Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa

by Melanie Dobson

  The swelling around Cassie’s throat had started to subside, but the fever kept burning her skin. They’d never had a case of diphtheria in the Amanas before, but she was grateful that Dr. Trachsel and their Elders had had the foresight to purchase the antitoxin serum long before their village needed it. The doctor had specifically requested the antitoxin, thinking it was critical to fortify themselves against this rapidly spreading disease. Not only had he administered the serum to Cassie, but he had given it to Jacob, Liesel, and Rosa as well, to help protect them from the disease. Still, even with the antitoxin, Dr. Trachsel didn’t know how long it would take for Cassie to recover…or if she would recover. But he told them that the colonists in all seven villages were praying for Cassie’s healing and that Liesel and Jacob would be protected from the disease.

  Liesel heard the door open, and when she turned her head, Jacob limped into the room, carrying a small jug in one hand and a bucket of clean water in the other.

  “How is she?”

  Liesel walked over to the window and dumped out the basin of stale water she’d been using. “She stopped moaning.”

  When she returned to the bed, he refilled the basin with clean water from the bucket. “Is that a good sign?”

  The cold stung her fingers as she soaked the washcloth for another sponging of Cassie’s skin. She couldn’t answer his question. Cassie’s face looked peaceful, but she didn’t know if that was good or bad.

  “Where’s Dr. Trachsel?” she asked instead.

  “Apparently someone is having a baby tonight.”

  She looked back at him. “Who?”

  He mixed the whiskey and milk together in a tin. “I didn’t ask.”

  “Marga? Greta?”

  “I said, I didn’t ask.”

  She glanced out the window’s dark glass. The lightning was farther away now, flashing in the distance. The news may not be important to him, but she was hungry for information. A new baby! They were welcoming a new life into their community, and she didn’t know who was having the child.

  Jacob was hovering over the bed now, pushing hair out of his daughter’s eyes. He lifted Cassie’s head, trying to force her to take a sip of the mixture, but his hands shook and he spilled milk down her neck and hair instead.

  “Sit down,” Liesel said, her voice barely a whisper.

  “No…”

  She pointed at the full plate of food on the stand beside his chair. “Did you eat the sausage?”

  He set the tin on the bedside table. “A little.”

  “You can’t help your daughter if you don’t take care of yourself.”

  “You don’t know what I need.” He turned his eyes from his daughter, glaring over the bed at her. “You don’t know….”

  “You’re right,” she said quietly. “I don’t know.”

  He grabbed the washcloth from her hands and swabbed Cassie’s neck and arms. Then he tossed the cloth onto the bedspread and collapsed into his chair, his head sinking into his hands. His shoulders trembled as if they were carrying a burden so heavy that his entire body was about to break under the load.

  Liesel reached for the cloth and wrung it over the basin. She didn’t know what any of them needed right now.

  The fading lightning flickered through the room again, and the walls rattled with another rumble of thunder. The hail had stopped beating against the glass, but the skies were now pouring rain.

  Liesel slid back in her hard chair after glancing at the clock ticking behind her. It was almost eleven o’clock now, and everyone else in the village would be asleep except perhaps Dr. Trachsel, the midwife, and the woman giving birth.

  Part of her wished she could be outside this room, ready to help the new mother, but she knew that God wanted her here, caring for this child…and for her father. And, honestly, she was perfectly content to stay right here, in the stillness of this room, until Cassie was whole again. In the darkness, Liesel prayed for the health of the new Amana baby. And the health of his mama.

  Jacob shifted in his chair, and Liesel looked over at him. His firm chin was speckled with stubble, and dark shadows clung to the skin under his eyes. Even so, he was a handsome man. Handsome and haggard.

  Liesel’s father had loved and protected her for her entire life, the fierceness of his protection compounding in the years after her mother went away. She’d heard that worldly fathers often left their families when they hit troubled times, but not Jacob Hirsch. He was staying with his daughter through the worst of times, guarding and caring for her needs, doing work that women usually did.

