A Sister's Test

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  “I wish there was something I could do about this,” Rosemary muttered. “If I could find out who’s responsible for attacking your family, maybe Roman would forgive me for being gone all those years and never contacting my family.”

  “I’m sorry Dad’s not willing to accept your apology.”

  “I’ve been here over three months already, and still he won’t listen to me. It’s a good thing my husband left me with adequate funds, or I wouldn’t have been able to make this extended trip.”

  “I wish you could stay with us.”

  “Your dad would never allow that.” Rosemary touched Martha’s arm. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry. Why don’t the two of us go somewhere for lunch?”

  Martha smiled. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Afterward, I think I’ll drop by Abe Wengerd’s house and see Ruth. Would you like to come along?”

  “I’d better not. I’m working at Irene’s tonight, and I need to be home by three.”

  “Maybe some other time we can go there together,” Rosemary said as they approached her car. “Today I’ll go alone.”

  Ruth tiptoed out of Molly’s room, relieved that she’d finally gotten the little girl down for a nap. Molly had been fussy all morning, and Ruth had rocked her almost an hour before the child had fallen asleep. Since the other children were outside playing, Ruth thought this would be a good time for her to get some sewing done. The children were growing, and the older ones would be back in school soon. That meant several hemlines needed to be adjusted.

  Ruth removed a needle and thread from her sewing basket and had just taken a seat on the sofa when Sadie stepped into the living room.

  “Looks like you’re keeping busy.”

  “I am. I’m surprised to see you here, though. Aren’t you working at the bakeshop?”

  “Today’s my day off,” Sadie said as she dropped into the chair opposite Ruth. “I wanted to tell you my good news.”

  “What news?”

  “Toby and I are getting married in November.”

  “What?” Ruth grimaced as she jabbed her finger with the needle.

  “It’s true. We set the date last night, when Toby brought me home from supper at the Farmstead Restaurant.”

  “I can’t believe he finally asked you to marry him,” Ruth said, dabbing the end of her finger with a tissue.

  Sadie’s face flooded with color. “Actually, it was me who did the asking.”

  Ruth’s mouth dropped open.

  “Well, don’t look so surprised. I told you I might.”

  Ruth shook her head. “No, you suggested that I ask Abe to marry me.”

  Sadie chuckled. “And you said you would whenever I asked Toby.”

  Ruth sucked in her breath. She had said something like that. But she’d never dreamed that her friend would put her to the test, or that Sadie would be bold enough to ask Toby to marry her.

  Sadie left her chair and took a seat on the sofa beside Ruth. “I’d like you to be one of my newehockers. That is, if you’re not already married by November.”

  Ruth’s forehead wrinkled. “Why would I be married? I’m not even betrothed.”

  “But you might be if you ask Abe like you said you would.”

  “I was only kidding, Sadie. I really didn’t think you would propose to Toby, or that—”

  “Or what? That he would agree to marry me?” Sadie’s downcast eyes let Ruth know she’d hurt her feelings.

  “That’s not what I meant.” Ruth touched Sadie’s hand. “I was going to say that I didn’t think you would really expect me to propose to Abe.” Her face grew warm. “I could never do that, Sadie. It wouldn’t be right.”

  “Why not? Ruth in the Bible let Boaz know she wanted to be his wife by lying at his feet.”

  Ruth covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. “Ach, I could never lie at Abe’s feet! What would he think of me if I did something like that?”

  Sadie shook her head. “You wouldn’t have to lie at his feet, silly. I’m sure if you thought about it awhile, you could come up with something else to do that would let Abe know you’re interested in him and would like to be his wife.” She patted Ruth’s knee. “Think about it, okay?”

  Ruth gave no reply.

  “In the meantime, I’d like your answer about whether you’ll be one of the newehockers at my wedding.”

  Ruth nodded slowly. “I’d be pleased to be your attendant.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Sadie stood. “Be sure and let me know when you and Abe become betrothed.” She rushed out of the room before Ruth could say a word.

  Ruth reached for her Bible, which she had tucked inside the sewing basket she’d brought from home. Turning to the book of Ruth, she found chapter 3, where Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, told Ruth that she should mark the place where Boaz would lie and then go there and lie at his feet.

  Ruth couldn’t deny her attachment to Abe’s family. Truth was, she often found herself wishing his children were hers. But could she ask Abe to marry her as Sadie had suggested? Oh, that would be so bold!

  She closed her eyes. Dear Lord, You know how much I long to be a mother. But I still love Martin, and I’m not sure I could be a good wife to Abe—if he would have me, that is.

  Ruth’s prayer was interrupted when a knock sounded at the door. She went to answer it and was surprised to see her aunt standing on the front porch.

  “What a nice surprise.”

  Aunt Rosemary smiled. “I’ve been meaning to come by for some time, but I’ve been busy getting settled into my new home.”

  “What new home?”

  “It was too inconvenient to keep staying at the bed-and-breakfast in Berlin, so I’ve rented a small house owned by your neighbors, Ray and Donna Larson. They said I could rent it on a month-to-month basis, since I don’t know how long I’ll be staying in Holmes County.”

