John 14:1-3.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you might be also.
Rebecca was sweeping the front porch of the B&B when Nash Grayson appeared and sat down in one of the chairs. “What a lovely view,” he said. His voice dripped charm.
Rebecca was relieved that she had already swept under the chairs, as she didn’t fancy having to ask him to move. “Yes it is, but you should see it just before harvest, when the fields of corn look beautiful.”
“I wasn’t talking about the landscape.”
Rebecca was puzzled at first and then embarrassed. Is he flirting with me? she wondered.
Nash was clearly amused by her embarrassment. “Will you have dinner with me?”
“Nee,” Rebecca said automatically, and then wondered if that was rude. “My mudder has guests for dinner tonight.”
Nash waved a hand absently. “I don’t mean tonight; I mean at some point in the future.”
“Nee,” Rebecca said again, “but denki for asking.” She looked at Nash to see how he would react, and saw what she thought was a calculating look pass across his face.
“Is it Elijah Hostetler?” he asked.
Rebecca put her head down and swept briskly, not wishing to pursue this conversation, but Nash got out of his chair and walked over to her. Rebecca’s stomach clenched, wondering what he was about to say, but Mr. Flickinger thankfully chose this moment to tell Rebecca that Mrs. Flickinger needed her help with Grossmammi Deborah.
* * *
Nash watched Rebecca hurry away. He also saw yet another stern look of disapproval pass across his father’s face before he followed Rebecca into the building. Whatever. His behavior was no doubt as he was stressed, and that stress was his parents’ fault for not helping him out with his debts.
Nash returned to his seat and sat back down, looking across at the open fields. He wished he could return to city life and get away from the dreary, boring countryside, but right now he didn’t have enough money to do so. He would have to look for work, and then save up enough money to return to the city. Lucky for him he was getting free board at his parents’ B&B, but he was bored out of his mind. Didn’t these people do anything for fun?
His thoughts turned to Rebecca. Why had she refused his invitation for dinner? She was the first girl who had ever refused him. Clearly it was because she was Amish; had she not been Amish, she would no doubt have accepted his invitation in a flash. Nash thought some more. Or was the reason in fact that she was in love with Elijah? He had seen the looks Elijah shot his way when he had spoken to Rebecca the day before the wedding.
Nash smiled to himself. He had the spark of an idea how to liven things up around here. This community would soon change from the boring place it was.
* * *
Benjamin Shetler looked decidedly uncomfortable, Rebecca thought, despite her mudder’s uncharacteristic warm tone in addressing him. He was already at the Miller haus when Rebecca arrived home from work, and as Moses and Martha were away visiting, as was the Amish custom for newlyweds, and as Sarah was nowhere to be seen, Benjamin and Mrs. Miller were engaging in what looked like awkward conversation.
“Hullo, Mamm. Hullo, Benjamin.”
Benjamin stood and greeted Rebecca.
“Where’s Sarah?”
Mrs. Miller looked behind Rebecca. “I’m expecting her any minute now. She walked over to help Hannah with the twins.”
As if on cue, Sarah walked through the door, looking hot and flustered, despite the cool air. She walked straight over to Benjamin. “Hullo, nice to meet you. I’m Sarah Beachy.”
Benjamin looked taken aback, or so Rebecca thought. “Err, hiya Sarah,” he stammered. “I’m Benjamin Shetler.”
Sarah gave Benjamin a curt nod and then turned to Mrs. Miller. “Sorry I’m late. What can I do to help prepare the meal?”
Mrs. Miller stood up. “Nee, nee. You two girls stay here and talk to Benjamin. I’ll just see to the dinner.” With that, Mrs. Miller hurried out of the room, leaving Rebecca to wonder who her mudder wanted to pair Benjamin with: her, or Sarah. Her mudder was not happy unless she was matchmaking.
No one spoke for a while which made Rebecca somewhat nervous. She cleared her throat. “So, how are you liking our community, Benjamin?”
“Gut, denki.”
Rebecca’s face fell as her attempt to make conversation had fallen so flat. She tried again. “Have you met Nash Grayson yet?”
“Jah.”
Rebecca pushed on. “Mrs. Flickinger is lovely, isn’t she.”
