Abram's Daughters 02 The Betrayal (11 page)

Let's think seriously about the possibility of you coming back to Ohio with me after we join church. M31 final weeks away from home will be much easier with you close by. If necessary, I will write to your father to get his blessing on the matter . . . or, better yet, I'll speak to him when I'm there.

By the way, David Mellinger's elderly mother, Edith, could benefit greatly from your help, if only for a short time. (They're inviting you through me.) You can stay in the Dawdi Haus with Edith. What do you think of this?

I'm also eager for you to meet the godly bishop here. The Scriptures have come alive for me passages in the Bible I never knew existed. Here's one I must share with you today. Second Corinthians chapter three, verse eighteen: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Leah, if you read this verse over again, the amazing truth will sink deep into your heart. To think our lives can be mirrors of God's goodness and grace, making it possible for others to see Christ Jesus reflected in us!

1 should sign off and prepare for a long and busy day. I'm holding my breath to see you again!

All my love, Jonas

111ZA,

ial

She held the letter fondly, gladdened by his invitation, luiiiis still wanted her to visit him in Ohio! She went to seek mm Mamma with the news.

Mamma was far more understanding than Leah expected. "That's right nice of Jonas, but you'll have to see what Dat *.:iys, ya know," Mamma said, standing at the wood stove.

"Do you mean you could be in favor of it? If Dat is wilImV

"Let's just see what he says" Mamma's parting words on iIn- matter.

She kissed her mother square on the cheek.

Obviously pleased, Mamma reminded her the "decision remains with Dat, ya must know."

"But still, I'm more hopeful 'cause of what you said."

This time it was Mamma who kissed her, high on the forehead, right where her middle part commenced.

Promptly Leah marched out to the barn, her heart in her throat, knowing full well what to predict from Dat. She found him caring for a nasty gash on the lower hindquarters of one < >l' the mules. '^\w, the poor thing. You've got yourself some lendin' to do." She stood back a bit as Dat soothed the hurt-

iM|4 animal.

"Jah, but never too busy for my girl. What's on your mind, I eah?"

That was just like Dat; he seemed to know her better than almost anyone. Now . . . how to say what was on her heart? I bre she risk Dat's temper after his recent flare-up with Sadie? "I guess I don't know where to start, really."

He looked up from his squatting position. "If this concerns

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your aunt Lizzie, I'll be blunt with you I have no time for it. That's all I best say."

"Aunt Lizzie? Why, no ... it's about a letter from Jonas. Arrived just today." She pressed on, shaking inwardly as she told him what Jonas had in mind. "I really want to do this, Dat. I wouldn't risk annoying you if it didn't mean ever so

much to me."

"You want to go an' visit Millersburg before you're married

to Jonas?"

She explained she could stay with the master carpenter's mother to help with the widow's daily routine. "Jonas would reside where he is now, next door in the main farmhouse."

"A bit too familiar for my likin'."

"You know that would not be a concern." She was hoping to rule out all roadblocks. "This could be a special time for

Jonas and me."

Abram turned away, lifting the mule's leg, manipulating it back and forth. "I don't see it that way," Dat said quickly.

She wanted to say, I'm not like Sadie, but bit her lip. Dat knew nothing of Sadie's past. And besides, it wasn't an issue of purity that seemed to irk him. He was just plain stubborn about preferring Gid Peachey.

"It's a closed subject," Dat added. "Verschteh understand?"

She didn't dare argue with him. But she wanted to go to Ohio something awful. Breathing in hard, then exhaling, she turned and walked away, trying to keep still and not talk back. But she could hear Jonas's earnest plea in the words he'd writ' ten. Loving words the compassion of her future husband. Jonas wanted to spend time with his bride-to-be. What was

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wiling with that? After all this time they'd been apart. . .

Suddenly she spun round and rushed back to the barn. "What if Jonas talks this over with you when he comes for luipiisin? Would that set better with you, Dat?" she entreated

111m, desperate for this one thing. "I scarcely ever ask for nun 11, you know that. But this. . ."

I ';it stood up just then and looked her full in the face. "My dear girl, how can you ever know what's in the deep of my heart? You are precious to me . . . since the first day I laid ryes on you. Tiny little thing, you were. A helpless infant, huwlhV your lungs out."