  Ruth’s mouth dropped open. “Is the house near here?”

  “Just a mile or so down the road.”

  “Why, that was the house Martin and I rented when we first got married.” Ruth stared at the toes of her sneakers. “After Martin died, my dad and Cleon went over to the rental and cleared out all of our things. I wasn’t up to going, and I haven’t been back to the house since the night Martin died.”

  “I’m sure it would be a painful reminder,” Aunt Rosemary said.

  Ruth nodded. Then, remembering her manners, she stepped aside. “Won’t you come in?”

  Aunt Rosemary followed Ruth into the living room and took a seat on the sofa when Ruth motioned for her to do so. “It looks like you’ve been doing some sewing,” she said, gesturing to the pile of clothes lying on one end of the sofa.

  “Yes, I have,” Ruth said as she seated herself beside the clothes. “Abe’s children are growing like cornstalks. I need to get their clothes ready for school since it will be starting up again in just another month.”

  “I’ve been away from the Plain life so long I’d almost forgotten that Amish children start school several weeks before most English kids do.” Rosemary touched Ruth’s arm. “You’re looking well. Are you feeling better these days?”

  “Some. Being here with Abe’s kinner has made me feel needed.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Rosemary motioned to the Bible Ruth had left on the sofa. “Have you found forgiveness in your heart for the one who caused the death of your husband?”

  Ruth opened her mouth to respond, but her words were halted when Gideon rushed into the room.

  “Ruth, come quickly! Papa’s been kicked by a horse!”

  Ivan, get the horse!” Abe shouted from where he lay on the ground near his buggy. He had been trying to hitch the new horse he’d bought last week to his rig, and the animal had spooked and kicked him in the leg. It was broken; Abe was sure of it. Not only did the leg hurt like crazy, but it was bent at a very odd angle. Abe knew he couldn’t stand up on his own. All he could do was lie there helplessly as Ivan dashed across the yard after the gelding. I
f the crazy animal got out on the road, they might never see him again.

  “I got him, Abe!” Ivan shouted several minutes later. “Want me to put him in the corral or the barn?”

  “The corral.”

  “You doin’ okay?”

  “I’ll be all right. Just get the horse put away.” Abe grimaced as a stab of pain shot up his leg. Where was Ruth? It seemed as though Gideon had been gone an awfully long time.

  A few seconds later, he heard footsteps running across the gravel. His five oldest children were soon at his side, and so were Ruth and her aunt Rosemary.

  “Papa!” Esta cried as she dropped down beside him. “Please don’t die and leave us like Mama did.”

  “I’m not going to die,” he assured the girl.

  “What happened?” Ruth asked breathlessly. “Gideon said you were kicked by a horse.”

  Abe nodded and ground his teeth together as another ripple of pain exploded in his leg. “It was that new horse I bought last week. I was trying to get him hitched to the buggy when he got all riled and kicked me in the leg.” He grimaced. “I’m sure it’s broken.”

  Rosemary knelt beside him and studied his leg. “I’m no doctor, but it looks like a serious break to me. I think you should get to the hospital right away.”

  “Can you drive me there?” Abe asked.

  “I don’t think we should risk moving you—not with that leg looking the way it does.” She pulled a cell phone from her purse. “I’m calling 9-1-1.”

  “Someone should ride to the hospital with Abe,” Ruth said. She looked over at her aunt. “Would you mind staying with the children while I go?”

  Esta grabbed Ruth’s arm and hung on for all she was worth. “I don’t want you to go!” Tears streamed down her ashen face.

  “Aw, don’t be such a boppli,” Gideon grumbled. “We can stay here alone.”

  “No, you can’t.” Abe gritted his teeth. The pain in his leg was almost unbearable.

  “I’ll go with Abe,” Ivan said as he joined the group. “Ruth can stay with the kinner.”

  “Are you sure you’re gonna be all right?” Josh asked, bending close to Abe’s ear.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Ruth knelt on the ground beside Abe. “Would you like me to get word to my daed? He’s one of your closest friends, and I’m sure he would like to know what’s happened.”

  Abe nodded. “I’d appreciate that.”

  “I’ll drive over to your folks’ and tell him,” Rosemary volunteered.

  Ruth looked dubious. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all. If your daed wants to go to the hospital, I’ll drive him there.”

  When Abe heard sirens in the distance a while later, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  “You want me to start sanding that set of cabinets for the bishop now?” Cleon asked as he stepped up to Roman’s desk.

  Roman glanced up from the invoices he’d been working on. “Jah, sure. Those need to get done by the end of the week.”

  “I’ll get right on it.”

  “Say, I’ve been meaning to ask how things are going with your bees. Are they producing lots of honey?”

  Cleon shrugged. “A fair amount.”

  “Are you wishing you could be doing that full-time instead of working for me?”

  “I had hoped to generate enough honey sales to support my family, but after losing all of my bee supplies in that fire last year, it’s going to take a while to build up the business again.”

  Roman leaned his elbows on the desk and stared at Cleon. “When you do build it back up, will you want to quit working for me?”

  “I don’t know. I wouldn’t want to leave you in the lurch. Maybe I could continue to do both.”

