obliged by tightening his arms around her. A sigh came from deep in her throat. It was a bright summer day, and she was sitting on the beach in the warm glow of the sun. He had such nice lips.

He pulled away, and she reluctantly let him go. A teasing smile played at those nice lips. “I'm sure glad I didn't go to Mexico,” he murmured.

“Me too.”

“It's because I'm such a
gute
kisser.”

She cuffed him on the shoulder. “Do all the girls tell you that?”

He chuckled softly. “You know I'm kidding. You're the only girl I've ever kissed, Dottie.” The embers of a powerful emotion glowed in his eyes. “And the only girl I ever want to kiss.”

She felt as if she might burst with joy as her heart soared to the sky. “I'd like that.”

His smile was as dazzling as the sun reflected off the snow. “This is the best Christmas ever.”

The horse whinnied, sounding unusually close. They turned to see Pete watching over them, his head sticking from the doorway while his body stayed in the other room.

“I think Pete likes the Christmas story,” Gid said, standing up and nudging his horse back the way he'd come. “I better get more snow in the bucket. They can drink even if we can't do anything about feeding them until morning.” He took Dottie's coat and spread it out in front of the fire. “You should get some sleep yet. You've had quite a day.”

“What about you?”

“Your
dat
wouldn't be so keen on us sleeping in the same room.”

“You know he'll be grateful for what you've done.”

Gid rubbed the back of his neck. “It doesn't matter. I won't get to sleep anyway. My head is so full of you.”

The way he said it sent a tingle up her spine.

He squatted beside her and rubbed the back of his finger along her cheek. “I'll keep the fire burning so you'll stay warm, and I won't let Pete trample you.”

She curled her lips. “
Denki
.”

“I promise no harm will come to you.”

“I'm sure it won't. You are a
gute
camper.”

“The best in the world,” he said, cocking an eyebrow and coaxing her to laugh.

Dottie lay down, and Gid spread the quilt over her and kissed her forehead like a father might do when tucking his child into bed.
In the bleak midwinter, snow on snow on snow.
Jesus had come for her and every other poor sinner in this world. And He'd come on a night like this.

She closed her eyes knowing she wouldn't sleep a wink. Gid Stutzman had kissed her. That thought was enough to keep her awake and floating in the clouds for days.

 

Gid sensed the morning before he actually saw it. Dawn came softly, obscured by the plastic bag fastened around the window. He'd fed the last log to the fire two hours ago. Fearing they'd run out of heat before daylight, he'd reluctantly burned his snowshoes too. He'd made them out of birch wood. They'd burn hot and long. Once he saw Dottie safely home, he'd have to come back to the cabin with a new supply of wood. Whoever used this cabin next shouldn't be left without.

The wind had calmed sometime early this morning, and the snow had stopped falling before the sun peeked over the horizon. The silence felt comforting, as if the tempest had finally given up trying to tear down their shelter.

Pete and Brownie survived the night okay. They were hungry, but at least they'd been warm. He'd tend to them as soon as they got home. An extra bucket of oats for them both. It was a fitting Christmas present for a horse.

He gave in to the urge to gaze at Dottie while she slept, but only for a minute. Watching her like that made him feel as if he was invading her privacy. But he couldn't resist one look at that porcelain skin or those long, dark eyelashes that brushed against her cheeks when she closed her eyes. His gut tightened when he thought how much he loved her and how close he had come to losing her last night. He resolved never to let her out of his embrace again.

She stirred and pushed herself to a sitting position, smiling at him with the dazed look of recent sleep. “Good morning. You're still here.”

“I thought of taking the horses and hightailing out of here after you fell asleep last night,” he said. “But you were sleeping on my coat.” He squatted next to her and rested his forearms on his knees. “Besides, I wanted to be the first to wish you merry Christmas.”

He bent and kissed her. She kissed him right back. He felt that kiss clear to his toes.

“Merry Christmas to you too,” she said.

They fell silent, just looking at each other and savoring the emotion between them. Every muscle in his body awakened with longing. She was so beautiful.

He wasn't even planning on doing it, and then his tongue kind of tripped ahead of him. “What I said last night, about not wanting to kiss another girl ever—I meant every word.” He lowered his eyes and stared at the ground. “What would you think about marrying me?”

