A Hope for Hannah (26 page)

Some here worry about him going liberal. I guess that happens. But I don’t think it can happen to Jake. What do you think? Oh, Mom, you can’t imagine the kind of thoughts that go through my head. There seem to be new ones everyday now.

Then the worse thing happened. I am now sick with an infection. Betty told me about a good doctor in Libby—Dr. Lisa. I went there yesterday for my first baby checkup. She found the infection. I thought it was just a normal cold, like the one I caught soon after you left.

It’s not, though. I have parasites that could infect the baby too. They won’t hurt me, but they might hurt the baby. Dr. Lisa is hopeful the baby will be fine. She has tests she can do later to see if the baby has been infected. But if it has been infected, there’s not much she can do. And there are some conditions the baby might develop—not good ones.

I completely broke down in the buggy and cried with Betty and then here at home again. I suppose Jake wonders what to do with his wife sometimes, but he’s bearing up. Did you ever have this much trouble?

One good thing, though, is Jake really likes his job. I think there will even be extra money for the doctor bills and all. I hope so. At least that’s the one bright spot in our lives.

I invited Mr. Brunson for supper last Friday night. Seems he heard Jake is a preacher and shared his sad story with us. I can’t tell you everything, but it might not be done yet. He seems to think his son may contact him. He was involved in an accident that killed his wife and daughter. That is why he lives out here all by himself. Now I know why he appears so sad at times.

Jake says God will surely take care of us through all this, but I’m ashamed to say I wonder sometimes. I suppose Jake does too, but he never shows it.

It’s snowing outside, and I can’t sleep. I had a terrible nightmare.

Well, kiss Indiana for me. I could cry about that too, but I’ll have to be a big girl now. Isn’t that what you would say?

With love,
Hannah

Hannah folded the paper carefully and watched the light from the kerosene lamp dance on the log cabin ceiling. What if her child was born perfect and wonderful only to be doomed to life as a cripple? She pushed the thought away.

Back in the bedroom, she carefully slipped under the covers without waking Jake and quickly fell asleep.

Twenty-nine

Jake came home the next evening with the news. His call from the hardware store to Dr. Lisa’s office confirmed the diagnosis—Hannah had the toxoplasmosis infection. As if Betty knew Hannah would need her support, her buggy rattled into the driveway the next morning.

Hannah thought she might throw on a coat and meet Betty outdoors, but the chilly morning persuaded her otherwise. By the time she bundled up, Betty would already be at the door. So instead she just opened the door and waited for Betty.

Betty, not yet to the porch, called out, “You shouldn’t stand there with the door open. It’s too cold this morning.”

“I’m glad to see you,” Hannah said, making no effort to move away.

“Has there been news?” Betty asked, giving Hannah a quick sideways hug. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”

“Jake talked with the doctor yesterday. It’s confirmed.”

“Oh, my.” Betty sounded dismayed as she sat on the couch. “Well, I guess we already knew. Have you let your mom know?”

“I wrote to her yesterday. I couldn’t sleep, and so I got up during the night.”

Betty shrugged. “Can’t say I blame you. I’ve never written letters at night, but I’ve walked the floors aplenty.”

“Mr. Brunson has his court case this week,” Hannah volunteered. She felt like talking about someone else’s troubles.

“That bear thing!” Betty exclaimed.

Hannah nodded and wondered if she ought to tell Betty of Mr. Brunson’s family troubles but decided that wouldn’t be appropriate.

“The game warden did come out and took care of the cat,” Betty said. Chuckling, she went on to say, “They tracked it down right away and removed it from the area.”

“Maybe they don’t want another bear situation,” Hannah ventured.

“I’m sure you’re right. You have any coffee?” Betty started to get up from the couch, saying, “I can make some if not.”

“No, let me get it,” Hannah said, glad for the distraction, knowing it helped keep back the tears. “The water is already hot.”

“You think there’s any hope of the child not being…you know…infected?”

“We don’t know any more than we did before,” Hannah said.

“I think the Lord will take care of you,” Betty said as Hannah left for the kitchen.

She returned with Betty’s steaming cup of coffee and asked, “Why do you think so?”

“Oh, Jake—” Betty said, “preaching like he does.”

Is this what Bishop Nisley is concerned about,
Hannah wondered,
people who make special things out of men because they can preach well?

“You only heard him once,” Hannah said.

“I know. It’s about his turn again,” Betty said. “Bishop might even let him have the main part before too long.”

“I don’t know,” Hannah said, not wanting to consider it.

“God is so kind to this church,” Betty said, sipping her coffee. “Giving us a real interesting preacher, who would have thought of it? Jake Byler—I never did. He can sing, of course, but that doesn’t always carry over to speaking. So young too.”

