A Cousin's Challenge

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

  Jake guided his horse and buggy up the dirt road and followed it until he came to the pond. He breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted Larry sitting on a log near the water.

  Not wishing to startle the boy, Jake tied his horse to a tree and headed for the pond, whistling loudly as he walked.

  Larry turned and looked, but as soon as he saw Jake, he jumped up and started for the other side of the pond. Jake hurried after him. “Hold up, Larry! I need to talk to you!”

  “What about?” Larry called over his shoulder as he kept walking.

  “Just want to share a couple of things with you.”

  “What kind of things?”

  “Let’s have a seat, and I’ll tell you.”

  Larry took a few more steps then halted and turned to face Jake. “Is it about Ella? Are you wantin’ me to put in a good word for you with her?”

  “Huh?”

  “’Cause if you are wantin’ me to put in a good word, you can forget it. I heard Ella tell Mama that she don’t trust you; and neither do I.” Larry’s chin quivered. “I think you came here to try and make me go home.”

  Jake caught up to Larry and put both hands on the boy’s shoulder. “You’re late getting home from school, and Ella’s worried about you.”

  “I ain’t goin’ home.”

  “Why not?”

  “Just ain’t, That’s all.”

  “Is it because you’re upset about Allen being so sick?”

  Tears welled in Larry’s eyes. “How’d you hear about that?”

  “Jolene told me. She said you were pretty upset when you left school today.”

  Larry blinked a couple of times. “You’d be upset, too, if your best friend was gonna die.”

  Jake shook his head. “You don’t know that Allen’s going to die. You need to pray and trust God where Allen’s concerned. I’m sure his folks will see that he gets the best possible care.”

  “Maybe so, but that don’t mean Allen won’t die.”

  “There are no guarantees in life,” Jake said. “The only guarantee we have is that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us.” He waited a few minutes, to let Larry think about what he’d said. “There are many people with leukemia who’ve been helped. Allen has a good chance of surviving if he gets proper treatment.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Sure do.” Jake squeezed Larry’s shoulders. “Your family needs you. Since your daed died, you’re the man in the family. Don’t you think your place is at home with your mamm and schweschdere?”

  Larry stared at the pond, his shoulders shaking. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he finally nodded. “I really do care about Mama and my sisters.”

  “Then let’s go.” Jake led the way to his horse and buggy, but they’d only gone a short ways when the toe of his boot clipped a rock, and he stumbled. The ground spiraled up toward him, and then everything went black.

  CHAPTER 43

  Ella had just stepped onto the porch of her bakeshop to shake some flour from her apron, when Larry came running up the driveway. Relief flooded her soul.

  Red-faced and sweating profusely, Larry dashed across the grass and leaped onto the porch. “Jake f-fell and hit his h-head on a rock! I th-think he might be dead!” Larry’s eyes were wide with fear, and his chin trembled so bad that he stuttered.

  Ella sucked in her breath. “What happened? Where’s Jake?”

  Larry quickly told Ella how Jake had talked him into going home. He sniffed a couple of times, struggling to hold back his tears. “If Jake hadn’t come lookin’ for me, he wouldn’t have stumbled. If he dies, it’ll be my fault.”

  Ella didn’t have time to argue; she needed to get to Jake and see how badly he’d been hurt. She took hold of Larry’s shoulders and bent down so she could look him in the eye. “Where’s Jake now?”

  “He’s lyin’ on the path leadin’ to the Lehmans’ pond. I can take you there right now.”

  Larry turned toward the driveway, but Ella stepped in front of him. “I need you to stay here and keep an eye on the girls.”

  “Can’t Mama do that?”

  “She’s not here. Charlene took her to the doctor’s this afternoon and they aren’t back yet.”

  “But I can’t stay here. I need to see how Jake’s doin’.” Tears rolled down Larry’s cheeks. “Need to know if he’s dead or not.”