She was nearly embarrassed at his tender words. "Dat?"

"No, now listen to me, Leah. You're the light of my eyes, ulwuys have been."

I'or goodness' sake, Dat was being much too serious. She wild, "I know you think of me more as a son than a "

"No . . . no, you haven't any idea."

"Then, maybe . . . well, might you be willin' to change your mind? Could you reconsider . . . just this once?" All their yfiirs working the mules in the field, tending to a multitude ul him chorei^ always together told her he might listen. Alter all, she was Abram's Leah, and she knew that, in his own stubborn way, he was attempting to save face. Known to IH- unyielding amongst the People, Dat wanted to give Leah vvliiii she most longed for. She was sure of it.

Sighing, Dat removed his straw hat and raked his thick lingers through his cropped hair. "For how long did you say?"

"A month or so is all."

"And you wouldn't ever think of marryin' anyone but this

I,

>y, your mammas cousins son;

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By now she couldn't begin to utter a response. How she loved the darling boy of her childhood! Dat knew this. Why must he continually test me? she wondered.

Dat gave her a long look before continuing. "If you love Jonas as much as you seem to, then can you find a way to get yourself out there? I won't be givin' you the money to ride a train or bus all the way to Ohio, just so you know."

Joyful tears sprang to her eyes. "Oh, I can't thank you enough!" Leah reached over and hugged his arm tightly. "I promise ya won't regret this."

Her father clasped her hand tight for a moment before they parted. Then, still grinning, Leah ran to tell Mamma the amazing news.

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/~\t noon Mamma suggested the girls enjoy a long lunch Inviik from their work. "We all need a bit of time off," she iinnnunced at the table.

Leah and the twins agreed, welcoming the idea with nods id I he head. Sadie, however, went right back outside as if she hadn't heard.

Standing in the doorway, hand on the screen door, Leah watched Sadie work the soil. She's punishing herself out in that

.mi. ... $

Was now the time to approach Sadie? Such a ticklish position Naomi had put her in. Just how would Sadie react to Niiomi's threat?

Sadie worked the hoe, all bent over, Leah noticed, making drop furrows in the vegetable rows to assist their handvviiicring efforts. Some much-needed rain had come recently, I nit all through July and this far into August they'd supplemented by pumping well water up to the holding tank and using hoses in the garden. With constant care the girls had116s

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practically salvaged the entire celery crop. A sign of gut things to come, thought Leah.

Awful tired herself and wishing she could heed Mamma's suggestion to rest up, Leah opened the back door and stepped out. There was not a breath of wind to be felt, and the birds were silent. Uncanny, to be sure.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped past the narrow swath of red-and'white petunias lining the cement walkway on the right. Dat could be heard clear off in the cornfield, talking to either Gid or the smithy. The peculiar stillness gave Leah a sense of renewed courage, as if the earth were holding its breath along with her. Best talk to Sadie right now, she told herself, thinking again of Naomi's ominous warning.

Turning at the end of the whitewashed fence, she made her way to the family vegetable garden. Sadie was as pretty as ever, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight through her white prayer bonnet. Leah was struck with the notion Sadie could pass for a heavenly messenger an angel so fragile and lovely she looked.

"Sister," she called softly, "why aren't you inside takin' a breather?"

"Don't need any time off" came the terse reply.

Leah didn't care to dispute that; no need starting another quarrel. "I saw you out here and thought maybe we could have us a quick chat."

"Seems you're the one who's most eager to talk."

Right away she felt put off by Sadie's remark, yet Leah rejected the urge to respond in kind. "1 was hopin' we could discuss somethin' . . . without fussin' this time."

"All depends."

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I call reckoned if she brought up Naomi just now, Sadie mij;hi lot out a holler. She wouldn't put it past Sadie, not the '< ,iy Ikt emotions had run unchecked lately. "Have you given my more thought to, well .. . what we talked 'bout before?"

"I \>n't mince words, Leah. Say what you mean."

"All right, then. Isn't it time ... I mean, don't you feel V hi .should unburden your heart to Mamma, at least?"

S; id ie scowled.

