Diclaimer: I don't own anything related to the book.
Chapter 10: The Wedding
Leah couldn't wait until today. She was to excited to sleep. She did get a few hours of sleep, but she woke up early.
Today, she was to marry Ethan Longacre.
She went downstairs and found both Ann and Mary making breakfast.
"There is the bride." Ann said looking at Leah.
"You look so beautiful." Mary said hugging her.
Leah could not wait until she is wed to Ethan, but she couldn't wait until her mother comes. She wanted her to meet the Stanley sisters.
Leah dressed in her new dress. A little blue wedding dress. She put her new black prayer cap. Her wedding to Ethan is going to be different than the rest. They were going to spend their first night together in their house that Ethan had built for her. The Amish traditon was for the newlyweds to spend the winter with friends and family until spring, Ethan did not want that. He wanted to move into a house right away. Leah liked that better than spending their first months with others.
"Leah, are you ready?" Ann called from downstairs. Ann was going to take Leah to town to meet her mother there and then ride back to finish helping with the wedding feast.
"Yes." Leah said walkng down stairs.
"Wow, you look very beautiful." Ann said. All the women in the room looked at her. Tillie Longacre and her daughters were there, others too. The smiled at her.
Ann and Leah put their coats on and went outside to her buggy. They rode into town talking about the wedding day and how it is different. They stopped at the building where Leah lived last summer. They sat in the buggy until Leah reconised her mother's car. Her mom parked and got out.
"Mom!" Leah yelled. She walked over to her and hugged her.
"Oh Leah, you look very nice." Her mother said.
"Mom, this is Ann Stanley. She is one of the sisters that I live with and took care of me. Ann, this is my mother, Roberta." Leah said.
"It is very nice to meet you, Roberta." Ann said.
"You too Ann." Roberta said.
"Come along. We have to get home and help." Ann said. Leah helped her mother into the back of the buggy which was much warmer. Then they took off the house. When they stopped, Leah got out and then helped her mother out. They walked into the house.
"Everyone, This is my mother, Roberta Dutton." Leah said when they walked inside. Some of the ladies said hi to her. Leah took her upstairs to her room.
"Well, this is my room." Leah said opening the door.
"You have a nice room." She said looking around. It was the way it was before Leah moved in. Her mother was going to stay there that night and then Ann was going to bring Roberta over to see Ethan and Leah's house.
"I like it too." Leah said walking in further.
"When is the wedding?" Her mother asked.
"Ten." Leah replied.
"Why so early?" Roberta asked sitting on the bed.
"An Amish wedding takes a while." Leah said and asked "Where is Mike?"
"He is at home. He has a bad cold and didn't want to come. So where is your wedding dress?" She asked. Leah spin around. Roberta replied "No white dress?"
"No, Amish do not have white dresses, beacse they were them every Sunday to church." Leah explained.
Couple hours later. Ann annouced that it was time for them to go to the church.
"Do you Leah, take Ethan, to be your husband, to love and care for, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until death parts you?" The minister asked Leah.
"I do." Leah said looking at Ethan. She was standing in the front of the church, holding hands with Ethan, on her wedding day.
"Do you Ethan, take Leah, to be your wife, to love and care for, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until death parts you?" He asked Ethan.
"I do." Ethan said.
"Then by the Amish Community and the eyes of God, may I pronuce you husband and wife." The minister said. Leah and Ethan smiled at each other and they community clapped. Now it was off to the sisters home for the feast.
They sat down to eat and talk a little. When they finish, the women clear the table and the men move the tables. Leah was talking to Mary when her mother came up to her.
"Leah, can I talk to you?" She asked.
"Yes." Leah said.
"I'm so happy for you and I have something for you." She said pulling out a bag. Leah took it and opened it. It was a white serving plate.
"Thank you mom." Leah said.
"It is a family heirloom. It was passed down to the first daughter of our family at her first wedding. Since you are my only daughter. You are to have it." Roberta explained.
"Mom, it is so beautiful. I will treasure it forever." Leah said holding it her chest. Then she hugs her mother. Ethan walks up to them.
"Hello Mrs. Dutton." Ethan said.
"Hi Ethan. I'm so happy for you two." She said. Ethan smiled.
"Ethan, look at what my mother gave us. It is a family heirloom." Leah said showing him.
"Wow. It is very beautiful. Thank you." Ethan said to Roberta.
"Now, Ethan, I want you to take very good care of my little girl. She's had a tough life and she deserves a better one. I hope you can give her that?" Roberta asked.
"Yes, I will. I promised her I would." Ethan said.
