Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal (29 page)

The hayloft had often drawn Sadie as a small girl when she was sad or miffed. She much preferred the sweetness ol the hay to the lower level of the bank barn, where the enduring reek of the animals saturated the air. But this night, she'd felt terribly alone in the Dawdi Haus; the heat had been sti fling as she tossed about in her bed in the room where Auni Lizzie had slept before she'd married Dat. Sadie had gotten up and stood near the open window, yearning for even tinslightest waft of a breeze, and then headed downstairs to tin'

279

II " Inn, where she'd opened the screen door. There she had

11 i. i 11111 ( If (i r I he longest time on the little square porch, lookIt mil inw.uxl the top of the Peacheys' farmhouse and their

= 11 w.in close to two o'clock in the morning when she made

11 wny mil" to their own barn and gingerly climbed the ladder

1' 'he Imyinow just under the eaves. Tired as she was, she

I iltlii'i think of allowing herself to sleep there, with the [fillet1 mul the insects crawling about. Despite the presence of Hhr hum r;its, she was ever so sure the pests were there, just bull til view. Late as it was, Lydiann was probably still out rid|ftw* inkier ("he stars with Jake Mast, and Sadie was determined

I1 > -iff lor herself exactly how it was between the pair.

I Sighing, she thought back to the day she'd first heard her Illniil with Derry was actually alive. How could things have ICliiinged so radically for her in one respect, yet nothing else ln.nl seemingly changed at all? She sat in the hay, having ||hi urinary conversations with Jake in her head, trying to guess Ivli.ii another face-to-face meeting with him might be like li'-'W thai she keew he was her flesh and blood. Would he

I1 .|.i

I 11 irmented, she rose and began to pace the upper level,

|i ij; hack and forth in her mind. And what of Jake's love for

(I vH.iiin? Wasn't it probable he was simply experiencing jiniiirihing akin to puppy love? If Leah would simply bide her Biiiu- and not speak to Gid, as she'd promised, there was mlwiiys the possibility Jake might become disinterested in |LyiIi:idu and move on to a new girlfriend, as many young men till ihrir middle teens were known to do. Sadie could only

280s

hope so, because the thought of Jake's being sent away was almost more than she could bear.

The tickle of kitten fuzz against her bare foot awakened Sadie with a start, and she realized hazily that, despite her intentions, she must have settled down on the threshing floor, amongst the various mother cats and their kittens. But now she was quite awake and aware of the sound of a horse and buggy. . . and voices wafting through the darkness.

"Oh, Jake, I'm nervous 'bout askin' Dat for his permis-

sion.

"We mustn't fret, Lyddie. Mamma always said the Lord God moves heaven and earth for those in love." It was Jake's voice, but if Sadie hadn't known better she might've thought Derry was speaking.

Let Jake have pure motives, Lord. . . .

Sadie was ever so anxious to lay eyes on him again, even in the dim light of a half moon the faintest silhouette would satisfy her heart so she moved to the window and peered into the night.

Lydiann's voice was muffled now as she pressed her face against Jake's shoulder. Sadie watched them embrace near the buggy and then gaze into each other's eyes.

The scene told Sadie just how serious they were. This was most likely not the puppy love she'd hoped to witness.

With tears in her eyes, she could only wonder what il would mean to her sister and Jake and their future chil dren if no one stopped them. Spared them, truly.

Sadie knew beyond all doubt she must tell Leah it was for 281tie -P r o d I g a I

Ipp lu-si io confide in Gid and see that Jake was somehow |in liulril among the boys traded.

I I'tmr Lydiann, thought Sadie, moving from the window. nun1 will she ever survive such a loss? How will I?

I I fiih happened upon Gid as he was rounding up the cows

|i'i .ilternoon milking. She felt awkward, his being alone and

lill. Inil she knew it was necessary, what with Sadie not feeling

|ii in coming along.

"Nice day, ain't?" She folded her hands in front of her.

i lid nodded. "We could use some rain, but, jah ... a right

Jin, day."

I She stood still just then, realizing she had little time to

l|" I: up. "I... uh, Gid, there's something awful important

I iy mind."

I I Ic turned his full attention to her.

I "As you know, Sadie gave birth to a baby years ago, and

kin- thought the wee one was born dead," Leah began, aware

Ji' had heard a$ much at Sadie's kneeling repentance at

jprenching, nearly seven years ago. "Well, it's come to light

pinl her son is actually quite alive."

