It was nothing short of a miracle that they’d been able to return with food. Perhaps he was mistaken. Perhaps God was on their side.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Joseph sat out on the balcony, thinking of the day’s events. He’d nearly lost his composure after his brothers left. He could hardly believe that Simeon was still here awaiting his brothers’ return. He’d given strict instructions that he be treated with kindness, noting that he wasn’t an actual prisoner, just a detainee. His brother’s experience would be nothing like his own prison sentence had been.
His wife came through the sliding glass doors. Oh, how she could brighten up his day with just her presence.
“Azalea, babe.” He reached for his wife’s hand and pulled her down beside him on the loveseat.
“What is it, Jonah?” She caressed his trimmed beard and gazed into his eyes. “Have you been crying?”
“There’s something I need to share with you.” He swallowed. “It’s about my past.”
“Your Amish past?”
“Yes.” He blew out a breath. “There’s so much to tell. I don’t know where to begin.”
“Start at the beginning?” She intertwined her fingers with his.
“Okay. I won’t tell you everything, just the parts you need to know.”
“Whatever you want to share with me is fine.” She squeezed his hand. “I can tell a burden’s been sitting on your shoulders.”
He nodded. “Do you remember those men who came?”
“Jonah, we’ve had hundreds of men come.”
“You’re right. Do you remember the guy I put in jail?”
“You mean the one who was with the men who you thought lied to you?”
“Nee. They weren’t lying.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Those men are my brothers.”
“You sent one of your brothers to jail?” She moved away. “Jonah, I don’t understand. That’s not like you.”
“I gave instructions for them to treat him well.” He sighed. “Trust me. They all deserve much worse.”
“What do you mean?”
“Growing up, my older brothers hated me. One day, they decided to do something about it.” He shook his head, trying his best not to let tears form in his eyes. “Azalea, I believe they intended to kill me and they thought they did.”
“Jonah, that’s terrible!” She moved close and rubbed his back. “What happened?”
“They beat me to a pulp and threw me into a garbage receptacle. If God hadn’t sent someone along to rescue me, I’m certain my brothers would have gotten their wish.”
“I can’t believe that. Why?”
“They were actually my half-brothers. We had different mothers. Dad love mine and Benjamin’s mom more than anything. I guess he didn’t have the same feelings for his first wife.” He shrugged. “I think they were jealous. I was always closest to our father. I think they wished they had that same relationship. Now that I look back on it, I can kind of understand their animosity toward me. Dad treated me better than everyone else.”
“I’m failing to see how that was your fault. It’s not like you’d deny your father’s affection.”
“I know. But sometimes I wonder if maybe there was something I could have done to make things better, you know?”
“Don’t blame yourself. You are a good man. If you were anything like you are now, I can see why your father favored you.” She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it. “I know I do.”
“I thought they’d done me wrong, and it’s true they did. But now…” He shook his head. “Azalea, I can see that it’s all been God. God has been with me every step of the way. Leading me. Guiding me. And I think that if my brothers had not done that—dumped me at the right place, at the right time—then I wouldn’t be here with you. We wouldn’t be enjoying the blessings that we are now. I wouldn’t have been able to help Governor Hanson. It’s like God put me here on purpose.”
“So, was it worth it?”
He gazed into the eyes of his beloved. “A thousand times over. Not that I enjoyed being beaten by my brothers or being in prison or being away from you or my father…” Tears pricked his eyes. “Azalea, not only is my father alive but I might get to see him again! I can’t believe it.”
“I’m happy for you, Jonah.” She kissed his lips.
“By the way, now that I’m sharing my past with you, you might as well know that my name isn’t Jonah Millerton.”
“What?” She moved back.
“Well, it is now. But it’s not the name I was born with.”
“Jonah!” She lightly slapped his knee.
He shrugged. “I didn’t want my brothers to be able to locate me. And I wanted to start a new life with a clean slate.”
“So, what is your real name?”
“Joseph. Joseph King.”
“Hmm…” She studied his face. “Yeah, I guess Joseph King suits you too. But you’ll always be Jonah to me. I fell in love with Jonah Millerton.”
“That’s fine by me, Mrs. Millerton.” He winked.
“By the way…” She pulled something out of her pocket and placed it in his hand.
He frowned down at the white plastic device that reminded him of a kazoo, trying to decipher what it was. He stared at her in confusion. “What is it?”
Her smile spread across her entire face. “It’s a secret message.” He could tell by the twinkle in her eye that she was teasing him.
He thrust his palms upward. “I don’t get it.”
She laughed. “You are so cute.” She took the device from his hands. “See this?” She pointed to two small lines.
“Yeah?”
“It means that you are a daddy.” Her eyes sparkled with pleasure.
“Wait. What?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “You’re happy, right?”
“Happy? You mean we’re going to have a baby? You’re pregnant?”
She nodded.