"Good." Roberta said.
Later, many people have left.
"Leah, I think it is time for us to go to our own house." Ethan said. It gave her goosebumps just thinking about living there.
"Ok. Let me saw bye. Ann, Mary, I liked living here with you and I have no idea how to repay you." Leah said.
"Just visit us as much as a married lady can." Ann said. They hugged each other.
"Mom, I will see you tomorrow." Leah said hugging her mom.
"Bye Leah." Roberta said.
Ethan and Leah walked outside to his buggy. The guests followed them.
"Bye everyone." Leah said waving to them as the pulled away.
Ethan stopped the buggy in front their house. Ethan got out and then he helpped Leah out. Ethan then put the buggy in the makeshift barn for the night. Leah waolked into the house when Ethan came back. Their things were moved in and the house was furnished.
"We are home." Leah said and "I will have to get used to saying that." Leah said.
"Just as I have to get used to coming home to you." Ethan said.
"I will miss living with the sisters." Leah said.
"Aren't you happy to have your own house now?" Ethan asked.
"Yes I am. I have my own stove to cook meals, I can sew in the living room, and have my own outhouse." Leah said. Ethan walked over and kissed her.
"We have our own bedroom." Ethan said when he stopped kissing her.
"Ethan, take me to bed." Leah said. He lead her upstairs to their bedroom.
That morning, Leah woke up. The sun was shining in the room. She slept in. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She got up, dressed, and went downstairs. She found platters of food on the table and Ethan atanding by it.
"What is this?" Leah asked.
"Our first breakfast together." Ethan said.
"You made us breakfast?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said walking over to her.
"Ethan, that is very sweet of you. I did not mean to sleep in." Leah said.
"It was all right. Yesterday was a busy day for us." Ethan said. Leah nodded even though she was thinking of that night.
"Shall we eat?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said. They seated, prayed, and then went on to eat. When they finished, Leah got some water for her to do the dishes.
That afternoon. Leah and Ethan were talking when their was a knock on the door. Ethan got up.
"Hello?" Ethan asked answering the door.
"Good Afternoon, Ethan." Ann said. She, Mary, and Roberta were standing there.
"Hello ladies. Come in." Ethan said letting them in. They walked in and Ethan shut the door.
"Hi mom." Leah said walking over and hugging her.
"You too, Leah. You have a very nice home." Roberta said as if she was approving the house.
"Why thank you mom." Leah said.
"Leah, Ethan, we have a little gift for you, if you do not mind coming outside?" Ann said. They put their coats on and followed the sisters outside.
They walked to their buggy. On the back of it was Ann's old swing.
"Ann, is that what I think it is?" Leah asked.
"Yes, I want you two to have it. You are the only ones that use it and it would lovely on your property." Ann explained.
"Ann, you did not have too." Leah said.
"I wanted too. Arthur gave it to me when we were in love, but now he is gone and we are not in love. You two are and you deserve it."Ann said. Ethan helped her get it off the buggy. They sat it by the house for now.
"Well, thank you." Leah said.
"You are welcome." Ann said and "Consider it a wedding gift."
"How about we go inside and I will make some coffee. It will warm our bones." Leah suggested. They followed her inside and she made some. Then they sat in the living room to visit.
That night. They're guests left and Leah's mom was taken back to town to go home. Leah just finished putting the dishes away when Ethan walked in carrying a bucket of water.
"I just finished the dishes." Leah said.
"I am going to take a bath." Ethan said.
"Take one around the fire, it will keep you warmer." Leah said. Ethan nodded and went to get the bath tub. He sat it close to the fire.
"I will go into the living room." Leah said.
"You do not need to give me privacy. We are married now." Ethan said.
"This is all so new to me." Leah said.
"Last night was too." Ethan said.
"Ethan, about last night." Leah started to say, looking down.
Ethan put a finger under her chin to rise it and said "You were beautiful last night, Leah." He kissed her.
"You will have to give me time." Leah said.
"Did I shame you, Leah?" Ethan asked.
"No. You could never do anything to shame me, Ethan. You will just have to be patient with me." Leah said.
"I will. I love you enough to." Ethan said kissing her again.
"Now, you take your bath and I will go into the living room." Leah said. Ethan nodded as she walked out of the room.
Awhile later, Leah was sitting in the living room. Ethan was still taking his bath. Leah decided to go in to the kitchen.
"Ethan, you are still in the bath?" Leah asked surprised to see him still in the tub.
"Yes, the water is still warm and I want to enjoy it as long as possible." Ethan told her.
"You must be wringled by now." Leah said.
