Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (27 page)

I1 icy "make a bishop," according to the qualifications of their Ordiiiing.

It was well into February when Lydiann confided in Leah about having attended "several Mennonite Bible studies." Despite the source, Leah felt she could hardly discourage her girl from learning

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more about God's Word. After all, Mary Ruth's unique experience had changed her life for the better, just as faith had altered the lives of Mamma and Aunt Lizzie and, eventually, Dat. And by the number of quilting bees Lydiann was taking part in with Mary Ruth lately, Leah believed Lydiann had found additional comfort in spending time with her older sister, as well as baby Ruthie. A blessing, indeed.

The month of March brought various sales and property auctions for retiring farmers, and Smitty Peachey let it be known officially that he was turning over his blacksmithing work to both Gid and Jonas. Leah was reasonably pleased for her husband-to-be, although she held to her secret hope that Jonas might one day be allowed to return to woodworking. For now, however, the work of a smithy in a well-established shop seemed both rewarding and financially smart for a man about to take a bride.

Leah wasn't the only one of Abram's daughters with matrimony on her mind. Sadie, too, had whispered recently of Eli Yoder's keen interest in her. "I wonder if he might just ask me to marry him," shesaid to Leah, her face glowing as they worked together in the kitchen.

Leah pinched the rim of dough on a pie plate. "What'll you say if the time comes?"

Sadie put her head down, speechless now, her cheeks blushing, and her uncharacteristic reaction spoke volumes.

Leah leaned her head against her sister's. "I'm ever so happy for you . . . for both of us, really." She thought of how things had begun to settle down in their lives for the most part, just since the bishop's death, sadly enough. At present Jonas was looking for a house to rent or buy, though both knew they would not marry till the wedding season began . . . still nearly eight months away. The demanding work of plowing, planting, and harvesting prevented anyone from enjoying the privilege of an all-day celebration until November.

"What would you think if I moved to Ohio ... if Eli and I were to marry?" Sadie asked unexpectedly.

"Goodness' sakes, I didn't think I was goin' to lose you again." Leah sighed, not wanting to think about the dismal notion. "Does Eli want to return home?"237

" I Us family expects him to go back to them with a bride. HonrM I v, it was the only way he would consider comin' here in the first|ll.K r."

I oah didn't want to overreact, but she was already starting to licl j'Jum. "Is there no other way I mean, if you were to accept Ill's proposal?"

"Ach, we haven't gotten that far. It's just a feelin' I have that he miij'Jh propose . . . but I could be wrong."

"Well, I hope you're not," Leah said, meaning it. "Time for you

11 > have some ongoing happiness."

Sadie laughed. "Look who's talkin'!"

I ,cah smiled back. "Oh, Sadie, I've always been happy . . . just in a different way, I 'spect. Serving my family has brought me the I'lvatest joy, even in the midst of difficult times."

"You ain't tellin' me anything there," Sadie said. "I've seen ya |M>itrin' out your life, and it's been lonely and nearly exhausting for v.i even during the best of times. Because of that, I've been askin' niir Lord to return some of the selfsame kindness back to you."

"Ya must quit prayin' for blessings when the greatest reward is imply doin' for others."

Sadie shrugged. "Still, can't I ask God to give you and Jonas a whole houseful of children? That'd be wonderful-gut, ain't so?"

()pening the oven door, Leah checked on her pies. "First things lirsi. Let's just pray Jonas will be voted in as a church member onceiiftiin."

"Surely he will."

"You'd think so after all he's sacrificed to follow the Proving."

1 he sisters fell into a companionable silence until Sadie left the mom for the Dawdi Haus, saying she wanted to finish her monthly li-iter to her former sister-in-law in Indiana.

Leah turned her attention to setting the table, thoughts of cooknijr and baking for Jonas filling her head. Thank you, dear Lord, for /'ringing us this far.

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Saturday, March 14 Dear Diary,

Tomorrow marks the day of the council meeting when the People will vote to reinstate Jonas or not and the day we cast lots for a new bishop. Bishop Simon Lapp of the Grasshopper Level district will be on hand, of course, as he has been overseeing our church since the death of our former bishop. Such a difference there is between him and Bishop Bontrager!