Inexplicable joy filled his heart. He pulled his wife close and kissed her soundly. “Oh, Azalea. I’m beyond happy.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Several months later…
Judah brought the sprayer into the barn. The conversation he needed to have with his father was sure to be a difficult one, but he couldn’t avoid it any longer.
“We’re down to the last of the solution, Dat. If we don’t get more, we’ll lose this next crop.” Judah’s voice was grave. “Our grain supply is almost down to nothing. We have no choice but to go back to Mr. Millerton.”
Dat ignored his words. It seems he’d rather pretend that everything was fine than to face the facts.
But Judah knew all too well what the facts were. “We’ve already butchered half of the herd. If we butcher the other half, we’ll have nothing. Without going back, we won’t have food for us or the animals to eat or money to live off of. We need to go back to the supplier, Dat. We won’t survive.”
“So go.”
“Dat…” He exchanged glances with Reuben, his silent partner. He dreaded his next words, which he knew would be met with resistance. “We’ll need to take Benjamin along.”
“No.”
“Then what do you plan to do, Dat? If we don’t show up with Benjamin, the man will not sell us the solution or any more corn.” His jaw clenched.
“Get it elsewhere.”
Why did his father have to be so bullheaded? Judah threw down his hat and his hands practically screeched through his hair. “There is nowhere else! There is only one supplier for the entire country, Dat. Either we buy it from him or we lose everything.”
He hated losing patience with his father, but sometimes Dat just refused to listen to reason.
His father broke down in tears.
Judah gentled his tone. “Dat, I promise I will bring Benjamin back home.”
His eyes pleaded with Reuben to help him out.
Reuben stepped forward. “If we don’t bring Benjamin back, consider my sons your o
wn.”
No doubt, his brother hated making such a promise, but without it they’d lose more than just his sons. Besides, they owed much to his father. They should have been protection for Joseph all those years ago. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who’d been consumed with guilt.
“Fine. Take him. But if I lose him…” Dat’s voice broke off in a sob.
Judah touched his shoulder, hopefully offering the reassurance his father needed. “You won’t lose him. I promise you won’t.”
God, please let it be so.
~
Joseph looked up from his clipboard, just as John and Alex approached him. They pointed to a white van.
“Jonah, the brothers of the man you had detained have returned,” John said.
“They have?” His brow jumped. “It’s about time.”
“Yeah, I thought that poor guy might be here indefinitely.” Alex chuckled.
“They didn’t make an appointment. Again.” Joseph frowned.
“With all the commotion that happened last time, they probably forgot,” John reasoned.
“They sure aren’t making this easy on themselves.” He shook his head. “Go ahead and fetch the guy that’s detained and bring him up to the house.”
“Yes, boss.” Alex grinned and Joseph shook his head.
“John, will you see to it that the other men find their way to the house as well.”
He nodded, but gave him a strange look. “You’re sure?”
“Yep. I’ll meet you there.” He turned back. “And John?”
“Yes, Jonah?”
“Order a half a dozen pizzas and have them delivered to the house. Just order a variety.”
“Sure thing. Whatever you say…”
Joseph grinned, but trepidation bounced through his being. What would his brothers say when they found out his identity?
~
Reuben glanced over at Judah as they waited for Mr. Millerton. “Why do you suppose he wanted us to come to his house?”
Judah shook his head. “I don’t know, but I’m worried.” He frowned.
“You told his foreman about the money, right? Do you think he believed you?” Dan asked.
“I don’t know. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Judah grimaced.
“Well, maybe he’ll be pacified when we offer him gifts,” Levi interjected.
“I don’t know. I know Dat meant well, but I’m not sure bringing gifts was the best idea. If the man already thinks were spies…” Dread filled Judah’s heart.
“Is this guy really as scary as you say he is?” Benjamin asked.
“Times ten,” Zeb said.
“Shh…I think I hear someone coming.” Judah whispered. “Don’t say anything stupid, brothers.”
~
Joseph walked into the great room, where he’d instructed John to leave his brothers.
“I see you finally made it back.” He raised a brow.
“Yes. We had a difficult time convincing our father to let Benjamin come along.” Judah’s frown deepened. Surely he must be nervous.
“And this is your younger brother?” He gestured toward Benjamin. He could hardly believe how much he’d grown. He was practically a man.
Oh, how he felt like wrapping Benji in a big bear hug! But he refrained.
“Yes, that’s Benjamin,” Judah replied.
Joseph briefly nodded toward his younger brother. “I had some pizza ordered. I hope you’re hungry.”
Each of his brothers looked at each other. Their astonishment was clearly recognizable.
“Listen, Mr. Millerton. When we went back home, somehow the money we’d brought along the first time went back with us. I’m not sure how that happened. We brought it back, along with money for the corn and solution we plan to purchase this time.” Judah rambled on. “And our father insisted that we bring some gifts along. We brought you a quilt that our sister made, along with some pot holders, an Amish doll for your daughter—uh, if you have one, and some soap and jam. We also brought some harnesses and a couple of saddles. We saw that you had some horses.”