  Ella swallowed around the lump in her throat. Jake couldn’t be dead. She needed him to know how much she cared, needed him to know that she wanted to be more than his friend and that she’d forgiven him.

  With a firm hand, Ella turned Larry toward the bakeshop. “Go inside now and watch your sisters. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Larry nodded and hurried inside. Ella raced to the barn and grabbed her bike. Dear God, she prayed as she pedaled quickly down the driveway, please don’t let Jake die.

  ***

  Jolene’s face broke out in a cold sweat as she sat in a chair, watching the gunman pace from the window to the counter and back. As the minutes ticked by, he seemed to become more agitated. Surely Sadie had phoned the sheriff by now. Would he and his deputies be here soon? Would they barge into the store and maybe shoot the gunman, or would they stay outside and try to talk him into giving himself up?

  Jolene closed her eyes. Dear Lord, she prayed, please give me the wisdom to know what I should do or say.

  When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see the front door open, and even more surprised when Lonnie dashed into the store.

  When the gunman rushed forward, pointing the gun at Lonnie, Jolene covered her mouth to stifle a scream. Gathering her wits about her, she leaped off the chair and hollered, “Don’t shoot! He’s my friend!”

  Jolene had no idea whether the man had given a reply, for his back was to her. He did, however, lower the gun a bit and motion Lonnie to move away from the door.

  As Lonnie’s gaze connected with Jolene’s, she saw the look of concern on his face. Had he come in here to save her, or was he just an unsuspecting customer like she had been?

  The gunman said something to Lonnie, and then he quickly locked the door. Jolene was surprised he hadn’t done that sooner. Maybe this was his first criminal act and he hadn’t known what to do. Maybe the man behind the ski mask was as frightened as she was right now. Was it possible that she could talk him into giving himself up? It was worth a try, and it was better than doing nothing.

  She moved forward and positioned herself so the man could see her face. “I don’t know why you’re keeping us here, but what you’re doing is wrong, and I—”

  “Shut up and sit down!” Although Jolene couldn’t hear the intensity of the man’s voice, she knew from the way his lips had formed the words that he’d yelled at her.

  He kept pacing, waving the gun, and saying something Jolene couldn’t make out. Every once in a while he stopped and looked at his watch, and then he started pacing again.

  “We’ve got to do something,” Lonnie signed to Jolene.

  “I know, but what?”

  “I’m not sure, but I need to get you out of here.” He glanced toward the back of the store. “Ask if you can use the restroom.”

  “I don’t need to use the restroom.”

  “Ask anyway. If he says you can use it, maybe you can sneak out the back door.”

  Jolene nodded. That made good sense. She didn’t know why she hadn’t thought of it herself.

  She left her chair and approached the man cautiously. “I need to use the restroom.”

  “Sit down!”

  “I really need to use it right away.”

  His lips compressed as he tilted his head. “You’d better not try anything funny.”

  Jolene’s heart began to race. If she were able to sneak out the back door, the man would soon realize she was missing. She was sure that would make him angrier than he already was, and if he got any angrier, he might hurt Lonnie.

  “I guess I don’t need the restroom that bad,” s
he said. “I can wait.”

  “Suit yourself.” He motioned to the chair beside Lonnie. “Now go sit with your friend and stop bothering me; I need to think.”

  Jolene complied.

  “What happened? Did you ask about using the restroom?” Lonnie signed.

  “I did ask, and he said I could, but I changed my mind.”

  Lonnie’s forehead puckered. “How come?”

  “Because I was worried that if I escaped, he might—”

  The man stepped up to Lonnie and held the gun near his head. “What are you two doing, waving your hands around like that?”

  “We’re both deaf.” Jolene signed as she spoke. “This is how we communicate.”

  “But you’ve been talking to me. How’d you know what I was saying if you can’t hear?”

  “We were reading your lips,” Lonnie said before Jolene could respond.

  “So you can only know what I’m saying if I’m looking right at you?”

