Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal (31 page)

Jonas found this altogether puzzling. "Did you ever ask why that was?"

Jake laughed quietly. "You don't know my father. He isn't one to be questioned."

Jonas knew someone like that well enough, but the description wasn't one he would have used of his father. Fad was he knew two such someones: Abram Ebersol and Bishop Bontrager. But there was no sense bringing up the past will) his young friend his brother!

"I'm here 'cause I lacked courage, I s'pose you could say." Holding the hammer in both hands now and frowning down at it, Jake went to sit on the wooden stool near the table saw. "I'm in love with a girl my father doesn't like . . . doesn't approve of her family." He clenched his jaw. "How am 1 s'posed to feel 'bout that? I can't just stop loving her at his say-so."

Jonas studied him as he listened to the all-too-familiar account, drinking in the image of this dark-haired teen before him. Jake had been merely an infant when Jonas was still living at home, so he couldn't be of legal age to marry on his own just yet. No doubt he needed their father's permission to marry, something that had been denied.

"She couldn't be prettier, Jonas, with a down-to-earth sort of grace. Ever know someone like that?"

"Jah, I believe I do." He was thinking now of Emma.

"What do you do when love comes along clear out of the

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Mil* mid nearly knocks ya off your feet? Do you follow with II nl your heart?"

I lo nodded. "Well, I should say so. Lord willin', of course." Ltlter, iilter Jonas had shown Jake several different tricks I thr trade, he offered to take him back to the family with Im 'in he was staying near Berlin.

"Vnu sure?" Jake's big brown eyes were alight with the"llrl. .,:

"Wouldn't mention it if I wasn't." , :

They had a good chuckle over that and headed out to hllih up the horse and buggy. . , , , ;.,

' adie headed on foot to Ivan and Mary Etta Troyers' pli' -, keeping her promise to help with some heavy cleaning, tin chough several of the older daughters planned to be on ! Hid Co help, as well. Thinking about a family of twelve a I i-foct" dozen she wondered what it would be like to raise i' I) youngsters as she made her way toward the Troyers' farmIn nine not too far down from the Kauffmans' spread. Not only lisl ll seem unfair that some women had no trouble giving I iI'll) lo one healthy baby after another, but she had also I i Minn lo second-guess Jake's going to Ohio. As far as she was Miuvmed, it might as well be China, or some other country

11.ill way around the world.

She rubbed her neck, realizing anew how upset she still

.vi finding and losing her precious son all within the space

I a lew weeks. Every now and then, she recalled how she had

heard" her baby crying all those months after she birthed

I min, Ac the time she'd thought she was losing her mind, but

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presently she wondered if God had been trying to tell her all those years ago that Jake was very much alive.

Now she let her eyes take in the trees and pastureland, sighing crossly. Never would there be another chance to anonymously spend time with her boy, let alone talk with him one-on-one as she longed to. How she wished to share the truth of who she was with him. Who he was to her!

She refused to let herself cry not here on the road in plain view of Englishers driving past in their fancy cars. Today she must be in control of her emotions, not allow her misgivings to take over again. She must try to demonstrate the kind of pluckiness Leah seemed to have cultivated over time, despite her own heartaches. Just last night Sadie had talked with Leah, who indicated that when sorrowful things happen to people who are the children of God, they can either run to the Lord and seek after His presence, or they can pray ami plead for God to remove the struggles so their life might bv happy once again. "But don't be mistaken," Leah had warned, "it is not the easy or contented life that makes folk hunger hard after the Lord Jesus."

Even so Sadie wasn't sure she was ready to fully surrender her wants and wishes to the Lord God. Feelings of anger and resentment still raged within her toward Dr. Schwartz ami toward God, too, for allowing the doctor to do what he'd done. Sure, she could observe Leah's joyfulness all day long, but she didn't understand where it came from. It seemed tinmore sorrow Leah encountered in her life, the more peaceful, even content, she was. Sadie wished she, too, might experience such a miraculous reaction to the sad circumstances swirling around her, but she wasn't convinced a closer walk with God was the way for that to happen. When she prayed

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n nil, (the- much preferred to beseech Him to bring her son umir Id Ikt. It was only in that event that her happiness Li hilil Ih- restored.

