A Secret Sacrifice (Amish Secrets--Book 5) Page 9

  “If Zach is ever going to return home, I think he needs contact with our people.” He locked eyes with her. He might as well confess. “I invited him to our wedding.”

  Her gaze widened and she looked away. “Why?”

  John noticed her eyes misting and he knew he had to tread lightly here. “Schatzi, please try to understand. Zach is the closest friend I’ve had since my first day of school. We’ve done practically everything together. I love him just as much as I would a brother, maybe more. I won’t turn my back on him. How could I not invite him to one of the most important events in my life? Even if he can’t be my newehocker, I still want him to share the day with us.”

  “You know a soldier won’t be welcomed among our people. And what about his folks? Will he contact them before the wedding?”

  “I don’t know, but I can understand your concern. I’ll suggest that to Zach.”

  “My vatter won’t like it that you’re spending time with Zachariah Zook.”

  “Then don’t tell him.”

  “Word will get around, you know it always does.”

  “If it does, I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry, Rosie. Everything’s gonna turn out just fine, okay? Trust me?”

  “I guess I have to.”

  “Gut.” He reached over and took her hand. “Let’s talk about something else.”

  <><><>

  A timid knock sounded from Zach's door Sunday morning.

  He made his way to the entrance and opened it to see Betty Brooks.

  She smiled. “Good morning, Zach. Frank and I were wondering if you would like to attend church with us this morning. You are more than welcome to join us.”

  Church? He'd never attended an Englisch worship service. “Well... No, thank you, ma'am. I...don't think I'm ready for church yet.”

  “Oh.” Her countenance dimmed a bit. “Well, if you change your mind, it's just down the road a few miles, on the left. Crossroads Baptist Church. You can't miss it.

  “And the offer stands for any Sunday, as well. Just let us know if you'd like to join us. There's a wonderful pastor, lots of young people around your age, and...” she hesitated, “they offer a Reformers Unanimous program too. It's for people with addictions.”

  Zach understood the woman's reservations. Though she hadn't said a thing, he knew she disapproved of his drinking habit. He suspected he'd have been asked to leave for that reason, were he not Tommy's friend.

  “Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Brooks. Perhaps I will come someday.”

  Now that he thought of it, John seemed to be trying to get him into a good Englisch church. Maybe he should go once or twice to appease his best friend. He'd think about it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  A smile played on Rosanna’s lips as she sprayed the dress sleeve then ran the hot iron over it. Tomorrow was the day! A day she’d looked forward to since childhood. She hadn’t known then that she’d be getting married at age eighteen, but here she was. She’d always pictured herself older.

  She thought of her teaching position and the impact her leaving would have on the children. She’d miss them for sure and for certain. The leaders had said she could keep the job for as long as she wanted, with her husband’s permission and provided she wasn’t in the family way.

  Rosanna picked up her wedding dress and eyed it with satisfaction. This was the first dress she’d had in this particular color, a deep turquoise. It wouldn’t have been allowed in the Miller Amish. She loved the new found freedom Honey Ridge afforded, but somehow she felt certain things were wrong. How did it make sense that things that were verboten in her former church were suddenly okay now that they were in Honey Ridge? It was as though the leaders had more say than God did. Or had the leaders from her other district not been listening to God? Either way, it seemed like everything was subject to the leaders’ opinions. After all, had God said in the Bible somewhere that certain colors of dress were not acceptable? She’d never seen a reference to it. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking this way, questioning the leaders, but sometimes she couldn’t quiet these protests in her head.

  She’d done a gut job making her wedding dress. It was no doubt her best yet, not that she would admit it to anyone. Nee, that would be hochmut. But her sewing skills had definitely improved. Mamm had been reviewing pants-making with her as of late. Since Dat was the only male in the family, she hadn’t had much experience making broadfall trousers. It would be a necessary skill as a wife.

