Thrown to the Wolves (The Faith in Peril Trilogy) (18 page)

The lack of nourishment, my belly rumbling incessantly, begging to be fed, magnified the unpleasantness of the trail. Anna grimaced with each step, determined not to slow us down. We made decent progress, stopping an hour later at another orange ribbon, which Daniel untied and tucked into his rucksack. We set out to find berries and mushrooms, scouring the area with diligence. I too then felt goose bumps, although for me, it was the hair standing on end at the back of my neck. I turned, expecting to see someone, and there was nothing.

Daniel stayed at a distance, speaking with Anna, while Jacob had disappeared, crouching in the underbrush, picking berries. My gaze skimmed from one side to the other, and I turned, performing the same task, seeing something yellow flashing within the bushes, but it disappeared in an instant. I stared at where I thought I had seen the light, believing it to be the eyes of an animal. The surroundings seemed strangely quiet, with a distinct lack of birdcalls. It felt like being watched. An uneasy suspicion had replaced the joy and the hope of the morning.

There’s something here.

It’s nothing, just a rabbit.

When does a rabbit have bright yellow eyes?

Oh, Rebekah. This can’t be good.

It’s just an animal. It’ll go away.

I’m not so sure.

The way I had paused, staring around me in such a manner had garnered Daniel’s attention, his gaze keen in my direction. He too then craned his neck, his look scouring the area. He whispered something to Anna, and she also began to search the woods. While Jacob hummed a happy tune, the three of us remained on guard, seeking and listening for danger. I noted which trees were nearby, and most of them had grown far too large to climb, their trunks broad. None of them would offer protection in the least.

But he has a weapon.

With only a few cartridges.

It’s why he didn’t want to waste them firing into the air.

Everything will be fine. I mustn’t panic.

An uneasy feeling continued to prickle, and the quest for berries wasn’t as important now. I wanted to be nearer to Daniel and my sister, and I moved with deliberate steps, determined to join them, and, when I did, Daniel waved to Jacob, who had gotten to his feet, his hat slightly askew.

“What is it?” he asked loudly.

Our worst fears were confirmed then; the first low growl rattled through my consciousness, and it was followed by another and then another, until the noise surrounded us. My spirits plummeted, while desperation sank into my bones. There weren’t any trees to climb, because the thicket was devoid of newer growth. Jacob’s face drained to white, his eyes flashing with fear. He rushed for us, his feet pounding into the earth, while Daniel lifted the rifle, cradling it against his shoulder, while gazing through the sights. A loud blast echoed in my ears, while a creature yelped in the distance.

I saw nothing, but I heard the howls of wolves, as they hid in the bushes around us. I could not tell how many there were, but I suspected more than five. We were trapped. Anna gave me one of her sticks, while holding the other defensively. She appeared as pale and frightened as Jacob, struggling to stand on both legs, yet prepared to fight. In the face of her bravery, I did the same, emulating her, while holding the stick before me. I felt anything but confident, though. I had never known fear such as this.

Jacob said, “It’s the whole pack. They’ve been following us.”

I had heard them in the night. “Yes, unfortunately.”

“What do they want?” he asked. “Wouldn’t venison taste better?”

“We’re in their territory,” said Daniel, who stood nearby, holding the rifle, waiting for the perfect shot. “I got one. I’m surprised they haven’t run off yet.”

A low growl—far too close, had me spinning around, holding the branch in a protective manner. “Oh, gracious!” The animal hid nearby, but I could not see it. I stared closely at the bushes, spying movement and the flash of yellow eyes. “How many are there?” My heart plummeted.

“Too many,” murmured Anna. “Lord, please save us. We’re in dire need of your help. We shall not last another minute without you.”

Daniel had a target in his sights, holding the weapon steady against his shoulder, his finger on the trigger. His patience and calm in this moment of fear and panic struck me then. Most men knew how to hunt, when to shoot, and when not to risk wasting a precious bullet. When he finally fired, a loud yelp followed this, as he had hit his intended target. The shattering bang hurt my ears, the sound ricocheting into the distance. Another wolf cried out wounded. How he could even see them perplexed me. We waited breathlessly for what would happen next.

