The marriages have to be arranged ! Young people can pick for themselves !

Katherine went to bed soundly yet scared. She would be told if or if not she had been found a match tomorrow . Her whole life and sisters life's depended on this .

If she was not given a match then she would never get married , meaning that Clara and her other sisters could never get married and she would shame her family .

Part of her didn't want a match though . She didn't want to be thrown to some stranger . Katherine could still recall her and her younger sisters playing of matchmaker .

"Oh Clara ! Clara ! Have I got a match for you ! He's handsome ! He's young ! Alright he's 62! But he's a nice man , a good catch true ?

I promise you'll be happy, and even if your not ,there's more to life than that ! Don't ask me what !" Katherine said to Clara with her shawl wrapped around her head like Medda .

"Lizzy ! I've found him ! Won't you be a lucky bride ! He's handsome ! He's tall ! That is from side to side . he's a nice man, a good catch, right?
Right.

You heard he has a temper.
He'll beat you every night,
But only when he's sober,
So you'll be alright. !"

"Katherine! Wake up ! Papa and Mama are talking with a young men's parents !!! Come down !" Amelia said shaking her older sister .

"Amelia ... I don't ... That fast ? Oi ... Help me get dressed Amy" Katherine said . She got dressed in a nice long purple skirt and long white blouse . She laced her black heeled boots and put her black vest .

Katherine sat down on the stairs and her sisters did too . The listened in on the conversation .

"I want to see her ... See what my son will be marrying " a women said . Katherine's mother came to the stairs and her sisters all ran to their rooms .

"Katherine... Come " her mother said . Katherine nodded and walked down the stairs to see her father sitting at a table with a man and his wife .

The wife stood up and circled around her . "Birthing hips ... Many sons !" She said . "You're very beautiful Katherine " the wife said again .

"Thank you ma'am ... So are you " Katherine said politely and smiled .

"Katherine.. Would you please go up with your sisters and make sure they're doing they're studies . " her mother said .

"Yes mama " Katherine said and walked up the stairs .

Katherine walked up the stairs and opened her Torah . She read some of her lines and did some of her prayers .

"Katherine! Katherine!" Her sister Francis said coming in her room .

"Yes Franny ?" She asked closing her Torah .

"Mama and Papa said to come get you ... The man and his wife left " her little sister said . Katherine followed her downstairs .

"Papa ? Mama ?" Katherine asked . Her father shooed off the girls expect her mother and Katherine .

"Sit down dear" her father said . She say down and her mother closed the doors .

"Katherine , you are our eldest daughter... We take much pride in how smart you are and how wise and kind and beautiful... It is time you are given a husband my dear ... Medda the match maker has matched you with a nice young man . You will marry him two days after Sabbath... Until then you will stay inside with your mother as she teaches you the last steps of becoming a good Jewish Russian Wife " her father said .

"Sabbath is in three days papa ... So I will marry on a Tuesday ?" She asked .

"Yes dear ... The young mans  father and mother will be with me for the three days before and two days after to plan your wedding ..." He said .

"And during those days I will teach you things you must know ... I'm going to start lunch my pet... " Katherine's mother said and kissed her forehead .

"Papa ... Can I ask you his name ?" She said .

"Jackson Kelly ."

"The Rabbi's son ? Papa ... But -"

"No dear , he will not be the next rabbi ... His younger brother will ... He wishes to be like everyone else ... And part of that is an arranged marriage.."

"Have I ever met him before papa ?" She asked .

"No .. He's been working and learning Hebrew and passages from the Torah most of his life... He just recently was told by God to marry a girl and not live his life as a rabbi but as his best trade "

"Which is ?" She asked her father as she began to mend a torn blanket .

"Something with painting pet ... I'm going to go find Mr. Hearst and see how his son is coming ... Poor Darcy may not have a bride .... Although he could always marry Clara ."

"Papa no ! Clara is much too young for marriage... And he is far too old not to be married ... Maybe he should marry Sara ... The Jacobs daughter " Katherine said .

"Katherine, your sister is 16... She could marry ."

"I know papa ... But ... Let's take care of my wedding first ... " Katherine said trying to save her younger sister from the fears and worries of meeting then match maker .

"Alright pet, I'll be back by lunch time ..." He said and left . Katherine ran up the stairs to Clara and Elizabeth's room .

"Where's the fire ?" Clara asked laughing and began to braid Elizabeth's hair .

"Papa and Mama ... I'm getting married two days after sabbath " Katherine said sitting on the bed across from Clara .

"Isn't that a good thing ? Then papa and mama will only have to worry about four daughters instead of five !" Elizabeth said .

"Lizzy! That's not it ! I'm not allowed to meet him till the wedding day ..."

"Why ?" Clara asked

"No clue ... " Katherine said and sighed .

"Who is he ?" Elizabeth asked .

"Rabbi Kelly's son ... His eldest -"

"But you are not a nun you can not marry him !" Clara said shocked .

"He's leaving the job at the church ... Apparently God came down and told him that he should do the work he believes he's best at and marry a girl through the match maker ... His father even got the message too !" Katherine said .

"Oh ... Well ... Katherine Kelly ... I like it !" Clara said .

"Better than Sara Hearst !" Katherine laughed .

"What ?!"

"Papa said that if Darcy Hearst can not find a bride he be matched with you ... But I've talked him out of it !" Katherine smiled .

"Oh .. Oh thank goodness " Clara said and hugged her sister .