Abram's Daughters 03 The Sacrifice (27 page)

They sat there enjoying the warm weather and a hint of breeze every so often, the scents of summer all around. Tli big leaves of the linden tree quaked gently outside the win dow.

"What's really on your mind, sister?" Leah said at last.

Hannah twitched her nose, looking at Lydiann. "Ho\ long before our little sister understands certain things?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

She leaned over and whispered in Leah's ear. "I need t( talk to you ... in private sometime."

"Well, why not say what's on your mind in English 'steai of Dutch? That'll keep Lydiann in the dark, if that's what yot want." Leah rose and carried Abe to the back door whil Hannah took Lydiann's hand and led her inside.

"I'll put Abe down for his nap," said Hannah while Leal sent Lydiann upstairs to find her dolly and a cradle.

When Hannah returned, her face was flushed. "Ach, bu this might seem strange to you" here she guided Leal through the kitchen to the screened-in back porch. "I don! know how you'll feel'bout this. ..." .. ' 4

"What is it, Hannah?" She studied her sister's eyes. 3

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hinwn, they were, and dancing like she'd never seen

I "Whnr I'm tryin' to say is, what would ya think if I told

I like Smithy Gid? Not as just a friend, I mean."

I I r;ili couldn't help herself. So ... Gid had already talked

Ijliiniiiih about the possibility of going for steady. She

in' .1 ,uhI clapped her hands. "Well, it's clearly all over your

Ii In nildn't be happier for you both of you."

1 mi i mean it?"

I I 1'iin'r think of a better match for Gid than my own pre-

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I I liinmih kissed her good-bye. "I best not be gone too long,

I1 )mi will wonder what's become of me." She turned and Ih 11 m 1 away.

I "|,ili, go on now. But be back for dinner at straight-up |(in," Leah called after her. She headed to the kitchen. HanIh 111-served to have an attentive beau like Smithy Gid, dear lil i hat she was. No need to think twice on it. And she was I' |" ilcct choice for Gid, as well. To think Dat just might I his son-in-law of choice, after all!

I As lor Hannah, she'd been through a wringer of sorts, Itni with Ezra Stoltzfus's leaving the Amish church behind,

in iiig himself shunned so soon after baptism. The grapevine Id n that he'd upped and gone ferhoodled or worse after the liih of Elias, as wild as if he'd never knelt his knee in bapliii So Hannah was better off, his dropping her like a hot If.iio and all, making it possible for Gid to have his chance.

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Leah found Lydiann talking Dutch to her little faceless doll. She was saying it might not be so long and they'd all In1 going fishing with Dat and "Smitty Gid" over at Blackbird Pond . . . and wouldn't that be such fun?

Lydiann would enjoy the benefits of growing up with ;i brother; something Leah had always felt she'd missed. She li;ul been the boy of the family, so to speak, but those days wengone for good. She was truly the woman of the house, imi only Mamma to Lydiann and Abe, but the matriarch iu charge of seeing that the household ran smoothly, includini; the Dawdi Haus. She no longer felt she'd missed out on cor tain joy by not marrying, as her friend Adah and most every other girl her age in the church community had. Goodness, Naomi Bontrager was already expecting her second baby. |

In all of this, Leah did not feel she was fooling hersell; after all, being a maidel was evidently her lot in life, and her role in helping raise Abe and Lydiann was a good one. She had dealt with her resentment toward Sadie and moved for ward with life, ever so glad to be a mother to her youngesi siblings. Truly it was God who had seen fit to bless her will) these two adorable children.

After the noon meal, Abram was right pleased to see Lenh outdoors with Abe and Lydiann in tow. He stopped to pump some well water, quenching his thirst while he fanned him.se 11 with his beat-up straw hat. He sure could use a new one. 1 li;. father-in-law hadn't minced words about it, complaining in high heavens about how "awful ratty that old hat looks." John

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: P1111..I in pick at near everything Abram did or didn't do ijjii liiys. He'd become a rather cantankerous sort, living

IN

jii ! wil hunt his wife of many decades and losing his daugh| Kin, nil in the space of a few years. Still, Abram could lilr nil loo keenly to John's hopelessness. In other ways, niifjli, |ohn had mellowed some recently, especially when it hit1 rlmo for Mary Ruth's visits.

