A Widow's Hope (6 page)

A lengthy list of announcements of new births and people who were ill followed the benediction. Hannah wondered if she would
ever come to know and love the people of this community as she had those of Lancaster County. A widow had few opportunities to socialize and make new friends even if she had a mind to. Right now all she wanted was her flock to arrive. The busier she stayed, the easier it would be to forget her old home. With her heart in Pennsylvania, she had a hard time concentrating on the words of the closing hymn.

Soon Hannah was caught up in the flurry of moving benches and setting up tables for the noon meal. The women served the men their sandwiches first. Then it was their turn and the children’s. Hannah refilled coffee cups and fetched lemonade for those who preferred something cold to drink. Julia introduced her to so many welcoming faces that her fears of just a short while ago seemed foolish. It was some time before she could stop meeting new people and rest her back against Mrs. Crumley’s comfortable sofa.

“Aunt Hannah,” Leah said, peering outside from the parlor window, “would you push me on the swing? The boys are gone from it.”

When Hannah nodded in agreement, the child ran to get their capes. Hannah looked out to the side yard, where, sure enough, the swing hanging from a sturdy branch sat empty.

“I’ll come too,” Emma said, shrugging into her long cape. “I’d love to get some air.” As the three stepped onto the front porch, Hannah spotted Simon walking from a knot of men. It was the first time she’d seen him alone since the noon meal, and she wanted to mention how his sermon had touched her heart and maybe take the opportunity to thank him privately for opening his home to her.

“Emma, please push your sister for a while. There’s your
daed,
and I’d like to speak with him for a moment.”

The two girls ran toward the tree before other
kinner
got the same idea, while Hannah headed in the deacon’s direction. As she crossed the lawn, a young man of about sixteen with the clean-shaven face of the unmarried approached Simon from the row of carriages. A deacon had many responsibilities in his district, and Hannah would simply have to wait her turn.

“Wait up, Deacon Miller,” the youth called.

Simon turned, shielding his eyes from the sun’s glare. “Amos, how’s your grandmother? I heard today that she’s ailing.” He had to crane his neck to look into the lanky young man’s face.

“She’s in bed with a bad cold, but she’s starting to feel a little better. Pap sent me home after service to check on her—see if she needed anything.”

“That was good of you. Go into the kitchen if you missed the noon meal. I’m sure Mrs. Crumley has something left over to feed you.” Simon nodded then turned to walk off.

“No, deacon,” the boy called. “It’s you I mean to speak to. I passed by your farm on the way home, both comin’ and goin’. On the way back, I saw an eighteen-wheeler sitting in your driveway. I feared it be might be lost…looking for some English farm…so I stopped to ask the driver his business.” The boy drew a deep breath and tipped his hat back on his head.

Simon’s forehead furrowed into deep creases. “A truck, you say?”

“He wasn’t lost,” the boy continued. “He said he was lookin’ for the Simon Miller farm. Said he had sixty head of sheep to deliver. I told him he’d found the right place.” The youth paused for a moment for Deacon Miller to collect his thoughts.

It took little time for Simon to exclaim, “On the Sabbath?”

“That’s what I thought too. I told him to sit tight and I’d fetch you.”

It was then that Amos noticed Hannah hovering behind the deacon, probably because of the expression of complete joy on her face. Her sheep had arrived! Not just her business, which generated cash for the always-increasing land costs, but her warm, cuddly, gentle, lovable sheep. She certainly had her favorites and had named almost half the flock. A few even seemed to prick up their ears when she called their names.

“My sheep!” she exclaimed with great pleasure as she stepped up to the two men.

“
On the Sabbath?
” Simon repeated at exactly the same time Hannah spoke. The deacon stared at Amos as though he must have heard wrong. “That English driver can’t unload those sheep on the Sabbath.” Simon could feel the sandwich he’d eaten earlier take a nasty churn in his stomach. “How would it look to the young people whom I instruct in the
Ordnung
if I go accepting delivery of livestock on the Sabbath?”

“Don’t know about that,” Amos replied, looking uncomfortable.

The sheep I don’t even want in the first place,
Simon thought.

“You say my sheep have arrived?” Hannah asked.

“What do you know about this, Hannah?” Simon asked, turning to face her. “Why did your
bruder
set up delivery for today? He should’ve known we couldn’t unload a truck on the Sabbath.” Amos saw this as his opportunity to get away from a personal family matter, and he started walking toward the Crumley kitchen.

Hannah looked bewildered. “There must have been a mistake by the English trucking company—some confusion. Thomas never would have scheduled delivery for today.”

“Well, they’re parked in my driveway right now, according to Amos. And that truck’s wheels are probably sinking into the soft gravel with all the melt-off we’ve had this week. We’ll be lucky if it doesn’t get stuck and have to stay with us all week.” Simon heard his voice rising in pitch and volume, and quickly tamped down his temper.

