Gretta nodded, turned quickly, then sank to the floor in a dead faint.
With a stifled gasp, Gretta’s mother ran to her side. As Lilly watched Gretta’s mother revive her, she wondered just how much more any of them could take.
Chapter 25
“Clara? Is that you?” her mother called out again through the mist, just minutes after everyone had convened about the fishing wire and then parted to search for more evidence.
“Yes, Mamm,” she answered, giving Tim a wry smile as she did so. Only her mother could show up in the middle of a crisis and sound so aggrieved.
Only her mother could make her emotions feel even more off balance.
Another dozen steps brought her mother into view. She was standing a few feet in front of the Slabaugh front porch, glaring at them like a mother hen. “I’ve been calling and calling for you, daughter. Didn’t you hear me?”
By her side, Tim looked at her in sympathy, then cupped her elbow as they slowly made their way up the slippery hill to her home. “We’ll get through this,” he murmured. “It will be all right.”
“Danke,” she murmured. When Tim spoke to her that way, when he touched her, Clara felt that his words were true. That everything really was going to be all right.
As soon as they reached the crest of the hill, it was only a short walk to reach her mother under the shelter of their front porch. “Two boys are missing, you know.”
“I know, but you should be worried about your own health, too. You should go inside and change clothes. Why you’re going to catch your death of cold!”
It was on the tip of Clara’s tongue to berate her mother for being so thickheaded. Once again, she was thinking about herself and her needs—not the greater concerns surrounding them.
However, this time, Clara didn’t speak of it. Arguing with her mother at a time like this wouldn’t make a difference. It wouldn’t change her mother’s ways.
And in the end, it wouldn’t make things better for Anson and Ty. So she pushed a question her mother’s way instead. “What are you doing out of bed, Mamm? You’ve been terribly ill.”
“I, too, wanted to help in some way. I wanted to offer our home in case it was needed.”
Clara was stunned. Had she really heard that right? “Our home? Th-Th…that was kind of you,” she stammered.
Almost tentatively, her mother smiled. “It was the least I could do, jah?” Before either of them could reply, her mother looked them over and frowned. “Oh, but you two are soaked to the skin. Come inside for a bit and warm up.”
“We can’t. We are part of the search party. Tim and I only came here to check on you.”
“Well, would you at least like some hot tea in a thermos?”
Tim answered. “I would be most grateful for it, Mrs. Slabaugh. Our hot coffee is long gone. We’ll stay out here so we don’t dirty your floors.”
After looking from one of them to the other, her mother finally nodded. “All right. I’ll be right back.”
As soon as she turned back to the kitchen, Tim reached for Clara’s hand.
Clara’s instinct was to pull away—she didn’t want to risk having her mother see their linked hands—but he held steady, his palm warm and comforting against her own. “I’m staying by your side,” he said. “We’re going to get through this together.”
She knew he was referring to more than just the search for the boys. He was talking about everything. About a future. His belief in her felt like receiving the greatest gift on the darkest day. “Even if you aren’t sure what has happened between me and my mother? Even if we don’t know what’s happening with the boys?”
His lips curved slightly. “Even all those things. Clara, I don’t need to know everything. All that matters is that you need me.”
Reaching out, she linked her fingers with his other hand. How could something so wonderful be happening in the midst of so much worry and pain? “Danke,” she murmured.
“No, thank you, too. It’s times like this when we truly need all our friends. Yes?”
“Jah.” It was truly an incredible thing how her emotions could flare up excitedly, and then plummet in disappointment with each exchange between them. All the time they’d been searching, Clara had noticed a definite change in their actions toward each other. Now they touched more often. Held hands. He said he was glad she was by his side.
But when he said things like that, about how he was glad for the goodness of friends, she wondered if perhaps she’d made too much of those things.
All too soon, her mother returned with a thermos. For a moment, she stopped, obviously startled by the sight of Tim and Clara holding hands. Then she started forward again.
