A Marriage of the Heart (16 page)
I’d like to acknowledge Beth Wiseman and Kathy Fuller, who were a treat to work with on this novella. These ladies are smart and supportive, as always! Thank you to Natalie Hanemann for her keen insight and to L.B. Norton for her deft editing. A big thanks to my critique partner, Brenda Lott, for her scene insight and to my mother-in-law, Donna Long, for her marketing support. As always, thank you to my Amish readers and especially to my family. I love you, Scott.
For Anna and Sam Locksley
Chapter One
The fading light played with the reflection of the kerosene lamp against the window of the old Amish farmhouse and illuminated the stray snowflakes just beginning to fall. Inside the warm and simple room, Asa Mast bent his broad back over his father’s bed and lifted the older man into a more comfortable position against the pillows.
“
Danki
, Asa.” Samuel coughed, giving his son a bleary-eyed look. “The flu is bad this year and it moves fast, or else I’m growing old.”
Asa sat on the edge of the bed and poured a fresh glass of water from the pitcher his sister-in-law had just brought.
“You seem as young to me,
Daed
, as the day you took me out behind the barn and tanned my hide for driving the colt through
Mamm
’s kitchen garden.”
Samuel smiled as Asa knew he would, his fever-bright eyes, so dark and so like his son’s, growing warmer for a moment. “
Jah
, to think that you were ever that young . . .”
They sat in silence for a moment, remembering. Then Asa lifted the cloth napkin from the tray on the bedside table and saw untouched thin slices of ham, mashed potatoes, pickled beets, and a wedge of apple pie.
“Can’t you bring yourself to eat anything,
Daed
? Would you like something lighter, maybe broth?”
“I’m not an invalid; I asked for all of that. I guess my eyes were just bigger than my stomach.”
Asa recovered the plate. “I hate to leave you alone tonight,
Daed
.”
Samuel waved the words away. “Your
bruder
and sister-in-law are here; they will care well for me.”
“I know, but I guess I’d feel more comfortable if you’d let me take you to the hospital to get checked out. I don’t like the sound of your cough.”
“Ha! Going to the hospital for the flu, and on First Christmas too. I don’t think so. And I made a promise to
Frau
Ruth; you must keep it for me.”
Asa sighed. “I know, but . . .”
Samuel tapped his son’s large hand. “You’re making excuses. Perhaps you don’t want to go because it’s a woman you’ll be helping. Hmm?”
Asa’s dark eyelashes drifted downward.
“So that’s the truth of it?” Samuel smiled as he settled back once more against the pillows.
“
Nee
. . . it doesn’t matter.”
Samuel snorted. “Women always matter.”
“I’m going to point that out to
Grossmuder
the next time she visits.”
“Bah, and I’ll point out to her that you’ve yet to get over something that happened more than a decade ago.”
“I didn’t think you’d kept track.”
“Your
mamm
did,” Samuel rasped. “She worried for you. Now that she’s gone, it’s my job.”
“I’m over it,
Daed
. There’s nothing for you to worry about.” Asa touched his father’s arm.
His father sighed. “We celebrate Christmas, my son. A sea
son of expectancy, of hope. But you, I don’t think that you expect anything wonderful to happen to you in your life. You don’t look at your days, or your nights, with the hope of
Derr Herr
.”
“I know
Derr Herr
has a plan for my life.”
“Then look for it. Watch for it, like a candle in the snow. This is what your
mamm
would want for you. It’s what I want for you.”
“
Daed
.” Asa smiled. “I’ll think about it. And I know you miss
Mamm
—I do too.”
“Now you’re changing the subject . . .”
Asa got to his feet and adjusted the quilts, tucking them around his father’s shoulders but leaving room for his long, gray beard to stick out. “
Nee
, now I’m going to keep your favor—woman or not. Happy Christmas,
Daed
.”
The old man sighed. “Happy Christmas,
sohn
.”
Anna Stolis breathed a prayer of gratitude when the large white van took the last corner around Lincoln Street and came to a ragged halt in front of Dienner’s Country Restaurant. She’d endured the
Englisch
teenager’s reckless driving for two and half hours. At the last minute her transportation from Pine Creek had canceled, but she had needed to get to her
Aenti
Ruth, who was due to leave town for a brief but much needed vacation.
The
Englisch
boy grinned at her. “You’re a pretty good sport. A couple of those turns were icy coming down the mountain.”
“Thanks.” She adjusted her
kapp
and reached into the side pocket of her large midwifery bag and paid him the agreedupon amount plus a tip. “Drive back safely.”
“No worries. Merry Christmas. Hey, and I’ll pick you up the same time tomorrow evening.” He grinned, cranking up the radio, and she could only nod to him through the deafening sound. The van sped away, and she stepped back in relief.
She entered Dienner’s Country Restaurant, glad that it was open for a few hours on Christmas Day to cater to those who had to work or just wanted time out. She took a deep breath of the fragrant air, happy for the opportunity to warm up. She caught sight of her
aenti
, Ruth Stolis, seated at a table near the window, and she hurried to shake out her cape as she crossed the room to greet her.