Joseph simply nodded. “Very well, then. Won’t you take a seat at the table? Your other brother should be along shortly.”
Joseph noticed that Reuben shared a questioning glance with Judah. Judah lifted his shoulders, then did as Joseph instructed.
“Uh, thank you. How has Simeon been?” Judah asked.
“Don’t know. I don’t make it my business to visit detainees.” Joseph shrugged casually.
At that, Alex ushered Simeon in. All eyes turned to him, most likely to see if he’d been harmed.
“You may have a seat next to your brothers.” Joseph nodded curtly to Simeon, then dismissed Alex.
“Do you need anything else, boss?” Alex grinned from the exit.
“Nope. You’re free to go. But don’t go too far in case I need you.” He winked covertly at his friend.
“Yes, boss.”
His brothers shared another look with each other and he noticed that Judah blew out a breath. Surely this would be the worst pizza they’d ever eaten. Joseph was unsure if even he would enjoy it with the way his nerves skittered.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Thank you for dinner, but we should probably be getting back to our father,” Judah said graciously as he stood from the table. “He will be worried if we tarry too long. Especially with Benjamin along.”
Joseph stood as well. “How is your father? Is he in good health?”
“He is.”
“Tell him thank you for the gifts he sent. And thank your sister as well for the nice things she made.” Joseph nodded.
“I will.”
He watched as each of his brothers filed out of the house, then radioed John as soon as the door closed.
“Hey, John, do me a favor…” he spoke into the radio.
~
Judah and his brothers finished loading up the corn and The Millerton Cure they’d purchased. He sighed, glad to be finally returning to his place of refuge. This trip had been stressful, but seemed to turn out okay for the most part.
“Alright, everyone. It’s time to go. Load up.” He ushered his brothers into the van. “I don’t know about you all, but I am more than ready to go home.”
“Me too,” Levi said. “That guy freaks me out.”
“Ah, he’s okay, I guess,” Judah said.
“Well, I’m just glad I’m not at his mercy anymore,” Simeon grunted.
“Where’s the driver?” Dan leaned forward in the seat.
“Who knows? Didn’t you tell him we were ready to go, Judah?” Reuben asked.
“Jah. I did.”
“Oh no. Don’t look now, but that man’s coming toward the van,” Benjamin said.
“Which man?” Judah turned around just as Mr. Millerton approached with two men at his side. He doesn’t look happy. Oh, no.
“May I help you?” Judah stepped forward, doing his best to sound confident although he was not feeling it at all.
“Something is missing from my house,” Mr. Millerton frowned.
“Your house? What? What’s missing?”
“My wife’s favorite painting.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Millerton. But my brothers and I are not thieves. I assure you that none of us has taken your painting.” At least he hoped none of his brothers would do something so foolish. “Right, brothers?”
Each one of them shook their head, insisting they hadn’t taken it.
“Then you won’t mind while my men search through your things.” Mr. Millerton insisted.
“By all means…” Judah gestured toward the van. “Why don’t you guys come out while the men search?”
His brothers did as suggested.
“Here it is, boss!” The man Mr. Millerton had called Alex held up the painting.
Judah’s mouth went slack. “I don’t know how that happened.” He looked at each of his brothers and they all shook their heads.
“Where was it?” Reube
n asked.
“In this backpack.” Alex held up Benjamin’s travel bag.
“Benjamin?” Judah’s brow shot up.
“I promise, I didn’t take it!” Fear shot to his baby brother’s eyes.
“Lock him up!” Mr. Millerton frowned and motioned to his men.
They immediately took Benjamin by the arms and led him toward the house.
“No!” Judah cried. “Please! Don’t take Benjamin. Our father will not survive.”
Mr. Millerton seemed to ignore them, continuing to the house behind the men who held Benjamin captive.
“I promised him my sons if Benjamin doesn’t return. He has to come home with us!” Reuben insisted. “Judah, we have to do something.”
Judah ran after Mr. Millerton and dropped to his knees in front of him, along with the rest of his brothers. “Take me instead! Please. I beg you! I beg you! Take me.” He couldn’t stop his tears from flowing.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Joseph motioned to Alex and John and had them escort his brothers to the great room once again. He disappeared into his room. He couldn’t stand it any longer. How his heart yearned for his family!
“God, I need Your direction here.” He cried until he didn’t think he could stand being away from his brothers a moment longer.
He hurried to the bathroom and washed his face, erasing all evidence of tears.
When he thought he was emotionally able, he reentered the great room.
“John, Alex, I’ll handle this from here. You’re free to go.” He nodded to his friends.
“Sure, boss.” Alex grinned as he stepped out the door.
Joseph waited for a moment, then went and locked the door.
“Listen, Mr. Millerton—”
He held up his hand to silence Judah.
He looked to each of his brothers, and then his eyes finally settled on Benjamin.
“I am your brother, Joseph.” He annunciated each word so there would be no confusion. He looked to each one again. “I am your brother, Joseph. The one you thought you killed. The one you beat up and threw into a dumpster.”
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