Indeed, every family in Gasthof Village was at the Stolls. The women circled in the sitting room, Bibles open, as the Yoder pup bounced from person to person.
Tears streamed from Elnora’s eyes as she rushed to greet them. “My baby!” She wrapped Rebekah in a tight embrace. “Thank God!”
“It was God, Ma. Everything about this has been by His hand.” She gestured to Joseph and Peter as they climbed the steps in unison. “He made sure they were there. We all needed each other to survive.”
Elnora waved her arm to include all of them. “Come in, all of you, and warm yourselves by the fire.” Baby Beanie squeaked from his cradle. “We were about to have a church service. Her broad face beamed. “Peter, won’t you join us?”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am. That’s a mighty kind offer, considering all I’ve put you folks through. My apologies.” He tipped his hat to Elnora. “But I’d best be goin’.”
Rebekah’s heart sank. The moment had been so perfect, it hadn’t even occurred to her that he would leave. She’d assumed he’d stay, though she hadn’t really given the matter much thought aside from her rapid assumption.
Peter extended his hand to Joseph, who accepted it and shook with three brisk shakes. “Many thanks for saving my fingers. Surely, they wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you making me stick them in that awful water.” He grinned and twitched his nose. “And my smeller, too.”
Dropping his voice low, he continued. “No one’s ever done anything so kind. I wasn’t expecting that kindness, especially after I was so horrible to you.”
“God commands us to love and forgive each other, Peter. Like He loves and forgives us.”
Peter looked genuinely puzzled. “That must have been what they said when they were speakin’ Latin. Don’t recall that.”
Rebekah smiled. “It says so right in the Lord’s Prayer. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Her brother broke from his handshake with Joseph. “Mr. Stoll, if I could collect my wagon, I’ll be on my way.” He jammed his hat on his head with a nod to Rebekah. “Goodbye Hannah-Rebekah Stoll.” A grin broke his stoic face into an array of happy creases.
Remembering his duster, which was still around her shoulders, she followed him. “Wait, Peter!” She unwound the coat and held it out to him. “Thank you for finding me.”
He brushed the top of her covering with a light kiss. “Thank you for being you.”
He slipped his arms in the duster and descended the stairs without looking back.
***
In the warmth of her childhood home, surrounded by the people she loved, Rebekah searched her heart to the backdrop of Mr. Graber reading from the book of Ecclesiastes, for the reason her smile seemed forced.
Joseph sat closer than usual on her father’s hand-hewn loveseat. Normally, that would be cause for her heart to soar and her smile to stay plastered across her lips for days. As she glanced from face to familiar face, a rogue tear escaped and slid dramatically down her cheek.
Joseph bumped her with his elbow. “Are you ill?”
She bit her lip to keep the flood of sudden emotion at bay and nodded. She slammed her eyes shut in a desperate attempt to keep the wall of tears from spilling over. “I miss my brother.”
A series of sharp knocks on the front door brought Mr. Graber’s sermon to a halt. “A day of surprises.”
Lucas opened the door.
Tears cascaded down Rebekah’s cheeks in a shimmering veil. She stood slowly.
There, with a tear-streaked face and the tip of his nose red as a holly berry, stood Peter.
“I couldn’t leave.” His tears began afresh. “I don’t have a soul in the world. Nobody except you.” His eyes locked with hers.
Sobbing, she dashed across the room and into his waiting arms. There, she wept in harmony with her newest—and finally older—brother. “I’m so glad you came back.”
“Me too, sister.”
Samuel Stoll cleared his throat. “Peter?”
Releasing Rebekah, he swiped at his eyes with the back of one hand. “Mr. Stoll, I’m sure there’s rules about stuff like this, but—” He flickered his watery gaze around the room at each of the faces that stared back at him. “If it sounds fittin’ to you, I’d like to stay on. I’m handy with steel and can make some of the strongest horseshoes north of the Mason-Dixon.”
From the corner of her eye, Rebekah saw him suck in his lower lip.
Just like me.
“I know that took courage, Peter,” Samuel said cautiously, “but you’re right. Things like this aren’t normally done.”
Mr. Graber coughed. “Perhaps we could call a meeting of the elders and discuss the matter further?”
Mr. Yoder rose slowly, following Mr. Raber, Mr. Graber, Mr. Knepp, and Mr. Wagler into the Stoll kitchen. With a fleeting glance at Elnora, Samuel fell into step behind Mr. Odon and pulled the door shut after them.
***
“I reckon they’ll decide, then?” Peter’s voice broke the uneasy silence that had befallen the room. “I mean, if I can stay?”
