Wild Heart on the Prairie (A Prairie Heritage, Book 2) (18 page)

Søren mumbled a barely audible, “
Ja
.”

“Good. Let us pray right now. Then you will help me build a
room.”

Each Sunday Jan made a point of greeting Adolphe and Rakel,
showing respect and deference to the office in which Adolphe stood. This Sunday
was no different.

With Søren beside him, Jan extended his hand. “Good morning,
Herr
Veicht,
Frau
Veicht. Good Sabbath to you.” Søren obediently
offered his hand also.

“
Guten morgen
,
Herr
Thoresen.
Guten morgen
,
Søren,”
Herr
Veicht responded evenly. He always said the same thing and
never anything more. His wife only nodded, her eyes coolly appraising.

Jan nodded back, glad to have the ritual over. He and Søren
moved quickly away.

That morning Jan managed to corner Gunnar Braun, Klaus
Schöener, and Rikkert Kappel individually before service. “I have built a
bedroom for myself in my barn,” he said to each man, with Søren interpreting. “I
no longer sleep in the house. Søren will remain in the house to help Amalie
with heavy chores, especially until the baby comes. From now on, I will be in
the house only for meals.”

Just like a hired man
, Jan could not help thinking.
In
my own house, like a hired man
.

“You will please inform Minister Veicht,” Jan concluded. He had
decided not tell Minister Veicht directly. Jan would not provide an opportunity
to aggravate the man’s obvious dislike of him, especially in a public setting.

Rikkert looked around and then clasped Jan on the arm. “I
think this is a good solution for now, Jan.”

Gunnar was not as positive. “I am glad to hear this, Jan.
However, I am not sure Minister Veicht will think it is enough.” He sighed. “Be
on your guard, Jan,
ja
?”

“Why should I be on my guard, Gunnar? If I am in the wrong,
then let the church show me where in the Scriptures. I am not afraid of the
discipline of the Lord.
Whom God loves, he chastens
, eh? I am at peace
in God’s love for me.”

Gunnar had no answer. He, too, clasped Jan’s shoulder.

It was the same with Klaus. “I will tell you this, Jan, a
bedroom in the barn will not be enough to satisfy Minister Veicht. He will
bring you before the people soon.” Klaus looked at Jan, a shamed expression on
his face.

“How did we get to this place?” Jan demanded, his anger flaring.
“This is not how Tomas served our church and our people!”

He saw Heidi Veicht hugging Amalie and whispering
encouragement to her. The old woman was still loving and sweet.

However, Heidi had changed since Adolphe and Rakel had moved
into her and Tomas’ home. Now Heidi dressed in clothing as dark and plain as
Rakel’s. And she had adopted a set and serene expression, Jan noticed—one
devoid of laughter or smiles.

Lord, I don’t know what else to do
, Jan cried
silently.
Amalie and I will not marry, but what else can I do?

Jan could barely tolerate taking Søren and Amalie and her
children to church. When he did, he and Amalie assiduously avoided appearing
like a couple. He would help her down from the wagon, but immediately find
other men to converse with before and after church. Likewise, Amalie never
stood near him. She and Sigrün would herd the little boys into the women’s
seats as she felt they were too young yet to sit with the men.

If Little Karl, Arnie, or Kjell needed their uncle’s
oversight or correction, Jan was quick to provide it, but he and Amalie
carefully kept their relationship distinct and separate.

Church was no longer the joyous place it had been. What had
been a happy, gracious congregation was increasingly severe and morose. With
his preaching and rules, Adolphe Veicht had altered the character of the
church.

Jan wondered what Tomas would have thought of the changes.

Jan knew that many of the men were as unhappy as he. Rikkert
shifted uncomfortably in the stiff, black suit he was required to wear every
Sunday. The singing droned on unenthusiastically.

Why does no one protest this tyranny?
Jan raged
inwardly.
Are there no men of God to stand up to this? If I could speak
their language well, Lord, I would say something!

But Jan was convicted. Would he speak up if he could
articulate his thoughts in German?

He looked at Heidi Veicht sitting demurely beside her
daughter-in-law on the front row and shook his head. He saw Heidi’s shoulders
rise and fall in a sigh. Then, for just a moment, Rakel turned her face away
and Heidi quickly looked back, smiling her toothless smile and nodding at other
women and children. This was the Heidi they all knew and loved!

