Love's Abundant Harvest

by Beth Shriver

  Her brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “You know of my wife, Glenda.” Saying her name made him relive more than he wanted to, but he wanted to make this personal for Lucy’s sake.

  Lucy hesitated, maybe because she was surprised. “Jah, although I don’t think I ever met her.”

  “She got sick not long after you came. Glenda didn’t have an easy pregnancy.” He was gentle with his words, choosing them carefully so as not to alarm Lucy but also let her know what he went through with Glenda to show her that he knew how hard it could be. Hard but also very good. “And we’re praying for your health, and for big, healthy babies. With Gott in it, we’ve done all we can. Now we just wait and keep praying.”

  He slowly turned to her, looking at her expression to see if there was any comfort in what he’d said. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she looked forward, not trying to stop them.

  “Did I upset you?” He put his hand on hers and slowed to give her a moment. They were almost to his place.

  “Nee. Danke, Manny.” She wiped her tears with a hanky and then leaned over. The gentle kiss she placed on his cheek made him blush from his toes to the top of his head.

  Just as they arrived and he had helped Lucy out of the buggy, a blood-curdling scream came from the meadow. Manny jumped and followed the cry to where two men were standing by Peter looking at Caleb.

  One of Caleb’s hands cradled the other, which was covered with blood.

  “What is it?” Manny expected to see a foot caught in the blades, but a different sight met his eyes. Caleb’s finger was gone. Manny pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it over what was left of the finger. It did no good; there was too much blood.

  Manny scanned the area and found what was left of the finger. He wrapped it in another handkerchief and then he and four other men helped Caleb onto a flatbed covered with hay, and then rode off the field. When they pulled up on the dirt path, a buggy waited for them. Luke, who had the fastest horse around, told them to bring Caleb over to his buggy.

  Before they could take off for town, Jake, the owner of the mower, rushed over. “Let me take a look.” He plopped the finger into a can with kerosene. Then Jake started to treat Caleb’s injured hand. “This might sting a little.”

  Caleb braced himself.

  Manny looked for Emma and saw her standing with a group of Caleb’s relatives who were consoling her.

  “How did that happen?” Fannie took Lucy’s hand as she came over with some other women who had stopped preparing snacks and drinks to observe the accident.

  “It’s the blades on that mower.” Jake offered the explanation once he made sure Caleb’s family wasn’t around.

  “But how? I could see a foot getting cut, but this was his hand.” Fannie glanced over at Lucy and frowned.

  “He must have been grabbing for something. A big rock or a sturdy branch can stop the blades from spinning.” He shook his head.

  “He’ll be all right if he goes to that same doctor Lucy had,” Fannie chimed in. “Someone should get him here.” Fannie turned away and was soon walking toward her buggy.

  “Luke’s going to take him to Pomerene.” Manny caught up with her, which wasn’t easy with her long legs keeping in stride. “Did you see his finger?”

  “A glimpse, the tissue is gone, down to the bone.” Her composure was so professional it took him by surprise.

  “Do you think it can be saved?”

  “It looks pretty bad, but I’m sure the doctors at Pomerene understand the importance of a man’s hand to be able to work his farm.”

  “Don’t you think so, Lucy?” Fannie stopped short when she didn’t see Lucy and scanned the area.

  “Where is she?

  Manny stood and looked around. “No sign of her.”

  They split up, but still nothing, until he saw her sitting in his buggy. He walked over to her. “What are you doing in here? Are you sick?”

  She shook her head. “Nee.” She wiped sweat from her forehead. “I think the babies are coming.”

  Lucy groaned in pain. She’d never known such misery. The only positive she could think of was that the babies would be healthy; she’d prayed so long for a babe that Gott simply had to grant her petition. She opened her eyes and then shut them again, wincing through the sharp pricks that ran down her belly. Her body contracted and released before repeating. Her strength ebbed away.

  A cold cloth made her sigh, but within seconds it was warm as biscuits from the oven. The room seemed as hot as a kitchen after cooking lunch, but she was in a bedroom and a bed—whose, she didn’t know.

  “Squeeze my hand.” A man’s voice forced her to open her eyes. At one time she would have protested, but all she cared about was birthing healthy babies.

  “Manny . . . is he here?” Her voice was weak and just above a whisper.

  “He’s in the kitchen. Would you like him to come in?” The hand moved away, and Lucy worried he was fetching Manny.

  “Jah, but he shouldn’t.”

  “It’s fine if you’d like him here.”

  Ahh, yes. This was the city doctor. “It’s not proper.” Her eyes fluttered, and she wished she could sleep.

  “Whatever you’re comfortable with. It does create a bond, which is why I suggest it. Give it some thought.” He walked away, and panic gripped her. What if he didn’t come back?

  Why, she didn’t know, but her concern did lift with the arrival of a secular doctor to deliver her child. It would be one thing for a husband to be there for the birth, but another for Manny to observe, because they weren’t married. Remorse took over, and she cursed herself for her waiting to marry. She had waited too long, letting her fears control her, and look where she was now, a widow with no daed for her babies.

