Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident) Read online

  How is everyone doing there? Tell Rebekah I miss her, okay? Are Mom and Dad well? How is Dawdi Judah and Mammi Lydia? Other than you, I probably miss them the most. And JJ, of course! Those two got me into so much trouble! I have to admit, though, I enjoyed every minute of it. Except Dad getting on my case, that is. Oh well, I’m just glad I don’t have to deal with that anymore!

  Well, I hope you’ll write me back soon. I’m anxious to hear news from home. By the way, how are you and Luke Beiler doing? Are you still courting? Write me – I need answers! And details. Ha! Ha!

  Love ya,

  Mattie

  P.S. Sorry I haven’t written you till now. As you can imagine, I’ve been busy. And please tell JJ I should be sending them some money in my next letter.

  Mattie closed the letter and placed a stamp in the upper right-hand corner. She purposely hadn’t mentioned the incident with the thief on the street. If Elisabeth were to ever consider coming to New York, Mattie didn’t want to give her reasons not to. She’d have enough obstacles in her way already without hearing about the negative aspects of city life. Besides, the good outweighed the bad anyway.

  Chapter 13

  Elisabeth’s head shot up at the knock on the door. Rachel. Her neighbor stood just on the other side of glass – a welcome sight. Elisabeth rushed to the door as soon as her hand towel sufficiently absorbed the dishwater on her hands.

  “Rachel.” Elisabeth smiled.

  Her friend handed over two dozen eggs.

  “Denki. Our hens just stopped layin’ last week. Daed said he doesn’t know why.”

  Rachel shrugged. “Ours are still layin’ just fine, so I don’t think it’s the weather.”

  “Would you like to visit a while?”

  “Jah, but just a little bit. Mamm’s got me making pies today.”

  “That’s right. Meeting’s at your house this week.” They both moved to the table and sat down. “Sweet tea?”

  Rachel nodded. “Denki.”

  Elisabeth walked to the counter and pulled a pitcher from the refrigerator. She poured two glasses for herself and her guest and rejoined her friend at the table.

  “Have you heard anything from Mattie?” Rachel grinned.

  “Ach, jah. I got a letter from her last week.”

  “How is she doing?”

  “She sounds great. She loves New York.” Elisabeth rubbed the condensation on her glass. “I always knew she would.”

  “She’s not scared over there all by herself? I think I’d be.”

  “Mattie’s always been good at making friends. I doubt she’s lonely.”

  The back door swung open and Elisabeth’s brother walked in, his clothes dirty and sweaty from working in the fields. “Lis, will you…” Her brother stopped speaking when he noticed Rachel at the table. “I…uh…” He swallowed.

  “Yes, Jacob?” Why on earth was her brother acting so strange?

  He shook his head. “Never mind.” Jacob turned and walked back through the door he’d entered.

  Elisabeth looked across the table at Rachel and shrugged. “I have no idea what that was all about.” She laughed.

  One corner of Rachel’s mouth lifted slightly.

  Jacob poked his head in again. “Dat would like you to bring us somethin’ to drink.”

  “Can it wait until Rachel leaves? She’s not staying long.”

  “I…I should probably go,” Rachel said.

  “No. Uh…yeah, that’s fine, Elisabeth. We can wait.” Her brother furtively glanced at Rachel, then disappeared just as quickly as he’d entered.

  Elisabeth shook her head. “My brother’s acting ferhoodled for some reason.”

  Rachel stared at her hands.

  “What kind of pies are ya makin’?”

  “Snitz and peach.” Rachel’s face brightened.

  “You enjoy baking, don’t you?”

  “Yes, very much so.”

  “Jacob’s favorite pie is peach. I’ll be sure to tell him that you’re making some.”

  “I…I could save him one.”

  “I’m certain sure he’d like that, but you don’t have to.”

  “It’s not a big deal, just one extra pie.” Rachel shrugged. She drank the last of the tea in her glass. “I’d better go now. I’m sure Jacob and your vadder are probably gettin’ thirsty, ain’t so?”

  “You’re probably right. See ya tomorrow, Rachel.”

  Elisabeth observed as her neighbor walked back across the field toward her house, then she glanced toward the barn where Jacob was working. Sure enough, he lifted his head and watched as Rachel walked toward her home. When Rachel glanced back, Jacob quickly turned back to what he was doing.

  Elisabeth’s brow lowered. Does my brother have a crush on Rachel? She’d have to ask him about it later.

  <><><>

  “Did you get your pie, Jacob?” Elisabeth smiled at her brother as their family enjoyed supper.

  Jacob frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Rachel Brenneman said she was gonna make you a peach pie.”

  He glanced at their folks. “Rachel? What for?”

  “I told her peach was your favorite.”

  “What’d ya say that for?”

  “Well, it is, isn’t it?”

  “Jah, but it ain’t none of her business.”

  “But I thought…” She stopped mid-sentence and realized Jacob’s attitude was most likely due to discussing this in front of the family. “Never mind. But she did make a pie for you.”

