Grace's Forgiveness (19 page)

Mark’s chest tightened and his upper lip beaded with sweat. The man’s words pricked his conscience. He didn’t want anything to jeopardize his reputation with Grace, her parents, the bishop, and his new friends.

The scarf he found meant trouble, and so did the intruders who confronted him at his shop. None of which would go over well with anyone in the community. Let alone the ruffians’ connection to a bruder he was supposed to consider dead.

He closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn’t do anything about these predicaments. He would take it a day at a time and deal with the intruder or the thugs as they presented themselves.

The bishop called his name. “Mark King, will you join me at the front, please?”

Mark jerked his head up and stood. His heart pounded as he approached the bishop.

“Please face the members.”

The bishop’s tone sounded serious and his mouth formed a grim line.

Mark scanned the sea of men and women dressed in black. Faces stared back at him, some with smiles and others somber. His vision blurred and his armpits dampened.

The bishop’s hands rested on his shoulders. “This fine Amish man has proven his loyalty to our order by giving his time to those in need in the community. He’s been faithful in church and he’s managing a plentiful crop and furniture store. I’ll ask him questions, he’ll answer them, and then we’ll vote on whether to accept Mark into our membership.”

The bishop asked Mark questions concerning his faithfulness and dedication to God, God’s Son, Jesus, and the Amish law and the Ordnung.

Mark swallowed hard. He spoke a firm answer to each inquiry, while facing the members. Sweat dripped down his back. He suspected warm air and nerves were to blame. He meant what he said to the bishop and members, even though Abel’s face stuck in his mind. His devotion to God never wavered, but he wasn’t sure he wouldn’t bend the rules to help the bruder he loved.

The bishop upstretched his arm. “Men, please raise your hand if you are in favor of accepting Mark into our Amish order.”

Mark gazed at Grace. She smiled and there was a sparkle in her eyes. She sat on the edge of her seat in anticipation. He couldn’t help it. His grin broke out.

“Every man raised their hand, unless I’ve missed someone. Anyone opposed?”

Mark skimmed the congregation. No one opposed. He let out a sigh.

The bishop stepped in front of Mark. “It’s settled then. Mark, wilkom to our Amish order. Let’s pray.” The bishop knelt with Mark and asked the members to do the same. After the prayer, he dismissed them for the Sunday meal. Grace, Sarah, and Levi rushed to join Mark.

Grace’s eyes gleamed. “I wanted to raise both hands, and I would’ve if the bishop allowed women to vote.”

“Me too.” Sarah bounced on her toes.

Levi gave him a friendly pat on the arm. “Congratulations, my friend.”

Friends and neighbors swarmed around Mark. They expressed appreciation for Jonah’s rescue, helping with the Wittmers’ barn raising, and offering them discounts on furniture from his store. He thanked them for their kind comments. The building emptied, and he joined Levi at the dinner table.

Grace passed him a full plate of food. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, danki. You didn’t have to do this. I would’ve gotten it. Kumme sit with us.”

Grace filled her plate and sat between Mark and Sarah. “Here kummes Mamm and Daed. Did they speak to you yet?”

“Not yet.” He stood and gestured to the bench. “Mr. and Mrs. Blauch, we can make room for you here.”

Mr. Blauch waved a dismissive hand. “We wanted to congratulate you and say how pleased we are to have you join our community. The Zooks have saved places for us at the end of the table.”

Mrs. Blauch’s eyes sparkled. “I’m delighted to have you join our Amish order, Mark.” She leaned to his ear and whispered, “Grace is too.”

Grace chuckled. “I overheard your comment, Mamm.”

Mr. Blauch had already walked away, and Mark laughed with Mrs. Blauch and Grace.

Mark pointed to a big oak tree offering shade. “Let’s take our plates over to the tree, Grace. We’ll be in sight but can talk privately.”

Kinner raced past them. Grace’s plate wobbled, but she steadied it.

Mark paused. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

“Kinner, please be mindful of others.” He held her plate while she sat then passed it to her. “Your parents are welcoming and gracious. You’re blessed to have them.”

“I agree. I’m sorry you have no immediate family, but I hope you will consider my parents and the Helmuths your family now.”