  She couldn’t think straight as to why she’d become so scared of remarriage. After living with Sam, she’d been terrified more times than not. Losing that stronghold was good, now that it finally happened.

  “Did I fall asleep?” Unheard of. Her water had broken, and that was the last she remembered. Then fuzzy images came to her, and she remembered sleeping and the pain dissipating.

  Fannie touched her shoulder. “A small cat nap when the babes let up.” Her face glowed. “You’re finally gonna have those babies.”

  “Stubborn ones. Must take after their Aunt Fannie.” A prickle zipped around her stomach. “Guess I shouldn’t talk that way; they must be partial to you.” Just seeing Fannie’s face gave her courage, but still she wished it was Manny by her side.

  Tears pricked Lucy’s eyes. She wiped them away and kept her eyes closed.

  “The pain getting worse?” Mammi asked, but she sounded much like Lucy’s mamm, and more remorse stifled her. Only a few more days, and her mamm could have been here for this. Why was it all such a mess, so unlike what it should be?

  Lucy shook her head. “I wish I was a married mother of these two; they deserve that, not to suffer because of my mistakes.”

  Frieda’s heels clacked across the room, loud enough Lucy knew she meant business. “Don’t you fret, Luce.” The door opened and closed.

  “What have I done? Should have kept my mouth shut.” Lucy huffed out a breath and rubbed her tight belly. Just as the contraction melted away, she heard the door again. Manny’s face appeared, and he smiled as he slowly took her hand.

&
nbsp; “I’m glad you asked that I come in, but I’m not just here to hold your hand. The minister is outside. I’ve asked him to marry us. With your permission, of course.” His grin faded slightly as he waited for her response.

  Lucy covered her face with her hands and sobbed. Tears of joy and fear, comfort and love streamed down her cheeks as she became aware of her desperate affection for this man who had been so patient with her and would surely be so with their two children.

  “It’s okay if you aren’t ready. I can wait. But those two little ones aren’t gonna wait, so I thought I’d give you the opportun—”

  She moved her hand away and touched his cheek. “Jah, I’m ready. I have been, but was just too stubborn . . . scared or something, I’m not sure.” She patted his cheek. “I’m sorry, Manny.”

  “I know. It’s all right. Everything’s just as it should be right here, right now. I can’t ask for more.”

  His smile could have lit up the room, which just made her cry even more.

  He put a hand on her head, stroking her hair. “Are you ready for the minister?”

  She nodded, not daring to try and talk with all the emotions going inside her. She didn’t deserve this, him, or everyone who had helped her through the difficult time she’d had with Sam and now her two little ones.

  The door opened once more, and Minister Eben walked over and stood between them. He gave Lucy a small smile. “You’re having a busy day, now, aren’t you?”

  When she laughed, her belly contracted again. She put a hand on her tummy and breathed out, hoping there was time. “Jah, I sure am. Hope I can make it through this.” She wanted him to hurry, which made her a little bit sad, but the babies might come any minute. The pressure increased, and her body told her to push.

  The minister opened his Bible. “Well then, let’s get to it.” He cleared his throat, spoke out of both the Old and New Testaments, and said the wedding prayer. The small number of people speaking was good. Lucy couldn’t speak during some of it because of the pain. Hymns were sung without the Ausbund. It was plain and simple as most, only much shorter because of the situation.

  “Are we finished, Eben?” The doctor spoke to him as if he knew him, and the minister gave him a nod to continue with Lucy’s needs.

  “Do you know him, Doctor?” Lucy’s curiosity had gotten the best of her, but she also wanted to know. What was it about this man that seemed a bit mysterious?

  “Yes. Let’s time your contractions.” He went about getting his instruments without a moment for her to say a word to Manny. “Hand me the stethoscope, Fannie.”

  Fannie opened her mouth and frowned.

  “Of course you will.” Frieda said as she stared Fannie down. Thank goodness the two of them were together. There was no one else who could tell Fannie what to do, except for this doctor who seemed to have picked her out of the group.

  Fannie tilted her head and took deliberate steps to the dresser where his bag was.

  “Lay these out for me on that table next to Lucy.” He handed Fannie a box full of rubber gloves, light blankets, and a bar of soap.

  “Excuse me, Doctor.” Manny moved in closer and kissed Lucy’s cheek. “Now, are you going to let me stay in here?”

  The doctor interrupted. “You’re not going to have a choice. Stand back.”

  Fannie took her hand as Lucy’s back arched and she groaned. It was all she could do not to scream. Immense pain forced her to go with what her body was telling her, and she pushed . . . hard.

  “Gut, Lucy.” Fannie squeezed her hand harder.

  The next thing she heard was fussing from Frieda, but she kept her distance, which Lucy appreciated. She wanted Manny to be the first to hold them. She had carried them for nine long months. Now it was his time to bond with them.

