Grace's Forgiveness (20 page)

He caught a whiff of hyacinth along the way and sneezed. The patches of mixed flowers decorating the landscape along the way lifted his mood, but their fragrance sometimes irritated his nose and throat. He arrived at Levi’s and caught sight of his friend on the front porch.

Levi approached him. “Good evening. Grace and her parents are inside. I hope you’re hungry. Sarah made enough food to feed ten people.”

Mark retrieved the bread box from the wagon and passed it to Levi. “I can exchange this gift for something else if you already have one.”

“Ours is falling apart. It belonged to Sarah’s gross-mudder. Danki. Sarah will love it. She’s been nagging me to build or buy a replacement for weeks. I kept forgetting to tell you, and I haven’t had time to visit your store.” He gently slapped Mark’s back. “Are you nervous about talking to Mr. Blauch? Mrs. Blauch is a sweetheart. You don’t need to worry about her asking you awkward questions.” He laughed. “She’ll leave those to her husband.”

Mark chuckled as they secured his horse. “I wasn’t nervous, but I am now after your keen insights.”

“I’m teasing you. He’s a fair and kind man. Sarah and I want you to relax and enjoy the evening. We are certain this supper will enhance their already good impression of you. We’d like nothing more than if you and Grace would wed.”

“I would like to ask Mr. Blauch if I may wed Grace, but I want them to learn more about me first.”

Levi’s mouth flew open. “Congratulations on your decision. Don’t worry. I’ll keep this information to myself. I admire your patience. Your wisdom in waiting to ask Mr. Blauch at the right time is an excellent decision. He’ll respect you for it.”

Mark walked alongside Levi toward the haus. “Danki, Levi.”

Sarah opened the door. “Wilkom. Kumme in and take a seat. Supper’s on the table.” She narrowed her eyes. “Levi, what are you carrying?”

He held up Mark’s present. “Mark brought us a new bread box.”

Sarah led Mark and Levi to the sitting room. “Mark, how sweet of you! Danki. Levi’s been in trouble over not replacing this one.” She gave the leaning box a soft kick and winked at her husband. “He’s back in my good graces danki to you.”

“Jah, danki, Mark.”

“I’m glad you both like it, and if I helped my friend get out of trouble with his fraa, all the better.”

They laughed.

Mark approached Grace and her parents. “Good evening, Grace, Mr. and Mrs. Blauch.” He exchanged a winning glance with Grace.

Mr. Blauch extended his hand. “Good to see you, Mark.”

Mrs. Blauch grinned. “Save room for dessert. Sarah baked blueberry tarts.”

“I might want those first.”

Mrs. Blauch’s cheery disposition was uplifting.

Mark slid a chair next to Grace and sat.

Leaning close, Grace whispered in his ear. “You’re so thoughtful, but you didn’t have to bring a gift.”

“I wanted to, and I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to spend time with you for anything.” He sniffed the fragrant scent coming off the food centered on the table. “Sarah, this turkey, carrots, boiled potatoes, and green beans make a pretty picture on your table. I’m anxious to sample each of them.”

“Danki, Mark, but there’s enough for you to spoon heaping portions on your plate. Don’t be shy. Would you like to pray for us?”

Mark bowed his head. “Dear Heavenly Father, danki for this food and bless Sarah for preparing it for us. Danki for Your love and mercy. Amen.” He raised his head and picked up his fork.

Mr. Blauch sat across from him. “How is your store doing?”

“Better than I anticipated. My regular customers must’ve spread the word.”

“How’s Noah working out for you?”

“Noah and I have become good friends. He’s a wonderful and hardworking man. You did me a favor recommending I hire him. He’s talented and a perfectionist when taking care of the farm. I’m blessed to have him working for me.”

“Noah’s an inquisitive young man. I worry about him.”

Mrs. Blauch sipped her water then held the glass. “His mamm told me Noah asks a lot of questions about the outside world. She’s afraid he’ll leave our faith.”

“Jah, he is curious about life outside our community. I’m doing my best to discourage him from leaving us. I hope he’ll stay here and settle down.” Mark scooped more potatoes onto his plate.

“Did you like living in Pennsylvania?” Mr. Blauch helped himself to a slice of turkey.

Grace’s daed wasn’t shy. Mark stifled his chuckle. Putting a carrot in his mouth, he had little time to chew his food before answering the man’s questions. Was he sizing him up for a potential husband for his dochder? Mark hoped so. “I liked Lancaster very much, but I prefer Berlin.”

“Good.” He forked a carrot.

