Winter of Wishes (21 page)

“
Jah
, well . . .” What else could she say? Mamma and Ben were watching her closely, and
she didn’t have the heart to tell Andy that she’d been ordered not to see him anymore.
“And how’s your
mamm
doin’?”

He shrugged. “Not as well, but she gets from one day to the next. She wears those
two dresses you made her all the time now.” He closed his eyes over the first bite
of his cookie and then scooted his chair away from the table. “Well, I’ll swing by
the hospital to see how the boys are doing, and then—”

The loud jangling of the bell above the door made them all look up. Rhoda’s breath
caught: Hiram stood there in his black hat and overcoat, glaring at their little group
as though he intended to clear them out the way Jesus had overturned the tables of
the Temple moneychangers.

Then he focused on Rhoda. “One of my Belgian geldings is dead out there at the side
of the road,” he said in a terse voice. “I’ve heard that Joseph and Joshua disobeyed
me by joyriding in the sleigh, and that they were injured. And you’ve sent them to
the hospital without my permission. And you have invited this
Englischer
into your midst yet again when I’ve specifically ordered you not to. The wages of
sin is death, Rhoda. Can you not see how God punishes those who defy my commands?”

Andy remained in his chair. This was no time to leave the Lantz family to answer for
the care he had given Hiram’s sons, and he sensed it was a good opportunity to figure
out what made the bishop tick. While he understood that Amish folks believed everything
that happened was the will of God, it was another thing altogether for this man to
claim that God was punishing his boys for misbehaving—and that Rhoda and her family
would be next on the hit list. Where did this guy get off, thinking he had such complete
knowledge of heaven and hell and all things in between?

“With all due respect, Bishop,” Andy began, “it was
my
opinion that your sons would need more treatment than I could give them. They have
broken bones, not to mention internal injuries we can’t detect without—”

“I’ll deal with you later,” Hiram interrupted curtly. “My immediate concern is that
Rhoda has once again jeopardized her salvation by continuing in her sin with you,
when she assured me she wouldn’t see you again. Her duplicity sickens me.”

Miriam smacked the tabletop and stood to face the man in the doorway. “Your immediate
concern should be your sons, Bishop,” she stated. “And maybe ya could see your way
clear to thank Andy for the way he got your Joey to breathin’ again. Had he not come
to help, we’d be weepin’ and wailin’ over your dead boy instead of sippin’ coffee
right now.”

Hiram’s eyes widened, but before he could reply, Miriam jumped in again.

“And I refuse to believe that the God I love and trust is usin’ your sufferin’ little
boys as an example for folks who ignore your authority,” she continued in a low, unwavering
voice. “Could be He’s tryin’ to get
your
attention, Hiram. Ever thought of that?”

Andy sat up straighter, amazed at Miriam’s challenge—just as Ben and Rhoda were, judging
from their expressions. How he admired this courageous woman of faith! For her, and
for Rhoda and Ben and those two older ladies he’d seen riding off with Rebecca, he
vowed to do everything in his power to ensure Josh and Joey Knepp’s recovery.

“Here.” Rhoda stood up then, holding out a business card. “The English fella whose
car hit your horse asked us to give ya this. He was another reason we called the ambulance,
ya know—the policeman said they needed all the details to keep this fella’s insurance
company informed.”

“Mr. Hammond said he wanted to keep this outta court,” Ben chimed in. “You’ll want
to talk to him sooner rather than later, I’m guessin’.”

Hiram held firm in his spot by the door, until Rhoda finally approached him with the
card. Andy watched the bishop’s face as he read it . . . suspected that Rhoda had
played this card to divert his attention away from her, and Ben had gone along. Sure
enough, Knepp’s brows rose. He tucked the card into his pocket as though he didn’t
have to see Conrad Hammond to believe this catastrophe might have a silver—or green—lining
to it. “Well, Hooley, if you’ll take care of my dead horse—”

“
Jah
, I can do that, Bishop.”

“—I’ll get to the hospital to be sure the doctors haven’t overstepped,” Hiram went
on. “It’s up to God to heal my sons.”

As Hiram gripped the doorknob, Andy rose from his chair. “I’d be happy to give you
a ride, sir. I’m going there to—”

“My driver’s waiting. And you, Mr. Leitner, have done enough meddling in our Plain
affairs,” he replied stiffly. “If Rhoda hasn’t told you this part, along with forbidding
her to see you again, I informed her that if you had any inkling of becoming Amish
so you could be with her, I would refuse to baptize you.”