  Where were the women in Jacob’s life? She’d wondered it over the past few days but didn’t dare ask. Did he have a wife? If not, who was Cassie’s mother—and more important, where was she when her daughter needed her so badly?

  In one of their brief conversations, Jacob had told her he’d grown up with his German grandparents in New York, though he had lived in Chicago for almost a decade. He certainly remembered enough German to communicate with her, but she preferred to speak English with him. Seven years ago, she’d finished her lessons at their English-speaking school, and she had only been able to practice English when tourists or transients visited…or when she and Sophie worked in the gardens. It was her secret language with Sophie—a language many of the older people in the Amana Colonies didn’t understand.

  Jacob Hirsch was nothing like most of the transients she’d met over the years. He wasn’t crass, nor had he asked for ale or whiskey like so many of the hobos who passed through their town. She’d never even seen him steal a swig of the whiskey the doctor prescribed for Cassie.

  He’d been terse when she questioned him, but his rudeness was laced with confusion. His love for his daughter was palpable in his pain and frustration at not being able to rescue her from this cruel disease.

  Jacob lifted his eyes to meet hers again, and she blushed when he caught her staring at him. His voice was softer this time. Broken. “I’m sorry, Liesel.”

  She looked down at the basin of water instead of meeting his strong gaze. “It’s all right.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  She picked up the wet cloth and wiped it across Cassie’s forehead. This time the girl didn’t thrash her head across the pillow. “You don’t have to pretend that everything is fine, Jacob. Not with me.”

  She dared herself a quick glance over her arm and saw a spark of appreciation in his light green eyes. “Thank you.”

  She nodded slightly, folding her arms across her chest and squeezing her elbows. When she shivered, he turned around and snatched the comforter off the bed next to Cassie, the bed where he was supposed to sleep. When he handed it to her, she placed it over her shoulders and thanked him.

  He reached down and propped up his injured leg on a stool. “You need someone to take care of you.”

  A soft laugh escaped her lips. How ironic that Jacob would talk about her lack of care when he refused to care for himself. She almost protested, saying that she could take care of herself, but that would be a lie. “In our community, we care for each other.”

  Quietness settled over the room as they both watched Cassie. For the first time in three days, she was sleeping peacefully. Minutes passed before he spoke again. “Your father cares for you.”

  “Ja. A little too much sometimes.”

  He watched Liesel in the dim light. “I suppose you have a suitor who cares about you, as well.”

  She squirmed in her chair. She craved the companionship of a friend, conversation. Still, she didn’t want to talk about her family or her future with this man who refused to tell her about himself.

  Jacob waved his hand in front of his face. “It’s none of my business.”

  She brushed her hands over her dress. “I’m supposed to be married this winter.”

  “Is your fiancé in Homestead?”

  “He’s in Main Amana.” She knew her voice sounded weak, but she couldn’t let this man know the turmoil the word fiancé caused within her.
>
  “He is counting his blessings, I’m sure.” He paused. “Why didn’t he come to visit with your father?”

  She shrugged, pretending that it didn’t matter even though she’d asked herself the same question already. “He has an important job in Amana.”

  “It must be very important work.”

  “He’s the…” She couldn’t tell him that Emil’s important job was baking bread for the village. An outsider wouldn’t understand. “We’re not supposed to see each other anyway.”

  “Not supposed to see each other…” He repeated her words like he was trying to understand. “That’s odd.”

  She bristled, waiting for him to tease her like so many of the tourists did who didn’t understand their ways. “Not in Amana.”

  “But why can’t you see each other?”

  “All the engaged couples live apart for a year to make sure they really want to marry.”

  “So it’s like a test.”

  “I suppose.”

  “How long have you been separated from—”

  “Emil.” She twisted the hem of her apron in her hands. “Emil Hahn.”

  “How long has it been since you’ve seen Emil?”

  “We’ve been separated for six months now, but I saw him in May.”

  “I bet he’s counting down the days until he can see you again.”

