Their Unlikely Amish Courtship
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Cathy Liggett
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Chapter One
The early morning June sun poured through Miriam Schrock’s kitchen window. As she sat at her oak table, the beaming light illuminated the entire space around her. That alone should’ve made her feel perky and ready to shine. Plus, the fact that school had been out for several weeks and she’d been resting from planning lessons and correcting papers should’ve energized her as well. But so far there’d been nothing typical about this summer in Sugarcreek.
She took a last sip of her lukewarm tea before getting to her feet and carrying the mug over to the sink. Then slipping on her kapp, she was bent on taking the letter she’d written to her cousin straight out to the mailbox—before she changed her mind. Just then a knock on her screen door startled her. In the last few weeks, it had become a rare sound ever since Lizzie and Roman Byler, her next-door neighbors and her only close friends, had gone to be with the Lord.
Though she was sure the loving couple were resting in Gott’s arms, her heart still ached thinking of them. Misty tears began to cloud her eyes when the knock came again. Even so, through the screen she could tell her visitor was Benjamin, the Byler brother who was her own age. Right away, she swiped her eyes and padded to the front door. As she did, she thought that most maedels would’ve been smoothing their dresses and tucking their hair neatly under their kapps, attempting to look their best when greeting him. After all, even though he’d been living in Cincinnati for the past five years before returning to the Amish way of life, Benjamin was still considered to be one of Sugarcreek’s most good-looking single men.
But Miriam didn’t bother with that sort of thing. They’d barely ever been on speaking terms until just recently. As she opened the screen door, she wondered if she’d misunderstood what time she was supposed to sit with his eight-year-old niece.
“Am I late coming over to watch Emma? I thought you said after lunch.”
“I did say after lunch,” he answered tersely.
“Benjamin, what’s going on?” She frowned at his hands. “Are those... Have you been cutting down my roses?”
Studying him, she was a bit confused. At nearly six feet tall, he had a strong presence, and his upper arms strained the fabric of his white short-sleeved shirt. His brown hair also still had the same boyish tints of gold it always had. But what she couldn’t help but notice as he stood there clothed in plain, baggy black pants and suspenders were his blue eyes. In the past, they’d always shone in an inviting way when she’d see him talking to others. Since his brother and sister-in-law’s tragic buggy accident, their color had turned a steelier hue. Today those eyes looked even more direct and businesslike. However, the fact that he had a bouquet of roses in his hands seemed at odds with his serious look.
“These aren’t yours,” he replied. “They’re roses from the other side of Roman and Lizzie’s...well, my house now,” he added with a notably sad inflection. “I thought since Emma is still sleeping that I’d bring some over to you.”
“Hmm. Are you sure they’re from your house? Because some look very similar to my roses. Pretty as they are, they’d last a lot longer in the ground than in a vase filled with water.”
“You know, Miriam, if someone brings you flowers, it’s traditional to be thankful, not annoyed.” He rolled his eyes. “You also don’t have to look so suspicious.”
“And how should I look, Benjamin?” She couldn’t help but huff back.
When Benjamin had first come back to Sugarcreek and moved in with Roman and Lizzie a few months ago, they’d hardly traded hellos. It wasn’t until after the accident that they’d communicated a bit more. If a person could call their strained conversations communicating.
“How about looking delightedly surprised?” he questioned her.
“Oh, I’m surprised for sure and certain,” she said.
He swished his free hand through the air as if wiping a blackboard clean. “Let’s start over and pretend we don’t know each other. May we do that?”
She shrugged. “I suppose we can try.” To show her willingness, she stepped out onto the porch.
With that, he gripped the bouquet with both hands and looked down at his feet. Then he glanced up and managed to conjure a huge grin. “Hi. I’m Benjamin. Benjamin Byler.” He offered a friendly nod. “You can call me Ben.”
“Hello, Benjamin. I’m Miriam Schrock. And I have to think you’re standing on my doorstep for a reason. It must be a big one if you’re bringing me flowers. Jah?”
He seemed to relax slightly. “I wanted to thank you for how you’ve been so kind to Emma.”
All at once, her heart completely softened at the mention of his orphaned niece.
The sweet girl had been a student of hers since she was six. She’d grown from being a very shy child to becoming slightly more outgoing. But ever since Lizzie and Roman’s funeral, she hadn’t spoken a single word. No one was sure when she would ever speak again.
“You don’t have to thank me, Benjamin. Emma’s verra special to me,” she said sincerely. “I’ve known her since she was a toddler—ever since your brother and Lizzie moved into your parents’ house after your maam and daed went to be with the Lord. I just wish I knew what to do about...” She felt a catch in her throat.
