Whoopie Pie Bakers: Volume Five: Special Friends (Amish) Read online

  WHOOPIE PIE BAKERS

  VOLUME FIVE

  SPECIAL FRIENDS

  BY

  SICILY YODER

  DUTCH FARM BOOKS

  ~*~

  Copyright 2012 by DUTCH FARM BOOKS. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form either written or electronically without the express permission of the author or publisher. This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are therefore used fictitiously. Any similarity or resemblance to the actual persons; living or dead, places or events are purely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  Photos courtesy of Photo Bucket, I Stock, vso@BigStock and , Paha_L@BigStock, and the author. Scriptures were taken from the KJV.

  “For me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

  WHOOPIE PIE BAKERS

  9 VOLUME SERIAL

  Volume 1: Silvery Snowflakes on Lancaster

  Volume 2:Kneeling to Heaven

  Volume 3: Amish Heart

  Volume 4: Heavenly Homecoming

  Volume 5: Special Friends

  Volume 6: A Change of Heart

  Volume 7: Amish Forgiveness

  Volume 8: An Amish Wedding

  Volume 9: Amish Romance

  Other Books by Sicily Yoder

  Amish Blizzards

  Amish Winter Love

  An Amish Winter Surprise

  An Autumn Wind in Walnut Creek

  Amish Garden: 50 Slow Cooker Recipes

  Christmas in Sugarcreek

  Frontier Kisses

  Heaven Driven

  White Christmas Fudge

  Whoopie Pie Bakers

  TABLE ON CONTENTS

  ~DEDICATION~

  ~AMISH WORDS~

  ~FOREWARD~

  ~CHAPTER NINE~

  ~CHAPTER TEN~

  ~CHAPTER ELEVEN~

  ~CHAPTER TWELVE~

  ~CHAPTER THIRTEEN~

  ~DEDICATION~

  To my fellow Christian authors. You inspire me. To Christ for loving me enough to die for my sins. To my family, who puts up with Papa John’s pizza on nights that I am on deadline. To Hertz Rental Car, who provides my car rental needs for research for my books. To my author friends who have helped in critiquing, book cover and interior layout feedback, and just being there to chat with me on Facebook. To my former Kentucky State Trooper friend, Gene Stratton, for being there for me after my car wreck. No book tours would take place without you.

  ~AMISH WORDS~

  Danki, Thank You

  Fraa, wife

  Schwester, sister

  Bruder, brother

  Haus, house

  Milich Haus, milk house

  Schwester, Sister

  Gut, Good

  Wunderbar, wonderful

  Grossmammi, Grandmother

  Grossdaedi, Grandfather

  Jah, Yes

  Gut Mariye, Good Morning

  Gut Nacht, good Night

  Gott, God

  Boppli, baby

  Kinner, children

  Menner, men

  Vorsinger, the Man who leads the song service at church

  Uffgevva, to give up ego to trust in God’s will

  Wie bist du heit, It is nice to meet you

  Wasser, water

  Blaeckbier, blackberry

  Dach-weggeli, wagon

  Schuldiner, debtor

  Shtill hokka, member meeting

  Chite, fit in morals

  Du dosht nelt, you may not

  Ich glie de, I love you

  Mamm, Mother

  Daed, Dad

  ~CHAPTER SEVENTEEN~

  “I do NOT wear cape dresses anymore, so deal with it!” Emma snickered as she reached down and scooped up another shiny dress, “I am ten and much more mature now!”

  “Come on, really Emma?” Esther doubted her.

  Emma stewed, tipped her chin up, and looked around her old room as if she had never stepped foot into the child’s quarters. “You have had other kinner boarded here since I got taken away?”

  Esther held back a giggle. Emma was too old to play with wooden trains and milich trucks anymore, and Esther could understand. “The room is decorated for a five-year-old, isn’t it, Jah?”

  “Jah and it is a room for a non-city girl!” Emma’s brow wrinkled, her nostrils flared like a mean animal. Amish! Amish! Amish! It’s so country, Esther!” She climbed onto the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, and pointed across the open suitcase. “Have a seat, and I’ll explain why I am not joining the church.”

