Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (22 page)

Jonas knew precisely what he meant: Lizzie's pregnancy with Leah. "Well, I'm wonderin' what can be done to bring peace to the families."

"Hard to say." The bishop fell silent, folding his hands as if in prayer. Then he continued. "I'm reluctant to say this, but I've heard comments from your father that he believes one of Abram's daughters is... well, something of a bad seed."

Bishop Lapp was thinking of Leah, of course, because of Lizzie's sin. "He has no right to say such a thing, but, jah, I know

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wltM he ihinks," Jonas replied, his neck hot. "Truth is, Leah is just the opposite of that. She's everything gut, and I hope my father might know this someday."

"Someday meaning you plan to marry the woman?" No doubt |Vi\lio|> I ,.ipp had been adequately filled in by Dat.

I'm more than happy to say that, jah, I am." Jonas eyed him a

l it \u\pii iously. The thought had crossed his mind on several occa-

.inir., bui now that he was faced with the opportunity to pose the

ipicsiion, he pressed on. "Would you also happen to know anything

In Mil 11n- I'roving I'm under?"

Bishop Lapp appeared grim. "Well, sadly, I believe I do. Maybe I nii|;h(n\ admit it, but there were quite a few heads put together on ih,u. Your bishop and your father "

"My father, you say?" Jonas interrupted, startled. His parents were not ( ven members of the Gobbler's Knob church district, which he'd chosen to join as a teenager preparing to marry Leah. That his father should confer with Bishop Bontrager made not one whit of sense.

" Might be best to leave things be, then."

Keep me in the dark, you mean?" Jonas felt terribly bold. " Please, I must know more. It's important has been for years. The h.ird reelings between my father and Abram have gone on too long . . . and now the problem's even thornier." He didn't feel as if he should blurt out the news about Jake, but he'd obviously gotten i he bishop's attention, for the man leaned forward now, frowning, his blue eyes inten^on him.

"If you must know ... it was your father who went to Bishop Bontrager nearly the minute after you presented yourself that first day you returned home. He was the one who put the idea of a lengthy, if not nearly endless Proving in Bontrager's mind, hoping to break your will to marry as you wished by takin' away your ability to work with wood. Naturally, that fell right into Bontrager's way u( thinkin'. And now with the church membership having voted to give their approval, I'm afraid you'll have to bide your time."

Jonas was aghast. "My father's behind much of this?"

"You asked, and I told ya . . . a mistake, I can see now."

"But I wish to make Leah my bride next fall, which is one of the reasons why I want to see things set right between our families."

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"Your father thought he could thwart your marryin' her. If you break under the demands of your Proving, you'll never be reinstated as a member and thus be unable to marry in your church district. . . separated forever from this woman." The bishop sighed loudly and shook his head. "With both your father and Bontrager in cahoots . . . well, it's a shame for you. That's what." He eyed Jonas. "Oughtn't to be this way."

Jonas understood fully for the first time what he was up against -the stern Gobbler's Knob bishop had found a like mind in Jonas's own conniving father.

Frustrated by what he had learned, Jonas attempted to put his feelings aside for the time being, as there was something else he wished to discuss with the sincere man. Putting his hands in his pockets, he pondered how he should say it. "Things being as they are, I wonder if it wouldn't help my sister and mother if you paid frequent visits to Dat. . . maybe beginning as soon as you can ride over there." As he saw it, the only clear way to prevent his father's habitual imbibing was to keep him far away from the drink that looked like water but kicked like a mule.

The bishop gave his word he'd go and see what could be done.

Jonas thanked him and hurried back to his waiting horse and carriage. The animal had more than a dusting of snow covering his mane and back. "Let's get goin'." He reached for the reins.

As he rode over the deserted, snow-packed roads, he was aware of increasing tension in his neck and jaw. Dat and Bishop Bontrager have joined forces to keep Leah and me apart?

He could scarcely get past Simon Lapp's words. His own father had gone behind his back, suggesting such a difficult Proving one tailor-made to trip him up but good.

