A Baby for Hannah (27 page)

“Are you sure you don’t have Mennonite sympathies?” Mose asked. “This matter has us very concerned.”

“If I have them, I’m not aware,” Jake said.

“Then perhaps this will show us where you stand on things, Jake,” Bishop John said. “Mose and I have decided that we do need to proceed on the excommunication and that a vote needs to be taken this Sunday. Since you profess to have no sympathies for Ben Stoll, surely you can understand our point of view.”

“I can,” Jake said. “But I still don’t think it would be wise.”

“This may help,” Bishop John said. “I had hoped I wouldn’t need to show this to you—that I would be able to convince you on the merits alone, but I see that you do not trust your fellow ministers very far.”

Hannah listened in the silence, and Jake said nothing. Carefully she peeked around the corner of the kitchen door. Bishop John had a letter in his hand and was holding it out to Jake, who wasn’t taking it.

“You can read it out loud,” Jake finally said. “It might be better that way.”

“As you wish,” Bishop John said. “This is from Bishop Wengerd in Northern Indiana, whom I wrote to for advice. This is what he says:

Dear Brethren. My heart also goes out in grief over the situation you have described to me. Thankfully the Mennonites around here are more respectful of our beliefs and stay in their own churches for the most part. Since the brother and sister who have left your church are not following this standard practice, I do believe that there might be grounds for excommunication, as it has been our experience that it is not wise to ignore such challenges to our faith. I hope this helps, and that the rest of the ministry and the council of the church can come to an agreement on this matter.

“What do you think about that?” Mose asked when Bishop John had finished reading.

Twenty-Eight

Hannah paced the kitchen floor. What had Jake done wrong that he deserved this late-night visit? Jake would now be disturbed for the rest of the evening and be unable to sleep till late. He worked hard enough already at the furniture shop.

Her knee hit the back of a chair and tipped it over, and it went clattering across the floor. Hannah held her breath, but the murmur of voices continued in the living room. Finding a spine of the chair with her outstretched fingers, Hannah carefully set it upright. What were they doing to Jake? Would he give in to Bishop John’s demands?

Turning toward the kitchen opening, Hannah stood behind the sill and listened again.

“This is a very serious matter,” Mose was saying. “We cannot proceed without unity among the ministry. Surely you know that.”

“I do,” Jake said.

“Doesn’t what Bishop Wengerd says mean anything to you?” Bishop John asked.

“It does,” Jake said. “But it’s also just another opinion. We really have no solid tradition to go on. From what I have read of the forefathers, they were very hesitant to excommunicate members who stayed within the Anabaptist churches.”

“But Ben and Sylvia have defied us,” Bishop John said. “They aren’t acting like family at all. They are moving in to take church members away from us.”

“
Jah,
” Mose said, nodding soberly. “That is very true, and I think you should give Bishop Wengerd’s opinion a lot of weight. He is, after all, an older bishop, full of the wisdom age brings to the ministry.”

“And I am a young minister,” Jake said. “I didn’t choose this calling, it was placed upon me, and now I must give an answer to
Da Hah
for what I decide. I cannot just go by what others are saying.”

Hannah peeked around the corner. Bishop John was shaking his head, his hands clasped in front of him. Mose opened his mouth, his words coming out in a plea.

“You are taking way too much upon yourself, Jake. We are just ministers. It’s up to the bishop to lead the church. If John wants Ben and Sylvia excommunicated, then the matter should proceed to a vote in the church.”

“Then let it proceed,” Jake said. “I am in agreement with that.”

“I’m not sure that’s the same thing,” Mose said.

“It’s
gut
enough,” Bishop John said, holding up his hand. “I will take the responsibility upon myself for this matter. I will tell the church it’s my idea, and that you two are not standing in the way. Is that
gut
enough, Jake?” Hannah held her breath, as Jake hung his head.

“It’s
gut
enough,” Jake finally said. “As long as you do not tell them I support the excommunication.”

“Then we have unity,” Bishop John said. “It’s not as
gut
as I had hoped for, but it’s close enough. We will have a members’ meeting immediately after the service on Sunday, where I will read Bishop Wengerd’s letter to the church, and we will take the vote.”

“Surely it will pass,” Mose said. “I cannot see why it wouldn’t.”

“I would hope so,” Bishop John said. “In the meantime we have a lot of work to do. The two of you need to visit both Will and Rebecca and Mary Keim and find out what their plans are. Don’t take your wives with you. I want this to stay between us for now.”

“What about the voting?” Mose asked. “How are going to get a vote of unity from those who are already attending the meetings?”

“They will be disqualified from voting,” Bishop John said. “That should be easy for everyone to understand.”

“I should think so,” Mose said. “Since they have already shown where their sympathies lie.”

“What about you?” Bishop John asked, looking at Jake.

“I will not stand in your way,” Jake said. “I guess it would be hard to expect a clear vote from someone who has already attended the meetings.”

“Then it’s decided,” Bishop John said, getting to his feet. “Now let’s get back home, Mose, to our families and not take up any more of this young couple’s evening.
Da Hah
knows we have already disturbed them enough.”

“It is the work of the church and must be done,” Mose said, following Bishop John to the door. They both bent over to pick up their hats and pulled them on their heads. Hannah stayed where she was while Jake shut the door behind them and watched until the faint outline of the buggy had disappeared into the shadows of the night. Jake went into the kitchen and found her sobbing, her head on the table.

“I’m so sorry about this,” Jake said, setting the kerosene lamp on the table and sitting down beside her. He ran his hand over her face.

“It’s not your fault,” she sobbed. “You didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“I guess it’s like Mose said. It’s the work of the church.”

“It’s horrible, horrible work,” Hannah said, breaking out in fresh tears. “I can’t stand this anymore.”