  Esther was stunned. Not joining the church? Why, Emma was six years shy of even being able to sit in instructional pledge class to join. Six years left to make a decision! How could she possibly decide now?

  “Go ahead and sit down, Schwester,” Emma leaned over her unpacked clothes and patted the top of the quilt. “Come on. I need to be clear on why I don’t want to join.”

  Esther hesitated, but finally sat down across from Emma, crossed her legs and waited for Emma’s plan to leave the Amish. She took a deep breath, and faced Emma. “We are content here, Emma, and you know why; Gott, farming, and living a simple life keeps us grounded, close to Gott. I am concerned—”

  Emma cut her words off in an ungrateful tone, “The Bible does not say we have to dwell on a farm, Schwester! Farms smell and the animals are too much responsibility.”

  “Being a Christian is a responsibility, one that Gott holds us accountable for, Emma!” Esther warned, but Emma shrugged.

  “I think I can love Jesus and Gott without being here on a farm. Besides, many people leave and do just fine! Look at Jacob Smith! He has a good job, lovely truck, and a heart of gold.”

  Esther glanced down at the painted quilt, its purple borders blaring and hurting her head. It was true; bright and shiny things were enticing to the younger generation, but they could bring pain.

  As well as death, like the death of a young and vulnerable soul such as Emma.

  “To love things means to take love away from Gott: Emma and I want no part in that today or tomorrow. Don’t you want to be plain and give it all up to Gott?”

  “You really want to be plain?” Emma glared through the beam of sunshine that trickled through the bedroom window.

  Esther turned her head away from the ray of light, her head pounding, her mind uneasy about the conversation. It is Mamm’s place to talk with her, not me.

  It was. Luckily, Mamm turned from the hallway and entered the room. “Need help unpacking?”

  “Sure, Mamm, but you’re not going to like my clothes,” Emma assured, and she was right as Mamm saw the satin red dress and frowned. “Mamm, we wear red in the city.”

  “We don’t have that color in our community, Emma, and you know the rules,” Mamm snapped as she strode over and grabbed the garment. “I’ll dispose of this for you.”

  “Good idea,” Esther added. Two against one, with their seniority lessoned conflict.

  It did not.

  “You will NOT throw my two-hundred-dollar Donna Karan dress away!” Emma crossed her arms and glowered at Mamm.

  Esther had enough of this childish behavior out of a ten-year-old. It was time to reinforce reality. “Emma, don’t you raise your voice at our Mamm. She knows best, and that color is not to be worn in our community.”

  “Who says?” Emma angled her angry eyes toward Esther. “The church?”

  “Jah, our Ordnung prohibits it, but we members vote on the Ordnung twice a year, so the Ordnung is of the community.”

  “Shtillhokka!” Mamm reminded the
m of the member meeting, and Esther looked her way, gave a soft smile and nod of agreement, then turned back to see Emma sobbing.

  “Fine, I’ll do as you all say, but I’m not joining such nonsense when I turn sixteen; I’m leaving this place!”

  Esther sighed. The argument was frustrating, and Emma was too young to realize that rules were there to protect them.

  Protect them from the dark side, as well as all known to be unsafe and harmful.

  The gloomy area was across the imaginary line where Raymond crossed and almost died in. It was tragic and sad, and it was the path mostly traveled. Once people take this route, they have a hard time bouncing back. I refuse to let my baby schwester cross it too! I have to do something! Esther thought.

  Emma tipped her chin up and said, “I guess Jacob was right to give Gina the red velvet Whoopie pies. I guess he can read a person’s character well. Gina isn’t all about the rules!”

  Mamm broke into the conversation with a scolding tone, “Gina is a member, and she better follow the same rules or she’ll be put in The Bann faster than she can eat one of those Whoopie pies!”

  “It’s her secret, and I look up to her!” Emma snickered before looking at Esther for a reaction. “You let me be kidnapped!”