  “Good. Now one more.” The doctor concentrated on the last little one with intensity. Lucy felt a twinge of concern, creating even more of an effort to push. She worked through the pain and looked first in Manny’s eyes. There were both sadness and gladness in his face as Frieda and Rosy took the babies to clean and dry them off. One cry was loud, almost screeching. The other sound was weak and intermittent, causing alarm to seep into her mind.

  “You did it, little sister.” Fannie soothed her forehead with a cold cloth. She had a calming way about her that Lucy felt she needed right now, and it was exactly what she wanted.

  When the doctor came over to her, he looked her straight in the eyes. “Your babies are alive and well. Although your youngest is nay-nay, crippled. But both of their vitals are good.”

  Hearing the doctor’s words brought a mix of emotions. For him to use a Pennsylvania Dutch slang word told her it was something she needed to understand. But she wouldn’t let herself go there. She had two babies. One would just need more care, and she could do that, especially with all the love that would be around him . . . or her. “Are they boys or girls?”

  “That’s the response I was hoping for.” The doctor almost smiled. “Your strong son will be a great help to your little daughter.”

  Lucy thought she saw a flicker of sadness in his eye, but he didn’t seem the type.

  “We will work to make her stronger to the best of her abilities.” Fannie chimed in with words that sounded more like a nurse’s response than a sister’s, but was just what Lucy wanted to hear right now.

  Mammi held up the fat-bellied boy. “He came, and he came from muck and mire crying.”

  “What do you mean?” Lucy felt left out. Manny held the tiny girl, beaming from ear to ear. Mammi wasn’t walking fast enough for her. She motioned with her hands for him to hurry. Mammi carefully lowered the little guy into Lucy’s arms. She took in all the senses. His brown eyes blinked away a tear, and Lucy wiped it away with her finger.

  “He’s just beautiful.” She couldn’t stop staring at him, enjoying the moment.

  Fannie was talking to Manny as she cleaned up the girl. She tenderly handed her back to Manny. He walked over holding the tiny girl and sat down beside Lucy with a nod toward the little boy. “I was thinking we might want to name him after your daed.”

  Lucy didn’t even try to stop the tears from falling again. Manny’s gesture was so like him and her daed. “I’d like that. His name is Timmy. Is that okay?”

  “That’s just fine. And this little one?” He couldn’t take his eyes off the infant. He stroked her face. Her head was quite small and she had distinctive facial features.

  “Do you have a name in mind?” She leaned forward to see the little one’s thin legs. She almost started to cry, and then looked up at Manny, who hadn’t taken his eyes off the tiny one. At that moment Lucy knew God had given them this child to raise because he knew they would have the love she needed from them.

  “My mamm’s name was Rhoda.” He moved the baby’s hair off her forehead.

  “Didn’t she pass away from cancer?” It came back to her now as they were talking about it, and she had a sudden feeling of remorse for him losing his mamm before she could see her grandbabies.

  He nodded and let Rhoda touch his fingers with hers, so small next to his. “Jah, a while ago.” He nodded toward little Timmy. “Are you going to give someone else a turn to snuggle with him?”

  “I’ve hardly had a chance to get a good look at Timmy, with him getting passed around.” She looked down and studied his little face. She moved the strands of hair from her face to ge
t a better look.

  She took in his features and held one hand to her lips. Although he was a newborn, he looked older than his few minutes of life and much too familiar. He had the features of her deceased husband, Sam.

  Manny watched Lucy scoop up Rhoda and hold the babe to her chest. The rocking chair creaked as he slowly rocked Timmy. The little guy wasn’t much bigger than his sister, but was stronger. Rhoda’s wailing kept them both up at night. With Verna gone, he didn’t know what they would have done if not for Lucy’s mammi. Frieda cooked and cleaned along with Rosy and Nellie. Fannie helped too, but did more of the scheduling, food preparation, and finances. He wasn’t sure whether he liked it, but he wasn’t going to complain. He’d tolerated Verna. Fannie couldn’t be much different.

  “What are you thinking about?” Lucy was staring at him. She might even have said something, but he was heavy in thought. He hadn’t bargained for all these women around every minute of the day in a house he didn’t live in . . . until now.

  “Still getting used to all this.” He didn’t want to say more. There was no reason to give her one more thing to think about. They would be on their own soon enough, and he’d probably be begging for them to stop by and help.

  “If you need some time, one of the girls will take him.” Her eyes flickered toward Timmy and then away. It concerned him that she hadn’t held him other than to nurse him since she’d given birth a couple days ago. Granted, Rhoda was the one who needed the most care, and that was probably all there was to it. Even though he wasn’t their real daed, he felt like he was.

  “Nee, I’ve done the morning chores and don’t need to go back to my place until the afternoon to get the milking done. Emma dropped by with an update on Caleb. The finger isn’t as good as new, but the doctor says he’ll be able to use it just fine.”