Abram's Daughters 05 The Revelation (5 page)

i,rd until now, having pushed any romantic feelings under the rug

ul domestic chores and family responsibilities.

The horse putted the Mast family carriage down a few of the

11him deserted roads she ever remembered taking, and it slowly il.iwncd on her what Jonas was doing. "Why, I think you must be i,ikin' me for a ride down memory lane."

I Ie nodded. "I wondered if ya noticed."

When had she ever felt this happy? It was well past dusk, but the wars twinkling high above seemed to brighten the way as their con" ration began to melt the hours, and soon the moon lent its light in them. Jonas pointed out the silvery gleam it cast over ponds and I >.im ii res, and she felt as if she'd never before taken sufficient time to jmmI< in its lunar beauty ... or, if she had, she'd forgotten. I've overlooked so many things. ...

Jonas was telling her of close friends he wanted her to meet one

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day Preacher Sol and others, including Emma Graber, the kind woman who'd rented a room to him for so long. "After we're married, I'll take you to Ohio for a visit. What would you think of that?"

After we're married. . .

The lovely words stuck in her head, and she couldn't move past the echo of them. She relished his loving talk, his nearness.

"Leah? Are ya gettin' tired, dear?" He looked fondly at her.

She wasn't one bit tired, but he'd taken her by surprise, speaking about something so important in such a relaxed manner. Then again, Jonas really had no need to propose, did he? After all, he'd asked her years ago to be his wife, and she'd wholeheartedly consented. Maybe he simply assumed he didn't have to ask twice.

"Sorry," she said quickly. "I think a trip to your former stompin' grounds would be interesting."

"After we're wed, of course." There it was again.

She turned to look at him and noted the sparkle of mischief in his eyes. No suppressing this giggle- "Oh, Jonas," she said. "I'm so glad you're back. You just don't know ..."

He reached to coax her nearer. "I've wanted to see your smile, hear your contagious laughter . . . ach, I've missed everything about you." He paused. "And you must know I never loved anyone but you, Leah. Not one time did I think I'd be happy with anyone else."

She couldn't say the same due to her brief engagement to Preacher Gid. There was plenty of time to talk about her innocent courtship by Smitty's son, now her dear brother-in-law. For now she could say what was burning in her heart and had been from their reunion on Georgetown Road, not too many days ago. "I love you, Jonas," she whispered.

"You don't know how much I've wanted to hear you say that again." The earnest tone of his response startled her a bit. "I've dreamed it, Leah daydreamed it, too never once truly believing this night ... us out ridin' like this, could ever be anything more than my own imagination. Till today all the joy and hope of it existed only in my head." He kissed her on both cheeks and then the very tip of her nose. "We belong together. You know that?" -. : ., <;,....:. :. .. >.. ::..... /

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"Yes, for always." She held back the tears of gladness till she could no longer.

"Don't cry, darling. Such a happy night this is." He cradled her face in his hands.

"Ach, I wish . . ." She couldn't go on.

"What is it?"

She leaned her head on his strong shoulder, trying to gather her wits lest she embarrass him or herself, although she felt nearly as helpless as a child. "I feel just awful. . . terrible, really."

"What troubles you so?"

She searched for the right words. "Oh, Jonas . . . you made your livin' with wood. Such a thing is a true gift from God."

"Well, you mustn't be sad."

She sniffled and nodded her head. "All the same, seems so unnecessary for you to have to give it up for your Proving. I've even thought of sayin' something to the bishop . . . respectfully, of course. I just don't understand."

He straightened suddenly, reaching for her hand. "Leah . . . dearest love, it is not such a hard thing. I gladly do this . . . for you. To cherish you as my very own takin' you as my bride will be the greatest gift I could have. You must not go to the bishop. Promise me this."

The way he so tenderly stated his affections made tears well up all the more. How she longed for him to be her husband! Jonas cared for her enough to do even this unreasonable thing. "Jah, I promise, but it won't make it any easier keepin' mum," she said.

Her heart was ever so soft toward him, and she was somewhat relieved when he picked up the reins and directed the horse to trot, quickening the pace until they arrived at a turnoff to a narrow dirt road, which led to a small hummock where grazing land sandwiched the way on either side.

