A Baby for Hannah (Hannah's Heart 3)

by Jerry S. Eicher

  Jake swallowed hard. Mose might not be talking to him, but then again perhaps he was. It would be hard for Mose to preach and not allow something from what had just happened upstairs to slip into his sermon.

  “And now I will bring my words to an end,” Mose said, backing up to the bench and sitting down. “Let us pray, and then the Scriptures will be read.”

  The rustle of kneeling bodies filled the room, and Mose’s voice filled the house, reading the prayer in German.

  Now unto God, the great God of our fathers, full of wisdom, and knowledge, in whom dwelleth no darkness at all, shine upon the humble and broken spirits of Your followers today, and lighten our hearts.

  So will You, O Lord in heaven, send us grace and help us walk justly before You. Know our hearts, as You alone, oh Lord, know the hearts of men, their thoughts, their sins, their council, yea all things are open to the light of Your face.

  So give us, O Lord, wisdom from above, lead us to fear You above all things. We ask You, O Lord, the Lord of all lords, and the Kings of all kings, for the sake of Thy kingdom, and for the sake of all the righteous, give men Your fear in their hearts, that they may obey You.

  We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

  Jake slowly got to his feet, keeping a tight grip on his Bible as the words spun in front of his eyes. He cleared his throat and began to read.

  Seventeen

  Hannah changed her position on the hard bench, glancing at Jake’s face as Bishop John brought his sermon to a close. Jake looked more relaxed now, but the stress lines were still there. They had been there on the way to church and had seemed worse when he came back downstairs with the other two ministers.

  Something was troubling Jake. His run-in with Ben at the furniture store on Saturday had been hard on him, but meeting with the ministers upstairs and sharing his burden should have improved his mood, not soured it more. Apparently something had gone wrong.

  “I will now ask for testimony of the word that was preached,” Bishop John said, assigning Mose and two other of the older married men to speak before he sat down. Hannah caught her breath. Why had the bishop not asked Jake? He always did before, but then perhaps that was why he didn’t this morning. Perhaps it was a harmless break in the normal schedule.

  She slowly turned to look at Jake’s face. His head was down and he was stroking his beard gently. Dennis Riley sat on the boys’ bench staring at Jake, a slight smile on his face. Did Dennis know something she didn’t? Had some awful news about Jake spread around the community, and was Dennis happy over it? But how could that be? Dennis liked Jake, didn’t he?

  Her heart pounding, Hannah turned sideways and her eye caught sight of Miriam seated in the girls’ section behind Jake. She took a deep breath as relief flooded through her. Her fears were groundless. Dennis wasn’t gloating over Jake’s suspected setdown by the bishop. He was making eyes at Miriam. And Miriam’s face was redder than a beet. Before long others would notice.

  The voices from the men’s testimonies droned on as Hannah turned back to study Jake’s face. He looked so troubled, so deeply forlorn, as if his life had taken a sudden spiral downward. After church she would comfort him, whatever his problem was, and tell him what a wonderful man he was and how much she loved him. She would place her arm around his shoulder the minute she was in the buggy, and it couldn’t come a moment too soon. With a sigh, she settled back down on the bench as the bishop got back on his feet.

  “I’m glad the preaching has been testified to as the word of God,” Bishop John said. “We can be thankful for the unity of the brethren, and must always pray that Da Hah will continue to grant us that grace.”

  The bishop sat down after glancing briefly toward Jake. Hannah caught the look and the pain in Jake’s face. So what could Jake be doing that caused disunity among the brethren? Surely he hadn’t spoken up in defense of the revival meetings. She knew him better than that.

  From the back of the men’s section the song leader called out the song number and then immediately launched into singing. He expertly twirled the notes up and down for long moments until the congregation joined in on the second syllable.

  Hannah sang along, allowing the joy of the singing to fill her. This was where Jake and she belonged. So would their soon-to-be-born bobli, and the many other children she hoped would follow. With one last burst of sound the song leader led out, and as they finished the final line, silence settled on the room for only a moment before the young boys popped off their benches for the race outdoors.

  Hannah smiled. This was the ritual she had watched all her growing-up years on so many Sunday mornings. Who would want to leave this tradition for whatever the Mennonites had to offer? How could anything be better than this peace she held in her heart? The Mennonites didn’t have anything to replace this, and if only the others in the congregation could see that, so much trouble could be avoided.

  “So is Miriam settling in?” a woman’s voice whispered from behind Hannah.

  Hannah turned to see Rebecca Riley leaning over the bench toward her, her baby asleep in her arms.

  “Jah, and quite quickly,” Hannah said. “It seems to me she loves Montana as much, if not more, than I do.”

  “That’s gut,” Rebecca said, breaking into a broad smile. “Will wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, unless it would be Idaho, but Montana suits me just fine.”

  Did Rebecca know about the stop she and Miriam had made at Dennis’s cabin yesterday? If she did, she likely also knew about Miriam’s open display of her affections. Hannah felt her neck grow hot at the thought. Who would have thought that her always-in-control older sister would be making such a show of herself?

  “How’s Edith coming along?” Hannah asked, forcing herself to smile. “Betty said you had flu in the family last week.”

