Holding a Tender Heart (28 page)

S
everal hours later that evening the sun was setting, the long, summer dusk slowly blending into darkness. Bishop Beiler still wasn't back, but it couldn't be long now, Debbie thought as she glanced at the wall clock. It was close to nine-thirty. Debbie stifled a yawn. Beside her on the couch, Verna leaned against her shoulder, exhausted from weeping. Saloma paced back and forth between the kitchen and the living room, and Lois came around occasionally to refill their cups of hot tea.

The tea had been Ida's idea once it became obvious that the evening wouldn't end early. Saloma hadn't objected. Debbie's cup now sat on the footstool in front of her, half empty; Verna's was untouched. None of Saloma's constant urges could bring Verna to take a sip.

Above their heads the gas lantern hissed. Sleepiness crept over Debbie, but the others—except for Verna—seemed to manage better…or perhaps they just didn't show their weariness. The Amish could be stoic in times of crisis, though Verna had also demonstrated the depths to which they felt their emotions.

Saloma paused in front of her daughter again. “Verna, you have to take some nourishment. You have to keep up your strength.”

Verna looked up, apparently aroused to action for the first time. “Is
Daett
home?”

“
Nee
, but he will come before long. And how are you going to listen when he speaks if you have no strength?”

Verna sat up and reached for the cup of tea. She took a sip and then another one.

“That's a
gut
girl,” Saloma encouraged. “Now drink all of it.”

“How long are we staying up?” Lois asked from the kitchen doorway.

“No one has to stay up who doesn't wish to,” Saloma said. “Emery's already gone to bed. But I'm sure Verna wants to wait for
Daett
, and I'm staying up with her.”

“Me too,” Ida chimed in.

“Then I'm staying too, but I do wish he'd hurry.” Lois paused to listen. “Is that him now?”

Silence fell as they listened to the sound of buggy wheels in the driveway.

Lois raced toward the front door and said over her shoulder, “I'll go help him unhitch.”

Lois had gone in search of information, Debbie guessed, but if she knew Bishop Beiler, Lois's quest was in vain.

“I hope your dad has a good report,” Debbie whispered in Verna's ear. “Should I go upstairs now?”

Alarm showed on Verna's face. “You're not leaving, are you? I want you here.”

“But I'm not family.”

Saloma stopped her. “Debbie, you're staying. This is something everyone will find out anyway.”

“
Yah
, please,” Verna begged. “I need you.”

Debbie settled back on the couch as the front door opened. Lois came in, followed by the bishop. His face was sober as he took off his hat and hung it on the wall hook.

The news wasn't good, Debbie decided. She wrapped her arm around Verna. Verna began to cry again, so she must have come to the same conclusion.

When silence finally settled over the room, Saloma spoke up. “Sit down and tell us, Adam, please. We've been up waiting for you.”

Bishop Beiler shook his head. “You should all be in bed. There's nothing to be done.”

“Then tell us what happened,” Saloma insisted.

Bishop Beiler sat on his rocker and glanced around the room. “There isn't much. The police arrived at the Weaver place with a search warrant. They went through the house and barn but found nothing. After that, they took Joe to the police station, did whatever they do there, and released him when Joe posted the bond.”

“Is Joe guilty of this thing?” Saloma asked.

“Of course he isn't!” The explosion came from Verna, who sat up straight. Her gaze burned into their faces.

Bishop Beiler motioned for Verna to quiet down. “There's no use working yourself up, daughter. Joe continues to claim he's innocent—even after a dozen of his relatives spoke with him tonight. They all took their turn talking to the man. After that Deacon Mast and I had questions for him. Joe will not confess to anything. Yet the
Englisha
police claim they have a solid witness. They also say they have stolen items with Joe's fingerprints on them.”

“It's not true!” Verna wailed. “If Joe says he didn't do it, then he didn't do it.”

“Verna,” Bishop Beiler said, “you will have to face this head-on and understand the meaning of the situation. It looks like Joe has deceived all of us and brought great shame on the community. He was doing things in his
rumspringa
time that even his parents were not aware of. Apparently that is why Rosy cut off the relationship—when she found out.”

“Rosy knew about this?” Saloma leaned forward.

“She did not!” Verna exploded again. “This is all lies. All Rosy knew was that Joe had an
Englisha
girlfriend. There was nothing about stealing.”

They all looked at Verna. “An
Englisha
girlfriend?” Ida's voice was laced with horror. “So that's true? And you knew?”

Verna didn't answer as she sagged against the couch back.

“I'm afraid that part at least we know is true,” Bishop Beiler said. “Joe confessed tonight to having an
Englisha
girlfriend, something his parents already knew about—and Rosy of course. But I did not know of this, and neither did Deacon Mast.”

“You can't keep track of what all the young people do during their
rumspringa
time,” Saloma came to her husband's defense.

Bishop Beiler sighed. “I'm disappointed in you, Verna. You should at least have waited a while before you saw more of Joe—as I suggested.”

“A lot of Amish see
Englisha
friends during that time.” Verna's voice was weak. “You said so yourself. And Joe was no different. At least he was sorry and came back to the community. Doesn't that mean anything? Because it does for me. The man has a heart of gold.”