Mrs. Blauch passed him a bowl of potatoes. “Would you like more?”

He’d already had plenty, but he accepted it. “Danki.”

Levi wiped the corner of his mouth. “How’s your vegetable garden doing, Mrs. Blauch?”

“The vegetables are plentiful, and the animals have left them alone this season. I’m so pleased. I plant marigolds around my vegetables and it keeps those pesky bugs away.”

Sipping his water, Mark was grateful his friend had given him a little break from Mr. Blauch’s inquisition. He set his glass on the table.

Mr. Blauch held his fork in midair. “Do you have siblings?”

Levi’s attempt to change the discussion hadn’t worked. This was it. The question he’d been dreading. The question he wasn’t sure how to answer. “My bruder, Abel, joined the Amish order then left to live in the world.”

Mrs. Blauch frowned. “You’re young to suffer the loss of your entire family. I’m so sorry.” She set her knife on the edge of her plate. “Anything you need, you don’t hesitate to ask. Any one of us would be glad to help you. Consider us family.”

Grace, Sarah, and Levi nodded in agreement.

Mark met Grace’s daed’s gaze then waited. The man’s face had grown serious. What thoughts were running through his mind? He wished he’d say something.

Mr. Blauch pushed his half-empty plate inches in front of him and leaned forward. “My fraa is right. Anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask, but please don’t mention your bruder again.”

“I understand.” Mark appreciated the soft tone the man used to deliver his message.

Mr. Blauch sniffed. “My nose tells me blueberry tarts might be for dessert. Am I right, Sarah?”

Mark relaxed. Grace’s parents were compassionate and kind people. Her daed had put him at ease and ended the subject of Abel. He respected the man.

Sarah stood. “Jah, you’re right.”

Grace scooted her chair back. “I’ll help you serve.”

“No, you sit. It won’t take me a minute.”

Mark asked Levi and Mr. Blauch how their crops were doing, and they discussed the possibility of an early fall.

Mr. Blauch folded his hands on the table. “Mr. Peter Lehman’s fraa died this morning. The man has five kinner. He’s distraught and needs help. I’m going to take care of his animals in the morning. The Pine and Zook families are tending to the Lehman farm and garden.”

Grace frowned. “She’s young to pass at the age of thirty. The kinner are all under the age of eight.”

Mamm held a palm to her heart. “A group of us have already coordinated taking food over for the next month or so.”

Sarah carried a tray of tarts in and put them in the center of the table. “How did she die?”

Grace shook her head. “The doctor isn’t sure. She passed in her sleep.”

Mr. Blauch cut a corner of his dessert. “Her husband said she had complained of a bad headache for several days. He’d coaxed her to go to the doctor, but she wouldn’t listen.”

Mark couldn’t imagine losing a fraa and raising and providing for five kinner alone. What an undertaking it would be for a daed. “What can I do?”

Mr. Blauch reached for the napkin. “He has enough help right now. You have a full schedule running your property and store. A fraa would make your life and Mr. Lehman’s easier.” He finished his blueberry tart.

Mrs. Blauch nodded.

Grace blushed.

Sarah and Levi chuckled.

Mr. Blauch’s comment about his needing a fraa hadn’t escaped anyone’s attention, least of all his. He’d take it as a good sign Mr. Blauch’s caring words meant he’d found favor with the man. Jah, he’d say this evening was a success.

The women cleared the table and headed to the kitchen to wash dishes. He joined Levi and Mr. Blauch on the porch. Stars sprinkled the sky and the full moon provided natural light. The air was pleasant.

He pushed his chair between Levi and Grace’s daed.

They sat silent and listened to the frogs croaking and watched the fireflies light the night.

Mr. Blauch crossed his legs. “When do you want to go target shooting, Mark?”

“Friday would be a good day for me. Levi, would you like to join us?”

“Jah, Levi, kumme with us.”

“I’d like to, but Friday is my day to help Mr. Lehman. Don’t wait on me. Go and have a nice time.”

Was Levi giving him time alone with Grace’s daed? Maybe it was a good idea. “I’m sorry you can’t join us. Maybe you can join us another time.”

Mr. Blauch outstretched his legs and crossed his ankles. “I’ve got to get home soon or I’ll fall asleep in this comfortable chair. What time should we meet and where?”

“Six o’clock? I’ll meet you at your haus.”

“All right, I’ll be ready. I’m going to corral my fraa and dochder.”

Levi stood and whispered in his ear. “Target shooting with Mr. Blauch is a smart idea.”