"Yes." Ethan said looking at his hands.
"My word, Ethan, it doesn't take me this long to take a shower." Leah said refering to her old, English ways.
"Would you like a shower?" Ethan asked.
"No." Leah said. He splatted her with some water anyways. He started to laugh and she looked down at herself. She laughed too.
"If you weren't in the tub, I'd pounce on you." Leah said.
"What until the snow falls, we can play in the snow." Ethan said. Leah remembered when he lived with her for a few months, They played outside and he jumped on her, putting snow down the front of her jacket, and then melting it away with a kiss.
"That would be fun." Leah said and "But you better get out of the tub before you shruble up like a prune." He nodded. Once he started to get up, she left the room.
Ethan waited until they were ready for bed.
"Leah, it gives me pain to see you uncomfortable around me." Ethan said walking to her.
"Ethan, this is just so new to me." Leah said.
"Leah, did I do something to you?" Ethan asked.
"No. Do you remember when you said that a woman's body should be shared only with her husband?" Leah asked. He nodded and she continued "I am having trouble sharing mine with someone else, except myself."
"Leah, I will not rush you. I respect you too much to do that. We shouldn't base our marriage on that." Ethan said.
"Ethan, I will not disappoint you. You will get the family you deserve. It will just take me time." Leah said.
"I do not care if we never have children, I just want you to be happy." Ethan said.
"I will be. Do not worry." Leah said and "Do you know what would make me real happy right now?"
"No, what?" Ethan asked.
"If we bundle tonight." Leah suggested.
"That sounds good." Ethan said.
They got into bed and bundled together and fell asleep.
Late that night. Leah was awoken by a startling sound. She sat up in bed.
"Ethan? What was that?" Leah asked shaking Ethan.
"What?" Ethan asked sitting up. The sound rung the silence again.
"That?" Leah said.
"I will find out. You stay in bed." Ethan said getting out of bed and putting his pants on. Leah watched him leave the room. He came back after a few minutes.
"What was it?" Leah asked scared.
"Just a raccoon trying to get in. When he saw me light the room he ran off." Ethan said crawling back into bed.
"It scared me so much." Leah said.
"It is gone now, so you close those beautiful eyes and go to sleep." Ethan said. They laid back down and went back to sleep.
P.S. What da ya Think?
Chapter 10: The Wedding
Leah couldn't wait until today. She was to excited to sleep. She did get a few hours of sleep, but she woke up early.
Today, she was to marry Ethan Longacre.
She went downstairs and found both Ann and Mary making breakfast.
"There is the bride." Ann said looking at Leah.
"You look so beautiful." Mary said hugging her.
Leah could not wait until she is wed to Ethan, but she couldn't wait until her mother comes. She wanted her to meet the Stanley sisters.
Leah dressed in her new dress. A little blue wedding dress. She put her new black prayer cap. Her wedding to Ethan is going to be different than the rest. They were going to spend their first night together in their house that Ethan had built for her. The Amish traditon was for the newlyweds to spend the winter with friends and family until spring, Ethan did not want that. He wanted to move into a house right away. Leah liked that better than spending their first months with others.
"Leah, are you ready?" Ann called from downstairs. Ann was going to take Leah to town to meet her mother there and then ride back to finish helping with the wedding feast.
"Yes." Leah said walkng down stairs.
"Wow, you look very beautiful." Ann said. All the women in the room looked at her. Tillie Longacre and her daughters were there, others too. The smiled at her.
Ann and Leah put their coats on and went outside to her buggy. They rode into town talking about the wedding day and how it is different. They stopped at the building where Leah lived last summer. They sat in the buggy until Leah reconised her mother's car. Her mom parked and got out.
"Mom!" Leah yelled. She walked over to her and hugged her.
"Oh Leah, you look very nice." Her mother said.
"Mom, this is Ann Stanley. She is one of the sisters that I live with and took care of me. Ann, this is my mother, Roberta." Leah said.
"It is very nice to meet you, Roberta." Ann said.
"You too Ann." Roberta said.
"Come along. We have to get home and help." Ann said. Leah helped her mother into the back of the buggy which was much warmer. Then they took off the house. When they stopped, Leah got out and then helped her mother out. They walked into the house.
"Everyone, This is my mother, Roberta Dutton." Leah said when they walked inside. Some of the ladies said hi to her. Leah took her upstairs to her room.
"Well, this is my room." Leah said opening the door.
"You have a nice room." She said looking around. It was the way it was before Leah moved in. Her mother was going to stay there that night and then Ann was going to bring Roberta over to see Ethan and Leah's house.