Rakel turned back and nudged Heidi. Jan could tell from
Rakel’s reproving frown that she was saying something sharp to Heidi. The old
woman calmly nodded her head, faced forward, and remained still.

Jan’s anger kindled against Rakel Veicht.
O God, what
they are doing to this woman of God is not right!
he seethed within. But he
could say or do nothing. Jan stared at the toes of his boots.

Lord . . .

~~**~~

“
Pappa!
” Søren cracked opened the door to Jan’s room in
the barn and leaned over the bed. “
Pappa
,” he said quietly, shaking Jan.

Jan was in a deep sleep when he heard Søren’s voice calling
to him. “What is it?” Groggy, Jan sat up and wiped his eyes.

“
Tante
Amalie says she is ready to have the baby,”
Søren answered. He sounded nervous.

The coming of a baby had always been kept within the
conversation and domain of women, not talked of much among the men or to the
children. After a baby was born, he or she was proudly shown to the men and
other children, as though birthing the child had been nothing more than going
into a room and bringing a baby back out.

Søren was learning it was
not
so. His aunt had called
to him in the night, and he had heard her groaning in pain on the other side of
her bedroom door.

“Ah! I will go for Abigael,” Jan answered, already pulling
on his boots. “When I bring her back, you will stay downstairs with me. Right
now, pump water for her and build up the fire in the stove,
ja
?”

“
Ja
,
Pappa
.” Søren agreed readily. He frowned.
“How much water,
Pappa
?”

Jan chuckled. “Fill the kettle and the big pot, eh? Put them
both on the stove to heat.”

Jan hitched the bays to one of the wagons. Within minutes
they were trotting down their icy dirt road toward the bridge over the creek.
Jan shivered and rubbed his eyes again. He was dressed in thick layers, but the
January night was bitterly cold.

He turned off the bridge and directed the team up the rise
and then down the rutted track to the Andersons’ house below. A few minutes
later he knocked on their door. Henrik, barefoot and dressed in a night shirt,
opened it.

“So? Is it Amalie’s time?” he asked, yawning.

“
Ja
, she sent Søren to me to fetch Abigael.”

“I will get her. It will be a few minutes.”

After Jan returned with Abigael and she went upstairs to
help Amalie, Jan and Søren built up the fire in the living room and sank into the
deep, overstuffed chairs. Both of them were sleeping soundly when Abigael woke
them.

“It is a girl,” she said happily. “It did not take long, and
Amalie is doing fine.”

“
A girl!
” Søren was flummoxed. After three boys in a
row, a girl was not what he had expected from his aunt.

Jan laughed. “It is good we have another girl, eh? Sigrün
and Amalie will like that.” He chuckled again. “What name has Amalie given the
baby?”

“A good one, I think! She calls her Uli.”

“
Ja
, that is pretty. Uli. What do you think, Søren?”

The boy shrugged. “I do not know,
Pappa
. What do I
know of baby girls?”

Jan clapped him on the shoulder. “A baby girl is a blessing.
You will see.” He looked at Søren and Abigael and said softly, “Karl would be
glad to see this new child of his. We must be glad for him.”

Abigael nodded, understanding. “Yes. I will fix Amalie
something to eat now.”

For weeks following the birth of Amalie’s daughter, Jan felt
the unrest of a looming confrontation. He dutifully took Sigrün, Søren, and the
little boys to church while Amalie and the baby rested at home.

He knew in his heart that Minister Veicht was waiting and
watching and that he would call them before the congregation soon after Amalie resumed
coming to church with him. Yet the more Jan prayed, the more sure he was that
the Lord had no further direction for him.

Fader
,
I have asked you what else I should do, but
you have said nothing
, Jan prayed.
If we are brought before the church,
I can only answer what the Holy Spirit speaks to me. Your will be done, Lord
.

The first time Jan held Amalie’s baby he stared into her
blue eyes, humbled by the awesome power of new life. “Little girl, I am your
Onkel
Jan. I will take good care of you,
ja
?”

Often as he held her, he thought of Elli and Kristen. How
could he not? He held the infant close and drew comfort from her.

When Uli was six weeks old, Amalie felt ready to take the
babe to church. Jan agreed, but he steeled himself for what he sensed was
coming.
Lord . . . I am trusting in you.

