Grace's Forgiveness (24 page)

“Mark, these men are dangerous. They’ve killed men for looking at them the wrong way. I’m sick I’ve put you in harm’s way.”

“You’re right. They are dangerous. They also asked the clerk where I lived. They set fire to my barn to show me they mean business. They aren’t going to stop harassing me until I pay your debt. There’s no excuse for your behavior. Did you steal things from other homes in the community?”

“Jah, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

“Why was there blood on the sack?”

“I cut my hand opening a can of beans.”

Mark splayed his fingers on the table. “I’m sickened at your lazy attitude and arrogance to consider no one but yourself.” He straightened and picked up the Holy Bible. He was desperate for his bruder to show remorse and want to change his life. “Stay and ask God and the community for forgiveness. You can live with me and work in my store. We can earn a profitable living together. We’ll ask the bishop what we should do about these men. Maybe the sheriff can help.”

Abel sneered. “This life isn’t for me.” He folded his hands on the table. “You should join me. The world outside this community is a more interesting place. Gambling, alcohol, and scantily clad women provide great entertainment.”

His bruder hadn’t listened to a word he’d said. He looked at his gray shirt and then at the man before him, wearing a garish red shirt, big metal belt buckle, and fancy leather boots. The stranger sitting before him was no longer the bruder he recognized. His bruder had turned his back on the Amish life and showed no regret for his actions. Until Abel desired to turn his life around, there was nothing more he could do for him but pray. “Since you won’t stay and ask forgiveness, you must leave. I’m getting married. I won’t let you ruin what I have with her.”

Abel stood and narrowed his eyes. “I’m sad for you. You’ll be stuck with one woman the rest of your life. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when life gets boring.” He smacked the table. “I need money to pay these men. Give me what you can, and I’ll not bother you again.”

“Please reconsider. This is where you belong.”

“No, I told you. I’m not coming back. Please give me any money you can spare. Maybe it will satisfy them until I can pay them the rest.”

Abel had definitely succumbed to the world’s temptations and had every intention of still giving in to them. “These men you owe money to are too unpredictable. Go to the sheriff.”

Knock. Knock.
Mark and Abel gasped and froze.

Dusty ran to the door and barked.

Mr. Blauch was staring at them through the window. Mark winced.
My worst fear is coming true. Mr. Blauch won’t like this one bit.
No use hiding inside and not answering the door. Mr. Blauch had caught him with his bruder. Abel’s red buttoned shirt, cowboy hat, and square metal belt buckle gave away his choice to live his life as an Englischer and they were standing right within Grace’s daed’s view. Mark took heavy steps to the door and opened it.

Mark shuddered as Abel met Mr. Blauch’s eyes then fled out the back door. He trembled and heaved a big sigh. “Please kumme in. What brings you here?”

“Mrs. Blauch made an extra batch of potato soup and asked if I’d drop it off to you.” He handed Mark the container. Stepping inside, Mr. Blauch’s eyes bore down on him. “Who was the Englischer?” He narrowed his eyes. “He resembles you.”

Mark swallowed hard and gestured to the chair.

Dusty snarled.

“It’s all right, boy. Sit.”

Dusty stayed by his side.

Thoughts ran rampant in his mind. He didn’t know what to say. “Jah.”

“I need an explanation, son. Is the Englischer related to you? What is he doing in your haus? More importantly, why did he run out the back door like his feet had stepped on hot coals?”

Mr. Blauch’s clenched jaw and stern tone told him the man had already passed judgment on him. The truth would make things worse. Everything he’d done to earn a good reputation shattered in a split second. “The man who rushed out of here is my bruder, Abel. He’s in trouble and came seeking my help. He owes money to thugs. They’re searching for him.”

“You shouldn’t have let him in your haus. You told me your bruder left our community to live in the outside world. Our laws are meant to protect us from Englischers, such as the men who are after him.” His face red, he huffed. “I no longer trust you. I’m withdrawing my blessing for you to marry Grace.”

Mark gasped. He couldn’t breathe, and his body shivered. Grace would never become his fraa. They couldn’t go against her daed’s wishes. He blamed Abel. No, it was his fault. Even though he didn’t invite his bruder in, he should have sent him out the door the minute he entered. He had to do something to set this right with Mr. Blauch. “Please, let me explain!”

