Rebecca Kertz - Jedidiah's Bride

“Your brothers will be there,” he told her. His voice dropped. “I’d like to take you home afterward.”

Sarah’s heart started to race. Wouldn’t it be exciting to go to the singing and be driven home by Jedidiah Lapp! “I’ll check,” she said and fled back into the house to ask her mother. Her heart beat wildly as she entered the kitchen and searched for Mam. It had been a long time since she’d gone to a singing. For months now, concern for her mam had kept her home.

But Mam had done surprisingly well this day. Was it possible that her mother would be fine and that she could attend?

She caught sight of her mother seated in a chair in the Millers’ great room. “Mam.” She approached, almost afraid to ask; she didn’t want to be disappointed. “There is a singing tonight—”

“Ja!” Mary Miller said. “It will be gut for you to go.”

Sarah didn’t want to miss it, but she wouldn’t put her wishes above her mother’s needs.

“Sarah,” her mam said with a smile, “you should stay.” She frowned as if it had just occurred to her how much her youngest daughter had missed during these past months. “It’s been a long time for you.”

“It’s all right,” Sarah assured her. “I’ll come home with you and Dat, but if you are feeling well enough, I’d like to return. Ervin and Toby are going. I can ride back with them.”

“Or you could stay and one of my sons can take you home,” Mary Miller said. “I’m sure P.J. would be happy to see you home.”

“I’d be happy to bring her home,” Jed said as he stepped into the room.

Sarah felt his presence immediately. It vibrated in the room, making her fully aware of him. She watched her mother study the young man and nod. “As long as you get home safely,” Ruth directed toward her daughter. “Where is your dat?” She stood, wobbling a little on unsteady legs before righting herself.

“Daniel is outside near the barn with Pete, Arlin and Ned Troyer,” Jedidiah offered. Someone called him from outside. “Arlin,” he explained with a smile before he left to return to the men who were gathered out in the yard. Sarah felt the loss of his presence.

“And what of the twins?” her mother asked. As if exhausted, she sat down again. “Have you seen them?”

“They are outside with my two youngest.” Sally Troyer reached back to retie her apron strings. “They are getting along just fine. Perhaps your boys would like to spend the night with my Joseph and John.”

Her heart gave a little lurch. Without the twins to wreak havoc on the house, Sarah could attend the singing, leaving her mother to rest quietly with her dat nearby.

“I think Timothy and Thomas would like that,” Mam said. She focused her gaze on Sarah. “You’d like to go?”

Sarah nodded. “Ja, but I can stay home if you need me.”

“Nay,” she said, “there is no reason for you to stay. I will be fine. Now, where did you say Daniel is?” Her eyes lit up as she spied her husband out the window. “Ah, there he is!”

“I’ll tell him we are ready to go,” Sarah said with quiet joy.

Mam frowned. “I thought you’d stay.”

Sarah shook her head. “I will see you settled before I return with Ervin and Toby.”

Her mam’s expression grew soft. “You are a gut daughter.” She stood a bit wobbly but managed to right herself without help. “I will come with you to get your vadder.”

“I can bring back clean clothes for the twins,” Sarah offered as she helped her mother across the room.

“No need,” Sally assured her. “They will be fine.” She grinned, apparently pleased with the turn of events. “I’ll tell them they’ll be staying with us tonight.”

Sarah could hear her young brothers’ whoops of happiness as she and her mother joined her father outside. “Sounds like they are excited to be spending the night with the Troyers.”

Daniel grinned. “It will be a nice quiet evening for us,” he said.

Her mother’s smile was weak but genuine. “I did well today,” she declared. With help, she climbed into the buggy and sat down.

“Ja, Mam.” Sarah set a blanket about her mother’s legs. “Time to go home and rest.”

Once Mam was situated comfortably, Sarah climbed into the back and then gazed out the window as Dat pulled the buggy away from the farmhouse down the dirt lane toward the main road. She thought she’d caught a glimpse of Jed watching them as they drove away.

This evening, she would be spending more time with Jedidiah Lapp. Heart thumping, she thought of the evening ahead with barely controlled excitement.

* * *

Jed stood on the Millers’ front porch and watched as buggies and wagons arrived with young people who had come for the evening’s singing. There was still no sign of either Sarah or her brothers. Would she come or did her mother need her?

Why should I care if she stays home? It wasn’t as if he’d ever see her again. Still, the memory of her smiling face and blue eyes lingered in his thoughts. He had enjoyed his time with her family. The afternoon had passed quickly—too quickly.

He shouldn’t think of Sarah. He was too old for her. What was she? Seventeen? Eighteen? He’d thought he’d found someone he might love in Annie Zook, but he’d been wrong. If he’d hurt her, Annie hadn’t shown it. Sarah was vulnerable. She’d spent a long time caring for her mother. She hadn’t been to a singing in months. He had no right to monopolize her time, but he couldn’t help himself.

If she comes, then I’ll enjoy the evening with her and then say goodbye. She would find someone else here in Delaware to love. She would want to stay near her family, and he needed to be home in Happiness.

It was growing late and still there was no sign of any of the Masts. Jed stepped down from the porch and crossed the yard, more than mildly disappointed.

Suddenly, a buggy came barreling down the dirt drive to pull up quickly behind the line of vehicles. Jed saw Ervin and Toby jump down from the vehicle, but no sign of Sarah. He waited for the brothers to join him before entering the barn.

Just as he had given up hope of seeing her again, Jed watched Sarah climb out carefully after her brothers, balancing a plate in one hand. Ervin helped his sister, grabbing the plate from her hand. The siblings turned and spied Jed standing in the yard. Ervin waved, and Toby followed his eldest brother, while Sarah came slowly behind.

Jed felt a sudden lightening of spirit. Sarah was here, and he would get to spend more time with her, if only for a few hours.

He grinned at Sarah’s brothers, and then he waited with a soft smile as Sarah caught up to them. “Nice night for a singing,” he said, noting her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

“Ja,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the joy.” She gestured toward the plate Ervin held out to her. “I brought cookies—chocolate chip.”

“This will be a gut night, Sarah,” he whispered as the brothers went into the barn ahead of them.

She gave a barely perceptible nod as they followed. Then, there were greetings from the others who had come. Jed noticed that his cousin P.J. seemed particularly happy to see Sarah. P.J., Pete’s eldest son, was closer in age to Sarah than he. He tried not to be upset by the fact that once he left, it could be P.J. who would eventually keep company with Sarah and perhaps win her heart.

Don’t let it bother you tonight, he thought. They had this one night together, and he planned to enjoy every single moment of it.

Chapter Four

Sarah felt gladdened by the greetings of her friends and neighbors as she entered the barn and took a seat across from Jedidiah. She was conscious of Jed’s presence as she smiled and returned Miriam Yost’s wave. She hadn’t seen Miriam in a long time. She liked the young woman. Sarah suddenly realized how much she’d missed socializing with her friends since her mother had become ill.