Anna's Healing (34 page)

But the story held her attention. People wanted to believe in miracles, and there were some out there who attempted to report on it fairly and objectively.

She shut down the Internet browser, pulled her notes closer, and opened a new document.

Slowly she began to type.

The Healing of Anna Schwartz

Anna Schwartz woke this morning to a completely different life. After more than nine months in a wheelchair, Anna found that she could walk. She was injured in the tornadoes which struck the community of Cody's Creek in September of last year. Thrown from the wagon that two of her uncle's horses were pulling, she experienced a complete spinal break.

Doctors from Oklahoma Surgical Hospital confirmed that diagnosis with MRIs as well as physical assessments. Anna was kept at the hospital for observation a few days, and eventually she was moved to a Tulsa-based rehabilitation center. Since that time, she has been wheelchair bound, spending her time quilting for Project Linus, working in
her uncle's produce stand, and living the quiet life typical of Amish families in this northeastern Oklahoma community.

Chloe considered deleting the last sentence but decided to leave it in. She wanted her readers to connect with Anna, to know that she was a person, not just a story.

On the morning of July 14, Anna's life changed once again. She woke and found that she could walk. Her family immediately consulted Anna's physician from OSH, who insisted on a follow-up MRI. That test showed that Anna's spinal break—which had been deemed irreparable—was healed. The doctor could find no evidence of the previous injury.

When asked about the day's events, Anna said, “I don't understand it any better than the doctors do, but I'm grateful. I'd like to thank everyone for their prayers and support over the last year.”

Crowds have grown outside Anna's home, requiring the presence of the local police department, who is tasked with ensuring the Schwartzes' safety. Officer Glen Starnes has been placed in charge of the security details. “I understand everyone's curiosity, but I would ask them to respect the family's privacy.”

Anna seemed less perturbed about the crowds. “I appreciate their interest in my well-being. For the moment, I'm looking forward to resuming a normal life.”

Chloe checked her notes to be sure she had her quotes exactly as they'd been given to her. She read through the piece one more time, prayed that what she was writing might serve to calm the situation, and hit “Send.”

She thought she might toss and turn, worrying over her piece or what was to happen the next day, but as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out and slept deeply through the night.

CHAPTER 51

J
acob was eager to get back to Samuel's place the next morning. He understood all too well how much work there was to do on the farm, and he didn't think his being gone was helping one bit. He was glad he'd accompanied Anna to the hospital. He'd felt close to her from the first day, but now they seemed to understand one another with a simple look, casual touch, or half-finished sentence. He had never felt so intimately connected to another person. If he had stayed at the farm, he would have regretted it.

They left Teri's house early the next morning, stopping at a fast-food restaurant to meet Sandy and swap cars.

Chloe spoke on the phone with Officer Starnes. What he told her must not have been good because even from the backseat Jacob could look in the rearview mirror and see the worry lines across her forehead.

“What has happened? Has the crowd grown even larger?” he asked.

Instead of answering him, Chloe turned to Anna and said, “I have one piece of good news. Your mother arrived this morning.”

“She's here? Already?” Anna turned and smiled at Jacob. “I can't wait for you to get to know her.”

He hadn't had a chance to meet her when she'd come to visit the year before. Anna's mom had spent nearly all of her time at the hospital, and she'd left when Anna had been moved to rehab. The few times she'd spent an evening at Samuel's house, Jacob had already been gone for the day. By the time he'd arrived for work the next morning, she had already returned to the hospital.

“I knew you'd be happy to hear that,” Chloe said.

“I'm not sure how she managed to arrive so quickly,” Jacob muttered. “It took me several days to get from one state to another, but then I stopped to work along the way. Is she in Tulsa? Should we turn around and pick her up?”

“Not necessary.” Chloe took the Cody's Creek Exit off Highway 412. “She was able to change buses in Joplin, where she spent the night. She arrived in Cody's Creek first thing this morning. Samuel has already been to town to pick her up.”

“Oh, my. He took the tractor to town? Through the crowd?” Anna practically cringed.

“Actually, Officer Starnes took him.” Chloe started to say something but stopped herself. Jacob wondered what else had happened, what Chloe wasn't telling them. He decided she had her reasons for not sharing. They would know everything soon enough.

The line of cars now reached past the bishop's property. Though it was only seven thirty in the morning, folks were already arriving, exiting their vehicles, and moving toward Samuel's place. The road was crowded with people walking, others being pushed in wheelchairs, and news crews. Chloe had to inch along in order to avoid hitting anyone. By the time they reached the lane leading into Samuel's place, Jacob was ready to get out of the car to shoo people away. What were they thinking? And how long were they planning to stay?

He groaned when he saw a food vendor truck selling coffee, donuts, and even advertising hot dogs for lunch. “I can't believe these people. If they can buy food, they are going to stay even longer.”

“It's definitely worse,” Chloe agreed.

But Anna only stared out the windows. She silently considered the mass of people.

Chloe had called the local police department and was transferred over to the officer heading up the road block details. She'd given a description of her car, so now the officers allowed them through without her having to stop or lower her windows.

The family must have heard the car approaching, or perhaps Officer Starnes had radioed ahead to the officer who was stationed at the corner
of the house. Samuel, Erin,
Mammi
, and a woman Jacob decided must be Anna's mom stood waiting on the porch by the time Chloe parked.

