A Miracle of Hope (The Amish Wonders Series) by Ruth Reid Page B

church service.
    Josiah tethered Molly to the post as Lindie helped Hannah out of the buggy.
    Lindie grasped her cape at the neck. Even though the woolmaterial scratched her bare skin, she found comfort and an odd sense of security wrapped in it. A crisp, clean glimmer of freshly fallen snow covered the ground. It would have been colder had the sun not taken an edge off the chill in the air.
    “We should get seated. The service will be starting soon,” Josiah said.
    Lindie wasn’t sure if he’d planned to arrive at the last minute to avoid a flood of explanations, but she was grateful. She and Hannah walked alongside Josiah to the barn. As was the same custom in her district, benches were arranged so that the men sat on one side of the barn, the women on the other.
    As they entered the barn, her cheeks grew hot as all eyes turned to her. Just as Josiah had warned, brows were raised, some higher than others.
    Josiah sat on the second row, aisle seat.
    She spotted an empty space near the back. But on the aisle opposite Josiah, the bishop’s wife slid across the bench, opening a place.
    “Lindie,” Rebecca whispered. “Sit here with me.”
    Tapping Hannah’s shoulder, Lindie motioned for her to sit next to Rebecca, then once the girl was seated, Lindie sat on the end, directly across from Josiah.
    It wasn’t long before the singing started. Josiah’s baritone voice soothed her frayed nerves. The three-hour service wasn’t much different from those in her district and this comforted her.
    Simon stood to read the Scriptures. Now it made sense why Josiah’s father-in-law was asked to meet with the bishop prior to service. Simon was one of the district ministers. She hoped the meeting pertained to the service and not to her. Simon eyed her and Josiah during his short sermon. Lindie reached for Hannah’s hand, which helped disguise the shakiness in hers. At the house,Simon hadn’t attempted to cover his disapproval, and the same held true during the service. He read verses from Hebrews and afterward posed the question, “Are you provoking one another in ways pleasing to the Lord?”
    Lindie glanced sideways at Josiah, but his attention was locked on Simon. She prayed silently for Jesus to forgive her for upsetting Josiah yesterday.
    The bishop gave the final message, then prayed. But before he dismissed everyone, he asked the congregation to remain seated while he made an announcement.
    The bishop cleared his throat. “Will Brother Josiah and Lindie please stand.”
    She froze. This wasn’t something her bishop would do in their district, unless he was calling someone to make a public confession. She rose from the bench, her knees wobbling under her dress.
    Josiah stood. His broad shoulder touched hers.
    “Let us welcome Brother Josiah’s new fraa , Lindie. They wedded a week last Monday.”
    Had Josiah known the bishop would call them to stand? A deep-pink shade spread up his neck and across his face. He wiped his hands along his pant legs.
    She heard murmuring behind them. This was much more than a few raised brows.
    “She’s so young. She hardly looks marrying age,” someone whispered.
    Lindie silently recited James 4:10. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Humble yourselves —
    The dismissed congregation stood. Several patted her on the shoulder and welcomed her to their district.
    Josiah disappeared into the crowd of men.
    “Where is your home district?” one woman asked.

    “Middlefield, Ohio.”
    “You’re a long ways from home. How do you like it here?” the woman on Lindie’s right asked.
    She opened her mouth to respond, but a blond-haired woman chimed in first. “How do you think she likes it? She’s married to Josiah.”
    The women laughed. Except one. A dark-haired woman, Lindie guessed to be in her midthirties, who stared with narrow, dissecting eyes. The laundry-folding baker, she presumed.
    Hannah tugged Lindie’s dress sleeve. Although Lindie welcomed