As soon as Amalie stepped down from the wagon that Sunday,
the women of the church gathered around to see her new baby. Jan corralled her three
little boys and took them off to give Amalie a few minutes of peace. He decided
he would keep them with him during the service, too.

He had Søren sit on one end of the bench and placed Little
Karl, Arnie, and Kjell between them. Jan took the seat next to Kjell. Amalie might
have difficulties with the energetic two-year-old, but he would be still for
his
onkel
.

Norvald Bruntrüllsen sat behind him. As Jan turned to shake
his hand their eyes met. “If you have anything to say today, my friend, I will
translate it for you.” Norvald’s eyes were sad but determined.

“So! You know we will be brought before the church today?”
Jan asked quietly. Norvald glanced behind Jan and Jan knew Adolphe Veicht was
watching.

Always! Always he is watching me!
Jan fumed.

Norvald dropped Jan’s hand and his eyes cut away, but under his
breath Jan heard, “
Ja
.”

“Thank you. I will ask you to help me then,” Jan replied
before he sat down.

At the end of his message, Adolphe held up his hand. “Before
we are dismissed to break bread, we have a matter of church discipline. As much
as it pains me, I must bring a matter before you concerning Jan Thoresen and
Amalie Thoresen.”

A dread hush descended on the congregation.

Adolphe made sure every eye was on him before he spoke
again. Jan looked across to the women and saw Amalie. Her broad, honest face
was composed. Jan knew she would not easily break down.

My brother chose a good woman
, he thought with pride.

Adolphe, sure of everyone’s attention, continued. “The
elders and I have already visited and given our counsel to Jan and Amalie
Thoresen. We counseled them to be married and gave them four months to hear our
godly wisdom and respond. They have not heard us. They have not stopped living
in sin.” Adolphe looked directly at Jan as he spoke.

A collective gasp sounded across the room. In Jan’s ear,
Norvald whispered what Adolphe was saying. Søren stared aghast at his father.
Jan handed a sleeping Kjell to Søren and rose to his feet. He would not
dishonor his family; he, like Amalie would remain composed.

He gestured to Norvald. “This man will translate for me so
that I may answer this accusation.” Norvald stood behind Jan and repeated what
Jan said in German. Loud enough to be heard by all, he asked in Riksmaal, “Of
what sin are we accused?”

Adolphe’s face darkened but he kept his composure. “You and
your brother’s wife are living together without marriage.”

“
Nei
, we are not,” Jan answered in a clear voice.

“You add lies to your sins?” Adolphe thundered. “This will
not be tolerated.”

When Norvald repeated the word “lies,” Jan’s eyes hardened and
his hands gripped the sides of his trousers.

“I call the elders of the church to stand!” Jan roared. No
one had expected this—not even Jan.

Slowly, Rikkert, Klaus, and Gunnar stood to their feet. Adolphe
had momentarily frozen, but soon enough he motioned to them to sit and started
to say something. Jan cut him off.

“I will speak, Minister Veicht. You will not interrupt my
response to this charge.” He pointed his finger at Adolphe and, even though
Norvald had not yet interpreted, Jan’s meaning was clear.

Jan pointed at each elder. “Did I not speak to each of you
saying I had built a room for myself in the barn? Did I not say that I would
only be in the house for meals?”

Jan turned to Adolphe. “In December I requested them to
convey this information to you. Did you not receive it?”

Norvald repeated everything Jan said. The elders nodded in
affirmation, and the men of the congregation eyed Jan speculatively.

Adolphe waved Jan’s words away. “So you say you live
in
the barn
, but can anyone testify to this?”

Jan pointed at Rikkert, “Did you seek to verify what I told
you? Have you seen this room?”

Rikkert cleared his throat. “I have.”

Jan addressed the elders but also the entire congregation.
“You have known me for nearly seven years. This man,” he jerked his chin toward
Adolphe, “calls me a liar. Am I a liar? Has my word or conduct ever been in
question?” As Norvald translated, loud calls and shouts of “
nein!
”
answered Jan.

Jan again pointed at Adolphe. “If you doubted your elders’ testimony,
Minister, why did you not seek to verify it for yourself?”

Adolphe, his face a dark red, spat back, “No one can be
there in the middle of the night, can they? When you sneak into the house and
into this woman’s bed? To prove the innocence of this arrangement would require
a live-in chaperone, would it not?”

