After he’d sliced the bird, they all sat at the table, prayed, and dished out the food. Anna had outdone herself by fixing all of his favorites. The fowl melted in his mouth, and the sweet cornbread was wonderful. She must have boiled maple syrup for days to have enough for the sweet buns and the cornbread.
Nobody said anything. Normally he would have to chide Lisel for speaking too much, but she focused on her food.
John swallowed. He understood the silent treatment. He deserved it. But this was Christmas day, and they had a guest.
“So Brother Paul.” Anna gazed at John. “How does your father fare?”
A flush crept across John’s cheeks as he pulled on his collar. “How did you know we were meeting with Chief Swantaney?”
Paul said nothing and focused on his food.
“Phoebe mentioned it.” Anna took a bite of cornbread, never taking her gaze off John. She swallowed and drank a sip of coffee to wash it down. “Seems everyone in town knew, except me. She was concerned I might be worried about you.”
“Anna.” John set down his fork. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I only wished to save you needless apprehension.”
Anna tilted her head towards the children. “We’ll talk of it later, husband.” She turned to Paul. “Forgive me, Brother Paul, for bringing you into this. I really would like to know how you fared with your father.”
Paul drank some coffee. “I’m grateful to you, Sister Brunner, for inviting me to Christmas dinner.”
“You’ve been in our home often enough that I believe it would be appropriate for you to call me Sister Anna. Don’t you?”
Paul nodded. “Sister Anna. Tomorrow I leave to return to my tribe.”
Anna clasped her hand over her mouth.
“Don’t be concerned,” Paul said. “This is by God’s design. My father has agreed to allow me to live as a Christian in the tribe and to share the Lenape Bible with the other braves. I will be a missionary to my people.”
“Your father agreed to that?”
“Not at first. There was some discussion, but in the end, he agreed. His only requirements are that I marry a Lenape woman from my tribe, provide him with lots of grandchildren, and take his place as leader when it’s time.”
“That is good news,” Anna said. “How will you find a Christian wife from among your people?”
“I’m trusting in God to take care of that.” Paul drank some coffee. “I am ready to marry again.”
Anna leaned forward. “Didn’t Sister Rebecca come from your tribe?”
“The young widow?” Paul lowered his eyes and grinned. “Yes, she is from my tribe. I’d forgotten.”
“It won’t be easy not having any Christian brothers to strengthen you.” She tilted her head as if she was really interested.
“That’s the best part.” John stared at her, trying to decide what had changed. “Since the tribe lives only a three hour walk from here, the chief has agreed to allow Brother Paul and any braves who wish to join him to come to church on Sundays. They’ll stay overnight at Brother Paul’s cabin.”
Anna gazed at John, and again, he couldn’t tell what she was thinking, or if she was still angry. “Will you meet with him after church for a Bible study?”
John cut a piece of meat off the bone and tried to sound casual. “If you are willing to have him and the Lenape he brings in our home.” No answer. “Or we could meet in Brother Paul’s cabin.”
“I wouldn’t hear of it.” Anna dished out more pheasant. “Brother Paul, you and your friends are welcome here, anytime. I’ll make Sunday dinner for you and whoever you bring.”
John had the bite of meat in his mouth when she said it and choked on it. He placed a napkin over his mouth while he tried to stop coughing. What was she up to?
“I hope you don’t mind that this Sunday I’ve invited a guest,” Anna said. “Sister Rebecca. She’s been lonely since her husband’s death. She misses her home with the Lenapes.”
Paul’s face flushed. “I would love to spend time with Sister Rebecca.”
“Good, it’s settled, then.”
John drank a sip of coffee. He had a sense that something had just transpired between Anna and Paul, but he couldn’t figure out what. “Anna, we tried to get home before now. Chief Swantaney wanted time to think about Brother Paul living a Christian life among his tribe. Then on our way home, a snowstorm blew in, delaying us further.”
“Mama cried,” Lisel said.
Anna placed a finger in front of her mouth to silence their daughter. “Lisel, eat your pheasant.”
John placed his hand on Anna’s. “I’m so sorry I was late.”
Lisel ate a bite of pheasant, but it didn’t keep her quiet. “Belinda read verses from the tree to make her feel better.”
John would have said something if he could have thought of anything to make the situation better. Now Anna would be more fearful than ever, and he wasn’t sure she’d ever forgive him.
Anna stood and cleared the dishes. “I made squash pie for dessert.”
“Squash pie? After all the sugar you used in the corn bread?”
Anna nodded.
“What a treat.” He turned to Paul. “I married myself a fine woman.”
“Yes, you did,” Paul said. “You need to be a good husband to her.”
Heat traveled up John’s back.
Anna dished out the pie and set the biggest piece in front of John. “Belinda and Lisel sang at the Christmas Eve Lovefeast.”
“I’m sorry I missed it.”