Suddenly there was no doubt as to the woman's identity. Anna opened the car's door and ran into her mother's arms, not bothering to shut the door or pick up her bag.

And in that moment Jacob realized there was a big difference between himself and Anna. He had always loved his parents. He definitely respected them. But he would never have run into their arms. Anna's family had been through a terrible and wonderful thing together. Perhaps it had brought them closer together as a family.

Jacob picked up Anna's purse, shut the door, and walked with Chloe to the porch.

“Morning, Jacob.” Samuel looked better than he had since Jacob had arrived to help with harvest in September of the previous year. He looked, somehow, younger as he smiled at Jacob and glanced back at Anna. “Anna looks like she's still feeling well.”

Jacob grinned. “
Ya
. I believe she is. We all had a good night's rest.”

“You don't have to speak of me as if I'm not here.” Anna swiped at the tears on her cheeks, and then she pulled on her mother's hand, tugged her in their direction. “
Mamm
, I want you to meet two of my friends. This is Chloe—”

“Chloe and I met at the hospital. It's good to see you again, dear.”

“And this is Jacob.”

“It's so nice to meet you. I'm Martha, and I've heard a lot about you from Anna as well as the rest of the family.” There was a strong family resemblance between Anna and her mother, including the habit of cocking her head slightly to the side when she was waiting for a response. “Thank you for taking care of Anna yesterday while she was in Tulsa.”

“I was glad to go with her.” He glanced past Martha.
Mammi
was holding on to her cane and staring out over the front yard, an unreadable look on her face. Erin looked upset, not making eye contact with any of them.

It was
Mammi
who broke the silence that had settled over them. “Coffee is what we need, and some of the hot biscuits Samuel didn't eat this morning.”

So they all went inside. Erin poured coffee for everyone, Martha jumping in to help. There was indeed an abundance of fresh biscuits. Erin placed a jar of honey on the table, along with some bacon that had been cooked up but not eaten. Perhaps she had expected them to arrive earlier. Or maybe cooking was how Erin handled stress, and it was obvious to Jacob that she was feeling rattled. Because of Anna? Or because of the crowd at the end of the lane? Perhaps it was simply the police presence, which now extended to the front porch. He wanted to ask about that, but before he had a chance, Chloe and Anna began reciting the events of the day before.

Jacob half listened to the various conversations. By the time they had finished eating, Anna and her mother stood and declared they were going for a walk through the garden. They invited
Mammi
and Erin to join them, but both begged off.
Mammi
claimed her rocker was calling her name, and Erin said she wanted to put on some soup for lunch. Samuel caught Jacob's eyes and nodded toward the barn.

They walked there in silence, past the watchful eye of the Cody's Creek police officer. When they'd entered the barn, Samuel turned toward him. The smile he'd worn earlier had been replaced by a more thoughtful look, nearly one of awe if Jacob had been pressed to describe it.

“Anna's healing… I still don't understand it, but I believe it.
Ya
, I definitely do. I carried her to the bathroom countless times over the last year. I watched that little girl's heart break and eventually begin to mend. And I prayed. We all did.”

He looked to Jacob for confirmation. They had both taken a seat on overturned crates. Jacob nodded. Yes, they had both prayed for Anna after the accident.

“I believe without a single doubt that
Gotte
can do mighty things, and He has done something big here—something we may never understand.” Samuel ran his fingers through his beard and leaned forward, his elbows braced against his knees. “But that's not why I called you out here, son. We have a problem.”

CHAPTER 52

A
nna and her mother walked with Chloe out to the front porch. Chloe explained that she needed to go to her office, but she also seemed hesitant to leave Anna without her protection.

“Which is silly, I know, because you have—” Chloe spread her hands to encompass the officer at the corner of the porch and other policemen farther down the lane. “Your own security force.”

Anna frowned and shook her head. “I think they should leave. It's very disruptive.”

“I don't think those men and women who are gathered at the lane are bothering the farm, though they do make coming and going difficult.” Martha reached over and looped her arm through Anna's. “Perhaps in another day or so we won't need anyone to stand guard on the property. It's certainly not our way. Thank you for helping Anna get through yesterday, Chloe.”

“It's a day I'll never forget.” Chloe reached forward and briefly hugged Anna. She touched her friend's face once before walking to her car and driving down the lane.

“She's been there for you since the accident,” Martha said to her daughter. “I remember her coming to the hospital.”

“
Ya
, she was always there, even through my darkest days.”

“I could tell from your letters that you've had your ups and downs, and your
aenti
has kept me posted. But tell me about your healing. How did it happen, Anna?”

They walked through the garden, and Anna told her everything—about her dark days, about finding a new purpose in the quilting, and about what had started as a summer cold and nearly ended her life. She also recounted the dreams that had plagued her since the accident. She described her despair as her health grew worse and her depression deepened.

“I almost came when it was obvious the cold was lingering. Your
aenti
would send someone to the phone shack each evening. They would call and tell me to wait one more day, and that the doctor was doing all he could. They would tell me not to worry. Four days ago, I went to the bus station and purchased a ticket.” Her mother stopped, reached out, and ran her fingertips over a white rose. “I was waiting for the bus when Menno showed up begging me to come and help with the birth.”

“How is my
bruder
?”

“Good now, but if you could have seen him then—” Martha shook her head and they resumed walking.

“The baby is fine?”

“
Ya
. A few weeks early, but she is doing well. They named her Ruth.”

“
Mammi
will be happy about that.”