by Ruth Reid
If they were asking for a report on Judith’s suspicious behavior, they might better probe Levi. Then again, after the way Levi hounded Judith the day before, Andrew wouldn’t wish to give him the task of interrogating her. “Judith doesn’t say much to me.”
“I’m taking Hannah back to sit with Samuel at the hospital. Denki, Andrew.” Jonas turned to his buggy.
His father waited until the Fischer buggy was out of view before he said, “I want to know what Judith is saying about an angel.” He shook his head. “Brother Jonas doesn’t need to handle problems with his daughter at a time like this.”
Andrew silently agreed. But if Judith really was telling stories, surely her brother David would speak to her.
“I didn’t make up the man. I saw him next to Samuel.” Judith poured hot water from the kettle into a line of cups. She leaned back to glance from the kitchen into the sitting room, where the womenfolk were chatting as they quilted. She turned back to Deborah and lowered her voice. “He’s an angel.”
Deborah bobbed the tea bag into the hot water. “Judith, you know I believe you, right?”
Judith nodded.
“But as your friend, I think you had better keep this to yourself. There’s so much talk nau. If you keep insisting that you saw an angel, it will only hurt your family more.”
Judith gulped. If the community were talking, it meant she’d brought condemnation on herself. Shame on her family.
“You know it’s hard for me to keep quiet,” she said. Judith shook her head slowly. Samuel’s frightened expression came to her mind. She’d only meant to comfort and encourage him.
“I know this is upsetting. But the talk will pass.” Deborah patted her arm. “You mustn’t blame yourself for Samuel’s condition.”
“Ach, how can Ich nett?” She pointed to the sitting room. “With every stitch I sew into the quilt we’re making for him, I pray for forgiveness.”
“And mei prayer is for you to understand and accept God’s will for Samuel.”
“Don’t pray for me. Pray for Samuel, please.” Judith picked up two cups to take to the women and motioned for her friend to do the same.
After serving everyone, Judith sat down and sipped the tea. Her mother had gone in to the hospital to stay with Samuel, so Aenti Lilly took charge. She kept a tight rein on the conversation, steering it away from Samuel’s accident and quizzing the women about their canning of winter squash and how many acres of pumpkins they’d be sending to market.
Eventually, though, someone said, “Samuel will find comfort with this blanket.”
“Jah, what a fine idea for us to sew it together,” Deborah’s mother said.
The bishop’s wife agreed. “It shall keep his legs warm in the winter, jah?”
“Would he know if they were cold?” Martha asked softly.
Judith winced, and Rebecca poked her head up from the corner where the children were playing with rag dolls. “Is it true that Samuel won’t ever walk again?” her little sister asked.
The women exchanged glances with one another.
Rebecca sidled over to Judith. “Please, tell me if it’s true.”
Judith placed her arm around her sister and leaned closer. “I believe he will walk,” she whispered.
Rebecca’s eyes brightened. “He will?”
The women immediately began to murmur, and Judith felt her lungs tighten.
“Judith’s not well,” Aenti Lilly said quickly. “She hit her head when she fainted in the elevator.” She looked at Judith. “Isn’t that right?”
Rebecca started to whimper. “Will you have to go to the hospital too?”
“Nay, I’m fine.”
Ellen set her cup on the lamp table and lifted Rebecca into her arms. “God is looking after Samuel.”
Judith scanned the women’s worried faces. “I saw a bright light outside the elevator,” she began, but caught her words before saying what she knew would only bring her grief.
The bishop’s wife looked at Aenti Lilly. “Didn’t you say she saw a strange light in the barn as well?”
Aenti Lilly closed her eyes and nodded.
Judith couldn’t help herself from blurting, “I saw an angel.” She looked at Rebecca cuddled in Ellen’s arms. “And Samuel will walk.”
“Judith,” Mrs. Lapp said calmly, “it is not our place to dictate to God what muscht happen. We muscht accept His will as it comes.” She looked around the room at the others, then brought her gaze back to Judith. “None of us wants you to blame yourself. We know how much you love Samuel.”
