A Dream for Hannah (5 page)

“Why not?” Hannah asked in all sincerity.

Roy saw her innocence and responded forthrightly, “That is a very brazen thing to say…to a girl he has just met. It takes a certain kind of boy to do that. A kind,” he said and then paused, searching for the right words, “that it would be best to stay away from.”

Hannah said nothing.

Her father continued, “Hannah, I want you to remember something. Good men aren’t made with just talk. It takes a lot of work to produce good character. This Peter may not have that yet.”

Beside him Kathy tried to soften things a little. “We can’t be absolutely certain of that, though. After all, we really don’t know him either.”

Hannah hung on to her mom’s words.

“I think I’m pretty close to the truth,” Roy said, glancing in Hannah’s direction. “It would just be better if you have nothing to do with this boy. My guess is he won’t be coming around anyway since you’re still pretty young. But even if you were older…I would want you to stay away from him.”

Hannah answered him with silence, averting her gaze to the wall. What else was there to say? She had no idea why things had to be so complicated.

Roy nodded and seemed satisfied.

“Just a warning,” he said and smiled. “Hope it helps.”

“We’d best go now,” Kathy said.

Hannah watched as her parents left. The pain in her head was nothing compared to the pain of her broken heart. So the whole world must be bad. That was the only conclusion one could draw. For something that felt as good as her new love for Peter to be so wrong required a readjustment of major proportions. In the midst of her agony, she wished Peter were here. The memories of his voice brought back a desire to hear his words again.
I’m sure we’ll see more of each other somewhere. I’ll make sure of that.

Gently she lay back on her pillow. “Peter,” she said softly. Speaking his name out loud, the sound seemed to fill the whole room.

Four

Hannah spent the next several days mostly on the couch or in her bedroom as she continued to get better. Slowly she added some chores back into her routine. Then one day after breakfast, Hannah asked abruptly, “May I go riding, Mom? I miss being on Honey.”

Kathy turned to look at her. “Are you sure you’re well enough? You could risk reinjuring yourself.”

“I’m much better,” Hannah said. “I don’t get dizzy anymore.”

Kathy considered the request and then nodded. “Well, the ride might do you good. Honey misses you, I’m sure.”

With no more present duties, Hannah left for the barn immediately, called for Honey in the barnyard, and slid his bridle on when he came. As she mounted him, she drew in deep breaths and let her eyes sweep across the open fields. How good it felt to be out of the house again. Honey was a faithful little beast, not given to any unnecessary excitement. Astride him, she was ready to ride anywhere. Hannah reveled in the joy she felt as the wind brushed softly against her face, stirring loose wisps of hair not restricted by her
kapp.

“Come on, old boy,” she said softly to the horse. “Are you ready to go?"

Just as she was ready to head for the open pasture, Hannah heard the sound of a horse’s hooves on the pavement on the main road. She paused and waited to see who this was. No doubt it was one of the women-folk coming to see her mother.

When the single buggy appeared, Hannah was surprised to see that it was driven by a boy. She was even more surprised to see Sam’s red hair and distinct features come into view. What was Sam doing on the road at this time of the day?

She had no idea until he turned into their driveway. Then she realized he must be there to see her. Briskly he brought the buggy up to the hitching post, jumped out, and tied the horse. He saw her on Honey and headed toward her.

“Good morning,” he said when he was close enough for her to hear.

“Good morning,” she said, making no move to get off of Honey.

Sam rubbed his freckled face, a rueful expression on it. “I’m so sorry for what happened…with me running into you.”

“It couldn’t be helped,” she said, wishing he would go away.
Where is Mom when I need her?

“It was dark,” he said, “and I couldn’t see anything. I didn’t mean to do it—especially to someone like you.” He blushed and looked like he regretted what he had just said.

“It’s okay,” she said again and kept her eyes on Honey’s feet. If she looked up, she just knew Sam’s mouth would drop open. That would be a little too much at the moment.

“I just had a chance to slip away…between the field work,” he said as an explanation.

At least he’s conscientious. I guess that’s one point in his favor. Still, he means nothing to me…in that way.
Hannah glanced up and decided to at least be polite. She owed him that much.

“Mom allowed me to ride today. She wasn’t sure if I was well enough, but I am.” She was careful not to look Sam in the eyes.

A look of grateful surprise crossed Sam’s face, but his mouth didn’t drop open. Hannah almost smiled at the thought.

“Well, you should be careful,” Sam said. “But it’s plucky of you to be out and about so soon. Why don’t you go for a ride and I’ll just watch since I’m here anyway?” His freckles fairly vibrated on his face with eagerness.

Oh, great. Now he’s impressed by my good wife qualities of being up and about so soon.
Hannah made herself smile, although not in his direction. There seemed no option but to humor him since her mom still hadn’t made an appearance. Hannah turned Honey around, let the reins out, and sped away. The open field of short stubble hay stretched out in front of her.

At that moment in the house, Kathy had come to the living room window. She glanced at Sam, who caused her to smile. Her hand reached for the living room door as if to open it, but then she paused when Hannah started across the field. She watched for a moment, shook her head in amusement, and left the window to go to the kitchen.

As Honey crossed the field and increased his speed, Hannah let him have more of the reins. Glad to be out of the stall, Honey laid deep into the gallop. His legs hit the ground in a rapid concussion of sound, and his breath soon came in sharp jerks. Even though she knew Sam was watching them, Hannah threw her head back, laughed deeply with the pleasure of the ride, and nearly lost her
kapp
in the process. She felt the cloth shift on her head and quickly snapped her head back down. With one hand she pulled the
kapp
forward and slowly tightened up the reins with the other. The end of the field rapidly approached.