Ruth Stolis was a comfortably round, keen-eyed, middle-aged widow. And at twenty-six, it seemed as though Anna might follow in her
aenti’
s footsteps, as she already had an intelligent mind, generous curves, and lack of suitors on the horizon. Still, she possessed the proper training to practice midwifery in the state of Pennsylvania, and she told herself with stout reassurance that was worth ten men. Though the wishful thought did pass through her mind that if the good Lord saw fit to send her a husband, she’d be more than grateful.
Ruth rose to enfold her in a warm hug. “I was getting worried, Anna, but I should have known better.”
“Midwives always deliver.” Anna grinned and they shared a smile of camaraderie as they sat down.
“How was your First Christmas? And my favorite
bruder
?”
“
Daed
and
Mamm
are doing well, but I had a delivery call just after I’d helped
Mamm
serve the noon meal. And it was twins, no less. I didn’t see that coming, as I’d only had two
prenatal visits with the mother. I’m still not comfortable delivering twins outside the hospital, but our women would much rather stay at home. What about you?”
“Only one delivery. My quietest Christmas ever. I relaxed by the fire, then stopped in to visit with my friend Rachel Fisher for a few minutes. You remember I wrote you a few years back to pray for her
sohn
, Seth, who was in that accident? Anyway, she would have liked me to stay longer, but I wanted to get home and curl up with Bottle.”
Anna grinned at the image of her
aenti’
s cat. “You’re lulling me to sleep right here.”
“Well, it’ll be the first Second Christmas I’ve spent with my daughter since she married. I’m excited, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without you. Even with the other midwives in the area and the local hospital, it’s hard to get away, even for a day.”
“My pleasure, and I know what you mean. Although, there is a new
Englisch
physician in the area who is a great help; he’s an older man and he’s got an intern with him for a time. They’re covering for me tonight and tomorrow.”
Anna ordered a roast beef sandwich from the
Englisch
waitress, then took a sip from the thick mug of coffee. “
Ach
, I almost forgot . . . I brought a gift for my favorite
aenti
. . .” Anna reached into her oversized midwifery bag, which looked more like a folded piece of flowered carpet with wooden handles. She withdrew a small package with festive wrapping and a flattened bow.
“
Danki
, Anna . . . you didn’t have to. Just coming is enough.” But
Aenti
Ruth’s fingers moved with happiness as she opened the gift. She laughed aloud when she saw what it was.
“A retractable tape measure—in pink and blue. Do you know how many tape measures I go through?”
“Me too.” Anna smiled.
Ruth reached across the table to squeeze Anna’s hand. “
Danki
, Anna. This is one I will not lose.” She bundled her gift back up, then folded her hands, obviously preparing for a more serious discussion. “Now, I’ll be back by seven o’clock tomorrow evening, providing everything goes well. And I want you to know that anytime you want to have a partner or just get away, I’d love to share my practice with you here in Paradise.”
Anna’s gray eyes shone with gratitude. “
Danki
,
Aenti
Ruth.
Derr Herr
has blessed me with your love and your friendship.”
“All right.” Ruth patted Anna’s hand. “Here’s my list of potential deliveries. Three possibilities. Two are further than remote.”
Anna rolled her eyes at the suggestion that any possibility was remote in the realm of pregnancy and delivery. Her
aenti
laughed.
“Sarah Raber, age thirty-two, fifth child. No previous problems. Probably could deliver without you if she had to.
“Mary Stolis, some vague cousin I bet, age thirty, three children. She had a miscarriage late term last time, but she would not allow an autopsy, naturally. She’s healthy as a horse, as she likes to say, on this go-around. I don’t foresee any difficulties, but if she does put in a call, you’ll want to keep a sharp eye.”
Anna nodded.
“And Deborah Loftus. Twenty-three. First baby. Still two weeks out. Just in case.”
“Just in case, hmm? Isn’t it always the ‘just in case’ ones that deliver early?”
“Yep.” Ruth’s eyes twinkled. “And Samuel Mast will spend the night in the barn and drive you out if any calls come through. His kids are all grown and pretty much gone from home, and his wife passed last year. It’ll make him feel good to have something to do at the holidays besides visiting. Here’s the key, and the supply room is well stocked. Just make yourself at home after dinner. Folks are saying it’ll snow, but Samuel knows every inch of this area. Hopefully there’ll be no calls.”
They both had a hearty laugh at the idea, then Anna bid her
aenti
good-bye, promising to pray she would have a safe trip. Anna sat down and finished her sandwich, savored a last cup of coffee, and made her way to the yellow house and small attached barn that her aunt rented on one of the back streets of the town. The weather looked grim, but lights burned with good cheer in storefronts and upstairs apartments.
She removed her glove to fit the key into the icy lock and entered to Bottle’s purr and caress. She bent to stroke the animal and glanced with pleasure at the banked fire burning in the grate. She laid her bag on a chair and had just stretched her hands out to the warmth when a heavy banging on the front door interrupted her.
“Well, that was all of two free minutes,” she muttered, going to open the door.
A tall Amish man stood in the shadows of the street lamp, and she searched his handsome face to assess the possible status of any pregnant wife. She saw nothing but calm, deep brown eyes, which made her think of dipped chocolate, and a thick
fringe of lashes like icing on the cake, so to speak. She blinked. He looked rock steady, so his wife was probably just experiencing Braxton-Hicks or practice labor. Anna assumed a professional manner.