Love Inspired June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: The Cowboy's Homecoming\The Amish Widow's Secret\Safe in the Fireman's Arms (29 page)

Sarah looked around for Greta's mother, the silver-haired woman who'd made such a fuss just moments before. She and the beautiful young woman standing next to her had disappeared from the gathering.

Linda reached for a bowl of buttery potatoes placed in front of Sarah, and whispered in her ear. “That was Greta's mother. She's upset. Time will heal her pain and anger.”

Sarah's stomach churned. She took the bowl of potatoes and quickly passed them to the man on her right. The smell of them was more than she could manage. Reaching out, she grabbed a hot roll and stuffed it in her mouth and chewed fast.
Please, Gott. Don't let me get sick. Please.
She glanced up and saw Mose's mother looking at her, her brow knitted with a questioning glance. Mose had sisters and brothers. The older woman had been pregnant many times. Did she know already, just by the look on Sarah's face, that she was pregnant?

When the meal was over and Theda and her two teenage granddaughters had cleared the dishes away, the men made themselves comfortable on a well-stuffed couch in the great room. Linda led the way to the back bathroom.

Beatrice, excited by the promise of bubbles in her bathwater, undressed herself with lightning speed. Sarah undressed Mercy and slipped the toddler into the warm, sudsy water next to her older sister. “The bubbles tickle me,” Beatrice insisted, splashing water toward her little sister, who cried the moment the water touched her warm body.

“That wasn't very nice,” Sarah scolded and felt disappointed when the girl didn't seem the least bit ashamed of her actions. She had splashed Mercy in the face intentionally. Sarah knew the child needed discipline, but wasn't sure what to do. She handed Mercy over to Linda and took a seat nearer Beatrice. In her most authoritative voice, she said. “I think it best you wash and get out, Beatrice.”

Beatrice ignored her directions and dived under the water, coming up as slick as a seal. Sarah took the washcloth Linda handed her and began to apply soap to the soft rag. Hitting all the important spots, she cleaned Beatrice as the child wiggled and squirmed to get away. With a fluffy white towel she'd pulled from the rail, she wrapped it around Beatrice and pulled the resisting child from the tub. As soon as Beatrice's feet hit the bathroom rug she tried to get away from Sarah's grasp and run. Sarah held her by the arm.

“Perhaps tomorrow, after you've thought about how you scared Mercy, you can have a longer bath. But for tonight, it's bedtime for you.”

Sobbing, Beatrice slapped at Sarah's hands but finally put up with being dried as a shiver hit her.

“Sounds like someone needs an early night.” Mose stood in the bathroom door, his hand braced against the wood framework. He smiled at Sarah, but his brows lowered as he glanced over at Beatrice. “We've talked about this before, young daughter. Your sister does not like water splashed in her face.”

Beatrice shrugged but seemed to know better than to talk back to her father. “I'm sorry,
Daed
. I was just having fun.”

“I don't think Mercy was having fun. Do you?”

“Nee.”

“Tell your sister you're sorry.” Mose waited.

“I'm sorry, Mercy.” Beatrice's frown told Sarah this spoiled little girl would need a lot of love and training in order to set her on a straight path.

Mose glanced at Sarah. “I guess we've let her get away with too much. It was hard to know when to discipline and when to overlook her behavior.”

Sarah thought of Greta and how much this child must miss her mother. Any child would act out after the loss of her mother. She thought back to her own behavior after her mother had left, and sighed. “Time and lots of love will work all this out.”

“I hope you're right.” Mose smiled at Sarah.

Mose was a sweet and understanding man. Sarah only hoped she could someday give him what he deserved. A wife's love.

Chapter Eleven

M
ose drained the last drops of his second mug of coffee and reached for the pot.

“Too much of that will put your nerves on edge.”

Mose poured a half cup and flashed his mother a welcoming smile.
“Guder mariye, Mamm.”

