The Brethren (18 page)
Authors: Beverly Lewis
220 I
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Would the People accept her beloved as the grown kid’ napped boy? Was there any hope that Zeke might recognize him now, troubled as he was? She shook her head in dismay. From what she’d heard, Zeke could barely recognize his own shadow these days.
“Tis a quandary.” The words brought Essie Ann’s little head up and she looked at Annie with a sweet, sleepy expression. “You know I’m talking ‘bout someone, don’t you?” She picked up Essie Ann and kissed her soft forehead. “Your uncle Isaac, that’s who.”
She heard heavy footsteps overhead. Someone was walk’ ing across the kitchen. Was it Ben returning already? He’d helped her all morning, bless his heart slopping hogs and carrying wood for the old stove. He’d even shown an endearingly gentle patience with Zach and John. What’s more, he’d offered to hold the baby for a while.
Her heart stirred at the possibility that he’d come back. must be in love, she realized.
Opening the cellar door, she was startled to see her father. “Oh, hullo, Daed. What brings you here?” Annie stepped up into the kitchen.
Her father eyed her with the baby, then looked at Laura playing with the boys on the kitchen floor. “Isn’t Esther at home?”
“No. But she will be.” She thought she best not say where Essie had gone. She hadn’t been instructed not to tell, but even so she didn’t want to be the reason Zeke got in trouble.
“Is Ben here?” he asked, then quickly explained, “I
221 stopped at the Rancks’, but Julia told me he’d come here to help with chores.”
“He did, but he went over to the harness shop. He’s got friends “
“I gathered that,” he interrupted.
Laura wandered over, looking up at them. “Mamma’s awful sick, did ya hear?”
Annie held her breath. Don’t say more … oh, please be still She tried to get Laura’s attention, wishing she’d return to her brothers. “It’s all right, dear one. Mamma will be just fine.”
A frown grew on her father’s face. “Esther’s ill, yet she’s gone from the house?”
“Jah” was all she said.
“Annie,” her father said. “Time to fess up. What’s goin’ on here? Where’s Esther?”
Laura answered for her. “Mr. Ben took her away … in his car.”
“Where?” Daed’s voice thundered through Annie, though he had not raised his voice.
“To the hospital. She’s ever so sick.”
Her father’s harsh and knowing gaze held her own. Had he guessed their secret?
The baby began to whimper, and Annie moved past her father, asking Laura to come hold her sister a bit. Laura beamed at the chance to help, sitting right down on the table bench and opening her arms for the baby.
“There, now, cradle her gently the way you always do.” Annie stayed near, watching, hoping her father might head on over to find Ben.
222 “I’m doin’all right here … really. If it’s Ben you’re lookin’ for, you can catch up with him if you hurry.”
But her father was smarter than that. “What’re you hidin’?”
She felt her heart pounding through her apron.
“What’s-a-matter with Esther.7”
Laura piped up. ”She’s got a pain in her tummy.”
Annie patted Laura’s knee. “Jah, but I believe she’s goin’ to be better right quick.” She bit her lip, trying to keep her composure.
Jesse leaned on the sink, glancing around the kitchen. “Annie Zook, you are the most difficult child ever.”
“I’ve disappointed you, I know,” she admitted.
“First your art … now this Ben Martin. And whatever you’re not tellin’ me about Esther.” He shook his head, clearly put out.
“Ben is Isaac of that I’m sure,” she said, hoping to distract him from Essie’s possible miscarriage.
“We’ll know something today ‘bout that rubbish.” He turned to go. “If he’s Isaac, then so be it.” His shoulders drooped as he headed for the door.
Annie trembled. What did Daed mean? Essie Ann began to cry again, and just then Annie heard a car pull into the drive. “Right on time,” she said of the wet nurse, wondering if her father might accuse the Englischer of trespassing or worse. Lord in heaven, help us all!
Jesse was exasperated. First Annie had acted for all the world like there was something to hide, and then a strange
223 English woman came driving in like she was expected somehow, hurrying around the back of the house and going inside without knocking! What was going on at Esther’s?
When he arrived at the harness shop, Ben Martin was there as Annie had said, standing around with several Amish farmers and Sam Glick. Jesse watched the two of them talking together like they were old friends. He’d heard Sam had left his father’s house and was staying in Gordonville with a former Amish family, looking to ease himself away from the People and into the world with some self’ appointed missionaries, as they called themselves. The very notion further darkened his mood.
