Abram's Daughters 01 The Covenant (24 page)

He whispered to his horse, looking out over the golden serenity of the fall evening, his gaze wandering all the way round Abram's rolling front lawn, then over to the adjoining field. He'd heard the rumors about Abram's hopes of Leah and Smithy Gid uniting in marriage someday, though he dismissed them as mere tittle-tattle. Abram was a reasonable

man. Surely he'd want Leah's say in the matter of a husband.

Tonight Jonas hoped to find out just how well he and Leah got along together. He had a nice surprise in store for her. They were going to drive over and visit his married cousin on his mother's side. Later on, Anna and her soon-tobe-husband were joining them there for pie and ice cream.

The gentle rustle of a breeze in the bushes made him

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wutdi even more keenly for Leah, hoping she might appear

w! my minute. He started to walk down the lane to meet her

i ill way, and then there she was ... he spied the white prayer

Hi atop her brown hair, and if he wasn't mistaken she

m- !' a cheerful smile. "That you, Leah?" he called.

I "Jah, 'tis. Hullo, Jonas."

I He offered his hand as they walked across the road to the

narked buggy. Giving her a slight boost, he waited till she was

titled on the left side of the driver's seat, then, hurrying

tHind Co the other side, leaped into the carriage.

I They rode down Georgetown Road a ways, talking all the

while. He was struck yet again at how much he enjoyed the

ivt'ly conversation. When there was a lull, he asked, "Does

ptiiir ilat know who you're out with tonight?"

I "I didn't tell him."

I Ik- wanted to bring up the amount of time she expected

If hem to be gone. "Didja want to return early, say before mid-

Ihil'.hi?"

I "Maybe closer to eleven," she replied. "Will that be all

lfli;hi with you?'^

I Jonas hateTl the thought of cutting their time short,

||m< :iusc they wouldn't see each other again till next Sunday

l|ii|:lil at the singing, if Leah agreed to ride home with him

Ijiynih, "I'll have you back home early enough," he agreed.

I When they got closer to his cousins' farm, he played a

Millie game with Leah. "Can ya guess where we might be

Hjoili

"To somebody's house?"

ill I ))

Jan.

"Anyone I know?" "You met 'em at the big family reunion several summers

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back," he said, enjoying his clever pastime. " 'Twas when Mamma's distant cousins from Hickory Hollow came, too."

"Oh, now I remember. Let's see." She paused to think. "Is it a newly married couple?"

"Tied the knot just two years ago." He was sure she'd know from this additional tidbit.

"I think I know. Must be Bennie and Amanda Zook."

"That's right, and there's something else exciting." Ho lowered his voice, sounding even more mysterious. "Another couple is coming, too. Can you guess?"

"A courtin' couple or married?"

He was impressed with how sharp she was. "Courtin', that's all I best say."

She began naming off one young girl and boy after another. "Becky Lapp and John Esh? Mary Ann Glick and Jesse Stoltzfus?"

"Wouldja like another hint?" he asked at last.

"Just one clue, but a little one, jah?"

He leaned closer, a gut excuse to do so. "Their married name will rhyme with 'sing.' "

She thought for only a few seconds, then said, "Now 1 know. We're meeting your sister, Anna, and her beau, Nathaniel King!"

This was the moment he'd been waiting for. He slipped his arm around her and drew her near. "You're correct, my dear Leah." And with that, he kissed her cheek.

The harvest moon, yellow and full, rose slowly over the eastern horizon. Leah pointed and said the sight of it nearly took her breath away. Jonas was ever so glad, for he'd hoped she might think so ... have some wonderful-gut memories of

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In, fheir first night as a courting couple, something special I ell their grandchildren in years to come.

H The evening visit was filled with laughter, telling jokes

Bid u low stories mixed in, but it was the chocolate-mocha

Bt imil homemade vanilla ice cream that topped off the

li(jhl. Both Leah and Anna decided it was the tastiest pie

Rtt'y'd ever had. Jonas was especially pleased to observe his

Hull-1 and Leah getting along so agreeably.

