Abram's Daughters 01 The Covenant (28 page)

Sighing, she laid down her scissors and left scraps of old fabric in a big basket on the floor. Excusing herself, she fell ii was all right to go outside alone to the Peacheys' outhouse, though she might've asked Sadie or the twins to come alone. It wasn't that she hoped to run into Gid on the way. She li;ul no such thing in her mind, yet there he was over in tinbarn . . . stroking one of the new puppies in the whelpini:

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i >ik, Ouickly she turned her head and walked even more lltly Inward her destination.

I lonestly, she felt almost sad for Gid these days most all

iIm lime, really, clear back since her first singing that night

"it viober. She wished he'd find himself a nice girl to court.

11it all, he was a right fine-looking fella himself, with a

hi ns pure as gold, Dat had always said. Far as she could

ll.i here had never been any reason to doubt it.

So when he called to her, after her return from the little

mini' out near the barn, she turned and smiled, wondering

lint he had to say. "Leah, I've been thinking. . . ." Then he

upped and said no more, just held up a small dog with a

ii ilditih fawn coat with black overlay . . . sweet brown eyes

nul im almost curious smile. "Would you like to have him?

I li'Vt yours for the taking."

"Oh, but I wouldn't think of "

"No . . . no, I mean to say he's a gift. From one neighbor lilriul to another."

(!id's smile was so boyish just now. So eager to please her, In' was. "I'm sure jt's all right with your parents. Besides, I'm ililnkin' you couM use a gut watchdog over there."

With that, they both looked past the Peachey pastureland (i I lie Ebersol Cottage, gazing on it from afar. Then Gid I'okr the silence. "If you're not so sure, why not ask your in . . . see what he says?"

I She couldn't argue with that. Then, reaching up, she inched the young pup in Gid's arms, and suddenly the dog Pl'Kim to lick her hand with his little pink tongue. "Oh, that ilckles," she caught herself saying. "He's ever so cute." I "Well, now, I think he likes ya, Leah." She had to laugh. "I think he does, too."

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"I'd keep him for you. Then if or when you should deciilr to take him home, I'd be more 'n happy to bring him over,"

"Aw, that's ever so nice of you. Denki." She hurried bin \ to the house. A bright face like Gid's had cheered her up ju.-.i a bit. She was sure his motives were honorable, though Ik would've had to be deaf not to have heard that Jonas w,i leaving for Ohio here right quick.

She'd been brave the night Jonas had shared this "nin opportunity" with her. Seeing his eyes light up at the making of a dream come true, yet hearing the sadness in his vokc, Leah knew she could not shed a tear in front of him. She U.ul even wondered aloud if there was any way she might yy< along maybe tend to an elderly relative or whatnot, so tlx-y could continue their courtship in person instead of by let it i Then, when the time came, they could return home ;uul marry in the fall as planned.

She'd just have to trust the Good Lord they boili would for the answers.

"I'll be back before the apple harvest next fall," he prom ised.

But when she'd shared this with Sadie, her sister said sin ought not to count on such a pledge. "Best not to let him yy at all," Sadie said. "If Jonas leaves, he might never return home. Remember Abe Yoder? He left poor Malinda for I lie lure of land in Ohio."

Sadie's words made Leah's heart ache. "I wouldn't think

of speakin' up to Jonas like that. He has a right good head on his shoulders."

"Well, you might want to think twice 'bout keeping mum, At least tell him how much you'll miss him ... let him know you'll pine for him."

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A eh, she felt she knew her beloved, and if Jonas said he

inf to come home before the harvest, then he would.

i i -nil- and for certain. And she'd told Sadie so. "You don't i ! >w my Jonas the way I do," she'd insisted.

By Leah's response and the heart-melting smile on her

, Smithy Gid was almost positive his gift offer from his

i' 11 it I iind heart to hers had been an excellent idea, after all.

In- wasn't one bit sorry about his impulsive deed, Jonas

i-ii ii.side. Leah was, after all, his longtime neighbor and

iMIiood friend. If she chose to marry Jonas, well then, so

I, i

i ill, Gid had his hopes up that she might, at least, take ili ' pick of Fritzi's litter and give the pup a home. Who t- in ivvs, maybe a fond pet would be the start of something spei iiil between Leah and him. Then again, maybe not.