  Roman opened his mouth to reply, but just then the shop door banged open. Rosemary rushed into the room.

  “I came to tell you that your friend Abe’s been taken to the hospital,” she said breathlessly.

  Roman’s mouth went dry. “What’s wrong with Abe? Is he sick?”

  “One of his horses kicked him in the leg. It looked like a nasty break.”

  Abe leaned back in his chair and groaned. “Abe doesn’t need this right now. How’s he going to work and support his kinner if he’s laid up with a broken leg?”

  “Ivan’s working for him,” Cleon said. “I’m sure he can handle things in the harness shop until Abe’s able to work again.”

  Roman looked at Rosemary. “Do you know which hospital Abe was taken to?”

  “The one in Millersburg.”

  He pushed his chair away from the desk and stood. “I’ll need to call for a ride so I can go to the hospital and see how Abe’s doing.”

  “I can take you,” Rosemary said. “Then I’ll be able to check on Abe’s progress and give Ruth and the children a report on my way home.”

  Roman contemplated her offer a few seconds. He didn’t relish the idea of being alone with Rosemary, but it would be quicker than calling someone else for a ride and having to wait around until they showed up. He finally nodded and said, “Jah, okay.” Then he turned to Cleon. “Can you manage okay while I’m gone?”

  “No problem.”

  “Let’s be off.” Roman followed Rosemary out the door.

  Rosemary couldn’t believe she’d been given the opportunity to be alone with her brother, but here they were, heading down the highway toward Millersburg.

  She glanced over at Roman and wondered what he was thinking. His head was turned toward the window, and his shoulders were slumped. He hadn’t said a word since they’d gotten in the car.

  “Are you worried about your friend?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Abe’s been through enough this past year. He doesn’t need anything more.”

  “From what I understand, you’ve been through a few things yourself over the last year.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The break-ins and vandalism that have occurred at your place.”

  “Who blabbed that information?”

  “It doesn’t matter who told me. What I’d like to know is why nothing’s been done about it.” Rosemary glanced at Roman out of the corner of her eye.

  “Not much we can do except hope and pray it comes to an end.” He grunted. “I figure whoever’s behind the attacks is out for some kind of revenge. Once he realizes we won’t be intimidated, he’ll get tired of the game and leave us alone.”

  “I hardly think ramming Ruth and her husband’s buggy is a game. I think you should have reported each attack to the sheriff right away.”

  “Jah, well, what would you know about it? You ran off and left your people a long time ago, so it’s obvious that you don’t understand our ways.” His voice was laced with bitterness and a deep sense of pain. “You, who didn’t even care enough about her family to let ’em know where you were or how you were doing. Don’t you realize how much that hurt our mamm and daed? How does it make you feel to know they went to their graves thinking their only daughter cared nothing about them?”

  Rosemary swallowed against the lump in her throat. Hearing the anger in Roman’s voice and being reminded of her parents’ deaths made her feel extremely guilty. She gripped the steering wheel, praying for the right words. “It’s not the way you think, Roman. I didn’t deliberately stay away or avoid contact with my family.”

  No response.

  “I did write to Mama several times, but she never responded.”

  “Puh! If our mamm had gotten a letter from you, she would have written back.”

  “I thought so, too, until I got no letters in return.”

  “You got no letters because you sent no letters.”

  “That’s not true. I wrote home several times.”

  “Then what happened to your letters?”

  “They were intercepted by my husband.” Rosemary grimaced. “I didn’t know about it until he told me the truth shortly before he died.”

  “Why would he want to keep you from writing hom
e?”

  “Bob was a very controlling man. He admitted to me that he’d been afraid if I kept in touch with my family, I might want to return to the Amish way of life.”

  Roman sat silently, as though deep in thought.

  “When I wrote those letters and put them in our mailbox, I had no idea my husband followed behind me to remove and destroy them. I assumed the letters had gone out and that the reason I didn’t get a response was because my family didn’t want any contact with their wayward daughter.”

  More silence.

  “I’m not making this up, Roman. I’ve tried to tell you on several occasions, but you’ve never been willing to listen.”

  Nothing. Not even a grunt.

  “I can’t undo the past. All I can do is look to the future. I want that future to include you and your family. That’s why I came back—to spend time with my Amish family and try to make up some of the years I’ve lost.”

  Roman said nothing as they continued their drive, and Rosemary was certain she hadn’t gotten through to him. He probably thought she’d made up the story about Bob intercepting the letters in order to worm her way into the lives of his family.

  When they pulled into the hospital parking lot a short time later, Rosemary left the engine running and turned to face Roman. “Would you like me to wait and give you a ride home?”

  He reached over and clasped her arm. Tears welled in his eyes, and he released a guttural groan. “I’m sorry, sister. Will you forgive me for being such a dummkopp?”

  Tears filled Rosemary’s eyes as she placed her hand on his. “I’ll forgive you if you forgive me. If I hadn’t left home in the first place, I would have been here when Mama and Papa died. I wouldn’t have missed out on seeing you get married and start a family of your own. If I’d stayed in Holmes County—”

  He shook his head. “Enough with the regrets. It’s time to look to the future.”