Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal (30 page)

Holding Lyddie was the best help she felt she could offer, so she let her sister cry in her arms, for as long as need be ... just as Leah and Mamma and Aunt Lizzie had always cornforted her. All of them would continue to surround Lydiann, with their love, if possible making up for the powerful sadness.

"The Lord Jesus cares for you," she whispered.

Lydiann moved her head as if to say she knew that was true. "Mamma Leah prays for me every day," she murmured.

"I do, too," said Mary Ruth, hoping God's love would touch Lydiann during her time of misery.289 L^ -ft,-a- -rp 'te'-i' Jft"l^4--i

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pi nil way Co Smitty's, Abram felt the warm breeze on his face Ilii I brail bed in a whiff of the barnyard. He fixed his gaze on I"i kbii'd Pond, shimmering in the distance, and recalled the j i<

^HK' just wished God might reach down now and pull up ^^Bidos of Lydiann's mouth, helping her to smile again. ^Hni whs aware of her gloominess, yet knew from Lizzie WEf fhnl a young man had gone off to Ohio, instead of staymil Ininu' and courting Lyddie as he'd set out to do. Sadie, in", hud seemed awfully down in the dumps recently, and llihniik'h he'd asked Lizzie about that, as well, she hadn't nli'iod nny answers.

I I huh was, his house was full up with women who had a flu ile range of emotions, and he'd learned over the years to

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keep a safe distance at particular times. It did seem, though, that if one woman was tetchy, there was bound to be at least one other of a similar mindset. The hitch was, of course, thai he had three adult women and one courting-age daughter all living together under the same roof.

He grinned at the thought as he approached Smitty's pas ture now, having reached the edge of the cornfield. It was :i very good thing his twins had found themselves fine husbands. For certain, he didn't care to imagine what daily life would be like with all six of the women in his life residing at the Ebersol Cottage, for goodness' sake.

Both Leah and Dat preferred to wait until the last possible minute before fetching a gas lamp on summer evenings, waiting till just past dusk for some artificial lighting in the house. Tonight Leah made her way out to the utility room to get one of the tall lamps, scarcely able to see as she went.

She had noticed Lydiann sitting clear back in the dark corner by herself as the rest of the family all sat around the table, enjoying Dat's reading from the Bible and the cake she'd baked for supper. She had been careful not to make hot water sponge cake, which had been served at the farewell meal for the boys heading off to Ohio. She had no desire 11 > remind Lydiann in any way of that particular Sunday, hard as it had been for all of the People. For the past three weeks she couldn't help but observe how crestfallen Lyddie had looked since Jake Mast had left with the others all of it her doing. Yet what other choice had she?

Leah had always loathed self-pity, but she completely

291pitiprehi'tKled where Lydiann was coming from. The girl tHltlnKly Ilsiti no interest in battling her emotions, and she liukl not hide her anguish, especially from those who loved in', Si it I it; had tried to cheer her up to no avail; even Abe had krJ Leah if there was something wrong with Lyddie "She's I|M loo quiet," he'd said.

I ' -he's entitled to be sad, since we pulled the rug out from underI She, Sadie, and Gid had never bothered to consult with lyiliiinn but had, instead, taken matters into their hands and pi rd in what they all agreed was her best interest. Yet right liiw, looking at her, Leah questioned their approach it riiiril nothing could soothe her girl. And although Leah wllrvt'tl in her heart that Jake's leaving was for the best, she lit I worry Lyddie might never get over his seeming abandonhen I oi her.

I She began to clear away the dishes, thinking all the while If whal might bring a smile to Lydiann's face . . . Sadie's, as

I1 II. She was reminded of some of the new boys from Ohio; |'\ i-nil of them had taken an obvious shining to Lydiann at

In* lirst Preaching service after their arrival. Leah had been

I

Norry as she could be to watch the light in their eyes fade

Ihcn Lyddie politely looked the other way. Of course, it was |>i> curly to encourage her girl in that direction much too

in >M

I I he glow from the gas lamp was altogether cheery now as I i ;isi large shadows of each of the family members onto the lu will I. The steady warmth of the lamp offered security and I hii of comfort.

