Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal (24 page)

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I ciur father says the bishop's got somethin' up his sleeve for some of the menfolk," Aunt Lizzie told Leah as they rolled out pie dough the day following the work frolic. They'd decided to use up the rhubarb on hand and make a dozen sirawberry-rhubarb pies to be served at the common meal following Preaching service tomorrow at Jesse Ebersol's house.

"Oh?"

"An unusual plan, really... to help bring new blood into our community And it doesn't seem to be a big secret. At least Abram didn't say it was."

Leah couldn't believe her ears when she heard what was supposed to happen before the harvest young men from Lancaster County were being swapped with a few from I lolmes County, Ohio. "This sounds outlandish. Who'd ever lliink of goin' along with it?"

Aunt Lizzie raised her eyebrows. "Evidently it's up to individual families which boys go and which stay." ,

Leah shook her head. "I doubt there'll be anyone volunteering, truly." , , -,

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"Well, Gid's all for the idea." Lizzie looked up just then, staring right through Leah. " 'Tween you and me, there's no way he'll stand up to the bishop." Lizzie didn't continue; she let her expression finish her thought.

Leah wondered if this had all come about because of several babies born with severe handicaps in the past few years. . . and more than a handful with webbed feet, too. She shivered. "Maybe tradin' men isn't such a bad idea, really," she found herself saying.

"Well, no, I can understand the why of it. But think of the heartbreak. . . boys leavin' their families behind only to marry and settle down in a new, faraway place."

Like Jonas. It astonished her that she would suddenly think of him as a prime example. "Obviously the boys who've already joined church won't go, right?"

"Bishop Bontrager wouldn't think of doin' away with his own ruling. Those baptized boys'll stay put or the Bann would be sure to follow."

Very few churches held to such strict guidelines, Leah knew. She was just glad she hadn't ever had any desire to leave the Gobbler's Knob community, wanting to honor her vow not only because of the bishop's decision, but because she loved her dear family and the People here.

While cleaning up after the Sunday common meal in Aunt Mary Ebersol's kitchen, Leah overheard several older women talking. One particularly gray-haired M.ammi was saying something about "so-and-so livin' under the shadow of another's sorrow." When the woman turned and caught Leah's

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rye, she hushed up right quick, looking the other way.

Surely they're not talking about me! But as she minded her i iwn business and helped dry the many plates, she couldn't get i he comment she'd heard out of her mind. Do the People thinkI'm living under the gloom of Sadie's less-thanspotless life? For Hire and for certain, they could take one look at her and know .he was as happy as any mother around here. All the same, i lie idea of folk whispering about her made her feel uneasy. Were the two older women feeling sorry for her? Did they luippen to know of her former connection to Jonas Mast or, luler, to Gid?

Leah couldn't abide the notion of anyone's feeling unwarranted sympathy for her, especially when more than any-

11 ling, she had been determined to be joyful in all she did, crying her family under God all these years. There was no need for such a thing to be whispered, yet she felt sure the

11 iiTunent had been about her, otherwise why the embarrassed I. .ok?

Fact was, she was as delighted to be alive as the next per-.1 hi, glad tQ be witnessing the maturing love between Dat and Aunt Lizzie, for one, as well as the love between Hannah and Mary Ruth and their spouses. If there was any fret showing on her face, she figured it had to do with raising two teenagers at I he moment. Lydiann was out all hours and moping around like a love-sick puppy, of all things, and Abe was feeling his < iMts because Dat had allowed him to go with a group of older boys on a lark, raising a bit of tomfoolery at Root's Country Market.

Even so, the older woman's remark plagued Leah all the way home. She honestly didn't feel alone or lonely, neither

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one. Surrounded by the extended family she loved so dearly, there was scarcely any time to feel that way.

Once home Leah decided to take the horse and carriage out for a drive, to give herself some quiet time. It would have made sense to simply turn around a full mile or so after she passed the Nolts' and Schwartzes' places, but she felt inclined to drift along on this pleasant and sunny Sunday afternoon, letting the horse pull her farther, not caring where she was headed. For certain, Dat might eventually begin to wonder where the world she'd taken herself off to, but for now she had plenty of time.

