But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Courtney looked out at Aaron’s house. It was nothing grand and nothing near as big as the homes she’d been used to in Lancaster County or in Ohio. When they drew closer, she saw that the main house was little more than a cabin itself. The porch was enclosed so there was nowhere to sit outside and enjoy the beginning or the end of the day, as she liked to do. The front door was placed right in the center of the house with the built-in-porch on one side and a large window on the other.
The home was painted an attractive red color with white window frames. The lower level of the home looked like it had been added on to at one point. The upper level looked only big enough to be used as a bedroom as it didn’t cover the entire length of the house. The roof was a dark color and from where she was, it was impossible to see what it was made from, but whatever it was there were pieces lifting up. There was no doubt that the roof would soon be in need of repair—if it wasn't already.
She had to make a good impression on Aaron and have him allow her to stay on. He stopped the horse outside the house.
“If you get the children inside, Jared can show you around. After that, I can take you to see your cabin when I’m through with rubbing the horse down.”
“Okay.” Courtney climbed down from the buggy and attempted to help the children down. The two boys avoided her attempts to help them and jumped down by themselves. Amy had her arms outstretched, and Courtney picked her up—immediately Amy flung her small chubby arms around Courtney’s neck. Once they were two steps away from the buggy, Courtney attempted to place Amy on the ground, but Amy hung on.
“Carry me,” Amy insisted.
“I’ll take you two more steps, but then you must walk on your own. You’re a big girl now—only bopplis get carried.”
“I am a boppli,” Amy whined.
Courtney laughed. “You’re a big girl. Now come on, I’ll hold your hand while your bruder shows me your lovely haus.”
“Okay.”
After being placed on the ground, Amy grabbed Courtney’s hand and smiled up at her. Courtney had felt an immediate bond with all the children and knew they’d get along wonderfully. With Amy keeping a tight grip on her hand, she walked through the front door. The place was neat and tidy—that was her first impression.
“I’ll show you the bedrooms,” Jared said, as he turned and walked away with his brother close beside him.
“Denke,” Courtney replied.
“This is my bedroom,” Jared said showing her to the enclosed porch.
“It’s lovely and very tidy. And you even made the bed.”
Ben giggled. “Dat tells us we have to make the bed.”
“Jah, or we get into trouble,” Amy added.
“Now I’ll show you Ben’s bedroom.” Jared hurried away with Ben laughing and following after him poking him in the back. Pushing the door open with a huge grin on his face, Jared said, “And here it is.”
“Another lovely tidy room,” Courtney said to Ben. “Now where’s Amy’s room?”
Ben opened a door across the hall from his room.
“Dat said I was showing her,” Jared said lunging forward and slapping his brother.
Courtney wasn’t certain what to do. She’d only just arrived, and Jared had been so pleased to show her around; on the other hand, she had to tell him that he shouldn’t hit his brother.
“I think Ben was just excited, and maybe he thought I was asking him where Amy’s room was.”
“Nee, he didn’t. He heard Dat say that I should show you the haus.”
“He’s a little younger than you and sometimes we have to forgive the younger ones for their enthusiasm, don’t you think, Jared?”
Jared shrugged his shoulders while glared at Ben. Courtney noticed Ben was smirking at Jared.
“Anyway, let’s have a look at Amy’s room.” She stuck her head into the room. This was the smallest of all the rooms, with room for a bed and a dresser, and little else. “Did you make your bed too, Amy?”
Amy nodded.
“We have to help her,” Jared said.
“That’s lovely. Brothers and sisters should always help each other.”
“Do you want to see Dat’s room?” Jared asked.
“Is that the one upstairs?”
Jared nodded.
“Nee, I don’t think I need to see that one. What about the kitchen?”
“This way,” Jared said, and then had to run to get in front of Ben, who was racing off toward the kitchen.
Holding Amy’s hand, Courtney stepped into the kitchen to see that it was the largest room in the house. There was a large dining table with eight chairs, an open fireplace with a wood-burning stove, and behind the fireplace was a stacked-rock feature wall. “It’s lovely in here.”
“The bathroom is through that door at the back of the haus,” Jared said pointing to the end of the kitchen opposite the stove.