“People say it’ll take time, so we’ll keep praying, Miriam.” Benjamin’s tone was shaky as well. “That’s what we’ll do. I’m sure Gott will have Emma talk again.”
“Jah, I hope you’re right.” She offered him a tight-lipped smile.
“Anyway, danke again, and here you are.”
He thrust the bouquet of roses toward her so suddenly, she jerked back and had to steady herself before she reached out her hand. As she took the flowers from his grasp, the floral scent was undeniable. So was the warmth that rushed to her cheeks. She’d never had a man give her flowers before.
“You’re welcome, Benjamin. I’m here to help.”
“Gut because there’s something else I verra much need your help with, Miriam.”
“Oh, are you still planning on opening your restaurant?” She remembered hearing from Lizzie that Benjamin and Roman had been working on that project together.
“I’m not sure. Things need to settle down more before I do. But what I really need right now is for you...to...to...”
He began to stutter like the one and only time when they were young kinner that he’d stopped over to ask for her help with schoolwork.
“Jah, Benjamin?”
“Miriam.” He looked her straight in the eye. “I want to court you.”
“Court me?”
She narrowed her eyes and stared through her wire-rimmed glasses at him, attempting to read his expression. But he stood staunchly and didn’t blink, as if straining to look sure of himself. Yet beads of sweat began to dot his forehead, though the day hadn’t heated up yet.
What could he possibly be up to? She shoved the bouquet back into his chest. Loose petals drifted to the ground. “Aren’t we a bit old for pranks?”
“But it’s not a prank. I’m serious. I want to court you.” He offered her the roses again, which weren’t as fresh-looking as before.
With a shake of her head, she refused them. “That’s verrickt! You’ve never once given me a second look. And I already told you I’ll help with Emma as long as I can. But you don’t have to date me to have that happen. I may be known as Miriam Shock, thanks to you, but I’m not so awful that I wouldn’t help a grieving child. Especially sweet Emma. Now, if you’ll be on your way...” She shooed him with her hand. “I’ll be over later to babysit. Right now, I have things to take care of.”
Turning, she opened the screen door and started to step inside, knowing what she’d said wasn’t totally true. Honestly, she didn’t have much on her plate that morning. Except now she felt an even stronger urge to get the letter to her cousin Francie in the mailbox. After all, she was so very tired of being humiliated.
“Miriam, wait!”
Benjamin caught the door before Miriam could close it on him. No doubt about it, it was as strange for him to be asking her to court him as it had to be for her.
It wasn’t that Miriam wasn’t an attractive woman. It was easy to see Gott had blessed her. Her black hair shone like a coal-black purebred’s as it grazed under the summer sun, complementing her ivory complexion. Her eyes were bluer than any he’d ever seen. But right now her lips were tightly pursed and her eyes glared more than they smiled. Gott forgive him for thinking it, but Miriam was a pill and a hard one to swallow at that. Even so, she was the perfect person to help him in his time of need.
“Miriam, please give me a minute to explain,” he pleaded.
She put hands to her hips. “Benjamin Byler, I have a hard time believing you want to court me, and no one in all of Sugarcreek, Walnut Creek, Berlin, Millersburg and any other neighboring burgs are going to believe it either.” She shook her head at him then seemed to take a moment to calm herself.
“Look,” she finally said more softly, “I know you’re grieving, and it’s not like I don’t feel for you. I do—even though you probably don’t believe I’m capable of that. But you need to find someone else for your wife.”
“I can’t,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Now that’s not true. I’m sure you’d get plenty of interest if you’d venture into town.”
A huge part of him did wish he could be asking anyone but Miriam to be his girl. But he couldn’t. Because finding a lifelong mate wasn’t what asking her to court him was all about.
Still, how could he explain his situation in a way that didn’t hurt her feelings?
“I’m asking you, Miriam, because...well, one reason is that we’re neighbors.” That fact had made a whole lot more sense in his head than it had when it’d left his mouth.
Miriam quirked a brow. “That’s ridiculous. You and I, we’re living proof that having houses close together doesn’t mean being close at heart.”
“That’s true. But that’s what’s perfect about it,” he blurted out. But seeing her mouth gape wide open, he backtracked. “What I mean is, we’re both concerned about Emma, and you’re right next door and know her better than anyone. After all, she was three years old when I moved away. She hardly knows me.”
He could see her eyes soften some at the mention of his niece, so he continued. “If we’re together, hopefully it’d be a situation that would feel more secure for Emma. And it helps me a lot too. Because, while I’m trying to take care of her, maintain the house, and figure out work, I really don’t have time to establish a loving relationship with a maedel. That’s why it’d be gut to be courting you.”