Movement shook the bushes, and I braced myself for an attack, but the sounds of whining and howling seemed not as close now. The wolves had moved further away, retreating. My heart had been hammering fiercely; my forehead damp with perspiration, the anxiety of the situation had heightened all of my senses. We had not seen our enemy, the wolves having kept themselves well hidden, crouching in the bushes, yet howling their intent.

I approached Daniel, feeling a wave of gratitude that brought tears to my eyes. We would have died, if it weren’t for him. He reached for me, pulling me into his arms.

“They’re gone now, Rebekah,” he murmured, near my ear.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing myself to him. “That was terrifying.”

“They’ll leave us alone now. I got two of them.”

“We would’ve died, if not for you.” I met his gaze. “You saved us all.”

“Wolves don’t typically hunt humans. It’s rather odd.” A smile transformed his face. “You must smell especially tasty.”

He could joke at a time like this. “I doubt that. I smell horrid.” I removed my arms from around his neck, but he continued to hold me close. “How many bullets do you have left?”

“Enough. We’ve a few hours of walking yet, then we’ll be home.” Another shot rang out, which had our attention. “That was close.”

I stepped away from him, glancing at my sister. “It’s someone else.”

“They heard us,” said Daniel. “It’s the rescue, I suppose. No one’s hunting now, because everyone’s searching for you.”

“Praise be,” uttered Anna. “I can’t wait to see Dat. I know it’s Dat and David.”

“Then let’s continue,” said Daniel. “It’s this way.” He grasped my hand, squeezing. “Are you ready?”

“I am.”

Chapter Fourteen

I traversed roots and rocks, my boots at times sinking into the mud. Puddles of water had collected in places from the rain the night before. Alert for any sign of trouble, Daniel scoured the surrounds, his expression stony, yet diligent, not wanting another attack, although we would not be able to prevent it. I did not sense being observed as before; the wolves had gone, hopefully for good. We had encountered the body of one of the animals, bleeding profusely from the wound in its side. Being near death, the animal did not move. Jacob, using Daniel’s knife, slit its throat, to end the suffering, and we continued on, not wanting to look at it another moment.

Those long hours allowed me to think about all the things that had happened in the past three days, and how my life had irrevocably altered. We had been pushed to the limits of fear, starvation, and tiredness, but we had persevered through prayer and grit with an equal measure of luck. Whenever I glanced at Daniel, I felt an absurd amount of affection towards him, not being able to wait to tell Mam that he and I would court. She knew how I loathed him and why, but all of that had changed now. Those feelings had been replaced with renewed trust and respect.

We came upon another ribbon, and, as Daniel untied it, he glanced at me. “We’re nearly there now.”

“Where will we emerge?”

“Near my property. I entered the woods from that way.”

“Oh, of course.”

A voice in the distance caught our attention. Someone had shouted. Daniel’s head snapped in that direction. “People are coming,” he said excitedly, his eyes wide.

“Can you see who it is?”

“People!” shouted Anna. “I see someone!”

Excitement rushed through me, with a fair amount of relief. Our ordeal was nearly over. “Oh, thank God.”

Daniel’s arm went around me, pulling me close. “This is our last moment for a long while,” he murmured. I glanced at his face, finding him happy, but wistful. “I’ll miss you, counting the hours until next Sunday night.”

He would drive me home after singing, and we would begin our courtship. “I’ll miss you too.”

He kissed my forehead. “I adore you, Rebekah.”

I grasped him, squeezing. “I feel the same. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for everything.” The tender and private could not last, because we pulled apart within seconds, not wanting to be seen by the newcomers.

I had hoped it would be Dat and David, but it was not. I recognized Michael Esch and his father, which I found ironic. He had been the man I had hoped would court me, but now I could not imagine anyone but Daniel in that position.

“Hello!” Michael shouted. “Are you hurt? We heard gunfire.”

“We’re fine,” said Daniel. “But Anna’s twisted her ankle.”

“What did you shoot?” asked Mr. Esch, as he and his son approach, both carrying rifles.

“Wolves,” said Jacob. “We were set upon by wolves.”

This announcement left the men gobsmacked, their expressions stunned.

“It’s true,” said Jacob. “Mean and nasty animals.” His face twisted in distaste.