Bishop Lapp is more open-minded, I'd have to say, and Gid has become interested in discussing his opinion on church matters with me. All in all, much has changed in my husband since he became Preacher, and I have come to respect his wishes, even on matters I never dreamt we'd see eye to eye on. Truly, there is no longer any desire in me for the powwowing gift. And I have dear Gid to thank . . . him and the way the hair on my neck stood up the last time I visited Henners.

With baby soon to arrive, I've been sewing some infant sleeping gowns here lately. They'll do fine for either a boy or a girl. Oh, how we all look forward to having a new little one in the house!

Respectfully,

Hannah

Years ago Henry had decided he much preferred the outdoors and the wide, open sanctuary of nature to the stuffy walls of a church edifice. But months had passed since he had last gone to look after the Mast baby's grave on a Sunday morning, and the snows had drifted high over the vacant meadow.

The more he considered it, the more he recognized that coming clean with Jake and Peter and Fannie Mast had appeased his conscience somewhat, although Henry still felt appallingly responsible for the boy's current displacement. He had even contacted his grandson to let him know that, if at any time he was in need of ac-

' . ' ' - 238 ' ' -: - ' - . 1239

< nmmodations, he was always welcome to occupy Derek's former I'l-clmom, the current guest room of the house.

I le and Lorraine had been elated when, in January, Jake had ac-

cptccl an invitation to supper. What a fine time they'd had toI'dlicr. In some surprising way, it was almost as if they had Derek himself back in the youthful form of his only child.

Robert and Mary Ruth, too, had opened their home to their ik|)Iicw for the first time, with Henry and Lorraine looking on while like held his cousin Ruthie, his eyes wide with happiness as he had

omically talked in Dutch to her. Little Ruthie had seen fit to coo Imck "in English," as Robert had joked.

But it was Lorraine's obvious affection for Jake that impressed

I Icnry most of all when, one day, she'd revealed that she had in-

< luded her grandson in her book of prayer requests. Her kind-

I1 carted reaction to Jake made Henry feel he was beginning to fall in love with her again, even at this late stage of their lives. So much so, in fact, that he had given in to her repeated invitations to attend

< Imrch. It seemed everything pulled them closer these days, even i heir shared grief over Derek.

For these reasons, then, Henry planned to go with his wife this I'aster Sunday, willingly accepting the confinement of a conveni lonal house of worship.

I've actually come to anticipate it, he thought, knowing how pleased Lorraine would be ... and was already.

Danny Stoltzfus, who ran the general store over near Ninepoints, was a jolly, stout fellow who'd never met a stranger. He railed out his usual cheerful greeting when Eli held the door open lor Sadie, its bell jingling to beat the band. They slipped inside to warm up some before indulging in a root beer from the large box of ifc-cold soft drinks found in the corner of the store. "Hullo, Eli!" > ailed Daniel, eyeing them both.

"How's business today?" Eli removed his black felt hat and pushed his hand through his hair.

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"On the downturn, I'd say. Most everybody's home gettin' themselves ready for Preaching tomorrow."

"Jah . . . most." Eli turned to smile at Sadie.

She felt a thrill rush through her, all the way down to her toes. She followed him to a small table and sat down while he went to the deep icebox to retrieve their sodas.

"Been gettin' all your mail delivered these days?" Daniel asked Eli, coming around from the counter.

Sadie nearly laughed at Daniel's remark.

"Well, now, how would I know thai? Eli replied.

"S'pose you're right. How would ya know?" Now Daniel was the one giving it a chuckle.

Eli was grinning as he brought a frosty root beer to her, placing the opened bottle on the table in front of her. "There ya be." He sal across from her on the delicate matching chair, nearly too small for Sadie, let alone a husky man like him.

Daniel had the good sense to leave them be, turning to step behind the counter.

"How's he know you, Eli?" she whispered.

"Oh, I helped put up those shelves behind the counter," he said. "Long 'bout the third week after I arrived in Gobbler's Knob, I heard tell of Daniel's need, so I got myself down here and helped out."

