Abram's Daughters 01 The Covenant (25 page)

I I )ays grew shorter as the time neared for Anna Mast's Iftkling. One mid-November morning Leah awakened with In- cold creeping in from outside, rousing her from deep lumber. Turning over, she saw that Sadie had pulled the Iliivy woolen quilts over to her side of the bed. Leah tugged k I hem, trying to get her fair share back, so she could at least Ifop a bit longer before morning chores.

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Here lately, though, Dat had said she didn't need to gel up and come out in the cold for the first milking of the day. Kind of him, she thought, rolling over, her back againsi Sadie's.

Even after pulling her half of the quilts back over herscll, Leah was still a bit shivery. But the weight of the heirloom quilts was always a comfort and a reminder of Mamma's love, Just as Jonas's wool throws kept her snug and warm in his open buggy each time they went riding.

At the last singing Sadie had surprised her by going along, They'd had such fun together, one of the first times recently almost like their former days of childhoodthough Sadie had latched on to her, hardly letting her talk with Jonas alone at all. And then, since Leah and Sadie h;ul both ridden over with Smithy Gid and Adah, they had ended up riding back to Gobbler's Knob with Jonas, which was an interesting howdy-do.

Honestly, Leah had felt Sadie was spying on her ami didn't appreciate it one bit. Jonas, on the other hand, took Sadie's presence in his stride, including her in their banter, paying nearly as much attention to Sadie as he had to her. Jah, Jonas had joked openly with Sadie, politely of course, who sat directly behind them in the second seat, clutching her own woolen lap robe. Such a peculiar thing, really thnv in a courting buggy!

After that night, though, Sadie said she thought Lenli ought to attend singings on her own. "Oh, why's that?" Leah had asked, sticking her neck out only for Sadie to wave her hand and say, "No reason. Tis just better for courtin' couples to be by themselves."

So now Sadie sat home nights while Leah entertained

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= iiAM in the kitchen, near the wood stove, after the family >il gone upstairs to bed. And Leah was grateful that Jonas i tiol so much interested in the hops or hoedowns so

mwiuid upon by the church yet attended by some of his

luuldy groups." She felt he was ever mindful of the People's

iiIt's, The best beau, he was.

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Two nights prior to Anna Mast's nuptials, Dr. Schwartz's ile reminded her family of the Amish wedding "this coming iiittmlny."

Amidst obnoxious groans from Derek, Lorraine rose and ".-1 n i 10 the kitchen, returning with a tray of dessert and hot m||it, "It's a rare opportunity," she said, eyeing her husband ! 'i -.iipport. "One we will enjoy . . . all of us."

I Icnry spoke up quickly. "Derek, it is important that you li'Uior your employer at his daughter's marriage ceremony."

The boy muttejed something unintelligible and stabbed a i"ik into his baked berry pudding. About then Robert spoke

i|i nnd asked Henry's permission to drive the family car to a

I lurch meeting in nearby Quarryville. "When will yours be in running order again?" Henry asked.

"The mechanic said tomorrow. So if you wouldn't mind,

I Mil . . .

"Sure." Henry pulled the car keys out of his trouser pocket. "When shall your mother and I expect you home?"

"Nine-thirty, if not earlier," Robert replied, to which I 't'lvk snorted loudly.

I lenry's eyes locked with Derek's. This unspoken

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exchange was registered, and the belligerent son sat up straighter, his spine now flat against the dining room chair.

From the entryway, Robert called good'bye and waved in them and turned toward the coat closet. Henry was filled wii li paternal pride at the sight of Robert, tall and honorable. Siu h dire things he's seen and survived, he thought, disconcerted Iwi not surprised by his son's sudden interest in the ministry.

Though not a religious man, Henry believed in a Great oi God, one who had the power to grant life and take it away. A God who dwelt in the heavens somewhere, afar off. Only once in Henry's life had he ever prayed, and that was out <>l desperation, nothing more when Robert had sent word l>y letter of the bloodshed on the battlefields of Europe. Nevci had he done so since, not even to offer a heartfelt thanks lei Robert's safe return.

Just this morning his son had enthusiastically mentioned that he hoped to attend a nearby Mennonite church meeting, Robert had even gone so far as to inquire of his mother abom Grandpa Schwartz's ministry and life, to which Lorraine h;ul responded by promptly leaving the room, only to return willi a tattered scrapbook. She said it had been in the family loi many years, though Robert avowed he had never laid eyes on it. He had looked at the pictures with great interest, making note of his grandfather carrying a Bible in one photo.

