Puzzled, Rebekah stared at the closed door.
He’s never acted so strange before.
Cold knots of uncertainty formed in her stomach. She started toward the kitchen with her hands wrung at her waist.
“Pa? Are you in here, Pa?”
Samuel’s voice came from outside. “Go on. Get out of here!”
Rebekah lifted her skirt and hurried to see what brought on the commotion.
Sure enough, there was Pa outside the back door. He had put the apples to soak in the wooden barrel as she recalled. However, in all the excitement, he had neglected to put the lid on. There were the twins, bobbing away amid the apples.
“Look Pa, we got to swim and snack.” Each boy grasped a thoroughly-gnawed core in their chubby hands.
The boys, though, weren’t where Samuel’s squawking was aimed. His new draft horses, bought just the day before from Mr. Yoder, had helped themselves to the apples as well.
“Ma’s not going to be happy about this,” Rebekah muttered as she stepped out to join her family.
Samuel stood with his hands on his head as his horses trotted back toward his new barn. She could hear them crunching their stolen apples.
She drew a hand to her mouth in a poor attempt to stifle a giggle as Jeremiah plucked the boys from the apple barrel. Her attempt to hold back the laughter didn’t work.
“Oh, Pa!” she managed between giggles. “I’ll start the pies with the apples we have left.”
Her father’s brown hair stuck out from his head in angry wisps. “That Mr. Yoder. He didn’t tell me dem horses had a taste for da apples.”
His German accent thickened with his mood.
The twins dashed by in a sea of giggles, just shy of Jeremiah’s reach.
“Thank you for putting them in to soak, Pa. What with all the commotion lately. . .”
Joseph.
Rebekah twisted her fingers together. “It’s a wonder any of us can think at all.”
Samuel looped his arm around her shoulder. “Jeremiah can get the boys cleaned up and ready. Who knew the apple barrel was the best place to take a swim?” He gave her a quick squeeze. “It does my heart glad to know you’re going to the festival tonight on the arm of Joseph Graber. He’s a fine young man, he is.”
She studied the ground. The strings of her covering dangled in her vision and drew her attention to any menial thing that wasn’t talking about Joseph Graber with her Pa. “It’s good you’re pleased.”
Samuel patted her shoulder. “Go get to baking, daughter. We can get a handful of pies made if we start now.”
“We?”
Samuel ran his thumbs along the inside of his black braces. “I was a mighty fine pie maker back in Germany. I baked a pie for your ma when we were courting.”
Rebekah cocked an eyebrow. “Ma never mentioned that.”
“Oh ja, I’ll never forget the look on her face when she tried that first bite. Her eyes might near popped right out of her head.”
Forgetting her anxiety over Joseph, she stared at her father in disbelief. “It was that good?”
Samuel rubbed his chin. “Her exact words were, ‘You mixed up the salt and the sugar. Good thing I know the difference, otherwise we could never host any families in our home.’” Samuel’s glance cut to his daughter. “I asked her to marry me that night, and thankfully, she said yes.”
“Oh, Pa, that is the sweetest story.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know about sweetest. I figured it to be the saltiest.”
***
The sun crept from the east to the west with all the sluggishness of a snail. By the time the pies cooled on the front porch, all the boys were dressed in their Sunday best and ready to go.
Elnora fussed over Beanie’s outfit while Rebekah and Samuel tidied the kitchen.
“Thanks for letting me help, daughter.”
She stowed the white sugar back in the safety of the highest cabinet, far away from grabby boy fingers. “Thank you for letting me measure out the salt and sugar.”
They shared an easy laugh as the evening birds began their nightly song.
Samuel twirled a rag around his hand. “Young Joseph should be here soon.”
Rebekah froze.
Her father’s words were as soft as the spring rain. “No matter what happens tonight, Rebekah, follow your heart. Your mother and I want nothing more than your happiness.”
He gave the rag a fling. It landed expertly in the dry sink.
Before she could contemplate her father’s heartfelt words, Jeremiah stuck his head in the kitchen. “Joseph’s here.”
With his lips pulled into his most mischievous grin, he stared directly at his sister. “Joseph’s here. And boy, does he look pretty.”
Rebekah tugged at her cape. Satisfied that it was situated, she straightened her covering. Then, she smoothed her dress.
“Are you going to leave him waiting for you all night?” Jeremiah pressed.
Finally, she sucked in a deep breath and swept past her biggest little brother. “Of course not, silly.”
Everyone had congregated in the sitting room, but she spotted Joseph in a moment. A head taller than even her father, he stood out in a crowd. She chewed her lower lip as she beheld the sight of him laughing and teasing with her mother.
His black felt special-occasion hat was clutched in one hand while the other was tucked securely in a pocket. Those ebony curls that never failed to grab her attention were slicked back and he wore his deep-green shirt, the one that matched her favorite dress. He was long, lean, and in Rebekah’s eyes, most beautiful.
“My mother and father took our food on to the festival,” he explained. “Do Rebekah and I need to take any of the pies for you?”
Samuel offered his hand to the younger man. “I appreciate the offer, but I believe we can handle those pies.”
Carefully, Joseph removed his hand from his pocket and shook Samuel’s hand. Quickly, he tucked it away again.
“Hallo.” Rebekah was aware that her voice was quiet, but Joseph took instant notice. He stepped through the throng of little brothers and joined her.
He’s so tall he could have stepped over the lot of them.
His eyes were especially blue as he offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”
Her cheeks afire, Rebekah flitted a glance to Elnora, only her mother wasn’t looking at them. Instead, she shared a smile with Samuel. Together, they turned their attention to the young couple.
What is going on? Why so much secrecy tonight?