Soon Jonas stopped the mare and jumped down out of the buggy. "A mighty nice night for walkin'. All right with you?"

The evening was mild, with only the slightest breeze in the leafless sycamores, oaks, and maples. She breathed in the clean air, feeling like an insignificant dot under the backdrop of heaven's twinkling lights. If only the years could be rolled back and all things

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done differently, their lives might have been much easier. They'd missed so much time ... so many experiences had slipped from their grasp. But they had now, this most precious time, and she couldn't help wishing everyone might have the chance to feel the way she did to experience this enduring kind of love.

Jonas helped her down from the carriage, and they strolled to the highest point of the grassy rise as he talked of their future together. When he stopped walking, he turned to take her hands in his. "I hope and pray we'll be able to marry the minute I finish my Proving, in fact. We aren't youngsters anymore; there'd be no need to wait for the weddin' season next year."

"Even so, we aren't widowed, so who's to know if we'd be permitted to marry earlier than a year from now." She wondered how long Bishop Bontrager would attempt to keep them apart.

Jonas continued. "It would be wonderful, though unlikely, for the bishop to agree to a wedding in late spring, when the older widowed folk get married."

She was ever so glad for the light of the moon and studied his dear face, memorizing every feature. She held her breath as she drank in his presence, almost sure what was coming next.

"I wouldn't ever think of takin' you for granted, Leah your promise to marry me so long ago, I mean." He paused, lifting her right hand to his lips. "So will ya, Leah? Will you be my bride ... as soon as we can marry?"

Moved beyond her ability to speak, she silently surrendered to his welcoming arms. Love had truly found her, and she nestled close to his heart.

When at last she had composed herself, she drew back and looked him full in the face. "I will, Jonas. I'll be your wife all the days of my life."

"You'll make me the happiest man ever." He went on to say he would be on the lookout for a small farmhouse for them to rent or purchase.

Joy, oh joy! Setting up housekeeping with Jonas filled her with ideas for things to make or sew during the time being, because her own hope-chest items had already been put to good use all these

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years, she'd so long ago given up on ever marrying. But now? She could scarcely wait to see the dawn of her wedding day.

They talked of how each had changed since the years when they'd first fallen in love. How strong Jonas thought Leah had been, taking on her much younger siblings as her own children . . . making and keeping such a hard promise to her mother. Leah replied with all the dear things she'd longed to say to his face.

"The years have only served to prove what an upstanding, good man I've always known you to be."

Their chatter slowed some, and it was Jonas who again brought up what Leah knew without a doubt. "As much as I want it, we'll never get the brethren to agree to a springtime wedding since we're first-timers, so to speak. I've never heard of its being done that way, have you?"

"No," she admitted. "Besides, don't we want a full day of festivities like the young folks, with as many of our family attending?"

"You're right, Leah. We've waited this long why sacrifice such a wonderful-gut day just so we can marry early?"

Still, her heart sank a bit, knowing twelve long months stretched before them. Yet our love has survived this long, she thought. What's another year?

As they made their way back through the meadow on the slender band of road that led out to the paved highway, she was aware of the gray spread ofcgrassland and the dark outline of trees atop the ridge. Even in the deep of night, Gobbler's Knob had to be the prettiest place on earth, and she told Jonas so. She wondered if he might tell her how beautiful his second home had been in Apple Creek, but he only smiled and kissed her cheek.

On the long ride back to the Ebersol Cottage, Jonas changed the topic. "My brother's thinkin' of returning home once he has enough money to make the trip," he said offhandedly.

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Leah's throat turned bone dry. She'd heard this from Lydiann, of course, but hearing it from Jonas made the possibility seem more real. "You must mean Jake."

"Jah, my youngest brother. Truth be known, I'm all for it. No gut reason for him to be clear out there when his family's all here . . . and the girl he loves is, too."

For sure and for certain, she couldn't say what she was thinking. Immediately she wished she could tell him what she knew about Jake's blood tie to Lydiann, but she couldn't bring herself to. She didn't want to spoil the memory of this night, not even for something as important as this.

"What will your father say?" she managed to ask.

