Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation

Beverly Lewis

The Revelation (Abram's Daughters Series, #5) The Revelation (Abram's Daughters Series, #5) The RevelationCopyright 2005

Beverly Lewis ''-

Cover design by Dan Thornberg

Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE,

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by

International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written

permission of the publisher and copyright owners.

1 ,; Published by Bethany House Publishers

V 11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 :

''-:'.' Bethany House Publishers is a division of :

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

' , ISBN 0-7642-2881-1 (Hardcover) \ , '... 4c*L/e'

't'-e-'rp

For

Mary Jo and Helen Jones,

two wunderbaar aunties.05/ /

Abram's Daughters

The Covenant

The Betrayal

The Sacrifice

The Prodigal The Revelation

*#

The Heritage of Lancaster County

The Shunning The Confession The Reckoning

The Postcard The Crossroad

The Redemption of Sara Cain October Song

Sanctuary* The Sunroom

The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook www.beverlylewis.com

*with David Lewis

10kHVERLY LEWIS, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch county, fondly recalls her growing-up years. A keen interest in her pother's Plain family heritage has led Beverly to set many of her jopular stories in Lancaster County.

I A former schoolteacher and accomplished pianist, Beverly is a pember of the National League of American Pen Women (the Pikes reak branch). She is the 2003 recipient of the Distinguished Alumllis Award at Evangel University, Springfield, Missouri, and her jlockbuster novel, The Shunning, recently won the Gold Book kward. Her bestselling n

14- &

i ktober 24, 1963

> ix endless days have come and gone since that wonderful-good

limson-and-gold-speckled day when Jonas returned to Lancaster

1 ounty to declare his fondest affection for me. Yet I've had no word

nice- not even following his important visit with the bishop. And i . each day passes I am mindful not to give in to fretting, losing my < If in needless worry. I must simply bide my time till I know pre-

iscly what my beloved is up against. That decision will be made lollowing Preaching service tomorrow, though I don't dread this meeting as much as I did my sister Sadie's kneeling confession, bei ;iuse Jonas did not commft a sin of the flesh, as Sadie did. His only transgression was to disobey Bishop Bontrager's rigid position on never leaving the church of one's baptism, a sin as defined by our ' hdnung.

The winds of autumn bluster over Dat's frayed fields and Ninitty's silver pond, and the sound reminds me of the work remaining to be done before winter sets in fully. Often I feel as if I'm chasing after the daylight, hoping to complete every last chore on my mental list. All the while the mules eagerly dismantle one l>ale of hay after another, growing thicker coats for the coming .old.

Sadie and I have talked frankly about Jonas's return I simply had to share my heart lest it burst apart. She is the only one who12

knows he saw me before he went to visit Bishop Bontrager, as he should have done straightaway. Honestly there are times when I am nearly giddy with anticipation, knowing Jonas is only thirty minutes away, living once again in the orchard farmhouse on Grasshopper Level. The sky seems nearly like a blue jewel on clear days, and 1 have never been so awestruck by the color and texture of grazing land, windswept dew ponds, or even the shy silhouettes of clouds. What I thought had long since died in me has sprung to vibrant life, surprising me all to pieces.

Truly, it is a rare night when Jonas is not present in my dreams, and he is my cherished first thought at daybreak. I carry within my heart the hope of one day being reunited with my darling beau, if God should see fit.

Still, I must be ever so careful not to let this renewed passion for Jonas distract me from mothering Lydiann and Abe. The dear Lord knows there are enough issues to provide conflict under one roof, including Lydiann's rumschpringe, which, despite an unexpected twist, has thus far been innocent compared to Sadie's running-around time long ago.

We have heard by way of Jake Mast's letters to Lydiann that he's chomping at the bit to get home and right the wrong he feels was done to him by his father not to mention rekindle the flame with Lyddie even though I am sure Peter Mast will continue to put the nix on things. My heart quivers at the thought of Jake's potential return a prickly prospect, to be sure. Although he remains in Ohio at the moment, Sadie and I agonize over what will befall us if his identity should ever be revealed. Truth be told, if the Masts were aware their youngest son is in fact Sadie's, there would be no question in anyone's mind that the two youngsters must never marry.

Thinking again of Jonas, I have no way of knowing if he'll be expected to abandon his woodworking. The bishop, in particular, has scorned any livelihood but those related to the soil sowing and reaping and blacksmithing or other necessary tasks. For Jonas to be forced to farm would be heartache, what with his keen interest and skill in the area of crafting fine furniture. Just how long his Proving will last is hard to know ... if the bishop will require one, considering the lesser sin he's committed against the church.

... ' ' ', ' ' 10 : ':, ' '.r :J . 13The Revelation '..:.'

Secretly, though, I fear something will yet keep us apart. I pray IMil, lnit alas, ever since first seeing swarms of ladybugs a few weeks itrti'U, heralding the advent of winter with its dearth of light, I have liMMi aware of a sense of foreboding. Soon snow as thick as lamb's Wool will fall, and if I lose myself in the flurry, the road seems to beiitinc a looming tunnel . . . and as I imagine riding horse and buggy through its shadowy center, the eyes of my heart become painfully aware of the confinement. Try though I might, will I ever truly find iny way out to the other side?

1114-U"t-

/ V,

i^ e>

Our joys as winged dreams do fly;

Why then should sorrow last?

Since grief but aggravates thy loss,

Grieve not for what is past.

