The Amish Doll: Amish Knitting Novel (Bonus Knitting Pattern Included) (19 page)

The bishop bowed his head and was silent for an uncomfortable time. Elma looked at the picture, sadness pulling
her whole countenance down. Moses looked up. “So you think Bruce is the
daed
?”

“
Jah
, I do. She broke off our engagement when he became a driver. She obviously was led astray by him.”

The bishop took a deep breath. “Well, Joshua, I never really believed you were the
daed
. But you insisted on having a good name and that’s to be admired. But I’ve been hearing reports that you’re attached to an
Englisher
and I’m supposing that it’s Raven?”

“
Jah
, and she’s willing to take the baptismal classes and become Amish.”

Elma’s smile returned. “That’s
wunderbar
. Susanna will be so happy.”

Moses looked at his wife, baffled. “Why would Susanna be happy about her son being attached to an
Englisher
?

“Well, she hoped someday Raven would be her daughter and prayed and prayed this would happen.”

Raven felt her eyes mist. Susanna wanted her as a daughter-in-law? Over all the Amish girls that still made their presence known to Joshua, Susanna preferred her? Why?

“Susanna is a wise woman. Being through so much sickness has tested her faith and refined her like fire does gold,” Moses said. “Raven, do you want to be Amish?”

“Eb, I mean, Dad, loaned me many books he had to use during his baptismal classes. I agree with everything. I love Rules of a Godly Life.”

“Could you give up modern conveniences and your job? Live more simply?”

Raven was relieved that the bishop softened toward her. “I grew up rural, milking cows and not having fancy clothes. I think today, people have too many choices and with that comes more clutter, in the house and in the heart.” Raven saw out of the corner Joshua was beaming, obviously happy with her answer.

Moses scratched his chin as if deep in thought and then grinned. “Had a visit an hour ago from someone else who wants to take baptismal classes again for spiritual growth. Can you and Eb come over on Monday nights for classes?”

Raven couldn’t help but laugh. “He knew I was really nervous to come.”

“And why’s that?” Elma asked.

“So much at stake…”

She reached for Raven’s hand. “Because you’re so much in love.” She turned to Joshua. “But be careful. You know Raven has to accept from her heart the Amish way of life. You can’t force
her. And if she can’t embrace our doctrine and ways, you can’t propose. Understand?”

“And no courting until she is Amish,” Moses warned. “I don’t want to see you two out and about in a courting buggy.”

Joshua grinned at the bishop. “Can you meet twice a week so the classes end in nine weeks?”

“
Jah
, I can. We can have her ready for New Birth Sunday. Raven, are you willing to speed up the classes?”

“Yes, I am. Absolutely.”

Later that night, Raven was still marveling at the love in the home of Moses Byler. Why did she think he’d be some kind of dictator? He was humble and took the opinion of Susanna in such high regard. He also hung on Elma’s words, looking to her for advice. She opened one of the many books the bishop gave her and was jolted when a loud knock almost broke down the side door. She ran downstairs and saw Eb letting in Chuckey and Bud, followed by Eli Miller.

No one said hello, but Eli snarled at her. “These boys have brought havoc down on my house.”

Eb put one hand on Bud’s shoulder and the other on Chuckey’s. “That’s a pretty hard accusation, Eli. Now you watch what you say. Words can hurt.”

“These boys were spying on Lottie and –”

“Raven found Lottie with Bruce together and your daughter was wearing English clothes. We know, and are awfully sorry. Your pain must be great.”

Eli fought tears. “Lottie is under a temporary ban.”

“And we know the ban makes us come to our senses, even though it took me two years,” Eb said. “What do the boys have to do with this?”

“Lottie wants them out of my house.”

“It’s your house. Why not have Lottie leave? Stay with an aunt. These boys have done nothing.”

“She’s pregnant, Eb. And she’s my daughter.”

Raven held on to the arm rest of a nearby Amish rocker. How many times had the natural child not been happy she was in their home and she was suddenly taken out, put in emergency foster care? It was the ultimate feeling of rejection. Of not being wanted…

Eb came over to her. “Dear one, you okay? You look so pale.”

Raven sat in the rocker and clasped her hands in front of her. “I’m fine, Dad.” She turned up at Eli in pity. “You’ve missed out on the opportunity, the privilege of raising these two fine boys. I already know of a place where they’re loved and wanted. You can leave now and we’ll get all the boys’ things tomorrow.”

Eli bowed his head in shame and walked out the door, into the bitter cold. Chuckey and Bud looked wide-eyed at her. “Who wants us?” Bud asked.

“Well, I do and so do Mr. and Mrs. Rowe. We’ll all just be one happy family, but live in different houses.”