Her silence compelled him to look at her. She smiled with so much joy, his heart skipped out of the cabin, through the woods, and up the road.

“I think I would like that very much,” she said.

Gid whooped loud enough to make the horses jump. Gathering her into his arms, he kissed her until he thought he might explode with happiness. He pulled away to catch his breath. “I should have picked a more romantic spot, but I figured that maybe since you were just waking up, you wouldn't be thinking all that clearly. So, later today when you come to your senses, just remember you already agreed to a wedding. No take-backs.”

She playfully laced her fingers with his. “Same goes for you. When you're not lightheaded from lack of breakfast, don't change your mind.”

He brushed his lips against hers. “I'm never going to change my mind.”

“Me neither.”

They shared one more blissfully wonderful kiss before Gid stood up and put some distance between them. No more of that if he wanted to have any of his wits left for the journey home. “Much as I'd like to spend my Christmas Day kissing, I won't be comfortable until I get you safely back. Your
mamm
will be missing you.”

“Do you think we can find our way to the road?”

He smiled. “I have a very good sense of direction. Probably the best sense of direction ever.”

He loved making her laugh. “Before you get too big for your britches,” she said, “may I remind you that you cannot hum to save your life. When you hum, the dogs run for cover.”

He dropped his jaw in mock indignation. “One thing. I'm not good at one thing, and you can't let it go. Are you going to keep bringing that up after we marry?”

“Oh course. Somebody will need to keep you humble.”

He paused as if deep in thought. “As long as you marry me, I can live with that. Very, very happily.”

C
HAPTER
10

There seemed to be quite a stir going on at Dottie's house when Dottie and Gid finally turned up her lane. Gid was on foot, leading Pete and Brownie, while Dottie rode on Pete's back. He'd insisted on Dottie's riding since she didn't have snowshoes and her feet still ached from last night's ordeal. Both animals trudged up the lane, no doubt hungry, but they'd fared well in the storm.

Every cloud had blown away, leaving the sky so blue it almost hurt to look at. The new snow sparkled in the sun. If Dottie hadn't been so weary, she might have considered it another perfect day for a sleigh ride.

After making sure she could make it on her own, Gid lifted Dottie from the horse to let her walk the rest of the way to the house while he led Pete and Brownie straight to the barn. Their well-being was even more important to him than his own weariness.

Puzzled by the crowd gathered in her front yard, Dottie hurried up the lane. Mamm, Dat, Aunt Elsie, and Uncle Joe stood in a circle with Junior, Mammi and Dawdi Helmuth, and several neighbors. Their voices were filled with agitation, though Dottie couldn't tell what they were saying.

Was all this for her? They must have figured out she and Gid were not where everybody thought they were.

“Dottie!” she heard Mamm yell.

When he caught sight of her, Dat sprinted down the lane as quickly as he could in the deep snow. He threw his arms out and lifted Dottie off the ground. “Thank goodness you're safe. Are you hurt? Where is Gid?”

With his arm protectively around her, he squeezed her tight as if making sure she was real and then led her toward the house.

“Dottie,” Mamm said, enfolding her in the embrace Dottie had been waiting for all morning. “What happened? Anna and Felty arrived this morning and said you hadn't been with them last night. We were frantic. Gid called Elsie last night to say you were all right.”

Dottie glanced at Anna, who looked more than a little relieved. “Sorry, Anna. I should have stayed at your house when the storm started.” She hugged her
mamm
. “But I didn't want to miss Christmas Eve. I made you a quilt.”

Mamm took Dottie's face in her hands. “You are more important than any quilt.”

“I know. I figured that out.”

“Did you get lost in the storm?” Junior asked.

“
Jah
, Brownie and I got stuck in the snow. Eva's sleigh is buried so deep we couldn't find it this morning. I found a hunter's shack, but I still would have frozen to death if Gid hadn't found me.”

“Thanks be to God,” Mamm said.

Anna nodded at Felty. “I knew you two were meant for each other. I just didn't expect your courtship to be quite so exciting.”

“Gid built a fire, and we spent the night in the shack with the animals. When the storm blew out this morning, we came home.”

“Where's Gid?” Dat asked. “We were just about to call the police and start a search.”