“Maybe they could sing for you and Brother Paul after dessert.”
John was having a hard time keeping up with Anna’s mood. Was she angry, upset, or just trying to make things nice for Christmas? With each comment she made, he was more unsure. “I’d like that very much.”
“Good,” Anna said.
John ate a bite of pie and let it melt in his mouth before swallowing it. Anna made the best squash pie he’d ever tasted. “Maybe after the girls sing, we could read the Scriptures on the tree.”
“We’ve already done that, Papa,” Belinda said. “Mama said I could read them since you weren’t here.”
“I see.” John drank a sip of coffee. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
They ate their pie, and the girls sang Morning Star. When they were done, John and Paul applauded. A lump formed in John’s throat. He wished he’d been there to hear his girls sing it in church. They were growing up too fast. A few more years and men would be at their doorstep to court Belinda and Lisel.
“I need to go.” Brother Paul patted his stomach. “Thank you for a wonderful Christmas supper, Sister Anna. I look forward to supping with you and Rebecca on Sunday.”
“You’re welcome.” Anna lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry I haven’t always treated you with hospitality. Please forgive me.”
John’s chin dropped.
“Thank you for that, as well.” Paul draped his supplies over his shoulder. “You’ve more than made up for it today.”
Anna scooted to the door and opened it. “I will pray for you to have great success among your people.”
“Thank you. I covet your prayers.”
John strode towards Paul and shook his hand. “I’ll miss you.”
“You’ve been a good friend. But there’s no need for long faces. I’ll see you Sunday.” Paul closed the door behind him.
Lisel kept Katrina occupied by playing with the Putz while Belinda helped Anna with the dishes.
John drank a cup of coffee and tried to figure out what had happened with Anna and if it was a good thing or a bad one. Either way, he needed to make amends. He had wronged her by making promises he knew he couldn’t keep and by lying to her.
On the walk home, after trying to justify it to himself and to Paul, he’d come to the truth that his deception was a lie and a sin. He’d do as she asked and wait for the children to go to sleep before he talked to her about it. But he would make things right.
Anna stacked the
last clean dish on the shelf. “All right, children. Time for bed.”
The children hurried into their nightgowns.
“Belinda,” Anna said. “You and Lisel are old enough to walk to school by yourselves starting tomorrow.”
John spewed coffee across the table.
“Thank you, Mama,” Belinda said. “I promise we’ll be careful.”
“I know you will.”
“Good night, Mama, Papa.” Lisel kissed them and helped Belinda pull the tick out from under the rope bed. They all settled in under the wool blanket.
John wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Another new development.
Lisel didn’t pout as she had every night for months.
The girls were soon asleep.
This was the moment John had been looking forward to, and dreading at the same time.
12
Anna sat in her rocker gazing at her husband.
John stood by the fire, but wouldn’t look at her.
She wondered which subject she should discuss with him first, when he finally spoke.
“Anna.” He knelt before her. “I am so sorry for lying to you. I was wrong for not telling you we were meeting with Paul’s father.”
That surprised her. Normally when he deceived her like this, he would try to justify it by saying it was to keep her from worrying. “This isn’t the first time. How can I trust you if you don’t tell me the truth?”
He lowered his chin, but kept eye contact. “There’s no way I can answer that. I have lied to you many times and made promises I couldn’t keep. I know that. All I can do is be truthful from this point on and hope that someday I can earn back your trust.”
“Oh, John.” She swallowed. “I do understand why you did it. You were trying to protect me. But don’t you see, you can’t take the place of God in my life. You can’t promise that things will always work out. Nobody can.”
He nodded, but remained silent.
She placed her hand on his cheek. “I love you, and I do forgive you.”
John swept his arms around her and kissed her.
She pulled back. “But it will take time before I trust you again. Trust is built on you telling me the truth, no matter how hard it might be, or how upset I might get. And no more promises you can’t keep.”
He covered her hand in his. “I understand.”
“The only promises I can trust are the ones God has made. He promised to be with me always and to never leave me or forsake me. I’m not saying I won’t doubt again, or that fear won’t grip my heart, but I need you, my husband, to remind me of who Christ is and the promise He made when He was born. A Christmas promise. God with us. Can you do that?”
“I don’t know.” John’s Adam’s apple bulged. “But I’ll do my best with God’s help.”
“That’s all I ask.” Anna leaned over and kissed her husband passionately. “I have a surprise for you. I’m with child.”
John beamed, his expression bright with hope.
“If it’s a boy, I want to name him after our Noah. If she’s a girl, I’m thinking of Faith.”
“Both fine names,” John said. “You have made this the best Christmas ever.”
“A Christmas filled with promise.” Anna grabbed John’s hand and led him to bed. She was glad to have him home in their little cabin in the Ohio wilderness.
For it truly had become home.
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AMDG
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