Abram's Daughters 02 The Betrayal (25 page)

I1 .. She felt the sweet warmth of his hand; then he lifted m liis lips and kissed the back of her wrist, oh, so gently, fluid Co smile; he was ever so dear and certainly not disIf iinvv. Not in any way. "I truly wish you were comin' back i 'Iin i with me." He pressed her hand against his face.

I I.Mnma couldn't begin to manage with both Sadie and

I1 in-. It's best for Sadie. . . ." She paused, biting her lip. It -. irry, Jonas, honest I am. I wish things had worked out fcicnlly."

|"Vnii never said why it was more important for Sadie to III.hi you." His eyes were trusting, yet questioning. ["Someday . . . things will become more clear" was all she I'd say.

II lint seemed to satisfy him, and he sat there enfolding her Id in both of his. "I'll count the hours till I see you again." Ilurncd and gathered her into his arms. "Oh, Leah . . ." ll riming her head on his shoulder, she felt both happy and j "November twenty-fifth will be our day for always," she Mpered.

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Then, she didn't know quite how it happened, but hid head was close to hers, ever so near. "My precious girl," ha whispered. "Dearest Leah." He nuzzled her nose slowly, yet playfully with his own, and before she could resist, his tender lips found hers. She was startled at first but did not pull aw;iy, The kiss was sweeter than she'd ever imagined, and, oh, she longed for more. No wonder Mamma had said to save lip kissing for after the wedding!

When briefly they pulled away from each other, the lony ing in his eyes could not be denied. Truly, he adored her.

His arms encircled her yet again, and she was enraptured. by his affection, even fervency, as she snuggled near. His sea ond kiss led to yet another, till she felt breathlessly woozy, m

"Oh, Jonas ..." I

"Are you all right?" He touched her cheek. m

"Maybe not." I

They smiled then, faces aglow. She laughed a little sliylyl and leaned away from her darling beau. "I love my husbiiml to-be," she told him.

His eyes were intent on her, and he shook his head slowly. I "I am the happiest man on earth." He caught her hand in I in I and looked down at their entwined fingers.

She thought she might cry. "Nothin' dreadful will annul of this, I hope."

"Ach, Leah . . . never. No . . . no. How can it be? W<\ > sealed our engagement with three kisses, our mutual proim < j to wed." He was frowning now, his eyes searching hers. "D< i i'i I

you agree

?"

"So . . .'tis not a bad omen, then?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I honor and respect you, ilei

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Jl'tr ihr light of my eyes. I can't say I believe in omens,

lly."

"Well, gut," she said, and because she was convinced what rillI Wiis true, she leaned over and kissed him square on the

"I d's walk," he said, standing now. He lent a hand and jlcil her up, and they went strolling happily together, talkI liver the ins and outs of their wedding day soon to come. wHi'in breeze caressed their faces, and Jonas leaned down I picked a wild yellow daisy. "What a happy day it will be," Hull I, 1,'iving the flower to her.

I "I ill, ever so happy." She lifted the delicate petals to herI, 1

I 11 icy walked a bit farther, and Jonas pointed out a curious, Hnmihir-shaped mound. "What is that, not three yards VM\) you see it?"

I'In- squinted, looking hard in the direction of his hand, I I < M ing her pace to match his.

I "I low peculiar." He stooped to examine what looked to I in he a small grave. "Someone must've buried either a I * . hi Id or a pet dog here," Jonas said.

1' Ik- saw where the ridge of grass had been cut away, and I slight rise. "But who would bury someone here and not in llit'lery? 'Tis awful strange."

Ijoiiiis agreed. "And seems to me, a private burial place

111* I require at least a simple marker." ["You'd think so, jah."

I "Hul why a grave dug here in the middle of a deserted fclliv.'" he mused aloud. ' "This is wasted grazing land," she spoke up. "I can't

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imagine it should become a cemetery, can you?"

Jonas shook his head. "Hardly. But fancy folk do th

strangest things sometimes, ain't so?"

She wondered why Jonas now assumed the owner wn

English. Right surprising it was, really.

Jonas drove Leah home and walked with her to the bacld door. They said their good'byes rather swiftly no lingering! so the family had no opportunity to observe, the way of thij Old Order. Serious courting was done in secret, under the covering of night.