Bud and Chuckey fist bumped. “We can go back to Appleton?”

“In April, in five weeks. Until then, I’ll need to find you a place to stay.”

“Why not here?” Eb asked.

“Eb, I’ll need you to be approved to be a foster parent.” Not wanting to cause any more stress to the boys, she forced a smile. “But I can get it all done in no time at all. For now, how would you boys like to stay with Joshua, Cliffy and Timmy?”

Bud and Chuckey both gawked at her and said in unison, “Sure.”

~*~

Joshua ran his hands through his hair. “My
mamm’s
coming home next week. She’s still in recovery and needs lots of care.”

“How about one boy?” Raven asked. “Maybe put one here and another with your Aunt Hannah. They’ve been excellent foster parents. I guess I wasn’t thinking.”

Joshua collapsed on the bench. “I’m sorry. I’m just overwhelmed. Maple syrup season is a busy time. I’m working sixteen hours a day. With
mamm’s
care…”

“But there’s women lined up to care for Susanna. You won’t be doing it. I’ll be helping, too.”

“Who told you that?”

“Elma.”

Joshua motioned for her to come and sit next to him. “She took a real shine to you. So now you’re going to do work frolics, too, like a
goot
Amish woman?”

Raven slapped his shoulder and laughed. “I want to help. And word has it you’ll be getting help with the maple syrup.”

Joshua bit his lower lip to hide a grin. “And let me guess who told you that. The bishop, because he too can’t help but love you,
jah
?”

“No, he told Eb, I mean Dad, and Dad told me.”

Joshua sighed. “Well I’m glad. The men have helped over the years with the maple syrup, but
mamm
need extra special care this year. You say it’s all been arranged?”

“
Jah
,” Raven said. “Elma and your Aunt Hannah know the special needs your mom will have during recovery and are preparing. Isn’t it
wunderbar
goot
?”

Joshua encircled her with both arms. “Your German needs help. You’ll need to be fluent. Amish husband and wives talk German in the house. It’s the Amish way.” He bent down to kiss her on the cheek. “I can’t wait until we can wed.”

“Me too.” Raven looked up at him. “Me too.”

Joshua cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her tenderly. “I love you so much. And I want to have a house full of
kinner
with you. But for now, I’ll have to settle for four.”

Raven kissed him back. “Four?”

“The two upstairs, and Bud and Chuckey.”

Raven couldn’t believe the kindness of Joshua Yoder. She wrapped her arms around him. “
Danki
.”

~*~

Raven’s first baptismal lesson wasn’t anything unusual. She’d already read Dordrecht Confession of Faith and found it similar to what Lawrence’s church believed. Both were Anabaptist, believing in adult baptism. But the Bishop asked if she held any sin in her heart and when he asked about unforgiveness, she knew God was speaking through him.

She thought of the radical forgiveness of the Amish after the Nickel Back School shooting. But it did seem extreme to forgive the one who killed innocent children while in school. But the bishop pointed to a little booklet he’d given her, Rules of a Godly Life. His finger laid on Rule 13: 

Permit not envy or hatred in your heart, nor carry a grudge against anyone. God loved us when we were His enemies and therefore He expects us to love our enemies for His sake. It is but a small thing for us to forgive our enemies, in comparison to what God has forgiven us. Even though you may think your enemy unworthy of your forgiveness, it is well worth doing it for Christ's sake.

She’d read this before, but Moses showed her that in this rule it’s for someone else’s sake: Christ’s. Then he opened his Bible and showed all the commandments to forgive. When she told him of
Aunt Brook’s behavior, he didn’t flinch. She needed to forgive her, and he would go with her to Salamanca if she wanted. Raven thought of how Joshua sacrificed so much for Susanna’s sake; so his mom would live. If she forgave for Christ’s sake, would that make Christ able to live in her more fully, or make Him seem more alive to others?

Being at Moses and Elma’s over the past week, along with her dad, pretending to learn so she didn’t feel so uncomfortable, was transforming her. Could love really change someone as hard as Aunt Brook?

~*~

Raven picked up the mint and red shawl she finished for Marilyn and put it in a gift bag. She and the boys would be visiting Marilyn and Jim today, and hopefully cheer them up.

She looked out the window to see Lawrence’s car pull into the Yoder’s. The four boys all bounded down the side stairs and got into the van. She noticed Joshua talked with ease to Lawrence now, secure that she loved him. And it seemed like Lawrence was spending a lot of time on the reservation in Salamanca with Benny Kettle and his daughter, when upon mentioning her name, Heather, he couldn’t wipe the smirk on his face. Raven hoped he found someone to love, too. And she prayed for Chuckey and Bud, that they’d find love outside the Yoder house.