“He's in the barn feeding Pete and Brownie. They haven't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon.”

“Junior,” Endie Elsie said.

Junior and Onkel Joe were already jogging in that direction. “We'll take care of it,” Junior said. Junior was a
gute
boy, even if he was a little annoying at times.

“Let's get you in the house,” Mamm said. “You look like you could use a warm bath.”

The neighbors wished Dottie well before climbing into their buggies or sleighs and going off to the Christmas celebrations that awaited them at their own homes.

Dottie furrowed her brow. “They all came to help look for me?”

Mamm nodded. “Christmas can wait when one of our own is in trouble.”

Dottie's heart swelled at the thought of being so cherished by her community
and
by Gid Stutzman. She was the happiest girl in the world.

Gid came from the barn and smiled at her, but he looked worn out, like a spent candle. “Junior ordered me out of the barn and insisted that he and Uncle Joe would take care of the animals.” He massaged the back of his neck. “That was nice of them. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stand up straight.”

An old maroon Cadillac rolled up the lane. Dottie caught her breath. “Is that Lou?”

Gid snapped his head around. “Lou? What's he doing here?”

Lou stopped his car in front of the house, and Gid and Dottie walked around to the driver's side of the car. Lou rolled down his window with a smile as wide as Lake Erie. “I heard you two were lost. I was going to volunteer to help find you, but I see I'm too late. I'm glad you're not dead.”

“Oh, thank you,” Dottie said. “We got stuck in the blizzard, but found a hunter's cabin to shelter in for the night.”

Lou tapped on his steering wheel. “Well, you don't look any worse for the wear.”

Gid took Dottie's hand and squeezed it. She smiled at him, and he nodded slightly. “Lou, we'd be very glad if you would have Christmas dinner with us. You haven't tasted anything until you've tasted Dottie's chocolate-dipped apples.”

“I'd like to, for certain I would, but my son called last night and said they'd changed their plans. There's a cold front moving through Florida, so they're driving up this way to spend the week. They'll be here tonight at six-fifteen.”

That explained the irrepressible smile. Dottie felt the emotion bubble up inside her. Lou would have his heart's desire for Christmas.

Gid seemed to have no reservations about holding her hand in plain sight of everybody as they watched Lou back his car down the lane. His handsome smile took over his whole face. “Lou gets his family, I get you, and we both get to keep our toes,” he said. “This is the best Christmas ever.”

Even without the perfect quilt or a shiny Christmas card. Even with burned
lebkuchen
and tinfoil stars. Dottie had her family, and she had Gid Stutzman's love. It truly was the best Christmas ever.

 

Anna crawled into bed and pressed her cold feet against Felty's legs. He nearly jumped out of his skin. “Banannie, your toes are like icicles.”

“
Denki
for warming them up,” Anna replied.

“Warming them up? Now I'll need a hot water bottle for both of us.”

“Wasn't it a wonderful-
gute
Christmas Day? Because of us, two of our grandchildren got engaged.”

Felty rolled over and studied Anna in the darkness. “Two? Tyler and Beth are engaged. Who else?”

“Dottie and Gid, of course.”

“They had a scary night in the woods, but they're not engaged.”

“Now, Felty. They most certainly are engaged. They haven't announced it yet, but we
mammis
have a sense about these things. There'll be wedding bells for sure this summer.”

“If you say so, Annie. I've never known you to be wrong about anything.”

“Thank you, Felty. You have to be very observant to be a matchmaker.”

“But I still think our grandchildren are perfectly able to make their own matches. This matchmaking rigmarole is exhausting.” To prove his point, Felty rolled over and sank into his puffy pillow. “Good night, Annie. And merry Christmas.

Anna sat up in bed and propped herself on her pillow. “I don't think it's exhausting. I think it's the most fun I've had in all my eighty-three years. Watching two people fall in love, have you ever had so much fun in your life?”

“Never,” Felty mumbled, about to drift off to sleep.

“I've been thinking,” Anna said, as if she still had her husband's full attention. “Since we are responsible for two engagements this Christmas, I think we should try for three next Christmas. Doesn't that sound like the best idea ever?”

Felty answered her with a loud snore.

She took it as a yes.