“
Jah,
right. We mustn’t let that truck get bogged down. We’ll just release the sheep into the fenced pasture you said I could use and get that driver on his way. I’ll tend to them
tomorrow. We sure don’t want to be charged for any extra days.” Hannah dug her fingers down into her apron pockets, looking cold and nervous. Her nose had turned the color of ripe cherries.

“No, Hannah, I’m sorry. He’ll have to drive off and come back tomorrow. I’m a deacon in this district. How would it look if I started breaking the rules just to suit our own convenience and pocketbook?” He hoped that would settle the matter, not having any desire to argue with his sister-in-law on the day she’d been welcomed into their community.

“But Simon, I have many spring lambs that I haven’t sold off yet. They’re not weaned. I need to get them off that crowded truck before they get trampled. They’ll need to find their mothers and nurse. The longer they stay in tight confinement, the greater the chances of losing them. They’re still babies.” Hannah had stepped forward and seemed to be looming over him.

“No, Hannah. I’m not rushing home to deal with your sheep. I’ll send Seth back to the farm to talk to the truck driver. I can’t leave the Crumleys’ yet. He’ll arrange for him to come back. That’s all I’ll say on the subject.”

Simon turned his back on her unhappy face before he changed his mind. He didn’t need to start giving in to the whims of women. What had Julia’s little brother been thinking? Simon wasn’t so sure it had been a misunderstanding on the part of the English trucking company. Thomas probably didn’t count ahead his days when he’d arranged delivery. That young man usually had his mind on sneaking off to the pond for a swim in warm weather or grabbing up his fishing pole, according to what Julia had told him.

The more Simon thought on the matter, the more it irked him. Hannah should have stayed home with Thomas to help him manage things, at least until he married. Without a wife, Thomas probably needed her help with household chores. Now she’d moved to Ohio with her pack of smelly beasts that served little purpose other than eat all day long. At least cows produced food a person could eat. And a cow could always be sold for meat once it stopped producing milk. But nobody he knew ate mutton in America. And from what he’d learned from Julia, Hannah was reluctant to sell off her spring lambs to the packinghouse. That’s why her flock kept growing larger and larger.

Simon glanced skyward to the heavens, hoping an easy answer would be forthcoming. But he saw only a flock of mallards flying in V-formation on their path north. “Sheep,” he muttered, and went in search of his brother.

Julia glanced out the Crumleys’ kitchen window as Hannah came up the porch steps. Her nose was running, and her eyes were filled with tears. At first Julia thought it merely the effects of the cold wind until her sister drew closer and she saw sorrow on Hannah’s usually cheerful face.

Julia threw a shawl around her shoulders and stepped outside so they might speak in private. “What happened, little sister? Won’t my two selfish daughters give you a turn on the swing?”

Hannah looked up, her face awash with misery. “Oh, Julia. There’s been some kind of mix-up. My sheep have come. The truck sits in your yard right now. But it’s the Sabbath, and we can’t unload them. Simon is sending Seth back to the farm to tell the truck to return tomorrow.” Two big tears slipped from her eyes, but she hastily wiped them away. “I’m worried about my newborns. I don’t want to break Sabbath, but I don’t want them to suffer either.”

Julia watched Hannah bite down on her lip, her usual behavior when she thought she might have said too much. “
Ach,
always something to worry about. Why don’t you ride back with Seth to the farm? Then you can see for yourself that your sheep are fine. It’s not against the
Ordnung
to feed and water animals; we did so before we left for services. Seth can straighten out the mix-up while you fetch some food and water. I don’t think that will require much labor.” Julia pulled Hannah into her arms briefly, feeling her shiver from the cold and her anxiety.

“
Danki,
Julia.
Danki
so much,” Hannah whispered and strode in the direction of the Crumley barn.

Simon had no sooner marched off toward the house than Seth spotted Hannah Brown coming in his direction. At least she looked happier than his brother had been. Seth led his horse from the corral and began walking toward his buggy. He’d been itching to leave anyway when his brother had approached with his request. He wanted to put Phoebe to bed and get to his evening chores. He hoped he wouldn’t lose his ability to talk as he had the other night at dinner.

“Afternoon, Mrs. Brown,” he said, grasping the horse’s bridle to bring him to a stop when she drew nearer. “I hope your foot has warmed up by now.”

“Good afternoon. My foot is fine. And please call me Hannah. After all, we are family by marriage.”

“All right, Hannah. Simon tells me your sheep have come. That must set your mind at ease.”

“Not at ease yet. Has Simon asked you to go to his place?” She looked up at him, her lashes long and darker than her hair.

“
Jah,
I’m heading there now. Soon as I hitch up the horse and collect Phoebe.” He tried to focus on the budding trees overhead or the horses prancing in the distance. It seemed that every time he looked into her face, he became nervous.

“May I ride home with you then? I’m ready to leave now. I’ll just tell Julia if you agree.” Hannah’s smile set two dimples deep into her cheeks, adding to her still youthful prettiness. She tucked in a stray lock of hair that had escaped her
kapp
in the breeze.