Epilogue
Standing on the edge of the field, Sadie leaned against the fence and stared at the herd of cows as they grazed on the green grass. In the distance, she could make out the team of four Belgian mules pulling the cutter through the hay that grew in the back fields.
She squinted and lifted her hand to her brow to shield the sun, trying to see whether the man driving the team was Frederick or if it was one of the younger men who worked the farm alongside him.
So many things had happened since their wedding last autumn.
Right after the holidays, Frederick’s father had agreed to allocate 100 acres for Frederick to begin his educational farming program. Within thirty days, word had spread, and more men applied to work the farm than Frederick could possibly accept.
Together, they had mulled over the applications and prayed. They were both saddened by the realization that they needed to turn some of the men away. But they were pleased that Frederick’s idea had proven valuable to the young people and the community.
Four men had been selected from the many applicants to help with growing corn, cutting and baling hay, and tending to the small herd of dairy cows that Frederick bought from Sadie’s father. Already he was making money and so were the young men who worked alongside him.
Sadie turned away from the cows and began to walk back to the small house where she lived with Frederick. It was only a dawdihaus, a two-bedroom structure right next to the main farmhouse, where Frederick’s parents still lived with their two teenaged daughters.
Years before, Frederick’s grandparents had lived in the dawdihaus. And, in two or three years, Frederick and Sadie would move into the larger house and his parents would live in the dawdihaus. One day, many years down the road, Sadie and Frederick would do the same: relinquish the larger house to one of their children and return to the smaller house. It seemed this was the circle of life on an Amish farm, and Sadie was grateful to be part of it.
But, for now, Sadie didn’t mind living in the smaller house. It was warm and cozy, and it was where they’d welcome their first child this autumn.
As she passed the dairy barn, she heard her husband call for her.
Smiling, she stopped walking and waited for him to catch up. “I thought you’d be supervising the hay cutting.”
Frederick shook his head. “Nee, Sadie. Those young men know what they’re doing by now. What is this? Our third cutting of the season? Why, if we don’t get our first frost early, we’re bound to have at least two more cuttings this year!”
“Can you imagine?” Five hay cuttings would be a true blessing. They’d have more than enough hay to feed the cows and horses for the winter, plus some to sell to other farmers who needed extra for their own livestock.
Frederick gave her a warm smile. “There’s a lot of things I never could’ve imagined, Sadie Keim. Why, last year at this time, we hadn’t even met yet! And now, ten months later, just look at us.” He opened his arms and gestured around them. “We’ve our own little haus, our own little farm, and soon, our own little family.”
Sadie let her hands caress her round belly. As if on cue, the baby rolled, its foot pressing against her hand. “If this boppli doesn’t stop growing, I’m not so certain about the little part.”
He laughed and leaned over to press his lips against her forehead.
“Speaking of little”—his mouth twitched as if trying to suppress his mirth—“you do remember that my cousins are coming to supper tonight, ja?”
“Frederick Keim!”
“Aw, you know I mean it with love.”
Still, she gave him a teasing look of chastisement. “Of course, I remember. And I have a big”—she emphasized the word “big,” which made him laugh once more—“meal for them. Plus, I invited your parents and schwesters. The more the merrier, don’t you think?”
“The more the merrier, indeed,” he agreed. “But remember that my favorite part of the day is spending time alone with you.”
She blushed at his compliment.
“Now,” he said, his tone changing from one of adoration to seriousness, “before the workday is finished, we have some business things to discuss.”
“Oh? And what would that be?”
Frederick put his arm around her expanding waist and guided her toward the house. “Seems to me that your idea is taking off, Sadie Keim.”
Startled, she looked at him. “What idea is that?”
“The one about raising the milk prices and marketing our dairy products as healthier for people. Why, even your daed stopped by earlier to tell me that he’s on board, too.”
Sadie gasped. “My daed?”
“Ja, the one and only.”
Sadie could hardly believe that her father had agreed. She wondered what Rachel thought of it.
Sadie still remembered hearing about how Rachel had knelt before the members of her former church district, sharing her confession. Ella had shared the details of the moment when Rachel, always so prideful of her appearance, burst into tears before every baptized member of Echo Creek.
While Sadie had been thankful that she had not witnessed that event, she did believe that Rachel was truly sorry for her actions, and she had forgiven her stepmother. It seemed that God, too, forgave her as, less than three months later, Sadie had learned that Rachel was, at last, pregnant.
Surely facing her flaws had redeemed Rachel, not just in the eyes of God and the community, but in her own heart and soul.
For that, Sadie was truly happy.
“And there’s more!” Frederick gave Sadie a broad smile.
Sadie could hardly wait to hear. “Do tell me!”
“Your dear friend Belle’s husband is on board, too, and Ella’s husband has agreed to not only carry the products in Troyers’ General Store but his daed agreed to help with distribution to other stores.” Frederick laughed and gave her a gentle squeeze. “It seems that the Little Songbird Dairy Products Company is off to a good start.”
As they ascended the steps to their small house, a cow called out from the nearby pasture. Sadie glanced over her shoulder at it, not surprised to see the cow standing near the fence as it chewed its cud. Behind the pasture, birds flew across the growing hay toward the numerous birdhouses that lined the back field. And far in the distance she caught sight of a buck with a large rack upon its head as it stood atop the hill, gazing into the distance at a small herd of does that grazed nearby on the edge of the wooded area that they had designated a “No Hunting” zone.
A good start indeed, she thought as she followed Frederick into the house.