Martha began sniffling, and Aenti Lilly handed her a hankie. “I don’t understand. Samuel’s just a child,” Martha said, blowing her nose. She wiped her puffy eyes and glared at Judith, then she stood and bolted out the door.
An uneasy silence fell over the women. A few shifted in their chairs. Some fumbled with their bonnet ties. Finally Aenti Lilly set her cup on the empty wooden chair beside her and reached for her sewing hoop. “It will be gut to have this blanket done for Samuel to kumm home to.”
Deborah’s mother passed her empty cup to her daughter. “Why don’t you and Judith collect the dishes.”
As Judith stood, a numbing sensation traveled the length of her body. It all seemed like a dream. First Samuel’s accident, then fainting in the elevator, and now the women busying themselves with their needles to avoid eye contact with her.
Deborah handed her some empty cups. “Kumm,” she said, motioning her to the kitchen.
Still dazed, Judith followed.
Deborah set the dishes in the sink. “I thought you were going to let it go. Nau the bishop will get involved.”
Judith sighed. “I don’t know what compelled me.” She glanced into the sitting room, then turned back to her friend. “Jah, Ich do. He told me Samuel’s steps were ordered by God. Only an angel would know what God said.”
“Judith, please. It isn’t gut to talk as though you know how God thinks. It’s dangerous. What would the bishop say?”
“I fainted from the radiating glow of an angel. And he was on the children’s ward to see Samuel. I just know it’s true.” Judith paused. “I need to talk with Martha.”
Even as a child, Martha was often overly dramatic, especially when her parents weren’t around. But Judith knew that her sister’s angry departure was only a cover for the hurt and anxiety she felt for Samuel.
“She’s taking this hard.” Deborah made a shooing gesture with her hand. “Go talk to her. I’ll wash the dishes.”
“Denki.” She peeked into the sitting room. “It looks like they’re finishing up.”
Lord, I need a large portion of kindness, Judith prayed. She sucked in a deep breath and stepped outside.
She found Martha sitting under the maple tree. Her hands covered her face and her shoulders shook. The closer Judith came to her sister, the tighter her throat felt.
“Martha,” she said softly.
Her sister looked up, swiping the wetness from her face.
“Samuel will be—”
“It’s all your fault.” Martha stood and crossed her arms. “If you weren’t so nosy during prayer, you would’ve seen him wander off.”
“Let’s not talk about this nau,” Judith said, using the smoothest tone she could muster. She glanced over to the field at Levi, who was loading pumpkins into the wagon.
“Why? Because you know you were wrong?”
“Martha, you and I both know the truth.” She reached for her sister’s arm and swept her hand gently over it. “You were flirting with Levi.”
Martha jerked her arm away. “Maybe he doesn’t like you.”
Judith resumed looking at Levi, who just at that moment looked in her direction and smiled. Her chest filled with warmth. She remembered his asking her to attend a singing shortly after she’d turned seventeen, so he could take her home. At first he had seemed angry about her parents’ refusal to abide by the community’s usual standards. But two years had passed . . . and two days ago h
e had surprised her with a kiss under this very tree.
Judith turned to Martha. “Jah,” she said. “He does.”
Chapter Five
Andrew cleared his throat when Levi didn’t immediately take the pumpkin from his hand. Following the direction of his cousin’s gaze, Andrew assumed it was Judith’s friendly smile that had captured his cousin’s attention.
The sewing get-together had apparently ended. The womenfolk milled on the porch and near the buggies. That meant he and Levi would lose the younger boys’ help.
Andrew called to the crew carrying pumpkins out of the field. “James, Jacob, Peter, Noah—your mamms are ready to go.”
The boys hurried to the wagon, deposited their pumpkins, and headed toward the women.
Andrew nudged Levi. “I guess it’s just us nau.”
“I’ll recruit more hands.” Levi called to Judith and Martha, “Any chance you two want to load pumpkins?”
Although the girls didn’t hesitate, Andrew wasn’t sure whether they’d be more of a distraction to Levi than a help with harvesting the field.