"I like it too." Leah said walking in further.
"When is the wedding?" Her mother asked.
"Ten." Leah replied.
"Why so early?" Roberta asked sitting on the bed.
"An Amish wedding takes a while." Leah said and asked "Where is Mike?"
"He is at home. He has a bad cold and didn't want to come. So where is your wedding dress?" She asked. Leah spin around. Roberta replied "No white dress?"
"No, Amish do not have white dresses, beacse they were them every Sunday to church." Leah explained.
Couple hours later. Ann annouced that it was time for them to go to the church.
"Do you Leah, take Ethan, to be your husband, to love and care for, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until death parts you?" The minister asked Leah.
"I do." Leah said looking at Ethan. She was standing in the front of the church, holding hands with Ethan, on her wedding day.
"Do you Ethan, take Leah, to be your wife, to love and care for, in sickness and in health, through good times and bad times, until death parts you?" He asked Ethan.
"I do." Ethan said.
"Then by the Amish Community and the eyes of God, may I pronuce you husband and wife." The minister said. Leah and Ethan smiled at each other and they community clapped. Now it was off to the sisters home for the feast.
They sat down to eat and talk a little. When they finish, the women clear the table and the men move the tables. Leah was talking to Mary when her mother came up to her.
"Leah, can I talk to you?" She asked.
"Yes." Leah said.
"I'm so happy for you and I have something for you." She said pulling out a bag. Leah took it and opened it. It was a white serving plate.
"Thank you mom." Leah said.
"It is a family heirloom. It was passed down to the first daughter of our family at her first wedding. Since you are my only daughter. You are to have it." Roberta explained.
"Mom, it is so beautiful. I will treasure it forever." Leah said holding it her chest. Then she hugs her mother. Ethan walks up to them.
"Hello Mrs. Dutton." Ethan said.
"Hi Ethan. I'm so happy for you two." She said. Ethan smiled.
"Ethan, look at what my mother gave us. It is a family heirloom." Leah said showing him.
"Wow. It is very beautiful. Thank you." Ethan said to Roberta.
"Now, Ethan, I want you to take very good care of my little girl. She's had a tough life and she deserves a better one. I hope you can give her that?" Roberta asked.
"Yes, I will. I promised her I would." Ethan said.
"Good." Roberta said.
Later, many people have left.
"Leah, I think it is time for us to go to our own house." Ethan said. It gave her goosebumps just thinking about living there.
"Ok. Let me saw bye. Ann, Mary, I liked living here with you and I have no idea how to repay you." Leah said.
"Just visit us as much as a married lady can." Ann said. They hugged each other.
"Mom, I will see you tomorrow." Leah said hugging her mom.
"Bye Leah." Roberta said.
Ethan and Leah walked outside to his buggy. The guests followed them.
"Bye everyone." Leah said waving to them as the pulled away.
Ethan stopped the buggy in front their house. Ethan got out and then he helpped Leah out. Ethan then put the buggy in the makeshift barn for the night. Leah waolked into the house when Ethan came back. Their things were moved in and the house was furnished.
"We are home." Leah said and "I will have to get used to saying that." Leah said.
"Just as I have to get used to coming home to you." Ethan said.
"I will miss living with the sisters." Leah said.
"Aren't you happy to have your own house now?" Ethan asked.
"Yes I am. I have my own stove to cook meals, I can sew in the living room, and have my own outhouse." Leah said. Ethan walked over and kissed her.
"We have our own bedroom." Ethan said when he stopped kissing her.
"Ethan, take me to bed." Leah said. He lead her upstairs to their bedroom.
That morning, Leah woke up. The sun was shining in the room. She slept in. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She got up, dressed, and went downstairs. She found platters of food on the table and Ethan atanding by it.
"What is this?" Leah asked.
"Our first breakfast together." Ethan said.
"You made us breakfast?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said walking over to her.
"Ethan, that is very sweet of you. I did not mean to sleep in." Leah said.
"It was all right. Yesterday was a busy day for us." Ethan said. Leah nodded even though she was thinking of that night.
"Shall we eat?" Leah asked.
"Yes." Ethan said. They seated, prayed, and then went on to eat. When they finished, Leah got some water for her to do the dishes.
That afternoon. Leah and Ethan were talking when their was a knock on the door. Ethan got up.
"Hello?" Ethan asked answering the door.
"Good Afternoon, Ethan." Ann said. She, Mary, and Roberta were standing there.
"Hello ladies. Come in." Ethan said letting them in. They walked in and Ethan shut the door.
"Hi mom." Leah said walking over and hugging her.