I .lust as the presence of God's love lights pur pathway, Leah In'light. . , , '.''

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"O Lord God, help me understand why Jake left me behind," Lydiann prayed beneath the massive branches of the thornless honey-locust tree. She still remembered the first time Mamma had ever brought her and Abe up to these woods, to what she called her "special piece of earth."

"It's one of the most restful spots I know," Mamma had told them. Today Lydiann was finding out for herself yet again that most always what Mamma said was true.

I'm so alone, Lord . . . remembering when Jake was my own, and I was his.

She recalled those things Sadie had shared with her years ago regarding Leah's romance with Jonas Mast how his joining the Gobbler's Knob church and then not staying put here had caused him to be shunned. Because of Jonas's subsequeni estrangement from them, the Masts were still angry with Le;ili and all of them. Was that the only reason Peter Mast despisei I the thought of her being Jake's bride?

Lydiann was grateful to receive Jake's love letters several each week. She answered each one of them often right here, beneath the tree that had so often comforted Mamma Leah in the past.

This day, she took out her stationery and pen and, once again, told Jake of her steadfast love. I'll love you no matterwhere you are, she wrote. Ohio or Indiana, or Pennsylvania. Where you are doesn't matter as much as the state of our hearts, ain't so?

She meant every word she wrote beneath the shade of this old and very rare tree, and she could scarcely wait for iluyears to fly, till Jake would send for her or, better yet, return home for her. An eternity away to be sure.

293^Prodigal

Hy 11 ii* lime Jonas redded up his woodworking shop and

til lor the day, he was eager to get home. A fine supper

-ill! uwnir him, and he happily wondered what delicious

i Klliliiii had cooked for him today. Coming from a long

til terrific cooks, Emma seemed to derive great joy from

i Hiring lusty meals, even feasts, nearly every evening. He

i fr H|iienlly told her that simple fare was fine with him,

Uniinii thrived on cooking and baking the fancier the

t'f, Most of their neighbors took their big meal at noon,

iltuv lie had quite a ride to his shop, which he rented

ii nn old farmer friend, Jonas was satisfied with a good

Iwit'll or two at that hour. Maybe that was the reason why

ihiii seemed to want to outdo herself come supper. He

"iIt'iI, thinking of her affectionately. What a kind and gen-

i- tin woman she was, always considering him.

I r was as he reined the horse into the lane that he noticed

i. !her buggy parked near the side yard. His good friend

ii'her Sol Raber hailed from the house. "Jonas, hullo!" the

Hy man called'* C Sliul fo see him, Jonas jumped out of his carriage. "What

i in^N yn all the way to the sticks?"

"Oh, I thought ya might want to take a young man under

wing, is all."

''Why, sure," he said, not waiting to hear just who might

> looking for some pointers in cabinetmaking.

Sol continued on to say he'd recently met one of the

"ing men traded from Pennsylvania. "He's just hankerin' for me gut fellowship with a master carpenter, as he says. Nattily I thought of you first, Jonas." ",; ;;

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"If he's hardworking, I surely could use some young help."

Sol grinned, showing his teeth. "Fine and dandy," he said. "I'll bring him out first thing tomorrow. How's that?"

"I'll look forward to it."

"I think the two of you will get along fine," Sol said. " 'Specially bein' he's a Mast, same as you."

"How 'bout that?" Jonas found this news altogether inter' esting. "Where's the youngster from in Pennsylvania, anyway?"

"Lancaster County."

"Plenty of Masts round there." He reached for the bridle. "What's his first name?"

"Jake."

He stood up and scratched his head, suddenly bone weary. "Jake, ya say?"

"Jah, and this one's mighty young to be gone from family." Sol took off his straw hat and wiped his brow with his blue paisley kerchief. "Honestly, he says he's downright miserable came out here against his will. Guess his pop wanted to get him away from the girl he loves for some reason or other."

Jonas turned just then, deliberately looking at the acres of tall corn across the dirt road.

"You all right, there, Jonas?"

He patted his horse's neck. "I'll look forward to meetin' this Jake fella."

Sol pressed his hat back down on his head and made for his own carriage and horse. "See ya tomorrow, then."