“Where do you want us?” Judith directed her question to Levi.
He jumped off the side of the wagon. “Andrew will cut them off the vine and hand them to you. You can pass them to me, and I’ll bring them to Martha, who will arrange them by size in the wagon.”
Judith nodded and looked at Andrew. “What row are we working in?”
Andrew motioned for her to follow him while Levi showed Martha how to arrange the pumpkins in the wagon.
Andrew squatted down and cut the ripe pumpkin. “Sewing group ended early?”
“Jah.”
Andrew could see that Judith had been crying. He guessed that whatever had triggered her tears was also responsible for the early end to the gathering. Normally the womenfolk worked together for several hours. Today they hadn’t made it much past noon.
He handed off two small pumpkins and continued down the row. He had more cut when she returned from relaying the others to Levi.
Her expression strained as she went to pick up a large pumpkin.
Andrew helped her lift it and gently released his hold. “Too heavy?”
She jostled it in her hands. “Nay, I can manage.” She glanced over her shoulder at Martha and Levi talking.
Andrew paused to watch Judith teeter down the dirt row and pass the pumpkin to Levi. Martha went to receive the pumpkin and, with a wink at Levi, planted her hands on top of his.
Judith snapped around, her smile gone. She grasped the back of her neck, kneading the muscles. He’d seen that gesture before—she probably didn’t even realize she was doing it.
This current handoff arrangement wasn’t going to work.
Andrew knelt and cut a few more pumpkins. “You all right?” he asked when she returned.
“Jah, why do you ask?” She fiddled with the ties of her head covering.
He supported the pumpkin on his knee. “You keep turning the strings like that, you might choke.”
“If only I could.”
Her words were spoken under her breath, but he smiled.
She released the ties. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”
“You don’t have to silence your words around me.” He understood how Martha and Levi’s exchange would have annoyed her.
“My mouth has already gotten me into trouble today.” She pointed to his knee. “Are you going to hand me that?”
He nodded, held up the pumpkin, then, taking her hint, returned to cutting vines. “We should have the wagon loaded shortly.”
“Jah,” Judith said, but her attention was back on Martha and Levi.
Andrew cut another pumpkin. “You want me to suggest changing places? We could break them up.”
“Nay.” Judith turned back to Andrew. “Martha’s young and just acting out.”
That might be Martha’s issue, but Levi was twenty and old enough to avoid such forwardness from a girl. But Andrew kept those thoughts to himself. It wasn’t his concern anyway. He was there to help harvest the crop before a heavy frost destroyed the produce. He didn’t intend to interfere in his cousin’s affairs.
Another handoff, and Levi landed his hands atop Martha’s. The games continued for several more passes. Judith didn’t respond to it, pretending either not to see it or not to care about their lack of discretion.
Andrew carried the last pumpkin to the wagon himself.
Levi latched the wooden tailgate. “Martha wants to see Samuel.” He faced Judith. “I thought maybe the four of us could drive into the hospital. I haven’t seen him yet.” He looked over his shoulder at Andrew. “Have you?”
“Nay.” Andrew turned to Judith. “I’m willing, if you think Samuel would like that.”
Judith smiled. “Jah, he’d be happy for the visit.”
“Let’s go, then,” Levi said.
Martha looked at her dirt-covered hands. “We’d better wash up first.”
They all agreed and headed for the pump. Judith and Martha went first as Andrew pumped the handle. When Levi took a turn, he cupped his hands to collect water and tossed some playfully at Judith, bringing a wide smile to her face. Her eyes darted nervously as Levi came up beside her and dabbed his wet hand over a smudge mark on her cheek.
Then Martha’s heavy sigh summoned his attention. He grabbed her wrists and played like he planned to drag her under the spigot.
Andrew stopped pumping.
“Whose side are you on, Bishop Junior?”
Andrew gazed at Judith, the trusting soul. If he had to choose sides, he’d take hers. His cousin’s actions were shameful. Before Esther died, Andrew wouldn’t have dared be playful with anyone but her.
“I’ll harness Patsy,” he said and walked toward the corral where the horses grazed.
