A Secret Encounter (Amish Secrets--Book 2) Read online

  “See that stand? That’s been there forever. My Mamm said she used work out there selling stuff,” Jacob mentioned, pointing out an old road-side produce stand. “This is the turn to my Grossdawdi’s place.”

  Joseph surveyed the property, still colorful from the vestiges of fall. “They haven’t had snow yet?”

  “Apparently not.” The air was cool, but not like the normal chill this time of year. “The weather had still been nice when Rachel and I left. I never expected to be back so soon.”

  Joseph eyed a large, white, octagonal, wooden structure. “That’s a nice gazebo.”

  “I helped Grossdawdi paint that a few years ago. I’m surprised it’s still standing. Mamm said she and Dat shared their first kiss in that gazebo,” Jake volunteered.

  “This looks like a nice place.” He examined the beautiful large home with its exquisite wraparound porch. “Where will the funeral be?”

  “At Samuel’s folks’ place. And of course we’ll go out to the cemetery,” Jacob said. “But for now, let’s go inside and enjoy some of my grossmudder’s delicious cooking.”

  “Sounds good to me!” Joe agreed.

  <><><>

  The viewing at the home of Samuel’s parents had been interesting. Not being from Paradise, Joseph felt slightly out of place, even though the People had been kind and hospitable. Joe had the opportunity to meet Samuel’s folks as well his brother Peter and his sister-in-law Deborah. Deborah and Peter had a little boy that looked a lot like Samuel, everyone had thought, including Joseph.

  Jacob had also introduced him to the church leaders, primarily Bishop Hostettler, who served as the bishop in Anna’s district as well. He had heard many good things about Bishop Hostettler which somewhat surprised him. He had the notion that all bishops were unyielding and stern like Bishop Burkholder had been. But one look at Bishop Hostettler’s countenance told Joe there was something different about him. He was unsure whether he equated the look to kindness or mischief, perhaps a bit of both.

  If Joseph had the opportunity, he planned to speak with the bishop regarding his standing in the church. He admitted to being nervous about it, knowing he’d been shunned and all. But he hoped Bishop Hostettler would give him the benefit of the doubt. Whether he found someone to marry or not, Joe decided he wouldn’t mind conforming to the ways of the People here.

  After he and Jacob sat through the preaching service, Jacob took him on a tour of Paradise, showing him everything he’d loved about the community. They drove by Philip King’s herb shop where Jacob and his family had purchased most of the medicines they used growing up, and he shared a story of how Mamm’s Englisch friend had been bitten by a snake one time.

  He took Joe by Miller’s Pond where he’d said he spent many winters ice skating and had swam in the summer time. He’d also said he’d been baptized there. Joseph thought it fascinating because all the Amish districts he’d ever heard of had just poured the water over the head – that’s how he’d been baptized. But Jacob told him that was not the way of the Bible; something he’d have to look into later if he wanted to become part of a New Order.

  Lastly, Jacob had taken him to Miller’s Bridge. It was mostly a private covered bridge that the Englischers didn’t know about. The beautiful bridge was constructed mostly of wood and looked to be well over a hundred years old, judging by the lumber used. Joseph stared up at the magnificent structure and read hundreds of initials, sweethearts that had probably once had special moments under the cover of this ‘kissing bridge’.

  Jacob beckoned him over to one of the wooden beams. “Read that.” He smiled.

  Joseph surveyed the carved heart with initials inside. “J plus R. Jacob and Rachel?” He raised an eyebrow and grinned.

  Jake nodded.

  “How many of these people do you think got married?”

  “Let’s see…there’s J and S, that’s Jonathan and Susie. He’s the minister of this district. J and L.” He laughed. “That’s Bishop Hostettler and his wife Lydia.”

  “No way, really?” Joseph shook his head in disbelief. “The bishop carved initials into a bridge? Wow, he really is different. If I were to have done something like that back home, I’d probably have gotten a gut whipping.”

  “Well, he hasn’t always been bishop. I suspect he did that when they were courtin’.” Jacob rubbed his chin. “I guess that’s why he’s such a good bishop. He knows he’s human and that others are too. He’s genuine and understanding. I reckon that’s part of the reason why I didn’t balk at moving to Anna’s district.”

  “Do you have a knife?”

  Jacob nodded and handed Joe his pocket knife.

  Joseph found an uncarved area and engraved J plus A.

  Jacob raised his eyebrows. “Are you going to make that a reality?”

  One side of Joe’s mouth tipped up. “I hope so.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  A swirl of steam from Joseph’s coffee rose from his mug as he sipped the beverage, sitting in a hickory rocker in Bishop Judah Hostettler’s home. Or rather his son Joshua’s home. Bishop Hostettler and his wife occupied the one of the small dawdi hauser connected to the large main house. Joshua’s aged in-laws occupied the other small dawdi haus.

  Joseph briefly wondered what it would have been like to grow up in a district such as this. They still valued the same things: God, family, and community, but there was an element of grace that had been missing from his former district. The People here seemed happier, freer. Yet at the same time, they had a set of rules and traditions, or perhaps a common bond of faith, woven together by love.

