Chapter 2
Christian Glick contemplated the young folks gathering he and Hannah would be attending tonight. He enjoyed spending time with his friends in his Amish community, but also liked hanging out with his Englisch friends. He thought about Kristine, the Englisch girl he’d seen a few times. She was cute with her curly short blonde hair and turned up nose. Not to mention her figure that he couldn’t help but notice when she wore her tight jeans and low-cut blouse.
If Hannah ever found out…he wouldn’t think about that now. He and Samuel were the only ones in their Plain community that he knew of, who knew about Kristine. And he completely trusted his best friend Samuel. They had been good friends since their school days and there was no one who knew Samuel better than he did. He knew he would eventually have to cut Kristine off when he got baptized into the church in the fall, but he was enjoying his last few days of rumspringa. He also knew he’d never marry a girl like Kristine. She would never be the kind of wife he desired. No, Hannah was the one for him.
Christian’s conscience did prick him, though, when he was with Hannah. The two girls were so different. Kristine was bubbly and excitable, while Hannah was more down-to-earth and thoughtful. He wished that he could somehow have both of them wrapped up into one, but he couldn’t. Because he planned to remain Amish all his days, he decided Hannah would be the best choice for a mate.
But for some reason, he couldn’t get the kisses out of his mind that he and Kristine had shared in the back seat of her car last night. He and Hannah had kissed before too, but she definitely wasn’t as willing as Kristine was. Perhaps that’s why our leaders are always warning us about courting so many different girls. It seems like I’m always comparing Hannah and Kristine to each other and I know it isn’t fair to either of them. I need to tell Kristine goodbye next time I see her, he decided. But tonight, I’m going to ask Hannah to marry me.
Hannah knew Christian would be in her driveway any minute. She had taken extra care to pin up her hair just so, and was sure to wear Christian’s favorite dress that brought out the green in her hazel eyes. She pinched her cheeks to add a little color to her face and sprayed on a bit of wildflower perfume.
“Your kapp is crooked,” Miriam Stolzfus called from the door, smiling.
Hannah startled. “Ach, Mamm. I didn’t know you were there.”
“Christian will think you look just fine.”
Hannah’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open. “Ach, how did you know Christian Glick was courtin’ me?”
“I have eyes, don’t I?” Mamm said.
“Is it that obvious?”
“It’s nearly impossible to miss the look of love. I’ve seen your eyes wander his way more than once.” Miriam neared and helped Hannah secure her kapp into place. “You know, your dat and I will miss you when you’re gone.”
“Ach, Mamm. Christian hasn’t even asked me yet,” Hannah said.
“No, but I’m certain he will. He’d be a foolish man to let a girl like you get away. And I know Christian Glick is no fool.”
Deborah’s voice called from the stairs, “Hannah, you-know-who is waiting at the end of the lane for you.”
“I gotta go, Mamm. Denki for everything.” Hannah leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek, something she didn’t do often but felt was appropriate at present.
She hurried out the door and calmly walked, like a respectable Amish woman should, to Christian’s carriage. Christian leaned over and held out his hand to assist her entrance into the buggy.
“How’s my favorite maedel doing?” Christian’s gorgeous blue eyes sparkled. Truthfully, it peeved Hannah when he spoke like that. It sounded as though he had more than one aldi. But she knew he was only teasing, so she just smiled.
“Fine. And how are you?” she asked.
“Better than ever now that you’re by my side,” Christian charmed.
“You’re ferhoodled,” Hannah said laughingly.
“Nee. Just ab im kopp over you.” Christian took her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“Ach, Christian we’re in broad daylight. Anyone can see,” she protested. “Besides, I think you'd better pay attention to the road.”
“Don’t worry, Lieb. Cowboy knows the way to the Yoders’,” Christian said confidently. “And I don’t care who sees. Everyone will soon know how much you mean to me.”
Hannah gave him a sideways glance. What did he mean by that? “You really are acting strange.”
“Maybe I’m just excited that you’re going to say yes to what I’m going to ask you.”
