Abram's Daughters 02 The Betrayal (16 page)

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I lie family gathered around Leah and Gid, making overhid,

" I he lost is found," Dat said, eyes shining. Mamma nod|i 11, hovering near.

I liinnah glanced around and noticed yet another sister nilMln^. "Well, now, where's Sadie?" she asked Mary Ruth, wlin Mood close by.

"I just saw her here. But maybe she's up there." Mary Ruth I .. ikftl toward the outhouse.

I laimah didn't think so, but she kept silent. Instead, she Miiinued to stew over Leah having disappeared for so long ill of them thanked Gid repeatedly for bringing her home ..l.-ly.

Dat followed close beside Leah as they headed toward the I muse, his arm out slightly as if he might scoop her up and i.nry her inside. Once indoors, Mamma insisted on sitting I ciih down in Dat's hickory rocker in the kitchen and giving In r some fresh-squeezed lemonade. Then she poured some forivcryone.

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All the while, Gid's face kept changing colors from pink to red and back again, and Hannah wondered what that meant. She kept her eyes wide open, noting how he spoke ever so kindly, if not tenderly, to Leah. And she knew, right then and there, why Dat had set his sights on Gid Peachey for Leah. Such a thoughtful young man he was. What's keptLeah from losing her heart to Gid? she pondered. Did Jonas simply catch her attention first!

Just then Gid began to recount how he'd found Leah in the woods. "King, here, sniffed his way to her, just like a trackin' dog."

"But we know he ain't that!" Dat said, having himself a hearty laugh, surely aware even the dog was fond of Leah, just as they all were.

Especially Gid, Hannah noticed again.

Except for Sadie now being the absent one, it looked as if things might return to normal this evening. She hoped so because she didn't ever want to endure another day like this. She wanted her family, each one, to remain sheltered and altogether free from care. It wasn't good for a body to get as worked up as they all had been.

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A few hours after Leah's return, Aunt Lizzie and Sadiecame wandering into the kitchen together. Smithy Gid rnul been gone for quite some time, and the rhythm and routimof the family was as expected, even though supper was to be served much later than usual.163C n e idetrayal

I Leah was relieved to be home. Gladly, she helped Mamma Ifiul I he twins with the cooking and took turns keeping IIVIi;inn occupied and happy.

I I Hie to her own difficult decision made while in the Iwni ids, Leah felt her joy had evaporated her month-long IvlNil to Ohio was not to be. Yet she believed her idea was |* -.1' lie's best and only hope.

I The minute she and Sadie were alone in their room, she It' coaled Jonas's written invitation and their father's unI' pccted decision. "Dat gave me his blessin'," she said, then |l'-msed. "But now . . . I'm startin' to think it might be best if

I1 ilnn't go at all. Why don't you go instead?"

I Sadie, suddenly wide-eyed, stared at her. "You want me

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I "Jah, and stay with the Mellingers' elderly mother you'd

Iliiivo a right nice visit."

I "You're giving up your time with Jonas?"

j Slowly at first, Leah opened her heart to her sister, sharing

what she felt was of the greatest importance. "The bishop I ln-re might help you, Sadie."

"You really think this is a gut idea?" Sadie rose and walked

11 a% length of the room and then turned to face her sister. "Do

you honestly think Dat might agree to this me tradin' places

with you?"

Leah's heart sank. "It would keep me on here longer

hclpin* him outdoors and all."

"I wasn't goin' to tell you this, but I had once thought of

licadin' to Ohio." Sadie paused a moment before continuing.

"Aunt Lizzie got me thinkin' that way last spring, said she'd

give me money for a bus ticket. . . ." Her voice trailed off.

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Leah remembered her conversation with Lizzie in the hunter's shack. "But this is better; it's the perfect situation," she said. "And you'll be back before too long."

Leah spoke up again quickly, sharing what Jonas had said of his bishop being so knowledgeable about the Scriptures. "Now, what do you think of that?"

To this Sadie nodded. "I wouldn't mind attendin' the Mellingers' church."

Leah was startled, really, at how easy it had been for the light to dawn in Sadie's heart. But wouldn't Dat and Mamma nix the idea? Unless they didn't have a chance to. ...

Why not help Sadie leave secretly . . . not tell a soul? she thought. But how could that happen, and with what money?

