Amish Heritage, page 1
AMISH HERITAGE
BY
Piper Forrest & Lily Simmons
Amish Heritage
Quilted Hills, Volume 2
Bev Haynes and Jewel Adams
Published by Bev Haynes, 2019.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
AMISH HERITAGE
First edition. September 1, 2019.
Copyright © 2019 Bev Haynes and Jewel Adams.
ISBN: 978-1393750826
Written by Bev Haynes and Jewel Adams.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Title Page
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
Amish Wedding Casserole Serves 350
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About the Author
PROLOGUE
Miriam Lapp swayed back and forth in the wicker rocker on the front porch of her family home. She fled the well-wishers who filled the large house. The funeral for her grandmother, Sadie Lapp, concluded three hours ago and still the members of their district hung around. Go home. Go home. The words resonated through her mind as she willed the people away. Yes, they were giving their kindness, but Miriam needed the space to think without worrying about someone coming to her and derailing her thoughts.
Miriam reached under the neckline of her dress and pulled out the healing bag her grandmother gave her, moments before she died. The woman took it from around her neck and placed it on Miriam's. From the time she was a toddler, the old woman worked with Miriam, teaching her about healing, and herbs. The last thing to happen, Mammi said, was when she passed on, Miriam became the keeper of the necklace, which she would always wear, never was it to be removed from her until she passed it on herself.
Miriam helped Mammi make a new leather strap last year, keeping the worn one in place while putting the new one through the bone circles at each side of the bag. Once the leather was secure, Miriam snipped the old strip, folded it, and placed it in the wooden box her grandmother took from her ancient hope chest. In the box were many straps indicating many generations of healers in her family.
The small bag felt more substantial to her somehow. Was it actually? Or was it the weight of the knowledge she soon had to fill Mammi’s shoes?
The thoughts overwhelmed her. Was she ready for this? Miriam sighed, stood, and walked to the door to enter the living room. Fear and trepidation were for another day. Today, she was the Braucherei.
CHAPTER 1
Levi Miller unhooked his trotting horse from the buggy inside the large barn. He’d returned from his ride through three districts checking out horses for sale.
Last month, Levi sold two beautiful standardbred horses he’d trained, getting them up to speed on the racetrack between the barn and the back-fence line, preparing them to pull a cart and to both trot and pace in the Amish chariot races held in Pennsylvania. He needed at least two more horses to begin training. Building his herd took time and much study.
Coming from a family of farmers, Levi enjoyed working with animals more than growing crops. After completing his eighth-grade education, he worked two years with his father on the farm, but his heart was not in it. He spoke to the Bishop and to his father to gain permission to work with Jeremiah Schmidt on his horse ranch which was twenty miles to the west of Paradise Wells.
Levi lived behind Jeremiah's house in the dawdi haus and ate meals with the Schmidt family as payment for his work. He stayed with the family for five years until he turned twenty-one.
Meeting Miriam Lapp again at her sister's shop over two years ago, they courted one year and married a year later. Levi smiled as he finished brushing down his horse, Luca. The time was getting on to late afternoon and in October, evening came earlier than it had during the long days of summer. He smelled the dried leaves under the trees and smiled. The busy summer was ending. He breathed deeply and noted onion and spices in the air.
Anxiously, he put up the brush and left the horse stall, bringing down the wooden latch to secure the horse for the night. Married for only a year, Levi could hardly wait to give his bride a big hug and a kiss. He asked her to go along today, but she served so many customers at the store this time of the year, and she didn’t want to lose sales. The store belonged to her sister, Ruby, but Miriam ran it for her. Ruby had her hands full running the farm stay.
As he closed the barn doors, Levi heard a horse and buggy approach at a breakneck speed. What in the world? The racket was close, but no one came toward the barn, which he thought odd. Stripping off his leather work gloves, he ran his hand through his bowl cut black hair. Something didn’t feel right, and his stomach squeezed nervously thinking of Miriam alone in the house.
Stepping more quickly, Levi was halfway to the house when he saw an open buggy racing down the narrow road in front of his home. The horse and buggy threw dirt in the air, but he could tell Miriam was with the man. They rounded the corner, and he lost sight of them.
Levi rushed into the house to see if there had been a disruption or some sign of who had been there, but nothing. A stew sat on the propane-powered stove. The fire was off, so Miriam had the sense to do that, but why did she take off with the man?
The only reason he could come up with was, his wife Miriam was the area healer woman and midwife. The Braucherei.
Levi watched the sun flood the field with color. “Where are you, my love?” He pushed off the porch rail. Miriam has been gone for two days. “Not a word.”
Levi walked to clear away some of his anger and fear, but it did not help. He did not like the emotions which flooded his senses over Miriam. What if she was hurt? This was his biggest concern. He hoped Ruby held some answers.