Her eyes looked stunned and even slightly hurt. That wasn’t at all what he’d meant to do.
“Miriam, I don’t mean any of that in a bad way. I think you’re a good person, that’s why—”
She held up her hand to stop him.
“You’re not making one ounce of sense, Benjamin. If you don’t want to have a real relationship right now, then why court at all?”
“That’s the thing. I have to.” He handed the flowers back to her so abruptly that she was forced to take them. Then he bent over, lifted his pant leg slightly and pulled the latest letter from his oldest brother from his sock. “Stephen wrote to me.”
“Your Englischer brother?” Miriam’s brows peaked. “I remember seeing him and his wife at Roman and Lizzie’s funeral. But I don’t understand. Are you saying he wrote to you about courting?”
He nodded. “In a roundabout way.”
Her forehead wrinkled and then she shook her head, as if ready to dismiss him and the nonsensical conversation. He knew he’d better be quick to explain, or she might shut the door on him again.
“He wants to take Emma away to live with him and Angie in Boston.”
“What? All the way to Massachusetts?” Instantly, Miriam laid the flowers on an entry table inside her front door and came outside again, the screen door slamming shut behind her. “But why? I remember Lizzie telling me Stephen and Angie are workaholics. That they’ve never even stopped working long enough to consider having their own kinner.”
“Well, I guess that’s changed.” He waved the thin piece of stationery, which felt hefty in his hand. “Stephen’s letter says that they’re both going overseas for work for a while. Once they’re finished with that project, they plan to come get Emma and raise her up East. That way Emma will be sure to have two caretakers who have steady incomes.” He paused, feeling his ire rise. “Stephen didn’t mince words about saying those are both things he doesn’t think I can provide.”
Currently, his brother was correct. Even so, in Benjamin’s heart, nothing felt right about Stephen’s solution where Emma was concerned. Mostly, he couldn’t believe that’s what Roman and Lizzie would want for their daughter. Wouldn’t they want Emma to grow up in the Amish way of life until she got to an age where she could decide for herself whether to be baptized or not? That’s what Stephen had gotten to do.
At sixteen, his older brother moved to Cleveland and began working at their Englischer uncle’s company. From there he got his GED, then a college business degree which led to one success after another. Everything Stephen wrote home about his experiences had made Benjamin curious. So much so that at eighteen, he set out for Cincinnati, spending years there working as a cook and learning the restaurant business. Until recently when he had a yearning in his heart to return to Sugarcreek and be baptized.
But what if he’d never grown up knowing what the Amish faith and community was all about? With every part of him, he felt Emma shouldn’t miss out on that.
“Ah... I think I’m beginning to understand,” Miriam said, interrupting his thoughts. “You want to court me—someone you needn’t be beholden to—so that Stephen will be convinced you’re on the right course for your life and for Emma. Correct?” Her eyes brightened as if she’d solved a puzzle.
“Exactly.” He sighed heavily, relieved that she understood and seemed to be taking it well. Until her expression darkened.
“Well... I’m sorry, Benjamin. Verra sorry. But I have to say nee. And it’s not just because the entire town will be in an uproar, disbelieving we’re a couple. I’m saying it because, with Stephen and Angie, at least Emma will have two parents and a stable home like she had before. There’s something to be said for that.”
His heart instantly sank with regret. He’d forgotten that Miriam’s father had abandoned their family when she was all of nine years old. Obviously, the sadness of that still lingered with her to some degree. Remembering, he was sorry he’d even mentioned anything to her.
“It’s oll recht. Don’t worry,” he said, hoping to hide his disappointment. “I’ll figure out something. In the meantime, will you still come watch Emma for me after lunch?”
“For sure. And, Benjamin?”
“Jah?”
“Danke for the roses.”
“You’re welcome. But you were right,” he admitted. “The white ones are from your bushes.” He was prepared for a scolding and rightfully so.
Instead, surprisingly, Miriam answered kindly. “No worries.”
He offered up a smile, though it felt like a weak one.
As he walked across the lawns back to his house, he forced himself to straighten his shoulders and reminded himself to stay strong.
He wished life was simple again, and he could stroll right into the Byler home and see his brother and Lizzie smiling at each other and doting over their dochder. But that’s not what Gott had chosen to happen. That’s not what had come to pass. Now, Emma was his priority and anything beyond her well-being didn’t matter.
Hopefully, Gott would show him what was best for his young niece. With each and every step back home, that’s what he prayed.