At one point Nathaniel King whispered to him out of the

ills' hearing that perhaps the two couples ought to have

BhoiiLsdves a double wedding. Jonas was taken aback by the

BlIUKestion, though he assumed a casual attitude. "In less than

IhriH* weeks? No, we've just started courtin'," he replied.

I So the subject was dropped, since he was fairly sure the

fcrupl idea might scare off Leah. And if not her, then Abram,

br mire and for gsrtain. Jonas must prove himself over time,

how himself to"be deserving of Abram's daughter his pick

111 I he crop, far as Jonas could tell.

I I Ie took the long drive home, aware of the time, though

K was only quarter of ten. Plenty of time for just the two of

hem. "Didja enjoy yourself?" he asked.

I "Oh my, ever so much. Denki, Jonas."

I "Anna and Nathaniel did, too, I think."

I "Jah, they did. And I was glad to get better acquainted

iWlllv your sister."

"Anna said to tell you it would be fun to do something (Inc, the four of us ... sometime."

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"How does Nathaniel feel 'bout that?"

Jonas shook his head. "He's eager to have gut fellowship with us, too." Then he had the daring to ask her, right there and then, if she'd consent to riding home with him at the next singing.

"Why, sure, Jonas."

Right pleased with her response, he had to hold himsell back a bit from moving too quickly, revealing the depths ol his feelings for lovely Leah. After all, this was only their first time courting.

Enjoying the stillness, a trace of cinnamon in the fresh night air, he reached for Leah's hand and held it all the way home as they talked and laughed. Truly, they were so happy together!

Leah wished she'd never said a thing about Jonas having her home by eleven o'clock. Goodness' sakes, she was having the best time. And here they were, riding under a full moon, her hand in Jonas's, talking as comfortably as you please. She had built this night up in her mind, during the days between the last singing and now, yet how could she have known she'd feel almost sad to say good-bye?

Dat's cornfield was fast coming into view as the horse and buggy approached the Ebersol Cottage from the Peachey side. If only Dat could know how happy she was this night.

"I'll be countin' the days till I see ya again," said Jonas.

"A week and a day, jah?" She felt him squeeze her hand gently.

"My brothers and I will be workin' in the orchard 'tween now and then. Such a busy time it'll be."

"And I'll be helpin' Mamma finish up the canning ami

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I hi' my outside chores for Dat, too." She didn't mention '! 'i lid mother was in the family way, same as his mamma

11 She just left that be. It was up to Mamma to share her

>VH.

"We'll both be busy ... so time'll fly, jah?" he said. She nodded but didn't believe it for a second, knowing I. >W flic days had crawled along waiting for this night. And I iiit if they both felt so strongly about missing each other? I" i how many years would Jonas want to wait before they if married?

When it was time to say good-bye, he gave her a quick, kwiird sort of hug. Oh, she wouldn't have minded letting I.nil kiss her full on the lips, the way she felt just now . . . and i in- way he was looking at her, too. But she knew better, immu had taught her, "Save your lip-kissin' for marriage." "(iod be with you, Leah." He held both her hands lightly w.

"And with you, Jonas." Though she said she could walk i> i the house on her own, he wouldn't hear of it.

Turning to tie up the horse, he then accompanied her il'iwn the lane that led to the barnyard. Yet another oppori unity for Jonas to reach for her hand, and she had to smile, iluitidy having missed his tender touch.

Then, of all things, they got to talking again about how

lie had always worked outdoors with Dat, how that was just

11 if way things had been. "I guess it happened 'cause Mamma

mil Dat were sorry they ever let Sadie go to high school, even

11 luu^h they could've gotten her a domestic permit when she

nimed fifteen." Leah had been hesitant to bring up her older

I'.ter tonight. She had no way of knowing just what rumors

li.ul been floating round . . . what Jonas might've heard of

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Sadie's careless rumschpringe. "So when I finished eighili grade, Dat put his foot down . . . decided to keep me home, continue workin' outside with him."

Jonas stopped walking. "I'm so sorry, Leah. I wish you hadn't had to work that way . . . just to keep from goin' l<> school."

"I didn't mind, really. Dat and I get along just fine. Ami for the longest time, honestly, I didn't so much care for women's work . . . women's talk" she admitted.

"And now?" He was looking down at her, eyes searching hers in the moonlight.