Thomas Percy: 15

4- & -* Lst

n- e-

fV i liill had settled into the rustic planks of the old farmhouse uvt'iilight, and Jonas worked quickly to remedy the situation. He Unudied near the wood stove and watched the kindling seize hold ul dry logs in a burst of flame. Temperatures had unexpectedly dropped to the midthirties in the wee hours, and the wind had crept Up. too. His aging mother and his youngest sister, Mandie, Jake's twin, would especially mind the cold.

Jonas had roused himself while it was still dark, enjoying the Itlllncss and a renewed sense of duty since his permanent return from Apple Creek, Qhio. He had taken a mere two days to say good-bye to hi* longtime church friends and to pack his belongings passing nil ing his unfulfilled orders for several pieces of fine and fancy furniture co a good friend and seasoned woodworker. Here in Grasshopper Level, his father had given him permission to live at home, Working alongside him, till such time as Jonas hoped to marry.

11 is father had made it mighty plain where he stood on the i ifljy topic of marrying an Ebersol, but there was nothing he could

I' > now that Jonas was thirty-six years old. Jonas pondered just how ililficult Dat might make things, especially for Leah as his daughterill law. Would he exclude them from family get-togethers? And wliiil of Jonas and Leah's children, if God so willed it; would they iVd" know their Mast grandparents?

16

Hard as it was to envision his and Leah's living with such a situation, Jonas was determined to get on with the business of marriage and having a family of his own. When he was most discouraged with his father's disapproval, he had only to think again how the Lord had kept dearest Leah for him all these years!

But, for the time being, he must convince the bishop by his compliant attitude and willingness to come under the People's scrutiny that he was ready indeed to begin courting Leah immediately following his confession at Preaching today. He suspected Bishop Bontrager of wanting to keep him at arm's length. "There's no need to be thinking 'bout doing much of anything 'cept farmin' now," the revered elderly man had pointedly admonished him at their initial meeting. "If you're not so keen on that, then there's not much for ya to do round these parts." Such was not the case in Ohio, where a good number of Amishmen made their living making and selling furniture. Jonas guessed the reason Bishop Bontrager was so set against his woodworking was because he'd been creating fancy, fine furniture for Englishers, using turned lathe pieces and scrollwork. The bishop likely had in mind to get the hankering for such things out of Jonas's system even though the Ohio brethren had permitted them.

But Lancaster County was the original settlement of their Amish ancestors and remained by far the most traditional. Still, even if it meant Jonas could not sell them, he hoped to someday make at least the necessary pieces of furniture for his own house.

Hurrying out to the woodshed, Jonas was glad to be of help at the start of this Lord's Day. He would do whatever it took to change the bishop's mind about allowing furniture making to be his primary source of income, but only once the Proving was past. He was a woodworker through and through, but if required, he would attempt to make a living as a farmer and dairyman, or even perform odd jobs around the community till such time as he was reinstated with the People.

Opening the shed door, he spotted a fat mouse dart across and then under the dry stack of wood. He made note of the critter's fleshiness as he reached down for an armful of logs. Winter's roundthe bend. ... , :.': '.*'

17

I Ic'd also observed patchy clusters of milkweed out in the cow pnsinre, their thick-walled pods cracked open to reveal hundreds of downy seeds, each attached to its own glossy parachute. A sure sign Wedding season was coming up right quick.

Jonas recalled his childhood as he nimbly covered the very Ul'ound he'd walked as a lad. He and his younger brothers, especially r!li and Isaac, had often stopped to count the spidery seeds as they limited far and wide, dotting the skies high overhead. The two-story hit ni and farmhouse and surrounding apple orchard all looked the Mime to him, except for the trees having grown much taller. At a glance, it might have seemed as if nothing had changed at all... when everything had.

So much catching up to do.

He wanted to get reacquainted with his seven married brothers Hi id sisters meet their spouses and children, too as well as keep in touch with Jake, who was in Ohio working with an older apprentice, an arrangement made by the same man who'd taken over Jonas's outstanding orders for fine furniture.

Having enjoyed his all too brief encounter with Jake, Jonas was pjud there was still one sibling living at home, though fun-loving Mandie was already courting age. And here she came just this minute, her golden locks hanging loose to her waist, looking .whtruwwlich, not having bothered to brush her long hair before heading out for milking. Jonas had never witnessed any Amishwoman in such a state, and he found himself wondering how Leah's beautiful thick hair such a rich brunette it was looked undone, long and freed from her tight bun. He shook away the inappropriate thought, deciding he must wait to contemplate his soon-to-bebride's lovely tresses until after he'd married her . . . and not a single moment before.

His arms loaded down with plenty of wood for the cookstove, |onas called over his shoulder, " 'Mornin', Mandie! Forget somethin'?"

She returned his teasing with a silent smirk and a toss of her I misled hair behind her head.

Somewhat amused at the sight of her, he made his way toward the back porch, quite aware of Dat's dog nipping at his heels. "Ya want a hullo, too? Is that what you're askin'for?"

18

He rushed to stack some wood inside the screened-in porch, mindful of the dog still waiting. When the chore was done, he went and sat on the back stoop, rubbing the golden retriever's neck and beneath his sides. "How's that, ol' boy?" he said before turning his attention to the important Preaching service to be held at smithy Peachey's place, next farm over from Abram Ebersol's. These days Smitty's son-in-law and daughter, Joseph and Dorcas Zook, and their boys occupied the main house, where they evidently had been living for a number of years, tending to most of the farming and looking after Smitty and Miriam in their twilight years.