He sat next to her but left a respectful distance between them. Coming to Berlin, he had no idea what to expect. He’d never anticipated falling in love with a beautiful woman and acquiring close family like the Blauchs and Helmuths. He’d been truly blessed. He whispered in her ear. “Grace, it’s only been a short time since we met, but you are very important to me. I love you.”

She blushed and stared at her feet then looked at him. “I love you, too.”

“I’m giving your daed time to get over the incident of you caring for me alone at my haus before I ask for your hand in marriage. I had planned on asking him first, but I can’t wait any longer. Grace, will you marry me if your daed gives us his blessing?”

“Yes!” She covered her mouth and beamed. “It’s difficult to stifle my excitement.”

He wanted to hold her. “I want to hug you. This is when I really envy the Englischers’ freedom to show affection to the one they love in public.”

She chuckled. “At this moment, I would agree with you.”

“I’ll ask your daed soon.”

She bowed her head but not before he glimpsed her sparkling gaze. “It can’t be soon enough for me.”

His heart swelled at her words. Mr. Blauch had wanted to go target shooting. It would give her daed and him another chance to build their friendship. He’d have to figure out some dates when he could close his shop for a few hours and then approach Mr. Blauch to see which ones suited him.

Chapter Nine

Grace gazed at Mark sitting next to her under the tall, shady tree. The birds were singing as if they were sharing in her happiness. She couldn’t wait for him to ask her daed for her hand in marriage. She loved him so much she thought her heart would burst. He gazed at her as if she were flawless with his big brown eyes over and over again. He cared about what she had to say about any given subject. He had stepped in and helped her without her having to ask. Like with the Oyers. He loved her back and told her not just with words but in his actions. Sharing life with him was what she wanted to do more than anything. Shouting their news from the mountaintops was what she wanted to do, but she mustn’t utter a word to anyone. Her friends and family were gathering their baskets. “Pass me your empty plate, and I’ll rinse it.” She stood.

He got to his feet. “Danki, but it’s not too dirty. I’ll take it home and rinse it. I’ll walk with you to your parents.”

Grace was thrilled the men had crowded around Mark and shown their support of him today. Her parents had expressed their congratulations. He had treated her with respect and kindness, despite her strong opinions at times.

He was a good provider, hard worker, and a fine, upstanding man. She admired his love for God and his openness to share his feelings about matters of the heart with her.

Sarah approached them. “Would you, Mark, and your parents like to have supper at our haus tomorrow evening?”

Grace glanced at Mark and he nodded his agreement. Her friend’s haus would provide a comfortable setting for Mark and her parents to get better acquainted. “Yes, danki. What can I bring?”

“You don’t need to bring anything. I’ll cook supper and dessert. Levi and I like Mark, and we want your parents to like him too.”

Mark grinned. “I appreciate all the help I can get, Sarah. Let me bring something.”

“No, it’s not necessary.”

“I’m certain Mamm and Daed will kumme. Mamm will insist on bringing something. Do you have any special requests?”

Hands on hips, Sarah rolled her eyes. “No, tell her to take advantage of this opportunity to not have to cook.”

“I’ll tell her, but don’t be surprised if she walks in holding a dish. What time should we arrive?”

“I won’t turn her food away. She’s the best cook in the community. Kumme around six thirty. That will give me plenty of time to prepare our meal after we close the shop.”

Grace chatted with Mark, Sarah, and Levi for a short while. What a wonderful day this had been. She sucked in her top lip. Hopefully Mark wouldn’t mention Abel tomorrow. Her daed might not like him referring to a bruder he was supposed to treat as dead. He and her daed had gotten along so well over Jonah’s rescue, and she didn’t want anything to stir the pot again.

“There’s Daed and Mamm fetching the wagon.” Grace walked with Mark to meet them.

Mark kept pace with Grace. “I’m looking forward to supper tomorrow night. I’d like to sit down with you, your parents, Levi, and Sarah. We’ll have a good time.”

“Levi and Sarah’s support means a lot to me.”

“Our friends have bent over backward to make things easy for us. Giving me another opportunity to be with your parents at their haus is really thoughtful of them.”

Grace warmed at his remarks. Sarah and Levi were her best friends in Berlin, besides Hester. If she and Mark married, it was nice to know he and her friends liked each other. “Oh, Mark, I’m so thankful you chose Berlin to start a new life. Everything is working out wonderfully.”

