Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal (16 page)

P I iiv Ruth now. . . and Carl, too." Lydiann wept in Leah's

|>i',, "Just when I was gettin' to know her. Just when . . ."

I' In riicd as if her heart might break.

I Li-ah let Lydiann cling to her. "We can pray this will all

If ..ik out for the best."

I yd i arm leaned back and looked up at her with tear-filled

I .. "What do ya mean?"

I "I spect I'll be talkin' to God 'bout all this," she whispered

Ii' Iut dear girl. "And you can, too."

I Lydiann blinked her eyes and a slight frown crossed her

hi"i >w. "I don't understand."

I "There are times like right now when the Lord God

lu< nildn't mind hearin' a prayer from our hearts. One we make

lip nil our own, so to speak."

I "Not the prayers we usually say in our heads, then? The

Imic.'i we think of at dinnertime and before bed?"

I "That's just what I'm tellin' you. There are times when, if

|v i led as if your heart's breaking, 'tis best to call on the Lord

in i'I say what's on your mind."

I Lydiann burst into a smile just then and pressed against

n-i, hugging her hard. "I'll just do that, Mamma. I will!"

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And deep within herself, Leah knew she, too, must be offering similar prayers more often.

Mary Ruth cried when she saw Sadie standing at the front door. She hurried to greet her sister, and the two fell into each other's arms. "Oh, Sadie, I'm so sorry."

"Ain't your fault," Sadie whimpered. " Tis all my doin'. I deserve this... I know I do."

Mary Ruth led her upstairs and showed her where she could put her clothes for the time being, saying that Dottie had offered more storage space in a seasonal closet down the hall. "You'll be ever so comfortable here," she said. "You'll

see.

Sadie sat on the bed, looking all around. "Mercy sakes, I've never seen such a perty bedroom." Then she smiled a little. "Well, now, how could I, since I've never been inside an Englisher's bedroom before now?"

Mary Ruth didn't want to tell Sadie that it wouldn't take too long and she'd become adjusted to the warmth of the rooms each morning, not to mention the indoor bathroom and other luxuries. But such modern conveniences were not good enough reason to leave Amish life behind. "I'm glad you'll be stayin' here," she said, going to sit next to Sadie on the bed. "Maybe we'll get caught up some now."

Sadie nodded sadly. "Denki, Mary Ruth, for sharin' your room and all."

"I'm glad to do it." She hoped to share more than just the room. Given the time, Mary Ruth was eager to share the Lord Jesus with Sadie, as well.

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Che .Prodigal

I lii was a late riser that Saturday, so Leah went to his door in*I knocked lightly. "Dat? It's Leah ... are you awake yet?"

"|;ih, come in" was his reply.

Ivt'ling right peculiar at his response, she did as she was iihI. She saw him sitting in the corner of the room near the in-. lamp, Mamma's open Bible on his lap. "Leah," he said, Mi' you happen to know, by chance, when your mamma ii.iiiril markin' up this here Bible?"

A breath caught in her throat, and she saw then that tears lllij his eyes. "It was some years ago . . . long before Lydiann v.r, born."

A nearly reverent hush passed between them.

"Are ya certain?" Dat asked.

She nodded her head. "Mamma loved to read God's OC'hJ." She hoped she wasn't speaking out of turn, recalling I" i|iiiet tones in which Mamma had spoken on the several ii ' .isions she and Leah had discussed such matters.

"I awakened at midnight," Dat said. "The wind... or li.ivlx1 it was the*Lord God, woke me out of a deep sleep. I've nrii sittin' here reading near every underlined passage in this iru' Biewel . . . two or three times each."

I ,eah stood silently, staring at her father.

I \\t placed one hand gently on the open pages. "I have to till nil" that I think I know why your mamma walked the floor li-iirly ev'ry night, prayin' over her children . . . and me. Jah, u-lk've I do. . . ." His voice faltered.

I -eah knew, as well, but she yearned to hear Dat say it, inm I ing to know if he truly understood just what it was that Hi I a near-holy smile on Mamma's face each and every day.

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"Ida grasped the most important things about God. She understood them . . . and she lived them, ain't so?"

Leah nodded. "Oh, Dat, she did that."

He closed the Bible and placed both hands on top. "I want what my precious Ida had. How should I go 'bout getting

it?"