Jesse didn’t go directly over to speak with Ben; he first went about his business, taking care to pick up a custommade draft bridle prior to seeking out the man his daughter was obviously much too fond of.
“Hullo again, Ben.” He nodded to both men. “Sam.”
“How’re you doin’, Preacher?” Sam said, offering a greeting before saying a quick good-bye to Ben and turning toward the door.
Because they were momentarily alone, Jesse decided not to mince words.
“Why did you come back here, Ben? The truth. Did you come to steal my daughter away?”
Ben looked shocked. “No, sir.”
“Young man, I don’t believe for one minute that you’re Isaac Hochstetler. For you to make such a claim only confirms my suspicions about your character. Your return can only muddle my daughter’s mind. Do you understand?”
“I do, sir.”
224 “Don’t you dare take her away from me. You left once. You can leave again.”
“I don’t want to cause trouble, but I truly believe ” “Believe what?” “That I might be Isaac.”
Jesse shook his head with disgust. “Are you willing to put your belief to the test?”
Ben nodded.
“Fine, then.” Jesse explained what he had in mind. When he was finished, Ben looked startled.
“Moses, you say?”
“That’s right. It was his idea to have you visit him. He thinks he can identify you. Seems foolish to me, ‘specially since Zeke would know better, but he’s not … feeling so well these days.” Jesse didn’t know why he was telling Ben this. Likely Annie had already told him about Zeke’s mental state.
“I’m willing to meet with Moses,” Ben said, stepping back slightly. “But I want you to know something. I do remember growing up here. I remember going to a Christmas play at the one-room school, where my brother, Zeke, played Joseph. I remember you and the other brethren coming often to my father’s house, too. Things like that… and more.”
Jesse flinched. This was quite true. Especially after Dan’ iel shunned the ordinance of preacher, he and the other ministers came in hopes of persuading Daniel to follow through with God’s calling. Jesse was suddenly curious about how much of those visits Isaac … or Ben … recalled. But he sure wouldn’t stand here in this public place to inquire. “I’ll get myself over to the Rancks’. Then maybe you can” it
225 irked him to suggest it “drive us over to Zeke’s uncle’s place.”
“Sure. When?”
“Tomorrow, at first light.”
Ben agreed, but there was more on Jesse’s mind. “Let’s get something else straight. Even if you were Amish, you’re English now. And my daughter belongs in the church.” Jesse’s neck hairs stood on end. “Promise me no matter what you won’t take her away from her people.”
Ben’s face fell.
Jesse persisted. “Didn’t you say you don’t wish to cause trouble?”
The young man nodded.
“Well, then?”
“I have no intention of causing trouble,” Ben said at last.
“Good man,” Jesse said, somewhat satisfied. He tipped his head in farewell, plopped on his straw hat, and headed quickly for the door.
226 I should have stayed in Kentucky, Ben thought, wishing Sam hadn’t run off. He could use a friend about now. After the heated conversation with Jesse, Ben’s head was reeling. “Your return can only muddle my daughter’s mind.”
Had he made yet another mistake? Caught up in a storm of emotions, longing to see Annie again and yearning to discover the full truth about his previous life, he realized he no longer had a choice. He had to see this thing through. Am I or am I not Isaac?
And what about Annie? Didn’t she have the right to make her own choices? But no, not in her father’s thinking. It was fairly clear she had been ruled with an iron rod, though so far she’d managed to escape it unscathed.
He’d forgotten how lovely she was, in every way. When he was with her, the entire world seemed to dissolve to nothing. Could he simply walk away from her because her father objected to him?
One thing at a time, he decided, heading back to his car. Tomorrow’s visit with Preacher Moses might put a new spin on the truth for Jesse Zook. Ben was counting on it.
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227 Zeke’s head felt tight as he sat thinking about the early afternoon session with one of his several doctors. He couldn’t keep track of them all. Doctors … they’re helping me, aren’t they? he thought, smiling to himself.
Just then he looked up and saw Irvin Ranck coming in the door. “How’d you make it past the front desk.7” he asked, getting up to shake his hand.
“Oh, not to worry. One of my cousins works up there, so she let me in.”
Irvin didn’t make small talk this time. He simply pulled out his New Testament and began to read aloud. Zeke had no interest in stopping him or putting up a fuss; the sound of the Scripture soothed him, and he found himself rocking a bit to its lyrical rhythm.
Zeke listened quietly when his friend began to speak of God’s sovereignty. He wasn’t so sure what Irvin was getting at, but he didn’t feel resistant today to the man who seemed to live to discuss Scripture.