“Levi, you two have been married for over a year. You understand how some of these midwife calls go. Boppli come in their own time.”
“Jah, but I should know where she is. Miriam always tells me if a little one is near, so I do not worry.”
“I agree with you. Somehow this is different. Sit down and have a cup of kaffe with me. Have you eaten breakfast? There are a few slices of bacon left, and I can scramble some eggs.”
“Jah, fantastic, I am hungry.”
Ruby went to the gas-powered refrigerator and took out the leftover bacon and three eggs. “Just relax. I am sure Miriam will be home soon, and you will hear the full story of what happened. These are just experiences you will have to get used to, Levi.” She broke the eggs into a bowl and whipped them with a fork, then poured them into the hot pan.
“I worry about her. Her kind heart keeps her from thinking through her actions.” He paced while Ruby cooked. “What if she doesn’t come home soon? How long should I wait?”
Ruby plated up the food and pointed to a chair at the large table in the middle of her kitchen. “I am not sure what to tell you. I would wait until the afternoon to tell Bishop Eischler. Oh! Levi! I can call her number on my cell phone. I am sure the bishop would let you buy one since Miriam travels a distance at times. If she faced a problem, she could call you. Why did you not called her from your phone shanty?”
Ruby caught him looking down at the floor. The skin between his eyebrows pulled into a frown. “Because I do not have her number. I was angry she had the phone. I threw the piece of paper away.
“Levi! You should not have done that. What if she needed you and cannot contact you at the shanty?”
Just as she said this, her phone rang. The sound of wind chimes reverberated behind her apron in the dress pocket. Setting the plate in front of Levi, she answered, “Troyer Farm Stay. This is Ruby.”
Ruby touched Levi’s shoulder to get his attention. Then pointing to the phone, she mouthed Miriam. She pulled the phone away from her ear and pressed the screen to allow speakerphone. “Miriam, Levi is here with me. You are on speakerphone, so both of us can hear your voice. Where are you? Levi has been so worried.”
Miriam spoke slowly, “I’m over in the district to the west of ours with the Miller family. Mrs. Miller just had twin daughters. It was a struggle to get everyone through it all. I was calling to have you contact Levi, but I can hear it is not necessary.”
Levi broke into the conversation. “You are gone too long, Miriam. Why did you not tell me where you were going and for how long? I worry about you.”
“Levi, I left you a note on the table. Didn’t you find it?”
“Nee. I saw nothing, but I will look for it. When will you come home?”
“It shouldn’t be too much longer. I’m waiting for Mr. Miller to bring me back. I believe all of us are worn down to nubs, Levi. I’m sorry you did not find my note, but the man was in a dreadful hurry to get me to his wife. If he had not come so soon, I fear we would have lost all three of them.”
“I will come and pick you up, where is this place?”
After Miriam gave the details, Ruby remembered Levi had walked here, just over a mile from his and Miriam’s horse ranch. “I’ll let Le
CHAPTER 2
Levi traveled over two hours from Paradise Wells. It was a long distance his Miriam had gone. Was there no midwife for this district?
Following the directions given to him before he left, he saw the turn. It was barely a path with weeds overgrown and deep ruts. It did not appear the landowner took care of the property. It was not very Amish. The plain people took great care in their properties.
Wondering how to find the house through the dense foliage, he was lost until the horse stepped through an opening and before him, stood a dilapidated house. It was large, which was the only thing it had going for it. He’d seen shacks in better repair. Miriam had been called to this place? It did not look as if anyone lived there. The area screamed poverty. Suddenly, he understood Miriam’s desire to help. These people needed all the help they could get. Maybe he had been a bachelor too long, waiting until his thirties to marry Miriam. She was older as well and, at times, they butted heads over silly thoughts, each wanting their own way. He smiled. Miriam had his heart.
Just as those thoughts filled his mind, a man stepped out onto the crooked porch. The tall, thin man looked familiar. Maybe Levi had known him in the past before he was married and wore his beard.
A hitching rail stood under a large shade tree, and Levi guided the horse in that direction. A trough of water was nearby, so he had no fear for Ruby’s horse. With rest and drink, recovery was in store for the horse.
“Levi. I am happy you are here. I want you to realize your wife saved my wife, Anna and our twin boppli.”
Levi squinted his eyes. Wayne. He could not believe his eyes. His stomach leaped, and his heart filled with joy. “Brother! I have found you after all this time.” Levi offered his hand, and as Wayne grasped it, Levi pulled it and the man into his arms. “Ach, I have missed you, big brother.” The man smelled of sweat and soiled clothing, but Levi was not going to let it deter him from his joy over seeing his brother.
“I never wanted you to see me living like this, Levi, but since the shunning, there has not been a way for us to recover.”
Levi shook his head. “Nee. If I had known, my help was yours. Let’s not speak of this now. I want to see my new nephews? Or...nieces?”
