Rebekah cocked an eyebrow. “Ma never mentioned that.”
“Oh ja, I’ll never forget the look on her face when she tried that first bite. Her eyes might near popped right out of her head.”
Forgetting her anxiety over Joseph, she stared at her father in disbelief. “It was that good?”
Samuel rubbed his chin. “Her exact words were, ‘You mixed up the salt and the sugar. Good thing I know the difference, otherwise we could never host any families in our home.’” Samuel’s glance cut to his daughter. “I asked her to marry me that night, and thankfully, she said yes.”
“Oh, Pa, that is the sweetest story.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know about sweetest. I figured it to be the saltiest.”
***
The sun crept from the east to the west with all the sluggishness of a snail. By the time the pies cooled on the front porch, all the boys were dressed in their Sunday best and ready to go.
Elnora fussed over Beanie’s outfit while Rebekah and Samuel tidied the kitchen.
“Thanks for letting me help, daughter.”
She stowed the white sugar back in the safety of the highest cabinet, far away from grabby boy fingers. “Thank you for letting me measure out the salt and sugar.”
They shared an easy laugh as the evening birds began their nightly song.
Samuel twirled a rag around his hand. “Young Joseph should be here soon.”
Rebekah froze.
Her father’s words were as soft as the spring rain. “No matter what happens tonight, Rebekah, follow your heart. Your mother and I want nothing more than your happiness.”
He gave the rag a fling. It landed expertly in the dry sink.
Before she could contemplate her father’s heartfelt words, Jeremiah stuck his head in the kitchen. “Joseph’s here.”
With his lips pulled into his most mischievous grin, he stared directly at his sister. “Joseph’s here. And boy, does he look pretty.”
Rebekah tugged at her cape. Satisfied that it was situated, she straightened her covering. Then, she smoothed her dress.
“Are you going to leave him waiting for you all night?” Jeremiah pressed.
Finally, she sucked in a deep breath and swept past her biggest little brother. “Of course not, silly.”
Everyone had congregated in the sitting room, but she spotted Joseph in a moment. A head taller than even her father, he stood out in a crowd. She chewed her lower lip as she beheld the sight of him laughing and teasing with her mother.
His black felt special-occasion hat was clutched in one hand while the other was tucked securely in a pocket. Those ebony curls that never failed to grab her attention were slicked back and he wore his deep-green shirt, the one that matched her favorite dress. He was long, lean, and in Rebekah’s eyes, most beautiful.
“My mother and father took our food on to the festival,” he explained. “Do Rebekah and I need to take any of the pies for you?”
Samuel offered his hand to the younger man. “I appreciate the offer, but I believe we can handle those pies.”
Carefully, Joseph removed his hand from his pocket and shook Samuel’s hand. Quickly, he tucked it away again.
“Hallo.” Rebekah was aware that her voice was quiet, but Joseph took instant notice. He stepped through the throng of little brothers and joined her.
He’s so tall he could have stepped over the lot of them.
His eyes were especially blue as he offered her his arm. “Shall we go?”
Her cheeks afire, Rebekah flitted a glance to Elnora, only her mother wasn’t looking at them. Instead, she shared a smile with Samuel. Together, they turned their attention to the young couple.
What is going on? Why so much secrecy tonight?
Following Joseph, mostly because she held his arm, they made their way out the front door.
Just before the door closed, Elnora’s voice met Rebekah’s ears. “We will see you there.”
Then, she and Joseph were alone.
***
The festival was a wonderful gathering of friends and family and, once he had gotten over his initial shyness or whatever had him so out of sorts, Joseph was a perfect gentleman. For Rebekah, being with him was as easy and natural as getting honey from a beehive. The few looks Katie tossed their way were easy enough to ignore. Still, it was no secret that the younger of the Knepp twins spent the evening wishing she had arrived on Joseph’s arm.
Rebekah twirled the clover thistle that Joseph picked for her on the way between her fingers. “Thank you for a lovely night.”
The evening of food, fun, and fellowship—and, of course, being near to Joseph—left her starry-eyed and a little giddy.
“I should be the one thanking you. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have had a soul to drink apple cider with.” He rubbed his belly with one hand. “And to share that last piece of your ma’s apple pie. If I had been forced to finish it all alone, my folks may well have had to roll me home.”
She dipped her head to sniff her thistle and to hide her smile. “Actually, Pa and I made the pies this year. Ma wasn’t feeling up to it yet.”