Leah glanced over her shoulder, wondering if either Lydiann or Abe had come downstairs yet. "The best I know to tell ya is to do what I did ... open your heart wide to the Lord Jesus." She wouldn't reveal at this moment that she'd nearly memorized some of the passages in Mamma's Bible.

"The Good Book says to come to Him as a little child," Dat said, wiping his eyes.

Leah felt a lump rise in her throat. "I should say so" was all she could whisper for her joy.

Once the milking and breakfast were finished, Abram wasted no time. He found Lizzie in the small kitchen of the Dawdi Haus.

" 'Tis a brisk mornin', but I'd like to take ya out for some fresh air and maybe a sticky bun," he said quietly, lest her father overhear their conversation from the front room. "How'd that be?"

Her pretty hazel eyes lit up like it was Christmas all over again. "Can ya first spare me a half hour?"

Too eagerly, he bobbed his head. "I'll get the horse hitched up and come for ya right quick."

She beamed her interest, and he headed back through the

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11 nil i room, where John was starting to snore or prellii|.; to.

^B This w:is no time to give in to his emotions, yet Abram ^grd lo reach for Lizzie's hand as they rode along in the ^VlHY of the family buggy. His heart pounded at the idea, Hn It was all he could do to redirect his thoughts. Yet the ^w 11,111 lie had come to love was sitting next to him, and they ^l< alone, under heaven's canopy.

^K 11 icy lalked of Sadie's pitiless ousting by the bishop, and ^Hllc pointed out that Sadie had seemed to purposely go HPy'uiul ilie boundaries of the Proving. "Wouldn't ya say so,

A | lit

Ahlillll:

"Jah, I agree on that, though I don't see it as out-and-out i ( he 11 ion." He went on to share how troubled he was by their Iii-|i. "It's one thing after 'nother, seems. I almost wonder if Hnnii.iger has it in for me and my household."

! i-,:ii' nodded, stirring as she sat next to him in the caril.ii'i " Dea* Sadie's bound to be doubly dejected about now, till niournin' her dead husband and all."

II Abram didn't control himself, he might simply allow

I In' Ik use to trot along, let go the reins, and take this out-

h|ni|..cii hut dear woman in his arms right now in broad day-

lii-lii. And, goodness, wouldn't that be a telling picture if

wiiurinie came riding along in the opposite direction?

1^1'or a fleeting second, he wished he were a young fellow

^H'f again and he and his sweetheart-girl were out riding

^Hfi I he covering of night. No wonder young folk courted

^H1 sundown. Made plenty of good sense to him, now that

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the tables were turned and he was the one falling in love . . . for the second time.

But first things first. "Lizzie?" His voice cracked as he held tight the reins.

"Jah, Abram?"

"I want to tell ya 'bout what happened to me this morning while I was readin' Ida's Bible." He found it mighty easy to pour out his heart to his deceased wife's devout younger sister. "I believe I've seen the light... a long time comin', I daresay."

He knew Lizzie understood what he meant when she gave him the sweetest smile he'd seen in recent memory. "Ach, 'tis true. I see Jesus in your eyes."

He nodded, eyes filling quickly with tears. "I've resisted much too long, sorry to say. I 'spect heaven's pursuit of me has the Lord himself near tuckered out."

Her soft laugh encouraged him greatly. "I guess you can say you've joined the ranks of the silent believers, ain't so?"

"There ain't a doubtful bone in my body."

"Thank the Lord above," she said.

"Jah, the Lord sought me out, indeed." He drew in a long breath, because what he planned to say next was definitely going to be more difficult. "I've been thinking 'bout something else, too, for quite some time."

Will she welcome this news? he wondered, becoming more hesitant now that he realized how far out he was about to stick his neck. No question, the thought of her rejecting him would do him in. Should he forge ahead?

It was then she surprised him and reached over and placed her hand on his. " 'Tis all right, Abram. Say what's on your mind."

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I (Inivssing her hand, he turned to face her. "Lizzie, my

hIi'-mi, I'm liL-nd over heels in love with ya."

I I lei smile was even brighter than before.

I I l<- didn't waste any time. "Oh, ya just don't know how

Igwfiil murk . . ."

I Tk-y rode along for another good half hour, but before

Ilk y inine to the turnoff to the Ebersol Cottage, Abram asked

Ivt-lili > nnfidence, "Will ya accept me as your husband?"

