The Amish Visitors (PAPERBACK)

Chapter 1. 

“What do you think about your schweschder getting married?” 

Timothy looked into the dark eyes of Tanya, the girl he hoped to marry. “I think it's okay. That’s who she wanted to marry.” He turned slightly to see the happy couple adoringly staring into each other’s eyes. In the beginning, he’d had his doubts about Jacob and the way he’d pursued Rebecca, but in the end, he found Jacob was a decent man and he knew they loved each other. “They have a readymade family now with little Micah. Rebecca loves children so that worked out well for her.”

“And for Jacob. They do make a lovely looking couple. I’d reckon your mudder would be sad now because she's only got boys left in the haus.”

“She might be pleased.”

“Nee, Rebecca would’ve helped her to do all the chores.”

“We boys have always done our fair share, don’t worry about that. Anyway, Rebecca will be visiting.”

“I know, but it won’t be the same for your mudder.”

Timothy chuckled. “This is her first chance to have grosskinner. She’s very excited about that and not much will change in the haus because Rebecca was hardly ever home.”

“Because she was delivering babies?”

“Jah, because of her midwifery.” While things would stay much the same for his mother, Timothy had a whole world opening up for him. He was taking over Rebecca’s bedroom—a bedroom that would be shared with none of his younger brothers. 

He would finally get a decent night’s sleep and have alone time. Time to ponder what he’d do with his life. He couldn’t tell Tanya that because he wanted to sound more grown up. She’d have no idea he was sharing a room with three of his younger brothers, and sometimes five were in the room if one of the youngest ones crept into the room at night. 

Tanya smiled at him and set his heart aflutter. He’d never taken a girl on a buggy ride in Pleasant Valley. He had been close to one girl when he’d been away working, but nothing had come from it. Tanya was the only girl who turned his head, but he didn't want to appear too interested in case that frightened her away—just interested enough so she wouldn't be looking around for another man. “How old do you think you'll be when you get married?” he asked as innocently as he possibly could.

“I don't want to be waiting around forever. I’d prefer to marry young, so I can have lots of kinner.”

He nodded in agreement. It was the Amish way to marry young. Sometimes it was fun growing up in a household of fifteen people, but it had its downside. The worst thing was waiting for the bathroom. Rebecca’s bedroom—former bedroom—was connected to the interior of the house, with a door right beside the only bathroom, so he’d have quicker access in the mornings. Conveniently, it also had a door leading outside, which was good for privacy. No one would need to know his comings and goings. As soon as Rebecca had become engaged, he got in first to ask his mother for the room fearing his father, who was also the community’s bishop, might want to take it over for his office. 

“I told you I got a job at the café where we all used to go, didn’t I?” Tanya asked.

“The Coffee Pod?”

“Jah.”

“Nee. I hadn't heard. When?”

“In the last week. I’ve worked there for four days now.”

“I’m happy for you.” Now he could see her whenever he wanted. “Do you like the work?”

“I do, but I think I'll like it better once I know what I'm doing.”

“You’re a waitress?”

“Jah, and they’re training me to make the kaffes.”

Timothy chuckled at being trained for such a thing. In his household, making coffee was just adding hot water to granules and a quick swirl with a spoon. How hard could it be to use one of those commercial coffee making contraptions? “Is it that hard?”

“It's really not as easy as it looks. It's not just coffee, it’s short shots, long shots macchiato, lattes ... and I cannot begin to tell you how hard it is to froth the milk for the cappuccinos.”

“I must admit I never gave it much thought.”

“It's not as easy as it looks.” Tanya looked around. “I should go talk to my friends.” With that, she stood up and walked away.

He knew he’d said something wrong. Laughing when she spoke about her job hadn't been a smart thing to do, judging from her reaction. Timothy looked down at his plate of half-eaten food still wondering what was hard about Tanya’s job. It wasn’t as difficult as the work he did. It wasn’t like being out in the hot sun or the biting cold hammering a section of roof or working until your fingers were raw and bleeding. 

When he looked up to find where Tanya was, intending to apologize for his insensitivity, he couldn't help noticing a beautiful young woman. She had a toddler on one hip and she was talking to his mother. He decided the child she was holding couldn’t be hers because she looked too young. 