I .en h crouched down in the small irrigation ditch between ilie rows. "Honestly, Sadie, I'm scared someone else might I i H ivv the truth- besides Aunt Lizzie and me and report you

1.1 Preacher Yoder."

Sadie raised her voice, blue eyes glistening. "So . . . did s >i i 140 an' tell?"

"Actually, Naomi told me a thing or two. She's decided to m.tkt' a stand for virtue and hopes you'll repent. And mighty

i|lll( l<."

"Naomi has nothin' on me."

I ,t';ih whispered, "She didn't know you were in the family

way

r

Sadie shooK her head. "Only that I kept seein' Derry after my baptism, is all."

"Even so, I'm as worried for you as Naomi is. Unconfessed .in is treacherous." She remembered the Scripture Jonas had wiiiu-n in his last letter. Beholding as in a glass the glory of the

11 ml . . . If only she could share that just now, but her sister's liciirl was closed up; Leah knew by the hard look of frustration

1 m Siidie's face.

Sadie rose and shoved the hoe deep into the ground. "I ilnn'i care anymore what happens to me." ,

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"You're upset, that's all. You don't mean it."

"Oh, but I do."

"Sadie . . . sister, don't you want to obey the vows you made to the church ... to God?"

"Don't fret over me. The covenant I made was false."

"I fear that's even worse."

"Let God be the judge of that."

Leah felt the breath go out of her. "I can't stand by and watch the brethren put the Bann on you. Oh, Sadie ... I won't!"

"How are you goin' to stop them?"

"By pesterin' you till you agree to do what is right. Wouldn't you do the same if the tables were turned? Wouldn't you shake me but gut. . . help me see the error of my ways?"

"You're not me. Be ever so glad. ..." She was quiet for a time, poking at the dirt with her toe. Then she said, "I'm countin' on you to keep your promise about my baby. Naomi thinks she has something to confess 'bout me, but it's you and Aunt Lizzie who know the worst of it."

Leah wished once more she'd never made her covenant

with Sadie.

Again she opened her mouth and tried to explain her sense of urgency. "Naomi insists she wants to present herself to the Lord God without spot or blemish so she can partake in holy baptism."

"Am I s'posed to believe Naomi's motives are pure?" Sadie laughed bitterly. "You should've seen her with them English fellas."

"But Naomi's sins have been forgiven. She's put her wild days behind her."

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" "us hard to believe."

"Slu' hopes the same for you, sister," Leah whispered. "I I iinw this for truth."

"Naomi can't save me . . . neither can Preacher. No one

in I ton't you see? It's too late for me. . .." Sadie began to

i i V

i ilancing at the house, Leah hoped Mamma or the twins icn't witnessing this exchange. Tears sprang to her own

, f 8 Mid she reached a desperate hand toward Sadie. Tall and

11if, Sadie remained aloof. "If I could take away your sadness mil pain all of it even repent and bend my knee in your i. ,uI, 1 surely would," Leah said soft and slow.

"The People would set me up as an example. I'd rather be ! id . . . like my baby boy." Sadie covered her face with her

li in let white hands, her shoulders rising and falling with the

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I ler heart breaking for her sister, Leah pressed on. "Woii'rcha please talk to Dat and Mamma? They'll help you inrl livings out, help make things right with the church, l )l horwise, Naomi will go an' talk to Preacher and his wife . . . In one month.*

Sadie's hands flew up. "I won't ... I can't, don't you see?"

"The People will not withhold forgiveness. So ... why iiul confess?"

"Because I ... I can't forgive myself, that's why" came the wiiTowful reply. Sadie wrapped her arms round her own slenilrr waist.

"Oh, Sadie . . ."

"One thing I would ask of Jehovah God if I could . .. and thai would be to turn back time."

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"Before your rumschpringe?" She hoped that's what Sadie meant.

"You're mistaken. I wouldn't trade those weeks and

months, even though at times I loathe Derry for what happened." Sadie's tears spilled over her silky cheeks. "What I want more than anything is to hold my baby again ... to bring my precious little one back from the dead. 1 have no right to seek God's forgiveness, don't you see?" Sadie turned abruptly and picked up the hoe, sniffling.