Amish Love Be Kind 3-Book Boxed Set

by Rachel Stoltzfus

  As people were leaving, the bishop motioned with his hand to Abram, Hannah and their families. “A word, please.” Sitting quietly with them in one of the first-floor bedrooms, he asked for their input. “I saw Ben’s eyes when he stared at you, Abram. This isn’t over. He’s going to continue bullying you and trying to provoke you into an outburst, which we don’t want to see happen. Do you want him to be made to leave Peace Valley?”

  Abram felt the weight of this decision. “May I have the night to think and pray about it?”

  “Nee. He’s not going to give you a night. Not at your house or either of your parents’. He’ll find you and goad you, starting tonight.”

  Abram rocked back. He knew the bishop was right, but he didn’t like being responsible for such a big decision. “Hannah? I...need your help on this one.” As he spoke, he was struck by the irony—he was asking for her help with one of the biggest decisions he’d ever faced before.

  The irony didn’t escape Hannah, either. Looking at Abram, she gave him a slight smile. “Bishop, can we have a few minutes, please?” After the bishop left the room, they talked. “Husband, it’s a big decision. We’re deciding if a family can live here or must leave. If we say they have to leave, one big stressor is off your shoulders. If we say they should be allowed to stay, we’ll face more bullying.”

  “What do you feel should happen?” Abram took her hands in his.

  “Let’s pray.” Individually, the couple prayed silently. As he prayed, Abram heard, “Into each life, change comes.” Opening his eyes, he knew he had his answer.

  Hannah opened her eyes. “Well?”

  “Make them leave. As soon as possible. I got my answer as we were praying.”

  Hannah smiled. “Me, too. A message about change in lives.”

  “Let’s tell the bishop.” Rejoining them, the bishop heard their decision. “We’ll go and tell them tonight. Also, until they are able to leave, you should stay in an undisclosed location. Denki.”

  WHILE THE STAY AT HIS parents’ was safer for Abram, Hannah and the baby, Abram felt the strain of carrying out his private life under his parents’ roof. As hard as he tried to quell the frustration and anger, using the exercises he’d been given, he felt his emotions rising to a near-uncontrollable level at the end of the workday on one Friday. Jumping out of the wagon, he rested his head against the side of his horse, gripping the coarse hair on the horse’s flank. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, reminding himself of the consequences of yelling at Hannah.

  “Son? What’s wrong? Are you sick?” Isaac had come into the barn, and, seeing Abram in such a state made him stop so quickly that his shoes nearly skidded on the neatly swept dirt floor.

  “Nee. I...” Abram searched for words that wouldn’t belie the gratitude and love he felt for being housed at his parents’ house. “Frustrations are just getting nearly uncontrollable.” He left it at that so no hard feelings would develop.

  “Go. You have the pillow in here. Whale away at it, and then go for a walk. I’ll let your mamm know you’ll be delayed going in for supper.”

  “Denki. It may be a while.”

  “No bother. Do you care to tell me what put you in this state?” Isaac watched Abram carefully.

  Abram sighed and focused on the smell of the horses, and then he looked outside, where he saw the bright summer sun beaming down on a calm, rural scene. Trees rustled in the gentle breeze. Kittens gamboled through the barn, playing with each other and looking for prey. The native birds chirped, argued and conversed with each other. Beginning to feel slightly calmer, Abram sighed again. “I’m going to go and smash that pillow now. And focus on Gott’s gifts to us. Nothing really bad happened. At least I didn’t see Ben Hershberger, though I did see his wife while I was on my way to one of my appointments. She just glared at me. I think she would have said something, except there were others around, even a few Englisch people, so she held her tongue.”

  “That’s not gut. If you don’t mind, I’m going to report that to the deacon. He needs to know. One thing. Did she see you coming down the road to our house?”

  Abram thought. As he realized that Mrs. Hershberger had seen him turning onto Mulberry Lane, he sighed loudly. “Ya, she did! Why didn’t I think?”

  “Don’t blame yourself, son. Go hit the pillow and we’ll talk when you’re calmer.”

  Abram wheeled to the back of the barn where he’d stashed the pillow a few days earlier. As he hit at it, he heard his daed unhitching his horses after moving the wagon so it wouldn’t be visible from the road. As he hit the pillow repeatedly, he muttered to himself, “Stay calm. Don’t blow up. Remember everything you’ve learned. Because we’re going to have to relocate.”

