Love's Abundant Harvest Page 25

  “Danke, my friend.” Manny pumped Harvey’s hand, and Harvey messed Timmy’s brown hair.

  “Stop by on your way home and say hallo.”

  “We will.”

  As soon as Manny turned around, he heard laughter and a woman’s voice between a couple of young men.

  He picked up his pace and found Lucy pushing her way to the clinic. She would take one step and then turn another direction to avoid them. They chuckled and said a few things he couldn’t hear well enough to understand, or they may have been English slang words he didn’t recognize. These were the times he wished he knew a bit more about the English so he could understand their ways.

  The next thing he saw was Lucy’s kapp. Her face was pale and her body rigid. Manny ran as fast as he could with little Tim bouncing against his side. He wished for her to run. Manny didn’t know why she stayed put until he caught a glimpse of Rhoda’s baby seat behind Lucy. He picked up speed and didn’t stop until he was face-to-face with her.

  “Are you all right?” His quick breaths broke up his words as he looked at Lucy and then Rhoda. “What happened?”

  “Nothing really.” She hadn’t met his eyes, just stood and held a hand to her scar and stared at the young men who were walking away.

  Manny knew there was more to it but wanted to get his family out of danger before diving into the situation. Taking her by the arm, he walked toward the room where they had been staying and got everyone settled.

  The minute he tucked Timmy in, he turned to Lucy.

  She moved close and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry, Manny. That was tough news to hear from the doctor. But you missed hearing about the positive side of things.”

  “Shh.” He held up his hand and touched her lips with his finger. He inclined his head and touched his forehead against hers. “Now, tell me what happened.”

  But she couldn’t, not right away. She let a tear fall. “Sam used to tell me my scar was ugly, just like those boys did just now.”

  A burning sensation spread within him, and he clenched his jaw. “They’re ignorant young men, Lucy. Don’t give them a second thought,” he said, although he was thinking something completely different. It was probably best he hadn’t been there earlier or he might have gone against the vow of no resistance. When it came to his family, he would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

  Her weary eyes peered into his. “You’re a gut man, Manny.” Her lower lip trembled. “From the minute you left, I wished you were here. I knew you needed some time to think, but I missed you.”

  He touched her lips and then her scar. “Christ wore His scars, His sacrifice to us. Wear yours boldly.” He watched her eyes widen at the name of Christ and nestled in against his chest. “Our being together is Gott’s wille; only the love of Gott can keep us together. I believe that’s what He wants for us and our family.”

  “I love you so much, Manny. I really do.” She shook her head, avoiding his stare. “And the way you’ve taken in the babies . . . ”

  “I wish I could have heard that earlier.” He grinned, and she half-smiled in response. He had a good feeling neither of them would be eager to be away from the other again. She had tested her will, as he had his own.

  He guided her to the bed and sat next to her. “It’s been hard for you to let go of Sam’s mistreatment. But if you would stop putting yourself down, you’d see yourself the way I do, the way our Savior does.”

  He felt her breath against his neck, slowing down to a gradual rhythm. As he looked around the room, at the babies in their seats and Lucy by his side, he knew he was in the place Gott wanted him to be. It wouldn’t be easy. Gott never promised that. What He did expect from a godly man was to care for his family, no matter what might come. And these two little people were as much his as they were Lucy’s.

  A knock at the door drew him out of his thoughts. “Hi, Doc. Rhoda is sound asleep, for a change.” Manny shut the door behind him and leaned against the doorjamb, feeling the fatigue set in.

  Doc nodded. “I’m actually here to see Lucy.”

  Manny stood straight and furrowed his brow. “What about?”

  “I heard there was an altercation and her scar was mentioned.”

  “Word travels fast.” Manny wasn’t surprised, as it was a public scene, but was impressed at the doctor’s quick response.

  “Fannie came looking for Lucy, and when she saw what was transpiring, she came to me.” Doc turned his attention to Lucy. “I might be out of line here, but I know of a doctor who can take care of that scar for you if that’s what you want. I’m not suggesting this for any reason other than wanting to give you the option.”

  “Is there any risk?” Manny stood straight. Everything he’d said to Lucy, he meant. His eyes went straight to hers, waiting for her response. She kept her eyes on the doctor and then glanced at Manny, just long enough for him to see in her what he predicted.

  “An honest doctor should never rule it out, but with a case like this, no, it would be plastic surgery, not internal, so less of a chance for any problems.”

  “I fell when I was a child and my cheek hit on my daed’s hoe. The doc was away so Mamm put some salve on it. It took a long time to heal, and when it did it left this scar. It’s been there so long now, I barely remember what I looked like without it.” She paused as if in thought.

  Doc held a hand up to her cheek and examined the piece of pinkish skin that Manny’d come to know as what defined her and the burdens she had borne. “I can’t make a guess.” He leaned back and looked into Lucy’s eyes. “What would you like to do?”