~*~

Seeing Marilyn hunched over in a rocker startled Raven. The woman was rapidly aging and needed a good dose of medicine, encouragement. Her eyes widened as the boys one by one went over and hugged her, leaving presents at her feet. Raven went over to plant a kiss on her wrinkled face and Lawrence did as well. But Jim watched in the corner, hand on his chin, face etched with concern. She saw Larry come around the corner with the same look of dismay. Raven told the boys to fill Marilyn in on all their adventures in living in Amish country and let her open the presents. She walked out of the room and motioned for Jim and Larry to follow her into the kitchen.

“What’s wrong with Marilyn?” Raven asked in hushed tones.

“Depressed,” Jim said. “Feels like it’s her fault Appleton burnt down.”

Larry spoke up. “Dad, that’s not what the doctor said.”

Jim dismissed what Larry said as if shooing a fly.

Raven looked at Larry. “It’s not my business, but you can tell me, right?”

Larry looked at his dad and then evenly at Raven. “She’s showing signs of brain deterioration.”

Jim put his hand up in protest. “Everyone in their eighties has some form of it, Larry. You heard the doctor as well as I did. She’s not losing her mind.”

“I know, Dad. Just a little memory loss…”

Raven only heard one thing over and over in her mind. Eighties? Marilyn and Jim were in their eighties? They looked like they were in their late sixties. “Jim, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

“Eighty-two. Marilyn’s eighty-one. Surprised?” He winked and tried to make his eyes twinkle. “Marilyn and I eat right, exercise and have the boys to keep us young.”

Raven nodded. “I can see that. I guess I just didn’t put one and one together when you said you sold apples during the Great Depression…”

“I dropped into this world the same year as the stock market crashed: 1929. As you know, the Depression hit rock bottom in 1933 and I was out the next year at five selling apples. Marilyn thinks I exaggerate, but it’s true.”

Larry put his hand on Jim’s shoulder. “I’m proud of Dad and everything he’s done at Appleton, giving back to boys who have a
rough start. My parents took that dilapidated house and turned it into a place where boys could be proud to live.”

“It is inspirational, really,” Raven said. “But what did your father do, Jim? I mean, didn’t he have a job so that you didn’t have to peddle apples?”

Jim’s eyes seemed to glaze over. “My dad was a drunk. Made moonshine and drank it away. Mom took in sewing and did what she could to feed us. Life was hard….”

“But one man’s pain is another man’s gain, or something like that,” Larry said. “Don’t know how many men write or try to stop by to visit and tell my parents what they’re up to: doctors, lawyers, singers, actors, you name it.”

Raven noticed the Rowes’ got an unusual amount of mail. They didn’t use the internet, so seeing a handwritten letter seemed so old-fashion, yet refreshing.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my life. Not a thing. Just don’t want to see Marilyn go downhill…”

“Do you think she has the winter blues?” Raven asked. “I brought her yarn into the hospital. Has she done any knitting?”

Larry shook his head. “Hasn’t touched it.”

“Well, she needs to join the knitting circle Susanna Yoder’s starting in a few weeks.”

Jim smiled broadly. “Now that’s a good idea. So glad Susanna will be back with a new kidney, and it appears she’ll be like her old self. Always finding ways to gather women together in one of those bees she has.”

“A bee? What’s a bee?”

“Oh, the Amish women do all kinds of things to get a job done and have fun, too. Did you notice in the fall any women stirring big copper kettles outside? They were making apple butter.”

“I didn’t know that. Who gets all the apple butter, though? Everyone has apple trees around here.”

“They share it. ‘Many hands make light work’, they always say. Our church does the same thing, though, like when we clean or do the landscaping.”

Larry patted his dad’s back. “Are you going to tell Raven, or should I?”

“What?”

Jim playfully shoved Larry.  “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He winked. “Larry and his wife will be taking over Appleton when it reopens.”

Larry pursed his lips. “My kids are grown and all out of state. Renee and I plan to move in along with my parents and care for
boys. I understand Bud and Chuckey want to come and stay permanently?”

“I marked them down as residents in April, and five others will arrive, too.” She nodded and turned to go into the living room. Marilyn’s eyes were bright and aglow with love for the boys. At her feet lay clay pots the boys filled with seeds so she could start her flower garden early. A wooden checkers set Joshua helped Timmy and Cliffy make sat on her lap. A red and blue nylon kite that Hannah and David helped Toby and Ethan make made Raven snicker.
Being Buffalo Bill fans, the boys picked the team colors, and the Bylers had no idea why.