Winter of Wishes

by Charlotte Hubbard

  The policeman was walking their way, with the car’s driver alongside him, and Rhoda’s stomach tightened. What with the other emergency vehicles gone—and Rebecca, as well—she supposed the officer needed to talk with her next . . . not that she really wanted to think about the horrible accident she’d witnessed. The sense of unreality, the shock, was wearing off now. Even though the Knepp twins were on their way to being cared for, Rhoda was worried. Drained. So much had happened in such a short time, and she was now caught up in a chain of events toppling like a line of standing dominoes.

  The driver of the ditched car was a tall fellow about Mamma’s age with a bristly air about him. His dark hair was cut short and he wore a suit and tie beneath his camel-colored overcoat. “Please believe how sorry I am that those young boys were injured,” he said as his gaze lingered on their black coats and bonnets. He handed Mamma a business card. “I’m not at liberty to discuss details of the accident until I’ve consulted with my attorney, but here’s my contact information. I hope you’ll pass this along to the boys’ father, with my belief that it’s in everyone’s best interest to settle this out of court.”

  Rhoda frowned, baffled. How was it that this man was already concerned about legal matters, when two little boys might be fighting for their lives?

  “Jah, I’ll see that their dat gets this,” Mamma replied cautiously. She glanced at the card and passed it to Rhoda. In fancy script, it said he was Conrad Hammond, CEO of Hammond Realty, and he had a bunch of letters after his name. Rhoda had no idea what those initials meant, except that he had probably become very wealthy in his real estate dealings.

  “That’ll be all for now, Mr. Hammond. We’ll be in touch—and it looks like your tow truck is here,” the officer said, nodding in the direction of his car.

  Mr. Hammond strode off, obviously glad to see the truck, and to be free of further questions. Ben and Andy, who had carried armloads of quilts back to the Schrocks’ shop, came up to join them. “We could’ve hauled that Hammond fella out of the ditch just fine with Pharaoh and another horse or two, if he’d waited,” Ben remarked. “But we’ve been busy tendin’ those boys.”

  The policeman’s smile only curved on one side. “Something tells me he wouldn’t want to risk more damage to his Jaguar,” he remarked. He looked at Rhoda then, with eyes that seemed to take in every detail of her face. “I’m Officer McClatchey, and I understand you were another witness to what happened in front of your restaurant. The young lady I spoke with earlier said you are her . . . sister?”

  Rhoda had to smile at that one. “Jah, that’s a long story, as our Rebecca didn’t grow up Amish. Can—can we go inside, where it’s warmer? I’ve been out here a gut long spell in this wind.”

  “Fine idea,” Mamma said. “I’ll put coffee on, and we’ve got sticky buns or pie or what-not, too.”

  Rhoda had no appetite, but she was pleased that Ben and Andy were coming inside with them. Though Officer McClatchey didn’t seem mean or threatening, it eased her mind to have her mother and two familiar men present while he was talking with her.

  Within minutes, Mamma was pouring coffee and had a plate of goodies on the table where the three men and Rhoda had settled. The policeman passed on the food, but after a long sip of coffee he opened his notebook. “For the record, your name is Rhoda Lantz, correct?”

  She nodded, wondering how much she was expected to reveal . . . how much Rebecca might have said already. “Jah, I’m Rhoda.”

  “So what happened? Tell me what you saw after you first noticed that horse-drawn sleigh going toward the road.”

  Rhoda’s throat went dry despite the coffee she’d sipped. Was she supposed to include what Jerusalem had said, about the twins slipping away when they’d seen the Zook boys go by? What if her account didn’t match up with the story Rebecca had told him?

  “Understand that you’re puttin’ Rhoda in a spot,” Ben explained quietly. “We Amish don’t cotton to gettin’ involved with the law. Our bishop insists we settle our problems amongst ourselves, and since those two boys in the ambulance are the bishop’s sons—and he doesn’t much like doctors or hospitals, either—we’re already stretchin’ a lot of limits here.”

  “I’ve heard that about Plain people, yes,” the policeman said, “but Mr. Hammond isn’t Amish. It’s my job to report what happened, to ensure that the insurance companies have the information they need to settle claims, and to be sure everyone gets a fair shake.”