She scuffed toward the deep farm sink. A black apron already draped her light pink day dress. Her swollen feet were stuffed into the same fluffy blue house shoes she wore every morning, the bright shade of blue a secret passion of hers. After grabbing a white cup from the open shelf overhead, she pulled out a wooden chair and joined him at the small kitchen table littered with egg-smeared breakfast dishes.

Sunlight streamed in through the small window at the sink, filling the once dim room with the bright yellow glow of early morning. For as long as he could remember, his mother had risen with the sun and gone to bed with the chickens. “I know I drink too much coffee. I have a lot to do today and not a lot of time to do it in. I need the energy.” Mose poured her a cup of the dark brew. He murmured a laugh when she scooped out three heaping teaspoons of sugar and made a terrible racket stirring the coffee, erasing the evidence of her sweet tooth.

Mose patted her wrinkled hand and met her gaze. She'd done her best to pin down her prayer
kapp
but a froth of ginger curls, brought on by high humidity, had left her disheveled. He noticed deeper lines and wrinkles on her face and made a mental note to spend more time with her now that he was home. She was getting older and he wanted her to know how much she meant to him. “Everyone still sleeping?”

“All but your
daed
. He woke up with the roosters. He had an early job over at the big house he bought last week.”

“I didn't know he was interested in enlarging the community.” Mose downed the last of his coffee and added his heavy mug to the pile of dishes in front of him.

“He's been talking about expanding for months and is excited about this last
haus
purchase now that you've remarried. You'll be needing a new place to live. He's decided to fix it up real nice for you and Sarah.”

Mose watched his mother draw circles on the wooden table, a sign she wanted to talk. She probably needed to ask a few questions. Questions he had no interest in answering. “He doesn't have to do that,
Mamm
. The
kinder
have loved living here the last year, but Sarah and I can start out our marriage at my
haus
for a while. I'm sure the girls will feel more at ease in familiar surroundings.”

She looked at him, her brows furrowing. “Do you really think your new wife will want to live with all of Greta's things around her, reminding her you had a beloved wife who died and left everything behind for her to dust?”

Mose heard his mother's common sense. “I hadn't thought—”

“
Ach
, a man wouldn't, would he? But a woman would, and I can tell you, I'd have a problem with it. Let your
daed
do what he can to make you and Sarah comfortable in this new place. He wants to help, to feel useful in his old age. You can pay us rent until you find a different place if this house doesn't suit Sarah. Or is your pride the issue?” Her ginger eyebrow went up in an arch. She knew how to push his buttons.

“
Nee
, it's not pride. I just didn't think how living around Greta's things would make Sarah feel. She deserves her own home, things that make her happy.”

“She does.” His mother busied her fingers tidying her
kapp
. “I'm not sure what's going on between you and Sarah, but I know you. I trust your wisdom. She's only been a widow for six months. I can't see how she'd be over Joseph's death so soon, not the way I hear those two were in love. You showed no interest in getting a new
frau
before you left. All this leaves a
mamm
to wonder what's going on. There's been rumors floating around and people talking. Some say Sarah was to be shunned before you married her. I was wondering if it's true.”

“Ignore the rumors. You know how people are. They have too much empty time on their hands. Do you really think I'd have married Joseph's widow if there hadn't been a good reason? Sarah and I need each other, so we got married. It's as simple as that. Joseph would have done anything for me, and I'm just making sure his widow is well cared for. You know better than I that love can grow from friendship. You and
Daed
married after knowing each other just two weeks.”

“Now, let's not go throwing stones in my direction,” his mother said with a frown. She snatched up his dishes and started to stand.

“
Mamm
, my girls needed a
mamm
. Sarah needed a husband. If she was good enough for Joseph, she's good enough for me. We struck a deal. She makes me happy and I think she's happy, too. Time will tell if we can make a strong marriage out of this friendship. I trust
Gott
to direct us, and as long as the girls are happy and well cared for...that's all I need.”