  Suddenly, a throat-ripping holler erupted from Abram’s opened mouth. As he yelled, he hit the pillow even harder. By the end of the paroxysm of anger, he was panting as heavily as if he’d run several sprints. His throat was raw from his loud hollering. But, testing his emotions, he did feel calmer. His heart was pounding from his physical exertions, not from a desire to bury his fist into someone’s face. He decided on a short run around his daed’s property, just to make sure he was safe from erupting at those he loved. Remembering Mrs. Hershberger, he decided it would be prudent to run around the back of the property.

  Inside the house, Hannah hung on all of Isaac’s words, worrying about Abram. The baby was just fed and diapered, so she was happily cooing, eating at her fingers and charming everyone around her. “Did he look like he was about to explode?”

  “Ya, he did. I thought he was sick at first. There is some bad news. Mrs. Hershberger saw him as he was coming home. She also saw him coming down our road.”

  Hannah groaned. “No! That means we have to go elsewhere!”

  “Ya. Sadly, because we have really enjoyed having you here. It’s safer to take you somewhere else. The deacon and his wife will house you in their littler house so the Hershbergers can’t find you. We’ll go after supper.”

  Hannah sighed. “I’ll pack everything after helping Martha clean the kitchen.”

  As Hannah was speaking, Abram came in, sweaty and winded. “I just saw Ben Hershberger coming down the road, looking for me. Hannah, I’m calm, but I don’t want to risk anything.”

  “Son, go upstairs and clean up. Mamm will have supper on the table in a few minutes.” Isaac took the cooing baby from Hannah, who hurried into the kitchen to help with the last of the supper preparations.

  As the family ate, they heard Ben Hershberger’s heavy steps on the porch. Clanking his fork onto his plate, Isaac rose from the table. “Let me take care of him.” Stepping outside and closing the door, he confronted the short, angry, bantam rooster-mannered old man. “Ben, you’ve already gotten your punishment. I’m saying nothing else. Just go. I’ll be reporting this to one of the elders tonight. Go!” Isaac pointed toward the road. As he did, he saw the deacon pulling into his yard. “Hannes! It’s gut to see you tonight!”

  As Isaac hollered his greeting to the deacon, Ben Hershberger started and looked around guiltily. As Hannes King approached, his former bluster bled itself out of him, making him look like a pathetic version of himself.

  “Ben. Go. Now.” Turning his back on the old man, Hannes wordlessly indicated his desire to go inside with Isaac.

  Isaac positioned himself so Hannes could enter, but nobody could see into the house. He kept a wary eye on Ben Hershberger so he could stop him from doing anything to disrupt the fragile calm in the house.

  Inside, Abram was calm, but he continued to feel flashes of his previous anger. He knew they had to leave that night—thankfully, they had only brought necessities with them, and so the move would be easy.

  “Abram, how are you today?” Deacon King seemed to have all-seeing eyes as he gazed at Abram.

  Abram was aware of the penetrating gaze and sighed. He knew he needed to be truthful. “Gut for now, denki. But it’s been a rough day. Customers being careless with the state of their horses’ hooves, then
seeing Mrs. Hershberger. I ran for a while and hit at the pillow before coming in. But I’m still getting waves of anger.”

  Hearing the baby beginning to whimper, Hannah rose. Seeing that the infant’s diaper was dirty, she let Martha know she’d be upstairs.

  Deacon King smiled at Abram. “It’s difficult, ya. You’re dealing with a lot, but you are using what you’ve been taught. And so far, you’ve been able to avoid any violence against Hannah.”

  “Ya, she’s not the cause of any of this. My memories, temper and allowing the day’s events to get to me are.”

  “It seems you have to move as well. How does this make you feel?”

  “Not happy. I’d rather stay in one place, but until the Hershbergers leave, I knew this would be a possibility.” Rising, Abram stared out the back window, gleaning calm from the scene outside.

