Jenny's Choice (Apple Creek Dreams #3) (37 page)

“You’re in a hospital in Far Rockaway.”

“What happened?”

“You were mugged out at Jones Beach. The guy robbed you and stole your car, but some witnesses called the police. The State troopers caught him about a mile down the road.”

“Did he hit me?”

“Yes, he cracked you a good one with a pipe. You’ve been out for a whole day.”

“How did you find me?”

“Your office called me as soon as the police identified you. I’ve been here since this morning.”

“What day is it?”

“It’s Wednesday.”

“Tonight’s our announcement party!”

“That’s right.”

“I’ve got to get dressed, Jeremy. You’ve got to take me to my apartment so I can get ready.”

“Richard, you’re in no shape to go. We should call it off.”

Richard grabbed Jeremy by his shirt and pulled him down. “No! You don’t understand. I have to go.”

Even though the answer wasn’t yet clear to Jenny, she spent her morning in peace. All she knew was that she needed to do her best to follow the leading of the Spirit. And then, around eleven, she saw Abel’s buggy coming up the lane. For a moment she wanted to run away and hide, but she steeled herself.

“Lord, I trust You to give me the words to say.”

In that instant her course of action became clear. She didn’t wait for the men to come in, but rose up and went out to meet them. She stood by the gate as the buggy came to a halt.

“
Gut Mariye
, Jenny.”

“Gut Mariye
, Abel, Isaac.”

The men started to get down, but Jenny waved them back to their seats. “There’s no need for you to come in. I have made my decision.”

Isaac leaned forward in his seat.

“Isaac, I know you to be a good and righteous man. I know you would be a good husband. But I cannot marry you. I do not love you in that way. I would be untrue to myself and to you if we were married. You deserve to be loved completely, and I cannot do that.”

“But marriage for the Amish need not be about love, Jenny. It’s built on the needs of our community and our faith first.”

“
Ja
, Isaac, I have heard that. But I need something more.”

Isaac pressed his case. “But love could grow between us, Jenny. Could you give it a chance?”

“I’m sorry, Isaac. I know this is the decision I must make.”

Abel spoke up. “And what will you do in regards to your place in the church? Do you think you can go out into the world and still be true to the Plain way? I’m deeply concerned for you, Jenny Hershberger. I do not think it can be done. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

“I appreciate your concern,
Bisschop
. I don’t know the answer to that part of the question. I have a strange feeling that I will know by tonight, but at this moment, I can’t say.”

Isaac tried once more. “You are sure, Jenny? You will not reconsider? I can give you more time if you need it.”

Jenny walked over to the side of the buggy. She took Isaac’s hand and looked up at him.

“You’re a good man, but even if you gave me a year, my decision would be the same. Do not be angry with me. I must do what I believe the Lord is telling me.”

Isaac sighed. “As you wish, Jenny. As you wish.”

He nodded to Abel, Jenny released his hand, and the
bisschop
cracked the reins. The horse started up, and the buggy moved off. As Jenny watched it go, fear rose in her heart.

Did I hear You right, Lord? Am I giving up everything I know because I think I have heard You? Lord, this is too hard.

And then she heard the gentle voice.

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Then Jenny knew what she must do.

Bobby looked at Jenny with a wry smile on his face.

“Are you sure, Jenny?”

“Yes, Uncle Bobby. But I need you to take me into town first. I have to go to the department store and do some shopping. Then we’ll go.”

“Okay. What about Rachel?”

“She went to Lem’s house. They have a cow that’s about to calve, and Rachel wanted to help. She’ll stay there tonight.”

“Let’s go then.”

Bobby and Jenny walked out to Bobby’s pickup, climbed in, and headed for Lancaster.

Richard’s head was pounding, but he was determined to go. The doctor had protested, but Richard was adamant. He signed the release papers as the doctor shook his head in warning.

Richard turned to Jeremy. “Will you take me home, or must I call a cab?”

“You’re a stubborn man, Richard,” Jeremy said, shaking his head. “But there will be no need for a taxi.”

The two men went out to the car, where Richard winced as he climbed in. Jeremy drove the car out of the hospital garage and headed toward Manhattan and Richard’s apartment. The sunlight was bright and hurt Richard’s eyes.

“Do you have any sunglasses, Jeremy?”

“There’s a pair in the glove box.”

Richard fished around until he found them and then put them on. They were a very large pair of Carreras that covered most of his upper face, but they blocked the light. The pain in his head started to subside.

When they got to Richard’s apartment, Richard went into the bathroom to find a bottle of aspirin. He looked at himself in the mirror. A large bandage covered the side of his head.