  “So, you were raised Amish, you say?” Judah Hostettler asked.

  “Swartzentruber.” Joe nodded.

  “I see.”

  Joseph swallowed hard. He admitted to himself that he was nervous, although he’d been assured he didn’t need to be. “I have been excommunicated.”

  Judah nodded. “I see.”

  “Uh…I wouldn’t repent.” Joe clarified, slowly finding his voice. “They had a lot of rules – unnecessary rules, I’d thought. But I was shunned because I went to the Englisch authorities on a matter.”

  Judah’s eyebrows lifted. “What was this matter?”

  “My aldi. Her brother was a very depraved man. He did things to her that he shouldn’t have. I went to the elders and they put a restriction on him, but other than that, nothing was done. This man was wicked and he needed to be dealt with.” A bead of sweat formed on his brow as he explained the situation. “I didn’t want to see Mary violated. No person should have to live in fear in their own home. In the place that’s supposed to be a safe haven. I figured going to the Englisch was better than me killing him – which is probably what would have happened eventually.” Heat rose in his veins as he remembered Mary’s wicked brother.

  “This man, the brother, he went to jail?”

  “No. Mary ended up dying in an accident before she could testify. The case was dismissed. They said they could not prosecute without a witness. As far as I know, he still lives in Bishop Burkholder’s district.”

  A scowl crossed the bishop’s face. It seemed as though he shared Joseph’s thoughts. “You did the right thing, son.”

  “I did?” He’d always thought it was the right thing. What else could he have done – turn a blind eye like everyone else? But hearing a bishop say the words gave Joseph’s actions validation.

  “I believe I would have done the same thing.”

  Joe released a contented breath. “So, if I decide to join this district, I will have a good standing?” Joseph’s hopeful expression caused the Judah to smile.

  “Most definitely.” Judah’s countenance then sobered. “Of course, there are certain tenets that you must adhere to. I will have my minister, Jonathan, give you a copy of our creed. Our Ordnung. If you agree to it, then we will proceed with your membership.”

  “Will my membership be transferable?”

  “Were you wanting to join here or in one of the other d
istricts I oversee?”

  “I’m unsure yet.”

  “I see. Your membership will be transferable to any of the districts I oversee. Our doctrine is one and the same.”

  Joseph agreed, ready to take the next step in becoming a member.

  <><><>

  “You are awesome!”

  Joseph stared at Minister Fisher with his mouth agape. He’d never heard any Amish leader speak this way before. “I am?”

  “You’d better believe it. Do you know how many people have the courage to stand up and do the right thing? Not very many. Most folks are concerned with themselves and how it will affect them. But you – you stood up for what was right even though you knew you would probably be facing the Bann.” Jonathan held out his hand for Joe to shake. “You left everything for the sake of the truth and right.”

  “Jah, I guess I did.”

  “Maybe you’ll be the next bishop of this district. Of course, God’s the one that does the choosing. But after Judah leaves us, which I hope is a long way off. I love that man – he’s my father-in-law, you know – just don’t tell him I said that, the love part. He’ll give me a hard time for sure and for certain.” Jonathan grinned.

  “Okay, I won’t.” Joe still experienced a bit of nervousness, although Jonathan was easygoing.

  “Now, Judah sent you to me because you want to become part of the flock. Am I correct?”

  “Jah.”

  Minister Fisher seemed to compose his relaxed demeanor some. “First things first. If you were to die right now, are you certain sure you’d go to Heaven?”

  This question certainly wasn’t what Joe was expecting. But, then again, nothing in this district had been as he’d suspected. And he found himself liking it. He thought on Jonathan’s question. “I can’t say I am sure. I mean, I hope that I’ll get into Heaven. Besides being shunned and falsely accused for things I didn’t do, I don’t think I’ve been too bad.”

  “So, you believe you’ve been pretty good?”

  Joseph nodded.

  “Just a minute.”

  Joseph watched in confusion as Jonathan walked out of the room. He returned shortly with an old, dirty tooth brush in his hand. He held the toothbrush out to Joe. “Here, go brush your teeth with this.”

  Joseph’s mouth hung open. “What?”

  “Brush your teeth.”

  Joe shook his head, thinking Minister Fisher must be ab im kopp. “I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because. That toothbrush is disgusting. I wouldn’t want to stick that dirty thing in my mouth.” Joseph cringed at the deplorable thought.

  “Why is it that you, being a mere man, will not accept a dirty toothbrush, but you expect a holy and perfect God to accept your filthy rags?”

  “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

  Jonathan nodded. He reached for a Bible on the end table next to his chair, then opened it up. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” He turned to another place. “There is none righteous, no, not one.” He set the Bible down. “When you offer your good works – or righteousness – to God, he sees it as a filthy rag.”

  “He does?”

  “Yep.” He opened his Bible again. “Look at this. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” Jonathan flipped to another passage. “For by grace are ye saved though faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

  Joseph scratched his head as the truths Jonathan was sharing dawned on him. “So, if I get to Heaven by being good – which is impossible – then I would have something to boast about.”