  “Oh, she’s doing fine. Edith was over most of it by Friday, so I told Will there shouldn’t be any problem with coming to church today. Andrew and the baby might still get it, but we’ll hope for the best.”

  “That’s gut to hear,” Hannah said. “May I hold the baby?”

  “Sure,” Rebecca said, handing over the infant. “Little Jake is such a gut baby.”

  “Oh, he’s so sweet,” Hannah said, tickling the baby’s chin. He broke out into a laugh and waved his arms around.

  “He likes you already,” Rebecca said, laughing. “And I’m so glad Will insisted on naming him after your Jake. I think he’s going to grow up to be an honorable man like him.”

  “You shouldn’t have though,” Hannah said, shaking her head as little Jake laughed softly. “Babies should only be named after old people who have lived a long and gut life.”

  Rebecca smiled. “Will really wanted to, and I can see more each day how right he was. Jake is a real inspiration to everyone.”

  “Well, I hope we don’t disappoint you,” Hannah said, handing the baby back. “I think I’d better go help in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll put Jake in the bedroom and join you,” Rebecca said as Hannah rose. Stepping across the bench, Hannah walked toward the kitchen where the young girls were scurrying about carrying peanut butter bowls and pickles to the tables.

  Miriam came by, her eyes shining.

  “He’s going to ask me soon,” she whispered. “Can I still use your place tonight after the singing?”

  Hannah nodded but Miriam was already gone, disappearing into the living room. The girl had obviously taken leave of her senses. What was going to happen to Miriam if Dennis didn’t ask to take her home? The fall could well be devastating.

  “Let me help with something,” Hannah offered, stepping into the kitchen.

  “You will do nothing of the sort,” Betty said, coming up to grab her arm. “I’m taking you right out to the first table to eat.”

  “But I’m not one of the older women,” Hannah whispered.

  “You are today,” Betty said. “I saw how troubled Jake looked, and the least I can do is take care
of his wife.”

  “You noticed too,” Hannah whispered. “What do you think is wrong?”

  “I don’t know, but you take good care of him tonight,” Betty said. “It’s probably got something to do with those horrible Mennonite meetings.”

  Hannah said nothing. They were already at the women’s table, and Betty let go of her arm and retreated to the kitchen.

  “I’m glad Betty brought you out,” Bishop John’s wife, Elizabeth, said, making room beside her. Hannah sat at the table, feeling an ache in her stomach. What would Elizabeth think once she arrived home and John told her about whatever was troubling Jake? Would Elizabeth still be friendly next Sunday? If not, that was more pain than she would be able to bear.

  “Thanks,” Hannah whispered, trying to keep a smile on her face.

  Bishop John’s clear voice floated out across the room, “If we have gathered to eat, let us now pray.”

  Hannah bowed, waiting just a moment longer than the others when the prayer was done. She still wasn’t used to sitting with the older women—and wouldn’t have if Betty hadn’t taken matters into her own hands. So much had changed with Jake’s ordination, but she must not complain. Jake’s ordination was Da Hah’s will, and He would give the grace she needed.

  “So have you been to the doctor yet?” Elizabeth asked, her voice a tease.

  Hannah gasped, her hand halfway across the table to get a piece of bread.

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Elizabeth said, laughing softly as the hum of voices rose higher around them.

  “But I don’t show yet,” Hannah said, whispering even if no one could hear her. “How did you know?”

  “Oh, it was just a guess,” Elizabeth said. “I thought Da Hah would be blessing the two of you again, and that right soon I figured.”

  “I hope all goes well this time,” Hannah said, spreading butter on her bread.

  “Oh, I’m sure it will,” Elizabeth said. “Just stay relaxed. You’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll try to,” Hannah said, as Elizabeth turned to speak to the woman on the other side.

  “Do you need any more bread?” a young girl asked at Hannah’s shoulder.

  “I think we do,” Hannah said, turning to the girl.

  “I’ll bring back some peanut butter too. Your bowl is almost empty,” the girl said, disappearing in the direction of the kitchen.

  Hannah ate her sandwich, leaning aside when the girl returned to replace the bread and bowl of peanut butter. All around her the buzz of conversation rose and fell, but thankfully no one paid much attention to her. Elizabeth was still talking to the woman on the other side of her, which was gut. At the moment, being left alone was just fine.

  When they finished, Bishop John led in prayer again, and the women moved away from the table. Hannah grabbed a washcloth over the young girl’s objections and helped clean the utensils for the second round of tables.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jake leave for the barn and surmised that he must surely be troubled to be leaving so early. Hurrying out to the washroom she found her bonnet and shawl. Jake was coming out of the barn with Mosey when she reached the buggy. She waited for him, holding up the shafts as he swung the horse in. He didn’t say anything as they fastened the tugs.

  Driving out the lane, she leaned over to slip her arm around his shoulders.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said, “for whatever is troubling you. But I want you to know that I love you, and that you are the best man Da Hah ever made.”

  Jake smiled weakly. “That’s a mouthful. And you haven’t even heard the story yet.”