I I he lush green of grassy hills and treed hollows was never Ml* minn' lo Jonas, even though he took this way to work each H|iJ every weekday, and ofttimes Saturdays. He enjoyed the Mllr on the back roads of his second home in Apple Creek, h'UiKh Grasshopper Level would always be first in his heart. Hfh<1 winding dirt roads led to one lumberyard after another, Hi'

W "I'm gonna miss the apple harvest back home," Jake cornIftlcntcd, and then said that another big reason he had |de pised being sent out here was having to leave behind his (twin sister, Mandie. "Her name's Amanda, really, but she [fnrely gets called that anymore."

What should 1 say? Jonas's mind whirled mighty fast as his

brother once again happened on the subject of their family.

How much does Jake know about me? Anything?

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Difficult as it was, he decided he would not reveal his identity just yet, for he feared Jake might not even know lie existed, due to the Bann imposed by Bishop Bontrager. Even if Jake had heard of his wayward older brother, there was ;i real possibility the lad might not want to fellowship with him any longer, preferring to follow the strict shun slapped on Jonas. There was no way in this world he was going to ruin their growing friendship.

Yet again Jonas wondered what he had done to merit the divine blessing of being reunited with one of his family. So full was his heart, he could scarcely hold on to the reins.

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II t ill noticed almost immediately Lydiann's freshly scrubbed If and ihe combed hair neatly tucked beneath her head [| linjj;. Watching from the front room window, she was ||i i ' iiware of the boost of energy in Lydiann's stride this H' inoon as she hurried out to the mailbox. She's surely eager | 11'old. from Jake, thought Leah, wondering how long he

1 l l cling to Lydiann, especially when he had been admonI >< i{ liy his bishop, even Gid, to mingle with Ohio girls. No II Mil it Peter Mas^ shared the same desire. But if what she susI" ii-d was true, Jake had dismissed their urging, steadfastly lii lying in contact with Lydiann. Often, Leah had seen her, l" n and paper in hand, heading off toward the woods after

I In pits, just as she herself had when writing to Jonas so long I

I When Lydiann came running in the back door, calling for her, Leah anxiously went to see what was on her mind. "Maniina, listen to what my beau wrote to me!" : ,, . , I Surprised, she asked, "Ach, Lyddie, are ya ever so,sure you Itynnt lo share this?"

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"'Tis all right, really. I know you'll keep quiet, ain't?" Lydiann began to read from Jake's most recent letter as soon as they'd settled down at the kitchen table.

Leah was taken with the expression in Lyddie's voice as she related one interesting thing after another, pleased that her girl should entrust this very personal moment to her. . . yet sobered that Lyddie's affection for Jake did not appear to have lessened.

As the letter came to a close, Lydiann's voice became softer. Then, she looked up, still holding the letter. "I best not read further."

Leah nodded, struggling with a lump in her throat. She loathed having to pretend as if she didn't know anything about how and why Lyddie's beloved had ended up being sent away.

"He cares for me, Mamma." Lydiann brushed tears from her face. "What am I s'posed to do 'bout that?"

Unable to advise, Leah merely reached out a hand. "I'm awful sorry, dear. Truly I am. I hope you can trust the Lord for your future."

"Is that what you had to do, too, Mamma? After Jonas left

lere:

She inhaled sharply. "Jonas?"

"Remember, Sadie told me 'bout him and you quite a while back."

Leah didn't care so much to talk about what she'd put behind her. There was no need to rehash the old days, especially when Jonas was the last person she wanted Lydiann to be asking about just now.

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I I nvrly and peaceful, that's what Mary Ruth thought of IHn pin I iaihir September morning as she drove the car to visit yydlnnn. She hadn't stopped by to see her youngest sister in Ktnt'c lli;in a week, and she wanted to gauge for herself how Kytlluun was coping.

