“Ellie!” Meg exclaimed, her gaze shifting from her to Ethan. “Come in!” With her young son on her hip, she stepped aside to allow them entry.
“How was your trip to New Wilmington? Was his family there nice?”
“I had a great time. Everyone fussed over Timothy.”
“Gut, gut, then you enjoyed yourself.”
Meg nodded.
“We’re on our way to our eldre,” Ellie said. “I thought I’d stop by and maybe have a cup of hot tea with you.”
“Sounds wunderbor. Timothy just got up from his nap.”
Ellie frowned. “I can’t stay long. Ethan hasn’t slept yet.” She sensed her sister’s curiosity as she followed Meg down the hall to the kitchen in the back of the house.
Meg went right to the stove and put the kettle on. There was a high chair in the corner of the room. Ellie’s nephew was too young to sit in it yet, but it was there for when he got just a little bit older. Her sister set her son into the baby seat that sat on the table. “Watch him for me?”
She nodded, and Meg pulled over the high chair. “I could have done that.”
“I’m not helpless.”
“I know,” Ellie said as she placed Ethan in the chair.
The kettle whistled, and Meg fixed two cups of tea, then handed one to Ellie. Her sister sat across from her. “Something’s bothering you.”
Ellie inhaled sharply but nodded.
“Does it have something to do with this little one?” Meg asked softly. “Who is he?” She narrowed her gaze. “He looks familiar.”
“His name is Ethan Miller. He’s Reuben’s son.” She saw her sister’s mouth drop open. “I’ve been watching him for nearly three weeks now.” She bit her lip. “Reuben’s a widower. He recently moved into our church district.”
Meg didn’t say anything at first. Ellie felt her chest tighten.
“That’s why he looks familiar. Ethan looks like his vadder.”
Ellie nodded. “Meg... I wanted—needed—to talk with you.” She explained how she came to be cleaning house for Reuben, who hadn’t wanted her there at first. About his grief over the death of his wife. “I became friends with Sarah, his sister, who was babysitting for him until he could marry or hire someone else to watch Ethan...”
She noted the changing expressions on Meg’s face before she continued. “Reuben’s mudder got hurt and their parents needed Sarah. Sarah asked me to take care of Ethan until her return, but that was weeks ago and she’s still not ready to come back.”
“How did you manage Ethan with your housecleaning business?”
“At first, Charlie watched him in the mornings for me, and I took over in the afternoons. Now I take care of Ethan full-time.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I’m in love with Reuben.” She saw the startled look on Meg’s face. “And he asked me to marry him, but I haven’t given him my answer yet.”
“I don’t understand. If you love him, why won’t you marry him?”
Ellie felt her throat tighten. She blinked back tears. “He wants to marry so his son will have a mudder. He doesn’t want love. He said he’d already loved and lost and won’t go through the pain again.”
“Ach nay, Ellie!” her sister said quietly. “What are you going to do?”
“The idea of me with Reuben doesn’t bother you?”
“Why should it? I have a husband whom I love with all my heart. I was infatuated with Reuben years ago, but once I was with him, there was nothing there. My heart always belonged to Peter. Reuben with you or anyone else won’t affect me one way or another.”
“But if I marry him, he’ll become part of the family.”
Meg smiled. “As would this precious young man here.” She locked gazes with Ellie. “You love Ethan, too.”
Ellie nodded. “Ja, I adore him. He’s so smart. Do you know he said Dat? Reuben was thrilled.”
“You will marry Reuben, then?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Meg, he thinks Ethan is enough. He doesn’t want more children.”
Her sister’s features softened with compassion. “And you’ve always wanted a large family.”
“Ja.” She turned to Ethan, ran a finger gently down his arm, enjoying the smoothness of his baby skin. “You know Reuben better than anyone. What should I do?”
“I don’t know him as well as you do. He took me home a couple of times from singing and once we went on an outing with Peter and...” She smiled ruefully, shook her head. “Then the accident happened, and Peter and I were asked to plan a Christmas birthday celebration for his mother and our dat, and everything changed.” Meg reached across the table and placed a hand over Ellie’s. “You have to decide what means more to you...being Reuben’s wife or a mother of a large family.”