  Jonathan clapped his hands together. “That’s right. God doesn’t want us bragging about ourselves, He alone deserves glory. But even more shocking is this verse here: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. You see, if we could simply get to Heaven by being good enough, then Jesus Christ would have died for nothing. And trying to get to Heaven by our own works is an insult to God. I say that because he has offered us a free gift: full payment for our sins through the blood of Jesus. Bringing our filthy rags to God as payment for our sins is rejecting God’s perfect sacrifice.”

  “Oh, wow! I never thought of it that way. That means that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.”

  “Bull’s eye. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” he quoted John fourteen verse six.

  Joseph laughed. “I think you can put your dirty toothbrush away now. I won’t be needing it.”

  “Good, I hoped not. I hate looking at that thing. It’s gross.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Joseph felt like a new man. It seemed as though God had taken his burdens and replaced them with wings. He finally felt like he had direction in his life, a definite vision.

  No, the goal was not Anna. But he hoped that somehow Anna would come to love and respect him as she once had. In a way, she’d inadvertently opened his eyes to the vision. But there had been several catalysts along the path to his discovery. Anna had been just one, Harv had been another, Linda’s confidence in him propelled the dream further, and now he knew his journey to Paradise had been a Divine appointment.

  Jonathan’s words of commendation had set him on a new path. And after he’d experienced his secret encounter with Der Herr, he had been given strength and hope. Now he planned to use it for God’s glory.

  He thought back on his past. There was something Mary had said that he never understood until now. He vividly remembered the conversation, as though it had just taken place yesterday:

  It was the night of Mary’s death. Her eyes had been sparkling, like he’d never seen them before. He knew it was more than just the pleasure she derived from being in his presence. It was something else. “Joseph, I want to tell you about something.”

  Joseph had been driving the buggy and they were approaching a bend in the road. He briefly glanced at her and smiled, granting permission to continue speaking. He’d been holding her hand, but now held the reins steady with both hands, keeping to the side so vehicles could pass.

  “I had a secret encounter.”

  The mysterious words peaked his interest. “A secret encounter?”

  She reached into her purse and pulled out a small Englisch Bible – something verboten in their Swartzentruber district. “You mustn’t tell anyone.”

  His eyes widened.

  She held the small book to her chest, as though it had been the most precious thing in the world. “A secret encounter with Jesus.”

  It was then the bright lights had flashed in his face, followed by a screeching sound, and subsequent crash. That’s all he remembered prior to waking up in the hospital and learning of Mary’s death. After that, nothing else mattered.

  He’d completely forgotten the conversation, as though his mind had blocked it out. But now he knew. He knew in his spirit exactly what Mary’s secret encounter had been: she’d accepted Christ as her Saviour! What a wonderful gut revelation.

  <><><>

  As Joseph looked into the medicine cabinet’s mirror, he carefully shaved the excess hair from his face. He pondered how he might tell Anna about all that had happened in Paradise, as he prepared for work this morning. Linda had been relieved when he’d called late last night and told her he was back. Apparently, the Christmas shopping frenzy had not let up in his absence.

  Harvey was happy to have him back. And Joe had to admit that he’d missed his old buddy. Harvey had said he noticed a difference in Joe, although they’d only spoken for an hour prior to turning in for the night. Harvey had been thrilled to hear Joseph’s confession.

  Joe now moved throughout the shop, turning on the lights. He’d leave the door locked until Linda or Anna arrived. Surveying the store, he took a mental inventory of the things that had sold. One of Mammi’s quilts was
gone. Joseph’s face brightened when he saw another quilt had replaced it. Anna and Mammi would be doing just fine financially for a while. The thought gave him a sense of satisfaction.

  He glanced up at the clock. Linda would probably be coming soon, so he moved to the break room to start a pot of coffee. With that done, he sat behind the counter and took out his Bible. Daily reading had not been a habit, so it didn’t come naturally to him. However, when he picked up God’s Word and began reading, sometimes he had trouble setting it back down. The truths he’d unearthed in his brief moments of study had been amazing. Every time he read something new, he was blown away. There were so many treasures within the pages of this amazing book.

  A knock on the door caused him to look up from his reading. It was Anna. What was she doing here this early? She usually didn’t show up until after Linda. He rushed to the door to unlock it, not wanting her to have to wait long in the cold. When Joe reached the door, he noticed Aaron behind her. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped his lips. He turned the key and allowed them entrance.

  Anna’s eyes lit up as though she’d just realized it was him. “Joe?”

  He was speechless when Anna threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, then let go when he noticed Aaron’s scowl.

  “You’re back! I thought you were gone for good,” she said.

  “No. I just went to Paradise for Samuel’s funeral.”

  Aaron was visibly becoming impatient.

  Bless them that curse you. Joe looked to Anna and Aaron. “Hey, I just made some coffee. Would you like a cup?”

  “You made coffee?” Aaron scoffed.