  The deacon moved next to Abram. “Ya. I know. Fortunately, we did two things before you came to your parents’. First, we set up a group of homes where you, Hannah and the baby could retreat if needed. Ours is next on that list. Second, the bishop and I made it crystal clear to Ben Hershberger that if he or his wife did anything after receiving the Meidung, they would have to leave immediately. Send their kinder to clean and clear out their house. Put it up for sale and advertise in the Amish Weekly. Well, it seems he forgot that and tried to provoke you tonight. The bishop and I will pay a visit to him and remind him, and then make sure he calls his kinder to do everything. Also, I believe he might have been banned in his old community—he has never been very forthcoming about why he left there.”

  “Deacon, I’m sorry to say this, but I’m being honest. I can’t say I’m sorry to see him or his wife go. Once they are gone, can we go back home?”

  “Possibly. But I want to get a measure of his kinder before giving you the go-ahead for that. It’s fortunate you’ll be staying at an elder’s house. He won’t want to try and provoke you there.”

  Watching a trio of redbirds chasing each other, dipping and swooping through the warm air, Abram let out a reluctant chuckle. “Ya, there is that.”

  “Son? Come finish your supper before it gets too cold. You need your energy.” Martha’s voice was quiet, but commanding.

  After supper, the men packed the junior Beilers’ belongings and put them into Abram’s wagon. Securing the baby’s crib with their bags, Abram dusted his hands. “Deacon, will we see Hershberger as we go to your house? I’m in control now, but I don’t want any provocations from him.”

  “It’s highly doubtful, Abram. When I told him to go home earlier, he knew exactly what would be coming. He is at home, wondering when we’ll visit him. Speaking of which, it’s still light out. I believe I’ll go to the bishop’s, and then we’ll go visit him tonight. After seeing what I saw today, I want him and his wife gone this weekend.”

  “Me, too.”

  Hannah nodded as she agreed with Abram and the deacon. Handing the baby to Hannes, she stepped into the wagon, assisted by Abram. Hannes handed the baby up to her and hurried to his buggy as Abram vaulted into the wagon’s seat.

  AFTER TAKING THE BEILER family’s belongings into his house and telling his wife where he would be, the deacon left again, heading to the bishop’s house. “Ya, he showed up at the senior Beilers’ house. Isaac had just told him to leave when I came into their yard. I told him to leave, then to expect a visit from us tomorrow. However, given the level of their anger at Abram, I think we should go see him tonight.”

  “Ya, I agree.” Dropping his crumpled napkin, Bishop Kurtz turned to his housekeeper and cook. “Emily, I’ll be back later. Denki for the delicious supper.” Positioning his hat on his head, he left with Hannes King.

  ARRIVING AT THE HERSHBERGER’S house, the deacon and bishop weren’t surprised to see that the house was silent. They knocked at the door.

  Opening the door slowly, Mrs. Hershberger peered out suspiciously. Seeing the elders, her one visible eye widened and she gasped. Pulling away, she told Ben who it was.

  Hurrying to the door, the old man peered out. Seeing that his wife was telling the truth, he grumped and opened the door. “Come on in. I know what you’re going to tell us.”

  “If you know that, why did you take such a stupid risk? Now, you have to leave. You have until Sunday. Get your kinder to help with moving your belongings. Cleaning the house and putting it and your land up for sale. Posting the ad. This Sunday.” The bishop turned to leave after delivering his edict.

  “How do you expect us to get outta here by Sunday?” It seemed that Ben Hershberger hadn’t heard a single one of the bishop’s words.

  Joseph Kurtz turned and looked at the older man in amazement. “Because I told you to have your kinder help you with the heavy tasks. You and your wife. Take. Just. What. You. Need. Find another town. And this time, don’t harass people so they blow up at you. Accept the rates for their services.” Now, he left, not wanting to be in the company of someone so toxic and negative. On the way home, he let out a long, heavy sigh. “I see now how Abram could get so angry and close to blowing up after dealing with him.”

  Hannes let out a long sigh. “I know just what you mean. He acts as if he’s deliberately unaware, but he knows just what he’s doing. He wants to make people charge him much lower rates for their services. I understand from Hannah that his wife has tried to get much lower prices for her baked goods and that she does the same to other bakers here. What amazes me is that Ben deliberately tried to set Abram off, knowing of his recent history.”

  Bishop Kurtz made up his mind. “Hannes, I’ve been thinking of going to the Hershberger’s old community, just to find out what he was like there. I may find that he did the same kinds of things.”