  Her mind travelled to John and the past year of her life. What an adventure it had been, moving to a new place, finding a new love, and moving into a new home. Everything seemed to happen in a whirlwind and here she was facing her wedding day.

  What a blessed woman she was to be marrying a man like John. Handsome, hardworking, kind, and funny…what else could she ask for? There was no doubt in her mind that he would treat her right. And she knew that Der Herr had orchestrated their first encounter. Why else would they have moved in with the Zooks? Jah, it was God’s will for sure and certain.

  Magdalena would be arriving tonight with a group of other folks from her former district and she couldn’t wait. It would be so gut to see her best friend again. She couldn’t help but hope that Magdalena would move down to Kentucky too someday.

  She and John had already been talking about matchmaking Magdalena with one of their friends or brothers. John had mentioned Zach, which was absolutely out of the question as far as Rosanna was concerned. The last thing she wanted was her best friend with Zachariah Zook. What a miserable cursed life she’d have. Even if Zach returned, there was no way she’d suggest they get together.

  Why did Zach have to leave and ruin everything? It seemed that John couldn’t take his mind off his wayward friend. She regretted the fact that John couldn’t have his best friend participate in his wedding, but there was no way around it. In fact, the leaders would most likely look down on Zachariah’s attendance. At the very least, he’d have to sit at a table separate from the other Amish folks. Was it possible that Zachariah could actually acclimate to the Amish culture after he’d been out in the world? Rosanna didn’t think so. If she were honest with herself, she’d probably have a pretty difficult time going back to her former district and their stringent ways – and she was still Amish. No, the chances of Zach’s return were slim to none and slim just left town, as John would say.

  <><><>

  John carried the folding bench to the Keims’ living room and pulled the stabilizing legs down on each side. He eyed the other men bringing in the benches, his brothers and Zach’s, and his heart couldn’t help but ache for his best friend. Planning for a wedding in his absence seemed less fulfilling somehow. When you’d always pictured things a certain way, and then they ended up being different, disappointment invariably set in.

  He’d called Zach from the phone shanty yesterday and his friend promised he’d be at the wedding. That was the most he could hope for in their current situation, which was entirely his own fault. Well, not entirely, but it sure felt that way. He’d hoped that reconnecting with Zach would encourage him to stop drinking, but there had been no change as of yet. Every time he visited his friend, the fridge never lacked a decent supply of alcohol.

  A commotion drew his attention outside. He heard Rosanna’s voice and peeked out the window. Just as he surmised, the folks from Indiana had arrived. Truth be known, he’d been nervous all day about meeting them. These were people Rosie had grown up with. Would they approve of her choice of a husband? Would he be good enough to meet their expectations?

  “John, come.” He heard Rosie beckon from the back yard.

  He hastily tossed the rag that he’d been using to dust the bench, onto the floor, and wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. He moved outside as quickly as possible. Since Rosie had said the district she was from was small, he’d expected a few people, but not four passenger vans full. Apparently, Rosie had a lot of family or their family had a plethora of friends.

  Rosie introduced John to Ma
gdalena and a few of her cousins.

  John nodded and shook their hands. “I see the Miller District has its share of pretty maed.”

  Rosanna nudged him and smiled at her friends. “See, I told you he was a charmer.”

  “I just call it like it is.” He winked at Rosanna.

  Rosanna and Magdalena shared a smile, which John guessed was Magdalena’s approval of Rosanna’s choice in a mate. He currently wondered just how much Rosie’s friend already knew about him.

  “Well, if y’all don’t mind, I better get back inside. There’s a lot to do if we want to be ready by tomorrow.” He eyed his bride-to-be. “And you, sweet Rosie, will need to turn in at a decent hour if we’re to be prepared for all the festivities tomorrow.”

  A splash of color painted her cheeks. “Don’t you worry. I’ll have plenty of energy tomorrow, even if the girls and I stay up talking all night.”

  He looked longingly into her eyes before disappearing into the house. Tomorrow!