Clara broke away and took the container of hot tea from her. “This will taste good,” she murmured.
She was just about to follow Tim when a tentative touch on her shoulder stopped her. “Clara, please forgive me for lying to you about the money. I had my reasons, but they were selfish ones.”
The words tore at Clara’s insides. She wanted to forgive her mother, and understand her point of view, but now wasn’t the time. Her emotions were too raw.
Besides, there was something more vital to concentrate on than hurt feelings. “The boys are missing. Their safety is what’s most important. I can’t even think about this now.”
“But we’ll talk later?”
“Yes. Later. When all of this is over. Now, Mamm, we must go.”
A crestfallen look shadowed her expression. “I understand.” Just as she turned to go, her mother directed a steely-eyed look at Tim. “She is in your care now. Please take care of my Clara.”
Clara watched her mother retreat back into the house. She couldn’t help but stare at the front door, feeling totally confused.
Tim obviously noticed. “Let her be, Clara,” he murmured, gently curving an arm around her shoulders. “What you said was exactly right. There will be ample time for discussion and reflection later.”
As they looked into the distance, the horizon hazy from the steady stream of water pouring down, she steeled her resolve. “Well, then, let’s go, shall we?”
“Where to? Back to the water’s edge, or closer to the woods?”
They had no time to reflect on that before more voices rang out in the distance. “Clara? Tim!”
Without hesitating another moment, they ran from the shelter and back into the elements. The pelting raindrops kept their pace fast. The excited voices kept their hope alive.
When they reached the others, Clara smiled a greeting, then listened intently to the sheriff’s latest instructions.
“We’ve found one of the boy’s boots—and a raincoat.”
“Whose?” Joshua asked.
“Most likely, Anson’s, but it doesn’t really matter. We also found two sets of tracks. It looks like they’re still together.”
“Praise God,” one of the ladies in the group said.
“This means that the search is narrowed, but I have to be honest and tell you all that it also means that I’m even more worried.” The sheriff looked at each one of them hard. “Time is of the essence. If they’ve lost a boot, it’s because they weren’t able to keep it on, or put it back on.”
“They could have been swept in the current,” Tim murmured.
For a moment, Caleb and Joshua shook their heads in protest, then seeing the sheriff’s grim expression, stood stiffly.
“I’m going to move everyone around a bit,” the officer said next. “Sometimes viewing an area with fresh eyes helps. So, please listen to where I’m directing you to go.”
Tim turned to her. “I bet you could go back to your mother’s if you’d like. Or even back to the Allens’. You’ve been out here for hours. Would you like to go in and keep dry for a bit?” Tim asked gently. “We’ve now been out here almost three hours.”
“Never. As long as the boys are out here, I will be, too. I won’t go in until we discover what happened.”
Reaching for her hand agai
n, he squeezed gently. “All right.”
When a police officer told them to hunt around one of the skinny paths that led into the woods, Clara and Tim accepted gratefully. Any thing was better than standing still.
But as the minutes passed, and they spied nothing except for more debris on the banks of the creek, their burning optimism began to pass.
What if everyone’s worst fears came true? What would they do? How would they survive such a loss?
In the distance, the sheriff blew a sharp whistle. It was the signal that yet another hour had passed. And they were losing their race with time.
“Ty? Anson!” Clara called out. “Anson, Ty, can you hear me?”
“Ty! Anson!” Tim blended his voice with Clara’s, hoping their combined sound might finally spur a response.
He was becoming bone weary. His throat was sore and his skin now felt like it would never warm up. Beside him, Clara seemed to be shivering uncontrollably. Unable to stop himself, he pulled her into a hug. She needed his warmth, and perhaps she needed his support, as well.
Tim knew he desperately needed Clara’s help. He was quickly losing hope and had begun to imagine the worst. Unbidden, his mind was playing tricks on him, imagining the boys’ funerals. Imagining the pain they’d all go through as each member of the community tried to come to grips with the fact that they’d lost two of their own.