Sighing, she leaned back in the buggy seat and watched the clouds float by, feeling nearly as light as a chicken feather. She contemplated the sermons today, having heard similar ones, if not the same, from Bishop Bontrager more times than she could count. But lately Preacher Gid's were somewhat more interesting to her, and she wondered if he'd gotten to reading the Holy Bible, maybe. Since he spent so much time around Dat, that might be a possibility, what with Dat reading God's Word twice a day and even studying it. So just maybe some of that was rubbing off on their young preacher unbeknownst to the bishop, naturally.

She might have turned around about then and headed home, but she saw two young people walking her way. Without meaning to, she found herself staring at the boy and girl as they walked, who turned now and then to glance at each other and smile or laugh. The girl was shorter than the boy, and Leah might've guessed them to be twins except that the

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Hill was quite blond in comparison to the young man, who In id deep brown hair.

As they approached the horse and buggy, she waved to

11 irin and they waved back, calling out a greeting to her. "Wie ,i;c/i/'.s/" the boy said, smiling and raising his straw hat. His hue seemed rather familiar.

"Good day for walkin', jah?"

"The way from Grasshopper Level is all uphill to here," I if called. "But the return trip is much easier."

She slowed the horse, pulling onto the dirt shoulder.

"Are ya goin' far yet?" asked the girl.

"Looks like your horse is awful hot," the boy said, briefly lunching the bridle.

At that moment she recognized them. "Say, aren't you lake and Mandie Mast?"

"I thought ya seemed a mite familiar, too," Jake said with a quick look at his sister. "Didn't we meet once over at Dr. Schwartz's clinic? A long time ago, seems now."

"What a keen memory you have," she said. "And jah, it's rvcr so nice to see the both of you again."

"Same her*," Mandie replied politely, appearing rather shy.

"I always wondered why we never bumped into you and your family again," Jake spoke up, glancing a bit sheepishly at Mandie. "But when I asked Mamma, she said you were the .sort of folk who kept to home."

Homebodies, baloney! Leah thought sadly, quite sure the I wins knew more than they were saying about their father's imposed shun of the Ebersols.

"Well, have yourselves a nice afternoon walk. I guess Ioughta be goin' now." , .. ; , .. .:;

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"So long!" Jake called to her.

"Good-bye, Cousin!" Mandie said.

Even once the horse started moving again and she got him turned around in the narrow road, Leah could scarcely stop looking after the Mast twins.

Something's terribly familiar about Jake. . . .

But she decided it was her memory of his childish face that tugged at her so, and as she rode farther away from the chance meeting, she felt quite sure that Jacob Mast must simply remind her of his father.

Leah wasted no time Monday morning, after the laundry was washed and hung out to dry, heading off to work on foot. Once at the clinic, she went promptly to the waiting room and stood before the lineup of framed photographs on the wall. One in particular caught her eye Derek Schwartz wearing a sports uniform and holding a baseball bat.

She sucked in her breath as she stared at his face. If she remembered yesterday's encounter correctly, Jake Mast and Derry Schwartz were nearly twins in looks.

But how can that bel

She thought back to the last time she'd seen Peter Mast, recalling his dark brown hair and distinct jawline. Both were akin to Jake's hair and the shape of his mouth and chin.

I'm borrowing trouble, she thought and set to dry-mopping the floors.

Dr. Schwartz noticed Leah standing in the waiting room, intently looking at a picture of his son Derek. That in itself

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w;isn't so odd, perhaps, but her facial expression was one of discovery. He was well aware of the pounding of his own In-art, his nerves suddenly on edge.

Turning from the doorway, he hurried back to his private ul'lice, closed the door, and began to pace. Would Leah approach him with more questions?

No longer could he attempt to fool himself into thinking liis deceitful plan was forever safe. On a subconscious level he hiid been in a state of perpetual worry for these sixteen years Sunday mornings spent tending the tiny grave, hoping lo atone for this, his worst sin. Yet had he purposely set himself up to be found out? Putting flowers on an obvious

Ijiave . . .