"How soon can you be ready to leave?" she asked Sadie.

"By tomorrow if need be." Sadie's reply was not only swift but certain.

"That quick?" Leah asked, quite startled. Seemed her sister would be gone before Leah even got accustomed to the idea.

After milking the next morning, Leah returned to the house from having used the telephone at Dr. Schwartz's clinic to call Jonas. Right quick she sought out Mary Ruth, knocking on the twins' bedroom door.

"Hannah, is it you?" asked Mary Ruth.

When Leah opened the door, she found Mary Ruth dressed, all but her long apron. Her face registered surprise.

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"( Mi, it's you, Leah. I thought maybe Hannah forgot some-

lliln1," she said.

1 c:ih got to the point. "I need to borrow some money. I

11 mild pay you back in a few months. Is that agreeable?"

Promptly Mary Ruth went to the bureau, opened the seo

hihI drawer, and pulled out her pay for the past several days.

"I I civ, take what you need."

j Leah was both stunned and grateful that the way for |' die's leaving seemed to be ever so smooth. Thus far. | If Sadie had to go, at least she'd be safe with the Mellin| r< i s. And perhaps she'd have a change of heart while there in I Millersburg. Leah could only pray so, because nothing

11 Kinged the fact that if Sadie didn't return, the People here

would shun her for sure and for certain. Leah hung on to

11lie hope that a short time away from Gobbler's Knob, with

Julias and his minister, was the best thing for her troubled Ulster. After all, she believed the whole idea had been given

I ht by the Lord God.

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/At this time of year less than a week before the school 'i rc'sumed everyone was so keen on cooler weather they "ited to taste it in the form of Strasburg Bakery's famous I exceptionally delicious sweet rolls. "Sticky buns," as they ^ commonly referred to, were always added to the specials ul every year just before September, and at a discount. 'V number of Sadie's relatives and neighbors might have i ily made up a batch of them, but there was something spei i il tibout going to the cheerful shop to eat them.

Hul this Thursday was not a typical day for either Sadie or i ill. Long before Dat or Mamma had awakened, Sadie had htl en her suitcase out to the buggy, and shortly afterward, she tiiul Leah had slipped away to the quaint village of Strasburg, which was a good, long ride in the dark.

By the time they arrived, the sun had begun to peek over ilir eastern hills. The window shades on the bakery shop had Urn raised, inviting early risers inside to enjoy the freshly I in* wed coffee and a variety of pastries. s Entering the bakery, Sadie noticed the place was already

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buzzing with folk. Word of mouth was always the best advertisement for both English bakeries and Amish roadside stands. She and Leah stood in the line and waited their turn, knowing full well they had plenty of time before the Strasburg trolley left for Lancaster.

She eyed a large wall poster. Annie Get Your Gun, an Irving Berlin musical were the words most prominent. "Annie," who must be Ethel Merman, the woman named on the poster, was all decked out in glittering western attire, staring back at her from the wall as the line to the counter inched ahead.

Once their purchase was made, they found a vacant table, talking softly all the while in their common language, Pennsylvania Dutch, to guarantee the privacy of their conversation precisely how Sadie preferred it this day. While she and Leah wondered aloud about Mamma's and Dat's ultimate reac-

tion to her unexpected leaving, not to mention Leah's assistance, other customers around them had their own concerns.

At a nearby table there was hushed, somber talk of war casualties, even this long after America's boys had returned to the homeland. The enormous loss of life continued to be on the minds of those whose families had been ravaged by war's calamity, though the community of the People in Gobbler's Knob had scarcely been touched by the horror. At another table, plans for building a new shed were being discussed, and at yet another, women spoke of sewing new Girl Scout un i forms.

Sadie briefly considered asking Leah about Gid Peachcy and seeing them in the forest the day before, but she quickly dismissed the idea. This wasn't the time or the place to ask

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I cih Mich a question. Surely she and Gid were simply friends, ii Leuli liad always declared.

Alicr sipping coffee and relishing their sweet rolls, the sisiiUN Niil without speaking for a moment. Then Leah licked her lingers before reaching into her pocket to hand a wad of bills mi Siidie. "You'll need part of this for your trolley fare and mjhIii in Lancaster when you purchase your ticket at the train li-|ii ii. Be sure to save the rest for your return trip in October."

