Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (25 page)

In that moment she wanted to say once more how sorry she was for her recent disobedience. "I was ever so wrong, Gid."

"No need to cover old ground," he replied. "All's forgiven."

She nodded, tears unexpectedly springing to her eyes. She would not seek out Zachariah further, having promised Gid she would not. "I don't know what got into me that day, goin' to the Henners."

"Well, I think /do. You're much too curious, that's what." He was teasing her, but now his face grew more serious. "And it's high time for me to apologize to you, dear."

"Whatever for?"

"I s'pose it must've seemed I was more concerned 'bout Mary Ruth's Mennonite influence on you and our family over the years than I was the powwowing you were so bent on. But I was sorely wrong on that point."

She was quite surprised to hear such a thing coming from Gid. "Mary Ruth brings joy to everyone."

"Jah, your twin's cheerful nature is bound to raise a person's spirit."

"For sure and for certain." She was most grateful for her husband's understanding and love this blessed Christmas . . . and all year through.

Mary Ruth sat by the fire, rocking Ruthie to sleep. She smiled across the room at Robert, who sat on the sofa reading the Bible. She didn't want to break the peaceful stillness of the moment, so she

219The Revelation

HliU a grulle lullaby. The traditional carol was one the children sang

HiTniii ii.

H "I ill ant lioly, infant lowly, for His bed a cattle stall . . . oxen lowIg, Illtlr knowing Christ, the babe, is Lord of all." I A* *he sung, she thought of Hannah, who, while seeming to Hvp experienced relief from depression and despondency for some H|}f now, still appeared to be spiritually lost. Will my twin ever open

- r tmrt to the Lord?

Slip knew she would not cease praying for just that not as long

ihr wus living and breathing. Surely Hannah would come to find

n teal and near to her someday. Mary Ruth sighed. She knew too

"", Aiuishwomen, several of whom Hannah was well acquainted

1I1 who suffered from a melancholy spirit. Often she prayed for

1 >. 11111411 lobe free of the darkness that seemed to surround her, so she

mill apicad light to others in similar need, perhaps. Too many such

* wen live in bondage. She was glad her twin at least was blessed with I. Iml, Mod-fearing husband. It was for Mary Ruth to simply put her

i l in (lod's sovereignty, praying each of her family members would I tr*i ience saving grace in the Lord's perfect way and time.

When Robert closed the Bible, he patted the pillow next to him.

1 'nine sit with me, love."

She went willingly, placing Ruthie in his arms and snuggling

1 ln r 10 him. "What a special day, jah?" She laughed softly as the I Milt h word slipped out unexpectedly.

"()nce Amisn,*always Amish, you used to say." Robert kissed her id.

"I daresay," she replied. "Well, maybe just simple and Plain."

"Which is just the way I like you."

They sat gazing into the face of their precious sleeping daughter,

1 tillniscing on the day spent between Dat's house and the -1 hwunzes'. "Your parents seemed quite taken with Ruthie," she ml, touching her baby's dainty hand.

"Yes, and with each other, as well," said Robert. "Did you hapl 1 it to notice?"

"I did, actually." She hadn't said anything before but was glad Hubert brought it up. "What is different between them, do you idInk?"

220Beverly Lewis

"With Dad that can't be easy to know. He's as tight-lipped m they come. But they must've had a wonderful time on their trip overseas."

"There's a shared something or other ... a special knowing 1>< tween them."

"All for the good, I trust," Robert said.

Feeling tired, Mary Ruth was content to simply lean her head < >n her husband's shoulder, aware of the occasional crackle in the (lie place and the sighs of their little one, nestled in Robert's embrace

"I know it's a long way off, but I'd like to have our families lien for dinner next Easter," said Robert.

She sat up at the suggestion. "Maybe we should invite ilit Masts, too. See if they'll surprise all of us and accept an invitation for a change."

Robert chuckled. "After all these years, I wonder what it would take for Peter Mast to change his mind about your father."

"I think his grudge has more to do with Leah . . . and An in Lizzie, maybe."

"Well, he'll have to come around quite a lot in his thinking il he's ever to attend Jonas and Leah's wedding," Robert said, surpris ing her.

She looked at him, not sure what to say. "You sincerely think Peter and Fannie would not attend the marriage of their eldest son:

Robert shrugged. "Something's got to give, sooner or later. Pei > pie shouldn't willingly go to their graves filled with such hate ;ii least not if I can help it."