  “That wasn’t entirely my fault, Emma!” Esther pleaded. “How could you accuse me of letting you be snatched? I love you more than my own self, and I searched for you for years, and lost sleep over you!” Esther looked at Mamm, “Haven’t we all, Mamm?”

  “Jah, it is true, and we wore our knees out,” Mamm replied.

  “Raymond was praying that Daed would forgive him and spend time with him, but he didn’t give his own son the time of the day during the holidays! Is that how Jesus is?” Emma asked.

  “The Bible says not to support negative behavior, Emma! Daed was following Gott’s law,” Mamm responded defensively.

  “You ever question the Ordnung?” Emma asked. “Raymond did, and so has Jacob and Gina, and they are moving to New York City as soon as Gina’s grossmammi moves into the dawdy haus!”

  “Let them go,” Mamm said lightly, “they are not my kinner, but you are, Emma, and as long as you’re in my haus, you will obey my rules.”

  “Agreed, but I’m leaving when I turn sixteen,” Emma retorted.

  “I will pray that you won’t, but I can’t make you stay,” Mamm paused, light red wisps framing her face, “Gott can though, and he answers a Mamm’s prayers.”

  Emma grimaced and snapped, “We’ll see about that for sure!”

  Mamm glanced at Esther and nodded toward the open door, “Please go into town and get some material so I can sew her some new dresses. I will start on them tonight. Hurry back because dinner will be ready in a couple hours.”

  “Jah, Mamm,” Esther said obediently before she strode to the hallway and made her way down the stairs.

  Gott, my schwester is unruly. Please bring her closer to you and make her see rules are gut for all. Would her prayer work? Only time would tell.

  Esther walked outside to find the snow flurries were now snow showers. It would be her luck! Bad luck seemed to follow everywhere she went.

  Gina was bad luck. How dare her to try to lure Jacob deeper into the outside world! Christian women did not need the outside world. It spoke well for Gina’s heart, and if Jacob wanted an ungodly woman, then it shown in his heart as well.

  “Your actions will show your heart,” Grossdaedi had always said, and she believed him. The many carved lines in his face reflected a man who had learned a lot during his time on earth, and she looked up to him.

  “Hello, Gracie, want to ride into town?” Esther ran her hands over her soft coat and admired her deep brown eyes. She was old, but ample to make the drive to town. Of course, Daed always took the newer horses to let Gracie rest, and his actions were understandable.

  However, Gracie needed a break from the barn, a glimpse of showering, white snowflakes. Exercise would do her gut! “Come on, Gracie, we’re going on a trip to town,” Esther exclaimed as she led Gracie through the barn.

  Gracie trotted slowly but steady. She still had life in her. Esther made a mental note to ask Daed to take Gracie out more. She had to be lonesome in the barn most of the day. Winter meant rest, but not a total rest. Gracie needed to be out to get fresh air and to know she was still wanted.

  Wanted. Jacob Smith wanted his cake and to eat it too. He had been showing affection for her and Gina. How mean! Moreover, he had ordered Gina’s Valentine’s Whoopie pies from her bakery! Now, that was bold!

  Boldness often accompanied arrogance, and all the Amish menner pride, although the outside world embraced it with open arms. Entertaining two girls was something Englisch men often did, and they ended up with broken homes because of it.

  Esther did not want the later, nor did she want to get more feelings for a man who loved the outside world more than Gott. I have feelings for him, Gott. What do I do?

  It had been a simple plan: to gain his trust, and then talk him into taking her to New York City to live with the two outlaws who she had suspected had abducted Emma. Now, weeks later, things had turned the opposite direction.

  He would not let her go to New York. He would not admit the outlaws were his bruders. He would not say that he knew where Emma was located. He would not give her baked confections. However, he did hold her.

  He held her a whole lot at different times for different reasons.

  He held her under the snowflakes in his pick-up, beneath the stars in his bruder’s convertible. Beside the red sugar gum tree after the bakery had closed. Arms of warmth, eyes of intrigue, and gentle words of attraction, he had been there for her and Emma.

  Even for Raymond.