"Oh, there'll be plenty of words, but who's to say what he'll actually do if Jake does return. And I'll do everything I can to help things to that end. My brother's too young to be gone from home, especially with his heart here. I'm workin' on Dat to let him return, at least for a visit."

She cringed at the thought. Dear Lord, let Jake stay put in Ohio. Please give us more time!

Mary Ruth walked the floor with her wee bundle, recalling the delicious meal she'd enjoyed with Robert earlier tonight. His hearty laughter as they had joyfully shared the day together resonated in her memory even now.

At this moment, however, weary Robert was sleeping in their bed, and Mary Ruth was hoping to get Ruthie tucked in once again. By the looks of her dreamy eyes, the infant would yield to slumber

soon.

Strolling through the front room, she stopped and looked out one of the east-facing windows at the moon. She was drawn to its light, glad for this moment to reflect on God's goodness in giving darling Ruthie to them. Mary Ruth couldn't stop counting her blessings each day. So many there were!

Looking down into the tiny face, she cooed, "You sweet baby... ever so precious to your daddy and me." She quietly stroked Ruthie's forehead and cheek with a single finger before returning her thoughts to God in deepest gratitude. "Thank you, dear

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I ,ord, for giving to Robert and me such a healthy little one. Help us raise her to know and love you all the days of her life. Amen."

Mary Ruth did not move away from the window as she basked in the knowledge of God's kindness to them. She was reluctant to leave the spot where ofttimes she had stood to speak the names of her young students in prayer during the years she'd taught school.

She gazed at the rolling landscape awash in moonlight, and when a lone buggy came into view, she assumed the enclosed carriage held a married couple who had been out unusually late visiting relatives. ,

Bless them, Father, whoever they are. ',.

How can I possibly be thinking straight? Leah nearly panicked. The more she considered the sticky matter, the more she wondered if she was doing the wrong thing by not sharing with Jonas what she knew about Jake. But her darling had just proposed marriage this wonderful-good night! What was she thinking, second-guessing her decision to keep mum?

They rode past a familiar house, and looking more closely, she saw that it was Robert and Mary Ruth's place. She suddenly realized how far and how long she had been riding around the countryside with Jonas.

As for revealing to him that his baby brother was not his blood sibling, she must not be either foolish or hasty. But as soon as possible, she would talk to Sadie. Together, they would have to decide what to do with this exceedingly knotty problem once and for all.

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W hat can we do?" asked Sadie, ashen faced and still nestled beneath her quilt.

Leah had hurried to the Dawdi Haus and up the steps to sit quietly on the edge of her sister's bed, waiting there only a few minutes belore confiding in her, so anxious was she to discuss the dilemma. And i his with but a small amount of sleep, because Jonas had cheerfully forgotten they weren't courting age any longer, bringing her home mere hours before daybreak, though she wasn't complaining one bit.

"I've wracked my brain and can't come up with anything, except li'ssin' up to Lydi^nn 'bout Jake," admitted Leah.

Sadie sighed, frowning hard. "Awful risky . . . unless ya think she'd honestly keep it to herself." Then, looking a bit sheepish, she said, "I have to confess something to you."

"What is it, sister?"

Sadie drew a long breath and pulled the covers up to her neck. "I s'pose you'll be unhappy 'bout this, but I sometimes pray for Jake to come home. Maybe something inside me is tuggin' him back here." Sadie's sleepy blue eyes revealed a mingling of emotions that seemed lo merge into guilty hope, and Leah knew if she were in the same position, she'd feel the same way.

"I can't blame ya, really," Leah replied. "I just wish Jake wasn't Mill in love with our Lydiann. It makes everything so complicated."

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"Jah, and if only she wasn't head over heels for him? Sadie went on to say how she'd run into Lydiann up in the woods not but a day ago. "I found her sitting under a tree, cryin' like all getout. She had herself a pen and tablet and looked to be writing . . . no doubt to Jake." Sadie stirred and then in one quick motion pushed the covers back and got out of bed. She wandered over to the wooden pegs on the wall and pulled down her bathrobe. Slipping it on, she slowly tied a loop in the cloth belt and stood there, looking as forlorn as can be. "I can't get certain things out of my head."