  “We Amish don’t believe in insurance,” Mamma pointed out. “We pay our way, and we take care of our own.”

  Officer McClatchey leaned forward, a wry expression on his weathered face. “According to Rebecca, the bishop’s boys weren’t watching for traffic when they started across the road—dangerous, but understandable,” he remarked. “Mr. Hammond wasn’t watching for traffic, either, and when I quizzed him several times about it, he finally admitted he was talking on his cell phone when he lost control of his car.”

  Andy cleared his throat, gazing at Rhoda. “That explains why Mr. Hammond is so interested in settling out of court. He doesn’t want Hiram to sue him—”

  “What does that mean, to sue?” Rhoda interrupted. This was getting very complicated, and her head was starting to pound.

  Andy smiled kindly. “It means Hiram would demand a large sum of money to cover any medical expenses and whatever else Hammond’s insurance company might pay him to compensate for the harm done to his boys,” he explained. “And if one or both of the twins dies, Mr. Hammond could be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter—which means he killed someone, even if he didn’t intend to.”

  Rhoda grabbed Mamma’s hand, wishing Andy hadn’t mentioned the possibility that Josh or Joey might die. Even though this information was spinning in her head, sounding very ominous, it suddenly seemed important to report what she had seen, no matter what Hiram might think about it. After all, Rebecca had already given her account of the accident. And Rhoda certainly wanted to help Josh and Joey any way she could.

  “When we saw the Knepp sleigh comin’, racin’ with the Zook boys in their sleigh, Rebecca and I ran outside, hollerin’ at them to get off the road,” Rhoda began. “But Josh and Joey weren’t listenin’. And when Mr. Hammond’s car started spinnin’, his horn started honkin’ and that spooked the Knepps’ horse.”

  Rhoda paused, wishing these frightening images weren’t running through her mind again. “The horse whipped around, so the sleigh slid on the ice and threw the boys out,” she continued in a low voice. “And then the car hit the Belgian before it spun into the ditch. It all happened so fast . . .” Her voice died away. She’d told the truth, but she didn’t feel any better for it. Actually, she felt even worse about what those little boys had gone through in the blink of an eye.

  The policeman smiled. “That’s amazing. Your sister told the story in almost exactly those same words, with the same details, while Mr. Hammond couldn’t seem to repeat his own story accurately.” He drained his coffee mug and closed his notebook. “Thanks for giving me your account, Rhoda. I know this has been a difficult day for you, and I’m sorry—for all of you folks—that this accident happened right in front of your place, and so close to Christmas.”

  After Officer McClatchey took down the Sweet Seasons phone number and address, he went off to file his report. Ben, Mamma, and Andy remained at the table with Rhoda to finish their coffee, but they had little to say. It seemed everyone was still stunned about what had happened to the Knepp twins.

  Finally Andy took the last cookie from the plate. A dove it was, frosted in white with sparkly white sugar accenting its edges. “The Holy Spirit, who came to live among us at Christmas,” he murmured. “Almost a shame to eat this cookie, pretty as it is.” He flashed Rhoda a lopsided smile that made her heart skitter. “The Christmas cookies you made us are long gone. I’ve got a high school girl from down the street coming to look after the kids when they get home from school, but it’s not the same as having you there, Rhoda
.”

  “Jah, well . . .” What else could she say? Mamma and Ben were watching her closely, and she didn’t have the heart to tell Andy that she’d been ordered not to see him anymore. “And how’s your mamm doin’?”

  He shrugged. “Not as well, but she gets from one day to the next. She wears those two dresses you made her all the time now.” He closed his eyes over the first bite of his cookie and then scooted his chair away from the table. “Well, I’ll swing by the hospital to see how the boys are doing, and then—”

  The loud jangling of the bell above the door made them all look up. Rhoda’s breath caught: Hiram stood there in his black hat and overcoat, glaring at their little group as though he intended to clear them out the way Jesus had overturned the tables of the Temple moneychangers.

