The Bishop's Daughter (20 page)

“Nate and Josh were probably out behind the store playing,” Titus spoke up. “They like to hang out there and pretend like they’re carin’ for the buggy horse they keep in the small corral.”

“That’s so they don’t have to do any work in the store,” Timothy put in. “I’d like to see those two follow us around in the fields all day. A couple of hours out there in the hot sun, and they’d understand what hard work’s all about.”

“Josh is only eleven, and Nate just turned nine,” Fannie said with a shake of her head. “They should be allowed to play once in a while. Besides, their daed owns the general store. He doesn’t farm for a living.”

“Looks like you two are pretty good at finding ways to take a break.” Abraham leaned over and poked Titus on the back. “For a couple of strong teenagers, you can sure figure out ways to get out of doin’ a full day’s work.”

“Ah, Papa, we ain’t sloughing off,” Timothy said with a grunt. “We got hot out there in the fields and decided to come up to the house to get somethin’ cold to drink.”

“Jah, and when Mama saw us standin’ out back at the pump, she invited us inside for pie and milk,” his twin brother added.

Abraham smiled despite the sad news he had to share. “I think you’ve had enough of a break for now. If you eat more of your mamm’s pie, you won’t want supper.”

“I’ll be able to eat again by supper time,” Timothy announced.

“Even so, I want you to get back to work, because there’s a lot to be done in the fields yet today.”

Titus slid his chair back and stood. “You comin’, Papa?”

Abraham shook his head. “I’ve got something I need to say to your mamm first.”

The boys gave him a questioning look, but neither one said a word. They gulped down the last of their milk, grabbed their straw hats from the pegs by the back door, and rushed out of the house.

Fannie turned to Abraham and smiled. “What’d you need to speak to me about?”

Abraham took hold of her hand. “I’m afraid I’ve got bad news.”

Fannie’s face registered alarm. “What is it, husband?”

“While I was at the store, I received word that Edna had passed away this morning. They think she had a heart attack.”

Fannie covered her mouth and gasped. “
Nee
,
nee
, she can’t be dead. I saw Edna last week at a quilting bee, and she looked just fine.”

Abraham sat there a few minutes waiting for his announcement to register fully. He knew his wife well enough to realize that she needed more time to process this distressing news.

After a few minutes, Fannie spoke again. “Ever since I moved to Pennsylvania, Edna and I have been best friends. How can I go on without my dear cousin?” Her chin trembled as tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.

Abraham quickly wrapped his arms around her. “You’ve been through worse in years past, and you’ll get through this, too. With God’s help, we can survive any of life’s tragedies.”

“I appreciate you goin’ to the Fishers’ place with me,” Leona’s daed said as the two of them headed down the road in his buggy the following day.

“Since Mom’s coming down with a cold and wasn’t feeling well enough to accompany you, she asked me to come along in her place.”

Papa glanced over at her and smiled. “I know I’ve said this before, but you’re gonna make some man a real good wife someday.”

Leona’s face heated, and she quickly changed the subject. “When you went over to see Fannie yesterday, did you feel that she had accepted her cousin’s death?”

“Afraid not,” Papa said with a shake of his head. “Fannie was so distraught, and nothing either Abraham or I said seemed to offer much comfort, so I thought I’d try again today. We need to get her feeling as if she can cope better before Edna’s funeral service.”

“Now that she’s had a few days to mourn, maybe she’s calmed down some.”

He nodded. “I’m eager to know if that’s the case.”

“How are Ezra’s folks coping with Edna’s death?” she asked.

“As well as can be expected. I spoke with Gerald’s sister, Gretchen, too, and she’s holding up pretty well.”

They pulled into the Fishers’ yard then, and Papa parked the buggy near the barn. Leona reached behind the seat and retrieved the wicker basket she’d brought. Then she climbed down from the passenger’s side. As soon as Papa had the horse tied to the hitching rail, they strode toward the house, arm in arm.

Mary Ann greeted them at the back door. “I’m glad you’ve come,” she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. “Mama Fannie’s not been herself since she heard about Edna, and I’m worried about her.”

“Where is she now, and where’s Abraham?” Leona’s daed asked.

“Papa’s out in the fields with my brothers. Mama Fannie’s in there huddled on the sofa.” Mary Ann motioned to the door that led to the living room. “I found her that way when I got home from the quilt shop awhile ago.”

“Maybe she’s tired and needed a nap,” Leona suggested.

Mary Ann shook her head. “She’s heartsick over losing Edna.”

“I’ll have a word with her.” Papa turned to Leona. “Why don’t you stay in the kitchen with Mary Ann? You two can visit while I speak to Fannie.”

“That might be best.” Mary Ann pulled out a chair at the table. “I’ll pour us some lemonade.”

Papa left the room, and Leona took a seat. “How are things at the quilt shop?”

“Busy as usual for this time of the year. Abby says she’s glad she hired me to help out because there’s just too much work for her and Stella to do by themselves. Besides, once the school year begins, Stella will be back in school and won’t be able to help Abby at all.” Mary Ann went to the refrigerator and took out a pitcher of lemonade, which she placed on the table. Bringing two glasses with her, she sat in the chair across from Leona. “I’m sorry you haven’t made it to any of the young people’s functions so far this summer. I think it would be good for you and help take your mind off—”

“Edna’s funeral will be hard for many to get through,” Leona interrupted. She didn’t want to talk about her going to any young people’s functions.

