Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (32 page)

Lydiann sighed and fanned her handkerchief harder, wishing! Abe's practical joke might flutter her way. If so, she'd catch it but j good and show Dat what sort of things his only son was doing dur-j ing Preaching these days. Wouldn't that be a fine howdy do? %

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W Inn Leah finished drying the last plate following the common

nr.il ol the first Preaching service in September, she was altogether

viilmg to accept an afternoon ride with Jonas. She never tired of his

jhimpany. Listening to his infectious laughter, or to whatever hap-

wiuui to be on his mind, was such a delight. They had truly become

r bc\sl of friends again. The admiration she found in his eyes

Ultrncvcr she looked his way was even more profound than before

I'd I fit Lancaster County.

I "l)at says he wants to talk with us sometime fairly soon," Leah pit'in ioncd when*they were well on their way.

|oiias glanced at her, his eyebrows raised in obvious curiosity. "Neither he nor Aunt Lizzie said what's on his mind, so I won't Up guessin'."

A smile stretched across his tan face. "Could it be your father wunis to offer his blessing on our marriage?"

' Well, I doubt that's necessary anymore, knowin' how he's come to Hj'.ard you, Jonas." For sure and for certain, her father had ilrnppi'd plenty of hints this past year indicating how pleased he was with |onas's return home . . . and into her life, too.

|onas let the reins lay across his knees and reached for her hand. " I Inn we best be waitin'."

" |ah, we've become real gut at that." She was unable to suppress

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a titter, and he joined in, their laughter blending with the melodic, of birds and insects surrounding them.

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Lizzie always did her best praying in the woods, speaking out loud into the air, saying what was on her heart and mind. She fell she needed to do exactly this today, as she and Leah had been hard at it for hours on end, deciding who of their many relatives and friends should be asked to help on the day of the wedding. Willi such a large celebration, there was need for a great many cook.s, servers, men to set up benches, and teenage boys to tend to the numerous horses when guests arrived.

Presently she made her way up the long hill, past the stone wall surrounding the side of the log house, the snug abode where she'd spent so many years living alone, growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord while watching little Leah become a kind and thoughtful young woman.

She waved to Gid, who was up working on his roof, nailing down the shingles that had blown off in last night's fierce wind. Abe and Jonas were doing the same at the main house. Such a gale had come up in the wee hours. Like to waken the dead, she recalled, picking up her pace.

Deliberately she pushed her feet hard into the grassy path that led to the crest of the glimmering hillock a good ways from here. As she went, she took in all the various hues of dark green brushwood, reddening sumac, and hints of gold and orange from oak, maple, and locust, all soon to be ablaze with the brilliance of autumn. Deeply she breathed in the sweet smells.

The sky began to disappear as the woods closed in around her. Multitudes of blackbirds soared above, fluttering from tree to tree nature's resonance bringing peace to her mind.

The sun-drenched outcroppings signaled she was approaching the densest part of the forest, not so far from the hunters' shack where Leah had had her beginnings. The place had become more and more rundown over the years, though Lizzie had been keeping

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s'.- ' rll so busy she scarcely ever ventured into the woods this far. < Ml, ituiiu-iliing within her urged her onward.

At l.im she arrived at the summit, and, catching her breath, she

m\ io look at the ramshackle structure. There, strewn on the

mil, l.iy so many rickety boards like cast-off lumber. "Well, I der," Mk- put her hands on her hips and began to laugh. "The efi i uf a single night's storm!" she said right out.

I,cm l>y some miracle she be heard, she ceased her hilarity and nl uvri .md tugged on a sliver of the decaying wood. "A stark reHMiidri" ol God's forgiveness and grace." She pushed it down into li. i pot lu-i. "Help me never forget all your tender mercies, Lord."

I ,hut, when she returned home, she told Abram about all the roti < m \\ 111 ewood up yonder, and he said he'd ask Jonas, Gid, and Abe to I > up anil haul back the debris. Sadie must have overheard, because ii- i hue burst into a jubilant smile. Lizzie knew exactly how she felt.

Abram mentioned he'd never used the shanty, it having been luiilt by Englishers years ago. "But that doesn't mean there oughtn't hi be ii place for shelter from the elements come huntin' season," he NHltl. and Abe agreed.