Presently, Henry watched Robert open then close 111> front door behind him. The war had certainly turned then young ex'Soldier inside out. What would it take to get Den-Ion better footing in general? The upcoming stint in the army ' Henry was banking on it.

Derek was undeniably closed to any discussion, and Hem v

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ii breaking no new ground. "What's bothering you, son?"

11" nuked, truly frustrated.

"I can't wait to get out of here" was the surly reply.

"You're looking ahead to the service, I assume?"

"Not just that . . . leaving Lancaster behind forever."

The remark cut deep. Why should our boy feel this way? i I wry wondered.

Lorraine kept her distance, pinching off leaves from the Mtttny African violets in the far end of the parlor. Occasionilly Nne glanced at him kindly. Henry and his dear wife had "ftiilnly had their times with Derek and might have had sim-

* I tit* difficulties with Robert had he not come home from I ill'one a changed man.

Not a father to pry into the private facets of his sons' It-' , Henry had concealed the fact that he'd silently witii. .d the heated exchange between the Amish girl and I 'i M-k in the yard some weeks ago. Though he had heard it it hi rig of what was said, he worried that something was links, even at stake, between the two of them. Then when I '. n-k had boltecLjifter the girl who had taken off on foot ! nig up his car like a maniac and racing down the road ill. i her, Henry felt grave concern.

Now Derek's words agitated him further. "Besides, I want nothing to do with this stinking life yours and Mom's!" His ,in leaped up from the table.

"Just a minute, young man. I've worked all these years to i Ntnhlish our good family name. I'll not have you speak "

"Save it, Dad!" With that, Derek brushed past him.

Stunned at this outburst, Henry looked at Lorraine, who ntlly shook her head. She came and placed her hands on his houlders. "Incorrigible," he heard her say.

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Then Henry stood up and reached for his wife, enfoldini: her in his arms. "I'm sorry you must suffer our son's antagu nism, dear," he said. "It makes me realize what I must h;ivc put my own parents through."

"Derek will grow up soon enough, just as we all do." Wii li that, Lorraine rose on tiptoe to kiss and hug him tenderly.

Leah and Jonas had been out riding about a half hour or so, meandering round the county roads, taking their time gel ting Leah home. The most picturesque farmhouses had a way of rolling down across the meadows and settling back a ways from the road. Jonas surprised her by asking what sort <>l house she'd want to live in when she was married, and, of course, she said a house something like Dat's ... "a housr that's been in the family for generations, you know."

"Something real old, then?"

"Oh, jah."

Turned out, Jonas agreed. So they were getting awful close to the topic that mattered most to Leah, and she was mighty sure to her beau, too the subject of marriage, just when they might tie the knot, and all.

But as Jonas talked, she realized they weren't going to In* discussing that subject just now, probably. At least ih>i tonight. He was more interested in his sister's wedding in just two days. "Anna's awful ferhoodled," he said, laughing. "Both Mam and Pop just look at each other sometimes I've seen 'em like they can't believe how harebrained she is."

"What sort of young bride will she be, then?" Leah veil tured, hoping she wasn't stepping on anyone's toes.

"Oh, Anna will be right fine, just as any newly married woman is ... given time." And here he reached around her

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iiml iIh-w lier near. "Just the way you'llbe someday."

" '( Vpt for one thing," she spoke up quickly.

"Whiir's that?"

"I know my way round a barnyard better than most Indies!"

This brought the heartiest laughter she'd ever heard from Ji'imH. And he made no attempt to disagree with her.

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I lie Jay of the Mast wedding dawned ever so bright. Sadie

'tiki have rather stayed home. But, of course, she didn't.

h whole family and Aunt Lizzie piled into the family

i'[\:\ and headed over to Grasshopper Level for the long day

ii .[ivities.

When they arrived at last, she and Leah walked up to a i nip of other girls their age waiting in the barnyard. They mill remain theje till they were given the signal to go ilk- for the service.