Jake pulled her tight against his chest, removing her
kapp,
and gently taking out her hair pins. He ran his fingers through her hair, pushing the long strands over her shoulder and down to her waist.

“There, there,” Jake said. “We still love each other. Nothing has changed that.”

“It feels changed,” she cried into his chest. “Everything feels changed.”

“Do you think I backed down?” Jake asked. “That they got me to change my mind against my will?”

“Well, who wouldn’t have?” Hannah asked, searching his face in the flickering light of the kerosene lamp.

“I wasn’t backing down,” Jake said. “I was just trying to keep the peace. Bishop John still has to get the vote passed.”

“You know he will,” Hannah said. “And then all those people will be excommunicated. Even Mary Keim will be.”

“Not if she doesn’t go back to the meetings again or gives a church confession.”

“It’s all too awful to think about,” Hannah said, burying her face in Jake’s arms. “I wish you weren’t a minister.”

“That can’t be helped,” Jake said, stroking her hair. “You are very beautiful. Do you know that?”

“How can you say that now?” Hannah asked, looking up at him.

“Because I love you,” Jake said. “And we will have to be very brave.”

“But I’m
not
very brave,” Hannah said.

“But you will try to be, I know you will,” Jake said.

Hannah jerked her head upright as the faint sound of buggy wheels drifted in from the driveway.

“There’s someone coming, and I don’t have my
kapp
on,” Hannah said, gasping.

“I doubt if it’s the ministers again,” Jake said, stepping out into the living room. Hannah raced past him, her hair trailing over her shoulders, her
kapp
clutched in her hands.

Finding a match, Hannah lit the kerosene lamp in the bedroom, setting the light beside the mirror and quickly working on her hair. Who would be coming at this hour of the night, and what would they think if she wasn’t out in the living room with Jake? Would they think she had already gone to bed?

Pulling on her
kapp,
she brushed the last strand of hair in place and ran out of the bedroom, slowing down as she approached the living room. Taking a moment to catch her breath, Hannah stepped out into the light. No one was around, but Jake’s faint form was visible through the front window, standing on the porch.

Was Jake speaking with someone? Had the ministers come back for some final rebuke they didn’t want her to hear? Tears stung her eyes as Hannah opened the cabin door. Whoever it was, this time they would have to speak to Jake in front of her.

Jake was staring out toward the barn, waiting, as she stepped up beside him. A faint form appeared out of the darkness.

“Miriam,” Hannah gasped. “What are you doing out tonight? And at this hour?”

“It’s still early for Indiana people,” Miriam said, laughing, the sound tinkling like music across the grass. “And what’s wrong with you two? You look like you’re seeing a ghost.”

“Well, you’re not a ghost,” Jake said. “So why don’t you come on in the house?”

“
Jah,
” Hannah said, grabbing her arm. “It’s so
gut
to see you.”

Miriam laughed again, “I think I’ll have to come over more often for a welcome like this. At least someone likes me.”

“Are you having troubles?” Jake asked, while he held the cabin door open.

“Lots of them,” Miriam said. “But nothing the two of you can’t solve.”

“Ah,” Jake said, “so now we are miracle workers.”

“I think you are,” Miriam said. “I was cheered up just by driving in the lane.”

“It’s always
gut
to lighten the soul,” Jake said, following the two women inside.

“We do need it,” Hannah said, pulling Miriam down on the couch beside her. “Do tell me that you come with good news?”

“First, tell me things are well with you two. I passed Bishop John and Mose Chupp on the main road, but surely they wouldn’t be bearers of any bad news.”

Hannah glanced at Jake, who didn’t say anything.

“Oh,” Miriam said. “You are a minister, you don’t need to tell me more than that. I don’t want to be involved anyway. All I want is to enjoy the great gift of love which
Da Hah
has given me and to never think of another day arriving without it.”

“I take it Dennis is still seeing you?” Jake said with a wry smile.

“That’s wonderful news,” Hannah said. “So I take it that Dennis isn’t going to the Mennonite revival meetings? That’s even better news.”

“No, Dennis isn’t going,” Miriam said. “He loves me too much for that.”

“Is that the only reason he’s not going?” Jake asked. “His brother Will attended with his family. At least that’s what we’ve heard.”

“It doesn’t make any difference,” Miriam said. “How many times do I have to say that Dennis is not like his brother? He’s wonderful, sweet, and so in love with me.”

“That’s what they say—love is blind,” Jake said. “Still, I think I’d be a little careful if I were you.”

“Oh, what do you know?” Miriam said with a twinkle in her eye. “You married Hannah with your eyes closed.”

“I did not,” Jake said, laughing softly. “They were wide open.”

“That’s what you say, but I know better,” Miriam said. “You would have followed her to the end of the world. I saw that doggy look in your eyes at the wedding. People might think you’re this great preacher, but I saw you when you were just a little boy and so in love.”

Jake laughed. “I see I didn’t fool you, but that still doesn’t change the situation with Dennis. He isn’t a very safe choice for marriage.”

“Then I’m tired of safe choices,” Miriam said. “I’m tired of safe Indiana, safe hymn singings, safe boys who are so boring they bring me to tears. I’ve found what I wanted out here in Montana, and unless Dennis is the one who throws me back home, I’m not going back without him. In fact, I’ll be perfectly happy living in these mountains for the rest of my life.”

“Sounds like the girl knows her mind,” Jake said. “But you’ve been warned.”

“Maybe you should listen to Jake,” Hannah said. “He knows what he’s talking about.”

“Both of you are way ahead of yourselves. I haven’t even said what I came to ask,” Miriam said. “Can I at least get that out of my mouth before you give me this big lecture?”