Chapter Twenty-Six
Jacob lifted Greta into his cart, which was small enough to navigate the narrow walking path, and draped his coat over her shoulders. Greta smiled and ran her fingers over the rough wool cloth. She loved feeling loved. Jacob shook the reins and the horse whinnied. The cart jerked and rolled forward as he walked beside it. After a while, he glanced at Greta with a nervous expression. “I forgot to ask you something.”
Greta looked up at him. “You did?”
He shrugged and flashed a sheepish grin. “Ja. I was so happy after I pulled you from the creek that I forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
Jacob tugged the reins and the cart ground to a halt.
“Why are we stopping?” Greta looked around but saw only trees. “There is nothing here.”
Jacob reached into the cart and gently lifted Greta over the side and onto the ground. She stared at him without speaking. He grinned and dropped down on one knee. “This cannot wait a second longer.”
Greta clasped her hands together. “Oh, Jacob!”
Jacob pulled off his beaver-felt hat and took her hand. “Greta Scholtz, will you marry me?”
“Ja! Ja, of course I will!”
He stood up, pulled her close, and locked his strong arms around her slender frame. “Greta.” She melted into his touch as she felt the world disappear. Nothing existed but the man she loved and this moment together.
When Jacob released her she was thrilled to see that he was grinning. “Jacob, I have never seen you smile so. I hardly recognize you when you are not frowning.”
“I have frowned long enough. I think I would like to start smiling now.” Greta reached up and traced the contours of his face. “Ja. I think it is time.”
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You have made me smile again, Greta Scholtz. I tried to distract myself from loss and grief by working all of the time. I tried to protect myself from more loss by pushing you away.” He shook his head. “But I could not work the pain away. And I could not push you away.” He tapped his chest. “You stayed here, no matter how much I fought the feelings.”
He gazed into her eyes. “I was so caught up in the losses that der Herr allows us to suffer that I could not believe that he sends joy, too. I refused to let go for so long. But I believe that der Herr wants me to become a better man by knowing you, Greta. By living to support and comfort you on our journey through this world. I can never be a better man by clearing more fields or planting more corn or building a bigger barn. I can never be a better man by running away from pain. I will become a better man by softening my heart and letting you inside.”
Greta placed the palm of her hand against his chest. She could feel the thump of his heart beneath his homespun shirt. “Der Herr has not given us a life without pain. But He has given us each other. And that will be enough.”
“Ja. That will be enough.”
Jacob kissed Greta’s forehead and lifted her back into the cart. She rode in silence as she watched Jacob lead the horse down the winding path and imagined the life that they would live together.
But when the Yoder farm came into view, an unwelcome thought hit Greta. She realized that she agreed to his proposal without thinking of what would become of Ruth and the twins.
“Jacob?”
“Ja?”
“I should have said something earlier.”
He frowned and turned to her. “About what?”
Greta bit her lip. “I want to marry you, Jacob. More than anything I want to marry you.” She looked down. “But I cannot abandon Ruth and the Fisher twins. And I cannot ask you to take on so many mouths to feed. You are expecting a bride, not an entire family!”
“My dear, sweet Greta. Always thinking of others.” He cupped her chin in his hand and raised her eyes to his. “Your family is my family. They will all come with you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“You mean . . .”
Jacob nodded. “Ja. We will take in Eliza and Peter as our own children.” He cleared his throat and turned his eyes back to the path. “If they want me for a father, that is.”
“Oh, Jacob. They certainly do!”
He looked back at her. “Do you really think so?”
“Ja. Of course.”
They rounded the curve and pulled in front of the Yoder cabin. Jacob’s jaw tightened. “Well, I guess we are about to find out.”
“I already told you. They will love you.”
Jacob nodded, but Greta could see the doubt etched on his face. He pulled the reins and spoke to Old Bess in a low, commanding voice. Greta could not wait for the cart to roll to a complete stop. “Hurry, Jacob! I want to tell them everything!” She hopped down without his help and ran ahead. Jacob felt a pang of anxiety as he watched her bolt into the cabin. Will the twins want to be part of my family?
Peter and Eliza leapt up as soon as the door opened. “Greta!”
Ruth turned from the hearth and put her hands on her hips. “Well, I am glad to see that you are dry this time.”
“We have news.”
Jacob appeared in the doorway with a sheepish grin. “Jacob!” The children crowded closer. Greta glanced at her fiancé and he pulled her close. “Greta has agreed to marry me.”
“Well, it is about time!” Ruth grinned and shook her head. “It took you long enough.”
“Ja.” Jacob’s gaze stayed on Greta as he studied her gentle eyes and freckled cheeks. “It took much too long.”
Eliza smiled and stood on her tiptoes to reach Greta’s ear. Then she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “I told you that he was in love with you!” Greta hugged the girl and laughed. “Ja, you did. And you were right!”
Peter watched the celebration with a finger in his mouth and a crease in his forehead. He shook his head and tightened his little fists. “No! No! No! I do not want you to marry him! You cannot marry him!” He ran out the door and slammed it behind him.
Greta’s hand flew to her mouth. Jacob looked crushed, but he put a comforting hand on Greta’s shoulder. “It is all right. I will go after the boy.” He set his jaw and walked outside in time to see Peter disappear into the lean-to behind the cabin. Jacob sighed and followed him into the small structure. He passed through rectangles of sunlight that streamed through the cracks between logs as he looked for the boy. Jacob frowned and ran his fingers through his hair. He heard a thump from behind a sack of grain. Then another thump and a muffled sob.
Jacob eased around the sacks and found Peter wedged between the rough flax fibers and the log wall. The boy wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and looked down. Jacob sank onto the dirt floor beside him. Peter scowled and inched away. “What do you want?”
“I want to know why you are upset.”
“Because you are marrying Greta. I already told you that.”
“But that does not answer my question. Why don’t you want me to marry Greta?”
“Because . . . because . . .” Peter’s lip trembled and a fat tear ran down his face. “Because you are going to take her away from me.”
Relief washed over Jacob. “You are sad because you think that she is going away?”
Peter nodded and kicked a sack of grain.
“What if I told you that she is not going to leave you?”
Peter’s eyes shot up.
“What if I told you that we want you and your sister to come live with us?”
The little boy’s mouth opened in surprise. “You want me to come to your cabin to live with you?”
“Ja.”
A look of suspicion passed over Peter’s face. “For how long? Just until you can find another home for us?”
“No. I want you and Eliza to stay with us forever. I want to be your father.”
Peter jumped up and exploded into Jacob’s arms. “Really? Do you really want to be my father?”
“Ja.” Jacob hugged the boy and then tousled his hair. “Ja, I do.”
Peter looked up with serious eyes. “I am sorry about the things I said. I did not mean them.” He swallowed hard. “I just felt so upset that Greta did not want me anymore.”
“You know, Peter, she told me that she would not leave you to marry me.”
Peter’s eyes widened. “She did?”
Jacob nodded. “She did. She will never leave you.” He put a hand on Peter’s shoulder. “And neither will I.”