[_ More than anything, she wanted to pass on the encourf|il)H things she was learning in Scripture; she'd even tucked tiro Ik"r dress pocket a slip of paper with sermon notes from it'll Sunday. She wouldn't press the issue, of course, but she

I1 ujinly hoped the Lord might make it possible for her to I.|" .ik privately with Lydiann. That and maybe offer a quiet lii.iyi-r lor her.

I When she parked the car in the driveway and switched off In' ignition, Abe came running out from the barn to greet "11 i. "Hullo!" he called, peering inside the driver's side of the

* ji

"I low are you?" she asked, unable to open the door with AI if now hanging nearly inside the open window, reaching to

11H nil I he steering wheel, a curious grin on his face. "I think yi hi best keep your eyes on driving horse and buggy," she said, le-.i I )at accuse hex of promoting worldly interests in his only Kin.

"Aw, don't worry 'bout that. I know plenty of boys who have cars . . . hide 'em from their fathers."

She didn't like the sound of this at all and was glad when A he stepped back so she could climb out of the driver's seat ,u id head for the house. But Abe was trailing right behind her, not ready to let the topic drop.

"How fast do ya think your car can go?" he asked. "How quick can it get to top speed from a dead stop, I mean?"

"Now, Abe..." ., ..-....

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: "I'm serious," he replied. "I want to know." ..-

She shook her head. "I have no idea about any of that."

Evidently disappointed, Abe sat down on the back steps, and she made her way inside.

In the kitchen she found Leah and Lydiann working side by side, stirring up two large fruit salads. One was to be served at dinner and the other was to take to Miriam Peachey, sluwas told.

Mary Ruth wondered about the latter, and Lydiann explained Miriam was under the weather. "That bein' tincase, I wanted to do something nice for her and Smitty."

Sitting down on the wood bench, Mary Ruth was glad for a chance to catch her breath. Without asking, Lydiann brought her a glass of iced tea. "Denki," she said, glad for ii, even though the day wasn't nearly as hot as it had been in past weeks.

"Won't be long now and school will be startin' up again," Lydiann mentioned, sitting down next to her. "Will you lie missin' your students?"

"Well, yes and no."

Leah smiled and came over to the table with some crack ers and several varieties of cheese on a plate. "You'll have one of your own little pupils to look after, 'fore too long."

"A new little one in the family," Lydiann said, eyes spar kling with her words. "I'll baby-sit whenever you want ju.si so long as it isn't twins. I'm not sure I could keep up with two babies the same age." Suddenly a shadow fell over her face, as if something had brought back a sad memory.

Leah quickly changed the subject to plans she had lor making several crib quilts for the new baby. ;

"That's real nice of you," Mary Ruth told Leah then to

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Htiliinn, nIh- said, "Rest assured I'm having only one baby."

H "I A\! When did ya learn this?" Leah asked, keeping her

^mi f low ;iikI glancing toward the back door.

H "The midwife told me yesterday." Mary Ruth sighed. "I do

Hii^VC Robert is somewhat relieved, as well."

H |iinI then they heard a sneeze coming from the back steps,

^M Mnry Ruth put her hand on her chest. "Goodness, is Abe

H|I Ml I inw outside?"

^J I t*i111 hopped up quickly and went to check, only to return

Htfli u grin on her face. "You guessed quite right," she said.

Kp>l < look off runnin' toward the barn just now, but you can

H| mi' both Dat and Gid will soon know it's a single baby

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I l.iry Ruth reached for a second cracker with two small

of cheese on top. "That's all right with me." She

i -'I 11 iir Lydiann, eager to talk with her alone, but the

"" -in.-m|" never presented itself, and after a piece of apple pie,

i" I nil her farewell to her sisters.

"i -onie again soon," Leah called as Mary Ruth made her iv ' nit to the car.

"i 'h, I %ill," she replied, noticing Lydiann making a quick I ihh toward the road.

The familiar squeal of brakes from out on the main road i' 'Itl Mary Ruth it was time for the mail.

I,fah heard Lydiann run into the house, and when she uiiTH'il, she saw her waving a letter, already opened.

"Lisien to this!" Lydiann plopped herself back down on