I Icr husband had a point, and there was time between now and drri hunting season to get other hunters interested in pitching in money for lumber and whatnot. Just a few menfolk could easily contil imi a replacement in a single day.

I ,i///Je went about her cooking chores, well aware of Sadie's zipped Ii|) and, bless her rffeart, if she didn't wear a grin clean past supper and mi into eventide, when Abram read from the old Bible to all of them.

Listening intently to the Word of Life, Lizzie pressed the stubby Mpli liter of wood deep in her pocket a somber reminder that only tin' dear Lord could see . . . and understand.

Mid-September brought a distinct coolness to the night air, and Aluain much preferred such temperatures for sleeping. Since a boy, he had eagerly anticipated the coming of autumn, and with Leah's i inning marriage, this year was no exception.

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Lizzie cut a piece of carrot cake for both Jonas and Leah while Abram cheerfully told of his plan. "I'd like my new son and hii bride to live here in this house, once you're wed," he told them.

Leah's smile widened and Jonas reached out a hand to sli;ike Abram's. "You have no idea how grateful Leah and I are 'bout iliiv Denki, Abram . . . thank you!"

"Jah," Leah said, eyes bright with tears, "we appreciate this so much, Dat. . . and Lizzie."

Abram inhaled and felt good all over. "With Lizzie and me sol tied into the Dawdi Haus, Abe and Lydiann can come and go 'tween it and the main house as they please," he suggested.

Leah looked at Jonas, nodding her head. "This answers the que.s tion I've been ponderin' for some time now."

Jonas slipped his arm around her. "You'll be keepin' your word to your mamma and then some, jah?"

Abram went on to say there were a number of bedrooms lu choose from, as far as Lydiann and Abe were concerned. By this he was letting Leah know she didn't have to fret about his children's welfare. Abe could continue to sleep in the first-floor bedroom in this house, and Lydiann could sleep upstairs next door in the second bedroom. "There's plenty of room for everyone . . . includin' any little ones to come, the Lord willin'." J

Leah spoke up. "Sadie may want to stay in one of the Dawdll Haus bedrooms till she's married, which would mean Lyddie conldl have my old room upstairs for a while." 1

Abram didn't need to pretend surprise about Sadie and Eli Yo*l der, for the news was common knowledge among the family . . . and I the grapevine. "Jah, my eldest daughters will both be happily I hitched before year's end." He looked kindly at Lizzie, who'd just] planted herself down next to him at the table. I

"The Lord's been gut to us all," she said, eyes smiling. I

"And for that we give Him all the glory and praise." Abram I would have reached over and clasped Lizzie's hand but for the young] lovebirds present. 'M

Later, he thought, anxious to hold his Lizzie near. '

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' i he time late October rolled around, there were radiant hues of I oranges, and gold in every direction and things were shaping i " u cly For Leah's wedding.

\ week before, Lizzie, Sadie, Leah, and Lydiann, along with a d|i" dozen, other women, washed down all the upstairs bedroom I'll, ,ind the hallway, too, scrubbing woodwork and windows in In | i rut ion for painting, as each room in the house would be put to Bind use during the daylong festivities.

I Meanwhile, the menfolk were building a temporary enclosure n I he Iront porcn, to provide additional space. I I 'nward the end of the hectic afternoon, Lizzie sought out Leah Hi

B "Noi at all, Aunt Lizzie . . . please, come join us." Leah rose to By 11 dim a chair.

B Wei I, denki, but I came to show you some hope-chest items I've Bi1 I'.ide." Not to exclude Sadie, she added quickly, "I have keepBt . lor your sister, too . . . when the time comes." ^ li> ihis Sadie smiled, waving Leah on. "I'll warm up your tea

when you return."

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lizzie led the way back to the main house and up the steps ti the bedroom she shared with Abram for now. Opening the long chest at the foot of the bed, Lizzie removed several quilts. "I waill you to have these," she said, presenting first a purple, red, and given diamond-in-the-square quilt and then two others, both the sixteen J patch pattern. "My mother and her mother your gre.iM grandmammi made these when she was eighteen . . . for her own wedding."