I "I Ie's alive1." Gid was frowning as he held her gaze. "Oh,

jleiih, no wonder ya came to talk to me. Where's Sadie's boy

low.'11

"Growin' up as Peter Mast's youngest son." She spoke fluiiv softly now, explaining all that she knew as quickly as llu' could. "And worst of all, Jake's seein' our Lydiann . . . and [quite seriously." I looking even more puzzled, Gid squared his shoulders.

282

-in J2t

"How on God's green earth do ya know he's courtin' Lydiann?"

Somewhat embarrassed, she shared what both she and Sadie had overheard. She sighed, pressing on, hoping shr might appeal to Gid's kindliness. "Honestly, what I have in mind will bring Lyddie much sadness, and she won't under stand what's happened to her beau . . . but I've been wondering if Jake shouldn't be one of the boys approached aboui going out to Ohio. Ya know ... to get him away from Lydiann, his aunt by blood."

Gid nodded his head emphatically. "I sure can see when1 you're comin' from. I can talk to the bishop about it riglil quick."

To this Leah shook her head. "Let's keep this 'tween you, me, and Sadie for now."

Willingly, Gid agreed. Leah was ever so sure he understood the impact such a revelation could have on the cornmunity of the People. No good thing could ever come of it.

Hitching up his horse and carriage, Gid went straightaway to Grasshopper Level to speak with Peter Mast, mighty concerned. He found Peter in his apple orchard, puffing on his pipe and muttering to himself as he ambled along.

Catching Peter's eye, Gid introduced himself, though being a preacher for the district neighboring Grasshopper Level, he was fairly certain Peter knew who he was at leasi by name.

"Jah, I know ya well enough." Peter's eyes narrowed. " Tis

283^Prodigal

^niily )mii I hing you got yourself loose from that Leah EberH ! ,l,uvsay."

BBJt>l wondered where Peter was going with such a snide

HhiI>, Inn hearing in mind his business there, he held his

Wmf "I otik, I best be gettin' to the point of why I'm here,"

uljil, anxious to put some distance between himself and

iiilillu-aited man. "Tis a right touchy subject I'm here

1-'ml, Imii seems your son Jake is awful serious about Abram's

tytllmin."

I'tMci coughed and removed the pipe from between his HAprt! lips. "Now, just a minute here. Did ya say one of Min Hbersol's daughters?"

^'Jiili, ihat's what I'm sayin'. Seems Jake's determined to ^*y Iut, and as a preacher and Lydiann's brother-in-law, it Hflhlrs me that she is thinkin' of marriage at such a young HI' ,s;iiil Gid, withholding the sensitive information that HI whs : 11 so an Ebersol himself. Being a man of his word, Hfllnleiided to keep his promise to Leah on that. MniTiage? Well, I'll be puttin' a stop to that!" There was ^Hlil lire in Peter's eyes at the mention of a possible wed^H involving the two families.

^Bh

BKl'iii my son in the trade for the Ohio men?" Peter asked, BHilly seeming to calm a bit as he contemplated the notion.

284

lu J2t

31

"Jah, to settle in and work out there . . . find himself a mate," he said, wanting Peter to be clear on what he might agree to.

Peter looked pointedly at him. "If it's true my son's courtin' an Ebersol, I'll be thinking hard on this."

Mighty eager to depart now, Gid remarked that Hannah was waiting supper for him and excused himself to head back to his horse and buggy. . . and home. Back to the peace of my house, he thought, shuddering from the intensity of the encounter.

285(..- - - ^*- *^- -t- / -

- * es^n-

^^v C-

H^V111,iini's bedroom was tidy because she could not stand for kityiliin?: less than perfectly clean. Her bureau was kept ^Bfd, cwn polished, and the handmade doilies were washed ^HlhHirJ frequently. She liked to make her bed just as soon ^Hu' slipped out of it of a morning, and her floor was free of ^H bunnies and cobwebs, even beneath the bed, a fact she ^Hvciy proud of. She'd often thought what an exceptional ^^fkceper she would be for her husband and family some BpFdny a ^mily she'd hoped to have with Jake. But now, as Be In-ld the letter from him in her trembling hands, reading m iij-jnin for the tenth time since its arrival days ago, she felt tlhii hope was dimmed . . . if not gone.