Not wanting to shed a tear in front of him, she waved an I hurried inside, bypassing any conversation with Mamma aiv I the twins, who were rushing to get supper on the table. Shti headed straight to her bedroom and lay down, thinking baeifi on her afternoon with Jonas and their kisses, hoping the LortH God would not punish them for disobeying Mamma's sirleli wishes. 1

Recalling the warmth of Jonas's embrace his face ever so near a small part of her began to understand how it wm Sadie had succumbed to forbidden hours with the Schwiwti

boy, one thing leading to another till she'd found herself In an awful bad way. \

Leah was most thankful Jonas was an upstanding young, man and that they were now baptized church members. 1 lipyj had made their promises to God and her church this very diiytl Realizing the reality anew, she felt even worse for having lip

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^H on I lie day of holy baptism.

^HfH' went to the window and looked out toward the

TOily hillock, wishing she might visit with Aunt Lizzie. But

11'W minutes Mamma would be calling for supper. For now

i "iiiNf put on a smile or else her family might wonder what

i i lii'cn up to. Kissing Jonas, beau or no, would not be fit-

tipper talk. Besides, Leah wanted to be a shining exam-

I i I liinnah and Mary Ruth, who would experience similar I'lifjN in I he not-so-distant future.

t'in it vul thing Jonas and I will be married soon, she thought,

I1 iling us she hurried down to the kitchen. I must tell[< iiii tl\c date we've chosen for the wedding.

I'Mi.is hurried his steed toward Grasshopper Level. He I ln'i ,s|KMit much time at all with his family this visit,

11 11is twin baby brother and sister held great fascination j .in, I lis married sister, Anna, and her husband, Nathaniel \ h;ul been vying for his attention, as well as Mamma. j month when he returned, he hoped to make up for lost

11 Along with Dat, his brother-in-law, Nathaniel, and I i-r brothers Eli and Isaac, they would all help bring in |< ipplr harvest, as planned. There would be plentiful time h Hiii- good fellowship then. He hoped he might be able to Iliipk'K' the apprenticeship he and David had agreed upon Ifrw weeks shy of seven months. Though he was working Ilfnitly to make that happen, if he could not, he would simn i si end his stay in Ohio and trust his father could make I u nliout him during harvest. If so, his final return home IniU lull very close to his wedding day. I lonight, however, he looked forward to an enjoyable time

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around the long kitchen table. Mamma, more than liki'ly, would put on a big spread for him, another sure reward loi riding all that way on the train and back. At supper he muni let Dat know there was a slim chance he might not make ii back home by apple'picking time.

The horse whinnied and he settled back in the earring He thought of Leah's vague comment about Sadie, rn;uli<3 without so much as a blink of an eye: Someday . . . things n'illl become more clear. ... I

He was somewhat apprehensive, having heard a foWj rumors over the years about Lizzie Brenneman all confinnejj this day. Could it be Sadie suffered a related problem? CcrMtlH sins ran in families, his father often said. |

It wasn't fair to point fingers, if only in his mind, not tha way his own passions had flared this afternoon. He shoulfH have stopped with a single kiss, yet Leah's eager response hna taken him by surprise. She loved him greatly, that much wd clear.

So his sister's unexpected letter a month back, warnlftfl him of Leah's interest in Gideon Peachey, had to be fakta Still, he planned to speak to Rebekah tonight, hear her o\m about whatever she thought she'd witnessed at the Auguijl singing in Abram Ebersol's barn. Not that he had ever givelfj her foolish letter a second thought, anyway. |

He let the reins rest loosely across his knees. Recalling iImj afternoon's pleasures, the time he'd spent with his darling i',nl,J he determined it was best, even wise, that Leah remain I inn 8 in Gobbler's Knob for the next four weeks or so. A separation I of hundreds of miles was a good idea for now. He could iu>i I imagine anything more embarrassing than having to answer I

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ilie ile;icon's appointed question, "Have you remained I 'i ii >r To the wedding service. At all costs, he must proI keep as sacred his love for Leah.

.l.i.ini s;ii at the head of the table and bowed his head.

I it h in|< his i ime saying the Lord's Prayer in his mind, followB| rite Nilent blessing for the meal Ida had cooked for them. ^H I* new lull well his time had run out. Lizzie had been ^>| Hiding the truth be revealed ever since Leah turned ^Hniiii|; nge. And because Jonas Mast was now aware of it, ^Hi .ni could no longer put off what he had to do. Tonight ^j i .1 y of Lizzie's sorry rumschpringe was to unfold. ^H ' 'Kiel ime after supper he and Ida would arrange to speak H| ih ly to the girl they considered to be their second child. ^HAhntin, she was all a daughter should be everything he ^H Ii I,i could hope for and more. And considering the shame^H|uili their firstborn, Sadie, had chosen, having to talk to ^Hli weighed even more heavily on him, ^Hr.I ii ut of asking her to go with them to the barn or for a ^Hi nver to Blackbird Pond, behind the smithy's barn . . . ^Hl, lie didn't-know how things would play out. Still, he ^Hlil wait no longer; otherwise, Lizzie might take matters ^Hi her own hands, jump ahead, and talk to Leah about the ^hiinsiances of her birth.