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I in mediately following breakfast on Friday, once the children were mm it off to school in Gid's big sleigh and the kitchen was spotless, I Isiiinali sat quietly to write in her diary. She began by recording the weather, but try as she might, she simply could not keep her mind on it, so she headed back into the kitchen to bake a two-layer spice cuke and several dozen chocolate-chip cookies.

That done, she felt lonely yet again and went to the bedroom window to peer down the hill at the Ebersol Cottage. Was Gid off working with Dat today, or perhaps Tomato Joe and Jonas Mast? She'd heard from Her husband that Jonas was spending lots of time lately at the smithy's shop, helping out for pay.

If Gid's occupied for now, I'll go and visit the Henners, she decided I lien and there. Not daring to give it a second thought, lest she iJiange her mind out of respect for her husband, she hurried to find her warmest coat, snow boots, and knitted mittens. She hoped she could, borrow her father's enclosed buggy for the trip, having noticed from afar the horse and carriage already hitched up at the end of the mule road. Now all she must do was make her way down the long, lonesome hill through the ice and snow to the carriage.

She overheard Gid's voice in the barn when she arrived, but it was Dat who was coming out and heading toward the house with

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something of a limp. "Mind if I take the buggy for a little bit?" she called to him.

"Just be sure 'n' be back before dinner."

I'll be home plenty before noon, she thought, climbing into the right side of the buggy. And if all goes well, I'll return with the henl-

Having sat at the same table as Zachariah and Mary Ann, enjoying sticky buns and hot coffee for a good half hour, Hannah was eager to get on with talk of powwowing. She didn't want to seem forward, but she was curious to know exactly how the power was transferred from one person to another, and she was anxious to move ahead before she lost her resolve. Already she'd begun to fed prickles at the back of her neck as though she was doing something wrong.

Zachariah began to speak affectionately of his grandmother and her lifelong fascination with powwowing. "She received the transfer from her elderly uncle, a bad-tempered deacon," he said with a slight chuckle. "Or so the story goes."

Mary Ann was frowning slightly, as if to say, Don't tell all you know, Zach.

Yet he continued. "Mammi Henner kept many diaries . . . hundreds of pages of 'em. Recently I looked back and discovered she kept a record of who came for healing, how often, who left money on the table, and suchlike. Mighty remarkable it was, seein' thenwere plenty of preachers even local bishops who frequented her place, night and day."

Hannah took this in, thinking of her own journal writing.

" "Pis interesting you're so keen on havin' the gift," said Zachariah. He did not ask her why she should desire it so, but he studied her, and the intensity of his gaze made her feel weak. It was as if his eyes spoke their own secret language, and she shivered.

He leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "You can be one of us." : ; .

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I he haunting words seemed to hang in the air. A if you ready to receive from me, Hannah Ebersol Peachey?" \\'/iy is there such force behind his eyes? just now she felt truly it ipjili'iuxl nothing like she'd expected. Maybe it was because she

11 nl always been somewhat unnerved by male Brauchdokders.

She trembled within, feeling panicky... even sick. The iliiilipjii ol Zachariah's hands touching her head or her shoulders hi whatever he had in mind to do to pass the gift to her made her

1I1110M frantic. She'd come here for understanding and for the gift he li.ul m> respected in Old Lady Henner, only to feel as if she was I "inp, led down a long gray burrow that was closing in around her

/ he prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise

I 11,11 Gid believed this wholeheartedly, there was no doubt in ln'i1 mind. I've gone against my husband in this. I've sinned against my ,/i'itr (iid!

"No," she whispered, barely able to utter the word. "I'm not n-iuly." She rose abruptly, mumbling, "I changed my mind," and Inrgetling to offer her pardon for leaving the table that way.

She made a beeline to the back door, pushed it open, and headed out just as it dawned on her she'd left her wrap, scarf, gloves,

11 id even boots indoors.

"Puh!" she said to herself, catching her breath.

At that moment she spied her husband at the end of the walkwiiy. Gid stood with his back to his horse and sleigh, frowning in disbelief. "Hannah, what the world are ya doin' here?"

She nodded, acknowledging his presence, yet was incapable of .|>c:ech.