“Gut.” She looked down at the table in front of her. “There is plenty of room for us to sit around this table,” Courtney said leaning with both hands on the table. “Where is the food kept, Jared?”
“In here.” Jared opened a door next, to reveal a huge utility room with a cold box in the corner.
“Here you are. Has Jared finished showing you around?”
“Jah, and he’s done a good job. I’ve seen where the children sleep, and I know where everything is. Shall I start on dinner now? It’ll be dark soon.”
“We’ve all cooked you dinner. We did it yesterday; it just needs reheating.”
“Really?” She looked at the three children who nodded, looking pleased with themselves. “That’s so nice of you, denke.”
Amy giggled. “I helped too.”
“That’s wunderbaar. Denke everyone. I’m looking forward to tasting it.”
“Dat did most of it,” Ben said.
“I’ve put your bags at the cabin door. I’ll just get the keys and take you to it.”
“Can we come?” Jared asked.
“Nee, the three of you can stay here and set the table ready for dinner. Jared, you’re in charge. We won’t be long.”
“Okay, Dat.”
Courtney walked out of the house with Aaron close behind.
“Our haus is only small, but it suits us. It needs a few odd jobs done here and there, which I will get to before the cold weather comes.”
“It’s a lovely home, and I think it would be cozy when it turns cold.”
“It gets the warmth from the fire and the wood stove. I’m afraid your cabin only has a small stove, but it does have the fireplace. You’ll be eating with us most of the time anyway.” They turned the corner of the house, and Courtney got a good look at the cabin. It was small and dove gray with white painted window frames.
“It’s lovely. It looks so new and fresh.” There was a small porch, double front doors, and an area where she could plant a garden.
“It’s all new, and there should be everything here that you need. Heather made sure you had towels and sheets and all those bits and pieces that women think of. Anyway, I’ll show you.” He stepped up onto the porch and pushed the key into the lock.
Courtney was pleased that he seemed to have forgotten about her keeping her pregnancy from him. He pushed the door open, and she stepped through to see a small couch facing the fireplace, and a low coffee table between the two. “This will suit me just fine.”
“You haven’t seen all of it yet.” He pointed to a closed door. “That’s your bedroom.”
She stepped forward and opened the door. There was a single bed, a dresser and a row of clothes pegs. The floorboards in the bedroom were polished the same as the living room.
“As I said, Heather made sure you’d have the correct sheets, pillowcases and all those things.”
“That was nice of her. I’ll have to be sure to thank her.”
“I’ll bring your suitcase in, as soon as I show you through.”
“Denke.”
He pointed to another door. “That’s your bathroom and the only one in the haus.”
“I’ll only need one.”
“Now it’s just the kitchen, and that’ll be it. It’s only big enough for you to do a small amount of cooking or boil a pot of water.”
The kitchen was off from the living room, and close to the stove was a small area with a stool where she could sit by a small countertop overhang for a snack or a hot drink.
“It’s so new and lovely.”
“I hope you’ll be happy here.”
“Jah, I will. I’m certain I will.” He frowned and looked at the ground. Courtney thought he was going to raise the subject of her pregnancy, so she quickly added, “I’ll freshen up and come back to the haus to help with serving the dinner.”
“I think you can have a rest tonight. The dinner only needs reheating, and the children can set the table and clean up afterward. You can start work tomorrow. How does that sound?”
“That sounds gut, denke.”
He strode toward the door and pulled her suitcase through the door. “Where would you like it?”
“Just there is fine.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in around an hour for dinner?”
“That would be perfect.”
“In the kitchen, I’ve left a notebook where I’ve written down our routine. Where we buy food from, what time we leave home to go to the meetings, and schul—that kind of thing.”
“Denke, I’ll read it tonight.”
When he’d gone, she carried the suitcase to her room and placed it on her bed. After she clicked it open, she slumped onto the bed and wondered whether she’d done the right thing in coming here. The children were adorable, but maybe someone else might have been a better choice for the young family. Even though she was convinced she could do it all, what if she couldn’t? What if she fell ill? Who would look after her? I won’t get sick—I can’t. I have to remain well and healthy.
This was the place where she would stay and make a life for herself. Aaron had already accepted her—although reluctantly. She would make friends and raise her baby in the small community of Giles County.