Mary Ann reached over and patted Leona’s hand. “It’s bound to bring back memories of Ezra’s funeral, but you’ll get through it, Leona.”

“Let’s talk about something else, okay?”

“Jah, sure. So, how’s the painting on the schoolhouse comin’ along?”

“Good. The outside’s done, and Jimmy and Eli will be starting on the inside tomorrow or the next day.”

Mary Ann filled the glasses with lemonade and handed one to Leona. “Isn’t Jimmy that English fellow your daed hired?”

Leona nodded and took a sip of her cool, tangy drink.

“I wasn’t working at the quilt shop the day he came into the general store, but Naomi told me later that he reminded her of someone.”

“Really? Who?”

“She didn’t say. Just thought he looked kind of familiar.”

“I don’t see how he could be anyone she knows,” Leona said. “He’s from the state of Washington.”

“I’ve heard it said that everyone has a double somewhere.” Mary Ann glanced at the door leading to the living room. “Sure hope your daed can get Mama Fannie calmed down.”

“If anyone can, it will be him.” Leona knew it was wrong to be full of
hochmut
, yet she couldn’t help but feel a little pride in her daed’s abilities to minister in such a gentle, caring way.

“I need to run over to Naomi’s place,” Abraham told his twin boys after they had quit work in the fields for the day. “Would one of you let your mamm know I’ll be a few minutes late for supper?”

“Sure, Papa,” Titus said with a nod.

“How come you’re goin’ over to our big sister’s?” Timothy questioned. “Won’t ya be seein’ her at the funeral in a few days?”

“Jah, but I’m needing something from Naomi right now.” Abraham headed for the stable to get one of their buggies. He didn’t say anything to the boys, but the reason he was going over to his oldest daughter’s was to see if she had a homeopathic remedy that might help Fannie get through the funeral service. Naomi often used natural remedies, and she had told him once about a particular one that was used for calming. He figured it was best not to mention it to the boys. No point getting them all worried about their mamm.

Half an hour later, Abraham guided his horse and buggy up to Caleb’s barn. He entered the house through the back door, and seeing no one in the kitchen, he cupped his hands around his mouth and called, “Are ya at home, Naomi?”

“Mama and Papa aren’t back from the store yet; I’m upstairs, and so are the two younger ones.”

Abraham recognized Susan’s voice. “You comin’ down, or should I come up there?”

“Come on up,” she hollered. “I’m busy changing sheets.”

Wonder why she’d be changing sheets at this time of the day?
Abraham made his way into the hall and up the flight of stairs. He found Susan in Naomi and Caleb’s room stripping sheets off the bed.

“What’s goin’ on?” He grimaced as the sour smell of
kotz
greeted him.

“Kevin and Millie both came down with the flu and have been throwing up all morning,” she replied. “So I stayed home from the store to care for them, and Sarah, Josh, and Nate went in with the folks today. Grandma Hoffmeir usually watches the younger ones, but she’s got the flu, too.”

“Sorry to hear they’re sick. I take it the kinner must have been sleeping in this room.”

Susan nodded and pushed a strand of ash-blond hair away from
her face where it had worked its way from under her kapp.

“How come they weren’t in their own beds?” he questioned.

“They were, but they both missed the bucket and ended up vomiting on their sheets. While I was changing their beds, I put them in Mama and Papa’s room.” She frowned. “By the time I was done and had their beds made up again, they’d thrown up in here, too.”

Abraham shook his head, remembering the days of raising his own kinner and thinking about how when one had come down with the flu, the others usually followed. “I dropped by to see if your mamm has a homeopathic remedy that might help Fannie get through Edna’s funeral without falling apart,” he said. “Do you know where she keeps that kind of thing?”

Susan nodded toward the bathroom across the hall. “It could either be in the medicine chest or on the top shelf of the linen closet. I think Mama keeps some remedies there.”

“Danki. I’ll take a look.” Abraham rushed out of the bedroom, anxious for some fresh air. The disagreeable odor of kotz had always made his stomach churn.

The bathroom didn’t smell much better, giving proof that the children had probably gotten sick in there, as well. He searched quickly through the medicine chest but found no homeopathic remedies.

Frustrated, Abraham hurried into the hall and opened the linen closet. He discovered a stack of towels on the bottom shelf. There were a few bottles of aspirin and a jar of petroleum jelly on the top shelf, but he didn’t see any remedies there, either. He was about to give up when he noticed a colorful piece of cloth sticking out of a box, also on the top shelf. Curious, he pulled it out, and his breath caught in his throat.
Why, this was Zach’s quilt! I haven’t seen it since the night before he was kidnapped, when I tucked him into bed, but I would recognize this anywhere
.

“Papa, what are you doing?”

Abraham whirled around and faced Naomi. He hadn’t heard her come up the stairs. “I was looking for a homeopathic remedy that might calm Fannie’s nerves.” He thrust the quilt out to her. “Is—is this Zach’s?”