Andy felt as though the bishop’s Belgian had come back to life to kick him in the
gut. Apparently Preacher Tom had mentioned his inquiry about the Amish faith . . .
or had Rhoda guessed that part? Wished for it? While he was taken aback by Hiram Knepp’s
vengeful, ungracious attitude, he was sorrier that he’d gotten Rhoda into even more
trouble with the leaders of her church. Nothing he could say or do would improve this
tense situation, so he remained silent. He held Hiram’s gaze until the man in black
turned and left, letting the door bang behind him.

Andy exhaled. “It was never my intention to cause any of you such trouble—”

“Trouble? Puh!” Miriam came over to him and took his hand between hers. “Seems trouble
with the bishop has been our lot since my Jesse died, and it’s taught me to be a stronger
woman,” she insisted. “Andy, please don’t believe the rest of us resent you one little
bit.
Jah
, it’s a tough subject, knowin’ how you and Rhoda care for each other, but there’s
no such thing as too much love in this world. We thank ya from the bottom of our hearts
for lookin’ after Josh and Joey. When God gives somebody the gift of healin’, we should
all be grateful to be on the receivin’ end of it.”

“For sure and for certain,” Ben agreed as he reached over to shake hands. “We’d have
been a lot worse off had ya not been here explainin’ the law and that Hammond fella’s
insurance, helpin’ Rhoda when she was givin’ the policeman her story. I’m real sorry
about the way Hiram just talked to ya, Andy. He might be our bishop, but he doesn’t
speak for all of us, understand.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.” Andy sighed and looked at the cookie he’d laid on the
table . . . that dove of peace had lost its head, and indeed that’s how this situation
felt to him right now. “I’ll go on to the hospital, because my shift starts in half
an hour. While I’m there I’ll see how things are progressing with the boys. Hiram’s
their father, and legally he calls the shots about their care. Could be, once he sees
them, he’ll adjust his attitude when he realizes how close to the edge they were.”

“
Jah
, and what with my aunts already bein’ there, Hiram might catch an earful if he tells
the doctors he’s takin’ them home.” Ben clapped him on the back. “You’ve done all
the right things, Andy. Sorry ya got crossways with the bishop.”

Nodding, Andy went to the coat tree and slipped into his parka. He heard someone behind
him and smiled at Rhoda as she, too, put on her coat. “Will you be all right?” he
asked quietly. “That was a nasty accident you saw, and it might haunt you for a while.”

She smiled glumly. “I’m thinkin’ Rebecca and I might be talkin’ things over. We’ve
all found out that her bein’ English isn’t such a bad thing, far as understandin’
the way things happen in the outside world.”

“You’ll have to tell me more of her story sometime.”

Rhoda smiled up at him as he opened the door. “
Jah
, I’d like to do that. She’s a real special sister. But for a while, I’d best stay
outta trouble, what with confessin’ before the membership on Sunday—which is when
Hiram’s ban is to be lifted, too.”

Andy’s eyebrows rose. He didn’t understand all the details of Amish confession or
shunning, but he sensed Sunday would be a pivotal day for the Lantz family—and for
the Willow Ridge community, as well. “I hope everything goes all right for you, Rhoda.
I’ll send up some prayers for you.”

“
Denki
, Andy. That would be wonderful-
gut
.”

The café door closed behind them, and Andy’s breath caught at the expression on Rhoda’s
face as she gazed up at him. He saw fear and yearning, an affection that hadn’t been
dampened by the bishop’s harsh decrees. Her arms flew around him and he held her close,
resting his head on hers. “Rhoda, I’m sorry—”

“Don’t be,” she pleaded.

“—I’ve caused you so much pain and heartbreak.”

“Wasn’t you doin’ that, Andy. It was your world crashin’ into mine,” Rhoda insisted.
“It’s been so
gut
to see ya today even if the circumstances were horrible-hard.”

Andy closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her slender body and the strength of
her hug. Did he dare admit his feelings? His intentions? Would that make Rhoda feel
better or only cause her more pain? “I . . . Rhoda, I’ve asked Preacher Tom how to
become Amish—”

Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “You’d do that for
me
?”

Oh, but her blue eyes and sincerity tugged at him. He could only nod, trying to find
his voice again. “I can’t expect you to leave your faith,” he explained. “But this
decision would affect my whole family, and possibly my ability to earn a living as
a nurse. And it would mean learning your language, and selling my home and car and
most of my possessions. So it’s a huge gamble—especially considering what Hiram Knepp
has said about allowing me to join.”

Rhoda swiped at tears. Then her lips twitched in a mischievous grin. “Well, now. It’s
not like Willow Ridge is the only Amish colony hereabouts, ya know. New Haven and
Morning Star have different bishops, but the faith is the same.”