Mark went inside with Levi and bid everyone farewell. He exchanged glances with Grace before he followed Levi outside to get his wagon. Mark nudged Levi’s arm. “You’re bowing out of target practice to give me time alone with Mr. Blauch, right?”

Levi gave him a sly grin. “Of course. I told you, Sarah and I are doing everything we can to help you foster a positive relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Blauch. We think you and Grace would make a good couple, and it’s obvious you and she care for each other.”

Mark put his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “I can use all the help I can get. Danki.”

Mark rapped on the Blauches’ door early Friday morning, and Grace answered. Her birthmark was more prominent this morning. Maybe it was the way she turned her head. He had gotten used to it, and it did nothing to diminish her beauty to him. He loved her sweetheart-shaped face and sweet lips.

She opened the door and gestured him in. “Good morning. Daed’s ready to go shooting. He’s been cleaning his gun and talking about it since our supper at Sarah’s the other night.”

“This will be pleasurable for me as well. I haven’t taken time to go target shooting for a while. The sport relaxes me.”

Mr. Blauch came to the door. “Mark, would you like some breakfast before we leave?”

“No, danki. I had breakfast at home.”

“I’ve got my rifle, shotgun, and supplies. If you’re ready, let’s head out.”

Before following her daed out the door, he leaned close to her ear. “I have high hopes my time with your daed today will foster our friendship leading to my asking him for your hand soon.”

She blushed. “I hope so.”

He left and crossed the yard to his wagon. “I’ve got a bag of empty tin cans we can use for targets.”

Mr. Blauch patted a large gunny sack. “I brought some too.” He pointed. “Let’s go over there.”

Mark untied his horse and took his seat next to Mr. Blauch in the wagon, and then he directed his horse to a thick grassy patch down the road for his animal to graze. “Let’s walk east. No one should be there, and it will be a safe place for us to shoot.”

Securing his horse, Mark watched Mr. Blauch grab his gun, target cans, ammunition, and canteen. Mark did the same, and they trudged through the dense woods.

Mr. Blauch gestured to a large dead tree on its side.

“This area looks perfect for setting up our targets.” He untied his bag and lined the cans on the tree. “You go first.” He stepped behind Mr. Blauch, showed him how to aim his shotgun, allowing for windage and distance, and then backed away.

Mr. Blauch aimed and fired. A can flipped off the log. “It worked. Danki.”

For the next hour, they practiced. There was little left of the pellet-riddled cans when they finished the last of the shotgun shells.

Mark liked being with Mr. Blauch. The man’s relaxed grin, exclamations of success, and praising him for his pointers brought smiles to his face.

Mr. Blauch swiped sweat off his forehead with his shirtsleeve. “I’m tired. Let’s sit for a few minutes.”

Mark found a rock-free area. “This is a large enough spot.”

Mr. Blauch rattled his canteen. “Mine’s empty.”

Mark handed his canteen over. “Take mine. I’ve had plenty.”

Mr. Blauch thanked him and drank. He screwed the cap back on and passed it to Mark. “I’ve had a splendid time this morning. Danki.” He wiped his brow with a handkerchief. “Mark, you’re not getting any younger. Have you thought about finding a fraa?”

Mark choked on his saliva. He didn’t know what to say. “Jah.” He silenced for a moment then cleared his throat.

“Marriage and family are definitely something I’m considering in the near future.”

“Glad to hear it.” He checked his timepiece. “We better head back. We both have chores to do.”

Mark swallowed. Had he passed up a perfect opportunity to ask for Grace’s hand? No. Today was about concentrating on his friendship with Mr. Blauch. He didn’t want him to think he’d brought him shooting as a ruse. It was important Mr. Blauch understand he truly liked being with him. He bit his lip. His patience would run out soon. Each time he set eyes on Grace, he found it more difficult to wait.

Mark followed Mr. Blauch to the wagon and drove him home. The man looked tired. He bid him farewell. “Please give my best to Mrs. Blauch.”

“I will. Danki, Mark, for a nice day.”

“Wilkom. Take care.” Mark guided his horse to the store. Asking for Mr. Blauch’s blessing would be a big step. The timing and setting must be perfect for the occasion.

Chapter Ten

Mark finished working at the store, went home, and fixed soup and buttered bread for supper. He had fretted about closing during the morning to shoot with Mr. Blauch, but a steady stream of customers relieved his mind in the afternoon. His regret was not getting to spend much time with Grace. He’d had a few minutes to open their connecting door and say hello. She, too, had been busy.