Mark exchanged pleasantries with her parents, and then she stepped into the wagon.

Mark called out, “See you in town in the morning.”

She grinned and put her hand on her mamm’s knee. “Sarah’s invited us to supper tomorrow night at six thirty.”

Mrs. Blauch’s cheeks dimpled. “What a dear. I’ll bring a sugar cream pie.”

“She wants you to take the night off and not cook.”

Her mamm wrinkled her forehead. “I can’t go there without taking something. She can save my dessert and serve it after supper on another day.”

Her mamm’s determination to not go empty-handed squelched Grace’s desire to argue the matter. She would’ve liked Mamm to use the time to do something she’d enjoy, but Mamm wouldn’t listen. She didn’t go to anyone’s haus without offering a gift. Grace looked at the sky and hoped the conversation between her parents and Mark would be a stepping-stone to building a positive relationship between him and them.

Grace greeted and waited on customers during the morning hours on Monday. She watched the clock tick by. Having dinner at Sarah’s with Mark and her parents this evening rolled around in her mind and brought joy to her heart. Concentrating on work was another story.

Two women admired a friendship keepsake pocket quilt on the wall and chatted.

“Are you in need of any help?”

The tall, elegant woman stared and winced at her. “No, we’re browsing.”

Grace ducked behind the counter and retrieved a biscuit and jar of water out of her dinner basket. The woman’s impolite dismissal of her hadn’t bothered her. She shrugged her shoulders. Maybe she had finally grown accustomed to ill-mannered customers. Time would tell.

Mark poked his head around the door. “Grace, are you and Sarah doing all right? I’ve been busy, but it finally let up.”

“We’ve not had a minute to ourselves until a few minutes ago. Did you have time for dinner?”

“I brought a small pot of beans and rice and ate it cold.” Several patrons entered Grace and Sarah’s shop. “I should let you get back to work. I’ll meet you at Sarah and Levi’s tonight.” He nodded then shut the connecting door.

Her heart raced. Tonight at supper, would her parents consider him a potential husband for her? She bowed her head. “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me for worrying about things. Please fill Daed’s heart with compassion and understanding toward Mark and the hardship he is experiencing in missing his bruder, Abel, should the subject be mentioned. Danki for Your mercy and love. Amen.”

She and Sarah sold their textiles to a steady stream of purchasers the rest of the afternoon. Finally the last woman left. Grace then counted the coins and raised a hand to her open mouth. “Sarah! We collected fifteen dollars today.”

Sarah leaned against the counter and hugged herself. “Word has spread about our keepsake pocket quilts. Women are coming from other towns to buy them. The five ladies we have making them are doing a splendid job. Charity Lantz can stitch a quilt together faster than anyone. Her handiwork is beautiful. I love busy days. Time goes fast.” She tilted her head toward Grace. “Are you nervous about supper at my haus tonight?”

“Yes, but excited, too. I’m certain Mark will leave a good impression on Mamm and Daed.”

“Maybe someday soon he’ll ask your daed for your hand in marriage.”

Grace’s face warmed and she stood. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Mark rode home. He’d missed having dinner with Grace today. Tonight, he, Grace, and her parents would be in a relaxed setting at the Helmuths’ haus. It would provide a time for her parents to ask him questions. What a relief he and Mr. Blauch had shared the experience of rescuing Jonah. Otherwise, he’d be more nervous. If Mr. Blauch asked about siblings, he’d tell him the truth but not expound on Abel. The least said the better.

He reminded himself to check the trunk. Finished with his horse and cart, he opened the trunk lid and the bag lay undisturbed. The scarf sat on top where he’d placed it. Maybe he’d seen the last of the intruder.

Crossing the yard, he went to his workshop and grabbed a plain but smooth oak bread box for Sarah and Levi and set it by the barn. He and Levi had become best friends. He valued his opinions and trusted him.

He pumped water in a large metal basin and poured it in the tub inside the haus. He added soap and bathed. The cool water soothed his tired body and washed the sweat and dirt away. Refreshed, he stood, toweled off, and put on a pair of clean, older pants to shave and comb his hair.

Time had flown by since he left the shop. He should get going. A good impression was important tonight. No time to dawdle. He dressed in fresh, clean clothes, strode outside, and picked up the bread box. He secured his horse to the spring wagon and departed.