  Lucy stared for what seemed much longer than it probably was, turned to the doctor, and finally answered. “Nee, but danke.”

  Manny let out a breath and smiled. When their eyes met, he knew she was at peace with her decision, and he was elated. He let out a small grunt to hide a laugh when he thought about how strongly he’d felt about the tiny part of Lucy that had become so relevant to their journey together.

  The grounds around the clinic were packed with people, booths, food, drinks, and more. A large tent took up most of the green grass on one side of the clinic that was crammed full of Amish who came from all over the northern area to support the auction.

  “I think I’ll take a go at the corn-hole.” Fannie’s eyes narrowed as she tried to make out the sign next to the covered area near the picnic tables.

  “Do you always squint when you look far away?” The doctor asked as he walked up behind Fannie. She turned around quickly as a warm pink spread onto her cheeks.

  Lucy grinned to see her sister so affected.

  Fannie smoothed out her dress and adjusted her kapp before she answered. “Jah, I suppose I do. But I didn’t ask for an examination, danke very much.”

  The doctor grunted and gave a small smile. “Just making an observation.” He turned his attention to Manny and the twins. Lucy felt sure she saw his eyes water just a bit. “They look healthy.”

  Lucy nodded, knowing that was as close to a sentimental comment as she would hear from him, but understood perfectly. He was tough on the outside, but all soft on the inside. “Timmy is as healthy as a horse, and Rhoda can sit on her own now. After a year of therapy, time, and money, she is making her way, thanks to the people here and this auction.” It was still hard for Lucy to believe how much progress Rhoda had made in the year since they’d first vi
sited the clinic.

  “That’s remarkable progress. I have clients who are as old as twenty-four who still can’t sit up and probably won’t.” He looked over the grassy knoll thoughtfully. “My hope is that premarital testing would be considered. It’s a powerful tool if the Amish would use it.”

  Lucy understood his thoughts, and she partly agreed with him, but she knew the ways of her people, and it wouldn’t happen anytime soon, if ever. “That’s our lifestyle; we trust Gott to take care of us.” She paused, thinking about his last name. “But then, you know that already.”

  He lifted his head and pursed his lips. “I respect the Amish heritage. I don’t wish to change that. But I also see that half of the headstones in Amish cemeteries are for children.” An awkward silence settled between them, but not a negative one. Both parties wanted the same thing and didn’t know exactly how to make it happen.

  “You’re a good man, Doctor Daniel Kauffman.”

  The doctor shook his head.

  Manny pumped the doctor’s hand as he handed off Timmy to Lucy. “Jah, but I have to admit that I wasn’t sure when I first met you.”

  “I get that a lot.” He grinned as his eyes moved to where Fannie had wandered to collect her bean bags.

  “I have some hands to shake and people to thank.”

  He turned to walk away. Lucy had watched him stop more times than she could count.

  “Danke for everything, Doc.” Manny said loud enough for him to hear. Doc held up a hand in acknowledgement.

  A bake sale offered whoopee pies, pretzels, chow-chow, beef jerky, sausage, bologna by the slice, and beverages. The live auction was at the far side of the grounds, which was big enough to offer horses for sale along with quilts, furniture, crafts, vegetables, and flowers. There was also a silent auction of handmade items. Local vendors helped out, and large donations came in for the clinic.

  Manny sat on a blanket with Rhoda. He had worked long and hard with her to strengthen her to at least enough to sit without tipping over. It was an accomplishment Lucy hadn’t believed would happen, then one day Manny was sitting on the floor with Rhoda, cross-legged, with his arms circling her. When her eyes had lifted up to his without her losing her balance, they’d said prayers of thanksgiving.

  “Ahem.” Bishop Atlee cleared his throat.

  “Afternoon, Bishop.” Manny stood and pumped his hand.

  “She’s coming along.” He tilted his head slightly, watching Rhoda roll from one side to the other on the blue blanket.

  “Jah, thanks to this clinic.” Lucy handed Timmy a bite of oatmeal cookie and walked over to them as she wiped her hands with her skirt.

  The bishop kept his eyes fixed on Rhoda. “The limits of the Ordnung have been stretched. It’s time to discuss the rules that are acceptable in your situation.”

  “I’m sure you don’t mean today.” Manny’s brows drew together, and his hands rested on his hips.

  “Nee, but soon. We’ve put it off long enough. It is our way and we must follow.”

  “I believe we are cooperating with Gott’s wille by caring for our children in the way we are called to do.”

  “And there is also that matter of a marriage that took place.” The bishop turned to go without another word. He had given them time with both issues, more than usual, and they would be expected to explain their actions accordingly. Most Amish were still leery of places like the clinic, and the bishop was no exception.