The man turned on his heel, slammed the door, and departed.

He closed his eyes and fell to his knees. What had he done? His dreams of life with Grace had been crushed. Would he be able to repair it at some point? He had to believe God could work a miracle in Mr. Blauch’s heart. “Dear Heavenly Father, I beg You, please forgive me for my transgression. I’m so ashamed. I leave Abel in Your hands. Please protect him and change his heart to want to kumme back to You. Please have mercy on me and change Mr. Blauch’s mind. Please help him to find it in his heart to forgive me. Danki for Your love and mercy. Amen.”

Dusty jerked his head up and barked.

Mark bolted outside and searched for Abel. No sign of his bruder. Trudging back to the haus, he hoped Abel would stay away. If he had caught sight of him, he would have demanded his bruder leave. The disappointment and anger in Mr. Blauch’s face seared his senses. He’d worked hard to gain the man’s trust and friendship. The loss of Grace and the parents he’d anticipated becoming his family devastated him.

He and Dusty walked inside the haus.

“You may be the only friend I have left when the news of Abel kumming here spreads.”

Clenching his teeth, he gripped the arms of the chair. Why did Abel want to stay in the outside world where trouble plagued him? It made no sense to him. Boasting of what the world had to offer, Abel hadn’t benefited from what he could tell. The man’s life was a mess. Now his bruder had turned Mark’s life upside down. In spite of the awful position Abel had put him in, he didn’t want any harm to kumme to him. He loved Abel. But from this moment on, he must consider him dead.

What would Mr. Blauch tell Grace? He’d have to find a way to talk to her. He went to feed his animals. Going through the motions, his mind raced. He was certain Grace would be upset but forgive him. She was understanding and kind. Her experience with her best friend, Becca, had been as heart-wrenching for her as his bruder’s leaving the Amish life had been for him. Not quite the same, though, with his bruder coming back and bringing trouble with him.

Finished, Mark crossed the yard to the haus and slumped in a chair.

Dusty sat next to him and rested his head on Mark’s leg.

Mark stroked his furry friend’s back. “You’re a comfort, boy. I’m blessed you wandered into my life. What am I going to do, Dusty?”

Stretching his arms, Mark yawned and blinked several times early Wednesday morning. He glanced at Dusty beside him. “We should’ve gone to bed after I finished chores. My back and neck will be sore all day, and I’ve got some important business to attend to.”

He fixed breakfast and took a few bites then pushed his plate aside. He had to ask Grace’s forgiveness. Even if they couldn’t marry in the near future, it was important she understood how sorry he was and that he’d always love her. Giving up wasn’t an option. No matter how long it took, he’d pray for God to intervene on his and Grace’s behalf. He shrugged into his white shirt and black pants and snapped his suspenders in place. Hat in hand, he drove to town.

Entering Grace and Sarah’s shop, he approached her. “Grace, may I talk with you privately for a few minutes outside?”

She put a hand to her heart. “Mark, I was hoping you’d seek me out today. Sarah hasn’t arrived yet. Before you say anything, Daed told me about taking Mamm’s soup to you and about finding you with your bruder. I’m sick he’s judging you for speaking to Abel. I’m not done pleading with him to understand your dilemma and change his mind about withdrawing his blessing for us to wed.”

He hadn’t thought he could love her more than he already did. At this moment, he loved her more than he could possibly put into words. Her forgiveness eased his mind. “Grace, I’m relieved you understand. I’m sorry I disobeyed our laws and disappointed your daed.”

“What did Abel say? What did he want?”

“He’s in trouble. The men Abel owes money to barged into my shop searching for him this week. The Lancaster postman told them where I’d moved. I left my forwarding address in case Abel came looking for me. My bruder told the men I’d given him money to pay his debt the first time. They assumed I’d pay his debt again. These villains stole what money I had in my cashbox, and they’re searching for Abel for the rest he owes to them.”

“Is your bruder at your haus?”

“No, he rushed out when your daed came inside. Grace, I didn’t invite him in, but I should’ve asked him to leave the minute he came through the door.”

Her lovely eyes showed deep concern. “What will you do if he returns?”