“And leave me two against one?”
Andrew shrugged. His thoughts shifted to Samuel, wondering if the boy would feel up to having company and whether he knew his condition was permanent. Andrew coaxed Patsy to the fence with a handful of grain he’d taken from the barn. He took his time harnessing the horse.
Judith came to the buggy first with a baggie of cookies in her hand. “Samuel’s favorite,” she said.
“You’re a thoughtful sister.”
“Would you like one?”
“Nay.” He leaned over to loop the leather strap under the horse’s girth. “Are they kumming?”
“Jah.”
Andrew glanced over Judith’s shoulder at Levi and Martha strolling toward them. “You’re nicer than most,” he said.
Judith looked behind her. “At least she’s smiling nau.” She turned back to Andrew but wouldn’t hold his gaze. Her eyes darted up to the sky, around the yard, and to the buggy. She reached for the buggy door and said, “I’ll wait inside.”
Judith took the backseat. Andrew climbed into the front. They waited silently as Levi and Martha got in.
On the ride to the hospital, Levi and Martha’s playful banter continued. Andrew focused his attention on seeing Samuel. He suspected Judith was dealing with the same dread. Then again, perhaps Judith’s silence had more to do with the way Martha giggled at every word Levi spoke.
“This is the long way into town,” Levi commented.
“Jah, I always go this route.” Ever since Esther passed away, Andrew had avoided the road leading to her house. The road he had traveled every day for a year. The one that led to her resting place, yet offered his soul no peace.
“This way will take another forty minutes.” Levi twisted on the seat. “Was something wrong with the other road?”
“I don’t go that direction.” Andrew hoped his cousin would remain silent for the rest of the trip, but after a long moment passed, Levi leaned closer.
“Esther?” he whispered.
“Jah.” He tapped the reins, and Patsy picked up the pace.
After a few more minutes passed, Levi turned his attention back to Judith and Martha and, to Andrew’s relief, didn�
�t mention anything more about Esther.
Once they reached the hospital, Andrew found an area away from the traffic to tie the horse. He would use Patsy as an excuse not to stay in the room long, he decided, walking into the main lobby.
Levi pushed the elevator button. “Is this where you fainted?” he asked.
“Jah.” Judith closed her eyes, either avoiding more of Levi’s questions, praying, or possibly feeling nauseated by the upward motion.
The elevator stopped, and they stepped out. The paintings on the walls drew their attention.
Judith pointed ahead. “His room is down this hall.”
Martha’s pace slowed. Her face contorted, and she sniffled as they reached the room.
Judith opened the door, and Samuel saw them enter and brightened at once.
She held up the baggie. “I brought you some cookies.” She looked at her mother sitting next to the bed. “If it’s okay with Mamm.”
Mrs. Fischer gave her daughter a slight smile and nodded.
As Samuel reached into the baggie to choose a cookie, Martha edged closer to the bed. He paused and raised his brows at his sister. “What’s wrong with you?”
“I was worried about you.” Martha rubbed her eyes.
Samuel’s smile widened as he withdrew a peanut butter cookie. “I get to eat in bed here.”
All of them chuckled nervously, and the tension in the room eased a bit.
“Don’t get used to that,” Mrs. Fischer warned. She looked over to Judith. “How are things at the haus?”
“Gut.” Judith looked around the room. “Where’s Daed?”
“He read in the paper the wedder is expected to change, so he headed to David’s haus to ask his help to bring in the crops.”
Andrew stepped forward. “I’ll help them.”
“Jah, me too,” Levi added.
“Denki.” Mrs. Fischer gave them a weary smile. She asked about the pumpkins and thanked him and Levi for the work they’d done. She asked if Rebecca was still with Ellen and David and if Lilly was dropping by to check on them. But she didn’t mention anything regarding Samuel’s condition.
Several silent intervals passed where no one found a topic to discuss. Samuel ate his cookies, seemingly unaware of how uncomfortable everyone felt. After an hour lapsed, Andrew wasn’t sure he could bear another passage of awkward silence.