If he hadn’t already been in love with Tanya, he would’ve taken the opportunity to have his mother introduce them. Just then, his two youngest brothers ran through the crowd hollering, causing Timothy to fly into action. They’d get into terrible trouble if their father heard them. He caught up with them and grabbed them. He hung onto Joel’s hand, while he one-arm-hoisted five-year-old Andrew onto his hip. He hurried with them off to one side where he could scold them out of anyone’s earshot. He lowered Andrew to the ground and, without letting go of their arms, sat down on a chair by the barn with the two boys standing in front of him. “What did you think you were doing?”

“He told me to,” Andrew said, earning himself a sharp jab in the ribs from Joel.

“What were you thinking, Joel? This is Rebecca's wedding. It's a very special day. She's getting married to Jacob and people only get married once. This is her most special day.” The two boys stared at him as though they didn't think it was a good enough excuse not to run around screaming.

“Do you want to get into trouble from Mamm and Dat?” The boys vigorously shook their heads. “You’d have to know that was going to get you into trouble. You’re not allowed to do that.” 

“He did it. He made me,” Andrew said. 

Joel gave Andrew a shove. “Stop getting me into trouble.”

“Joel, you shouldn't be telling people to do things. Especially things that’ll get you both into trouble. And, Andrew, you have your own mind. You don’t do bad things just because someone tells you to.” Timothy sat there trying to look angry, but he couldn’t help being amused that Joel had talked Andrew into it and then had joined in. Timothy looked around and saw his father talking to someone on the opposite side of the yard. He might not have heard the boys’ nonsense. “If I let you both go without telling Dat, will you promise me you won’t do that again and you’ll behave for the rest of the day?” They both nodded. “If you do anything, you'll be in bed for the rest of the night and without supper. Is that what you want?” 

Andrew shook his head while Joel mumbled something about it not being good.

“Gott is watching, and He tells us to obey our parents. Dat is the bishop, so we must set an example of good behavior. Okay?”

“We know, Timothy,” Joel said with an attitude Timothy didn’t like.

“Watch it, Joel. If you do something like that again you might be in your room for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow as well. Do you want that?” He stared sternly at Joel and Joel shook his head. “Good; you can both go now, but if you do that or anything else naughty again tonight I will carry both of you to your room myself and then Dat will find out, is that understood?”

“We’ll be good,” Joel said.

“Yeah, we’ll be good,” Andrew echoed.

“Okay, off you go.” Both boys started off running. “Walk,” Timothy said, and both boys slowed to a fast walk. Timothy stood, then leaned against the barn looking at all the wedding guests. The pretty young woman he'd seen earlier was now sitting by herself with the same child on her knees and no one else around her. There were a few single women among the wedding guests that had come from all over, but still, this young woman stood out. 

Even though the stranger was beautiful, he wasn’t going to risk his budding relationship with Tanya for the more attractive stranger. He did his best to put her out of his mind and looked around for Tanya so he could apologize for laughing about her needing training to make coffee. Then he found her talking to two of her friends, so he headed to the bride and groom instead. “Congratulations, Rebecca and Jacob, and the same to little Micah, wherever he is, on his new mudder.”

“Denke, and he's asleep,” Jacob said. “Anne is watching him in Rebecca's old bedroom.”

“Ah, Rebecca's old bedroom, which is now officially mine.” Timothy chuckled pleased with himself. “Or will be mine after tonight. The first night I’ll sleep in it will be tomorrow.”

Rebecca pulled a face. “You have cleared that with Mamm, haven't you?”

“Of course I have. The very day I found out you were getting married.” Timothy chuckled again.

“I still have a few things there. I'll be back to collect them later,” Rebecca said.

“I'll box them up for you. I can't wait to move in. I’ve been thinking about it for ages.”

“We'll be back in about two weeks,” Jacob told him. “I'm taking Rebecca to visit a few of my friends and relations who weren't able to make it to the wedding.”

“Sounds like a fun time,” Timothy said. 

“Are you working yet?” Jacob asked.

“Not yet. I'm still looking.”

“I might have a few days’ work for you when we get back. We’ve got some changes I want to make to the new haus before we move into it. We’ve got a few months left on the lease for the other haus, so the timing will be perfect.”

“Sure, I’ll help all you want, but I won’t take payment.”