Elnora plucked Beanie from his cradle and nestled him to her chest. The quilt Rebekah had given him as his very first gift was wrapped securely around him. “Tell me, Peter, do you love God?”
The women of Gasthof Village stared at him with stoic faces. Even bubbly Annie Knepp sat silent and still beside Katie.
Twisting his hat in circles before him, Peter looked at Joseph, who gave him an encouraging nod. “We were church goin’ folk before my parents died. I kind of lost my way after that.” He gestured to Rebekah. “As I was telling Hann—Rebekah—and Joseph last night, I attended Catholic Masses before.”
Elnora smiled. “That’s fine and good, but do you love the Lord.”
“I ain’t never professed it outright, but I got to see a little of His love since I found you folks. I could get mighty used to it.”
Mrs. Odom, perhaps the quietest woman in the settlement, spoke in her soft, singsong voice. “If you would like to receive our Lord as your savior, all you have to do is ask Him, Peter.”
“It’s as easy as all that?”
Annie and Katie’s mother answered. “It is. But in doing that, you’ve promised to live your life for Him and His Glory.”
Peter nodded. “That makes the most sense of anything I’ve heard in a while.” He eased down into an open spot on the floor. “All them churches I visited made it seem a whole lot more difficult.”
The Yoder pup bounded into his lap, his pink tongue flying on its own with reckless abandon.
Heloise adjusted her splinted leg. “It can be difficult, but if you’re sincere in asking for His forgiveness and turning from sin, He will give it.”
“Like I told you earlier,” Joseph added, “Love and forgive others as He loves and forgives us. That’s the main rule right there.”
Rebekah’s pulse quickened at Peter’s enthusiasm and that of her family and friends to answer his questions. “Attend church meetings and do good works by helping your neighbors to show His love. That’s our way of life.”
Before Peter could answer, the kitchen door squeaked open. The elder men of Gasthof Village emerged. Their expressionless faces revealed nothing of a decision or lack thereof.
Samuel Stoll stepped forward. “Peter?”
He rose, hat in hand. “Yessir?”
“Come stand here before us.”
Peter did as he was commanded with his blue eyes as wide as a child’s.
Samuel cleared his throat. “Your only relation is Rebekah, and you wish to join our community here in Gasthof Village, correct?”
Peter bobbed his head.
“Your intention is to join our Amish community. To live as us, dress as us, work as us, to love God, work for Him every day, and in turn, be a member of our church and society?”
Peter puffed his chest out. “Yessir, that is correct.” His sure words echoed off the walls of the house.
Samuel glanced back at the other elders. “Very well. We have come to a decision.”
“Sir, may I say one thing before you tell me your decision?”
Rebekah sucked in her breath and shared a glance with Joseph. He appeared as eager to hear the decision as her. All the good-natured chatter had ceased when the men reemerged, and an almost tangible tension hung in the air.
Just let Pa tell us yes or no!
“I understand if the decision is no, I see why you want to keep your ways on the straight and narrow. It’s a mean world out there. I’ve lived it, I know.” Peter glanced at the faces of the women. “But since meeting you all, my life’s already changed for the better. I can only imagine, if given the chance to become a part of you, a part of your faith, a part of your traditions…” He shook his head. “Well, that’d be almost heaven.”
A few of the women bounced a knowing smile between them.
Peter continued. “Despite what your decision is today, it’s important for me to tell you I’ve changed. Even if I leave here alone today, your family has changed my life for the better, and for that I’m forever indebted to you.”
Samuel crossed his arms. “One year.”
“Sir?”
“Live with us, as we do, for one year.” Samuel glanced at the faces of his friends and family. “If, on this day next year, you still wish to join us, you may.”
Rebekah’s knees quaked, and happiness bubbled in her stomach. Unable to contain herself, she clapped her hands together in a sharp snap. Joseph laughed.
Simon Wagler stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “I’m Simon Wagler. It was my son, Elijah, who pointed you here in the first place.”
Peter’s eyes widened as he grasped Mr. Wagler’s hand.
“That there’s my wife, Sarah.” He nodded toward the throng of women. “We’d be much obliged if you’d stay with us for the duration of this year.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wagler. I’d be much obliged.” Peter’s smile was so wide that it seemed he could hardly force his mouth to form words.
Simon clapped Peter on the back. “Come on then, let’s get you into some more fitting attire.”
“Ma, can we come down now? Jeremiah’s read our Bible lesson to us four times already.” Thomas’s tiny voice sounded supremely put-out. Glancing down the stairs, his eyes lit on Rebekah. “Sissy!”