I "'( ,'ourse I will, Abram. I'd be right happy to." Lizzie

It-ll'lii'i shilly-shally one bit. By the look on her face, it was

Ipvidrni Lizzie knew, just as he did, that they were meant to

1

I I k- lifted her small hand to his lips and planted a kiss

Iflu if, not caring at all now who spied them.

( llory be! Lizzie felt as if she might take off flying, so happy tin was as she headed into the Dawdi Haus. "Dat, I've got Biuiiciliin' to tell ya," she called to her father, who was still kin I'.'injj; in ffis favorite chair.

Ik1 roused momentarily, eyebrows raising, then eyelids flitIIni: shut.

"No, no, now stay awake to listen to your maidel daughJi i," she said, crouching near his knee. "I've got me a beau, I ' ii. Abram Ebersol, your own son-in-law. Now, what do ya flunk of that?" She watched his expression closely. How Uuulil he take his Ida's being replaced by her sister? I I k-aring Abram's name must have awakened him, for now |\i'i l;ilher was all eyes. "Well, now, what did you say?" I "You heard me, didn't ya? And you're the first to know

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something else . . . I'm gettin' married here 'fore too long." She could scarcely keep her voice at a whisper, where it needed to be, at least for now.

An endearing smile spread across her father's craggy face. "Ah, Lizzie ... my dear girl. I'm mighty glad to hear it." He paused before saying, "I guess I'm not too surprised, really. I've been wonderin' if the old fella wasn't sweet on you."

"So, then, you're all right with it? You can give us your blessing?"

He chuckled it was a quick little cackle, almost gleeful. "Aw, go on. You's don't need my approval. You're old enough to make up your own minds, for goodness' sake!"

Leaning over, she kissed his rough cheek. "I'm ever so happy. . . really I am."

"Happiness is short-lived, I daresay, so make the most of it while ya can." He was grinning now, and he reached for her hand and squeezed it.

"I just wish my mother had lived to see this day."

He nodded. "It's natural you'd be thinkin' thataway."

She rose and headed for the kitchen, where she set to brewing a nice big kettle of tea a kind of celebratory pot to be shared between her elderly Dat and herself. Truly, I'venever been so happy!

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YX line dragged. Lydiann watched the minute hand move jhward the numeral twelve, ever so anxious for ten-o'clock |i 1 '-s.s 10 come this bright and snowy Monday. She knew Carl |l 1 11I Mime seatwork to complete before he would be allowed I' |i|:iy, so she'd volunteered to help redd up the cloakroom [uliilr lie worked at his desk and the teacher was outdoors hup 1 vising the rest of the children.

At: last it was time, and the teacher reminded some of the y miiger pupils to sharpen pencils and visit the outhouse. when Lydiann got the go-ahead to sweep the cloakroom, she piiN k'lad. Once all the children had filed out to recess, she funk the broom from the hook and hurriedly swept the dirt Ik mi 1 he floor, scooped it up into the dustpan, and dumped it inii 1 1 he trash can near the teacher's desk. That done, she tip-

1. .1 -i I over to Carl's desk, where he was dawdling with his penil, not working his problems.

"I )id ya get behind in arithmetic?" she asked.

"A little."

"But you ain't doin' what you're s'posed to, are ya?"

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He pulled a face and then put down his pencil. "What're you doing inside during recess, anyway?"

"Got somethin' to ask, that's all." She glanced toward the door, hoping none of the other pupils would come bursting in just then. "I've been wonderin'. Can you read Amish even though you don't speak it?"

His face turned red but he nodded. "I know it from my uncle Paul, the one who used to be Amish. He taught me to read Pennsylvania Dutch, which isn't, by the way, called Amish."

"Sure it is."

"No, that's only what Amish folk call it." He looked so determined, she decided to let him have the last word.

"Did your uncle ever join church?" she asked, more softly now.

"Nope. He bought himself a tractor instead."

"Oh." She thought on that. "Seems he must not have thought much of the Old Ways, then."

Carl shrugged. "Not when it comes to farming. Why waste all that time plowing, planting, and harvesting with horsedrawn wagons and whatnot when you can be done with it in short order with a tractor? Seems right silly to me."

"But tractors have inflatable tires, and that's a no-no."

Again he shook his head. "Rubber tires or steel tires, tractors or horses or mules. Isn't it all about getting the job done?"