“But there’s more. I’m worried about Mam and Dat. If I marry, then how will I help with the chores? I’ve caught Mam struggling with a heavy pan, and Dat needs help with the animals. I don’t know what to do!”
“Ellie, our parents have three daughters who are married to strong, healthy men. And Charlie’s Nate is always willing to lend a helping hand. What makes our parents your responsibility alone?”
“I don’t know. I’ve just felt that way.”
“Well, stop it. Mam and Dat will be upset to know that you’ve felt this way. They have all of us to help them. Don’t make them an excuse for not marrying Reuben. If you love him, marry him. You need to decide one way or another.”
“I know.” Ellie noted that Ethan was nearly asleep in his chair. She stood. She had a lot to think about. “I should get to the haus. This little boy desperately needs a nap.” She moved to unstrap him from the chair. “Meg, if Peter hadn’t wanted children, would you still have married him?”
Meg frowned. “Ja, because I loved him too much to live without him.”
Pressing Ethan’s head against her shoulder, Ellie exchanged smiles with her sister. “You’d be oll recht with it if I say ja to Reuben?”
“As long as you’re happy, I’m fine with it.”
“Danki, Meg. For the talk and the tea.”
Meg stood at the door while Ellie set Ethan in his buggy seat. The child woke up crying and out of sorts. “Don’t fret, my little man. You’ll be cozy and asleep once we get to Mam’s.”
Ellie put Ethan to bed at her parents’. He fell into a deep sleep immediately, and she went downstairs to see what she could do for her mother.
The rain started midday. It continued as a heavy downpour that seemed like it wouldn’t stop anytime soon. Ellie was due to bring Ethan home at three thirty, but because of her stop at Meg’s, Ethan hadn’t gone down for his nap until late. After missing his morning sleep, the little boy would probably be out for more than two hours yet. At three fifteen, Ellie decided to drive to Reuben’s to explain the situation. Her mother agreed to keep an eye and ear out for Ethan sound asleep in her room. Ellie prayed that Reuben wouldn’t be mad at her.
Reuben finished the floor in less time than he’d expected. In an hour or so, they would be able to walk on the floor, and next time Ethan wouldn’t have to go to the Arlin Stoltzfus’s haus for a nap. And Ellie would be here. He made his lunch at noon, then went back to work. Once he’d finished the two rooms, he cleaned up downstairs and took a seat at the kitchen table. The house seemed empty without Ethan. Without Ellie. What if she didn’t want to marry him?
It was getting late. Past three thirty. Maybe Ethan was sleeping late and she didn’t want to wake him. But she knew he expected her home at three thirty. He began to pace. It had started to rain. As the clock struck four, he became afraid. The rain was a heavy downpour, and the memory of his buggy accident late at night during a rainstorm made him uneasy. Should he drive over to the Stoltzfuses’? See that they were still there and all right?
The rain beat hard against the roof. Reuben peered out the kitchen window, saw water pooling on the driveway and on the lawn, running off the roof of the old barn. A crack of thunder startled him, and he decided at that moment that he couldn’t stay any longer. He left his hat and ran to his buggy, silently apologizing to the animal for the rain. He drove onto the road after twice checking both ways for traffic. The last thing he needed was for a car to zoom up behind him and drive him off the road.
His hands were shaking as he held the reins and spurred the horse into a fast trot. Please, Lord, keep them safe. He was scared. This day reminded him of another. He had a baby son he loved...and the woman of his heart whom he loved and wanted to marry.
The rain was blinding, and he had to slow the horse down. Just a little farther, then he’d be at his destination. And that’s when he saw a buggy off to the side of the road, close to a pond on the far side of an English farmer’s property.
Nay! He pulled his buggy over and ran toward the vehicle. It was on its side, leaning toward the water. Ethan! Ellie! Lord, please let them be all right!
There was no one inside the vehicle. He saw the wooden child’s buggy seat. It had tipped over inside. “Ellie! Ethan!”
He heard a soft moan. He skirted the front of the buggy and saw her lying on her back in the water. He could see a small cut on her forehead. He stared, knowing that he would have to go into the pond to get her. “Gott, please help me,” he murmured over and over like a litany of prayer.