  Then he focused on Rhoda. “One of my Belgian geldings is dead out there at the side of the road,” he said in a terse voice. “I’ve heard that Joseph and Joshua disobeyed me by joyriding in the sleigh, and that they were injured. And you’ve sent them to the hospital without my permission. And you have invited this Englischer into your midst yet again when I’ve specifically ordered you not to. The wages of sin is death, Rhoda. Can you not see how God punishes those who defy my commands?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Andy remained in his chair. This was no time to leave the Lantz family to answer for the care he had given Hiram’s sons, and he sensed it was a good opportunity to figure out what made the bishop tick. While he understood that Amish folks believed everything that happened was the will of God, it was another thing altogether for this man to claim that God was punishing his boys for misbehaving—and that Rhoda and her family would be next on the hit list. Where did this guy get off, thinking he had such complete knowledge of heaven and hell and all things in between?

  “With all due respect, Bishop,” Andy began, “it was my opinion that your sons would need more treatment than I could give them. They have broken bones, not to mention internal injuries we can’t detect without—”

  “I’ll deal with you later,” Hiram interrupted curtly. “My immediate concern is that Rhoda has once again jeopardized her salvation by continuing in her sin with you, when she assured me she wouldn’t see you again. Her duplicity sickens me.”

  Miriam smacked the tabletop and stood to face the man in the doorway. “Your immediate concern should be your sons, Bishop,” she stated. “And maybe ya could see your way clear to thank Andy for the way he got your Joey to breathin’ again. Had he not come to help, we’d be weepin’ and wailin’ over your dead boy instead of sippin’ coffee right now.”

  Hiram’s eyes widened, but before he could reply, Miriam jumped in again.

  “And I refuse to believe that the God I love and trust is usin’ your sufferin’ little boys as an example for folks who ignore your authority,” she continued in a low, unwavering voice. “Could be He’s tryin’ to get your attention, Hiram. Ever thought of that?”

  Andy sat up straighter, amazed at Miriam’s challenge—just as Ben and Rhoda were, judging from their expressions. How he admired this courageous woman of faith! For her, and for Rhoda and Ben and those two older ladies he’d seen riding off with Rebecca, he vowed to do everything in his power to ensure Josh and Joey Knepp’s recovery.

  “Here.” Rhoda stood up then, holding out a business card. “The English fella whose car hit your horse asked us to give ya this. He was another reason we called the ambulance, ya know—the policeman said they needed all the details to keep this fella’s insurance company informed.”

  “Mr. Hammond said he wanted to keep this outta court,” Ben chimed in. “You’ll want to talk to him sooner rather than later, I’m guessin’.”

  Hiram held firm in his spot by the door, until Rhoda finally approached him with the card. Andy watched the bishop’s face as he read it . . . suspected that Rhoda had played this card to divert his attention away from her, and Ben had gone along. Sure enough, Knepp’s brows rose. He tucked the card into his pocket as though he didn’t have to see Conrad Hammond to believe this catastrophe might have a silver—or green—lining to it. “Well, Hooley, if you’ll take care of my dead horse—”

  “Jah, I can do that, Bishop.”

  “—I’ll get to the hospital to be sure the doctors haven’t overstepped,” Hiram went on. “It’s up to God to heal my sons.”

  As Hiram gripped the doorknob, Andy rose from his chair. “I’d be happy to give you a ride, sir. I’m going there to—”

  “My driver’s waiting. And you, Mr. Leitner, have done enough meddling in our Plain affairs,” he replied stiffly. “If Rhoda hasn’t told you this part, along with forbidding her to see you again, I informed her that if you had any inkling of becoming Amish so you could be with her, I would refuse to baptize you.”

  Andy felt as though the bishop’s Belgian had come back to life to kick him in the gut. Apparently Preacher Tom had mentioned his inquiry about the Amish faith . . . or had Rhoda guessed that part? Wished for it? While he was taken aback by Hiram Knepp’s vengeful, ungracious attitude, he was sorrier that he’d gotten Rhoda into even more trouble with the leaders of her church. Nothing he could say or do would improve this tense situation, so he remained silent. He held Hiram’s gaze until the man in black turned and left, letting the door bang behind him.