“Well, the other ministers are good too,” Hannah felt the need to say.

“Of course.” Betty was quick to agree. “I was just saying that he’s another one.”

But Hannah knew what her aunt meant. Betty thought Jake was better than the others.

“I’ve really come to invite you for Thanksgiving.” Betty said, changing the subject. “I know we’re all the family you have around here. Me too, not counting Steve’s side. Because his family is waiting until Saturday to get together, I thought I would take my chance and invite you both to Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Thanksgiving dinner,” Hannah stated more than asked.

Betty nodded. “I could ask Elizabeth and John to come too.”

“Really?” Hannah asked, feeling excitement rise in her. Then she remembered the last visit with Elizabeth and John.

“Surely you would like that?” Betty asked.

“Of course,” Hannah said, reminding herself that it would be okay, that Bishop Nisley had only been doing his job by warning Jake, and that Jake had received the correction well. Things were as they should be now.

“It’s decided, then,” Betty declared, finishing the last of her coffee. “Now I really must be going. The wash is still not done—really not even started.” Betty got to her feet.

Suddenly Hannah found herself asking, “Why don’t I come over for the day?”

“You would?” Betty smiled broadly, and then her face dropped. “Oh my, but I’d just work you like a hired hand if you came now. There’s so much work to be done.”

“All the more reason to come,” Hannah declared. “I’ll put some things away, and then I’ll be ready to go.”

“Oh, this is so good,” Betty gushed. “I’m really glad I came now. I didn’t think I could spare the time. Now I’m actually going to gain time!”

“Jake would say you’re right. Helping others adds to ourselves,” Hannah said, realizing he had never actually said it, but it sure sounded like something he would say.

“What a good preacher,” Betty proclaimed.

Hannah reminded herself not to compliment Jake again, around Betty at least. Bishop Nisley apparently did have a point.

Seated beside Betty in the buggy as it rattled down the driveway, Hannah took deep breaths of the crisp air.

“Better than Indiana air,” Betty said, spoiling the moment.

“I suppose so,” Hannah acknowledged grudgingly. “At least Jake still has work.”

“The Lord is looking out for you—both of you,” Betty said firmly. “He really is. The baby too.”

Hannah was about to say,
That’s what Jake would say,
but caught herself. “Yes, it’s in the Lord’s hands,” she said instead, sounding all grown up. Perhaps she had also changed right along with Jake in this land of mountains and rivers.

“Yes, it is indeed,” Betty said from beside her.

As they turned right on the main road, the view of the mountains rose on both sides. The early morning fog had lifted to nearly the tops of the peaks, adding a shine of white to the wooded slopes. Sunlight poured out of the fog in sheets of blinding light.

“It’s angel country,” Hannah said, not able to help herself.

“But cold right now,” Betty replied without taking her eyes off the road. “More to come too.”

“It will be a hard winter, won’t it?” Hannah asked.

“No doubt,” Betty said. “Steve thinks so.”

“Well, you two should know. You’ve lived here long enough.” Hannah shifted on her seat, picturing how this road might look come January with snowbanks on either side. “Will you still be able to get around?”

“Main roads, yes,” Betty assured her. “It’s not that bad.”

Minutes later they pulled into Betty’s familiar driveway. Hannah helped unhitch and then waited while Betty took the horse into the barn.

“I’ll leave the harness on,” Betty shouted over her shoulder.

“Don’t,” Hannah said quickly, knowing to do so meant Betty would keep the visit short. “I’ll put the harness back on when I leave.”

“The horses are used to it. They stand all day in their harnesses at church,” Betty said and opened the barn door. “You can’t stay too late anyway.”

“No, I guess not,” Hannah agreed. She needed to be home in time to prepare supper for Jake.

“Are you still eating that deer meat?” Betty asked when she came back out.

“Jake is,” Hannah said. “I just can’t.”

“I don’t blame you,” Betty replied. “If you can’t eat all of it, we’ll take it. That is, before you throw it away. I cook mine good and thorough. Never heard of such a thing as a parasite from deer meet.”

“Jake still wants it for now,” Hannah said. “He comes home pretty hungry. He works hard in the furniture shop.”

“We need to see what Jake’s doing sometime,” Betty said as they walked toward the house. “It’s probably as well done as his preaching,”

“Probably,” Hannah agreed because she knew it was true. She couldn’t feel bad toward Jake. He hadn’t chosen to have that piece of paper put in his book. Yet he sure seemed to accept his new position—as if he kind of liked it.

“Now my work—” Betty drew in a deep breath. “My, my, here I am with the house all in a mess and so much to do.”

“That’s what I came for.”

“Yes, I know. It just feels so…Well, wrong. Like I’m using you.”