Quicker than a fish could find a hole in a fishing net, Thomas flew down the stairs and into Rebekah’s waiting arms. The rest of the Stoll boys thundered after him. “Sissy. Oh sissy, you’re alive! I prayed for you all night long.” Wrapping his little arms around her neck, he buried his face in her shoulder. His tiny hat fell to the floor.
“I love you, littlest brother.”
Thomas sniffled. “I love you, too.”
In the midst of the commotion, Rebekah noticed Joseph and her father slip out the front door.
Probably getting something for Peter or putting up his wagon.
Well-wishes from the Stoll boys ended with Jeremiah approaching Rebekah last. “I didn’t like your display at breakfast the other day.”
“I’m really sorry, Jeremiah. I meant to apologize to you and the boys when I got home, but everyone was fishing, and I went to wash the clothes—”
He held up his thirteen-year-old hand. “But I probably would have made an even bigger scene if I’d had gotten the same news.” He grinned. “Welcome home.”
She grasped her biggest little brother in a tight embrace and planted a kiss on the top of his best hat. “Thank you, I missed you.”
Jeremiah flushed and waved her off. He turned toward the kitchen, where Heloise Graber had started serving the lunch. Before he stepped away, he turned back. “Missed you, too.”
“Rebekah?” Her pa’s voice called her attention away from the little men. “Joseph asked me to tell you that he’s on the front porch if you need to find him.”
“Did he wish to speak with me, Pa?” She glanced from side to side. “Pa?”
Hmm, where’d he go?
Rebekah wove through the families of Gasthof Village until she finally arrived at the front door.
“Rebekah?” Katie’s voice came from beside her.
“Hallo, Katie.” She placed her hand on the doorknob. “I finished my quilt, thanks to your squares.”
“Good. Um, Rebekah, I was wondering…”
“Yes?”
The girl stared at her hands. “If, well, the next time you talk to Peter—” Her gaze danced around Rebekah. “If you might tell him I know a great place to picnic.”
Katie spun on her heels and retreated into the mass of people.
Rebekah’s jaw went slack as she watched her.
Is her neck flushed? Oh my, Katie is blushing!
An invisible weight lifted as Rebekah slipped her cloak about her shoulders and stepped out to join Joseph on the porch.
“I’m glad you came out.” He stepped toward her. “It’s still below freezing out here, so this won’t take long.” His lips quivered, and his hands were deep in his pockets.
Rebekah danced from foot to foot. Indeed, it was frosty out. She cupped her hands and blew on her already-throbbing fingers. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s more than all right, Rebekah.” Drawing ever nearer, he took one hand from his pocket. Letting it brush the side of her face, he remained silent while the little puffs from their breath in the frozen air mingled between them.
Icy fingers grasped her stomach and sent a rush of nervous butterflies fluttering through her body. “Katie stopped me on the way out—”
Joseph laid a finger lightly on her lips. “I don’t want to talk about Katie. I want to talk about you. And us.”
With her knees threatening to give way, Rebekah dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t really want to talk about Katie either, even if she may be my sister-in-law someday.”
His eyes glimmered as he stared into hers. “Maybe she’ll be mine, too.”
Rebekah paused as the weight of his words met her heart. “Yours…too?”
“There was one thing we didn’t talk about after the festival the other day.” Sinking down until he was balanced before her on one knee, Joseph drew the other hand out of his pocket. “My one regret from Rumspringa.”
“What regret?”
“For not doing this.” On the end of Joseph’s finger glittered a thin band of gold. “It was my grandma’s. She left it to me in hopes I would give it to my future wife. May I see your hand?”
Rebekah lowered her hand into his.
Dreaming. I’m dreaming. I must be dreaming.
“Rebekah Elnora Stoll,” he began as he slipped the delicate ring on the appropriate finger. “Will you join with me in creating a future?”
“Oh, Joseph.” Her words came out in a squeak. She sank to her knees and grasped both of his hands in hers. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you!”
Slipping one hand behind her neck, Joseph pulled her close. His lips brushed hers as he spoke. “I love you, Rebekah, now and forever.”
She closed her eyes. “I love you, Joseph. You and no other. Forever.”
His cold fingertips on her neck sent shivers down her spine as their lips met, sealing the promise of their eternal love and devotion as the snowflakes began to fall again.
Joseph rose and helped Rebekah to her feet. Already, fresh snow swirled around them. He extended his hand. “Ready to go tell the families?”
She took his hand and twined her fingers through his. “Ready.”
Joseph placed his hand on the doorknob and turned his face toward her. “Well, Miss Stoll, are you ready to start the next part of our lives together?”
He winked, and her stomach twisted in knots.
“I’m ready, Mr. Graber. Let’s do it.” She exhaled the breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding. “Together.”