  Lucy could have let herself get riled up about this but chose to let it go. “It’s too wunderbar-gut of a day to let anything ruin it for us.”

  Manny shook his head as if to dismiss the conversation.

  He had showed Lucy what love in action truly looked like, by being the best husband and daed there could possibly be. Sam’s view of her had made her feel unlovable, but she had learned the humility of seeing herself for who she was and allowing Gott to love her where she was in her growth.

  When Manny took her hand in his, she knew there would be more storms. She also knew that after what they had been through, nothing could keep them apart.

  GLOSSARY

  ach — oh

  daed — father

  danke — thank you

  dawdi — grandfather

  dawdihauses — addition to the house for grandparents

  die eltern — parents

  Englischer — non-Amish person

  Gott — God

  gut — good

  hallo — hello

  haus — house

  jah — yes

  kapp — hat

  mamm — mother

  mammi — grandmother

  nee — no

  Ordnung — a set of rules

  wille — will

  wunderbar — wonderful

  COMING FROM BETH SHRIVER FALL 2015

  THE CHOICE

  BOOK THREE IN THE

  SPIRIT OF THE AMISH SERIES

  Fannie will never get married,” Verna muttered as she stirred the pot of boiling soup. The steam floated upward, swirling to the ceiling and spreading throughout the kitchen. The scent of onion and other spices wafted through the back door as Frieda walked in carrying a basket full of eggs.

  “Let the girl alone for Pete’s sake,” Frieda said as she waddled over to the kitchen table. “She’ll settle down in good time.”

  Verna turned sideways, frowned, then waited for Frieda to acknowledge her. “Well, good morning.” She put a fist on her hip and leaned against the cabinet. “You’re awful sure of Fannie. She’s as tough as beef jerky on a winter day. I’d like to see the man who takes her hand.”

  Frieda grunted as she watched Verna’s forehead tighten. “You will, I have no doubt. After all, my son married you, didn’t he?”

  Fannie took each step on the stairway with meaning as she went down to the kitchen expecting fireworks to fly after that comment. Why wouldn’t her mamm and mammi consider that she might be able to hear them? She shouldn’t be surprised. Even if they did realize she might overhear, they wouldn’t hold their thoughts.

  “Is this going to be a good morning?” Frieda asked, casting a sideways glance at Verna.

  “What’s going on in here?” Fannie asked as she rounded the corner to the kitchen. Her mamm and mammi both gave her long looks before they started working again.

  “I was just telling your mammi that you are strong-headed. Don’t try to say anything different. It wouldn’t be bad if you were the man of the haus, but you’re not.”

  “Fannie, never you mind. You’re just like your mamm.” Frieda pushed up her nose when she took a big whiff of the bubbling soup. “Too many onions.”

  Fannie grinned, knowing what would come next: a very lengthy conversation on how much onion is enough and what was too little.

  “Clears your chest,” Mamm said as she gave the pot another stir.

  Gazing out the large kitchen window, Fannie wondered what else was out there in the world. She put her weight forward and rested a hand under her chin. She knew there was more than she could imagine, and she had a pretty good imagination. Thoughts of leaving the community wafted into her mind then slowly dissipated.

  Before she and Mamm moved from their community to be near her sister Lucy, Fannie was to court with James Miller. He was older than her and abo
ut as stiff-necked as she was, which is why she knew no commitment would have ever been made. She was just too independent to have a man in her life—at least for now.

  “What are you daydreaming about? Manny and Lucy will be here soon.” Frieda was a bossy woman, but Fannie had to admit she kept things in order.

  “Yah, I’ll see how much milk there is compared to yesterday. We need some nice green grass to keep producing milk for market.” Fannie couldn’t help but notice that the cows hadn’t been producing as much milk. But she seemed to be the only one concerned.

  On her way back from the milk barn, Fannie noticed a trail of dust behind an old truck. And as soon as she was sure of who it was her stomach stirred a little. She pushed her shoulders back and headed toward the haus to wash her face. She got to the mudroom just before Doc stepped inside.

  “Morning, Fannie.” Doc pulled off his boots and put them next to hers. “After you.” He motioned to her and kept a close distance as they walked into the white kitchen that was now filled with the smell of bacon as Mamm’s soup simmered on the stove.

  Doc seemed to lack his usual sharp manner, which made Fannie put up her guard. “What brings you here?”

  It was a common question. When Dr. Daniel Kauffman came to the community, it usually meant that someone needed extra care and the community needed to be notified so they could chip in whatever they could to pay for the expense.

  He ignored her question and greeted Verna and Frieda, who were busy cooking up a delicious breakfast. They would give him little choice about having a bite, but Fannie knew he would eat only a light meal. A heavy meal meant a tired doctor, and he was always on call, if only in his mind.