“Anson? Ty?” he called again.
At first, only the faint snap of twigs sounded as they both strained their ears for any reply. For anything.
But then they heard the faintest of voices. “Tim? Tim is that you?”
Pure joy lit Clara’s features as Tim struggled to reply. “Yes! Oh, yes, it’s me. I mean, it’s Tim. Miss Slabaugh is here, too! Anson, we’re so happy to hear your voice. Where are you?”
One second passed. Two. “I’m not sure.”
“Keep talking, Anson,” Tim encouraged. “Keep talking. Miss Slabaugh and I will come to you.”
“She’s out looking, too?”
“Everyone’s out looking for you,” Clara yelled through happy tears. “Child, where are you?”
“In some bushes.”
Tim was so relieved, he almost chuckled. Squeezing Clara’s hand, he said, “Prepare yourself, I’m going to call out our news!”
“Yell all you want. This is wonderful-gut news. The best!”
As loud as he could, he cried, “We hear Anson!! We’re in the woods near Clara Slabaugh’s house!!”
The woods fairly shook with cheers. Then Clara turned to where she heard the boy. “Anson? Anson say something so I can find you, child.”
“Miss Slabaugh? Are you mad?”
“Of course not.” As a matter of fact, tears were falling down her cheeks, she was so happy. “Anson, I’m the happiest I can ever remember being. Hearing your voice is a wonderful thing. Please let us find you. Keep talking now.”
“I’m so tired!”
His voice was tired and faint. Reedy. It broke her heart. But she didn’t dare offer him sympathy. Not until she found him. Not until she knew he was going to be all right. Summoning up her best teacher’s voice, she called out again—this time her voice was tough and stern. “Now, don’t you even start complaining, Anson Graber. Not when all of us have been walking in circles in the rain. Now you follow directions and keep talking,” she ordered. “And I know you can, Anson, so don’t tell me that you cannot. You’ve never been too tired to talk.”
For a moment, no reply came. Warily she looked toward Tim. Perhaps she’d been too harsh? Then, they heard a thin, cracked voice again. “Ty’s hurt.”
“Tell me all about it,” she coaxed, straining to follow his voice as they stumbled through the brush. “Tell me where he’s hurt.”
“I think it’s his arm, but I’m not sure. It might be his leg. He got hurt bad. We fell into the creek and got carried away by the current. Then Ty and me hugged a tree that got stuck. But then no one found us.”
Beside her, Tim darted ahead, scanning the area frantically. When Anson’s voice faded again, Tim motioned for Clara to push the boy into speaking again.
“You’re fading, Anson! Speak up, now.”
“But Miss Slabaugh—”
“Don’t you Slabaugh me, Anson Graber. And speak up, please. How many times have I told you to speak clearly? Now, you will raise your voice and tell me about Ty.”
“All…all right.”
“Anson?” It was difficult, but she put every ounce of iron she could in her tone. “You will talk to me right now. What has happened to Ty Allen?”
His voice came out stronger. “After…after we waited forever, we pushed each other out and crawled here.”
Tim rushed forward, looking through the brush. Clara followed on his heels. “And then, child?”
“Um…Ty called for help and I did, too. But no one heard us.”
“But now we’re talking, yes? How’s Ty now?”
“He’s not doing much of anything now. He’s sittin’ still and his eyes are closed. Miss Slabaugh, I’m scared.”
“I know.”
She climbed over a very large log. And then, like the most beautiful birthday present in the world, there they were.
Snuggled like two puppies.
“Oh, Anson! Praise God, we’ve found you! Hello!”
Tim grinned as he knelt down and helped pull the boy up. When Anson’s eyes lit on Clara’s, she reached for him.
“Oh, Anson, you are surely a sight for sore eyes.”
“You did find me,” he said in wonder.
