An Amish Christmas. Patricia Davids

brought in enough apples to make eight pints. I can see I’m only going to have enough to fill seven jars.”

      “If I promise to go get more fruit can I have a dish of those apples before you squish them?”

      Karen laughed and pulled a brown ceramic bowl from the cupboard. “Ja, but you had better not complain if it spoils your supper.”

      As she heaped the bowl full of stewed apples, John quickly carved an apple skin into the shape of huge red lips and stuck it between his teeth. When Karen turned around and saw him she doubled over with laughter, nearly spilling his snack on the floor. For the first time in his new life John felt totally happy.

      Later that evening, when everyone was finishing their meal, he caught Karen’s eye, wiggled his brows and held up his empty plate with a wide grin. She smothered an abrupt giggle, causing her family members to stare at her. Rising quickly, she began to clear the table.

      John said, “Let me help you.”

      Anna, also in the process of gathering up plates, gave him a funny look. “This is woman’s work.” She looked at her father for confirmation. “Isn’t it, Papa?”

      Eli glanced at Karen and then at his boys. “A man must know how to do a woman’s work if his wife needs help just as a woman must know how to do a man’s work if her husband needs help.”

      Noah eyed the dirty dishes in disgust. “But you don’t need help tonight, do you Karen?”

      “Nee, Anna and I can manage, but thank you for your offer.”

      John slipped his hands in the front pockets of his jeans wishing he could spend more time with Karen but knowing it wasn’t wise.

      Noah said, “Come and play checkers with me, John.”

      Relieved, John followed the boy into the living room where Noah quickly set up the board. Eli settled himself in his favorite chair, opened his Bible and began reading. Jacob pretended interest in a book of his own, but his eyes were drawn repeatedly to the game.

      Karen and Anna joined the men when they were done in the kitchen. Karen pulled a basket of mending from the cupboard in the corner, sat down beside her father and began to thread a needle. It seemed to John that she was never idle. Anna brought out a small, faceless doll to play with.

      John’s gaze was drawn repeatedly to where Karen sat. The lamplight gave a soft glow to her face. A gentle smile curved her lips. The white bonnet on her hair reminded him of a halo.

      She was so beautiful it hurt his eyes, and he had no business admiring her.

      “Your move,” Noah said.

      John realized he’d been staring and focused his attention on his play.

      Anna came to John’s elbow. “Do you want to hear the poem I’m going to recite for the school Christmas program?”

      Noah shook his head. “Not again. We’ve heard it a million times.”

      “Noah, she needs the practice,” Karen chided gently.

      John said, “I haven’t heard it. Miss Anna, I would love to hear your poem.”

      Flashing him a bright smile, she folded her hands and stared at a spot over his head. “Auf einer Nacht so ehrlich in einem Land weit entfernt.”

      Jacob snickered. “He doesn’t understand German, Anna.”

      She propped her hands on her hips. “David Yoder is repeating it in English at the program so everyone will know what it means.”

      John sought to soothe her. “You say it just as you will at your program. When you’re done, you can interpret it for me.”

      Her smile returned. “The first line means on a night so fair in a land far away.”

      “Got it. Let me hear the whole thing. I’m sure Noah will tell me if you mess up.”

      Noah chuckled. “You know that’s right.”

      Anna began again. As she spoke, John caught Karen’s eye. The look she gave him conveyed her approval. A warm feeling of happiness settled over him. He smiled back at her.

      Eli cleared his throat. John caught the stern look he shot his daughter. Karen quickly returned to her sewing. John gave his attention back to the checkerboard.

      After Anna finished her poem she went back to playing with her doll. When Noah lost his third match in a row to John, he dropped his head onto his forearms. “Jacob always wins, too.”

      John ruffled the boy’s hair. “You almost had me on that last one.”

      Eli closed his Bible. “Do you play chess, Mr. Doe?”

      Did he? John tried to see the pieces and the moves in his mind. He nodded. “I think so.”

      “Jacob has a talent for the game. Why don’t you two play?”

      “I’m willing.” John looked at the boy. Indecision flashed across Jacob’s face.

      Not wanting to push the kid, John began clearing the checkers from the board. He hummed a tune softly as he stacked them inside the box. When the board was clear, he looked at Jacob. The boy’s face had gone pale. He snapped his book shut. “I’m going to bed.”

      John watched Jacob rush out of the room and wondered what he had done to upset the youngster. He looked at Karen. She just shrugged her shoulders.

      Folding up the chessboard, John handed it to Noah. Rising to his feet, he said, “I think I’ll turn in, too.”

      Laying her mending aside, Karen said, “I will get you a lamp. It is dark out.”

      In the kitchen, she pulled a kerosene lamp from a cabinet. Setting it on the counter, she lifted the glass chimney and lit the wick.

      John took it from her hand. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset your family. Maybe my staying here wasn’t a good idea.”

      “It is only for a couple more days. We can manage.”

      Gazing into her luminous eyes, John found himself wishing he could stay longer. The thought was foolish and he knew it.

      Once he found out about his past, then maybe he could start thinking about a future. Until then he would be crazy to get attached to anyone, especially the lovely Amish woman standing before him.

      * * *

      The beautiful autumn morning of the wedding dawned cold but clear. After making sure everyone in the family was dressed in their Sunday best Karen ushered them out to the waiting buggy. Jacob had gone ahead with the bench wagon. The special enclosed wagon held the several dozen narrow wooden benches that their church district used for Sunday services.

      Karen glanced toward the dawdy haus and saw John watching them from the porch. For the past several days he’d been making himself at home on the farm, helping her father with the horses and her with chores. Having him across from her at the supper table had become the high point of her evenings. But he would be moving to the inn tomorrow. His time with her family was almost up. There wouldn’t be any more afternoons spent laughing over a pail of apples.

      He lifted a hand in a brief wave. Karen glanced at her father and saw he was watching her. She didn’t wave back but climbed in the buggy instead.

      The trip into town was accomplished in short order. The wedding ceremony itself was to take place at the home of Naomi and Emma Wadler, both friends of the bride. When Karen and her family entered the house the bridal party was already sitting in the front row of the wooden benches.

      Katie wore a new plain dress of light blue. Elam looked quite handsome in his dark coat and not the least bit nervous. Near them sat two each of Elam’s sisters and brothers-in-law, their wedding attendants.

      Nettie, the groom’s mother, wouldn’t be at the ceremony. She would be at home getting ready for the dinner. Karen and several