Ellie’s life and perhaps that of his son relied on his getting to the woman he loved as quickly as possible. He knew how to swim. It wasn’t like the last time. He’d taken swimming lessons, for he never wanted to feel helpless near the water again. He stepped in, lowered his body into the water and did the breaststroke until he reached Ellie’s side.
Reuben offered up a silent prayer of thanks when he reached her.
“Ellie.”
She opened her eyes. “Reuben?”
“Ja, dear one, ’tis me.” He surrounded her with his arms and started toward the shore.
“I’m sorry.”
His pulse raced with fear. “Are you oll recht?” He saw her nod. “Where’s Ethan?”
“Safe. He’s with Mam. I didn’t want to be late...needed to tell you why. Late to nap. I’m sorry.”
Near the shoreline, he picked her up in his arms and cradled her against him. “Nothing to be sorry for, El. ’Tis me who’s sorry. I love you. I should have told you sooner.”
But Ellie’s eyes had closed. Alarm tensed up his body. “Ellie?”
She drew and exhaled a sharp breath. “I’m fine.”
“You need a hospital.”
“Nay. Take me back to Mam and Dat’s. Please?”
He couldn’t deny her anything. He set her gently in his buggy. He would see to her safety and have someone fetch her vehicle. He retrieved her horse and tied him to the back of his buggy.
The downpour had eased as he climbed in and drove down the road, moving slowly to protect the horse tied up behind his vehicle. Ellie sat next to him. She leaned against the back of the seat with her eyes closed.
“Ellie,” he said urgently. “Dear one, open your eyes. Let me know how you feel.”
Her eyes flickered open. “Reuben?”
“Ja, Ellie. ’Tis me.” He regarded her with concern. “You’re almost home. Do you hurt anywhere?”
“My head a little, but I’ll be fine.”
“Are you certain? We can call the ambulance.”
“Nay, Reuben. I just want to go home.”
“Almost there.”
He carried Ellie as he climbed the steps and knocked hard. Twice. The door swung open, revealing Missy, who cried out when she saw Ellie in his arms. “Is there someplace I can put her? She said her head hurts, but otherwise I don’t think she’s seriously injured. I still think she should see a doctor, though.” He laid her gently on the sofa, grabbing a pillow from a chair and placing it carefully under her head.
“What happened?” Missy cried as Arlin entered the room. Ellie’s father took one look at his daughter on the sofa and turned pale.
“I was worried when she didn’t come back. I started over here to make sure they were safe. I found her in Prescott’s pond. She was floating on her back. I was able to get to her and bring her to shore. Your horse is tied to the back of my buggy.” He hesitated. “I drove slowly.”
Missy regarded him with tears in her eyes. “Danki, Reuben.”
“Don’t thank me. She must have been on her way to see me. I know she was worried about bringing Ethan home late. ’Tis my fault that she had the accident.”
Arlin stepped up close to him. “Now see here, Reuben Miller, you are not responsible for this accident. It was Ellie’s idea to go out in the rain in the first place. Don’t you beat yourself up over this, do you hear?”
Taken aback by her father’s tirade, Reuben could only nod. “You’ve all done so much for me. I can’t put into words how grateful I am.”
The man flicked his hand in the air, dismissing his gratitude. “You saved my daughter. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”
Reuben felt the warmth and love of this family as it surrounded him. His eyes stung and he blinked. “Ethan sleeping?”
Missy nodded. “He was extra tired. Ellie felt bad that she didn’t get him down for a nap earlier.”
He regarded Ellie’s mother with a soft expression. “Ellie has nothing to feel bad about. She’s been wunderbor. I don’t know how I’d have gotten along without her.” In fact, I love her.
“Arlin,” he said to her father. “May I have a word with you?” He hesitated. “Alone.”
The man nodded. “We can talk in the kitchen. Charlie’s at Nell’s. ’Tis just us here.”
Reuben gave one last look of longing toward Ellie where she rested on the sofa, eyes closed. “Is it oll recht to leave her?”
“Ja, her mother will stay with her.”
She was soaked through, but her parents hadn’t hesitated at having her on their furniture. “Thank the Lord that it’s not winter,” he murmured.