Placing her son's dishes in the sink, she turned on the faucet and ran water. Sloshing the dishes around, she turned toward him, a playful glint in her blue eyes. “You know I never meddle. Do what's best. I didn't mean to sound critical of your choices.”

Mose smiled at his petite
mamm
, but then got serious. “I do have something I need to talk to you about, and I don't want you to start to worry.” He watched her cheerful smile disappear.

“You sound so serious. Is it Sarah?” She sat back down, her damp hands flat on the table.

Mose shrugged. “No, Sarah's fine, but she did notice Mercy has difficulty hearing. We're taking her to the pediatrician. I called their office a minute ago. We have an appointment this afternoon.” He patted her hand. “I don't want you to worry. Sarah said this could be nothing more than built-up ear wax, but we need to be sure. Please don't mention any of this to anyone.”

“If you mean to Ulla, of course I won't. She's already upset with you for bringing home a wife. What do you think I am, a trouble-making gossip?”

Mose laughed out loud. Gossip was the Amish woman's television. “Of course I don't. It's just better to know what we're dealing with before we mention to family that Mercy might be deaf.”

“Oh, dear
.
You think it could be that bad? But if she is, we must know this is
Gott's
will for her life.” She reached out for his hand, her fingers digging into his skin.

Mose unplugged his charging cell phone from the electrical outlet and turned back to his mother. “As soon as we find out what's up, I'll call you from the doctor's office. I'm leaving my phone on the table so you won't worry any longer than you have to.”

His mother's face paled. She took the phone and slid it into her apron pocket.

* * *

Mose had no memory of ever being in a doctor's office. Greta always took the girls to their medical appointments. He wasn't sure what he'd expected, but it certainly wasn't this big, modern office, or the crowd of people peppered around the room. Comfortable-looking chairs lined walls painted a pleasant tan color. Pictures of
Englisch
children's favorite cartoon characters were everywhere.

Glancing about, he was surprised to see several plain people clustered together in the corner of the room, just on the edge of
Englisch
mothers, their children in tow or playing nearby with simple toys.

He motioned for Sarah to sit in one of the chairs nearest the door and watched as she made herself comfortable.

He walked to the opened window at the left of the room and waited for the young woman typing on a computer to look up.

“May I help you?” She spoke loudly when she finally acknowledged him. No doubt trying to be heard over the crying babies and chattering mothers.

“My name is Mose Fischer, and this is Mercy Fischer. We have an appointment with Doctor Hillsborough at ten o'clock.” He kissed his daughter on the top of her
kapp
and returned the woman's half smile.

All business, the young woman continued to type, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. She glanced at him. “Doctor's running a bit late. Just have a seat, and I'll let you know when you're next.”

“Danke.”
He sat next to Sarah, who seemed mesmerized by all the colorful art around her. “Your first time in a doctor's office, too?”

She smiled, a dimple he'd never noticed before making her look young and very attractive. He watched as she began to rummage through her big bag and brought out a faceless doll for Mercy. Knowing her background and Adolph's rigid ways, he doubted she'd ever set foot in a doctor's office, much less a pediatrician's office, no matter how sick she'd been.

“Yes, my first time. You?”

“I'm sure I must have gone to the doctor at one time or another when I was young. I just don't remember, so it's like the first time.”

Mercy reached for the bottle in his hand and began to suckle. She seemed so calm and healthy. How could anything be wrong with her? “Do you think we've made a mistake?” Mose asked. “She looks fine.”

Sarah leaned back in her chair and pondered his question. “Right or wrong, we have to know. She deserves to be checked. If it's not her hearing slowing down her speech, we have to find out what is wrong. She should be saying words by now, making sounds. She's too quiet.”

Mose saw her concern and felt foolish for asking his question. Sarah was a good mother, kind and attentive. He and the girls were blessed to have her.
Gott
had filled an empty spot in his heart. Every day he grew more grateful to have Sarah in his life. “I know you're right. I guess I'm just nervous.”