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I never felt I fit in with the womenfolk. Wasn't like them, really." What she meant to s;iy was that she didn't think she was as perty as the rest of them. But she dare not say such a thing. Jonas might think she w;in fishing for flattery.

"So you really are Abram's Leah?" whispered Jonas.

Her heart sank. "Where'd you ever hear that?"

"My sisters say it sometimes." He started walking again. "But I don't think it's right. To me, you're ever so perry. Maybe the pertiest girl I've ever known."

She wanted to say "no foolin'?" but she kept walking.

"Like a lovely bluebird, that's what you are," he said.

She could scarcely believe her ears. He had remembered her favorite bird from way back when! "I'd always thought ol myself as a common brown wren."

"Well, if you're comparing yourself to Sadie, best not."

She swallowed hard, hoping he'd go no further.

"You've got it all over your older sister. You have such n gut heart."

"Well, that's awful nice of you, Jonas, but "

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"No, I mean it. You're 17131 bluebird, Leah, and always will

1.1 "

11 is words startled her a bit. How could such a handsome

1 iy he saying that she was perty? And besides, wasn't this too n)n for him to offer such words of devotion?

Nut once Jonas was gone, and the clatter of carriage

IuppIb on the road was but a memory, she was glad he'd spo-

1 >*n up like that. So they felt the same way about each other. \ Iter this many years, they still did.

A I* half past nine Sadie headed off to bed, not to sleep but hi read her library book on pregnancy and childbirth. She IihiI heen careful to close the door securely, though there were mi lucks on any of the bedrooms none in the house at all, mil rven the outside doors. So she sat in bed, the oil lamp

1 hipped up on a chair next to her, devouring every word, MMiveling at the information tucked away in one book. This, lie thought, was a smart idea tonight, since Leah was gone I'll li Jonas Mast where she didn't know.

At ten-thirty *he set the book aside, going to look out the window. No sign of Leah anywhere. At once she thought she illicit have to laugh, thinking that the tables were turned, Ihi worrying over Leah this way.

Then, before creeping back to bed, she marked her place iinl hid the book deep in her hope chest, just as her secret 'HH well hidden for now within her own body.

Yet she did not sleep, lying awake . . . waiting for the

mind of footsteps on the stairs. And come along they would,

1 tlrly soon, she hoped. Leah had surely made it clear to

lomtN rliat she wouldn't be staying out so late. Not on this,

I hell" lirsf real courting night. Besides, Jonas would have a

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half-hour ride back once he brought Leah home. Because ol the slightly longer distance between here and Grasshopper Level, Sadie wondered if Leah might not allow Smithy (ml to court her some, too, if for no other reason than for the sake of convenience. Most boys didn't care to drive too far to pick up a girl and take her home. She'd heard plenty of complain ing about such things from some of her boy cousins, while waiting for the common meal after Preaching service. But no, Leah had her heart set on Jonas.

Sadie thought she just might go along with Leah to the next singing. Find out what was up. Wouldn't hurt none, Nobody at singing would have to know of her situation. Maybe, too, she'd find herself a nice boy. If she could gel somebody to fall in love with her, then tell him her secret. . . well, if he consented to marry her even still, then her dis graceful state could come to an end. But who on earth would that boy be? Certainly not anyone she knew in their church district. No one she'd care to consider as a husband.

Putting out the lamp, she climbed out of bed and stood in the window looking down at the barnyard. So here she wa.s, waiting for Leah to return, when she might've been oui having some fun of her own on such a pleasant night. II only she hadn't been so foolish, -r ; ; i

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m he days passed quickly enough, just as Jonas said they ktild. Yet Leah often caught herself joyfully brooding over nil, thinking ahead to the next wonderful-gut time, careful Hi to share too much with Sadie, who was ensnared in her i/V li contemplation. The difference between them now was die's tight-lipped response to most everything, while Leah fellKl scarcely contain her happiness.

I Mninma must've noticed, too, saying that Leah was nearly I huj'lilich chatty as Mary Ruth. This observation didn't Kin I'd bother Mary Ruth at all, just made for livelier canptig frolics in Mamma's big kitchen with Aunt Lizzie and Hi Hum and Adah Peachey.