he didn’t want her to talk.
“I told you it was embarrassing to be told that my wife, my pregnant wife, was showing her limbs in public. After hearing you speak I can see that what you did was not bad enough to create all of that commotion. I’ll take care of it. Just let me know what you plan to do in the future.”
Charity was trying very hard not to cry but could not stop a few tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Charity, while we’re talking I’d like to ask you some-thing. Do you regret marrying me? Is our life disappointing or boring?”
Charity was so disturbed that she jumped up and overturned her chair. “I’ve been meaning to ask you those same questions.”
“Why would you think to ask me about that?”
“You have never hugged me, or kissed me, or said you love me. Are you regretting being married to me?” She was sobbing by now.
Adam jumped up and hurried around the table. He hugged her and she laid her kobb (head) on his shoulder. He finally placed a finger under her chin and gently raised her to face him. He smiled and kissed her. “I do love you. Don’t you known I’ve worked hard to provide for you? I guess I’ve never seen my parents be affectionate and I just never thought to show you. I feel so blessed to have you. I’m so proud of you and want our marriage to be happy and successful.”
Needless to say, bedtime, that night, was all Charity could want it to be.
Adam was trying very hard to be a good, thoughtful husband.
Their gut nacht (good night) was said very lovingly to each other.
Chapter Three
The next morning Charity happily got up at five thirty and went to the kitchen to get breakfast. Adam was out in the barn feeding and caring for the animals. He came in and ate a big breakfast because they had always been taught that breakfast was the most important meal of the day; it was breaking the fast. He had oatmeal, three over easy eggs, fried potatoes, four biscuits with butter and blackberry jam and two glasses of milk.
He sauntered around the table to Charity’s back where she was preparing to wash dishes. He put his arms around her and hugged her close. She lay her head back against him and then slowly turned to face him. He smiled and kissed her soundly, then grabbed his hat from a peg on the kitchen wall and almost ran out of the house to start work for the day.
Charity smiled to herself and began to dance around holding her arms out like a small child might. She suddenly realized that she was doing something worldly and stopped, asking God to forgive her. She wanted to do something special for Adam and began to gather materials for making two banana pies with thick meringue just as he loved them. She was singing to herself and busily rolling out dough so that she didn’t hear someone come in the kitchen door.
A deep voice said, “Guder mariye, dochder (Good morning, daughter).”
She whirled around so fast she shook flour powder over the table and floor.
“Ah, mi daed, (oh, my dad) I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Wie geht’s?”
“I’m fine, daed, how are you?”
“Gut, gut, although I‘m little nunnery (sad)”
“Why daed?”
“Was is letz do (What is wrong here)? Mannsleit (men) are telling stories on you. They even went to the Bishop and asked to shun you.”
“Der Herr bilf mir” (The Lord help me) she spoke loudly. I am trying not to be falsch (resentful) but ---”
Adam ran in. “Guder mariye daed Jacob (Good morning dad Jacob). I saw you come in, but had to finish a job.”
Charity turned to him and threw her arms around his neck sobbing. She finally was able to tell him what her father had come to talk about. Adam got red in the face.
“Charity is my frau and I lieb (love) her. I resent the nixnootzich (good for nothing) who spreads this manure. My wife was not nockich (naked); she was on her own property, not out in public and only had her feet and calf of her leg in the water. These men are schrooching (twisting) their story and it is shendlich (disgraceful) that they are allowed to tell greislich ligner (horrible lies).”
Adam became even angrier when he heard the men wanted the Bishop to shun Charity. “They are all ob im kopp (off in the head) and need a gut bletching (good whipping).”
By now Jacob was trying hard not to laugh out loud. “Ball wollt’s berser geb (soon it will be better). It sounds as if they missverschtch (misunderstood) and blabber maul (talked too much). It is fremt (strange) they didn’t come to me before they prattled to the Bishop. I’ll talk to him and explain what really happened and he will understand. I’m going to suggest that he bring the men before the congregation and caution them about spreading untrue talk.”
“Danki daed Jacob.” Adam smiled relieved.
“Gern gschehn (you are welcome).” It is wunderbaar (wonderful) to see a young couple doing so well and taking care of each other. Dochder, your mamm will be relieved to know the truth.”
Charity was almost skipping she was so happy and relieved. “Sitz (sit) both of you and I’ll give you a piece of pie and a cup of coffee.”
“This is so appeditlich (delicious), and I’ve enjoyed our talk, but I must go.” Jacob pushed his chair back. “By the way I hope you’re planning on joining your mamm and me tomorrow for the July 4th celebration.
“Ja,” Adam answered. “We will be there and I will have some of my wooden animals for sale and Charity has potted plants for sale. We’ll see you for sure.”
“Gut. Da Herr sei mit du (Good, the Lord is with you). Gott segeneich (God bless you) Wiederschen (Goodbye).” Jacob took his hat off the peg in the kitchen and left.
Charity laughed out loud and leaped at Adam to hug him. He returned the hug with both arms and laying his cheek against hers.
The following morning, Juli 4th, Charity and Adam were up early. He fed the animals, gathered the eggs and completed outside work She was fixing a hearty breakfast and packing food for their midday meal and later.
She packed plenty for them and enough to share.
Driving into town was a headache. Cars, buggies and people walking everywhere. Finally Adam found a section where the buggies were being parked with a fenced-in area for the horses to rest and exercise. He found a good spot for their place to sell their items that was not far from the food booths and arts and crafts booths.
Adam unloaded twelve wooden animals he had made as well as four bird houses and two dog houses. He carefully lifted twenty-four clay pots of flowers, ten pint jars of honey, and four faceless dolls. Leaving Charity to set the booth up he drove the horse to the designated area and unhitched him.
Walking back to Charity he passed a booth of cakes, cookies, pies and breads run by Tobias and Meredith Retstatt who had married early in the spring before planting time. Meredith was plump and jolly and showing
