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A Tempting Taste of Mystery

By Elizabeth Ludwig

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“Swallowing words before you say them is so much better than having to eat them afterward.” ~ Amish Proverb

Chapter One

And finally, my dearest Cheryl, I encourage you not to forget to give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed upon you. Though you’ve endured hardships in your young life, count it all joy, for it is through these very trials that God had brought you to the place you now stand. You have proven yourself a willing vessel, ready to be filled by God and poured out for His purpose. It is a lesson I, myself, have learned while serving here in Papua New Guinea. None of us are perfect, or by any means qualified, but when we are willing, God promises to equip us for the task. Hold on to this, my darling, and trust in the One who loves you and who gave Himself for you.

Cheryl re-read the last line slowly, her Aunt Mitzi’s voice a soothing whisper in her ear. God had indeed brought her through trials, but she’d never felt overwhelmed, and she’d sensed His loving presence at her side the entire time. That was true when He’d brought her from Columbus to care for Aunt Mitzi’s cottage and run the Swiss Miss, though she really hadn’t been so certain at the time. It was true now, on a lazy Saturday afternoon with her seated on an old wooden porch swing. He was with her, no matter where she wandered.

As if to echo this sentiment, a light breeze ruffled a corner of Aunt Mitzi’s letter then swirled up to tickle Cheryl’s neck, and further up to stir the leaves in the trees above her head.

Truly, she had much to be thankful for.

Her lips parted in a sigh as Cheryl folded back the flap on the envelope and replaced the letter inside. Oh, how she missed her aunt Mitzi. It amazed Cheryl how her letters always seemed to arrive at just the proper moment, but words on a page couldn’t replace the weathered lines of a loved one’s face.

“That is a heavy sigh I hear. Is everything all right?”

The sound of Levi’s voice instantly made her smile. Cheryl tipped her head back, her heart doing a happy pitter-patter at the sight of his grin and sparkling blue eyes beneath the wide brim of his hat.

He reached for the back of her swing and gave it a gentle push.

“I’m better now,” she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear. “I didn’t know you were planning to stop by.”

He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I had not intended to, but then I could not stop thinking about you. I figured my time would be better served spending a few minutes with you than being distracted by thoughts of you all day.”

The tender look he gave filled her heart near to bursting. How was it possible that this man—so different from any she’d known—turned out to be the one God intended for her to marry? She closed her eyes and lingered in the motion of the swing, the sweet warmth of her future husband’s love, and…

Cheryl jerked upright, nearly upending herself and Levi when he reached out both arms to catch her.

“Cheryl, what on earth—?”

“I’m so s-sorry,” she stammered in the same moment. She reached her feet to the porch and dragged the swing to a stop. “It’s just…all of a sudden…”

Heat flooded her cheeks. How exactly did one explain to their fiancé that the thought of becoming his wife suddenly inspired both exhilaration and terror?

She sank back into the swing and let her feet dangle just above the painted gray slats of her porch. “We still haven’t come to a decision about how we’re going to tell your parents about our engagement. It doesn’t feel right keeping it from them, Levi. It’s just…” Her grip on the chains tightened, the links biting into her palms. “I’m so worried about how they will react once they learn that you will be leaving the church.”

Levi ran his hands down the chains of the swing and covered hers, squeezing briefly before he circled to stand in front of her. “We will find a way, ja? When the time is right, Gott will give us the words to speak. We must believe this.”

Cheryl ducked her head. Levi was a godly man, and she trusted him to lead, but the thought of hurting Naomi and Seth filled her with dread.

He tucked his finger under her chin and lifted her face. “We will seek counsel on the best way to approach them. Do not worry, Cheryl.”

“Counsel? From who?”

“Your Pastor Lory is kind man, ain’t so? And full of wisdom. Perhaps it would be wise if we sat down with him. I can make time next week.”

Peace and contentment nudged out the unease rolling in Cheryl’s stomach. Life hadn’t exactly been easy since moving to Sugarcreek, but she was learning to trust God through the challenges. And now He was giving her a husband to walk alongside her through life, one who would encourage her to seek Him, and draw her closer to God. What greater blessing could one receive?

Levi’s blue eyes darkened. His hand lingered against cheek for one brief moment before he sat down next to her. Cheryl’s breath caught. For now, their wedding plans remained between the two of them, but soon everyone would know…and possibly sooner than either of them wanted.

She scanned the street outside her aunt Mitzi’s cottage. People were busy tending to business—sweeping the sidewalks, pruning flowers, washing store front windows—but that didn’t mean they couldn’t spy them out with one quick glance.
Her fidgeting pushed the swing into motion. “Are you sure you should sit here beside me? What if word gets back to Naomi?”

