Susanna's Christmas Wish (15 page)

Herman walked in right at twelve, looking pale and drawn. He said little while they ate and left afterward with only a muttered thanks.

Susanna wanted to run after him, to pull him back into the house and stick him in bed, but it was no use. Herman was a grown man, and she was a grown woman. They would have to deal with the world—and the people—
Da Hah
had given them.

T
he dawn was breaking as Susanna finished the chores. Herman had been tossing and turning in bed when she left the house. The whole evening and night had been awful—once Herman finally came in from the fields after his
mamm
left. His fever had been raging since supper.

She pitied him,
yah
, but she was also angry about the whole situation. The Wagler family was acting like children—all caught up in this idea of working even when they were obviously sick. And look where it got Herman—a serious setback that needed a doctor’s attention.

And obviously Iva wasn’t coming around this morning to look at her handiwork, either. She’d probably blame Herman for not being tough enough. The woman was enough to make Susanna scream. And she had come close to that very thing last night once Herman arrived at the barn with his team of horses.

She’d raced out to help put them up and gasped at the sight of him. “Herman! You look sick! You look like you’re burning up with fever!”

He’d tried to smile. “It’ll go away.”

She laid her hand on his forehead. “Herman Wagler, you’re sick. Really sick!”

His face showed that he knew this was the truth.

Susanna had quieted down, helping him get the horses into the barn.

“Are the chores done?” he’d asked.

“I’ll do them later. You’re going inside right now.”

He hadn’t protested as she led him toward the house. Herman had stumbled once in the lawn, and she’d shrieked, grabbing him with both hands to hold him up.

Once he was settled on the couch, she rushed to make chicken soup before running out to finish the chores. None of the food his
mamm
had made yesterday was suitable for Herman in his condition.

This morning Susanna decided that Iva was worse than useless. She was dangerous. But Susanna couldn’t start thinking about that now. She had to get back inside with Herman. Dipping out a large bucket of oats, she poured it into Bruce’s feedbox. He would need extra energy for the ride into Kalona this morning. Herman was going to the doctor whether he wanted to or not. Susanna was not going to lose a husband after only a few weeks of marriage—and all because of a meddling mother-in-law.

The Belgians banged in their stall at the smell of oats.

“Not today,” she told them. “Herman isn’t working. You can loaf around the field, but Bruce has to run into town.” They neighed as Susanna let them out into the pasture. Running across the lawn, she entered the house, pausing a moment to listen. Herman had been moaning when she left, but everything was quiet now. Taking off her coat, she peeked into the bedroom. Herman had the covers thrown off his sweating body. She rushed to his side. “Herman!” she called gently.

He groaned and tried to sit up.

“You’d better stay in bed awhile longer, Herman. I’m taking you to the doctor this morning.”

He pushed her hand aside and swung his legs over the edge. “What’s going on? Why am I not up and dressed?”

“You’re sick. And I don’t care what your
mamm
says or what you’re used to. You’re going to see the doctor today. You’re in danger of pneumonia because you’ve relapsed.”

He groaned again, rubbing his eyes. “I had awful nightmares last night.”

“I suppose you did.” She ran her hand over his forehead. “You were tossing and turning most of the time.”

“Did I keep you awake?”

“A little, but I’m okay.”

He stared out the window at the light of dawn. “I kept hearing
Mamm
tell me to get out of bed and get into the fields. But it was cold and windy, there was snow blowing, and we couldn’t get the horses out of the barn. My head hurt so much I thought it would burst. And nothing worked. The straps on the harnesses were broken, the horses’ hooves were frozen to the barn floor, and they screamed in terror while we hung on to their halters. And we got nothing done. It was awful, Susanna.”

“It was just a dream,” Susanna comforted, laying her hand on his forehead again.

“You’re here this morning,” he said, as if that thought had just occurred to him. “But I’m still sick.”

“It’s okay.” She held him tightly.

“I acted kind of foolish yesterday, didn’t I?”

Yah
, she wanted to say.
You certainly did
. But she held back the words. Herman knew what he’d done without her rubbing it in. But it sure was nice he was admitting it so willingly. She figured a lot of husbands would have been too stubborn.

“The doctor’s visit will cost me more than the money I saved working yesterday.”

Again Susanna bit her lip to hold back the words.
You could have stood up to your mamm yesterday when it would have done some
gut,
Herman
. He had stood up to his
mamm
about the rumors floating around the community though. For this she was thankful. And that was probably the reason Iva had finally believed her side of the story.

“
Mamm
didn’t do us much
gut
yesterday, did she?” Herman said.

This time Susanna laughed, remembering Iva bustling around in her kitchen for most of the day. “At least your
mamm
left us plenty of baked goods.”

Herman’s smile grew broad. “That’s
Mamm
for you. Always thinks she can make everything right by baking.”

She could do much better by keeping that tongue in her mouth
, Susanna almost said. Instead she said, “Your
mamm
was just trying to help.”

“Next time I’m sending her the bill.” Herman tried to stand, tottering on his feet for a moment before sitting down again.

“Just rest,” she told him. “I’ll get you something to eat, and then we can head out to the doctor.”

“There’s got to be some way not to visit the doctor. He’s too expensive.”

Susanna ignored the comment. “Do you think you can keep oatmeal down?”

He nodded, saying nothing more about the doctor visit, and slid back under the covers

Tucking him under the quilt again, Susanna left for the kitchen. The water soon boiled, and she pushed one of Iva’s pies aside to make room for the oatmeal bowl.

