Martha followed her aunt into the kitchen to help her with the meal.
"No, no," her aunt shooed her away. "A bride should never help prepare her own wedding feast. You and your husband are the guests of honor today."
'You and your husband'. Martha may never get used to hearing that.
Her uncles loud voice sounded from outside. "Abram! Where are your brothers?"
"Putting the horses in the barn, Pa." Abram Jr. called back to his father. "Matthew took Martha's things to William's place and let the little ones tag along. Hello, William, Congratulations on your marriage."
"Thank you," answered William.
"Come on in the house," Uncle Abram said, "and make yourself at home. The younger boys should be here soon."
Martha stood in the kitchen and watched as the men entered the house. Young John's voice called out, "Is Martha here? Did she get hitched? Is she back yet?"
"Slow down there son," Uncle Abram called to his youngest son, "before you run out of breath and collapse from lack of air." The sound of the men's laughter filled the house. Seven year old John ran into the house, his flushed cheeks shining as her threw his arms around Martha's waist, throwing her a bit of balance. "Martha! Guess what? Me and Mark carried your trunk all by ourselves. Mister Andersen's house is awfully big. Bigger 'in our house. And Caleb's gonna be having a new colt."
Martha smiled down at her youngest cousin. John was like a wind before a spring storm, refreshing yet overwhelming. "Bigger then." she corrected. "And when you come to visit, the colt will be there."
"Call your brothers," Aunt Ruth commanded him, "and tell 'em to wash up. It's time to eat."
John raced out of there like his hair was on fire. "Abram! Matthew! Mark! Time to eat!" Martha chuckled at the boy's antics, yelling out his brothers name before he'd left the house.
Aunt Martha brushed past her with a plate of meat. "Sit down, William. Anywhere is fine. Everything is ready."
William hung his hat on a peg near the door. He drew back a chair and waited for Martha to be seated. She smiled and thanked him as she moved toward him. Maybe some women were used to such gentlemanly courtesy, but it was a first for Martha. Soon, however, the sound of boots stomping, and loud voices announced the arrival of her cousins. Abram Jr, the eldest was the first to enter through the door. "Congratulations, Martha," he said with a dimpled grin. "We're sure gonna miss you around here, especially Ma."
Before Martha was able to reply, the second son, Matthew, came in. Closely followed by Mark, "Does this mean I'll have to ride all the way out to William's farm if I want honey cookies?" Matthew asked.
"There will always be honey for you and your family," Martha assured him.
"Did you know that Martha keeps bees, William?" her cousin asked as he took his seat.
"No I didn't."
Abram Jr. took a seat across from William and shook his dark hair out of his face. "She's got two skeps full of honeycombs and some supers beneath them. She just sold, near about, twenty jars of honey to the general store in town."
"Skeps?" asked William.
"A skep is like an upside-down bushel basket. The bees build their hives in it." Abram Jr. answered him.
"And a super?" asked William. "What's that?"
"Extra baskets," Matthew continued for Abram Jr., using his hands to indicate the structure, "that sit underneath the skep. The bees store extra honey in them. That way, Martha doesn't have to destroy the original hives when she harvests honey."
"You sound like you know a lot about bees," William remarked.
"Nah," Matthew said. "Martha taught me everything I know. Before she came I would always chase bees away, but now I respect the little creatures. They work harder than me and my brothers at harvest time. Plus Martha knows all about doctoring. She's cured more than one bellyache around here with her box of medicine."
William turned to Martha, "Will you move the bees to my farm or keep them here?"
He sat so close that Martha could see where he missed shaving this morning.
"I hope to move them to your farm, when I find a good spot for them. Do you have any problems with that?"
"No, course not. Your bees and their honey will be a great addition to the farm. Where did you learn about medicine?"
"My mother taught me." Martha answered, "She knew how to mix medicinal plants with honey and wax to treat various aches and pain."
Uncle Abram bowed his head. "Let us say grace." The family sat in silence, each giving quite thanks. Martha loved the moments of quite prayer, and after her hectic morning, she had a lot to pray about. She thanked the Lord for her Aunt Ruth, who'd welcomed her with open arms. She asked for blessings on her cousins. She thanked God for the man who sat beside her. William would take her away from this house and into his own, and try and build a life. She even gave thanks for her Uncle Abram and prayed the the Lord would give her a more understanding heart when it came to her uncle's harsh words.
Martha raised her head and met her uncles gaze. It was his custom to watch his family, and when the last head was raised, end the prayer. Martha looked around the table and noticed that the only one who's head had not raised was William's. They waited for him to finish, but when the minutes started to go by, Marks stomach growled loudly, making John dissolve into giggles.
William lifted his head and looked at the other's. "Aren't you going to say grace?"
"We did," Abram Jr. teased. "You're the only one who feel's the need to have a long conversation with the Lord."
William furrowed his brows, clearly confused. "What?"
Aunt Ruth chided Abram Jr. "Stop it, Abram Jr., William doesn't know our tradition of silent prayer."
Martha felt like she should speak up for her new husband. "It's alright. We should have explained it better for you." She said while giving her cousin a deathly glare.
Aunt Ruth started to pass the plate of meat around. "Perhaps we best start, and let Mark go first. I don't think we want to hear his stomach complain again."
***
Aunt Ruth drew Martha into a tight embrace, "I pray you will be a blessing for William and his children, as you have been to us."
Uncle Abram cleared his throat, signaling that it was time for Martha and William to leave. "If you don't get a move on, it'll be dark by the time you reach William's farm. Abram Jr. will drive you."
William offered his hand to help her into the buggy. She moved over to the far side, hoping he'd join her as he had on the trip from the church, but instead he swung onto his horse. Of course, he would be more comfortable riding his horse. He'd tied the animal to the back of the buggy after the wedding, but he probably preferred to stretch his legs instead of cramming his legs into the tight buggy.
Cousin Abram flicked the reins, and the buggy lurched forward, pulling Martha away from the place she had called home for the last nine years. She turned to wave one last time, but the sight of her aunt crying into her apron made tears well up in her eyes. Marth wanted to jump from the buggy, and run to her aunt, but one thought kept her from doing that. Her aunt was probably crying tears of joy for her. She understood what her niece was getting herself into, but she probably had more hope for their future than even Martha had.