“Amen,” Arlin whispered.
The two men entered the kitchen and sat down across the table from each other.
“What’s on your mind, Reuben?”
“Ellie.”
“What about her?”
“I’d like permission to marry your daughter if she’ll have me.” He felt his face heat as he looked away briefly. “I asked her, but she’s not made up her mind. If she won’t have me, I’ll understand and leave her in peace. But if there is a chance she wants to be my wife, then I’d like to know that I have your blessing.”
Arlin frowned. “You came to me instead of the bishop?”
Reuben nodded. “Ja, I know ’tis unusual, but after what just happened, I felt I had to confess how I feel. I love her. I know ’tis only been nine months since Susanna died, but Ellie...she makes me feel alive. She’s strong and wise, and I’ve never met a more generous and loving woman. I desperately want her to be my wife.”
Ellie’s father eyed Reuben thoughtfully, as if to gauge his measure. “She may not have you.”
He experienced pain in the middle of his chest. “I know.”
“But then again, she may be stubborn and strong enough to take you on.”
Reuben looked at the man with hope. “Arlin?”
“If my daughter wants to marry you, then you have my blessing. But there are things that need saying between you two, I imagine, since she hasn’t made a decision yet.”
“There are,” he agreed.
Missy entered the room and went to the cabinet to take down a box of what Reuben recognized as headache powder. Grabbing a glass from a different cabinet, she filled it with water, then disappeared into the next room.
“Do you think she needs a doctor?”
“I don’t know.” Arlin looked worried. “I’ve had worries over Meg, but this one rarely gets sick or hurt.”
“I’m responsible for your worries,” Reuben admitted. “Over Meg.”
“Nonsense, soohn. We’ve never for one moment cast blame on you. It was an accident, nothing more, and by the grace of the Lord, all came out well.”
“Still... I didn’t know how to swim then. If Peter hadn’t stopped...”
“But he did, so don’t fret over it. I don’t, and after I heard what you told Missy, you must have learned to swim since then.”
Reuben nodded. “I’m so thankful that I did...or I wouldn’t have been able to pull Ellie from the water.”
Arlin regarded him with respect. “I think you’ll make a gut soohn if the girl will have you. We already love your little one.”
He smiled. “He’s a gut boy. Do you know that he says Dat now?”
The older man laughed. “Does he, now? ’tis a thrill, isn’t it?”
“Ja! Ellie told me he said it, and now that I’ve heard it for myself...”
“You enjoy being a vadder.”
“I do.” But he’d lost his wife to childbirth. “I’d have liked to have more, but my wife...she died within minutes after giving Ethan life.”
“The Lord must have been ready to welcome her home.”
“Ja, but...” He thought of Ellie. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to her, yet, she’d had an accident. He couldn’t protect her from life. She wanted children. He wanted more children. It would be worrisome and scary, but he wanted Ellie as his wife and the mother of his children. More than anything, he realized. If he told her, would she believe him?
“I have to confess,” he told Arlin, “that I thought to marry only for Ethan’s sake. I wasn’t looking for love. I was grieving for my wife, and I couldn’t bear the thought of falling in love again only to lose the woman I love.”
“You’re afraid something will happen to my dochter like it did to your Susanna.”
Reuben nodded. “Ja.”
“You can’t stop life and the will of the Father, Reuben. If ’tis one thing I’ve learned, it is that things both gut and bad happen to families, to people. You have to accept the bad with the gut and enjoy every moment of this precious life that God has given us.”
“I know that now. I understand.”
“Well, then what are you waiting for? Go see the woman you love and get her to agree to marry you.”
“Danki, Arlin.”
“What for?”
“For giving me a wonderful example of a gut vadder.”
To his surprise, Arlin looked embarrassed.
Reuben pushed back his chair, then after a nod in his prospective father-in-law’s direction, he went to see if his girl—the woman he loved—would have him.
Her head hurt. She couldn’t believe she’d lost control of her vehicle. It had been pouring heavily and difficult to see. When the dog ran across the road, she’d tried to steer her horse to avoid him. The next thing she knew, she had run off the road and her buggy had tipped to the side after throwing her outside it. She’d landed with a splash in the pond. She knew how to swim, but her head hurt and it took all she had just to turn to float on her back until someone stopped to help.