Did he, in all actuality, long to be found out, the crime dealt with . . . himself punished?

If Leah was as bright a woman as she had thus far proven herself to be, no telling how long before she'd put two and I wo together. Or maybe she already had. What had he been I hinking bringing her into his circle of acquaintances, hiring her to work for him, allowing Lorraine to put her to work as part-time housekeeper? She had even seen Derek in the flesh one Christmas quite a few years back. To think he had been remiss, even reckless, in protecting his awful secret.

The logic behind the treacherous deed he had committed now completely escaped him. Hadn't he thought it best to protect his good name?

What good name? he thought, sick with self-disgust.

A wave of dread seized him and he leaned over, resting on his desk. Breathe, Henry . . . take slow, deep breaths.

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Mary Ruth perked up her ears when her father-in-law brought up the subject of his land Monday evening at supper. "It's a nice big property south of the Peacheys' farm," he said. "If ever you were thinking of building a house for your growing family, Robert and now's as good a time as any it would be ideal." He paused a second, his eyes blinking fast as he continued. "I'd like to offer you this as a gift. . . since your first child is on the way. We could begin excavating right away."

"Why, Dad, this is a surprise," Robert said, eyes wide at the news.

Lorraine spoke up next. "Your father and I have been talking this over for some time now."

Mary Ruth enjoyed watching Robert's handsome face light up at the prospect of owning land and a house, but he quickly went on to say they were comfortable in their small rental home for now.

"Well, if you should ever decide otherwise . . ." his father said.

"We appreciate the offer," Robert assured him.

Mary Ruth agreed. "What a lovely thing to contemplate for our future." She imagined Henry and Lorraine both were hoping for more than the one or two grandchildren they were expecting, and their growing family could surely use morespace in years to come. , .;. ., , .:.,

On the drive home, Robert slipped his arm around Mary Ruth. "You know we probably won't take my father up on his generous offer, don't you?" .. , ...,.....

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She was amazed at his response. "Whatever do you

iiH'iin:

"I'm not interested in handouts, even from my father."

"Your parents mean well, Robert."

"All the same, we will make our own way, under God. I led strongly about this, dear."

She could understand Robert's position well enough ;liter all, she had been raised with a strong work ethic, too. It In id been one of the things that attracted her to Robert in the hrst place. Her husband studied the Scriptures diligently his lirsi calling also putting great care into his second job of planting trees and shrubs, beautifully landscaping folks' yards.A preacher and a gardener both till the soil, in a manner of speak' inn.

Smiling, she shared the thought with him.

"Well, aren't you clever?" He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze as he drove.

"Would you marry this Amish girl again if you had the chance?" she teased.

"In a minute I would. And, by the way, you aren't so Amish anymore." :

She smiled back at him. "Oh, I don't know about that.: They say, 'once Amish, always Amish,' you know."

While Lydiann helped Leah clear the supper dishes, she mentioned having met a girl named Mandie Mast at the singing the night before. "She's the same girl we met years back, Mamma, over at Dr. Schwartz's clinic. I remember her so

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clearly because her eyes are blue as can be. Do ya know who I'm talking 'bout?"

Leah nodded. "Jah, I believe I do." She found Lydiann's comment about Mandie to be rather curious, because there were too many times when Lyddie simply could not keep track of having fed the chickens of a morning, let alone recall something that had happened years before.

Lyddie went on. "Mandie said she and her twin brother happened to see you out ridin' yesterday afternoon. So she must've remembered you, too."

"I stopped the horse and talked with them a bit, jah." She didn't divulge Jake's comment about the Ebersols keeping "to home," though, or how peeved she had felt at hearing Fanme 's untruthful explanation.

"Anyway, Mandie told me the most interesting thing."

Leah braced herself for some remark about the rejection Mamma's cousins had made of all of them.

"Mandie said her and Jake's birthdays aren't on the same date, even though they're twins. Isn't that downright peculiar?"

Lyddie had her there. "Whatever do ya mean, dear?"