Hannah's Choice

by Jan Drexler

  “This is Henry . . .” One of the men nodded to Hannah. “And this is John.”

  Adam pulled the hay aside, revealing a cavity framed with lumber. “It will be a little tight, but you’ll only need to be in there for a couple hours.”

  The men crawled in and settled themselves. Adam replaced the hay, making sure it stacked naturally in the wagon.

  Hannah climbed onto the seat of the wagon and Adam drove out into the yard and onto the road. As they passed the house, Adam’s father waved to them from the door.

  “I was surprised when I found out your whole family is involved in this,” Hannah said as she waved back.

  “They say they’re proud of what I’m doing.” Adam glanced at Hannah. “I know you still think it’s something the Amish wouldn’t be involved in.”

  “I know it’s something we wouldn’t do, but I’m not sure how wrong it is. It’s so confusing, isn’t it?”

  Adam grinned at her. “Hannah, I think you might be turning more Mennonite every day. The next thing I’ll hear you say is that your daed is building a meetinghouse.”

  “I don’t think I’d ever go that far.”

  They rode in silence for a while. The road dried quickly where the sunlight peeped between the bare branches of the trees, and the air was warm for January.

  “This is nice, isn’t it?” Adam didn’t look her way as he spoke, but kept his eyes on the road ahead.

  “What is?”

  “Riding together into town, just the two of us.”

  Hannah glanced back at the load of hay. If she hadn’t seen Henry and John settle themselves in the hidden cavity, she would never be able to tell they were in the wagon with them. The men hadn’t made a sound.

  “We’re not really alone, Adam.”

  “Oh, I know. But I try to forget about the extras. I don’t want to risk giving them away if someone comes along.”

  “Do you think anyone else is on the road?” Hannah peered into the woods. The bare trees were thick enough in places to hide a man.

  “It isn’t very likely, this far from town. But as we get closer, we’ll have to be careful. The Penningtons’ farm has been raided before, and it may be watched. We have a signal worked out so I know if it’s safe to stop there, or if I should go on to Columbia.”

  “When we get to town, you can leave me where you saw Liesbet, and I can look for her while you take your friends to their destination.”

  Adam shook his head. “I’m not going to leave you anywhere in Lancaster alone, especially the area where I saw Liesbet.”

  “Why not? Daed often leaves me on market days.”

  “He leaves you in the market with your goods, right? That’s different than a girl alone on a street corner.”

  Hannah didn’t answer, but remembered the teamsters who had jeered at her on her last trip to the city. Adam was right. It wasn’t a place for a girl alone, especially an Amish girl.

  While they were still outside of Lancaster, before they reached the edge of the woods, Adam stopped the wagon. He climbed down to adjust the load of hay.

  “Henry? John? How are you doing in there?”

  “We’re just fine, Mister Adam. Just fine.”

  Hannah couldn’t tell which man spoke. His voice, low and soft in its southern drawl, held a tremor of anticipation . . . or perhaps it was exhaustion. The more of these runaways she met, the more she was convinced slavery was wrong. But at the same time, it was the law, and they were to obey the civil authorities. But she couldn’t say Adam was wrong—sometimes the civil law went against God’s law, and God was the one they must obey. Daed often said he feared there would be war over the issue of slavery, but Hannah prayed not.

  “We’re getting close to Lancaster. Be sure you don’t make a sound. Slave hunters are probably on patrol, but you have to be careful all the time. You never know who might want to turn you in for the reward.”

  “You’ve no need to worry about us. We’ll be quiet as church mice.”

  Adam settled the hay back in its place. He walked around the wagon, and then went to the team, checking their harness as he walked by.

  When he climbed back onto the seat, he gave Hannah a smile as he picked up the reins. “All right, little Amish wife of mine. Are you ready to deliver our cargo?”

  Hannah laughed at his words, in spite of the serious look in his eyes. “Ja, for sure.”