Reuben. It had been Reuben who’d pulled her from the water, murmuring gently all the way, picking her up as if she were precious cargo and settling her gently inside his buggy.
Her mother had brought her something for her headache. The powder wasn’t a favorite of hers. It tasted nasty, and she had to quickly swallow a full glass of water to chase it down.
She was sore, but except for a slight headache, she wasn’t hurt. Reuben had been so kind and caring. Did he love her? Had she been worrying over nothing?
The man in her thoughts entered the great room and moved to her side. She saw her mother exchange looks with him before Mam excused herself and left the room, leaving the two of them alone.
“How are you feeling?” he said huskily.
“My head aches, but I’m fine. I took something for the pain. I’m sure I’ll be right as rain in the morning.” She laughed at the mention of rain before the memory of the moments before the accident sobered her.
Reuben pulled a chair up close to the sofa where she lay. “Ellie, I have to tell you something, but I don’t think you’ll believe me...and I’m not telling you now because of your accident. I’ve been trying to come up with a gut time to say what’s on my mind.”
Ellie eyed him warily. Was he going to admit that he’d proposed for all the wrong reasons? And just when she’d decided to say yes?
“Ellie. Elizabeth Stoltzfus, I’ve asked you to marry me and you’ve been thinking about it. I gave you the wrong idea about my reasons—”
“Reuben, you don’t have to tell me. I understand that you’ve changed your mind.”
“Changed my—nay! I haven’t changed my mind or my feelings for you. Ellie, I love you. I want to marry you because you’re everything I’ve ever wanted as my partner in life. I’ve tried to give you time, but I...in this, the accident might have something to do with it... I can’t wait anymore. If you don’t want to marry me, please just say so. If you do, you’ll make me the happiest man alive.”
Ellie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But there are things we don’t agree on...such as children.”
“I want children with you. I’ve realized that I can’t stop bad things happening in my life, but I can enjoy the gut. And Ellie, you are all that’s gut and wonderful to me. I love you. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
She studied him with affection. “You’re going to let my family help you when we need it?”
Reuben nodded. “Ja. And I’m eager to lend a helping hand back.”
“And you think you can put up with me for the rest of your life? I can be challenging.”
“I can. I want to.” He eyed her with hope.
“Ja.”
He blinked. “Are you saying—?”
“Ja, I will marry you and be your wife. I will be a mam to Ethan and any future children we may have.” She touched his cheek above his beard. “And I’ll love you forever.”
She was shocked to see tears fill her beloved’s eyes. “Ellie,” he whispered. He bent close and kissed her softly on the lips. She loved being close to him. She was blushing when he lifted his head. “I love you, Ellie.”
“I believe you. And I love you.” She smiled. “I guess you won’t be needing Sarah to return. Except for our wedding.”
“When will you marry me?” he asked.
“I have an idea, but I’ll have to talk with my sister first. Would you mind marrying in a double ceremony with Charlie and Nate?”
“This November?”
“Ja.”
“I’m a widower. We don’t have to wait until November. ’Tis only the end of August.”
“We can talk about this later,” she suggested. “When I’m feeling better?”
“Now that you agreed, I’m eager to make you mine.”
Maybe they could marry in September, she thought. She’d suggest it later. “I am yours, Reuben Miller.”
“Praise the Lord,” Reuben murmured.
Her parents entered the room. Ellie saw her father and husband-to-be exchange glances. Reuben gave a little nod. Her dat grinned.
“I take it that little boy asleep in your room is soon to be my grandson?”
“Do you mind?” Ellie asked, pleased at the ease between her parents and future spouse.
“I’m always happy to welcome new members of our family.”
They heard a sound from upstairs. “Ethan,” Ellie murmured, starting to rise.
“Nay. Stay where you are. I’ll get him,” her mother offered. “I imagine he’s hungry. You’re staying for supper, Reuben, ja?”
“I will, danki.”
Ellie locked gazes with her husband-to-be, and they shared a secret smile. “Go get our precious boy, Mam.”