  <><><>

  “Oh, my. I think we’re almost done. And it’s a good thing because I think I’m nearing a collapse from exhaustion.” Rosanna walked into the main room of the house.

  “We can’t have that, can we?” John’s gaze met his future wife’s.

  She smiled. “It’s tomorrow. Can you believe it?”

  “Oh yeah, I can believe it. It will be the best day of my life for sure and certain.” He moved closer and motioned her near. He eyed her lips and raised his brow.

  “What?” She grinned and gently bit down on her bottom lip. How he enjoyed the longing look in her eye.

  “Oh, you know exactly what,” he whispered in her ear, and then nuzzled just below it. His lips softly caressed her neck and a slight gasp escaped her lips. He met her mouth with such intensity, he briefly worried he might have brushed her chin with his stubble and left a burn. When Rosie’s fingers wove through the hair at the nape of his neck, his hesitation fled away. Her feminine form pressed against him and left him longing with a desire that would soon be fulfilled. Very soon.

  “Hey, where did you–” Magdalena stopped dead in her tracks.

  John and Rosanna sprang apart as quickly as possible, both desperately attempting to reclaim their breath and steady their hearts. He really should have been more aware of potential interruptions, but the temptation of kissing his beloved had been too great. At least it was just Rosie’s friend and not one of the leaders or their folks.

  Her friend must’ve turned five shades of pink. “Oh, I – I’m sorry, I’ll just come back later.” Magdalena disappeared from the room in short order.

  John laughed and intertwined his fingers with Rosanna’s. He pulled her close and gazed longingly into the depths of her eyes. “Perhaps we should continue this conversation at a later date?”

  “Perhaps.” Color blossomed on Rosie’s cheeks. He couldn’t wait to see more of that look in the near future. He hadn’t felt that much passion from Rosanna since she’d attacked him on the side of the road. Granted, it was a most welcomed attack that he’d secretly wished she’d execute again. But, he’d determined to move at the pace she preferred. They’d be married tomorrow, and that meant it would be just a few more days when they could fully consummate their love. This kiss was just a teaser, but also a promise of amazing things to come. Meeting Rosanna Keim had no doubt been the best fortune he’d ever stumbled upon. What a blessed man he was to have a woman like her.

  <><><>

  Rosanna was just about to prepare for bed when a familiar knock came from her door. “Come in,” she said quietly, plopping down cross-legged onto her bed.

  Magdalena entered her bedroom and closed the door. “What was all that I saw? You never told me about any of that,” she teased.

  Heat cradled her cheeks. “You can't really write about things of that nature in a letter.”

  Magdalena's gaze turned serious. “But, you and John haven't...done anything that needs to be repented of, have you?”

  She blushed again. “No, of course not. What you saw today was actually the farthest it's ever gone,” she admitted.

  “Good.” Mischief lit her best friend's eyes. “So does he taste as sweet as he looks?”

  Rosanna gasped in shock. “Magdalena! Shh…he’s just in the other room. What if he heard you?”

  “What? It's a simple question.” Despite her words, her cheeks darkened a bit, as though surprised by her own audacity. “Perhaps he has a good-looking brother looking for an aldi?” She flicked at an imaginary piece of lint off her dress. “I wouldn't mind moving down here and living close to my best friend.”

  “Ach, Magdalena, I would love that!” Rosanna squeezed her friend's hands. “You would love Kentucky. It's so beautiful here.”

  “You still haven't answered my question.”

  “Which one?”

  “Does he taste as good as he looks?”

  “Ach!” She tossed a pillow at her friend. “I’ll never tell!”

  They both giggled and Rosanna realized how much she'd missed her best friend, and how happy she was that Magdalena was here now. Tomorrow would be a day that would change both of their lives forever. Rosanna wished that they could remain best friends, no matter what the future held for them.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The ticking of the clock seemed to grow louder and louder in John’s ears. Bishop Hershberger continued his traditional wedding message citing Biblical examples of marriages throughout history. He did his utmost to listen to the Bishop’s words, but worrisome thoughts clouded his mind. Where is Zach? If his friend didn’t arrive soon, he’d miss their taking of vows. He promised he’d be here.

