Courting Her Amish Heart

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Kathleen climbed into the vehicle. He settled in beside her, along with the aromas of wood and honey, and put the trap into motion.

“May I ask you a question? Do you hear an accent when I talk?”

He nodded. “It’s slight but comes out on certain words. Nothing to worry about.”

“But it is. If the church leaders think I’ve become too English, they might not accept me back.”

“How you talk isn’t going to get you thrown out or shunned.”

“I need them to accept me as the community’s doctor. I can’t have anything they can use against me. I went through a lot of trouble to gain special permission to be able to wear my plain dresses and kapp instead of scrubs while working in the hospitals.”

“You did?” He sounded surprised.

“Though I haven’t joined church, I am Amish.”

He didn’t respond. What did his silence mean? Would everyone meet her declaration of being a doctor for their district and being Amish with silence? She wanted him to approve.

After a moment, he said, “May I ask you a question now?”

She smiled.

“Why are you so determined to be a doctor? As you said, you went to a lot of trouble and time away for something that isn’t likely to be sanctioned, regardless how you speak.”

“I didn’t want to leave,” she replied. “Gott called me to be a doctor. A doctor for our community.” She should tell him about Nancy. It would give her practice for speaking to the church leaders.

“My sister was stung by a bee when she was eight. She went into anaphylactic shock. Because medical treatment was too far away, she died before my dat could get her to the help she needed. With a simple injection, she would have lived. A simple injection almost anyone could administer.”

She hadn’t spoken aloud about Nancy in years. Every other time she’d told someone, her eyes flooded with tears and the words lodged in her throat. Not this time. All of her medical training had wrung those emotions out of her. She couldn’t help people if she became overwrought.

“I’m sorry about your sister.” The sincerity in his tone touched her heart.

“Danki. I made a commitment to do all I could to help prevent future senseless deaths.”

“I commend you for your determination. So what are you going to do now?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“What’s your next step? Other than planning to build a clinic with your own two hands.”

“You don’t think I can do it?”

“I think your medical degree didn’t include a course in construction.”

“Ne, it didn’t. But I think I can manage.”

He harrumphed.

“You don’t think I’m capable?”

“I think your time would be better spent on other endeavors.”

Other endeavors? Like getting married and keeping house and having babies? A longing tugged at her heart. All things she wanted but couldn’t have. “I’m going to petition the leadership to give me a trial period. Like they do for testing out the use of new technology in the community. If they can see the benefits for everyone, and people get used to not having to drive all the way into town, then my being the community doctor will be accepted. Then I’ll build my clinic that people can come to.” She knew in reality that no one would—even if they wanted to—without the leadership’s consent. “Until that time, I have my backpack of medical supplies. I’ll take it with me wherever I go and help whomever will allow me to.”

“Sounds like you have it all figured out.”

But she didn’t have it all figured out. She still needed to build her clinic. Something she had no clue how to do. Hopefully when she got approval, Dat and her brothers would help her. “I’ve thought about this for over fourteen years. This isn’t some fly-by-night thing.”

“I can see that.”

“I gave up a lot, all those years with our people and more, to learn the skills to help them. I’m going to help our people, whether they like it or not.” Then they would see how much they needed her—a doctor in their community—and she would be accepted.

“What about the bishop and church leadership?”

“I’ll make them see this is for the gut of the community.”

“And what if you can’t?”

“As you said, don’t make plans for what might not happen. I can do this. I know I can. And I’m believing that they are all smart men who will be able to do what is gut for everyone.” Saying she could convince them and having the actual words that would sway them were two different things. She would go over her arguments for having a clinic and come up with counters for their arguments against. “You probably think all my efforts are going to be wasted, don’t you?”

“Let’s just say that you have a very steep uphill battle in front of you. And you think more like an Englisher than an Amish.”

She was afraid of that. And she had an accent to boot. She would talk to Dat and Mum—when the others weren’t around—to straighten out her thinking.

Lord, guide me in what to say and how to get my Amish brothers and sisters to accept me as their doctor. And...let Noah not think poorly of me for my aspirations.