He let out a laugh and kissed her before he caught himself. Wasn’t it just like Rhoda
to see her way around the obstacles life put in her way? And wasn’t that just one
of the reasons he’d came to care for her so quickly?

“Rhoda, you’re a gem. Never forget that.”

She chuckled. “Tell your
mamm
and the kids hullo for me. I miss them.”

“I’ll do that.” He jogged across the road to his car. Hard to believe the cookie in
his hand had remained intact during their hug. He had to smile. The dove might’ve
lost its head, but its beautiful, sparkly body was still intact, a reminder of how
God had sent the dove to Noah after the flood, as a sign that all was not lost. His
love remained and a whole new world—a whole new life—lay ahead.

And wasn’t that a thought worth holding on to?

 

 

“Mr. Knepp?”

Rebecca glanced up from her magazine as a surgeon in turquoise scrubs came out the
swinging doors of the operating room.
Thank you, God
, she thought as Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Hiram eagerly stood up to meet him. The
afternoon vigil had gone fairly well, with the Hooley sisters reassuring each other
and chatting with her to pass the time—until Hiram had blown in like a thunderstorm.

The bishop had demanded to see the hospital’s chief of staff as well as the director
of the emergency unit, and the fact that they were both women infuriated him more.
He had complained vehemently about the fact that his sons had been transported here
without his knowledge or permission—that the ambulance crew had gone against his religious
principles. He had been ready to barge into the operating room to fetch the twins
until the chief of staff had threatened to call security. She’d reminded him repeatedly
that the boys were still in surgery and could not be wheeled out until they were sewn
up.

“Hiram, they were so badly injured, you would’ve brought them here yourself to be
patched up,” Jerusalem had insisted tearfully. “I assume full responsibility for your
sons’ bein’—”

“And where were you when they took the sleigh from the barn?” he had shot back. “Had
you truly been
responsible
, Joey and Josh wouldn’t be in this condition.”

Rebecca had nearly bitten her tongue in half to remain quiet. Nazareth had crumpled,
sobbing. Jerusalem had backed down, but her stricken expression was a mixture of exasperation
and resentment that was sure to explode later, after this crisis had passed.

Now, as the surgeon extended his hand and Hiram didn’t shake it, the Hooley sisters
remained a few feet behind him. Nazareth gripped Jerusalem’s elbow.

“Mr. Knepp, I’m Dr. LaFarge, and I’ve overseen your sons’ procedures,” he said in
a low voice. “I’m pleased to report that their broken bones have been set, we’ve repaired
several torn ligaments, and we’ve stopped some internal bleeding. After a day or two
of observation and follow-up testing, your twins will be on the road to recovery.”

“Glory be!” Nazareth murmured.

“Our prayers have been answered,” Jerusalem agreed as she wiped her eyes.

Hiram, however, stood ramrod straight. Even without his hat he cut an imposing figure,
and his displeasure seemed to suck the air from the waiting room. “I’m taking them
home with me.
Now
. With God’s care, they will heal.”

“You don’t understand, sir,” Dr. LaFarge stated. “When we learned that Joey had stopped
breathing at the accident site, we ran tests that revealed a pulmonary weakness, which
might well be hereditary. Though his lungs are functioning again, both boys should
remain under observation—”

“That, too, is the way God made them,” the bishop interrupted. “I have already expressed
my chagrin to your chief of staff. I have signed the necessary waivers to take them
home. I’m their father, and I have that right.”

The surgeon crossed his arms, remaining deadly calm. “All right, then. But they can’t
leave until they’ve regained consciousness and we’ve detached their monitors and IVs.
They will remain in my care until I see that they are awake and mentally alert. We’re
concerned about the possibility of concussions.”

Rebecca wanted to cry for the Hooley sisters. They felt bad enough that the twins
had sneaked out with a horse and sleigh, and now they worried that the boys might
not recover completely from an accident caused by a careless driver. She, too, was
haunted by the images still flashing through her mind after witnessing that heart-wrenching
wreck.

At the sound of Nazareth blowing her nose, Hiram turned to the two sisters. “It’s
best that you go back,” he stated. “Your time would be better spent preparing the
downstairs room beside my office to be the boys’ sickroom. I’ll see that they get
home.”

Just that curtly, he dismissed them.

Seething, Rebecca fetched her parka. She waited patiently as the Hooley sisters helped
each other with their heavy black coats and then tied on their black bonnets. Why
did she suspect Hiram had something up his sleeve? His lack of compassion—his blatant
arrogance—made her wonder yet again why her mother and the other good-hearted people
of Willow Ridge tolerated this man. Did they consider it God’s will that such a tyrant
was in charge of their earthly lives and their souls’ salvation?