  “I don’t want no pie from Rachel.”

  “Jacob Schrock, that is an ungrateful attitude to have.” His father eyed him from across the table.

  “I don’t want no girl making me pie.”

  “Well, you didn’t mind her riding with ya,” his younger sister commented.

  Their father’s brow rose.

  “Hush, Martha. That ain’t none of your business,” Jacob grumbled.

  “But I saw you and Rachel on your horse,” she insisted.

  “Martha, that’s enough. What Jacob does is his business,” their father warned.

  “I don’t know why he don’t want the pie.” Martha shook her head. “I’ll take it. I love peach pie too.”

  “You’re not gettin’ my pie,” Jacob said.

  Martha frowned. “But you said–”

  “That’s enough, kinner.” At their father’s warning, the conversation at the table died down.

  Elisabeth couldn’t help but wonder about Jacob and Rachel, though.

  <><><>

  Jacob sighed as he approached the Brennemans’ back door. Mamm insisted that he pick up the pie that Rachel had made for him. He would have much rather stayed home and sent Lis to get the pie.

  The door opened just as he was positioned to knock. “Jacob?”

  He dropped his hand and it suddenly became clammy. Just looking at Rachel Brenneman always did that to him. “I…uh…” If only the lump in his throat would appear at a different time. “Pie.”

  Rachel frowned. “Would you like to come in?”

  He shook his head. “Come inside? No.”

  “You wanted pie?” Her brow lowered.

  “Peach pie.”

  Rachel laughed, then her eyes sparkled in recognition. “Oh! The peach pie I made for you. I’ll get it. Come in.”

  Jacob did as bidden, but stayed just inside the door.

  “Jah, Lis told me that ya liked peach pie. I told her it wouldn’t be a big deal to make an extra one for ya.” She moved to the cook stove where a pie sat atop the warming rack.

  “Denki.” It was all he could manage.

  Saul, Rachel’s father, entered the kitchen. “Jacob?”

  He didn’t miss the look that passed between Rachel and her father, although he couldn’t decipher its meaning.

  “He’s just here to pick up his pie, Dat,” Rachel informed her father.

  “I thought you gave the last one to John Hostettler,” her father said.

  Jacob’s gut
tightened. John Hostettler? He’d seen him eyeing Rachel at the last singing but didn’t think twice about it. Perhaps he should’ve been a little more vigilant.

  “Nee. Not the last one,” Rachel replied.

  Saul nodded in satisfaction and continued out the back door.

  “Would ya like me to put it in a box for ya?” Rachel asked as she held the pie.

  “Uh, no. This is fine.” Jacob’s mouth began watering at just the thought of taking a bite. It had been many months since his last peach pie. If he wasn’t in Rachel’s presence, he’d probably take a bite or two now. It certainly wouldn’t remain untouched until he returned home.

  “Here ya go.”

  Her cheerful countenance made him remember all the reasons he liked her. She was sweet and spunky, and would surely make a good wife for some blessed man someday. “Uh, Rachel, would you like to come see the new filly that our mare birthed last week? We could maybe go for a ride too.”

  Rachel’s cheeks tinged pink and Jacob thought her beautiful. “I, uh, I can’t.”

  Did she have plans with John Hostettler? “Oh.” He frowned. “Fine. I just thought I’d ask. I thought that maybe…uh, I–I better go.”

  “Okay. Goodbye, Jacob.”

  He nodded briefly then stepped out the door. If she was interested in John, why had she gone riding with him? She shouldn’t have led him on if John was courting her. Perhaps she was one of those girls who’d court several boys before finally settling down with one. Well, if that was what she was doing, he certainly wouldn’t be the one who was played for a fool. Even if he considered Rachel Brenneman the prettiest girl in Paradise, he refused to lay his heart open for her to trample on.

  He glanced down at the peach pie in his hands. It probably wouldn’t taste as good as he expected, given his mood. He slid his fingers between the pie plate and the crust and lifted a slice to his lips. He was wrong. It was every bit as delicious as he’d imagined. If only Rachel Brenneman only had eyes for him…

  It would be a match made in Heaven, for sure and for certain.

  Chapter 14

  Mattie finally finished unpacking the remainder of her things. She glanced down at the black book in the back of her car’s trunk – a Bible. No doubt her father had something to do with its presence. She shook her head and slammed the trunk closed.

  “No thanks, Dad.”

  She sighed and hurried back up to her room in the apartment she shared with Richard’s sister. She’d been lucky to find a decent place for a great price. She’d have to remember to thank Richard again.

  Mattie smiled, thinking of her date tonight. She’d finally agreed to let Richard take her out, after making excuses the several times he’d asked. He was certainly a persistent man, which spoke volumes to Mattie. If he wanted to get to know her that badly, he must see something in her worth pursuing.

  She briefly pondered the possibility that he could be the one. Was she ready for a serious relationship? She purposely hadn’t made any serious romantic ties back home because she knew that someday she’d leave. But, now that she was here, what was stopping her from pursuing romance?