She found this interesting. "And our former bishop didn't give you a tongue-lashin' for it?"

"I doubt he even heard." Eli smiled, setting down his root beer and curving his hand around it. "Figured I wasn't staying round here longer than to find me a wife and return to Ohio. Least, that's what I thought back then," he said, his voice softer.

"Oh?" She felt she might need to hold her breath.

"Now I'm lookin' to settle down in these parts . . . that is, if you'll have me for your husband, Sadie."

Surely he knows how I feel! But no, she best not make her response quite like that. "Will I have ya?" she repeated, scarcely able to keep a straight face when this was all she'd been hoping for.

"Jah, that's what I said, Missy Sadie."

She smiled her sweetest smile. "Well, jah, I think marryin'

' : 241Revelation

yniul be real fine and dandy." Then, right away, she said what she'd been pondering for some time. "Since Leah's never married, we 11 . . . what would ya say if we wait till she and Jonas get hitched first?"

1'Ti's grin filled his whole face. "First of December, maybe?" "Whenever you say." She nearly startled herself, sounding so compliant. But Sadie knew this man across from her with the most appealing twinkle in his eye was surely God's will for the rest of her life.

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Leah felt as if the pony and cart were flying, not making contact at all with the reality of pavement. The church vote was in. They'd had ilicir unanimous say: Jonas was now permitted to fellowship with I lit1 People to participate in every respect as a full-fledged voting member.

The membership meeting following the Preaching service this Master Sunday had been a true relief from the past six months, and I ,cah savored the vision of Jonas wearing a broad smile as he was I'.iven the hand of fellowship by the ministers.

The whole Erkrsol family was overjoyed and had stayed behind lor .seconds on dessert at Deacon Stoltzfus's house, where Preaching had been held. Undoubtedly they would soon head home in the l.mlily buggy.

For the moment Leah needed some time alone. Time to think and talk to God, thanking Him for this most wondrous blessing. Jonas and I am be married for sure, she thought, urging the pony to full speed.

She wondered when to bring up with her father the subject of Abe and Lydiann and where they ought to live. Should they join |onas and Leah, or remain with Dat and Aunt Lizzie at home? With i he rift between her and Lyddie fully healed, Leah certainly didn't want to appear to turn her back on either Lydiann or Abe, even I hough they were both well on their way to becoming young adults.

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She delighted in her homeward thoughts, almost pinching herself at the remembrance of the People's vote for Jonas today.

Aware now of a team coming toward her, right down the middle of the road, Leah slowed the pony a bit.

What on earth?

She leaned forward, straining to see if the driver was at the reins, but she couldn't tell because the enclosed gray buggy was too far away. The horse looked to be galloping recklessly out of control, and the closer it came, the harder she tried to see if there was a driver inside. Or was this runaway horse pulling an empty carriage?

"Whoa!" She drew back on the reins of her pony. Once she'd come to a complete stop, she got out and swiftly tied him to a tree trunk right quick before going to stand in the road, waiting, hoping to flag down the horse.

Straightaway this time she saw the driver was slumped over in the front seat, his head bobbing as the carriage raced along. He must be terribly ill. . . maybe unconscious.

She knew she had to be extremely cautious and quick or she could easily get tangled up in the buggy wheels and be run over. Recently there had been an account in The Budget about a mishap where a church bench wagon had zigzagged down a hill. The driver had been thrown, and the wagon wheels had run him over, causing his death.

Yet with no one else to turn to, Leah must try her best to bring the horse and carriage to a stop, lest the man inside be terribly hurt or even killed. Dear Lord, help me!

But as the animal approached, it did not slow at her command. She noticed one of the reins dangling loose, dragging on the road. If I can just grab it, she thought.

With desperate resolve, she lifted her skirt with one hand and stooped and snatched the rein off the road with the other.

"Ach!" she groaned, and was immediately snatched off her feet, losing her balance. She fell to the ground, clinging to the rein as she was dragged along, screaming out in pain.

"Whoa!" she called again and again, sobbing as she did, yet refusing to let go of the rein.

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The horse, whose head was pulled hard to the left, began to .low, :ind then, as if by a miracle, came to an abrupt stop.

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