  “It doesn’t matter what the story is,” Hannah said, nestling against him as Jake turned onto the blacktop.

  “Did it show that much?” he asked. “I was trying to hide my troubled mind.”

  “It showed. Even Betty noticed. She made me go to the first table in an effort to comfort you by comforting me.”

  Jake smiled. “That sounds like Betty.”

  “So what did you do, Jake?”

  “Bishop John wants to excommunicate Ben and Sylvia over the Mennonite revival meetings, and I haven’t consented.”

  “Does Mose agree with John?”

  “Jah.”

  “Then why doesn’t Bishop John go on without you? You’re just a young preacher, and he doesn’t need your consent.”

  “No, but he needs unity,” Jake said. “And I understand that.”

  “I think he must be afraid of what will happen when people find out he’s done something you disagree with.”

  “You shouldn’t say something like that,” Jake said with a glance in her direction. “Pride is an awful sin before Da Hah.”

  “It’s not pride, Jake. You’re a very wonderful and trusted man.”

  “So you don’t think I should give in and agree with Bishop John? I thought you would think he was right.”

  “I don’t know what is right,” Hannah said, leaning against him. “I’m too tired to think right now, and I don’t want to think about it. I just know you are usually right, and that’s gut enough for me.”

  “But I’m not the bishop,” Jake said. “And I never want to be one.”

  “I know that. So you’ll just have to do what you think is right.”

  After a moment of silence, Hannah changed the subject. “Just so you know, I think Miriam is bringing someone home after the singing tonight. I told her it was all right.”

  “Dennis?” he said with a short laugh.

  “Yes, I guess it’s a bit obvious then. I suppose I should try not to worry…even though I think my sister has fallen for someone who is quite unstable. And I sure hope Mom doesn’t worry herself sick when she finds out.”

  “Dennis is stable,” Jake said, pulling Hannah tight against his shoulder. “More so than his brother, Will.”

  “I sure hope you’re right,” Hannah said, as Jake turned Mosey into the graveled lane toward home.

  Eighteen

  Miriam sat on the front bench between two girls younger than herself. The sounds of young people singing filled the room. The volume was lower than it would have been back in Indiana, but still gut for the small number of young people this community had. She leaned toward the clock for what seemed like the one hundredth time. Finally the hands were creeping toward nine o’clock.

  Soon the hymn singing would be over, and she would be climbing into Dennis Riley’s buggy. How had all this happened so fast? Teasing Hannah about finding the perfect love of her life was fun, but what had happened wasn’t as she had expected after all. Dennis was doing strange things to her. Other girls had always turned red when their boyfriends came around and spoke with them. Some of them had started blushing even when the boyfriends weren’t around, but she never had. And she hadn’t wanted to or ever planned to. Not even when the perfect one came along.

  Now she was doing all of that—and even more. She was allowing a boy whom she had just barely met to take her home. Had she taken leave of her senses? Was this handsome boy seated across the room bewitching her with his rugged good looks and the way he held his head so confidently?

  Have you had lunch? he had asked on Saturday. As if any girl wouldn’t love to stay for lunch at his cabin.

  It must be the Montana air and the majestic mountain range. She would come back to her senses once she saw the gut and decent plains of Indiana again. The enticement of this man would likely cease, and everything would be common, sensible, and full of reasonableness again. The only problem was, Indiana wouldn’t come again until late this fall, and Dennis Riley was taking her home tonight in his buggy.

  Now her heart was pounding in anticipation. She would have to get control of herself. Perhaps this would all pass once she saw him up really close, like sitting beside her in the buggy or on Hannah’s couch. Surely that would change the way she was feeling.

  Miriam listened to the rise and fall of the singing and to the beating of her heart. No, it wasn’t going to get better soon…unless she wan
ted to give Dennis a no. Miriam’s hand on the songbook jerked at the thought, causing the girl holding the other side to glance at her. Finally the closing song number was called out. She took a breath and launched into the first line of “God Be with You Till We Meet Again,” with everyone joining in. Miriam sang with goose bumps on her arms. What would it really be like to sit so close to Dennis in the buggy? Sitting across the table from him on Saturday had been bad enough. Would he like her or would she say or do something that would make this be the last time he asked to drive her home?

  With the last line sung, Miriam kept her head down and her eyes away from where Dennis was sitting. Why did she have to be so nervous? Surely he would notice. And all the while she wanted desperately to make a smashing impression on him.

  Dennis stood, still laughing with a boy on the bench behind him. He walked toward the door without glancing in Miriam’s direction. The girl beside her followed Dennis with her eyes until he stepped outside into the darkness. So there were other girls who were after him, and here she had walked right in, snapping him up on her first Sunday night in Montana.

  A thin smile spread across Miriam’s face. What would the other girls say about that? Oh, if only she could control her pounding heart!

  “So how long are you staying in Montana?” the girl next to her asked as she turned toward Miriam.

  “For the summer at least, and likely into the fall. I guess it depends how long Betty keeps the riding stable open.”

  “Didn’t Hannah work for Betty before she married Jake?”

  “Jah, she did,” Miriam said.

  “Hannah enjoyed it, if I remember correctly. Of course, I was much younger then.”