"You too, Leah. You have a very nice home." Roberta said as if she was approving the house.
"Why thank you mom." Leah said.
"Leah, Ethan, we have a little gift for you, if you do not mind coming outside?" Ann said. They put their coats on and followed the sisters outside.
They walked to their buggy. On the back of it was Ann's old swing.
"Ann, is that what I think it is?" Leah asked.
"Yes, I want you two to have it. You are the only ones that use it and it would lovely on your property." Ann explained.
"Ann, you did not have too." Leah said.
"I wanted too. Arthur gave it to me when we were in love, but now he is gone and we are not in love. You two are and you deserve it."Ann said. Ethan helped her get it off the buggy. They sat it by the house for now.
"Well, thank you." Leah said.
"You are welcome." Ann said and "Consider it a wedding gift."
"How about we go inside and I will make some coffee. It will warm our bones." Leah suggested. They followed her inside and she made some. Then they sat in the living room to visit.
That night. They're guests left and Leah's mom was taken back to town to go home. Leah just finished putting the dishes away when Ethan walked in carrying a bucket of water.
"I just finished the dishes." Leah said.
"I am going to take a bath." Ethan said.
"Take one around the fire, it will keep you warmer." Leah said. Ethan nodded and went to get the bath tub. He sat it close to the fire.
"I will go into the living room." Leah said.
"You do not need to give me privacy. We are married now." Ethan said.
"This is all so new to me." Leah said.
"Last night was too." Ethan said.
"Ethan, about last night." Leah started to say, looking down.
Ethan put a finger under her chin to rise it and said "You were beautiful last night, Leah." He kissed her.
"You will have to give me time." Leah said.
"Did I shame you, Leah?" Ethan asked.
"No. You could never do anything to shame me, Ethan. You will just have to be patient with me." Leah said.
"I will. I love you enough to." Ethan said kissing her again.
"Now, you take your bath and I will go into the living room." Leah said. Ethan nodded as she walked out of the room.
Awhile later, Leah was sitting in the living room. Ethan was still taking his bath. Leah decided to go in to the kitchen.
"Ethan, you are still in the bath?" Leah asked surprised to see him still in the tub.
"Yes, the water is still warm and I want to enjoy it as long as possible." Ethan told her.
"You must be wringled by now." Leah said.
"Yes." Ethan said looking at his hands.
"My word, Ethan, it doesn't take me this long to take a shower." Leah said refering to her old, English ways.
"Would you like a shower?" Ethan asked.
"No." Leah said. He splatted her with some water anyways. He started to laugh and she looked down at herself. She laughed too.
"If you weren't in the tub, I'd pounce on you." Leah said.
"What until the snow falls, we can play in the snow." Ethan said. Leah remembered when he lived with her for a few months, They played outside and he jumped on her, putting snow down the front of her jacket, and then melting it away with a kiss.
"That would be fun." Leah said and "But you better get out of the tub before you shruble up like a prune." He nodded. Once he started to get up, she left the room.
Ethan waited until they were ready for bed.
"Leah, it gives me pain to see you uncomfortable around me." Ethan said walking to her.
"Ethan, this is just so new to me." Leah said.
"Leah, did I do something to you?" Ethan asked.
"No. Do you remember when you said that a woman's body should be shared only with her husband?" Leah asked. He nodded and she continued "I am having trouble sharing mine with someone else, except myself."
"Leah, I will not rush you. I respect you too much to do that. We shouldn't base our marriage on that." Ethan said.
"Ethan, I will not disappoint you. You will get the family you deserve. It will just take me time." Leah said.
"I do not care if we never have children, I just want you to be happy." Ethan said.
"I will be. Do not worry." Leah said and "Do you know what would make me real happy right now?"
"No, what?" Ethan asked.
"If we bundle tonight." Leah suggested.
"That sounds good." Ethan said.
They got into bed and bundled together and fell asleep.
Late that night. Leah was awoken by a startling sound. She sat up in bed.
"Ethan? What was that?" Leah asked shaking Ethan.
"What?" Ethan asked sitting up. The sound rung the silence again.
"That?" Leah said.
"I will find out. You stay in bed." Ethan said getting out of bed and putting his pants on. Leah watched him leave the room. He came back after a few minutes.
"What was it?" Leah asked scared.
"Just a raccoon trying to get in. When he saw me light the room he ran off." Ethan said crawling back into bed.
"It scared me so much." Leah said.
"It is gone now, so you close those beautiful eyes and go to sleep." Ethan said. They laid back down and went back to sleep.
P.S. What da ya Think?