Will) that in mind, he thought he ought to pay John a in himself before too long.

1 Imilcr from Abe brought his attention back to the presji " Thirsty?" he asked Leah.

I \ 111;inn spoke up before Leah could, asking for a nice cold jlnl hiTself. Leah looked right pleased, watching Lydiann

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III'I (he dipper and sipper, the excess water dripping down || plump cheeks. Of course, now Abe was grousing for equal iMlment.

(Ince the little ones were satisfied, they wandered about it l.iwi) barefooted and laughing, soaking up the afternoon

11 I inn/. His heart swelled with pride, glad for this moment

p.nme and reflect on the good thing his Leah had done . . . A>> thing. "Denki, Leah ... for bein' such a gut mamma to it i hlldren." He wished he'd said this a long time ago.

Hat ... that's all right." Leah gave him a warm smile. "I v '.tiein' them grow up like this."

"You've given up everything for my little ones." They nil know he was talking about Smithy Gid in particular.

"Tin happy with my life. Honestly." She paused, turning

i lnvk where Abe and Lydiann had disappeared to. Then u loniinued, "I prob'ly shouldn't say this, but you surely \uw (iid's sweet on Hannah." She said it nearly in a whisper.

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"Oh, jah." He was careful not to react too cheerfully, wanting to be sensitive to any open wounds remaining from Leah and Gid's breakup. He looked her over but good. "Well, now . . . how do you feel 'bout it?"

She smiled again. "It's 'bout time you got the son-in-lnvv you've been waitin' for!"

He studied her mighty hard at this instant, wondering . . , hoping . . . then, beyond all doubt, he knew she was quite sincere. Eagerly so, it seemed by the look of delight on her pretty face.

He called to Abe, who came running and jumped high into his arms. "Come along," he said, offering a hand to help up Leah. "Let's ride over to Georgetown and have us all sonic ice cream."

This brought an even bigger smile to Leah's face. To the words ice cream, Lydiann and Abe clapped with deliglii, which made Abrarn feel right pleased with himself. The Good Lord was surely shining down His blessings. In spite of myselj, thought Abram.

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l,i ill was anxious to attend the July Sisters Day at Adah's

1" i wo miles away. Thanks to Aunt Lizzie volunteering to

II ill .ydiann and Abe, Leah was freed up to go with Han-

in I i.'zio had been insisting all week long that it was high in 1'ir Leah to be around other adults. "You're in the house Id miii'li," she kept saying.

I I r;ili had laughed, recognizing what her aunt said was true

lit I If Hiking forward to the outing. The women folk did share

pill ' >l close friendship, even though she'd never much cared

li ilu-ir work frolics growing up.

I "hk-ndships are the core of our lives, ain't so?" she said,

pjiiyiiij1; the carriage ride.

I I liinnah nodded. "And sisters are always the best of

Irmls."

I "I should say." Leah wondered if Hannah was maudlin

In H ii Iht twin again, although Mary Ruth had been coming

I hit iliem. three or four times a week lately. Aunt Lizzie,

pwili John, and even Dat enjoyed seeing her, as well, and

iftnu'il for the delicious dishes Mary Ruth sometimes brought

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to share with the family, though she was reluctant to stay a in I eat, out of respect for Dat.

"We're mirrors to the past, in a way," Hannah said solily. "We look into each other's faces and remember what vw

know. ..."

"Well, now, you're sounding like a dreamer today."

Hannah laughed. "Guess maybe Mary Ruth's rubbin' nil on me some."

"But what you say is true. There is such deep understand ing between sisters."

Hannah nodded and fell silent. Leah was thankful for 111 c

time alone, just the two of them. Scarcely did they ever h;withe opportunity to go out riding or to a work frolic like tin:. The sky seemed a prettier blue today and little robin red breast sang stronger because Hannah was here to share 11 itday.

Once they arrived at Adah's house, Leah was happy to sec Adah's younger sister, Dorcas, as well as Adah's five sisters-in law, Ebersol cousins all. The kitchen was full up with sister, of every shape and size, peeling tomatoes at the sink, boilinj: water in large pots, preparing to stew the red fruit, as well a;. make soup and spaghetti sauce an all-day affair. Several were expecting babies, including Adah herself. Leah found this sight, here in Adah's cozy kitchen, not only joyful on behalf of her dear friend, but she was excited for Adah to join yet again the maternal realm. "We're sharing the joys ol motherhood after all, you and I," she whispered to her.