  Adam clicked his tongue and the horses started out down the short slope to the open fields surrounding Lancaster, his face set, his smile gone. Hannah’s stomach roiled. Ja, she was willing to help Adam in this venture in exchange for his help in finding Liesbet, but she wasn’t risking her life the way he was.

  She kept a silent prayer repeating in her head all the way to town. Lord, if it be your will, let any slave hunters have blind eyes today.

  26

  Adam kept the horses at a steady, slow pace, as if he was in no hurry at all. He turned off the main road at the edge of town, following the less traveled route that would bypass the center of the city. They hadn’t traveled far on this road when he turned onto a road that was little more than a farm lane. They soon reached a river, and the lane turned to follow it.

  “This is our own Conestoga Creek, Hannah.”

  The river was twice as wide as the lazy creek that meandered past their farms at home.

  “What makes it so much bigger here?”

  “A lot of other smaller creeks and runs empty into it as it makes its way toward the Susquehanna. You should see how big it is where it meets that river.”

  Hannah drew her shawl around her shoulders. She preferred her own little creek to this stranger.

  They continued past three or four small farms sitting between the road and the river, all of them with well-kept houses and barns.

  “Who lives here? These aren’t Amish or Mennonite farms, are they?”

  “No. The folks along the river here are Quakers. There aren’t as many here as in Philadelphia, but there are a few.”

  The road bent to the right as the river curved in a long oxbow to the left. Hannah could see the river again ahead of them as it came back to meet the road. Adam turned the wagon into a farm lane nearly hidden by the trees that lined it.

  “This is the Pennington farm. There was no signal, so I think it’s safe to go on in.” Adam took Hannah’s hand. “If there’s any trouble, don’t speak English. Keep to your Deitsch, and I’ll do the same.”

  Hannah gave Adam a smile she hoped was reassuring, but his taut face sent chills through her.

  The tree-crowded farm lane opened into a barnyard, with a small white frame house placed along the oxbow of the river on the left, and a small barn on the right. An empty field stretched down to the loop of the river, setting the little farm on a peninsula, protected on three sides.

  Adam pulled up in front of the house when an elderly man came out onto the porch to meet them.

  “I have the hay you ordered, Mr. Pennington.”

  The man nodded and came toward the wagon as Adam jumped down.

  “Did thee see anyone on the way?” His voice was quiet, guarded.

  Adam shook his head. “No one.”

  Mr. Pennington changed to a normal tone. “We’ll put your hay in the barn, and then thee can come into the house for some tea.” He nodded at Hannah. “Thee can come in and have a word with Mrs. Pennington. I know Martha will appreciate the company.”

  Adam reached back to help Hannah from the wagon, and then climbed back into the seat to drive the short distance to the barn. “We’ll be in shortly.”

  Hannah nodded. As often as she had been in and out of the Metzlers’ home over the years, she had never stepped inside an Englischer home. She avoided contact with outsiders as much as possible, but here she was knocking on the door of a Quaker home. And as soon as Adam was finished with his business, they’d be searching in the city for Liesbet. More outsiders. She pushed down her rising irritation at her sister and smiled as a small woman in a plain gray dress
opened the door.

  “Come inside, dear. Thee must be chilled from the long drive.”

  “Thank you.” Hannah stepped inside and followed Mrs. Pennington down a short corridor to the back of the house.

  “We spend most of our time in the keeping room,” the older woman said, indicating a chair for Hannah. “Since our children are grown and gone, this room meets all our needs.”

  Hannah took in everything as she looked around the room, from the pots of herbs growing in the window above the dry sink to the large fireplace at the end of the room. All was clean, neat, and spare. She could certainly feel at home in this simple room.

  “I didn’t know Adam was married.” Mrs. Pennington poured some peppermint tea into a china teacup for Hannah and some for herself.

  “Oh, we aren’t married.” Hannah warmed her fingers by cupping them around the delicate china. “We were hoping to avoid any suspicion as we came into Lancaster with—”

  “Thee has said enough,” Mrs. Pennington interrupted. “Today, thee are a married couple. Tomorrow will attend to itself.” She took a sip of her tea. “Thou art Mennonite, also?”