  Raymond is dead. The mental words caused cold chills worse than any snowy blizzard had ever created in her bones. Jacob saved Raymond.

  He had. Moreover, Gott had by working through Jacob and Emma. She had to wonder if Gott had worked through Jacob, could he have a spot with the other menner in a backless bench during church services.

  Her heart hurt to think of Jacob perishing after he had saved Raymond’s life. Marrying Gina would be devastating to his salvation since Gina wanted to leave the faith.

  Could she have the courage to confront him about his soul? On the other hand, did Gott want to do it a more creative way as he had done for Raymond? Would Gina really leave her faith? Only Gott knew.

  Esther clicked at Gracie as they rode down the two-lane road. Her heart ached for Jacob and Ben. Ben was not terminal, so how would Gott save him before he took his last breath.

  “Examine your own life before you examine another’s life,” the Bishop had preached often. How was her life? She loved Gott, kept the Ordnung, and forgave others.

  Well, she broke a commandment with Jacob. She lied. Finding Emma had consumed her, and she had given in to try to find her. Now, Emma was speaking badly about the Amish way of life. Why bring a child back halfway back? Emma’s body was back, but her heart was in the city.

  Why, Lord? Why does my familye struggle with salvation when other members’ familyes do not struggle? Why?

  It was a gut question, one she needed to know the answer to, no matter how long it took to come down from heaven.

  A blanket of glistening snowflakes kissed the road as Gracie trotted down the road. It was at least twenty minutes to town; too much time to dwell on her familye’s problems.

  “I’m a pretty gut person most of the time,” Esther uttered, and Gracie swung her head up high as if she agreed. “Gracie, you like me, don’t you? Gracie seemed to ignore her since a bunny slid across the frozen road.

  Esther pulled the reins “No, Gracie!” Gracie obeyed and trotted down the road. “Gut horse!”

  Esther could see her breath disappear before her face as she approached the main road and led Gracie to the right. There were grocers on each side, but the one to the right was five minutes closer, which meant less time out in the elements of this sprouting winter storm
.

  Minutes had passed as Esther directed Gracie to stop at a stoplight. “Whoa!” Gracie halted and deposited a smelly gift on the road. She usually had made two by the time they arrived to town, but today was a slow day. Maybe horses systems slowed down as they aged.

  The red light shifted to green, and Gracie waited for direction. Esther flicked the reins. “Giddyap!” Gracie marched on like a trooper. She seemed to enjoy the outing. Poor thing! Daed has ignored a very gut horse! I will make sure he takes her out more!

  Esther directed Gracie to turn into Troyer’s Market. Cars packed the spacious lot, which was odd for a snowy day. “Whoa!” Gracie stopped at the hitching post.

  Chilly air smacked Esther across the face, and the sharp wind cut into her chest. “I need to get a thicker sweater, Gracie!” she secured Gracie, and turned to see Jacob take a parking spot near the buggies. Wunderbar! The two-timing man is probably picking Gina up a snack or two! She thought as she watched him.

  He was not a saved man. Esther frowned as she recalled Jacob’s worldliness. It was sad but true and hard to accept. Could she bring him back to the Lord? She felt unworthy to save someone else. She was just a plain farm girl and not a church bishop or elder.

  She walked over the slick asphalt and gave a warm smile towards Jacob. His eyes twinkled, and she yearned to be in the warm truck with him, snuggling.

  “You have to come to town too-Jah?” he asked shyly.

  “Jah, I need to get material after I pick up some ginger from Troyer’s.”

  “Upset stomach?”

  “Jah, but I’ll be okay,” Esther assured.

  “I can understand since you have had a lot going on.” He said compassionately, and she accepted his empathy with a smile and hug.

  “You’re hugging me in public, Esther,” he whispered.

  She pulled away, sadness in her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I wanted to thank you for saving my bruder’s soul,” she looked down at the sprinkled snow on the ground as crimson kissed her soft cheeks, “It means a lot, and it would mean a lot if you attended church with me this Sunday. We are hosting.”