She looked at him. Worry etched her face with lines. “I'm concerned, too. Let's try to stay calm until the doctor tells us something concrete.
Gott
has a plan for her life, and I'm praying it doesn't involve deafness.”

“Mercy Fischer.”

Mose grabbed Sarah's hand and together they walked behind the woman holding Mercy's chart.

* * *

Down to just a cloth diaper, Mercy squirmed in her father's arms, her face red from crying throughout the extensive medical examination given by the pediatrician.

Standing next to Mose, Sarah brushed back the sweaty fair hair from the child's forehead and glanced into her husband's face. To a stranger his expression may have appeared calm, but she noticed the slight tick of nerves twitching his bottom lip. She knew he was as nervous as she felt. Would the
Englisch
doctor's diagnosis be grim?

“I have a good idea what's going on.” Dr. Hillsborough finally spoke. She looked at Sarah and Mose and smiled. She grabbed her prescription pad off her desk and began to write. “I'm pretty sure Mercy has had several serious ear infections, which is very common in children her age. It looks like fluid's now trapped behind her eardrums, keeping her from hearing little more than muffled sounds. This much fluid could cause uncomfortable pressure. Has she run a temperature recently, or seemed unusually cranky?”

Mose hung his head. “She seemed hot and cried a lot on the train a few weeks ago, while on our way to Lancaster. I thought I'd just dressed her too warm and didn't pay much attention to her crankiness. She's cried a lot since her mother died and she's been teething recently.”

“You shouldn't feel guilty, Mr. Fischer. Ear infections can easily crop up and get out of hand fast, even under the best of conditions. Babies are often cranky, and we assume it's their teeth breaking through or a sour stomach. Let's just make sure she takes a full ten days of the antibiotic I'm prescribing, and then we'll have her in for a myringotomy. I'll insert drainage tubes, so this buildup of fluids doesn't happen again. The procedure is simple and then the tubes can alleviate any pressure pain she's experiencing.” She tossed her pad on her crowded desk and turned to take Sarah's hand. “Stop looking so concerned, Mrs. Fischer. Children are very resilient. They bounce back faster than we adults do.”

“You're positive surgery is necessary?” Mose's arms tightening around Mercy's thin body.

“I do this procedure almost every day. It's not a serious operation, I promise you. She'll only be in the hospital for a few hours at most and then go home. Simple infections have been known to become very serious if ignored over a period of time. It's good that you noticed the problem so fast, Mrs. Fischer, and brought her in. Children have gone deaf from ear infections left untreated.”

Sarah leaned in. “Is it possible the medication can work out her problems and the surgery not be needed?”

“Sadly, no. The tubes in Mercy's ears are very tiny, and she's probably going to have problems until they grow a bit larger. I suggest we start her on the medication today and go from there. We'll schedule the operation while you're in the office...for two weeks from now. I'll recheck her the day we do the surgery. Does that plan work for both of you?”

Mose and Sarah nodded their head in unison. Sarah spoke up. “She will be able to hear clearly again?”

“Oh, yes. She'll be catching up with her sister's chatter in no time. I know this has been a trying time for you and your husband, but now you can relax. You're doing your very best for her.”

Sarah was relieved when they walked out of the doctor's office, into the warm breeze. She glanced over at Mose, saw the grin on his face and knew he was as thrilled with the doctor's diagnosis as she was. There was only the surgery to get through and Mercy's hearing would be restored. She lifted her face toward the morning sun and enjoyed its warmth.
Thank you, Lord. You are ever faithful.

* * *

That evening Mose ate his meal, but didn't taste the food. His mind stayed on Mercy and the upcoming surgery in a few weeks. Sarah had given the baby her first spoonful of antibiotic and he prayed
Gott
would protect the child sitting next to him.