  Andy exhaled. “It was never my intention to cause any of you such trouble—”

  “Trouble? Puh!” Miriam came over to him and took his hand between hers. “Seems trouble with the bishop has been our lot since my Jesse died, and it’s taught me to be a stronger woman,” she insisted. “Andy, please don’t believe the rest of us resent you one little bit. Jah, it’s a tough subject, knowin’ how you and Rhoda care for each other, but there’s no such thing as too much love in this world. We thank ya from the bottom of our hearts for lookin’ after Josh and Joey. When God gives somebody the gift of healin’, we should all be grateful to be on the receivin’ end of it.”

  “For sure and for certain,” Ben agreed as he reached over to shake hands. “We’d have been a lot worse off had ya not been here explainin’ the law and that Hammond fella’s insurance, helpin’ Rhoda when she was givin’ the policeman her story. I’m real sorry about the way Hiram just talked to ya, Andy. He might be our bishop, but he doesn’t speak for all of us, understand.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” Andy sighed and looked at the cookie he’d laid on the table . . . that dove of peace had lost its head, and indeed that’s how this situation felt to him right now. “I’ll go on to the hospital, because my shift starts in half an hour. While I’m there I’ll see how things are progressing with the boys. Hiram’s their father, and legally he calls the shots about their care. Could be, once he sees them, he’ll adjust his attitude when he realizes how close to the edge they were.”

  “Jah, and what with my aunts already bein’ there, Hiram might catch an earful if he tells the doctors he’s takin’ them home.” Ben clapped him on the back. “You’ve done all the right things, Andy. Sorry ya got crossways with the bishop.”

  Nodding, Andy went to the coat tree and slipped into his parka. He heard someone behind him and smiled at Rhoda as she, too, put on her coat. “Will you be all right?” he asked quietly. “That was a nasty accident you saw, and it might haunt you for a while.”

  She smiled glumly. “I’m thinkin’ Rebecca and I might be talkin’ things over. We’ve all found out that her bein’ English isn’t such a bad thing, far as understandin’ the way things happen in the outside world.”

  “You’ll have to tell me more of her story sometime.”

  Rhoda smiled up at him as he opened the door. “Jah, I’d like to do that. She’s a real special sister. But for a while, I’d best stay outta trouble, what with confessin’ before the membership on Sunday—which is when Hiram’s ban is to be lifted, too.”

  Andy’s eyebrows rose. He didn’t understand all the details of Amish confession or shunning, but he sensed Sunday would be a pivotal day for the L
antz family—and for the Willow Ridge community, as well. “I hope everything goes all right for you, Rhoda. I’ll send up some prayers for you.”

  “Denki, Andy. That would be wonderful-gut.”

  The café door closed behind them, and Andy’s breath caught at the expression on Rhoda’s face as she gazed up at him. He saw fear and yearning, an affection that hadn’t been dampened by the bishop’s harsh decrees. Her arms flew around him and he held her close, resting his head on hers. “Rhoda, I’m sorry—”

  “Don’t be,” she pleaded.

  “—I’ve caused you so much pain and heartbreak.”

  “Wasn’t you doin’ that, Andy. It was your world crashin’ into mine,” Rhoda insisted. “It’s been so gut to see ya today even if the circumstances were horrible-hard.”

  Andy closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of her slender body and the strength of her hug. Did he dare admit his feelings? His intentions? Would that make Rhoda feel better or only cause her more pain? “I . . . Rhoda, I’ve asked Preacher Tom how to become Amish—”

  Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “You’d do that for me?”

  Oh, but her blue eyes and sincerity tugged at him. He could only nod, trying to find his voice again. “I can’t expect you to leave your faith,” he explained. “But this decision would affect my whole family, and possibly my ability to earn a living as a nurse. And it would mean learning your language, and selling my home and car and most of my possessions. So it’s a huge gamble—especially considering what Hiram Knepp has said about allowing me to join.”

  Rhoda swiped at tears. Then her lips twitched in a mischievous grin. “Well, now. It’s not like Willow Ridge is the only Amish colony hereabouts, ya know. New Haven and Morning Star have different bishops, but the faith is the same.”

  He let out a laugh and kissed her before he caught himself. Wasn’t it just like Rhoda to see her way around the obstacles life put in her way? And wasn’t that just one of the reasons he’d came to care for her so quickly?