  Richard seemed to be pretty much everything she’d ever wanted in a man. He’d been gallant in every aspect of the word – opening doors for her, tending to her wishes, allowing her the first of everything. He seemed truly selfless, and his chivalry in rescuing her from the thief in the alley hadn’t escaped her notice either. What kind of man was willing to risk bodily harm for a complete stranger? And, while he wasn’t a cover model for any popular men’s magazines, he was handsome in his own right.

  Just one thing made her hesitate. His regular church attendance. She’d been dragged along to church her entire life, and by no means did she wish to continue down that road. Now that she was finally free from all that bondage, she couldn’t imagine stepping back into it willingly.

  <><><>

  “I’ve got a surprise for you.” Richard’s mysterious smile piqued Mattie’s curiosity.

  “What is it?” She waited as Richard punched in the number to the lobby.

  Richard shook his head. “Nope. If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?”

  Mattie smiled and gathered her bearings while the elevator came to a stop. It was always that last part that made her stomach flutter. The elevator doors opened and they walked into the lobby.

  “My lady.” Richard offered his elbow to escort her and she placed her hands in its crook. They walked to the door and Mattie looked around.

  “Where’s your car?”

  He pointed to a white limousine parked by the curb. A man in a fancy suit stood by the back door of the vehicle. Richard walked forward and the chauffeur opened the door. “Ladies first.”

  Mattie’s jaw dropped and she stared at Richard.

  “Well, go ahead. We don’t want to miss our engagement.” Richard motioned to the car.

  Mattie climbed into the limousine and sat on one of the cushioned seats. Richard slid in beside her.

  Mattie looked at Richard in wonder. “This is the first time I’ve ever seen the inside of one of these. It’s so fancy.”

  “What do you think?” Richard smiled.

  “Oh, it’s wonderful! Did it cost a lot of money?”

  Richard’s grin broadened. “You’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

  “I’m not?”

  He brought her hand to his lips. “No. Just enjoy it.”

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  “Nope. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

  “I feel like a princess!” She giggled.

  “Mattie, you are a princess. And I aim to be your Prince Charming.” His eyes sparkled.

  “You’re doing a great job.” She moved closer to him.

  “I hope so.”

  <><><>

  Mattie set her fork down and savored the last bite of her baked halibut. She determined this was definitely the best meal she’d ever eaten. Everything on her plate had been absolutely delicious.

  How is it that Richard intuitively knew exactly what she’d dreamt of for the last two years of her life? The dinner theatre had been everything that she’d hoped it would be and more. She was certain that no day of her life would ever compare with this evening. She was living her dream!

  Tomorrow, she’d write Elisabeth and tell her all about it. The only thing that could make her world better is if her best friend were here, sharing in all these wonderful experiences.

  Richard had been a perfect gentleman. When he said goodbye for the evening, he kissed her cheek and handed her a single red rose. He didn’t ask to come inside. He didn’t ask for anything, in fact. It seemed his sole existence for the evening was to indulge Mattie’s every whim. Anything she wanted, he provided. If only every night could be this wonderful. Yep, Richard knew how to treat lady – he was a true Romeo.

  Chapter 15

  The cool breeze in Mattie’s face felt invigorating. Richard squeezed her hand a little tighter as the two of them walked through Central Park together. This was officially their second date. Compared to the last one, it was simplistic, but Mattie cherished her time with Richard just the same.

  “Tell me more about you,” Richard coaxed.

  “Be more specific.” She smiled.

  “Okay. Let’s start with your views on God. What do you believe?”

  “You had to start with an easy question,” she teased.

  Richard chuckled. “You said be specific.”

  “I know. May I retract that request?”

  Richard shook his head. “Too late.”

  “You don’t play fair.” Mattie laughed. “Okay. Well, I’ve pretty much gone to a Conservative Mennonite church my whole life. We dressed how we would say ‘modestly’, meaning the women would wear dresses that went to at least mid-calf, but preferably to the ankle. Our sleeves usually would be at least to our elbow or longer. Our necklines would come to about our collarbone. All our dresses were handmad
e.”

  Richard nodded. “Interesting, but not exactly what I was asking about. I want to know what you believe right now.”

  “Oh. Well, I guess I believe in God. Doesn’t everybody?”

  “No, everybody does not. What do you believe about Jesus?”

  “That He’s God’s Son.”

  Richard blew out a breath. “What does that mean to you?”

  Mattie’s brow lowered. “What do you mean?”

  “Does He have any significance in your life?”

  “Well, we celebrate His birth at Christmas.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Well, in school we would have a Christmas program. My church taught that Jesus was the Saviour of the world. But, honestly, for myself, I’m not into religion.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?”

  “Yes, all the time. Why?”

  “See what I mean?”

  Richard chuckled. “Seriously, though. What do you mean when you say you’re not into religion?”

  “I’m just not interested in all that.”

  “Why not?”