^i I is father-in-law would be of no help with any of this, ^Hhuu knew. It had been John's desire ever since he'd come ^B-live in the Dawdi Haus last spring for Abram to "face up Ml"' hard facts, and the sooner the better." John's attitude mtulii'i set well with Abram, and as a result they'd exchanged

(nine heated words, the last of which seemed to cause a flare'

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up in John's bad hip. No longer could he lift a hand to harvcsi or to fill silo. With Leah soon to be hitched, Abram hadn'l the slightest idea how he was going to keep the farm running at all, let alone soundly.

Mary Ruth broke the silence. "Please pass the masliol potatoes, Mamma."

Ida did so quickly, then handed the large platter of baked pork chops to Abram. "Your favorite," she said with a quid' smile.

Abram looked to see where Ida had put Lydiann, who usu ally spent the supper hour in Ida's arms. "Is the baby upsmii > sleepin'?"

"Jah, she has a low-grade fever. ..."

"End of summer flu?" Mary Ruth asked.

"Oh, I hope not," Hannah spoke up. I

"No, no, no." Ida was adamant. "Lydiann's just trying m cut her first tooth." |

Leah had slumped down in her seat, awfully quiet mofjj so than usual. Abram observed her discreetly between bites da meat. Did Jonas defy me today and speak to Leah about Liz&ei

He shuddered at the thought.

Without so much as a nod from Abram after supper, 1 Iaij nah rose from the table and helped Dawdi John out of his set and over next door. They were still keeping Leah at nrn\! length from John, but it remained to be seen how mud longer that would matter.

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I i,mi breathed deeply. John's relationship with his I I nimbler Leah would-not change one iota once she was

l i her true beginnings. As for himself, Abram's parental

>> n't in Id be reduced to merely Onkel With that woeful

n'lii, lie curled his toes inside his shoes.

i i- )il)l UP from the table and found The Budget, a newspublished in Sugar Creek, Ohio, and distributed by mail

(In Old Order communities. Meanwhile, Leah and Mary

h cleared the table and cleaned up the dishes.

Alter a bit Leah said she was feeling "awful tired tonight"

I I Mined to leave the kitchen.

"I hope you're not cutting teeth like the baby," Mary Ruth

..I

I Ins brought a peal of laughter from Mamma, as well as

mi.ih, who'd just now returned from the Dawdi Haus.

\i h, Mary Ruth, best leave your sister be," Abram spoke

i "> I eah's defense.

It'iili smiled weakly, even gratefully, and headed upstairs. IfcHt'iU'ing from Leah's lips that she was under the weather Hp Abram pause. Tonight just might not be the best time to H'nl such life-altering information, after all. |pl li- drew a sigh and settled back in his hickory rocker. One

iliy won't hurt none, he decided.

Hul what if Leah had already been told by Jonas? The hi ni^hr continued to nag him through the evening and later die lay down on his bed and had to contend with Ida's Hdy snoring. His back pained him enough to make him Hlt-ss. He stared out the window at the moonlit sky, afraid H once Leah was told of her roots, he and Ida would never Hlln what they'd lost.

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Sadie helped Edith off to bed early, as was the oluYi woman's custom. "Lanterns out" usually came by eight o'cloi I of an evening, which gave Sadie plenty of time to read < >\ think. But this night she planned to write a letter.

Sunday, September 21 Dear Mamma,

Hello from Millersburg.

I suppose Leah and Jonas are glad to have joined church today. You and Dat must surely be grateful. Was there a bin crowd?

She wondered when or if she might hear that a letter from Preacher Yoder had been sent to the Millersburg preacher. ()r worse, from Bishop Bontrager to the Ohio bishop. Church I discipline, after all, followed closely on the heels of the uii ! repentant soul. Naomi Kauffman, if she'd kept her word, liuUJ already set things in motion for Sadie to be disciplined, \\m least in the Gobbler's Knob church. With Leah having spillofl the beans to Dat and Mamma, as surely she had, no doul'i Preacher Yoder had gotten an earful from her, too.