  Lonnie and Jolene both nodded.

  He waved the gun over their heads. “Well, understand this: If someone doesn’t show up soon with the money I asked for, neither one of you will make it outa here alive!”

  CHAPTER 44

  “Jake! Can you hear me, Jake?”

  Jake’s eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. He saw Ella looking down at him with a worried expression. “Wh – what happened? Where’d you come from?”

  “Larry came to get me. He said you’d fallen and hit your head on a rock.” Ella dropped to her knees and cradled Jake’s head in her lap. Then she gently probed his head with her fingertips. “I don’t see any blood, but there’s a lump on your forehead. I think you’d better see a doctor to be sure that you don’t have a concussion.”

  “At least it’s not you with a bump on your head this time.”

  Ella apparently didn’t see the humor in what Jake had said, for she didn’t even smile.

  Jake reached up and touched his forehead. “Aw, it’s just a little bump. I don’t think there’s any need for me to see a doctor.” He made no move to sit up, however, enjoying the warmth of her hands as they cradled his head.

  “Well, I think there is.” Ella’s expression turned to genuine concern.

  Jake wondered if this might be a good time to tell her how he felt. Would she be receptive to what he had to say? He sat up and reached for Ella’s hand. He was relieved when she didn’t pull it away. “I ... uh ... know we’ve had our share of disagreements in the past....”

  “And still have,” she said, a slight smile playing on her lips.

  “Guess that’s how it’ll always be between us, but I hope we’ve come to the point where we can be friends again.” He held his breath, waiting for her response. He didn’t want to say too much until he knew how she felt about him. No point in making a fool of himself. Not that he hadn’t done plenty of that in the past.

  Ella nibbled on her bottom lip as he rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “I’m not sure how it happened, but even though we don’t agree on everything, I do think we can be friends—maybe even good friends.”

  “Friends don’t always have to agree.” He grinned. “They can agree to disagree.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  Jake rolled his tongue around in his mouth as he tried to figure out what to say next. He was on the verge of blurting out that Ella was more than a friend to him—that he’d fallen in love with her—but he decided this probably wasn’t the best time or place to make such an admission. He needed to do a few things yet—things that would hopefully secure his future.

  “I need to get home,” Jake said, rising to his feet.

  “What about seeing the doctor?”

  “If I start feeling dizzy or have any other weird symptoms, I’ll call the doctor,” he promised.

  “Jake, I really think...”

  He leaned down and kissed her and was pleased when she responded. When they pulled apart, he motioned to his horse and buggy, still tied to a tree. “I’ll put your bike in the back of my rig and give you a lift home. Then I’ll be on my way home, too.”

  “Do you promise to see the doctor if you start having any problems?”

  “Said so, didn’t I?”

  “Guess I’ll have to take you at your word.” Ella smiled as he helped her into his buggy. “Larry will be relieved to know that you’re not dead.”

  Jake’s eyes widened. “He thought I was dead?”

  Ella nodded. “He was very worried about you, and so was I.”

  “Really?”

  She gave his arm a little squeeze. “Said so, didn’t I?”

  Jake chuckled and continued to do so as he climbed into the driver’s side of the buggy.

  “I’m glad you think what I said was so funny.” Ella needled him in the ribs. “I really was worried about you.”

  “I’m glad you were.” He clucked to the horse to get him moving, and then he reached over and clasped Ella’s hand. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me for not keeping my promise to take you out when I turned sixteen?”

  “Jah.” Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded.

  “Should we go out to supper this evening and celebrate?”

  “That offer’s really tempting, but I think you ought to take it easy for the rest of the evening,” Ella said, gently squeezing his fingers. “Your daed’s doing better now, so maybe he can do your chores.”

  Jake winked. “Yes, Mother.”

  Tiny wrinkles formed across her forehead as she frowned. “I’m serious, Jake. You fell hard enough to knock yourself out, and you could have a concussion.”