"Have a gut evening, Sol." With that Jonas offered a confident wave and set about unhitching his horse.

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IW 1111 the arrival of September, Lydiann found more relief h winking alongside Abe outdoors than inside the crowded Blouse She was glad to help where she could, especially with Bui complaining more often about aches and pains. Besides, he other women of the house were far better at scaring up a UniKT. Lydiann preferred to write wonderful-good letters to Hi'i Caraway beau, reminding him of her love for him as often In Ik- did her.

She found hesself continually checking the mailbox, even inning her ear for their postman, ever so eager for more word ll'Din Ohio. Jake had written in his very last letter that he was doing some work with a "right fine woodworker one with I In' same last name as my own." He looked on it as quite providential, especially since master woodworkers were few tind far between here in Lancaster County. His happiness at this turn of events made Lydiann both pleased and a little sad. Pleased that he was finding plenty to keep his hands busy Until such a time as he could return to her . . . and sad because he feared he just might get himself too attached to either

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Ohio or the friendly Mast woodworker.

Today she intended to take twenty minutes from her morning chores to write another letter to Jake so she could get it tucked into the mailbox before the mail was picked up this afternoon.

"What're ya thinking 'bout now7." Abe asked her when they'd hauled the milk cans to the milk house.

"Nothin' much."

"Like foolin', you're not." He eyed her curiously. "You're thinking 'bout that beau of yours, ain't so? The one who up and left ya."

She sucked in air quickly. "Mind your own business!"

Abe frowned, staring hard at her. "What's a-matter, Lyddie? Ya don't have to bite my head off."

She had a mind to ignore him and she did.

"I've heard things . . . from some of the other fellas, ya know," Abe said.

She nodded. " 'Spect you have." She tensed up, worried he'd come right out and ask her something about Jake specifically make her admit to his knowing whom it was she loved.

"Some of my friends are asking 'bout ya," he said. "A few are downright sweet on you, Lyddie."

She turned and glared at him, the little brother who'd become a young teenager before her eyes. Tall like Sadie and nearly as blond, Abe was good-looking in anyone's opinion. She didn't know for sure if she ought to say what she was thinking, but she did anyway. "I know our cousin Essie Ebersol is sweet on you, but would I have come right out and said it without thinking?" she hollered over her shoulder. Then she blew out a long sigh. "Truth is, when ya start to learn

297Tike Prodigal ';

Mill nik'Ii ihings who likes whom and all of that it's really

MM liir yini 10 be sayin'. Don't you know anything?"

I I Ir slink out his tongue. "Puh!"

' ' 11 it* iliiy you ever think twice before talkin'. . . well,

|l ii II hi- a right fine one, if I must say so!"

1 I'm'I ore she might up and shed a tear, she started for the

I 11 nif,; shed to cry her eyes out in peace. She wouldn't have

It 11 mi easily upset, except she was missing Jake something

Liui

I When at last she'd pulled herself together, Lydiann Wtfileil for the chicken house, where she felt altogether hopeft* an she scattered feed to the clucking hens and the solitary

IftHNler, : ' ' :;,. , - ,.v -:-

I On Jake's second visit to Jonas's cabinetmaking shop, Bill ike the first, the two of them quickly got to talking. Jake Binned less perturbed at having been unwillingly sent so far Vi ini home. In fact, it appeared to Jonas that Jake settled in In I he day as if he were visiting an old friend. With their nuluiil Lancaster County connection and same last name, gnus was curious to know more about Jake's family. "What's Vnir father do?" he asked.

P "I Ic owns an apple orchard in a place called Grasshopper

l.t'vrl. Ain't really a town or a village it's just a raised area

hrlwi-en miles of farmland, southeast of Strasburg."

I Astonished, Jonas stared at Jake. This has to be my baby

tfo'uther! Looking at his nearly grown sibling, he was painfully

[(Wiire of the passage of years, having been cut off from his

?fi ttitly for nearly sixteen years. Had the Lord God truly

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brought his youngest brother to his very door?

Jonas said nothing, only watched and listened intently as the sad-eyed teenager went on. "My pop gave me no choice," Jake said, reaching for a hammer and holding it gingerly. "I had to leave home and come here, like it or not."