"What can you do, Robert? Seriously."

"I don't know what the Lord has in mind, but I've felt corn pelled to pray about it more frequently, and I won't stop until I jhi an answer, one way or the other. Prayer changes circumstances, yon know."

"And people, too." She found Robert's sudden concern aboui the longtime clash between the Masts and the Ebersols to be quite curious. "I felt so sad when Cousins Peter and Fannie didn't come 10 Mamma's funeral . . . sad for them and for Dat."

221

At this point, F doubt Peter even remembers what triggered his 't^itivntltih with Abram in the first place."

"I'fl'hupjt." Mary Ruth wished something could be done about i lint what, she had no idea, but she would join her husband in I'irit'llljl For Clod's answer.

1

222w223

' u n to this," Jake said on Friday as he read to Jonas another let-

i mm (M;mdie.

Ihiimn was all ears where he stood clearing the breakfast dishes hi |he table. He, Eli, and Jake had been taking turns redding up I it' hen, each drawing lots to see who would cook which day, asil

'.' <-ins Dat's got himself a 'certain visitor' every evening now, ill'ivvm' supper . . . and sometimes right after the noon meal, too." \\-i- looked up from the letter. "Can ya guess who?"

|uiiii.s was su e he knew. "Bishop Lapp?"

'Well, now, how did ya know that?"

|on.is wasn't about to say. Fact was, Bishop Lapp was apparently " icMcd in dealing with problems head-on, whereas it seemed

l>op Hontrager had been more inclined to create them, at least I" it some folk were concerned.

|onas had told Jake nothing concerning the frank visit with the

-' isxhnpper Level bishop, and maybe he never would. At least it

dialed like some progress was being made at the Mast orchard

use. especially if Dat wasn't riding off to get his daily quota of

hard stuff, what with the man of God showing up to keep him i u In r company.

225

T

Sadie couldn't have suppressed her smile even if she'd wanted to when Eli Yoder showed up at her back door the Saturday afternoon after Christmas. "Hullo," she greeted him. "Would ya like to conic in and warm up a bit?"

"Mighty nice of you," he said, a twinkle in his eye.

Once he was seated at her table, she poured hot coffee for them both, all the while utterly aware of his endearing smile like a moonbeam on newly fallen snow. She noticed the notched cut of his red hair, slightly squared off at the ears, evidence of his Ohio roots,

They exchanged comments about his enthusiasm for woodworking, as well as their individual time spent in places in Ohio familiar to both, discovering several people they knew in common from the Millersburg area. "Ever get a chance to walk along Killbuck Creek?" he asked.

"Oh jah, and it ain't such a little creek, either, is it?"

"Well, in some places, it is plenty wide and deep nearly like ;i \ small river." He lifted his coffee cup to his lips and drank. Then, setting it down again, he smiled. "This is right gut coffee."

"Denki."

They talked of Christmas, and Eli described how both Jonas and Jake had helped "cook up a fine feast." Hearing Jake's name mentioned made her miss him, but Eli was back to speaking of Ohio. "Did you happen to get over to the Swiss cheese factory near Berlin?"

"No, I didn't stay in the area for long. One young fella from the Millersburg church district introduced me to the Indiana man I eventually married."

Their conversation was slow and quiet, and she found hersell perfectly content to sit with him, conscious of the heat in the belly of the stove, as well as the gentle warmth of the hot coffee she drank.

During a lull in their conversation, she presented him with her homemade card and was surprised when he handed her one, too. "Why, thank you," she said, feeling her cheeks warm at his attention.

When they'd finished their coffee and Sadie had taken the cups

', ;....-. , ' . :; 224 ... , ' ''

The Revelation

j!H i tftlK t*l'N lo the sink, she reached for her heaviest coat. Quickly Hi nlliMril It) hold it while she slid her arms inside.

They walked to his enclosed buggy, and she was thankful they (# mi longer youngsters. No need to endure this brisk night in an ii H tunning buggy!

"Awful nice spendin' time with you, Sadie," he said. A* I'li helped her into his carriage, she felt as if her heart might 'it' l will) joy.

I rah had a kettle going for tea and cups set out on a tray when 'p Wt'HI in search of Sadie Saturday evening.

Slit1 found her sister happily humming as she worked by gaslight Iw liny kitchen. "We must talk," Leah said softly. "I'll bring us inr lea over here if you'd like."