  “Right,” she mumbled as she stretched out the edge of her apron and twisted it again.

  Six months ago, she had accepted his proposal. After all, she and Emil had grown up together, and they were the best of friends when they were children. He’d teased her through Lehrschule and lingered at her kitchen house when he delivered his bread.

  Since their engagement, they’d had three visits, but her last visit with Emil had been so miserable that she doubted he would want to see her again, perhaps not even until their wedding. They’d picnicked along the banks of the Iowa River, but Emil—charming, dashing Emil—had barely acknowledged her presence. She’d chattered on like a woodpecker intent on penetrating a tree, but Emil never cracked. No matter how hard she tried, he didn’t want to answer her many questions.

  Fortunately, the Elders had assigned two of their childhood friends to be informal chaperones. As he fished, Emil laughed with Margrit Poetsch and her brother Franz, but Liesel felt like a foreigner in a different land. Franz teased her. Margrit tried to include her. But Emil…Emil ignored her, and the thought of being married to a man who no longer enjoyed her company terrified her.

  “So do you still want to be married?”

  She blinked. “What?”

  Jacob repositioned his leg and then looked back at her. “After six months, do you still want to marry this man?”

  “I…” She smoothed the edge of her apron back on her lap. “I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the edge of Jacob’s lip arch, like he wanted to smile. Was he mocking her? Or empathizing?

  It was none of Jacob Hirsch’s business if she still wanted to marry Emil Hahn.

  She pulled the blanket over her legs and rested her head beside Cassie’s feet. She was done thinking about Emil tonight. She was here with Jacob and Cassie, and she was content.

  “I’m going to sleep,” she whispered as she closed her eyes.

  If Jacob wished her a good night, she didn’t hear him.

  Quietly and yet so very powerfully, Love flows forth, miraculous, still, and blessed. The soft pure breath of Love is awakened within the profound.

  Johann Friedrich Rock, 1720

  Chapter Eight

  Someone wove her fingers through Jacob’s hair, and he smiled in his sleep. Katharine was there, twirling around and smiling with him. They were so very happy. So in love. He knew it was a dream, but even so, he didn’t want to wake up. He wanted to stay here beside his wife. He wanted to laugh with her and remember their good years together.

  “Papa,” someone whispered, pulling him away from Katharine. He pushed the voice back, fighting to keep his eyes closed, fighting to keep his wife beside him.

  “Katharine!” he called, as she disappeared into the darkness.

  He didn’t want to open his eyes. He wanted to stay beside her.

  “Papa,” the voice said again, and he jolted upright. He’d tried to stay awake, but his body wouldn’t cooperate with him. Sometime during the night, he’d fallen asleep on the edge of Cassie’s bed. Glancing around the room, he started to panic…until his eyes rested on the face of his daughter.

  Somehow, Cassandra Kate Hirsch had scooted herself upright on her pillows, and the morning light warmed the smile on her face.

  His daughter was smiling.

  He couldn’t breathe as he examined her face. A healthy pink pallor had replaced the gray in her skin, and the sweat that had saturated her forehead and cheeks was gone.

  Was he still dreaming, or had God blessed him with a miracle?

  Cassie wagged her finger to scold him. “You scared me, Papa.”

  “I scared you?” Laughter poured out of Jacob. “You scared me!”

  She grinned. “I’m hungry.”

  He glanced down and saw the leftover sausage and potato salad by his feet, but that wouldn’t do at all for his little girl. His hungry girl.

  Looking to his right, he saw Liesel asleep on the end of Cassie’s bed. He nudged her arm. “Wake up.”

  She didn’t open her eyes. “Alles gut.”

  He prodded her again. “Wake up, Liesel.”

  Slowly she lifted her head, until she realized that Cassie was awake and watching her. Then she leaped to her feet.

  “Cassie Hirsch,” she gasped. “You about gave me a heart attack.”

  Cassie blinked, her eyes wide as she stared at Liesel’s hair. “Who are you?”