“Jah.”
To Rebecca’s relief, her mudder returned to the table and sat down. “Dinner is ready; we just have to wait for my husband. Benjamin, will you be staying at the B&B long?”
Benjamin squirmed in his seat. “I’m not sure just yet, Mrs. Miller.”
“Do you have business concerns here?”
Benjamin continued to squirm. “Nee.”
Mrs. Miller appeared not at all put off by Benjamin’s obvious attempts to avoid her questions. “Benjamin, why have you come to our community?”
Benjamin’s face flushed a deep shade of beet red, and he looked at the floor. “Forgive me, Mrs. Miller, but what I’m doing here involves someone else, so I am not at liberty to talk about it.”
Mrs. Miller rushed to reassure him. “Of course not, Benjamin; please forgive me for asking.”
Rebecca hid a smile behind her hand. She knew that her mudder was determined to find out more about Benjamin, and would indeed find out one way or another.
The unsuspecting Benjamin now looked quite relaxed, and he and Mrs. Miller chatted away happily. He told her that he had come from dairy farming country, but that he wanted to open his own B&B at some point in the future.
“You’ll need a fraa for that,” Mrs. Miller said, causing Rebecca to groan inwardly.
Rebecca glanced at Sarah, expecting her to look amused, but Sarah’s face was white and drawn, and she was chewing her fingernails.
Everyone turned to the sound of the front door opening. It was Mr. Miller who appeared to have finished work a little early.
“Rebecca, go and fix your daed a hot meadow tea.”
“Jah, mamm.” Rebecca was pleased to be out of the room. At least she had a small time in which she would not be embarrassed by her mudder’s obvious attempts to match her with the new boy in town. Her mudder knew nothing about him, but that did not stop her clumsy attempts at matching her with Benjamin.
From the kitchen she could hear her daed trying to talk to the young man, but her mudder kept cutting across the conversation. Rebecca sighed. Nothing ever changes around here, she thought. It appeared that her mudder was the only person in the community who did not assume that she would marry Elijah. Mrs. Miller had been most put out when her dochders married the Hostetler boys, one by one, although her attitude had changed for the better when Hannah had the twins.
Surely her mudder would be pleased for her if she did marry Elijah? Rebecca carried her daed’s favorite meadow tea carefully to where he sat, and she was just in time to hear him ask Benjamin, “So what is it that brings you here, Benjamin?”
Her mudder moved her head forward, as if doing so would help draw the information out of him.
Benjamin’s eyes darted about the room. It was clear that he was nervous and trying to hide something. “I’m running an errand for someone.”
“I see, someone from your community I suppose?” Mr. Miller asked.
Benjamin nodded, and quickly changed the subject. “I hear you have a successful furniture business, Mr. Miller.”
Mr. Miller nodded his head to Rebecca who had just passed him his tea, then chuckled in a low tone at Benjamin’s comment. “It keeps the familye. Gott has blessed us.”
“What kind of furniture do you make?” Benjamin shifted position in his seat.
Rebecca had the feeling that he was not the slightest bit interested in her daed’s business; it was simply a diversion so he would not have to speak about his reasons for visiting the community.
Rebecca’s mind wandered while her daed talked of all the furniture he made. She was sure he could talk two hours straight about his furniture and the quality of the craftsmanship. Her mudder’s eyes were glazed over as they usually were when anyone else was speaking, but Rebecca could not help but notice that Sarah was still looking pale and appeared to be nervous. Maybe Sarah was attracted to Benjamin?
“So you’re interested in furniture, are you?” Mr. Miller asked.
Benjamin nodded enthusiastically.
“Come out to the barn and I’ll show you the workshop.”
“No you don’t, Abraham. Benjamin is our dinner guest and has come for conversation and gut food. You can show him the workshop some other time.” Mrs. Miller turned to Benjamin and smiled sweetly. “I take it you will be coming back to visit us since you’ll be staying in the community for a while, won’t you?”
“Jah, jah, of course, denki. I’d love to come again.”
Rebecca thought his response far too eager. There was something not right about Benjamin and his reasons for being in Lancaster County. She could not figure out what it was. Her mudder was not the only one who was intrigued by his presence.