Smlit* looked up from the pot of vegetable soup she was making. HIT, I'll be glad for some hot tea." She added shyly, "I had a visit ill I'Ji Yoder today."

"C )h, what lovely news!" Then and there Leah knew she had to 'mil to having seen Sadie and Eli make their way out to his car-

i^r, "I hoped, all the while you were gone, that you'd have yourII .1 real nice time. Didya?"

"()h my . . . jdii." Sadie did not volunteer anything else, and

till guessed she wanted to hold this memory close for a while be-

u1 revealing more. "Well, sister, what's on your mind?" she asked vr u brief lull.

I,call hesitated, not wanting to spoil Sadie's present contentill. "It's just that I've been considerin' Jake quite a lot." She used. "I'm wonderin' if you think it might be time for folk to niiw lie's your son."

Sadie folded her hands on the table. "All the People, ya mean?" "Mary Ruth and Hannah and their spouses in particular." Turning her head, Sadie looked at the cookstove and icebox. I've thought the same, to tell the truth. 'Tis next to impossible ' v hi' with the knowledge of something so ... well, wonderful, and

" ' . 225 '. ; v- .226

havin' to keep it to myself." Sadie looked back at her, tears glisicn ing. "Jake's such a fine boy, Leah. Truly, he is. I can't tell you how happy I am."

Leah felt she understood at least something of her sister's cmo tion. "It was nice seein' the two of you visiting together. Did my heart gut."

"One of the best moments of my life." Sadie got up for the honey jar and asked, "How do you think we should go 'bout telling Hannah and Mary Ruth and Abe? I don't want to wait and luive word leak out through the grapevine . . . which it could, ya know."

"Ask Dat," Leah suggested. "Either he or Aunt Lizzie will have something to say 'bout it."

Sadie smiled, although her chin still trembled slightly. "The worst is behind us, jah?"

Reaching for her hand, Leah closed her eyes. "Oh my, lei'npray so." ..,:-...

Every corner of the morning sky twinkled gold as Jake and Jonas worked methodically in the kitchen on New Year's Day, chopping vegetables and cutting up stew beef for their noontime meal will) Eli. Jake was fired up and eager to say what was on his mind, and ;is Eli was gone from the house, now was as good a time as any. "I s;iy everyone ought to know the truth 'bout me."

Jonas didn't immediately respond, although his quick intake o! breath and the serious look in his eyes made it clear he had ;in opinion.

"Seems like a falsehood to me for folk to continue thinkin' I'm Peter Mast's son, don't ya think?"

Jonas regarded Jake quietly, nodded his head, and then unexpectedly went and adjusted the flame under the black kettle. "Too bad the secret was ever kept at all ... but then, I wouldn't have known you as my brother, would I?" he said at last. "I can't imagine what Mandie or Mamma or any of our siblings would think if you weren't a part of our family. I do mean this, Jake. What's done is

1 . ;: :' : ' '"' .. 226 . '. ':: .-' : ' ' ' I227The Revelation

^p ml nIiouIiI be left alone." He paused to reach for the lid and

Hf i ll firmly on the kettle. "And something else . . ." He turned

Mn I |mIu\ "You must forgive Dat. The sooner you do, the sooner

it II $rl puM all your disappointment toward him. That's not to say

' ildiiiF you lor (eelin' the way you do."

|rtl P ahook his head and sat down at the table. "I would never flunk of (loin' such a thing to my son true kin or not. It helps some blMtwItl' (hut Sadie never would've given me up if she'd had any say." . "I believe you're right."

H| |rtkt? Mured at the tray filled with the sourdough sticky buns a ^B|!,liU>r lady bad brought over earlier as a New Year's surprise. He ^niii nnl to himself, not persuaded that he shouldn't go about HPlii|i flic world his world, at least the news.

|tinu* spoke up again. "Maybe Dr. Schwartz is the one you need iiiKiilcr forgiving first."

|iil e wasn't surprised at Jonas's pointed words. Unfortunately,

I m il ll I lie doctor and their father had been terribly at fault in his case,

(lii)Up,h die latter was of more concern at present. A month had

HtHic and gone since Dat had asked him to leave, with nary a note or

W||| till lliis time.

^M I low long will the silence continued'Jake wondered with a heavy Him ' ' : ..

*

I When a knock came at the door, Henry jumped, startled from

Jf ic he had dozed off while reading the newspaper, enjoying the