I Vdr Lyddie,

I'm sorry to write in a letter the things I want to say to your face, but 1 have no other choice.

First of all, I apologize that I couldn't attend the singing at your neighbor's place recently. I wanted to . . . really, 1 did.

Please, you must believe me, Lyddie. I have nothing to do with this painful separation. My father is entirely opposed to

286

lu e

my hope of marrying this fall. Somehow he is privy to who you are, although 1 was not the one to inform him. It has come to his ears that I am seeing one of Abram Ebersol's daughters, and my father, who, as you know, has always looked unkindly on your father and your family, is insisting I go to Ohio. His response was worse than I feared I see that 1 was right in wanting to keep our love secret from him till our wedding day, if necessary. I am so sorry.

Lydiann, I love you and always will. I know this as sure as my name is Jacob Mast. Please don't cry for me once I'm gone to Ohio, my dear girl, because I will come back to Pennsylvania someday. For now, though, I am expected to establish myself in the home of an Amish family, begin working, and court girls from that area. I know this is terrible to have to tell you. Truth is, I refuse to either court or marry anyone but you, my darling. You are the bride of my heart. I will simply work hard in Holmes County until I am of age; then I will return for you.

Will you wait for me? I know this is the most awful thing that could have ever happened to two people so in love.

I will not forget you. When I arrive where I'm intended to go, I'll send you another letter. Please pardon my father for this. I must attempt to forgive him, too. Meanwhile I must try to figure out a way to earn his blessing on our future marriage, years from now.

: All my love,

Jake

Lydiann stared at the letter through her tears. She already missed him and was feeling on the verge of collapse, as if someone had chopped off a supporting limb. Her heart was wounded and forlorn ... all because of an ugly problem between Jake's father and her own.

287Cne\rrodigal '

I I'nr Hurc and for certain, she could not begin to compreppiul whal would have made Jake's father choose to have him I"'" llit" young men being herded off to Ohio. What sort of | > i '! would do such a thing? Would Peter Mast have decided

I < ml his son away if she wasn't the girl he loved? Could in' llnvi' been spared this terrible thing if he'd fallen in love pllh, stiy, Uncle Jesse Ebersol's daughter, maybe? All too well, Hit* knew I he answer.

| l.ydlann rose and went to the bureau and shoved the letter iH'p Into ii drawer, wishing she'd never turned sixteen this I"' i Npring . . . wishing she were still as young and naive as IIh > liiy before she went to her first singing and fell hard for

I1 'i ii Icrlill Jacob Mast.

I 11 earing of Lydiann's dejection from both Hannah and Runt Lizzie, Mary Ruth visited Lyddie every other day, offer-

111)! her company, even going so far as to invite Lydiann to Ipi-tul some time with Robert and her, "just to get away a bit." I I'ml Lydiann Refused, saying she wanted to stay close to lii'inr, near Mamma and Abe. Still, Mary Ruth couldn't get Iyer how beside herself Lydiann was for one so young. Her Hdrr must be broken, she thought as she sat on Lydiann's bed, linking now at her young sister's tear-streaked face. I "I can scarcely eat," Lyddie told her, sitting in the upright hue chair across the room. "I miss him so." I She sighed sadly, remembering well how troubled she had Ken when Elias Stoltzfus died. "I felt the same way once," pie admitted. ;\ ' '. ..; ' \ ;;, ' ' ;

' "You did, sister?" : ;-,.:V, :-,\;~: : ; .';' ::.. ]": ..-. : :;-:

288

" / LI ,.i_-. e IM> i :

Mary Ruth nodded and began to tell Lydiann of her dear friend and first beau, explaining how he had been killed in an accident, though leaving out the part that Robert had been the one whose car had struck Elias's pony cart.

When she was finished, Lydiann was crying all the harder, and Mary Ruth went to her, reaching down to kiss her cheek. "Oh, Lyddie, I never would've told you all this if I had thought it would upset you so."

"No, no, it's a gut thing ya did, prob'ly." She looked up ;it Mary Ruth with the saddest, bluest eyes. "I needed to heai that someone else had such a dreadful thing happen to them and yet could still smile, years later." Lydiann got up and pui her arms around Mary Ruth, clinging to her as if she mighi slip from her grasp. "Denki, sister."