  “You worry too much. I’ll be fine, really.”

  When she leaned her head on his shoulder, a ripple of warmth shot through him. He thought he could spend the rest of his life sitting beside her like this.

  “Were you able to talk to Larry about Allen?” Ella asked.

  “Uh ... yes. I think I gave him some hope when I said that Allen’s folks would see that he got good care. I also told him that there’s been many people with leukemia who’ve been helped.”

  “I hope and pray that Allen’s one of those who makes it.”

  “Me, too.”

  They rode silently the rest of the way, but Jake didn’t mind. He enjoyed this time alone with Ella, and words didn’t seem necessary.

  When Jake turned his buggy up Ella’s driveway, she smiled at him and said, “I’ll come over to your place to check on you in the morning.”

  Jake tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “Would you mind giving me a couple of days?”

  Her brows furrowed as confusion registered on her face.

  “There’s something I need to do before we talk again.” Jake leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Why don’t you come by next Monday?”

  Her mouth formed an O. “Next week? But Jake, I—”

  He held up his hand. “Please, Ella, for once, just do what I say, okay?”

  She pursed her lips and lifted her shoulders. “Okay, but just this once.”

  ***

  Lonnie watched as the gunman looked out the window then suddenly pivoted and waved the gun in the air. He marched over to Lonnie and Jolene and said, “The sheriff’s out there with a bunch of his deputies. They’re calling for me to give myself up.” He shook his head determinedly. “But That’s not gonna happen.”

  Lonnie turned to Jolene and signed, “I’m going to try talking to him.”

  Fear shone clearly in Jolene’s eyes as she nodded slowly.

  Lonnie rose to his feet, praying for the right words. He could see that the gunman was getting more agitated all the time. If something didn’t happen soon, he and Jolene could end up dead.

  “Why are you doing this?” Lonnie asked the man.

  “You really want to know?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “I’ve been out of work for nearly a year. If I don’t get some money soon, I’ll lose everything—my house, my car, and probably my family.”
He rubbed the side of his face, almost pulling the ski mask off in the process. “All me and my wife do anymore is argue. She said she’s thinking about leaving me, and if things don’t turn around for us soon, I’m sure she will.”

  “I think I understand a bit of how you must feel,” Lonnie said. “I was out of work for a while after the accident that caused me to go deaf. I became bitter and feared that I’d never find a job. But I prayed and asked God to help me, and after a while, the right job came along.” Lonnie smiled, although his hands were sweaty, and he figured his voice was probably shaky. “My new job is something I can do without being able to hear, and I’m happier now than I ever thought possible.” As Lonnie continued to share with the man, he found that his own faith was being strengthened and a sense of peace had crept over him. For the first time since he’d lost his hearing, Lonnie realized that he wasn’t a weak or incapable man. Despite his handicap, Lonnie could still be used by God if he was willing to listen and obey the Lord’s gentle nudging.

  In a surprise gesture, the gunman pulled off his ski mask. He was much younger than Lonnie had thought, and his face was pale and gaunt.

  The man lowered his head into his hands and sobbed. “I can’t pray and ask God for anything, because I’m a worthless, no-good bum.”

  Lonnie touched the man’s arm. “What’s your name?”

  The man lifted his head. “Fred. Fred Hastings.”

  Lonnie prayed again, asking God to give him the right words. “I have good news for you, Fred.”

  “What’s that?”

  “God loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die for your sins. He doesn’t care who you are or what you’ve done. He wants you to believe on His name. He wants you to confess your sins and ask Him to come into your heart. When you do that, He’ll forgive you and cleanse your heart. You’ll become a new creature in Christ.”

  Fred stared at him blankly. He might not be completely convinced, but at least he was listening.

  “Here’s something else to consider,” Lonnie went on to say. “If the demands you gave the sheriff aren’t met, which they probably won’t be, you’ll go to jail for a time. But if you kill us, you’ll be faced with a murder charge.”