He had gone too far. A murmur of outrage rippled over the
congregation.

Sigrün pushed her face into Amalie’s shoulder, sobbing
silently. Amalie sat still and erect, but Jan could see her struggling to keep
her composure.

Then Jan saw Søren staring at Adolphe with open hatred, and
the little boys, scared and not understanding what was happening, were wailing
and climbing on Jan’s legs.

I must end this
, Jan realized sadly.
This is
injuring my sønn and my brother’s family
.

He held up his hand to prevent Adolphe from saying more.
“Minister Veicht. You need not continue. We wish no strife. We will leave the
church in peace.”

“
Nein!
” someone said loudly and others took it up.
Jan spoke even louder to be heard over the growing unrest.

“God is our witness that there never has and never shall be
wrong behavior between myself and my brother’s wife. Amalie and I have prayed.
We do not feel the Lord calling us to marry, but I must still provide for my
brother’s wife and children, mustn’t I? That I will do, even though we do not
marry.”

Jan looked around the room. “And now we will go. We will
leave this church rather than cause division and strife.”

“Stop!” The tiny voice, raised to its loudest, came from
Heidi Veicht. The congregation lapsed into silence.

“I will be their live-in chaperone,” she said clearly into
the silence. “I will testify to their behavior.” Norvald quickly repeated her
words to Jan.

“Sit down, old woman,” Adolphe shouted. He pointed his
finger at her and shook it. “A woman is not permitted to speak!”

“I
will
speak! You have made me a prisoner in my own
home. I will no longer live with you.”

Adolphe strode to the front row and grabbed her by the arm.
With his other hand he threatened to strike her.

Jan had seen enough. “
Thou shalt honor thy father and
mother
,” Jan thundered. “Do you speak to your mother with such disrespect? Do
you dare raise your hand to her? A man who strikes his mother is not fit to be
a minister of God!”

Norvald stumbled at this, but duly repeated it. The
congregation had already erupted, some shouting in Jan’s favor, some in
Adolphe’s.

Heidi Veicht wrenched her arm from Adolphe’s grip and ran to
Jan’s side. “
Herr
Thoresen, will you take me into your home?” She was
trembling and reached out her hand to him. Jan grasped the elderly woman’s hand
and pulled her to his side, understanding perfectly how frightened she was. Norvald
looked from Heidi to Jan and then translated.

“
Ja
,” Jan answered. “You are welcome in our home,
dear sister. Come with us.”

He lifted Kjell to his shoulder and led Heidi toward the
door. Søren followed behind holding Little Karl and a sobbing Arnie by their
hands; Amalie and Sigrün joined them.

“Where are you going with my mother?” Adolphe roared. “She
is under my care and protection—she must obey me!”

Jan kept walking. Heidi clutched his hand and watched
Adolphe, fear on her face. Jan handed her up into their wagon. Amalie appeared
at his side and he handed her up also. All the children clambered into the
wagon, even though the horses had not yet been hitched to it.

Adolphe called to his elders. “This man is taking my mother
unlawfully!” He strode toward Jan’s wagon with a reluctant posse behind him.

Jan stood between Adolphe and Heidi. Søren stood by him.

“You have no right to take this woman!” Adolphe shouted.
“She is under my authority!”

“
Nei
,” Jan answered. “This woman is free. She may do
as she chooses,” he declared.

Jan raised his voice to the congregation gathered around the
wagon, “She has asked in front of all of you to be the live-in chaperone that
Minister Veicht requires of us.”

He turned to Heidi, who was trembling on the wagon’s bench
under Amalie’s arm. “
Fru Veicht
, do you consent to live with us and bear
testimony to our behavior?” Norvald, from the crowd, called up to Heidi,
translating for Jan.

“
Ja
, I do!” she stated clearly.

Then Norvald was beside Jan and Søren, between Adolphe and
the wagon. Ivan and Henrik joined him. Another man from the congregation came alongside
them.

Adolphe, his face burning with fury, spoke again, his voice
less strident but loud enough for the people to hear. “Listen, then, all of
you! This woman has chosen. She is no longer my mother and will no longer be
received in my home or this church.”

He pointed at Jan. “Jan Thoresen, you are banned from
fellowship with this church. Go! Do not show yourself here again.”