Following Joseph, mostly because she held his arm, they made their way out the front door.
Just before the door closed, Elnora’s voice met Rebekah’s ears. “We will see you there.”
Then, she and Joseph were alone.
***
The festival was a wonderful gathering of friends and family and, once he had gotten over his initial shyness or whatever had him so out of sorts, Joseph was a perfect gentleman. For Rebekah, being with him was as easy and natural as getting honey from a beehive. The few looks Katie tossed their way were easy enough to ignore. Still, it was no secret that the younger of the Knepp twins spent the evening wishing she had arrived on Joseph’s arm.
Rebekah twirled the clover thistle that Joseph picked for her on the way between her fingers. “Thank you for a lovely night.”
The evening of food, fun, and fellowship—and, of course, being near to Joseph—left her starry-eyed and a little giddy.
“I should be the one thanking you. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have had a soul to drink apple cider with.” He rubbed his belly with one hand. “And to share that last piece of your ma’s apple pie. If I had been forced to finish it all alone, my folks may well have had to roll me home.”
She dipped her head to sniff her thistle and to hide her smile. “Actually, Pa and I made the pies this year. Ma wasn’t feeling up to it yet.”
“I thought they tasted a little extra-cinnamony.” Joseph bent and scooped up a rock. “I must say, Rebekah, you certainly got all of her skill in the kitchen.” He flung the rock into the woods and it thunked against a tree. “All of it and then some.”
“You’re awfully complimentary tonight, Joseph Graber.”
He grinned. “Could you get used to it?”
“Maybe.”
Something bumped her hand. “Oh!”
“What is it?”
“Something bumped me.” She shuddered.
“Something like this?” Under the cover of darkness, Joseph’s hand bumped hers again. This time, though, his fingers twined around hers and linked them together.
A wave of shyness swept over her. Her hand trembled and her stomach knotted. How she’d dreamt of the day when he would take her hand in his or even brush against her. In her daydreams, it was always wonderful. But this moment left her daydreams all behind.
“Looks like your folks set the lanterns out for you,” Joseph observed. “It was a shame they had to leave the festival early.”
Though she wanted to respond and continue the jovial conversation with Joseph, who was obviously now her beau, she didn’t trust her own tongue just yet.
Indifferent to her lack of words, he continued. “I suppose Elnora didn’t want little Beanie Bull to catch a chill.” Finishing his theory as they reached the porch, he pulled her close, their hands still intertwined. His other hand was hidden in his far pocket. The lamplight glinted off his eyes and them appear to be nothing more than a sea of azure sparkles.
“Rebekah, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.” The resolve in Joseph’s strong voice wavered. “It’s no secret—”
Something cracked from the understory. Joseph froze and both he and Rebekah swiveled their heads in the direction of the noise.
“Well, well, well. What have we here?” Slowly, Peter emerged from the woods.
Joseph squared his shoulders at the perceived threat. “Now’s not the appropriate time to come for your wagon.”
A sliver of ice slid down Rebekah’s backbone at Joseph’s tone. Had she been a man, she would have backed off. As things were, though, she felt that she was in awfully capable hands.
Peter leaned and spat as he stepped nearer to them. “I’m not here for the wagon right now. I’m not here for you neither.” His spurs jangled, and a swift breeze blew back his duster to reveal the shiny pistols that hung there.
Joseph slipped his hand from Rebekah’s, which had grown suddenly sweaty. She linked hers behind her back and shrank behind him.
“Then I don’t see as you have any business here at this hour at all.” Had Joseph been a cat, his tail would have been bottle-brushy.
Peter ignored him and shifted his steely stare to Rebekah. “I need to speak to you.”
Rebekah shook her head infinitesimally.
“It’s important.”
The door to the house squeaked open. “Hallo, Peter. Did I hear you mention you needed to speak to my daughter?”
Samuel rested his hands with his thumbs on the inside of his black braces.
“Yessir.”
Samuel nodded. “I see. However, it is much too late and, Rebekah, you should be getting on to bed. Joseph, you come in, too. Your Pa is here.” Samuel motioned toward the door. “Peter, won’t you come back in the morning? Breakfast is at six. You can talk to Rebekah about what’s on your mind then.”
Peter nodded. “Settled, then.” He spat a brown stream into the yard. “You bet I’ll be back.”
***
“Joseph, your pa is in the sitting room. He figured you’d walk Rebekah home and may like a ride to your place.” Samuel’s voice revealed no trace of any nervousness he might felt at Peter’s display. Rebekah’s wasn’t as calm.
“Goodnight, Joseph. Thank you again for a wonderful evening.” She tried not to bite off her farewell, but not only was her pa right there, but the romantic moment, illuminated by moonlight and lanterns, was forgotten. She started up the stairs, careful of the creaky one.
“I’ll see you for breakfast, Rebekah.”
She paused in her ascent. “You’ll be here, too?”
Joseph stared up at her. She hadn’t intended for her question to sound gruff but judging by the way the smile melted from his dimpled face, it had.
She forced a grateful smile and stammered to undo her mistake. “Then I’ll be sure to have cinnamon rolls ready.”
Following her lead, Joseph returned her smile. “See you then.”
Rebekah turned and finished climbing the stairs. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she replayed the conversation with Peter in her mind.
What could he have to say to me?
Rebekah walked past her bedroom and instead, found herself in her quilting room. Easing into her rocker, she plucked up her quilting bag.
“Sweet Ma. She must have placed my sad excuse for a quilt in my bag in the off chance I wanted to practice my sorely lacking skills.”
She knows me so well.
With her emotions a swirling tempest, she began to stitch by moonlight.