She ought to feed Herman pie this morning so he could see for himself what his
mamm
had spent her day doing while he was getting sicker by the minute in the field. But that would be mean and serve no purpose. Plus, she would feel bad making Herman eat pie when he had a fever and needed nutritious food.

With the oatmeal done, she carried the steaming bowl to the bedroom.

Herman smiled when she entered and pulled himself to a sitting position.

She spoon-fed him, and he didn’t object.

“I think I’m well enough now that I don’t need to see the doctor,” he said, when the bowl was empty.

“You’re seeing the doctor, Herman. The office opens at eight, and if we get there early we won’t have to wait that long.”

He groaned but looked resigned when she smiled at him.

“I’ll eat some breakfast, and then we’ll be on our way.”

He slid back down in bed and pulled the quilt up to his chin.

Hurrying into the kitchen, Susanna prepared her own breakfast, sliding a piece of pie on a plate. Berry pie wasn’t exactly something that went with oatmeal, but Iva’s efforts shouldn’t go to waste. Susanna smiled at the thought. She was obviously a daughter-in-law Iva hadn’t anticipated having. Someone who took her son Herman out of the safe waters of the family harbor. Iva probably wished Herman had chosen someone like Millie Troyer for a
frau
. Millie was so meek she hardly spoke unless spoken to. And Herman could have gotten to Millie in time—if he’d wanted to. Millie hadn’t dated Jesse Byler until after Herman had taken Susanna home for the first time. Millie would certainly not have stood up to Iva…or wanted her family to have
Englisha
Christmas customs.

Placing the dirty dishes on the counter, Susanna hurried back to the bedroom. She changed into a better dress and helped Herman get his Sunday pants and shirt on. He moaned most of the time but didn’t protest about going anymore.

With Herman ensconced on the couch, she dashed to the barn to bring Bruce out and hitch him to the buggy. When she was done, she left the horse tied to the hitching post, found an extra buggy blanket near the grain bin and threw it on the buggy seat, and then went in to get Herman.

She dressed him in two coats and pulled his wool hat on his head. He almost looked like he was enjoying the fussing. She kissed him on the cheek and he smiled. Herman followed her, and she held the front door open for him. In the yard she held his arm, but he seemed steady enough on his feet. He even climbed into the buggy by himself. Unsnapping Bruce’s tie rope, she threw it under the seat and joined Herman, making sure he had both buggy blankets tightly wound around him.

“Let’s go!” she hollered to Bruce after she lifted the reins.

Bruce lumbered down the driveway.

Driving past Bishop Jacob’s place, there was no sign of anyone around.
They must not be working outside today
. Susanna noted the field beside the barn showed fresh signs of plowing, probably done yesterday.

“They’re done,” Herman muttered.

“I’m sorry,” Susanna said, glancing at him. “You’ll get your work done yet. Much faster than if you get pneumonia.”

He coughed for the first time this morning and turned away to cough more.

Alarm flashed across her face.

Turning back, he looked at her. “I’m okay.”

“After you have antibiotics in you, you’ll be okay.”

“I agree,” he said. “
Mamm
isn’t right about everything.”

What a relief!
she wanted to shout, but she didn’t.

“Maybe she’s also wrong about something else.”

“
Yah?
” Susanna said absently, gently slapping the reins against Bruce’s back to hurry him along.

“About Christmas with your family. I’ve seen how they were at Thanksgiving. They just enjoyed the day and were truly thankful to
Da Hah
.”

Susanna took a deep breath. What was Herman saying? Iva had made it clear how much her family’s practice of Christmas was forbidden by the Waglers.

“I’ve been thinking about this matter. Well, just overnight really. And yesterday out plowing in the field while feeling like I did. You’re so different from what I’m used to.”

“I suppose I am,” Susanna managed to say. “I’m working on accepting your family’s ways. And I’m falling in love with you more every day.” She smiled at him.

Herman didn’t say anything for a while.

“It’s true!” Susanna glanced at him with a sweet smile. “I think you’re quite a man.”

“I don’t know about that,” he murmured. “You got a
gut
look at
Mamm
yesterday. And I’m sure the sight wasn’t all that pretty.”

“She’s your
mamm
, Herman. I won’t say anything ill of her.”

“You just take me to the doctor and mother me once she’s gone, is that it?”

“I’m not planning to be like her. I’m your
frau
—not your mother.”

He was silent again, and she gave him more of the buggy blankets as they drove through the edge of town. He shivered but shook his head when a worried look flashed across her face again. “I’m okay,” he repeated. “And I’m also thinking how wonderful a
frau
you make for me. It’s so different, and so…” He let the words hang.

“Well, I’m glad you approve.” Susanna squeezed his arm under the blankets.

“Susanna, we’re going to Christmas at your
mamm
and
daett’s
place this year.”

“Now I know your head is touched with the fever!” she exclaimed. And it was true. She wouldn’t hold him to something he said while he was obviously delirious.

“I’m perfectly whole,” he defended, seeing the look on her face. He pulled the blankets tighter.

“Here we are!” she said, stopping in front of the clinic. “Now let’s get you inside and fixed up before you get worse.”

He groaned as he climbed down after she’d tied Bruce to a tree.

All Susanna could think of was the tongue lashing or worse Iva would give the both of them if she ever heard what Herman had just said. Well, her lips were sealed. She’d never tell.

S
usanna stood at the living room window and looked out over the open fields. This was almost too
gut
to be true. And yet there it was, right in front of her eyes. Bishop Jacob and his son-in-law, both with teams of Belgians, were helping Herman with the plowing. They lined up at the end of the field and began, each slightly behind and to the side of the other as black dirt spilled from under the plow blades.