Courting Cate by Leslie Gould

Author:Leslie Gould
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

C

h

a

p

t

e

r

14

The letter came back from Pete’s bishop the next week, and I couldn’t help but think that his people were as anxious to see him a groom as mine were to see me a bride.

That was confirmed when our district deacon, Stephen Ruff, came to call. He assisted in marriage arrangements, besides seeing to the needy in the district. Dat and Betsy vanished as soon as the man appeared on our porch. I asked him in and offered him a cup of decaf and a slice of Betsy’s banana cream pie. He accepted both.

We sat at the kitchen table—me picking at the whipped topping on mine, barely able to concentrate, while he devoured his pie. I quickly offered him a second piece, which he accepted.

He asked all the usual questions, starting with, “So you want to marry Pete Treger.”

I nodded, barely.

His face reddened a little. “And you’ve remained pure during your courtship?”

I swallowed a laugh and simply nodded again.

Then he asked if there was any reason for us to marry so soon besides the need to go to New York.

177

(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group) _Gould_CourtingCate_KS_djm.indd 177

7/31/12 2:13 PM

C o u r t i n g C a t e

I shook my head.

“You won’t have time to plan a big wedding.”

“Jah,” I answered. “That’s fine with us.”

Most Amish weddings took place in the fall, but there were so many in that season that some guests were invited to four or five in one day. It wasn’t common, but it wasn’t forbidden, either, to have a spring or summer wedding.

“Well, then,” he said, “I’m not used to you being so quiet, but nevertheless, I accept all your answers. I’ll publish your wedding this Sunday.”

“Denki,” I managed to say.

“How soon would you like the wedding to be?”

“Two weeks.”

“You’re that prepared?”

“Jah.” We would be, thanks to Betsy.

He took the last bite of his pie, declared it delicious, and stood. “Tell Bob hello. And congratulations.”

As I walked him to the door, I felt certain he hoped to have the whole wedding said and done before Pete came to his senses.

A moment later Betsy came through the back door and into the living room, a notepad in her hand. “Is everything gut?” She was breathless.

“Jah,” I answered.

“Then let’s get to work!” She took my hand and pulled me into the kitchen. First she cleared the deacon’s plate and my unfinished pie. Then she ordered me to sit.

“So I made a list of people to invite. I kept it to two hundred,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” I said. The fewer people who were there to witness my deception, the better I’d feel.

“I’ll ask the chicken cooks and potato cooks tomorrow. It’s too late to get chicks to raise for fryers, but I’ll order what 178

(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group) _Gould_CourtingCate_KS_djm.indd 178

7/31/12 2:13 PM

L e slie G ould

we need through the grocery.” She smiled. “It will save Pete some work.” Usually the groom butchered the chickens. “I’m assuming the deacon will arrange for the church wagon, but I’ll double-check.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.