“Jah, you will. You'll have to, because I need a professional builder such as yourself and a professional needs to be paid.”

Timothy had no intention of charging his brother-in-law. He'd been raised to do things for people without expecting anything in return. His parents were always helping others financially and that's why they didn't have much themselves. “How about we talk about it when you get back?”

Jacob nodded. “Okay.”

When someone else came up to talk to the couple, Timothy walked away smiling about the solace he’d soon enjoy in his new bedroom. He’d have hours of blissful sleep without anyone snoring, without someone shaking him awake to take them to the toilet, and without anyone insisting to leave the light on because they were scared.

Timothy also wanted to enjoy at least a little time to himself. Six months in his own room while courting Tanya, and another six months’ engagement and then they’d get married—that was his rough plan. 

As the wedding drew to a close, Timothy helped get his younger brothers into bed. His mother had enough on her hands with organizing the clean-up in the small kitchen and the adjoining annex where the extra food had been prepared for the crowds. 

Timothy had never gotten around to apologizing to Tanya because she left the wedding early. By the time he got to bed it was nearly eleven. Tonight, he was sleeping in his old room with his brothers, but at first light he’d start moving his belongings. 




* * *




Timothy woke early the next morning. Today was his big moving day. He grabbed an armful of clothes and headed downstairs. He was walking past the kitchen when his mother stopped him. 

“Where are you going?”

“I'm taking a few things to my new room.” He couldn't stop grinning at the thought.

“Nee, Timothy. What are you talking about?” She shook her head.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he walked closer to her. “I’m taking clothes to Rebecca’s old room—my new room.” She didn’t have any expression on her face—not sad or surprised or upset. He added, “You told me I could have it.”

“Did I?”

“Jah. I asked you as soon as Rebecca said she was getting married.”

“That will have to wait because we have visitors coming to stay.”

In shock, Timothy dropped all his clothes onto the floor. “You're kidding me.”

“Nee. I’m not. It’s all been arranged a few days ago. If I said you could have that room it slipped my mind completely.”

“I’ve been waiting weeks for it and looking forward to it. I don’t know of another man my age sharing a room with his younger brothers.” 

“I can't make new rooms, Timothy. We have to make do with what Gott has provided for us. You have a roof over your head so you really shouldn't complain at all. I'm sorry if I said you could have that room. I shouldn't have.”

He frowned at his mother. “You said 'visitors.' Who are these people who’re staying?” Hopefully the guests wouldn’t be staying long. 

“She's being brought over today. She's a widow.”

“Oh. How long will she be in my room?” Timothy asked.

“Until she finds a home of her own. She’s settling into this community from a much smaller community on the other side of … somewhere else. I forget where. Your vadder would know. Oh, and she has her dochder too. She’s a darling little girl.” 

He sighed. 

She stared at his discarded bundle of clothing. “Pick up your clothes and go back upstairs with them. If they need washing again from being on the floor, you'll be washing them not me.”

With one swooping motion, he scooped up his clothes. “What does it matter anymore?” 

“Timothy, I don't like your attitude. This woman’s in need and we have to open our doors and our hearts to people in need. One day it might be you.”

He hugged his clothes to himself while putting on an exaggerated “pity me” face. “Is that what I have to do to get a room of my own? Be in need? Anyway, I am in need. I'm in need of a room of my own.”

His mother laughed at him. “Go on with you, Timothy.”

He was tempted to tell her charity begins at home, but then she would’ve told him that those words weren’t from the bible. He’d never been quick with words, or good in an argument.

His mother said, “When Abigail moves out you can have the room.” 

Timothy blew out a deep breath. “Okay. You won’t forget this time?”

“Nee, I won’t forget again,” Mamm said with a smile.

“Good, and will they be having meals with us?”

“Of course. She’s a young woman and her dochder is not even two. There’s no kitchen in her bedroom.”

“Oh, I see. That’s true. You said the woman was young?”

“Jah. She's right around your age, I believe. Now, I'm making pancakes for breakfast, so take those clothes back to your room and then come back and sit down.”

That cheered him up a little. “I'm starving. I’ll be back down in a minute.”

“And don't wake your brothers.”

“Don't worry, I won’t; then there’ll be more pancakes for me.”