Marie E. Bast - The Amish Baker

He had to give his kinner a loving home. Martha would have been disappointed in his behavior. He treated Mary and Jacob like adults. He needed to let them be kinner . Maybe he could hire someone occasionally to help with the household chores.

The next morning Caleb tried to help Mary whenever he could. He made Jacob pick up more responsibility around the house, as well. The week passed with little complaining or talking of any kind from Mary. She said what was necessary and not a word more.

On Saturday Caleb watched as Jacob helped make sugar cookies. He dusted the table with flour, as Mary did. Rolled out his dough and used a round cookie cutter to stamp out shapes. Caleb walked over to survey the work, his shoes crunching over the sugarcoated wood flooring.

“When I grow up, Mary, I’m going to work with Sarah in her bakery.” Jacob slid a spatula under the dough and set each cookie on a baking sheet.

Mary glanced at Jacob and rolled her eyes.

Caleb prayed Sunday dinner would go off without any problems.

* * *

On Sunday Caleb peeled and cut potatoes and carrots while Mary prepared the roast. When everything was almost ready, he and Jacob hitched Snowball and rode to Kalona to fetch Sarah. The whole way there, Jacob made plans for Sarah’s visit.

Yet a slight uneasiness bubbled in Caleb’s belly. Mary had offered no conversation while they worked in the kitchen this morning. Was she still brooding about cooking for their guest?

When they pulled up, Sarah was ready in front of the bakery. Caleb walked her to the buggy. Just as she stepped up to the carriage, she jerked her head at the sound of wheels and horses’ hooves pounding the paved road as a buggy approached.

“ Ach. Melinda Miller.” She gave her a wave, then accepted Caleb’s help to step up. “She’ll be sure to tell everyone she saw me getting into your buggy.”

Caleb waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “It’s Visiting Sunday, and you’re going visiting.”

“ Jah , that’s true,” she reasoned.

When he pulled into his driveway, Sarah’s gaze bounced from the gardens to the fields. “It’s a lovely farm, Caleb.”

“Danki.” He helped her out of the buggy and escorted her up the porch steps.

Jacob grabbed her hand. “I’ll show you my room.”

Sarah turned and gave Caleb a shrug. “Guess I have a tour guide with an itinerary for the day.”

“Slow down, Jacob. Show Sarah your room while I unhitch Snowball. Then we must eat before anything else. Mary will have dinner ready.” Caleb’s stomach had been rumbling for the past hour, and he didn’t want Mary’s hard work on dinner to go to waste. He hurried to unhook Snowball, walked the horse to his stall and then hurried back to the haus .

Caleb hung his hat on the hook, washed his hands and, while Mary poured the cold milk, he carried the food to the table. “Jacob and Sarah. Time to eat.”

Jacob led his guest to the table and pulled out a chair. “This is where you sit.”

“Danki.” Sarah made herself comfortable.

Caleb motioned to Mary. “This is my tochter , Mary.” Then he turned to Sarah. “This is Sarah Gingerich from the Amish Sweet Delights bakery.”

Mary gave Sarah a slight nod.

Sarah reached out to shake Mary’s hand, but Mary stepped back. “Sorry, my hand may have grease on it from the roast. I wouldn’t want you to get any on your hands or your dress.”

“Mary. Please wash your hands.” Caleb tossed her a warning look. He knew Mary’s stubborn nature. She wouldn’t warm up to Sarah until she was ready, but he wouldn’t stand for her offensive behavior.

She washed her hands at the sink, came back and offered a hand to Sarah. “ Hullo , Sarah. Welkum. ” Mary’s words hit their destination like icy pellets.

Caleb exhaled. It was going to be a long afternoon. “Shall we all join hands for prayer?” He said the blessing, then passed the serving platter around the table.

“ Ach. New Order Amish pray aloud at the table. We do not.” Sarah gasped.

“ Jah. On the off-Sundays when the church doesn’t have preaching, the New Order Amish have open Bible study and Sunday school to deepen our personal relationship with Gott and our assurance of salvation.”

“ Ach. Old Order still clings to the adage that only the church interprets scripture, and beyond living a godly life and working hard, we can only have hope of our salvation.” Sarah took a bite of food and turned to Mary. “Mmm, this roast is delicious.”

“Danki.”

“Did your mamm teach you how to cook?”

“Of course.”

The heat from Mary’s rude words burned on Caleb’s cheeks. He’d hoped Mary would like Sarah. Apparently that’s not going to happen. “Sarah, Jacob and I have a little surprise for you after dinner.”

“I like surprises. That sounds like fun.”

When they were finished eating, Sarah jumped up, began clearing the table and carrying the dishes to the sink. Caleb helped Sarah while Mary put the condiments and leftover food away, then joined Sarah at the sink.

“Sit, Caleb, finish your coffee. You too, Mary. You cooked. I’ll wash the dishes.” Sarah motioned them toward the table.

“Danki , but you came to visit with Daed and Jacob. Go visit with them. I’ll take care of the dishes.”

“ Nein. We’ll all pitch in to get them done faster. Jacob and I’ll help, too.” Caleb grabbed a dish towel. “I can’t believe you were going to pass up the help, Mary.”

Defiance glowed in Mary’s eyes as they darted at Caleb. But she remained silent.

* * *

Sarah took a step back after the last dish found its way to the cupboard. She understood Mary wasn’t going to let her, or probably any woman, into her kitchen. If Caleb made Mary step aside for a frau , she’d do it, but begrudgingly.

After Jacob finished sweeping the floor clean of crumbs and set the broom away, he ran to Caleb. “Now, Daed?”

“ Jah. Now we take Sarah on the tour.” Caleb opened the door and swept his arm toward the outside. “Your tour is about to begin, Frau Gingerich.”

They walked her around the flower and vegetable gardens, then stopped by the barn for her to meet Tiger, the cat. When he rubbed against her leg, she picked him up. “You’re a real beauty.”

He purred in response.

Jacob tugged at her arm as excitement set his feet to prancing. “Come on, we have a surprise.” Jacob walked her to the pen where the newborn calf laid next to his mamm .

“Oh, he is gorgeous.” Sarah gave Caleb a glance when he stood next to her.

The cat jumped out of Sarah’s arms, squeezed through the board fence and rubbed up against the calf.

“Ah, even Tiger likes him.” The innocence of the animals warmed her heart.

“There’s one last place to see. I’ll give you a hint.” Jacob rubbed his chin with his hand like he was deep in thought. “It’s a great spot on a hot day.”

Sarah looked up toward the sky as if really pondering the question, then dropped her gaze back to Jacob. “I have no idea what it is. Lead the way.”

Jacob traipsed through the grass and weeds along the bank to the grove of maple trees by the pond on the edge of the pasture. Jacob pointed to the water, his face beaming.

“Oh! What a wonderful place to relax on the grass.” She looked around. “It’s a beautiful farm, Caleb and Jacob, and so well kept.”

Both their faces glowed with pride.

“I contract the fields of vegetables to canneries, and I grow extra to sell at the auction and market.” He turned around and pointed to the north pasture. “And we have a few milk cows.”