“God knows the end from the beginning, Zeke. Do you believe that?”
“Why, I’d be a fool not to.”
Irvin leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed. “Do you believe God has a plan for each of our lives?”
Well, he didn’t know that so much. “Providence is what I believe in. Things happen when God allows ‘em, jah.” Irvin nodded. “Mind if I pray for you, Zeke?” Zeke was startled. “I don’t know… . What for?”
“I’d like to pray a blessing of healing over you. Is that all right?”
228 H
Brethren
Zeke had never been asked such a thing, and he didn’t know why a feisty lump rose in his throat at the idea, but it did. He had to swallow hard, several times, to get his emotions back under control. “Herbs and bed rest are for healin’. And doctors …” He grinned. “Doctors are supposed to help folk heal. I don’t think the Good Lord has much to do with any of that.”
Irvin disagreed. “Our heavenly Father created foods and herbs and other good things that aid in our health, just as He gives wisdom to doctors and to the folks who established this place of healing. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Zeke was tired and ready to quit pondering the questions and things Irvin seemed bent on saying to him. “Nice of you to visit me,” he managed to say, struggling again to compose himself.
Irvin rose and put his hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “I’d like to pray for you.”
Not sure how to put a stop to it without offending his friend, Zeke relented. The words that came out of Irvin’s mouth astonished him.
“Dear heavenly Father, I call upon you in the blessed name of my Lord Jesus to touch my friend Zeke with your healing power. Give him the ability to think and reason clearly, I ask. May he have the desires of his heart … to return home to his family, a new man and new creation in you. If it be your will, grant him a fresh start… and work a miracle in his life. Amen.”
Zeke could not see Irvin for the veil of tears, but he heard him say, “I’ll come see you in a few days and I’ll keep praying for you,” before he left.
229 Wanting to shake his hand or give him some indication that he appreciated not only the visit but that mighty fine prayer, Zeke rose and stood at the door, watching Irvin head down the hall.
Annie stood at the window, peering down the empty lane once again. It was coming up close to suppertime and there was still no sign of Essie. Hadn’t Ben said she would most likely be at the hospital only one night.7
She heated up some of Esther’s frozen homemade chicken corn soup for the children and for herself, too, if she ever settled down enough to want to eat. The woman who’d come to nurse Essie Ann had left enough bottles of mother’s milk to tide the baby over for the next couple of feedings. Des gut, Annie thought, having felt terribly nervous about being so dependent upon Cousin Julia’s neighbor, nice as it was of her to drive over here.
Even though it wasn’t appropriate for Ben to be in the house with her with Esther gone, she honestly wished he might return this evening, if only for supper. All day she’d thought of him, wondering how they might convince the brethren of Ben’s identity. Truth be told, she was anxious to talk to him about anything, but she didn’t expect him and he no doubt felt he was doing her bidding by staying away.
He’s fancy, she reminded herself, but did it really matter? She hadn’t joined church and, at this point, had no plans to not as eager as she was to resume her art.
What must the outside world be like? She wondered how modern folk courted. Did they see each other only on the
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weekends? Whenever they wished to? Was it wrong in their families’ eyes to spend time together alone in a house?
She didn’t know why she contemplated such things now as she stirred the soup, preparing to fry the cheese sandwiches. Glancing over at the table, she smiled as Laura tried to show Zach how to print his name. John sat in his father’s rocking chair, the force of his body keeping the chair going as the baby slept nearby in her cradle. All was well in this house.
Within her heart, an idea had sprouted, a way to show Ben her willingness to leave the Amish life for him. A way to prove she was ready to move ahead with their relationship … and her art, too.
It might not be best to tell him right out but to show him over the next few days. Hopefully he’d stay around Paradise long enough for the truth of the matter to sink in. She couldn’t bear the thought of being without him again. “To think, in discovering who he is, he’s found me, too,” she whispered.
“What’s that you said?” Laura asked, turning to look at Annie.
Quickly she brushed a tear away, hoping the dear girl hadn’t seen, though it wouldn’t have been the first time Laura had noticed her tears. “Ach, Aunt Annie’s talkin’ to herself yet again,” Annie said, hoping to quell any worry.
Laura was nodding her head. “That’s all right you do that a lot. Though if I had such a good-lookin’ beau, I think I’d talk to him instead.”
Annie wanted to laugh, but she changed the subject to something more appropriate.
“Well, I think it’s almost time to eat. Anyone hungry?”