Adah flashed a quick sad look, but Leah squeezed her hand to reassure her all was well. Truly, it was.

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Bllnm.il) helped mash a mountain of cooked tomatoes. m .1 lime the mushy red color and strong odor made her H i|iir.r,y, and she wondered how she'd ever manage attendB hiM 11 canning frolics as Smithy Gid's wife someday. His Bllin' side of the family was tomato crazy, putting up anyPli iiiul everything with the fruit in it. Far as she could tell, Hi!u

i 11H' Pcachey family one fine day.

In- i ried holding her breath as she crushed the nasty red

h , Inn that didn't work, either, because when it came time

11' i io breathe again, she had to fill her lungs even more I* ply with the fragrant aroma.

I I , Leah doin' okay, really?" Adah asked her, unaware Itim.ih was the one struggling at the moment, though not

i '< iDiKilly.

I '" .In.- seems fine to me," she replied, glad to raise her head til licr nose out of the immediate vicinity of the tomatoes.

I1 11 i's i he sweetest mother to Lydiann and Abe," she offered. I. .M should see her with them."

I "I'vi" seen hei*call right; I just can never tell for sure if pull's all right inside," Adah persisted.

I "|;ili, I believe she is." Hannah wanted to put Adah's fears |i 11-.1. After all, she and Adah were soon to be sisters by |,>n i;ij

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"If there's ever any doubt, Hannah, you'll let me know 'bout Leah, jah?" asked Adah, clearly still devoted after nil these years.

Adah, precious friend to Leah always thinking of other,, just as Leah was known to. And that nearly to a fault, Hann;ili thought. Sometimes my sister is better to others than to herselj.

While Gid waited to shoe his next horse, he set aboui redding up. Suddenly thirsty, he finished sweeping the flooi and ran to the house for some cold lemonade. Oddly enoiij;l i, the kitchen, fragrant with the scent of freshly baked muffins, was empty. He walked to the window and stood watching hn'i his customer, glad for the solitude. Gulping down a tall glass,! he returned to the icebox and poured another. He then went-1 and perched himself on the long bench next to the table, sii-l ting there with his glass in hand.

All the while he daydreamed of pretty Hannah. There w;i,s something about the way she looked at him that made him think she was not just pretty but truly lovely. She's very young, he thought, realizing anew how peculiar it had seemed bur only at first to meet up with fair Hannah Ebersol at a Sunday singing, though he'd seen and talked to her plenty ol times out in Abram's barn. More than hesitant that particular night, he soon found his voice and discovered her to be nearly as easy to talk to as Leah, if not more so. Attentive and sweci, Hannah had won his heart in a matter of a few buggy rklrs home.

Right this minute he wondered if the Lord God might'vc had all this planned from the foundations of the earth, givinj; back the years he'd lost while waiting for Leah. Was it heresy

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| 'lilnlt about the heavenly Father that way? Gid had no

j i mi. mi mI deliberating the notion, but it was true that Han-

Ui'tli ii only eighteen, had a good many childbearing years

nit- i I il her as his loving wife. They would have themselves

ti u ii.lfi'liil-goocl time raising their brood, and if their babies

!> .14 111 iinyr.hing like Hannah, he would be a very blessed and

Ih|'I'V num.

11< removed his straw hat and scratched his head. The

Almighty certainly worked in extraordinary ways, seemed to

111111. I 'ownright mystifying it was.

I 'he clutter of carriage wheels brought him to his feet, and Jit, li'h Ins glass nalf full on the table as he hurried outside to Hu hoi 11 horse and client. .

^H Ii was on the ride home from Adah's that Leah and Han-

Hp |m i to talking heart to heart. Weary from being on her ' i lot much of the day, Leah was content to sit back and I is, lei Hanngji. rein down the horse to a slow walk, and, of til ill ings, do much of the talking. She was getting to be tu-iit ly as chatty as Mary Ruth. Nice to see her coming out of her /i.'ll link' by little, Leah thought, listening to her prattle about ilih iiiul that.

They were coming up on the corner where a left-hand