Scarcely was Hannah able to make out the silhouette of Gid and Ins sleigh ahead on the road, the squall of snow was so dense. She lollowed him in Dat's enclosed buggy, thankful for the slightly warmer carriage but still suffering the sting of her shame.

-. ,' 197 .;:i. : ' ;.;/: ' .198

She was as low as she'd ever felt in her life, defying her husband as she had. And she had no idea how Gid would go about disciplining her surely he could do just that, being the anointed man he was.

Leah carefully topped each mug of hot cocoa with a dollop of whipped cream before carrying the tray of steaming cups over to the table. "Here we are."

When Lyddie spied the special treat, a full smile appeared on her face. "This looks delicious!"

"I daresay it'll warm us up a bit." Leah settled down where she normally sat at mealtime, looking fondly at her girl. "You seem so peaceful today."

Lyddie nodded. "I've had some time to think 'bout what happened with Jake. The shock of all this knowin' . . ." Her voice grew softer. "I know he'll find himself a nice wife someday, but I wouldn't be surprised if he returns to Ohio for that."

Leah listened, wishing she could absorb every speck of pain still evident in Lydiann's voice, although her countenance wore a noticeable resolve. "Maybe it'd be a smart idea for Jake to put down some roots in a new place."

"Except then he wouldn't be anywhere near either the Masts or Sadie." She sighed. "And I think he'd miss Mandie terribly."

"Jah . . . that would be painful for him," Leah said, knowing firsthand how it felt to lose connection with a loved one.

"It's kinda strange, really," Lydiann said. "To think the girl he thought was his twin is actually someone he could marry but, pity's sake, who'd want to, them growin' up together! Meantime the girl he loved turns out to be an aunt, of all things. Why, there must be times he wishes this was all a mixed-up dream . . . just as I do."

"I know . . . that's why, however necessary, it was so difficult, knowin' what a mess this would make for both you and Jake and to think of stirring up such pain for him, as well as his family. Imagine raising a boy, only to discover he wasn't yours at all!"

They sipped their hot cocoa and continued to talk heart-to-

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Iti'rtrt. All i lie while Leah kept thinking how thankful she was for Ly(liwnn's ability (o share her thoughts (his way. Very grateful, indeed.

At dusk |tim.i.s pulled off the main road onto the Henners' treeliiirtl Line, 11o|>111j>, in goodness he might not be seen and mistakenly .issumnl ii> I" ,i |i.imi-iii ol Zachariah's. Coming this late had been a I'ootl chou < , he di < i

When /.uluu.ih greeted him, Jonas made note of the man's i niliiii/ni)' milky blue eyes and the way he carried himself ... as if lie ilioui'Jii he was rather important.

Noi w.iiit ing i<> stay longer than necessary, Jonas preferred to ask Ins t]iiiMions while standing in the outer room connected to the liitluii, and he politely refused Zaehariah's invitation to come in Hid have some black coffee. He could hear the voices of young children and /achartah's wife's gentle prodding. But so as not to detain (he l.uuily Irom their evening time together, he simply asked outi ij'Jii about his father's visits here. "Does he come regularly?"

/aehariah nodded without hesitation. "Both for back treatments .11 id otherwise."

"I'or fellowship, too?"

"Oh, we like to talk whilst enjoyin' a drink, jah."

()bviously, Z*;hariah was not attempting to hide anything. "I believe my father has a problem, and I'm here to ask you not to encour.i|',e him further by offerin' him whiskey when he visits in the future."

Zachariah sighed loudly, folding his arms across his wide chest. "Well, now, I can always recommend coffee if you'd rather." His reply gave the impression he wasn't too interested in kowtowing to a nosy son's demands.

"This is hardly a joking matter," Jonas said. "I'll take you at your word on the coffee. Much obliged!" He turned to dart down the h.u k steps, mighty glad to breathe in the crisp night air and hoping /achariah was trustworthy.

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\J | n moving in with Eli, Jonas and Jake had learned of Bishop hi villager's special allowance regarding the shed behind the widower's house. The small space had been converted into a makeshift woodworking shop, something that was of little consequence to the People here, since Eli had long ago joined his Ohio tlmrch district and wasn't planning to stay put in Gobbler's Knob, anyway.