  Liesel laughed with delight and reached out to shake Cassie’s hand. “Liesel Strauss, and I’m very, very pleased to meet you.”

  “Are—are you an angel?”

  Liesel giggled. “Oh no, my dear, sweet, wonderful child. I’m just a plain Iowa girl.”

  Instead of curtseying, Cassie nodded her head. “I’m pleased to meet you as well.”

  Liesel didn’t release Cassie’s hand. “I think we are going to be the best of friends.”

  Cassie reached out with her other hand and grasped Jacob’s arm. He gently squeezed her fragile fingers. He didn’t know what was next in their journey, but his daughter was alive and awake. He was a blessed man.

  Someone knocked on the door, and he scrambled around the bed so he could open it before Rosa Trachsel snuck away again. However, it wasn’t the doctor’s wife bringing up breakfast this morning. It was Dr. Trachsel.

  He lifted his hat to them. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come last night. I—”

  “Who had a baby?” Liesel blurted out beside them.

  Dr. Trachsel chuckled. “Greta had a boy.”

  “Are they all right?”

  “They’re both healthy.”

  Liesel clapped her hands. “God is good.”

  Grief seared him, but Jacob refused to let the memories overtake him. He was happy for this woman and her healthy baby too. No family should have to suffer the loss of a mother or a child.

  “How is our patient this morning?” Dr. Trachsel’s gaze traveled over their heads and landed on Cassie’s bed. “Well, well.”

  The doctor scooted around both Jacob and Liesel and reached for Cassie’s arm to feel her pulse. Then, opening his black bag, he worked swiftly, listening to her chest, pressing down her tongue, examining her throat.

  When he finished his exam, he turned back to Jacob. “I believe we’re on the other side.”

  Jacob sighed with relief. “Thank God.”

  “She still may be contagious.” Dr. Trachsel untangled the stethoscope from around his neck and closed it back in his bag. “We will have to wait for the results of her throat culture to see.”

  With Cassie feeling better, he could take care of her now. Liesel
had helped them both, taking care of his daughter and him when they needed her. She was an angel, but it was time to release her from her obligation so she could go home to her father and the man who was to marry her.

  Jacob leaned forward, his eyes on the doctor. “Can Liesel go home now?”

  Liesel jumped beside him. “What?”

  “I can take care of Cassie.”

  She crossed her arms. “I’m not leaving.”

  “But your father—”

  “You’ve done a terrible job of resting the past few days, Jacob Hirsch,” Liesel said. “You sleep, and I’ll help Cassie.”

  “Actually—” the doctor began, but Jacob wasn’t done talking yet. Liesel had served her time, and he’d appreciated every minute of her help, but she needed to go back to her home. Before Cassie started caring for her.

  “Your fiancé wouldn’t want you here, Liesel.”

  “Emil doesn’t care—”

  The doctor interrupted again, this time with a chuckle. “Neither of you is leaving right now.”

  Jacob turned toward him. “What?”

  “I’m sending a culture from you and Liesel off to the laboratory in Iowa City. Once those are clear, you can leave the house.”

  “How long until we get the results?”

  The doctor shrugged. “I’m not sure exactly. Two or three days.”

  Two or three days? He didn’t want Liesel to be here that long.

  “How long until Cassie is released?”

  “We will test her again in a week to see if her culture is negative.” The doctor picked up his black bag. “Do you need anything else?”

  He glanced over at Liesel, her face set like stone. She didn’t look back at him. “I think we’re fine.”

  Cassie tugged on the doctor’s jacket. “Excuse me.”

  The doctor leaned over, and Cassie whispered in his ear. The doctor laughed at her words, and the sound reassured Jacob. None of them had laughed for days, and with the doctor’s laugh came the comfort that Cassie was indeed going to be fine.

  The doctor turned to him with a wink. “Apparently, Cassie thinks you need a bath.”

  “I don’t need a—” He looked down and saw his daughter’s face, her eyebrows raised. “I just had a bath.”