The Amish Marriage Bargain. Marie E. Bast

and Josie.”

      She ran to the door and threw it open. “I’m so glad you’re both here.” She wrapped them each in a group hug, then stepped back. “How do I look?”

      “That blue is the perfect color for you,” Josie said, and Janie nodded in agreement.

      “Are you getting cold feet?” Janie raised a brow. “Your face is saying take me out behind the barn and hide me.”

      “Ach, just a little bit. I hope this is the right choice. The bishop pressured me to make a decision, and now I’m not sure.”

      “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You’ve liked Thad ever since you were fourteen.”

      “Jah, but don’t forget, he married April first.”

      Josie grabbed May’s hand and held it tight. “Forgive like Jesus did.”

      “I’m trying.” She glanced at the clock on her nightstand, then turned to her side-sitters. “It’s almost nine o’clock... We’d better go downstairs.”

      They hurried to their bench in the family room as Thad and his attendants, his brothers Jonah and Simon, took their places.

      At 9:00 a.m., the congregation started to sing the first song from the Ausbund while the ministers motioned to Thad and May to follow them to the back room, or rightfully called the council room for her wedding, for their twenty-minute premarital talk. Her stomach clenched as she stood. She’d seen other couples get marched off, but no one ever divulged what a twenty-minute talk was, not even Sadie. But it was considered part of the ceremony so it had a great significance. She blotted her hand on her skirt as the ministers entered the room first. Thad pressed a warm hand to her back as they entered. His strong support and nearness calmed her, knowing she wasn’t in this alone. He turned and closed the door.

      When they stepped from the room, Thad grabbed her hand and walked beside her. May almost jerked her hand away, but didn’t. They were a couple now. They returned to their benches. Thad and his two attendants sat and faced May and her side-sitters.

      After the ministers gave their sermons, Bishop Yoder delivered the main sermon that focused on the Old Testament marriages, their relationships and the obstacles their marriages faced. Just before noon, the bishop called May and Thad up front for the wedding ceremony.

      Thad said his vows first.

      The bishop glanced toward May. “Do you promise...?”

      May froze. The words wouldn’t come. Her heart raced and her throat tightened. She drew in a deep breath of air, but her throat was too tight to speak.

      Thad stared at May with a pale mask covering his face. “May?”

      “Jah, take your time, May,” Bishop Yoder whispered.

      May squeezed her eyes closed. What was it Janie said? This was final. Forever. What was she thinking? She should have thought about this longer.

      A faint shuffling of feet from someone on the benches caught her attention. Jah, she had to answer.

      The bishop touched her elbow. “Do you need to sit?”

      “Nein. I feel better.”

      The bishop repeated the question.

      She cleared her throat. “Yes.”

      Bishop Yoder quickly pronounced them ehemann and frau. May froze as his words settled over her like a thin dusting of flour. It was real. She was Thad’s frau.

      After the closing words, Thad took her hand and pulled her gently to face him. “Don’t look so scared. We are now one, forever and always, May.” He pulled the back of her hand to his lips and bushed it with a kiss. A smile slowly spread across his face until it reached his eyes and tugged at May’s heart.

      She turned her head trying to hide her face, until she finally gave in and smiled back.

      When Mildred’s helpers had everything ready, she called to the wedding party to take their places at the bridal table.

      They sat at the Eck, the bridal table, and ate their meal. There was little talking since everyone was hungry after the long morning. May took a sip of lemonade and let her gaze wander to Thad. He was talking to his bruder Jonah. She hadn’t really paid much attention lately, but when he was cleaned up, he was a handsome man, her ehemann.

      May turned toward Josie and Janie and joined in on their discussion, chattering as if they were at a frolic.

      Thad reached over and gave May’s arm a quick pat.

      She pulled her attention from her side-sitters and focused on Thad. Her face twisted into a playful smile.

      “It will be nice having a frau. Now I won’t have to take out the garbage.” His voice teetering toward the loud side.

      Knowing he was trying to break the tension between them, she tossed him a not-on-your-life look with a raised brow. “You’re not getting off that easy.” They both chuckled.

      Their laughter lightened the mood, and it helped May forget that he was April’s ehemann first and she was once again getting April’s hand-me-down clothing. Only this time it was her husband.

      Thad glanced at her. “Are you sure you’re okay, May?”

      “Jah, it’s just...my head is spinning. Two weeks ago, I had planned to buy a train ticket to Indiana. Now I’m married.”

      “But you’re okay with it, right?” He caught her hand in his and squeezed.

      “I’m fine.”

      “We need to walk around and greet our guests.” He swung his legs over the bench and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her.

      She shook aside the image of April eighteen months earlier, in this very spot, and clung to Thad’s side as they walked around all afternoon and evening visiting with their guests.

      When the last few buggies finally pulled away, Thad helped the youngies pick up the benches, and May stole her way back into the haus and up to Leah’s room. She cracked the door and peeked in.

      Josie, dressed in her nightgown, sat next to Leah’s crib. She waved her in.

      “I missed this little one,” Josie whispered.

      “Me, too.” May quietly pulled the rocker over next to Josie’s chair by the crib and sat.

      “You should be with your new ehemann.” Josie nodded toward the door. “I’m watching Leah. Go.”

      “I just wanted to check on her. He is helping the buwe stack the benches on the wagon so they’ll be ready for Church Sunday.”

      “How does it feel to be a frau?”

      The question bounced around in her head. She wasn’t quite sure of the answer. She wanted to be Leah’s mamm, and Thad came along as baggage. “It’s a new feeling.”

      That was a lie. She felt numb.

      Josie gave her a hug. “I’ll help clean the mess tomorrow. You go get ready for bed. You’re a married woman now. I’ll sleep on the twin bed next to Leah’s crib. And don’t worry about a thing.”

      May slid out of the rocker, walked to the door, and glanced back at Josie and Leah. Leah looked like a little angel, and after the long day, Josie looked like she was asleep already.

      She hoped her married life was as simple as that.