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/\bram was beside himself, downright befuddled. Jonas MiiHt had insisted on having a private meeting with him out in I he barn after seeing Leah home rather early after the singini{, The boy began by explaining some carefully thought out I'hins, it seemed . . . about his hopes to find a place for Leah i<> live and work near David Mellinger's home in Millersburg,

* 'hio. "I'm workin' on it and will have some answers in the iitxc few days," Jonas said. "What would you think of that?"

Well, Abram wondered just what Jonas was afraid of did

1'iims honestly think Leah might start seeing someone else, maybe, if she stayed home on Gobbler's Knob? But no, when lir quizzed the boy, Jonas said something about not wanting

11' 140 so long without seeing "my dear Leah."

"Well, then there's always letters, like anyone else in your iiiiiiiion," Abram advised. But deep down, he was shocked ii fnnas's strong reluctance to leave Leah behind.

"I truly love her," Jonas confessed, eyes shining. "She's vrryihing I live for. Leah's my dearest friend, too."

Nodding, Abram understood how a young man could be

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smitten over Leah, sweet and gentle soul that she was. Si ill, he decided on the spot that his daughter was not going in Ohio. No matter what, she was staying put right here. Smil liy Gid must have his chance to woo and possibly court Leah, too. Then, the way Abram saw things, his dear girl could make a choice between the two of them. And that was all In-

hoped to accomplish by Jonas's going away. Nothing more.

He tipped his straw hat as Jonas turned and left the barn, the boy full of hopes and dreams, obviously in love. It wasn'i in Abram's thinking to wound him, no ... not at all. But In knew in his heart of hearts he was altogether right abom Smithy Gid and Leah. They must have their chance.

After the dishes were washed, dried, and put away thai night, Sadie accompanied Dawdi John back to his side of tinhouse, especially glad to go with him by herself. She hoped for yet another quiet evening with the wise older man.

Dawdi John was sure to give her a listening ear, and slir was mighty glad to be here with him, away from the excitini; talk next door, where Mamma, Leah, and the twins were si ill chattering about the Sisters' Day they'd enjoyed over at Mil iam Peachey's. Leah was mostly interested in talking aboul a puppy dog Smithy Gid wanted to give her, "for the wholr family, though," Leah was quick to say. "Go right on ovri there tomorrow and say you'll take the dog," Dat had said, wondering aloud why Leah had bothered to ask him, anyway.

So the whole family the girls, especially were beside themselves with glee, anticipating the arrival of Fritzi's perly little pup. Sadie could just hear it now they'd be toss hi); round names for dogs for the next two hours or so till bed time.

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Once Dawdi was settled in his small front room, and

BE

Hule had a nice fire blazing in the hearth, she asked him,

BDiwdi, have you ever done something you were so ashamed pfi you just couldn't bring yourself to confess to anyone?"

BW

B He regarded her curiously. "Well, now, I 'spect I have. We Hi have. There's nobody perfect, least that I know of." H She wasn't about to spill the beans on herself, lest Dat Kid Mamma would hear of her pregnancy secondhand. Of Bburse, now, if she asked Dawdi to keep things in strictest Btllidence, he would. But wasn't that an awful burden to put fl a man of his age, after all?

BW

B So she lost her courage and failed to share openly. He Mmcd to sense her need of comfort and amusement and Counted one story after another mostly telling on himself Bj ti youngster and into his teens. ~ Then his voice grew awful soft. "Listen here to me, Sadie.

I want you to remember this saying as long as you live." He lopped talking to light his pipe, puffing on it just so to get

I1 it? tobacco to ignite. When he was satisfied, pipe in hand, a

11 mi puff of smoke^spewed forth from his lips. "I care not to I'i- judge of right and wrong in men," he said with a tender Miiile. "I've often lost the way myself and may get lost again."

Lost the way . . .

Well, she knew all about such things, dark and forbidden

! nest or no. Each time she had been with Derry Schwartz,

he promised herself it would be the last, yet she longed to

i-t' him again and again. Such a feeble pact, one she hadn't

I" en able to keep, loving him so.

But now part of her loathed him, and another part of her wondered how she could ever forget him, having conceived Ins baby. Could she ever truly release him from her heart?

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"You know you're always welcome to talk to old Dnwili," her grandfather said, bringing her out of her musings.

"I'm awful glad of that," Sadie said, reaching for his wim kled hand and holding it for a moment. But deep within, :.Ih knew this might be one of the last nights she'd have us ,n> expectant mother. Very soon her baby would be nestled id her arms . . . and to think she'd kept it a secret so well limn everyone, carefully sewing her dress seams thinner every I inn Here lately, making her dress patterns a bit fuller through (In waist was all she'd had to do.