  “Do it. Right now, until Abram fully understands why Hershberger has done what he’s been doing, he won’t develop the insight he needs.”

  “Denki. Will you and the other elders watch over him and Peace Valley while I’m gone? I just need to arrange a driver and pack a bag.”

  “Ya, you know we will. Go with Gott’s blessing.”

  After finding out where Ben Hershberger and his wife had come from, the bishop arranged a trip and driver. By the next morning, he was gone, ready to learn more about the odd, demanding man and his wife.

  WHILE BISHOP KURTZ was gone, Hershberger kept a close eye on the comings and goings of the elders. He knew he was taking a big chance, but he needed to vent his growing anger against the young man who had been responsible for his banning. Not finding the elders visible one morning, Ben drove around Peace Valley, looking for Abram and his farrier’s wagon. Finally, he thought he spotted it and stopped his horses, just waiting. After several minutes, he was rewarded. Abram came out, wiping his hands on a large towel, talking to the customer. Ben heard only snatches of their conversation, witnessing the customer handing a check to Abram. Ben continued to lie in wait, ready to follow Abram whichever direction he took. Despite the precautions he took, Abram spotted him.

  Cracking the reins on his horse’s back, Abram hurried them along, determined to ignore the old man. He tried to close his ears and hearing to the man’s yelling.

  “Hey! Why don’t you go to the elders and tell them you lied? You got me and my wife banned! Just like happened in Indiana. Now, we gotta leave again. Yet, the wife abuser gets to stay here? How’s that right?”

  As hard as he tried to ignore Hershberger, Abram found it harder and harder to do so. He got more and more angry the closer he got to the deacon’s house. He realized, almost too late, that he shouldn’t stop there. Instead, sighing heavily, he went on, looking desperately for somewhere he could stop. Finally, he veered into his daed’s yard.

  “Abram! What’s wrong?”

  Wordlessly, Abram indicated Ben Hershberger coming up the road. “I need to get away from him. Now.”

  Worried, Isaac indicated the barn. Facing Ben Hershberger, he spread his feet wide and waited for him to pull into the large yard. “Ben, get out of our yard and leave my son alone. I’m g
oing to report this to the elders if you don’t leave.”

  As Isaac spoke to the banned man, Eli Yoder pulled up. “Problems, Isaac?”

  “Ya. He’s trying to egg Abram on. I’m trying to make him leave, then I’ll report this to the elders.”

  Together, the two men made Ben Hershberger leave, reminding him that he had to be out of the community by that weekend.

  “Eli, will you tend to Abram? He’s right upset in the barn.”

  Eli ran to the barn, wondering what he would find. Inside, he saw Abram glaring and pacing fast from one side of the barn to the other. “Abram, are you okay?”

  “Nee. I’m ticked off, bad. I can’t go to the deacon’s this way or I’ll blow up at everyone.”

  “Okay. Come with me and we’ll walk your anger off.”

  “Where’s Hershberger?”

  “Gone. If he sees you with me, he won’t bother you.”

  Abram began yelling. “AND WHY WON’T HE LEAVE ME ALONE WHEN I’M BY MYSELF? WHY HAS HE DECIDED TO MAKE ME HIS PUNCHING BAG? BECAUSE I HAVE THIS TEMPER? OR BECAUSE I MADE A MUPSICH MISTAKE AND HIT HANNAH ONE TIME? Without warning, Abram turned and smashed his bare fist through the wall, leaving a visible hole.

  Eli gasped and grabbed Abram’s arm. “Stop! I know you’re angry and you have the right to be. But this isn’t the... Let me see your hand.”

  Grimacing in pain, Abram raised his hand slightly for Eli to look at. “Mistake! Stupid mistake.” He dragged a deep breath in, trying to quell the nausea that resulted from the throbbing in his hand.

  “I think you bruised it badly, at least. Let’s go to the doctor in town.”

  Abram nodded once, twice, sharply.

  “Isaac, I’m taking him to the doctor. He slammed his fist against your wall. There’s a hole.”

  AFTER FINISHING AT the doctor’s, Eli drove Abram back to his daed’s house. “Can you manage the reins with your hand? At least you didn’t break it.”