  Hannah shook her head. “No. We’re Amish.”

  “Amish?” Mrs. Pennington peered at Hannah over her glasses. “’Twould be a marvelous thing if the Amish joined us in our work.”

  “Oh, but I’m not working with Adam. I needed to come into town, and since he was coming I rode with him.”

  “In full knowledge of the work he’s doing.”

  Hannah nodded. “Ja, I know of his work.”

  Mrs. Pennington smiled. “God works in mysterious ways to bring about his will. Thee will find the yoke easy.”

  “Oh no, you don’t understand. I’m Amish. We don’t involve ourselves in such things.”

  Hannah was spared further questioning by the men coming into the house through a back door.

  “Thee settled our guests well?” Mrs. Pennington rose to get two more of the china cups and poured tea for the men.

  “We did at that.” Mr. Pennington eased himself into a chair at the table.

  “Dinner will be ready soon.” Mrs. Pennington turned to Adam. “Thee will be welcome to join us.”

  “No, thank you.” Adam glanced at Hannah as he spoke. He knew how anxious she was to find Liesbet and get home. “We have errands to run in Lancaster and we want to get home before suppertime tonight. We don’t want Hannah’s parents to worry about her.”

  Finishing their tea, Hannah and Adam prepared to leave. Mr. Pennington walked them to the front door.

  “Thee will need to remain mindful of interference until thee reach the main road.”

  “Have you seen any more slave hunters around?” Adam’s question was breathed so quietly, Hannah hardly heard the words.

  “No, but they are suspicious of any of the Friends, knowing our convictions.” He laid his hand on Adam’s broad shoulder. “The traitor in Peach Bottom has been found out and is no longer in a position to harm us. But that doesn’t mean we relax our guard.”

  Adam nodded. “If anyone stops us, I’ll tell them we delivered a load of hay to you. They may come by to check out the truth of my words.”

  Mr. Pennington smiled. “We’ll be expecting them, and they’ll find nothing but hay.” He patted Adam’s shoulder. “The Lord bless thee, and may he keep thee in his peace.”

  “And the same to you, my friend.”

  When Adam turned to help Hannah into the wagon seat, his eyes were misty. She waited until they had waved a goodbye and were on their way before asking, “Is anything wrong?”

  Adam looked back at the secluded farmhouse and then grasped her hand. “The slave hunters are closing in, and they’re violent men. I’m afraid for those two, but they won’t stop what they’re doing.”

  Hannah’s mind went back to the peaceful keeping room and Mrs. Pennington’s serene face. They were breaking the law, and they knew it, but they wouldn’t stop as long as they believed they were following God’s law. She glanced at Adam’s face. He had the same determination.

  Adam traced their route back to the main road, passing the quiet farms. Everything was quiet, with even the birds and animals silent. Adam looked around.

  “Does it seem a little too quiet to you?” His voice was a whisper and he gathered the reins closer in his hands.

  Two men stepped out of the tangled underbrush as they approached the main road. One of them grabbed the near horse’s bridle while the other one came close to Adam.

  “Well, just where you been, son?” He spit into the bushes at the side of the lane and shifted a wad of tobacco from one cheek to the other.

  This wasn’t the same slave hunter Hannah had seen in the woods in the autumn, but his voice had the same rough tone.

  “My wife and I are on our way to Lancaster. We just delivered a load of hay to a farm back a ways.” He nodded behind them. Hannah had to keep herself from staring at Adam. His English words were heavy with a German accent.

  The man walked past Adam to peer into the wagon box. He spit into the shrubs again and came back.

  “Hay, huh? Is that all you delivered to them?”

  “Ja, one load of hay.”

  The man regarded both of them through heavy eyes. The one at the horses’ heads took off his hat and wiped his forearm across his brow.

  “C’mon, Jasper. They’re just farmers.”

  Jasper didn’t move except to spit one more time. “Yeah, just farmers, but them clothes look like Quaker clothes. You some of them slave-loving idiots, farmer?”