  Rosanna’s eyes met his and he knew she read the concern in them. It wasn’t fair to Rosie that her husband-to-be not be fully present in all his faculties. He couldn’t help it though. He needed his best friend here to witness his vows. He released an inward sigh and refocused his attention on Rosanna. This would be a wunderbaar day whether Zachariah was here or not. Nevertheless, he yearned for the former.

  John turned at what he was certain to be the creak of a door opening. It had to be Zach. Commotion rose in the congregation and John heard whispers as his friend entered the room and moved toward the front. The bishop frowned at the disruption and quieted for a moment. John offered his bride a reassuring smile.

  Zachariah stopped mid-aisle and dropped to his knees.

  John frowned. What on earth is he doing?

  “I’m here to make my kneeling confession, Bishop Hershberger,” Zach hollered in his drunken state.

  John looked at his best friend in dismay. “Now’s not the time, Zach.”

  “Rosanna! I’m sorry for kissing you the first day you came to Honey Ridge,” he slurred.

  John glanced at Rosie and he was sure her cheeks nearly turned red as the bulbs on the Christmas tree he’d seen down at the hardware store. He wasn’t sure if it was from embarrassment or anger. “Nee, Zach!”

  “I know I must’ve killed at least five people in Afghanistan–”

  “That’s enough! Leave at once, Zachariah,” the bishop commanded.

  Abram Zook and Zach’s younger brother approached Zach and grasped his arms. They began escorting Zach out of the service and John could hear some of their conversation in Deitsch.

  “Will you shame your family and your best friend at his wedding?” Abram’s subdued voice carried over the people.

  John looked to Rosanna, who now had tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” he mouthed.

  She nodded and he gently squeezed her hands.

  The ceremony continued, but John knew neither one of them experienced the full joy their wedding should have afforded. While he’d usually be ecstatic about the festivities ahead, a deep sorrow settled in his heart. He knew Zach’s leaving had been his own fault. He was the reason Zach was in his current state.

  After the main ceremony finished, Abram approached him and Rosanna at the Eck and apologized for his son’s behavior. He informed John that
he’d hired a driver to take Zachariah back to his house.

  “Thank you, Abram. I feel better now knowing Zach is safe.” John nodded.

  “You are a gut friend to him, John.”

  “And I will continue to be,” he assured.

  Was there a look of admiration in Abram’s eyes? Perhaps it was appreciation.

  He turned to Rosanna as Abram walked away. Rosanna frowned.

  “You look sad, schatzi. Is everything okay?” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I am sorry about Zach.”

  “Me too.” Her eyes locked with his and he caught her concern. “But I worry about you.”

  “You don’t need to.”

  “What if Zachariah leads you astray? What if…?” Her voice trailed off, but John knew what she was thinking.

  “I promise you that will not happen. Rosanna Christner, you are stuck with me the rest of our days whether you like it or not,” he teased, wagging his finger at her.

  Rosanna fought to keep herself from laughing.

  “Now, there’s the girl I married.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Let’s talk about more pleasant conversation now, shall we?”

  Rosie nodded with a smile.

  Although he’d meant the words, he couldn’t help but worry about what Zach was doing right now. For Rosie’s sake, he’d keep his anxious thoughts to himself. This day had already undergone its share of reparation; he would add no more sadness.

  They continued to greet their guests as they came to their table one by one to offer their congratulations. For the most part, the guests seemed to act like nothing had happened as far as Zachariah’s unwelcomed outburst was concerned. For this, John was thankful but he was also saddened. How would Zach ever get the help he needed if those who knew him best and loved him most pretended like he didn’t exist?