Healing Faith (52 page)

Nathan's wide-eyed wonder at the Western Museum. We
strolled hand in hand, enjoying the break from sitting for so long
in the car. Families passed us as we toured, and Nathan's hand
pulled me close and he whispered in my ear playfully.

"Be my wife."

"Yes."

And we'd smile and continue to walk amongst the
English. Our presence going unnoticed.

Nathan's contented sigh as we breathed in the clean
air as we continued east.

The heat of the day allowed us to roll the windows
all the way down, and I relaxed in the hot wind as it whipped
across my face and through my hair as we continued east. We stopped
at a campsite in Nebraska, setting up our gear by the Maloney Lake.
We seemed to be the only ones there, as the season had ended and
many travelers would continue on to Omaha. But we were exhausted,
and the sun had set. We couldn't think of another couple hours
drive. So we made camp, eating the last of our turnovers and
finishing off sandwiches we had bought somewhere along the way.
This was our last night together, before we went back and pledged
our life to the Amish way.

Before I pledged myself to Nathan, forever.

I climbed into the sleeping bag, the air finally cool
enough against my skin to want to snuggle against where Nathan
laid, his head resting on his arms as he watched me move. He was
smiling as I slid in under the warm cover, against the heat of him
in his boxers.

I didn't feel strangely in just my tank top and
underwear. We were beyond the awkward embarrassment of nakedness
with one another, and we were alone on the lake. But we had
achieved so much the last couple of days. My hand found its home
over his heart; my head nestled against his shoulder as we lay
there taking in the beauty of the sky above us.

It was like a million pinpricks in the night sky, the
Milky Way big and clear above our heads. The half moon offered just
enough light to see, but the stars seemed to light up everything
around us.

And it was quiet.

The soft rustling of wild grass and the occasional
creak of the trees nearby.

But it was just the two of us. Alone under the magic
of the Nebraska sky.

Nathan moved against me, his lips tracing across my
forehead until I looked up, and his lips found mine, searching. He
rolled us over, groaning at the feel of my bare legs against his.
The kiss deepened as he traced one hand down my side, reaching
under my knee to pull it up, opening me to his warmth as he moved
in closer.

Slow.

Searching.

Discovering the heat between my legs.

His own firm heat adjusting against.

Moving.

Sighing against lips as fingertips slipped up my
thigh, finding the hem of my shirt and trailing beneath.

Tracing.

One rib.

Second rib.

Another adjustment against me.

My own hands searching.

Through hair that felt so soft between my
fingers.

Down the soft cotton of his back, feeling the muscles
slide under my hands as he groaned and moved over me.

Stars so bright.

Heat so seductive.

Fingers searching.

Lips moving down my throat.

Fingers finding.

My lips whispering in adoration.

Nathan.

Our last night together, we worshipped each other in
the moonlight. Soft words, searching kisses, and hands that
explored in order to memorize every part to tide us over until the
next time we would have to ourselves.

Who knew when that would be?

So we savored one another until late into the night,
fighting fatigue and simply sharing the love we both felt.

Being together.

As we lay there, content and relaxed, Nathan held me
close and stroked my arm lazily. It had become a habit for him as
he drifted off to sleep against me. To feel me there, and his
fingertips lulled me as much as they comforted him. He sighed and
buried his nose into my neck, snuggling into my warmth.

"Kate?"

I opened my eyes and hummed in response.

"Tomorrow will come too soon."

I hugged his arm that lay around me.

"I know."

"But we will be home. We will show them. This is
right. I will ask Jonah when we get home. I want to marry you,
Kate. Soon. I want us to start this life together. I do not want to
wait longer than we must," he sighed and held me closer.

I closed my eyes and hoped that the Elders would
see.

This was right.

We wouldn't know until we got home.

Tomorrow would come, and I both looked forward to it
and dreaded it.

They had to see that this was right.

~~~~

The sun was setting as we drove through town. I
smiled as we passed the general store.

It had all begun there.

I was seeing the town with new eyes, and new
hope.

Nathan drove past, his arm leaning casually out the
window as he took in his surroundings. He had grown quite used to
driving, and I had a suspicion that inside, he had grown to love my
car.

It would be sad to get rid of it, but we had no use
for it, and hopefully it would fetch a decent price.

We had things to buy.

A farm to get running.

It was my gift to our life.

I grew anxious as the fields came into view, many
cleared away in the week we had been gone.

A week.

It felt like a year.

My breathing picked up and I straightened my skirt
again in preparation to seeing the Bergers again. I had dressed
more appropriately today, my one and only skirt from my former life
and a loose shirt to cover myself discreetly. Nathan still called
me beautiful and smiled every time he looked my way as we
traveled.

I had the feeling that he preferred me in dresses,
which I supposed was good, since I would be wearing one for the
rest of my life. I'd miss shorts and jeans.

But I loved Nathan more.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he paused at the road
leading to the Bergers. I took a deep breath and nodded, the wait
almost unbearable. I couldn't wait to see my family again.

Nathan leaned over and pulled me close, his lips
finding mine easily after the few days alone. I kissed him
tenderly, his lips moving against mine as if to memorize their
taste and texture before pulling away smiling.

"I needed one last kiss before we must hide behind
the barn again," he mused and held my hand lightly as he turned
onto the road.

My heart raced as I saw the house come into view, the
lantern light in the kitchen bleeding out onto the porch swing. It
would be suppertime or shortly after, and suddenly I was starving.
Nathan had called Emma the day before to let her know roughly when
we would be home.

We were a little late, having slept in this
morning.

As the sound of my car drew near, the back door
opened, Jonah's profile in the light as he stood there watching our
car move closer. Abigail and Emma were next in the doorway as we
drew to a stop, but Abigail lingered only a second before she was
bolting for us, Emma following right behind her.

Fannie and Jonah stepped through after with Hannah
and Mark, Fannie rushing out with a cry as she saw me open the door
to the car. I was barely out of the door before Emma's arms were
around me and I was hugging her to me. I couldn't breathe, between
her strong grip and the emotions that washed over me.

Arms wrapped around me, Fannie's soft sobs and
Jonah's strong arms enfolding us into one. Mark seemed to surround
us and Hannah's grip was tight around my waist. Nathan stood to the
side for a moment before Fannie tugged him close, her tears
streaming down her face as she looked us over and hugged us tightly
once more.

Jonah broke the quiet sobbing with his soft voice,
the voice of a father I had missed so much.

"Welcome home, my children. Thank you, Lord, for
bringing them home. We are all together again. Thank you,
Lord."

I held onto my family and cried with them, so
overjoyed to finally be where I belonged.

Every worry and sad thought washed away at the
feeling I felt in my family's arms.

I was where I belonged.

I was finally home.