“Send him away.” He twisted the brim of his hat. “I asked him to seek forgiveness. If he would agree, I said he could live and work with me. He refused.” His heart hurt looking at his beautiful Grace. The woman he’d lost. He had to tell her the whole story. She deserved to know every detail. “He confessed to hiding in my barn and stealing from community members and me while we were away. He gambles and associates with dangerous men. Other than praying for God to protect him and change his heart, I’ve done all I can. It’s up to him to turn his life around.”

“He might return and beg you to take him in. You love him. It will be hard for you to say no.”

“I do love him, but I won’t allow him to ruin my life. If I have any chance at all of making this right with your daed, I have to turn Abel away. I never should’ve disobeyed the Amish law and spoken to him. I did so because he is my flesh and blood. The only family I have left. Nonetheless, the fault is mine. I won’t further jeopardize you or the members in the community. He must deal with his problems on his own. I suggested he go to the sheriff for assistance.”

“I’m sorry Abel put you in this predicament. I’ll pray for him, too.”

The door whooshed open.
Mr. Blauch.
Mark swallowed the lump in his throat. Standing next to Grace was the last place he’d wanted Mr. Blauch to find him. “Good morning, I came to check on Grace. I mean no disrespect.”

Grace’s face blanched. “Daed, please don’t be angry. I invited Mark in. Sarah will be here any minute. We needed to discuss our situation.”

“Nothing either one of you say will change my mind. Mark, I’ll give you until the end of the day to relay your transgression to the bishop. If you don’t, I will take it upon myself to do so.”

The man’s fury and determination was daunting. He stood tall with his eyes squinted and lips pinched.

“Please. Hear me out.”

Mr. Blauch interrupted him. “You have brought trouble to our community! Therefore, you are no longer wilkom in our home and stay away from Grace.”

Grace wiped tears from her cheeks. “Please, Daed, don’t be so hard on Mark. He loves his bruder. There was nothing wrong with Mark asking his bruder to repent and return to our faith. Give him another chance.”

“You watch your tongue, dochder. I have made my decision, and you will abide by it.”

Lips trembling, she stared at her feet.

Mark’s heart ached for her. One bad decision had caused him and Grace more pain than he could’ve imagined. Observing her daed admonish her was awful. Grace shared a close relationship with her daed. Mark had caused trouble between them. It pained him. Even though he’d ruined her life, Grace still forgave him. She astounded him. “Again, Mr. Blauch, I’m sorry.”

“Please leave.”

His heart heavy in his chest, Mark went to his store. It was time to open, but he didn’t want to face customers. Eyes pooling with tears, he blinked them back. His chance for a happy married life with Grace was over. Mr. Blauch had made this very clear. It wouldn’t be easy telling his story to the bishop. He might be shunned or, even worse, asked to leave Berlin. Not something he had ever wanted to experience.

He should visit the bishop. There was no benefit to waiting. Locking the door, he hurried to the elderly man’s haus. His mood darkened as gray as the clouds looming in the sky. He rapped on the door.

Bishop Weaver peered over his spectacles. “Mark, wilkom. What brings you to my haus this morning?”

Clutching his hat, he traced the brim with his fingers. “I’ve got some disturbing news.”

The man frowned. “Have a seat.”

Mark recounted his story. “He stole from our members.” He waited for the bishop to speak. This had been harder than he’d thought. He liked and respected Bishop Weaver. To disappoint the man and the community repelled him. He watched the clock tick for a moment. Why didn’t the man say something?

“You shouldn’t have talked to Abel, but you didn’t invite him into your haus. He barged in. You redeemed yourself with me when you asked him to repent of his sin and return to our fold. You’ve promised you won’t have anything to do with him if he returns. If Abel kummes back and I discover you haven’t honored your promise to send him away immediately, I will ask the members to shun you. Understand?”

Mark blew out a sigh of relief. “Danki. I’m grateful for your mercy.” He told him about Mr. Blauch’s reason for withdrawing his blessing. “What can I do? I love Grace and her parents.”

“I’ll not interfere where Mr. Blauch and Grace are concerned. He has a right to protect his dochder and to do what he believes is in her best interest.”

“I understand but, rest assured, these men are not aware of my association with Grace or her parents. They have no reason to go after them.”

“They could be watching you. They may have observed you and Grace together. They could use her to extort money from you.”