/ won't be comin back, Sadie thought, a lump in her iliniiii. She mustn't let on, though. She must keep her chin h' 'in quivering when they said good-bye.

1 >-. idle felt thankful for her younger sister's unmistakable I'i ui k'ness, noticing for the first time the beauty that radiated In nil her smile and the way she sat tall and slender in the

I uiir. Her hazel eyes shone with tenderness. Strong both in

I m uly and spirit, Leah was the kind of young woman a person

i mid entrust her life to. Sadie felt she was doing just that by

I1 lowing herself to be secretly whisked off to Ohio.

Sadie and Leah sat together in the family buggy on Main Street, waiting for the trolley. "I guess this is Hatyee so Inii(4 for a little while," Leah said, smiling sadly. "Tis hard in believe you're goin'."

Sadie thought of the many miles that would eventually .fparate them. "My head's still spinnin', so quick you were to urnnge things. I don't know how I'll ever thank you."

"Jonas was a big help with the plannin' ... though he

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knows nothin' at all about what you did during rumschpringe." Leah looked downright glum. "He'll be the one to meet you in Millersburg. Stay alert when you change trains in Pittsburgh, jah? Don't be shy about askin' for directions. It'll be wonderful-gut for you to get away."

They embraced ever so tightly. Sadie hung on to her sister longer than she might have under different circumstances. It was next to impossible to think of saying good-bye forever. "Oh, Leah, thank you for keep in' my awful secret you and Aunt Lizzie both. You're a dear sister."

Leah's face turned ashen just then. She seemed at a loss for words.

"You'll tell Mamma and Aunt Lizzie I love 'em, won't you? After they realize I'm gone and all. Same for Hannah and Mary Ruth . . . and Dat, too."

"I'll be sure and tell everyone."

Sadie reached for her suitcase. "Don't worry 'bout me, hear?"

Leah nodded. "I've been wantin' to ask you somethin', Sadie. Will you still consider bein' one of my bridesmaids, come November?"

"Well, I " She fought hard the tears. Truth was, long before then Naomi would have gone to the brethren with her revelation of Sadie's sins. And if so, Sadie could be in Leah's wedding only if she was willing to confess, and they both knew it. Still, she couldn't blame Leah for asking. "It'll be a wonderful-gut day for you and Jonas."

"I really want you to stand up with me," Leah persisted. "Will you think on it?"

"I'll send you a letter in due time." They hugged again.

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Hi! In- inissin' your baptism, too," Sadie said, torn with

Html imi.

I " 'I is all right."

I his was torture, now that she was this far into her flight H v >y I mm home. To think she might never lay eyes on Hili on any of her family ever again.

'.ulie did not delay. Climbing down from the carriage, she Hivi'il one last time, tears threatening to spill down her Mfeks.

"Safe trip!" she heard Leah call.

liirning to look once more, she saw her sister stand, wavi| id her from the buggy. The horse started a bit, and Leah Hi i h witl quickly, still holding the reins tightly in her hands. H The image of Leah, looking so forlorn, even anxious, Himiined with Sadie during the trolley ride past the Strasburg Hfeiuionite Church and cemetery and down Route 222 to Hi i u uster.

H i Ince she was settled on the train, she kept to herself, not

"ii. . speaking to the passenger next to her. She warded off

iIn c-ver-presofit stares of the English while covertly looking

mound herself. Two women with bobbed hair wore interesting

dtirk .suits with collared jackets that hugged the bodice, then

11 tired slightly below the waistline. One woman powdered her

I iohc and applied bright red lipstick before opening her book,

Wfae Egg and I by Betty MacDonald. Sadie wondered how the

Hjthor had come up with such a peculiar title.

H The passenger across the aisle and up one seat was reading

Jiuge from The New York Times. A half-page advertisement

Hr something called A Streetcar Named Desire caught Sadie's

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attention, but she had no idea what such a thing as Broadway

was.

Turning toward the window where she sat, she realized just how excited she was to be on a train for the first time going anywhere, really as the rhythmic sway of the passenger car lulled her into thinking she was indeed doing the right thing. To think it was Leah, of all people, who had made it possible for her to take the train, which ran from Pittsburgh west to Orrville, Ohio, before heading south to Millersburg.