“What if I say no?” Hannah asked defiantly, still clueless as to what they were talking about.
“You really don’t want to get hitched?” Christian’s previous excitement deflated.
“What? Hitched?” Hannah asked in surprise. “Christian Glick, are you asking me to marry you?”
“Jah, that’s what I was going to ask,” he said quietly.
“Yes. I’ll marry you,” she answered calmly.
Christian guided Cowboy off the road and brought the rig to a stop. He leaned over and kissed Hannah full on the lips. “Denki, Hannah,” he said excitedly. “You won’t be sorry. And I know you’ll make a wunderbaar fraa too. We’ll have lots of kinner.” He passionately kissed her again and she gently pushed him away.
“Yes, Christian, but the kinner have to come later,” she emphasized.
“Uh, jah, right.” Christian sheepishly scooted back to his side of the buggy seat, but his eyes sparkled with joy.
Samuel noticed that Hannah and Christian were beaming as they entered the young folks gathering in the Yoders’ barn. As soon as he was able to catch Christian’s attention, he signaled him outside for a chat. Reluctantly, Christian left Hannah’s side and joined him behind the barn.
“What’s going on, Christian?” Samuel asked coolly.
“I asked Hannah to marry me and she said yes,” he said quietly so nobody but Samuel could hear.
“Are you crazy?” Samuel hissed disgustedly.
“What do mean? Don’t you think she’s a great girl?” Christian played dumb.
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it,” Samuel said, looking around to be sure no one else was nearby to eavesdrop on their conversation. He lowered his voice and looked intently at Christian. “What about the Englisch girl? You know, the one you ditched me for last night?”
“Oh yeah, sorry about that. I see you found a way home,” Christian said nonchalantly. “Don't worry about Kristine, I’ll drop her next Friday.”
Exasperated, Samuel found controlling his volume difficult. “I can’t believe you. You’re betrothed to an Amish girl and you have a date with an Englisch girl on Friday? Don't you think you're doin' things in the wrong order?”
“Back off, Samuel. It’s nobody’s business but mine. And no one knows about that except you and me. And that’s the way we’re going to keep it. Right?”
“You’re not being fair to Hannah,” Samuel insisted.
“I told you that I’m breaking things off with the Englisch girl,” Christian spewed.
“Fine. I won’t say anything,” he spat back. “But if you don’t end it Friday –”
“I said I would,” Christian said curtly before stomping off. He couldn’t go back into the barn now. Hannah would see his frustrated countenance and know something was wrong. He needed to take a walk to cool down and gather his wits about him. Why did Samuel care so much anyway?
“So, is it true?” Deborah whispered across the room to Hannah as they lay awake in bed that night.
“What?”
“Okay, I’ll spell it out for you.” She rolled her eyes. “Did Christian really ask you to marry him?”
“Where did you hear that?” Hannah wondered aloud.
“Answer my question first,” Deborah insisted.
“Deb, you know these things are supposed to be kept secret.”
“Well?”
“Jah. But you better not tell anybody.”
Deborah squealed, “He did? For real?”
Hannah nodded, unsure if Deborah could even see her in the dark.
“I thought so. That’s so romantic! What did he say?”
“I’m not going to tell you!”
“I wonder what happened between Christian and Samuel at the gathering,” Deborah commented, changing the subject.
“I’m sure it’s none of your business.”
“So, you don’t know? You didn’t even ask Christian why Samuel left early?”
“It’s none of my business either,” Hannah insisted.
“Sally said she heard them arguing outside Yoders’ barn. She thought it was about you,” Deborah said.
“That’s enough, Deb. What happens between Samuel and Christian is their business and nobody else’s.”
“Aren’t you at all curious?”
“No, now go to sleep. I’ve got to get up early tomorrow.” Hannah rolled over and pulled the sheet up over her shoulders, kicking off the heavy quilt. As she drifted off to sleep, though, she did wonder what had transpired between Christian and Samuel. Surely it wasn’t about her.