“Nieces. We haven’t named them yet. Anna and I can’t make up our minds.” With a laugh, Wayne placed his hand on Levi’s back and led him toward the house.
The only sounds surrounding Miriam and Levi were the clip-clop of the horse's hooves on the oiled highway. Levi drove the buggy close to the side of the road, and occasionally, the horse kicked up dirt when he encroached the weeded edges.
Levi did not have words to offer his wife. His heart tightened in his chest when the thoughts of her lying to him screamed through his mind. Miriam knew he missed his brother, and he had no idea where Wayne had got off to since he had been shunned. She knew where he lived, and she had not said a word.
What caused her to act this way? He assumed they shared everything, and there were no secrets between them. How wrong could he have been?
Miriam turned toward him. He felt her slight movement, but he kept his eyes forward, much like the horse in front of him who wore blinders.
“Please speak to me, husband,” Miriam uttered softly.
Levi heard the sadness as it played at the corners of her words. She possessed a way to reach his heart, but this time, he guarded his emotions. Miriam must learn he was the head of their household and could not keep things from him. And she certainly could not run off without telling him where she was going and with whom.
“Levi.”
He tried not to reply but found himself uttering aloud, “What?”
“I want to explain. It is not fair for you to treat me like this.”
Knowing Miriam as he did, he knew her movements meant she had crossed her arms under her bosom. She was firing up for a big pout. Somehow, when she turned all of this around, it would become his fault. I suppose I must answer her or suffer for it later.
“What?”
Miriam had her healing bag in her hand. It was a sure indication she was upset as she kept the item under her clothing, not exposed unless she needed it to heal. He supposed she was using it for herself today. He felt his heart softening to the situation. A sigh burst from her lips. “Over the months, I did not realize that Anna's husband was your brother.”
Levi turned his head and gave her a glance. “How did you get all this way for her appointments without me knowing about it? Did Wayne come for you each time?”
“Nee, Anna drove out to our place. I thought she always came alone. I just recently found out your brother waited for her to return to town. I had no idea they lived so far away. I had no idea the man was your brother.”
He snapped the reins as the horse slowed. Levi wanted nothing more than to be home and have a strong cup of kaffe. “When did you find out about my brother?”
The fall afternoon sun hid behind a cloud, and Levi felt his wife shiver. “Cover up with a blanket. You do not need to take a chill.” Levi was softening even more as he listened to his wife’s story. If she did not know Wayne was his brother, then it was not a lie. “Tell me why you didn’t come out to the barn the other night before you left with Wayne.”
“I did not know you were home. That is why I left you a note on the table. I wrote it to catch your attention.”
“Nee Miriam. I did not find a note. I left the barn when I heard a buggy, but you were flying down the road by the time I got to the house. It scared the life out of me. Then you didn’t come home the next day. What was I to think?” He snapped the reins in his hands to move the horse closer to the side of the road as a car passed them. “You still haven’t answered me. When did you realize this father was my brother?”
Instead of hearing soft, reassuring words from his wife, Levi’s head jerked back at her answer. “Well, if you carried a cell phone as I do, we would not have this problem, right?”
Here we go. My wife feels it is all my fault. “Miriam, the only reason the Bishop lets you have your phone is so if you need it for medical work, you have a way to contact people, I have no reason for one.”
“You do!” Miriam’s voice rose an octave and pierced his ear closest to her. “If I need you to help me, or go for the medical doctor in town...”
Levi shook his head. He might have to give in to her, but right at this moment, he just wanted to think about his brother and family living in a shack. And all the others he saw, or Wayne spoke of.
“You still have not answered my question about Wayne. When did you know?”
“Please, I am getting a headache from all this. We can talk about it later. Hopefully, we should be home in less than thirty minutes.”
He shook his head in dismay. Why? Why not tell him? “Please, just answer me.”
“Will you believe me?”
“Of course, I’ll believe you. Why do you even ask this of me?”
“Because you are in a mood. You just want to take the negative stance about everything I say.” She sighed and continued. “Alright, I’ll tell you. I learned of it late last night while birthing her babies, Anna called out her husband’s name. Suddenly, I put the names together and realized these people were your family.”
Miriam kept her arms crossed and never said another word to him as they rode along.
Levi’s mind filled with ways to help Wayne. Every thought brought him back to problems He even feared asking about getting a cell phone. He had to know where Miriam was. Until then, worry filled him.
CHAPTER 3
Ruby watched Levi drive away in her buggy. She had never seen him so upset. He and her sister had been married a year. Surely, he was used to her erratic schedule by now. Miriam was the midwife for more than just their district. If need be, she went long distances to help people. Ruby loved Levi, but he could be a bit harsh. But then Miriam could be introverted and keep things to herself. She shook her head. They might figure out their relationship over the years.