“Stolen gold!” Lois exclaimed from the kitchen doorway.

Verna didn't respond, too exhausted for further argument.

Bishop Beiler waved his hand about. “I guess we'll overlook the past. I can understand why Verna was tempted to ignore the man's faults. But I should have stood firm in the beginning when I had my doubts. In this I take full responsibility. So from here on I will be even more careful. And Verna, you are to consider your relationship with Joe Weaver over. I told him so tonight, and he had the decency not to protest. So I have to give the boy that much credit.”

“I will not give him up!” Verna's wail cut through the living room. “I'm going down to see him tonight!”

Saloma leaped to her feet. “Verna's overwrought,
Daett
. Don't mind what she's saying. I'll take her up to her room.”

Verna didn't resist as
Mamm
took her by the hand and tugged.

But there was still fire in her eyes, Debbie thought. This battle wasn't over by any means. She saw the bishop's gaze follow Verna. From the look on his face, he'd drawn the same conclusion.

The bishop rose. “We'll say no more tonight. Already too much time has been spent, and we will not be able to get up in the morning. Everybody off to bed!”

Saloma and Verna were already gone, so Debbie followed the other two girls up the stairs. Saloma met them on her way down. With a weary smile, she said, “Good night, girls. I think Verna will be okay now.”

Ida spoke up. “I'll check in on her.” Saloma didn't object.

Lois followed Debbie into their room, and the younger girl lay on her bed. Clearly she had no intention of settling down, Debbie thought. Soon Lois's whisper cut through the dim light of the room. “What a night this has been!”

Debbie sat down on the other bed. “Do you think Verna's going to accept your dad's decision?”

“I wouldn't count on it.”

“I see trouble myself,” Debbie said. “Verna looked quite determined to me.”

Lois sighed. “
Daett
will take care of her. He always has before. Look at me. I used to make all kinds of threats about leaving. I even thought I was going to that
Englisha
school this fall. And look what happened. I'm going on with life and—poof!—the thought's gone!” She stared at the ceiling. “I guess I enjoyed watching Verna accomplish a task none of us were able to yet. Getting a man past
Daett
's sharp eye. Now that achievement is over.”

“It does look so,” Debbie agreed.

“Much as I feel her pain, I'm also mourning for myself.” Lois sat up in the bed as a soft knock came on the door. It opened before either of them could answer. Ida appeared.

“Sorry to interrupt, but Verna wants us to pray with her. Could you both come?”

“Of course!” Lois got up at once and headed out the door. Debbie followed.

Verna appeared hollow-eyed when they entered her bedroom. She whispered, “I'm sorry for the way I've been behaving. I never thought I would react like this…”

“It's okay.” Lois gave Verna a quick hug.

“Thanks.” Verna caught her breath and continued. “Will you pray with me? I'm trying to collect myself, and I need
Da Hah
's strength.”

Ida was the first to kneel beside the bed, followed by the others. Debbie took Verna's hand as Ida led out, “Dear
Hah
in heaven, please help Verna tonight—and even tomorrow and the day after. You know it's going to be hard for her…and for all of us. Our hearts are hurting, but Verna's the worst of all. Touch Verna with Your tender love because we know she is even more precious to You than she is to all of us.”

Verna clung to Debbie's hand as Lois prayed next. “Please help us. I feel in my heart how much Verna hurts. But I also know what this could mean for all of us. Give Verna the blessing of peace in her heart tonight—difficult as that may be—and also for the rest of us. I ask for the sake of Your great name. And I thank You ahead of time. Amen.”

Debbie waited a moment before she began. “I pray too, dear Lord, that You would heal hearts tonight. Give hope to Verna. I know that You will still be with her regardless of what those whom she loves have done. Help me be a comfort to Verna in whatever way I can. In Jesus' name. Amen.”

In the silence that followed, Verna prayed. “O dear
Hah
, I ask that You forgive Joe even as we forgive him for whatever he has done. My heart tells me he didn't do this terrible thing. I know Joe told me the truth about his
Englisha
girlfriend back when he wouldn't have had to tell me anything. Now I place Joe in Your hands. That's hard for me to do, but I'm trying. And I promise I will be true to
Joe. Soften
Daett
's heart so that he might also see this thing the way it really is. But if not, help me bear the burden of doing what is right because I will not forsake Joe!”

The room grew quiet as Verna rose to her feet. She gave Debbie a tight hug first, followed by the others. She smiled through her tears. “Thanks for coming and praying with me. It means so much.”

“Of course,” Debbie said as she squeezed Verna's hand one last time. Then she turned and followed Lois back to their bedroom.

Twenty-Six

O
n Friday morning Verna walked into the barn, threw the harness on Buttercup, and tightened the straps with quick jerks. She'd waited long enough for this visit. It must be done. Buttercup groaned in protest, and Verna gave her a gentle stroke on the neck. “Sorry there. I wasn't trying to hurt you, but I'm in a hurry.”

Daett
had left for town an hour ago, and he wasn't expected back for some time. Still, Verna wanted to be out of the driveway and down the road a
gut
distance before there was any chance that
Daett
would show up. She would deal with him later. Right now she had to see Joe.
Mamm
knew what she was up to but hadn't said anything so far.