Jan Drexler - An Amish Courtship

He swallowed. He didn’t have to risk Bram’s rejection.

Tilly nibbled at his shoulder. It was the first sign of affection she had ever shown him. He patted her cheek and smoothed the hair under her bridle.

“Well, Tilly-girl, I guess it’s time to face the lions.”

He climbed into the buggy and lifted the reins. The girls chattered to each other in the back seat, talking about Annie and her baby. He rubbed at his freshly shaved chin as they talked. He hadn’t thought that Annie would have a child. His nephew, from what the girls were saying.

Turning Tilly onto the road, he urged her into the quick trot she liked as they headed toward Sadie’s house. As they turned in, he saw Sadie and Ida Mae waiting for them at the edge of the drive. The churning in his stomach eased as Mary stepped out of the house and joined them just as he drew the buggy up. She gave him one of her quiet smiles as Ida Mae climbed into the back of the buggy. He stepped out to help Sadie into the front seat.

“Good morning, Samuel.” She clung to his hand as she put one foot on the buggy step. “It’s a fine day for a drive.”

“Ja, for sure.”

He waited for her to move to the center of the seat so that Mary would be able to sit next to her, but Sadie waved him away.

“I’d like to sit here, if you don’t mind. Mary can sit in the center, between us.”

Mary shot a look toward her aunt, then walked around the back of the buggy with Samuel.

“You know why Sadie wants me to sit in the middle, don’t you?” Mary whispered the words.

“Why?”

Mary stopped, out of sight of the others. “I think she’s trying to push us together.”

Samuel stared. Her cheeks were pink, and one wisp of hair curled around the edge of her bonnet, sending his thoughts down a path that led to tucking that wisp behind her ear. He gripped his suspenders to keep his hands still. “You mean like a matchmaker?”

“Shh.” Mary turned away from the buggy. “Don’t let her hear you.” She twisted her fingers together. “If she sees that she isn’t successful, then she’ll give up. We just have to ignore her attempts to match us up.”

“That sounds good to me.”

Mary continued around the buggy to climb into the front seat and Samuel followed her. His plans didn’t include a wife, and he should be glad that Mary had rejected the idea of the two of them making a match. So why did he feel like he had just watched something precious float away?

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