Naomi Kauffman and several other girls eyed her and

'iili'il Hut stayed in their own little circle of fellowship.

i 111- didn't let that bother her, though. What was troubling

i-i seeing the Schwartz family drive up and get out of their

>i, the four of them walking up the lane toward the farm-

itlKf.

lor :i fleeting moment, while glimpsing Derry, she wonIi icil il her baby would resemble the Schwartz side more than i In* liU-rsols. And how awful would that be!

Sin- quickly dismissed the niggling thought. Yet seeing

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Derry, even from afar, was sure to spoil her time at Ann;i',\ wedding. She scarcely could wait to get home again. Why h;ul she come at all?

Quickly, before Anna's wedding service ever began, Han nah sneaked up to the bride's bedroom, knocked on the door, and handed the embroidered dove hankie to Anna herscll Hannah stared at the special handkerchief in Anna's hand. A dove stitched all in white against a pale blue background.

"Oh, Hannah, this is so perty!" the bride said. "I'll U needing the dove of peace on this day, what with all t\udoin's, ya know."

Hannah caught the meaning. Anna was obviously ;i bundle of nerves. "But you mustn't be anxious," she spoke up, surprising herself. "This is the day you and Nathaniel have been waiting for, to become husband and wife. Such a wonderful-gut day 'tis."

Then, quite pleased with herself, she kissed Anna's check, wished her "Happy day," and scurried down the back steps and through the summer kitchen. Outside, in the midst of the swell of wedding guests, she looked for Mary Ruth, swinging her arms just a bit. Not only had she given Anna Mast something to treasure for always, she'd offered a kind word to ;ui anxious bride. Even though she'd had to exert herself a bit lo do so.

After the main sermon, the bridal party three younp, men and three young women took their seats near tin

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hiiinlNlers' row in front. Then, toward the end of the three!> 'Hi- meeting, in front of the bishop, Anna Mast agreed that

In vviis indeed "ordained of God to be Nathaniel King's wed-

|i!. I vvilr." And Nathaniel was in agreement, too.

I When they were pronounced husband and wife, plenty a

It- N was shed, especially after the words "till our dear God

I Mill iik'iiin separate you from each other," pertaining to the lihiiitl inn of the couple's union under heaven. So solemn was

I1 In-, lik'liine promise between two people.

I Mi-in while, Sadie stuck close to Aunt Lizzie, steering it I. ii of the likes of Derry Schwartz. Even so, the good doclii. i;;ize found her at one point, just as the fancy guests were || i' piirinR to leave before the wedding feast began. Sadie jiuiilu'd away quickly. Such embarrassment she felt, recalling IJitiw she'd made a fool of herself going over to the Schwartz If ii uni-. Ach, she'd sat right down on their front porch steps, I 'i Ing to talk to their rat of a boy. She sometimes wondered p ii had gotten into her, going over there like that. But it hniil luvn the close of a final horrid chapter in her life. She piiipril so, anyways, because she'd be paying dearly for her [ttmiN|;i-(.'ssion otlce her secret was evident for all to see. I Now, though, she was being mighty careful to eat right l\Mii hing the sort of foods Mamma ate and to get to bed at l|i i early hour. Her body was in the beginning processes of Ijiiiiking necessary changes, the baby growing ever so slowly at Iflii'. point. All this was according to the helpful library book, is I.uh she had renewed one day here lately when she and h i 11ii 1:1 drove to Strasburg for sewing notions and whatnot. I -In \l been allowed to keep the book for another three weeks EftM'l Imped by the time she had to relinquish it for good, such ||iti|Hirtant things would be firmly fixed in her mind.

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Gone were her actively sinful days, though she had nevei confessed her wickedness to a soul. Not even to Mamm.i She'd pondered confiding in Leah, but what good would thai do? Her sister couldn't redeem her. No one could. Unforin nately, her next younger sister was all caught up with Joiin.s, so dreamy eyed it was hard to get her attention during I lie day while she did her indoor chores. No, there was no need to spoil Leah's joy . . . not just now.

Mary Ruth was aware of Elias Stoltzfus's presence well before the wedding feast, especially when the young peoplr were attempting to line up outside and some of the buy. showed great timidity in pairing themselves up with a \.\\\\ partner. Some were even grabbed and pulled to the duui, where they had no choice but to stand beside a particular jj; i 11 Once they were in line, all struggling came to an end, ami each youthful couple approached the wedding-supper taiili hand in hand, just as those in the bridal party did.