| |
Goetz Homestead
“IT’S ONLY RIGHT TO have it here,” Annie whispered, looking around the Goetz’s home. Celery was everywhere, giving a fully traditional Amish feel to the ceremony. “I am glad you could be here.”
“I appreciate the invitation, and I welcomed the chance to get out of cow camp for a while,” Crackerjack answered. Dressed in a black suit complete with silk string tie, he sat on the bench which had been pushed against the wall for the outpouring of guests for Katie and Peter’s wedding. “But getting to see you is what’s made it worth my while, Annie.”
The grin on Katie’s face, which hadn’t been present since arriving in Amarillo, ached in her cheeks as she glanced over her shoulder at her chattering twin. The blue dress Minerva sent her, of course, had fit perfectly. Never had she seen its equal and, according to the note in the package, this was the first dress in her Gypsy-Amish line. The note also said that Minerva hoped she could come for a visit soon and learn more dress-making tips from Amish and Mennonite women. Looks like there may be more to celebrate soon, to see Minerva again!
A whisper, soft as summer rain, came from beside her. Her heart skipped and began to flutter, even more than it had been already. “Are you ready to be married off?”
Katie shifted her weight and looked at Peter. Handsome, but in a more regal sort of way, his green eyes glittered. She nodded. “We passed every test, didn’t we Peter. I’m so glad you stuck by me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Or deserve you.”
“Oh, Katie you have always deserved the best I could give you.”
Katie sniffed back a tear. “I love you, Peter. Now I can tell you I love you anytime I want to.”
Peter leaned over, his breath warm on her ear and rustling in her black silk covering. “I love you, too.”
Simon Wagler’s voice cut them off. “Are you ready?”
Katie smiled at her soon-to-be father-in-law. This is it. This is really it. I’m about to become Peter’s wife. With a pinch of luck and a load of prayer, Simon and Sarah Wagler had made it not only in time for the ceremony, but in time for Katie’s baptism, too. She glanced over her shoulder again, into the audience. Katherine and Jeremiah Knepp each offered their daughter a tiny wave. To see my father smile again is worth everything I endured in getting here.
Next to her parents sat Joseph and Barbara Goetz, cheery and jolly as ever she’d seen them. A few tears shone on their cheeks. Bull stood in the doorway, a piece of celery jokingly tucked into the lapel of his suit jacket. In addition to Annie, all of her newfound female cousins stood with her as she made the transition into married life.
A sweet silence befell the room as Simon hefted the Bible from the podium in front of him. “Can you both confess and believe that God has ordained marriage to be a union between one man and one wife, and do you also have the confidence that you are approaching marriage in accordance with the way you have been taught?” Simon glanced from his son to Katie.
“Yes,” they answered in unison, sending a snicker through the solemn, gathered crowd.
This is it. The next great adventure. Katie glanced at Peter. With the man I love.
1 cup of Marge’s sourdough starter
2 cups yeast water (made by cutting up a couple of taters and boiling them in 3 cups of water from the spring, until fork tender). Draw off 2 cups of this water.
2 cups of flour
1 heaping tablespoon of store bought sugar
Mix these together and put in a cupboard until it doubles, just like bread dough
4 cups flour regular flour
1 T white store bought sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 T cold, freshly churned butter, diced
Cabe’s secret ingredient was to use a dash of cinnamon in his biscuits.
Add your sourdough starter to your flour. Mix in the rest of your dry ingredients, including the cinnamon if you want Cabe’s special biscuits, and you’ll have formed a dough. Add more flour to get the perfect dough consistency where you live. Sprinkle your diced butter cubes over the dough and pinch or “snap” them into the dough with your fingers. Divide your dough into biscuit sized balls and put them in your Dutch oven or seasoned cast iron skillet. Let them rise for 20 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
And now, a sneak peek at