Levi gave a low chuckle. “Then our task of telling her would be made much easier.”

“Levi Miller,” she scolded playfully, and jabbed him lightly in the ribs with her elbow.

He chuckled again and then pushed up from the swing. “Fine, but soon enough, I will not be content to admire my future fraa from across the room.” Her heart thumped as he bent closer. “After all, even the young ones have the singings for which to do their courting.”

His smile faded and his gaze locked on hers. “I will court you as you deserve, Cheryl Cooper,” he said, his voice low.

Cheryl froze, afraid to move lest she break the wonder of the moment. “Levi…”

The skin on the back of her neck prickled, and a feeling of being watched swept over her. Drawing back, she scoured the street once more.

Levi seemed to sense her discomfort. He straightened and his gaze followed hers over the people crowding Main Street. “What is it?”

“Nothing, I guess.” After a moment, Cheryl shook her head. “I just thought…for a second I thought…it felt like someone was watching us.”

She stood and wiped the dust from her jeans. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

His eyes twinkled with humor, stealing her breath in a different way. Oh, but she could hardly wait to get to know everything about this man!

Levi gestured toward the sidewalk. “Join me for an ice cream?”

Cheryl stifled a groan. After two weeks of walking and dieting, she’d finally managed to shed a few of pounds and wasn’t at all anxious to pack it back on with an ill-advised splurge of chocolate and caramel. “No ice cream, but I’ll gladly sip on a Diet Coke while you enjoy some.”

“Deal.” He pushed open the gate and let Cheryl pass through, then walked alongside her toward Yoder’s Corner. “Did I tell you that Ranger seems to be doing better with the other horses?”

“You mentioned it.” Happiness pricked her heart. “I think it’s safe to say he’s finally getting over the abuse he suffered.”

Levi nodded and pushed his hands into his pockets. “It truly is amazing to see how well he gets on with Methuselah and Obadiah. I expected him to be skittish around the workhorses, but ever since we started corralling them together, he seems to have settled down. It just goes to prove that with enough time and patience, any animal can be acclimated to a new environment.”

Cheryl shielded her eyes against the bright sun reflecting on the sidewalk. “That’s good news. I need to get out to the farm and spend some time with him soon.”

“I agree,” Levi said, but the gleam in his eye made her think he wasn’t referring to Ranger.

They reached Yoder’s, the conditioned air inside a welcome relief from the heat outside. Levi led her to a quiet table away from the noise and bustle of the kitchen. As promised, Cheryl ordered a diet soda while Levi devoured a chocolate sundae.

“It really isn’t fair, you know.” Cheryl grimaced as she gazed at his tanned arms, broad shoulders, and trim waist.

Levi wiped a spot of chocolate off of his chin. “What isn’t?”

She shoved her soda aside and gestured to the ice cream. “If I ate even half that, I’d blow up like a balloon.”

He pushed his empty bowl away and patted his flat stomach. “Come help me in the fields. You will work it off in no time.”

She shrugged. “No thanks. I’ll stick to my exercise bike.”

“Hmm.” He feigned a disappointed grimace. “That is too bad. I think I would enjoy working alongside you.”

“Maybe…until I spooked the horses, or upended a wagon, or...” She waited, but Levi’s grin only got bigger. She grabbed a menu from a bracket on the edge of the table and slapped him on the arm. “You could at least pretend to disagree.”
Honestly, she couldn’t be angry. Her occasional lack of grace was a well-known fact. She replaced the menu and laced her fingers on the tabletop. “Anyway…tell me about Caleb. How are things going between him and Anna?”

Like so many other people his age, Levi’s younger brother had taken more than a casual interest in seeking a wife. He and Anna Plank were dating, but neither appeared ready to move toward the more meaningful courtship stage.

Levi frowned and propped both elbows on the table. “That Caleb…a steel trap is easier to get things out of than my brother.”

He went on, but Cheryl was once again distracted by the feeling of being watched. Her gaze swept the restaurant. At the counter, August Yoder was in deep conversation with Jacob Hoffman, who ran Hoffman’s Furniture. Neither of them paid her any attention. There were also several couples seated at the tables scattered about the restaurant, but none of them appeared interested in her and Levi. Near the window, she caught the eye of an older gentleman over a copy of “The Budget,” a local Amish newspaper. He gave a polite nod and went back to reading.

Cheryl blew out a confused sigh. So, if no one in the restaurant was watching them, why couldn’t she shake the uneasy feeling settling between her shoulders?
The answer was eerily obvious. Whoever watched them wanted to remain out of sight. The only remaining question was…why?

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