“I killed two of them,” said Daniel.

“That’s troubling news indeed,” said Mr. Esch. His eyes skimmed over us. “You look the worse for wear, but you’re alive. You’ve had your parents worried sick.”

“Where’s Dat?” asked Jacob. “Are they looking for us?”

“Oh, yes. Everyone’s looking. We’ve been searching for three days.”

“Goodness, we’ve caused so much trouble.” I felt badly that people had to put their lives on hold to wander around in the wilderness. “I’m dreadfully sorry. It was a horrible mistake. We never should’ve gone in the woods near sunset. We hadn’t meant to cause so much trouble.”

Michael waved a hand, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter, Rebekah. What’s important is that you’re all well. We’ve been going around in circles, while Mr. Stoltzfus found you. Lucky for that, eh?” He grinned. “From the looks of it, you’ve had quite an adventure.”

“Indeed we have,” said Anna. “I’m eager to see my family. We haven’t eaten anything substantial in days. I’d give anything for food.”

“Then come along,” said Mr. Esch. “Your families will want to know you’re well. This will lighten everyone’s spirits.”

“Here,” said Michael. “Get on my back, Anna. Let’s hurry, so we can tell everyone the happy news. They thought the worst for a while. Everyone’s been praying in vigil, while waiting for word.”

I felt even worse then, knowing Mam and been praying and in distress for days. How I longed to see her, to assure her all was well. I, being the oldest girl in the family, felt closest to my mother, and our bond remained the strongest. She had more than likely not slept at all during this time.

We set out almost immediately. Daniel and I and Jacob brought up the rear, while Michael carried Anna, piggyback. The feeling was jubilant, as the mood had lightened with the rescue. We neared the forest’s edge; the greenness of a field could be seen in the distance, with the outline of a white house. Civilization was within our grasp, the ordeal nearly over.

I glanced at Daniel, finding him looking at me. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am.”

“You needn’t.”

“But I am.”

“It is I who am grateful. You’ll be my wife soon.”

That sent a tingle up my backbone. “I will ... in time.”

“Hopefully less than a year.”

I sighed. “We shall try our best. It’s impossible to go against the
Ordnung
.” The rules that governed our lives remained firmly in place, and they would be difficult to alter.

His grin held regret. “I know.”

“Will you be in the fields often?”

“Yes.”

“I walk my siblings to school.”

“I’m well aware of that.”

“Then we can talk then.”

“Indeed.”

I beamed, while staring at my feet. All was not hopeless for Daniel and I. We would not truly suffer, although the next few months would be a battle with impatience, but then again, this was yet another test, and I felt certain we would prevail. God had thrown us together in this manner for a purpose.

Emerging into stark sunlight, I squinted at the vastness of the field, greatly relieved to have left the forest behind. While Michael carried Anna, Jacob, Daniel, and I followed, striding down a row of corn, the stalks reaching our hips. This crop would not be harvested until the fall. People waited near the house, as we must have been seen. A dog ran out, greeting us enthusiastically, his tail swooshing from side to side. The family had company, because several buggies were in the barnyard.

Shouts rang out, and people emerged, hurrying for us, but they were not members of my family. Daniel’s family, his brothers and sisters, embraced him, happy to see him and smiling at his success.

“Well, this is a happy day,” said Mr. Stoltzfus, patting Jacob on the back. “You’re the dirtiest bunch of people I’ve ever seen, but we sure are relieved you’re here. Come inside, and have some refreshment. We’ll take you home shortly.”

Mrs. Stoltzfus embraced her son. “Daniel. I knew you’d find them. You were so determined.” She cast me a look, smiling. “Are any of you injured? What’s the matter with Anna?”

“I hurt my ankle, but I’m fine.”

Daniel’s brothers and sisters loitered, staring at us in wonder. “What did you eat?” asked John.

“Not much,” said Jacob. “Berries and mushrooms.”

“I’m starved,” said Anna. “But I’d rather see my parents. Are Dat and David still in the woods?”

“I believe so,” said Mr. Esch. They took a new route this morning. We’ll see if we can contact them later. Someone will go in and tell them.”

“I can do it,” said Henry. He was Daniel’s younger brother. “I can tell them.”