  Hannah looked down at her knees and smoothed the edge of her shawl over her dress.

  When Adam spoke, his voice was calm. “We’re Amish, not Quaker.”

  “Huh. Amish?” Jasper looked at his friend and back at Adam. “You Amish are just as likely to help them runaways as the Quakers in my book.”

  Jasper looked over the edge of the wagon box. Hannah tried to pray, but couldn’t. Adam was lying to these men, claiming they were both Amish. Lie upon lie.

  “What farm did you deliver your hay to?” Jasper spit again, this time aiming at the near horse’s hind foot.

  “The Penningtons.” As Jasper signaled to his friend to move back down the lane, Adam added, “They’re an elderly couple. I’m sure they’re not part of anything illegal.”

  “You’re sure, huh?” Jasper grinned at his friend. “Y’all just wait here. We’ll check out your story and be right back.”

  As soon as the men disappeared down the lane, Hannah said, “Let’s go, Adam.”

  Adam lifted the reins in his hands, but hesitated, peering down the shadowed lane after the men.

  “What if they find something? I should go back to help the Penningtons.”

  “If they find something, they’ll know you lied to them.” Hannah put her hand over her mouth. He had lied to them about delivering only a load of hay, and he had lied when he claimed to be Amish. Did lies always come this easily to him?

  “But the Penningtons are defenseless. Who knows what those men might do to them?” Adam stood, trying to get a better view. “Besides,” he slid back down onto his seat, “if we leave now, those men will be suspicious, thinking we have something to hide.”

  “How long will they be?”

  “I don’t know, but it shouldn’t take too long to verify that I delivered the hay like I said I did.”

  “Won’t they find—”

  “Don’t speak of it.” Adam’s voice was a hissing whisper.

  Hannah waited, but her thoughts flitted between the gentle Penningtons and what she might find once they found Liesbet. Her stomach turned to think what Liesbet might have done to stay with that worthless George McIvey.

  Finally Jasper and the other slave hunter came back down the lane.

  “Y’all go on about your business.” Jasper waved them on as he took up his position back in the underbrush, ignoring the wagon.

  “Them bucks gotta be coming this way, don’t they, Jasper?”

>   Hannah tried to keep from hearing the men’s conversation as Adam urged the horses on. They spoke about the runaway slaves as if they were animals or cargo, not men.

  Once they were well down the road, Adam turned to Hannah. “You did well back there. Those men didn’t suspect a thing.”

  “I don’t like this whole business, Adam.” Hannah pulled her shawl closer around her shoulders.

  “I admit it’s dangerous, but we’re doing God’s work.”

  “Doing God’s work shouldn’t require you to lie.”

  Adam smiled, but his mouth was tight and grim. “Sometimes it does.”

  “It doesn’t seem right.”

  “Didn’t Rahab lie when she hid the Israelite spies?”

  Hannah didn’t have an answer.

  The streets of Lancaster were muddy, with bits of dirty snow left here and there where traffic had left it undisturbed.

  Hannah searched the busy walkways for a sign of her sister as Adam drove to the corner where he had last seen her. He turned off the main street and headed toward the railroad tracks and the rows of warehouses at the junction of the Pennsylvania and Lancaster Railroads.

  When he reached a corner tavern, he pulled the horses to the hitching rail and stopped them.

  “This is it.” He nodded toward the step in front of the tavern. “She was standing there until she recognized me, and then ducked up those stairs there.”

  A wooden stairway clung to the outside of the building, leading to a second floor.

  Loud voices rose from inside the tavern and then subsided. A seedy man clutching a thin butternut jacket around his middle opened the tavern door, releasing the reek of stale beer and brewing hops.

  Hannah cringed. “You’re sure this is the place?”

  Adam nodded. “I don’t know if she’s still here, but I know she went in that door at the top of the staircase.”

  Hannah shuddered at the thought of climbing the rickety stairs.

  “I’ll go up, if you like.”

  Hannah looked around her. She didn’t want to stay alone with the wagon. “We’ll go together.”