* * *

On Saturday, Noah looked up with a start as Bishop Bontrager drove into his yard. He set aside the dog brush and sent Kaleidoscope off, then crossed to the man’s buggy as it came to a stop. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

The bishop didn’t get out of his buggy. “I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Of course.”

“You’re close with the Yoders, ja?”

“Ja.”

“Keep an eye on Kathleen. Let me know if there is anything I need be concerned about.”

Spy on Kathleen? “Do you suspect trouble?”

“I don’t know. She’s been gone a long time. I don’t want her stirring things up.”

Kind of like Kathleen’s plan with being a doctor. Though her intentions weren’t to cause trouble but to help. “I’ll let you know.”

“Danki.” Bishop Bontrager drove off.

Noah watched him leave. Should he have told the bishop Kathleen’s plans? He didn’t feel it was his place at the moment. Kathleen would let the church leaders know her plans soon enough. Tomorrow. For now, he would see how things played out.

The bishop’s visit had pulled Kathleen to the forefront of his mind when he’d worked hard to push thoughts of her back. Now with the bishop’s request, she would remain front and center. She had to if he was going to keep an eye on her. He liked the idea of keeping an eye on her, but not spying.

Lord, I don’t want to spy on her. How can I do as the bishop asks and not feel as though I’m betraying Kathleen or the Yoders?

Chapter Four (#u1c888003-8add-5727-8177-f57cd49f26e4)

The following day, Kathleen climbed out of the buggy last at the Millers’ farm. “Dat, you’ll tell the leaders I wish to speak to them?”

“Ja. Don’t worry. They’ll hear you. But granting you permission will be another issue altogether.”

She didn’t want to be noticed or singled out. She wanted to blend seamlessly into the throng. But such was not to be the case.

Mum greeted several women who commented on Kathleen’s return. Soon a gathering of women crowded around her and her mutter. A number of ladies close to Kathleen’s age were among the group. She’d gone to school with these girls. Each one had either a small child or two in tow, a baby on their hip or were expecting. Or a combination of the three with older children scattered about. Kathleen wondered what it would be like to be pregnant and have children of her own. But that was not the path the Lord had laid out for her.

Noah popped into her mind, and she sighed. She was a doctor and would be helping each and every one of these women and their children. They all seemed glad to have her back.

Relief swept over Kathleen when people started filing into the house. That was until it was Kathleen’s turn to step inside. This was it. She was back.

After a couple of hymns, the bishop stood in front of the community. Bishop Bontrager had been bishop long before Kathleen had left. He was close to the oldest person in their district. “I’m pleased to say that this Sunday is the first class for our young people who want to join church this fall.” His voice was still strong. And he still scared her. He was a gruff, strict man. “Those who plan to become church members please stand.”

Kathleen stood, pleased she hadn’t missed this opportunity. The timing was perfect. The leaders would see she was serious about her faith and returning to the community before she spoke to them of her plans.

Her brother Benjamin stood as well, but not Joshua. He was still young and likely needed another year or two. She was glad Benjamin would be in class with her.

Two others stood as well, a twenty-one-year-old young man and an eighteen-year-old girl and Benjamin, who was twenty. Kathleen, at thirty, felt old. The others were of an average age to join. She tagged along behind everyone following the bishop into the next room. She hadn’t wanted to appear pushy, having just returned. She wanted to be respectful of those who had stayed where they belonged.

After eyeing Kathleen for a moment, Bishop Bontrager went over the first three articles of the Dordrecht Confession of Faith. These were familiar from her youth. Before long, they rejoined the rest of the congregation.

The church service was so different from the English ones she’d attended while away. At least twice as long, and didn’t have the... What was it that was different? Both groups worshipped Gott. Both groups sang. Both groups had a message. Maybe the shorter service allowed her to stay focused. And there was an energy among the people. That was it. That’s what was different. Which probably had to do with the music. Though the Englishers sang hymns, they also sang what they called “praise and worship” songs. Weren’t hymns praising and worshipful? They were to Kathleen.