~~~~

Follow Nathan and Kate on their continued journey in
the second book of the
In Your World
series, coming late
2013.

Nathan leaned in and held my head in his hands, the
gentle touch soothing after the events of the day.

"You do not need to be afraid anymore. I will be here
for you through everything," he said.

I nodded and squeezed his hand.

"Together, right?" I asked, my heart full by his
pledge.

He grinned and stood.

"Always. No matter how long it takes," he said and
stretched. He was beginning to lean in to offer me a kiss when we
heard voices inside. He pulled away hurriedly.

We watched in surprise as the Bishop came through the
back door, followed swiftly by Jonah and Fannie. Jonah glanced our
way, his eyes travelling over us as if to be sure we weren't doing
anything the Bishop would find inappropriate. Had he been here a
few moments earlier, perhaps he would have had an argument.

"It is late, Samuel. This can wait until tomorrow,"
Jonah said.

The Bishop looked back at Jonah and shook his
head.

"I must say what I came to say tonight," he demanded
and turned to me. "Katherine, I will speak with you in private," he
said.

I blinked at him, all fatigue gone as I tried to
figure out if he was upset or just being direct.

"She does not need to be alone while you speak with
her," Jonah started but the Bishop waved him off.

"What I have to say to Katherine is for her alone.
And God."

Nathan stepped a little closer to me, his hand moving
to encircle my shoulder.

"Please," the Bishop requested, his voice much
softer.

I looked up at Jonah, to ask him silently if this was
safe. He hesitated before nodding and holding the door open for
Nathan.

"Nathan, come inside and have some tea with us,"
Jonah said and waited for Nathan to move. He seemed reluctant; his
eyes on the Bishop before he let go of me.

"I will be just inside," he whispered.

I waited until they were safely inside before I
directed my gaze back at the Bishop. I couldn't read his face. It
was a cross between agitation maybe even resignation. He gestured
to the swing and followed me to it, sitting after I had sat. He
kept his distance and pulled off his hat, looking off into the
evening.

When he spoke, his voice was rough, surly almost.

"I must ask your forgiveness for my actions
today."

I blinked at his words and nodded.

"You have it. I understand why you did it," I replied
quietly.

"But you are not upset with my reason?" he asked,
keeping his eyes on the field.

"I can't understand why you treat me badly when you
don't know me," I confessed.

He was quiet for several minutes. I waited for him to
continue.

"You seem to have won over everyone around you."

I straightened and held my head a little higher.

"I haven't won anyone over. I am just trying to make
a life here, Bishop Yoder," I replied.

"Are you? Or are you here simply for Nathan?" he
asked, refusing to look my way.

I took a breath, struggling to remain calm.

"I am here to find peace and a life I can understand.
Nathan is part of that, yes. But it goes beyond that," I started,
but he put up his hand to stop me.

"And your trust in God? You come from a world that is
Godless. How can I trust that you are not here to hide, and have
not found God?" he asked.

"I may be new to this community, Bishop Yoder, but
the outside world has God as well. If you are asking if I have
found Him while I have been here, the answer is yes. I may see it a
little differently than you, but I have found it here," I
replied.

"To live with us is to live with God," he said
haughtily.

I pursed my lips and eyed him carefully, not sure if
I should say what I felt. But he had judged me, without knowing
me.

"To live with God is to follow his words. Words like
love and forgiveness and acceptance,” I argued. “To know God is to
open your heart and your home to others, to help those less
fortunate, to offer friendship and peace to a stranger. To forgive
those who have wronged you, to know that God will send justice to
those, not man. God rewards those that follow his path.”

My heart was beating fast as I waited for his
response. So much of what Nathan spoke about at night were these
things exactly. And these things I had witnessed every day. But the
Bishop had shown me none of that. He was farther from what he
preached than I was.

"You speak well, but do you mean what you say?" he
whispered, skeptical.

"I have always been honest and true. That has never
changed. Not all English are bad, Bishop Yoder. I wish you would
see that. Whatever your prejudice, it's not fair to judge me based
on whatever you are basing your hate on," I whispered and
stood.

He sat there looking out at the field while I stood
waiting for him to speak. When he did, it was barely a whisper.

"Your world corrupts the innocence in ours. I have
not seen any good come of your world."

"That's like the outside world saying that the Amish
are all occultists and narrow-minded zealots," I replied, watching
his face contort in anger at my words.

"It's not what I think," I added softly. "But you see
the prejudice? It's not fair to compare me to that world when I so
desperately wish to live apart from that view."

He shook his head stubbornly.

"You are too worldly for this life. You will tire of
it here. And you will drag Nathan with you out into that evil, just
as I have lost my son, we will lose Nathan," he hissed.