“Slow, boy,” she said softly. “There we go, Honey. Let’s turn around.”

Gently she brought the pony around, still at a trot, and then let him have the reins again for the return run to the barn. The wind caused tears to stream from her eyes, but her body felt refreshed right down to her bare toes. The barn came into view much too quickly as Hannah tightened the reins and slowed Honey to a walk by the board fence. Kathy stood at the window again, saw that Hannah completed the run, and stepped outside.

“Shall we do it again, Honey?” Hannah asked, still out of earshot of Sam. “Maybe you need to rest a little bit first?”

Hannah concluded that the pony did need a rest and urged him toward the gate. The water tank was there too. She intended to let him catch his breath and get a drink of water.

But unknown to Hannah, the horse was walking directly toward a hole, which had been dug by a recently deceased groundhog. The pesky critter had finally succumbed to Roy’s .22 Long Rifle. A little dirt had fallen in around the top of the burrow, and a few small tufts of grass had grown across the width of the hole—ready and able to receive Honey’s slim foot.

Into the hole the hoof dropped. If Honey had been at a run, he would never have been able to extract his hoof in time before the forward motion of his body snapped the leg. Now, however, he somehow sensed the threat and threw himself violently away from the endangered leg—his actions guided purely by his instincts to survive. He succeeded in saving his leg, but in the action that followed, Hannah lost her grip on the reins and was thrown through the air, striking the ground a few feet from where Sam stood. She then crashed into the gatepost, taking the full force with her right shoulder. Hannah felt a sickening crunch of bone and flesh against wood, and then everything went black.

How long she lay there, she wasn’t sure. The time couldn’t have been more than a few seconds. Honey’s muzzle on her chest was the first sensation she felt. Her shoulder burned like fire. Through the haze of pain, she noticed that Honey trembled. He whinnied and jerked his neck up and down sharply.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she whispered. “I should have been watching where we were going.”

Honey bobbed his head and nuzzled her chest again. He whinnied even louder.

“Honey, are you okay?” she asked louder and then winced when she tried to move her hand to touch his leg. “Oh, I must have hurt something!” Hannah allowed the weight of her body to settle back onto the ground. Her mom’s hand appeared on the pony’s neck, pushing him away and reaching for her.

“Hannah! Are you alright?” Kathy’s voice was full of concern.

Hannah couldn’t find her voice now that her mother was there.

“Hannah, are you hurt?” Kathy repeated.

“This hurts,” Hannah said and pointed to her shoulder.

Kathy helped her gently to her feet and guided her slowly toward the house. Hannah winced with each step, each movement threatening to recreate the sickening sound deep inside her shoulder. Ahead of them, Sam’s face was all worry, his mouth wide open.

“Sit on the steps,” Kathy told Hannah. “Sam, can you go get Roy? He’s in the back field.”

Sam didn’t need to be asked twice. He ran down the dirt lane toward the Miller’s farming fields across the creek.

Roy noticed Sam and pulled the team to a halt, a surprised look on his face.

“Hannah hurt her shoulder while riding her pony,” Sam called out and then waited as Roy responded.

“Is it bad?” he asked.

“I can’t tell,” Sam answered. “She was holding her shoulder.”

“Well, I can’t come in right now. I have to finish cutting the field. Just tell Kathy to go across the road and see if Mr. Bowen can take her to the doctor’s office. Don’t take her to the hospital. The bill last time was way too high. We can’t afford any of that.”

“I can finish the field for you,” Sam offered.

Roy looked at him in surprise. “You have time for that?”

“I don’t need to be back till after lunch.”

Roy shrugged. “I’ll go and see that they get off. That shouldn’t take too long. Then I’ll be back.”

Sam didn’t say anything but held out his hand to take the reins. With obvious expertise he climbed onto the hay cutter. Roy watched him drive the horses a few steps. Apparently satisfied the boy knew how to drive the team, Roy headed for the house.

“We have to get her to the doctor,” Roy said after he took a quick look at Hannah’s shoulder. “What’s going on with you anyway?” he asked, half in jest to ease the tension. “All these accidents.”

“It’s that awful Sam,” Hannah groaned, and even Roy had to grin.

“It’s not funny,” she retorted.

“Suppose not,” Roy agreed. “Your mom will watch you while I get Mr. Bowen.”

“What if the doctor says we have to go to the hospital?” Kathy asked.

“Ask him to do what he can…before you go to the hospital,” Roy said over his shoulder.

“I’ll do my best,” she said. “Are you going to get Mr. Bowen?”

“Yes,” he shouted back, well up the driveway already.

Mr. Bowen appeared within minutes. “Not again,” he exclaimed and held the car door open for Hannah.

Hannah numbly nodded and climbed slowly into the backseat. Kathy was soon out of the house with the things she needed, and they were off. Roy watched till they were on the main road and then walked back to his hay field to relieve Sam.

“Is she okay?” Sam asked.

“They left for the doctor. She was walking by herself…so I think she’ll be fine.”

“I’m so sorry about all this,” Sam told him.

“Well, these things happen,” Roy said. “Thanks for keeping the team going.”

“Glad to,” Sam muttered and handed the reins over.

Roy climbed on and slapped the lines, and the whirling blades started up with the horses’ first movements. Sam watched for a few minutes and then walked slowly back up the lane, got into his buggy, and left.