"Oh, Lizzie, they're beautiful!" Leah ran her fingers down ilia wide binding that served to identify the quilt's Lancaster Couniw origin.

"You won't see that width in other places round the state . . . non in the Midwest," Lizzie reminded her.

Leah was obviously pleased and gave her a quick hug. "Mamny Brenneman was a new quilter when she made these?" I

"No, she started much earlier ... at fourteen, I believe." I

"Well, I'll take good care of them." There was absolute de%hl on Leah's face.

"Maybe one day you'll hand them down to your own daughter, 1

Leah squeezed her hand. "Denki ever so much." Then shi paused, studying her for a quiet moment. "You were always Anna Lizzie to my sisters and me," she said, "and I've never called yod Mamma . . . but I'd like to start. Today from now on."

Her joy spilling from her lips, Lizzie whispered, "Oh, Leah . , J my dear, dear girl."

On the day before Leah's wedding a whole string of helpers, lika so many sparrows, worked steadily to remove the wall partitions between the front room, downstairs bedroom, and kitchen, before unloading the bench wagon and setting up the seating.

By midmorning Jonas had already wrung the necks of a good three-dozen chickens, aided by Abe in the chopping off of head.1, Aunt Lizzie, Sadie, and Lydiann plucked and cleaned the fowl and baked them for the roast, which was similar to stuffing but wilW

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chopped pieces of chicken mixed in. It would be served as the

i he i leaking of the windmill had long since replaced the pleas-

iiif.', ol birds and raspy crickets, and the ladybugs and other in-

were ik\stied deep in their underground hideaways. The recent

Hurries had resulted in no accumulation, making travel to the

ltd (ioitage tomorrow easier for the People. And for this Leah

' iluiiiklul.

Immediately following the noon meal, at Aunt Lizzie's urging,

11 ,11 ul Sadie set out for a walk to the high meadow behind the "' in i lie grassland, away from the buzz of wedding preparations. List sisterly walk before Leah became Jonas's bride. limi in arm, Leah matched Sadie's lengthy strides. "I can't tell ivv |',lad I am that Eli's stayin' put in Gobbler's Knob," she said. And to think his Ohio bishop sent permission some weeks ago uwfer his membership here."

I ,ctih nodded. "This means we'll be seein' each other quite a lot, Pli niter you're married."

"Livia' close enough to borrow a cup of sugar now and then." Hi's smile was warm, even playful. "Remember the way you and I Wn talked when we were little girls?"

Bui) . . . and I still can hardly believe Dat gave the main house T"ii;is and me."

'iulic let go of Leah and leaned down to pull up a slender piece

liy, wild grass*. She twirled it around between her fingers, surely mi thought. "Makes sense, really the way it ought to be 'spe\ after Dat was so opposed to Jonas back when." Seems like nearly a lifetime ago." Leah couldn't help but smile. Ii.ivc to say, the Lord has blessed Jonas and me. Not just because I hit's present generosity ... it goes so much further than that." "i.itlie reached over and tickled Leah's face with the grassy shoot. mi deserve every happiness, sister. And don't forget, I'm askin' the i I C iod to give you a houseful of children."

I eali laughed softly. "Speakin' of that, you'll be seein' Jake again I.iv. jah?"

"I'm excited the entire Mast clan is comin' for the weddin' . . .

I laying all day, too, is what Dat says."

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" 'Tis true," Leah replied. "Jonas is nearly jumpin' up and down 'bout it."

"Well, no wonder."

They walked all the way to the edge of the property and tuim

"And such a large, comfortable place it is." Sadie let the bl.nli of grass fall from her fingers, a gentle breeze stirring the loose \v.\w. at her temple. "I've never understood why you called our house i cottage."

"Well, it's a cozy abode, ain't? It just seemed right somehow in call it that." Leah sighed. "So many happy days . . . and years spent here."

"And many more to come, the Lord willin'." Sadie offered liei prettiest smile. "I've learned so much about God's love in Dat's hip, house. Beginning with Mamma and then from you, Leah the w;iy you give and give, expecting nothin' in return."

"Well, now, we've both been through a-plenty."