That’s the same side I was bandaged on when I woke up in the hospital the last time…

Gently he pulled the tape until the cumbersome dressing came off, and then he searched around in the cabinet until he found some new tape and a smaller gauze pad. He made a dressing and covered up the stitches that ran in a line from the end of his eyebrow toward the top of his ear.

The guy really clocked me.

As he looked in the mirror he heard a voice, strident and whiney in his ear.

“Candyman, my main man, what’s happening?”

Startled, Richard looked around, but no one was there. He shook his head.

I mean, he really clocked me. Now I’m hearing voices!

Just then Jeremy called from the other room. “How are you doing, Richard?”

Richard didn’t answer.

“Richard?”

Richard wondered who Jeremy was calling. Then he remembered.

Richard? Oh…I’m Richard.

He answered Jeremy. “Fine, Jeremy…I’m fine.”

Jeremy walked in with a concerned look on his face. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, we need to go. But you have to hang pretty close because my brains are a little scrambled.”

“Okay, pal. Whatever you want. And by the way, there might be another announcement tonight.”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve asked Jenny Hershberger to marry me.”

Richard frowned. That didn’t seem right. “Isn’t this the third time?”

“Yes, but this time she has promised to give me an answer. I think she’s finally ready to see things my way.”

“Okay. Well, good luck.”

Jeremy smiled. “I’m trusting the Lord that she’ll do what He wants her to do.”

As soon as Jenny walked out of the dressing room at the department store, Bobby stared in amazement. She wasn’t wearing her Amish clothes. Instead, she had on a simple sleeveless black dress cut just below her neckline. The hemline dropped modestly below her knees. Her golden-red hair was released from the confines of the bun and cascaded softly down around her shoulders. She smiled shyly at Bobby, and her lovely violet eyes flashed.

Bobby shook his head. “All I can say is, wow!”

“The last time I wore
Englisch
clothes was when I ran away with Jonathan. I must say this feels very awkward.”

“Well, you look great. Any reason why you’re going dressed this way?”

Jenny shrugged. “I’m not sure, Uncle Bobby. I hope I’m hearing this right.”

She handed him a bag with her other clothes in it. “I just need a couple more things—a purse and a white sweater. I hear it gets cold in Manhattan.”

They finished shopping, and before Bobby put her old clothes in
the truck, Jenny took her
kappe
out of the bag and put it in her purse. Bobby looked at her quizzically.

Jenny shrugged again. “I just feel better if it’s close.”

Bobby helped her into the passenger side and then walked around and climbed in.

“You sure about this, Jenny? It’s a big change. Is it what you really want?”

“I don’t know, Uncle Bobby, but if I’m to give Jeremy an honest answer, I have to find out what his world is really like.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

The truck roared away from the curb and headed out Highway 222 toward New York City.

Jeremy and Richard arrived at the club where the announcement party was being held. The place was a beehive of activity. Cross & Crowne were slated to play a set after the announcement, and their roadies were busy setting up the band’s gear. The caterers were putting up a long buffet table, and delicious smells drifted out of the kitchen. Gary and Deeny were sitting at the grand piano going over a vocal harmony. When Richard walked in, they both got up and came over. Gary pointed at the bandage on Richard’s head.

“You going to be okay, Bro?”

“I’m just fine, Gary, thanks.”

Deeny took Richard by the arm. “Are you sure, Richard? You look a little pale.”

“Thanks for your concern, guys. I really appreciate it. But this is too big of a deal to call off now. So with your help, we’ll get through the business and then I’ll just sit back and listen to you play. I’m sure it’s going to be an exciting evening.”

As he started to walk away, a voice spoke plainly in his ear.
“Let him who has laid his hand on the plow not look back! Press on to the goal! Press
on to Jesus Christ! The one who gains Christ will rise with Him from the dead on the youngest day.”

Richard turned around. “What?”

Gary and Deeny looked puzzled. Richard stared at them.

“Didn’t you just say something to me?”

The two shook their heads.

“My mistake.”

Jeremy was giving some instructions to the staff, and Richard started to walk over toward him. And then he heard the voice again.

“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

Richard turned, but no one was there.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-E
IGHT

Only by Grace

B
OBBY
’
S TRUCK ROARED DOWN THE
road toward Manhattan as Jenny sat in silence.

It’s odd how life works out. Here I am, driving to New York to find the answers to all my questions…again. Some things never change.

She thought back to the day when Jonathan had agreed to help her find her birth mother and they had driven out of Apple Creek in his old Volkswagen van. When she remembered the vehicle, she giggled.