Off and on all day she'd had the strongest crampini'., almost made her want to bend over, the pain was so bin I ,ii times. The library book she'd nearly memorized hadn't nun tioned a thing about the baby coming this way not win n she was only at the end of her seventh month of pregnant y, far as she could tell.

When the light bleeding started, getting heavier as iInday wore on, she panicked and wondered what was happeninj' to her. Was she going to lose her baby?

"Leah," she began long after supper, when they were preparing to dress for bed, "something's happening too soon, I fear "

"What do you mean?" Leah asked.

"I think the baby might be coming early."

"Well, then, I say it's time to tell Mamma!"

"No, no, not just yet," Sadie replied in lowered tones. "I need a doctor first."

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Louli squinted at her, a fearful look on her face. "I can lillch up the horse right quick and take you to the midwife."

Bui' that would be much too far away, and she didn't think slir could bear all the jostling in the buggy. The nearest doc!in was Derry's father, Sadie knew, but his clinic was the last I'liii'e she wanted to be. "What about Aunt Lizzie? Maybe she hi lu'lp," Sadie said. "You could tell Mamma we're going

11 ii rv to spend the night ... for fun."

"That would be a lie," Leah said.

"It's the best way for now."

I rah winced but then agreed. "Jah, I 'spose, but what will ynii ilo when the baby does come? You won't be able to hide iltt* iruth then. You're not thinking clearly, Sadie."

I It-r sister was right about all that, but Sadie had no t'licicy to argue. "I need help," she whispered, feeling ever so Inini. "Just please get me to Lizzie's."

"(Ian you walk all the way up there, do you think?"

"If you're with me, jah, I believe I can."

"Then go slip on your woolen shawl. It's a bit nippy out," I riih said. "I'll poke my head in and tell Mamma we're lu'iiiled to Aunt Lttzie's overnight. She won't mind one bit limy not even suspect a thing."

Sadie still had no idea what on earth would happen after 'die did give birth, if that's what was about to happen tonight.

1/ I he baby lived . . . goodness' sake, this was much too early!

And, ach . . . Aunt Lizzie would suddenly know every-

ilung. No getting around it now. Still, come to think of it,

111.1ybe this way was for the best. Lizzie could help break the

i iriling news to both Dat and Mamma when the time came,

lien Sadie was ready to bring her baby home.

She leaned hard on Leah, making her way up the long hill

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to Lizzie's log house step by painful step ever so glad hri

sister was near.

Lizzie bolted out of bed, hearing the pounding on tin back door. She hurried to see who was coming to visit hvi after dark.

"For goodness' sake," she whispered, seeing Leah nciirly holding Sadie up, both girls' faces wet with tears. "Dummlc hurry! Come in ... come in."

She and Leah helped Sadie into the spare room. Then they got Sadie settled, limp and pale as she was. Sizing up I In situation, Lizzie could see that Sadie was definitely in I In family way, just as she'd suspected for some weeks now. "1 lowearly is your baby, do you think?" she asked.

But Sadie wasn't responding except with occasional moans, so Leah did her best to fill in the details. My, oh rny, Sadie needed help fast!

Lizzie hesitated to have anyone but an Amish midwife come to her house. Yet there was so little time, and the clos est one lived three miles away.

Dear Lord, please help me know what to do, she prayed.

Sadie's face was turning a chalky gray, and she was :ill bunched up on the bed. Lizzie had no choice. An Englishci, Dr. Schwartz, would have to deliver this baby.

Turning to Leah, she said, "We can't do this alone." Lizzie gave directions to the medical clinic. "Run, fetch one of the horses forget hitchin' up the buggy." Then guiding Lculi into the doorway out of Sadie's hearing, she said, "You muM ride the horse to the doctor's home . . . ride for your sister''. and her baby's life!"

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I1'i iijlitened nearly to death, Leah ran all the way down the lull id (he barn. She was glad that she, Smithy Gid, and | -I,ili had once ridden bareback on their fathers' driving i I. >im\n, years ago when they were but youngsters; otherwise, [ In- wasn't so sure Aunt Lizzie's idea would've been such a | i r thing. And, too, she knew it was not acceptable for | I.- iisps to be used for such a purpose. But for an emergency I Inch by the look on Lizzie's face this surely was she would I < I v her aunt and disregard the bishop's ruling about horse| I iik riding. If her dear sister died tonight, Leah could never I i ( i.jlve herself if she chose to follow the letter of the law.