As Tim reached for Ty, she wrapped her arms around the chilled, scared, wonderful, wonderful boy. “I told you, Anson, I’d find you. And I never lie about things like that.”
His weak smile lit up her heart.
Ty was unconscious and limp in Tim’s arms. “Tim?”
“His heart is beating,” he murmured as he pulled off his coat and folded it around the boy.
In the distance, they heard the others approach. Just as Tim had promised, Jesus had been watching out for them. Holding Anson and Ty close until help could arrive.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you, oh, so very much.”
And as the sheriff and Joshua and Caleb broke through the brush and ran toward them, Clara was reminded that with God’s help, anything truly was possible.
She hugged Anson close and relished the moment.
Chapter 26
“Here’s to the best friends a man could ever ask for,” Uncle Frank said to the crowd gathered at his home for an impromptu celebration. “I have to tell you all, I know the Lord was with us today. He gave us the eyes and ears and abilities to search for the boys. I am grateful for his grace and for all of your friendships.”
“We are blessed today,” the bishop said. “Blessed to have each other, English and Amish. This day is one we will all look upon and remember with gladness always.”
Tears threatened to prick Tim’s eyes as he looked around the home. So much had happened since he’d arrived. And so much had happened over the course of the afternoon—it was difficult to completely take in.
Soon after he’d called out to everyone, the paramedics and police came. Minutes later, other search parties joined them. They had taken care to give each other support as the boys’ vitals were taken and the paramedics knelt around Ty.
Little by little, the group moved back as a discussion ensued about Ty’s condition. While Anson looked to be suffering from hypothermia, Ty was unconscious. A cut above his hairline confirmed everyone’s fears—the boy had a concussion and a broken arm. His parents and Lilly were now by his side at the hospital.
They’d allowed Anson to come home, as long as he’d promised to rest and Elsa made plans to visit their doctor the next day. So, though things were still worrisome, they were much better. Far better than they’d dared hope for all those hours earlier.
Men around Tim shook hands. Women clasped shoulders and hugged Elsa and the other women folk. Clara and G
retta had attempted to wash dishes, but they’d been pushed out of the kitchen by Mrs. Kent and Miriam, who said that Clara and Gretta had done enough for the day.
The girls had stepped aside with grace, though Tim could tell they, too, were uncomfortable with all the fuss being made over them.
Tim was uncomfortable, too. The sheriff had called him and Clara heroes, though Tim knew they were nothing of the sort. All they had done was their best, and that was no different than anyone else who’d been involved for the day. Everyone had hoped and prayed, had gotten soaked to the skin while they’d yelled for the boys and searched through the woods and along the shoreline.
Tim also knew he and Clara had not searched alone. The whole time, he’d felt the Lord with them. Tim knew it had been He who had led them on the path. It had been the Lord’s guidance, and their hopes that had led to a very gut outcome.
Joshua, now in fresh clothes and his hair still damp from the shower, crossed the room and took a seat beside him. “I hope I never have another day like this,” he murmured as he slumped back against the couch. “I don’t remember ever having been so scared.”
“I feel the same way. I have to admit I wasn’t always sure we would have something to celebrate.” He held out his hands and felt a slight tremor that refused to go away. “I think my hands are still shaking.”
Without a word, Josh held up his hands next to Tim’s. His, too, still looked unsteady.
Caleb looked their way. “You two all right?”
“We’re fine,” Joshua said.
“Then why do you have your hands out in front of you?”
“No reason,” Tim replied. “Like your brother said, we’re just fine right now.”
Later, after Joshua fetched Gretta and took her home, Clara moved to sit next to him. “I’m going to leave in a few minutes, too. I just wanted to tell you goodbye.”
He was sorry to see her go. “Do you have to leave so soon?”
“I think so. It’s been a long day.” With a weary shake of her head, she looked at him and smiled. “A terribly long day.”
Seasons of Sugarcreek 02. Spring's Renewal Page 18
