Sisters of the Quilt

by Cindy Woodsmall

Leggett? That wasn’t an Amish last name, was it?

  The girl held out her hand. As Hannah shook it, she noted this girl had an air of confidence that Hannah could only dream of.

  Elle paused beside Matthew’s chair, waiting for him to raise his foot so she could place the pillow under it.

  Hannah turned the knob on the kerosene lamp in the middle of the kitchen table, making the room a bit brighter.

  Elle gave the pillow that held Matthew’s leg one last dusting with the palm of her hand. “I … I didn’t mean to interrupt you.” Her eyes flicked over Hannah. “I saw Matthew’s mother heading for the barn. She said he was in the storage room and I should go on in. She didn’t say he had company.”

  The concern that registered in Matthew’s eyes was distressing, and Hannah knew he was beginning to see what she had tried to explain. Hannah’s reputation was being tarnished by her own sister, and Matthew’s newfound friendship with Elle could be ripped up by the roots before it had time to grow strong.

  Elle held out her hand. “Hannah, it was nice to meet you. Samuel is awful proud of his oldest sister. He speaks of you often at school.” She smiled. Elle’s features held no malice or petty jealousy but plenty of disappointment. She nodded at Matthew and turned to leave.

  “No.” Matthew lightly smacked the table. “Don’t go.”

  Elle looked from him to Hannah.

  “Please stay.” Hannah eased into a kitchen chair and shoved one out for Elle. “So, you teach in our district?”

  Matthew rolled his eyes, playfully mocking Hannah. “She’s been out of touch, bein’ at the hospital with Luke and Mary for weeks and now chained to the Yoder place while Mary mends.”

  Inquisitiveness crossed Elle’s features. “And you’re here now because …”

  Hannah stole a glance at Matthew. She liked this girl. Her direct but polite approach left no doubt what she wanted to know. “I … I sort of came for honey.” Her cheeks burned. Sort of? She hadn’t meant to word it like that, and now there was no backing up.

  Matthew leaned forward. “Her real reason for coming here was to see me and talk. We’re friends, Elle.”

  Elle eased into the chair Hannah had pushed her way.

  Hannah noticed the same high spirits in Elle’s eyes that Matthew had, but there was something else, something harder, more assertive.

  Elle leaned forward in her chair. “If someone doesn’t either clear the air or let me leave with my pride intact, you’re going to need another trip to the doc’s, Matthew Esh, and I’ll not be accompanying you this time.”

  Matthew cocked his head. “There’s no more between Hannah and me than there is between you and her brother Samuel.”

  Elle studied her.

  Hannah searched her mind for something friendly to say. “I’ve never heard the name Elle among our people before. It’s beautiful.”

  The girl stole a look at Matthew. “I was born in Pennsylvania, but I wasn’t born Amish.”

  Trying to hide her surprise, Hannah stammered. “B-but you’re Amish now? How is that possible?”

  Elle leaned back in the chair a bit and let her hands rest in her lap. “When I was ten, my mother became very ill. Abigail Zook, my mother’s best friend and a very loving Amish woman, began taking care of me. Not long after my mother died, my father left … and has never returned. To keep me out of the foster-care system, Abigail and her husband, Hezekiah, took me in while a search was made for any relatives I might have. None were found.” Elle dispensed the information like memorized lines from a book rather than a past filled with heartache and hope. She possessed an inner strength that Hannah found inspiring.

  Matthew’s eyes were glued to Elle as he spoke to Hannah. “Abigail and Hezekiah have been married about fifteen years, but they were never blessed with children of their own. They only have Elle, and now she plans on joining our faith when the bishop says she can.”

  The looks that ran between Elle and Matthew left little doubt that she was as interested in him as he was in her.

  Matthew had told her right. It was the strangest thing she’d ever heard tell of among the Amish. But Hannah couldn’t let this go without making sure the girl had thought this through. “It’s hard to live without electricity once you’ve had it.”

  Elle’s eyes widened as she nodded in agreement. “No doubt. But Kiah—that’s what I call Hezekiah—allows for bending a few rules.” She pulled a cell phone out of her hidden pocket. “What he’s not willing to bend rules on, I can live without.”

  Hannah stared at her. “How can you be so sure?”

  Elle laughed. “Life is filled with sacrifices of one type or another. I’ve seen both sides of life, the fancy way and the plain way. I choose plain. Not because it will save me, because it won’t. Just because it’s where my life is, with Kiah and Abigail. When I have kids, I’d like Abigail to get to hold my babies and know they’re her grandchildren, although she’ll still be young enough to have a baby of her own if she could have children.”

  Hannah gave a slight nod, as if she understood the deep connection Elle felt to Abigail and Hezekiah. But she wasn’t sure she did.

  Matthew ran the palms of his hands across the tabletop. “She drives a horse and buggy around the district to make visits to her students’ homes and such, but because she lives so far from here, she leaves the horse and buggy at the Bylers’, and a driver takes her home.”

  Elle laughed. “More like the horse and buggy drives me. Can’t say I’ve gotten the hang of making the horse do my bidding.”

  “I think the Bylers need to own a better-trained horse. I got one I’m working with that’ll be up for sale in a few weeks if they’re interested.” Matthew leaned forward, catching a glimpse of the clock. “Ya better go or the driver will leave, and you’ll be sleeping at the Bylers’ for the night.”

  Elle stood. “Yeah, I’d better go. Hannah, it was nice to meet you. Samuel will like that I finally met you.”

  “I’m glad we had this snippet of time, Elle.” Hannah rose. “I need to get the honey and go too. But I’ll clean up the mess in the storage room first.” She grabbed the broom and dustpan and walked out of the kitchen, giving Matthew and Elle a moment alone.

  As she picked up the fallen crutches, Hannah heard thunder rumble softly in the distance. She leaned the crutches against the shelf. Sweeping the broken glass into the pan, she dreaded walking home. She hadn’t been on a walk alone since her attack, except from the house to the barn. Her palms were sweaty with the thought.

  After putting the broom and dustpan in a corner, she grabbed the bag containing the jars of honey. The heavy jars could be used as a weapon if need be.

  When she stepped onto the porch, Elle was in her gig, pulling out of the driveway.

  Naomi came across the yard, leading a horse-drawn cart. “Someone needs to take Hannah home before the rains get here. Since you’re useless around the house these days, I chose you.”

  Relief as well as humor washing over her, Hannah laughed.

  Matthew growled playfully. “Thanks, Mamm.” He made his slow descent down the porch stairs.

  With a smile plastered on her face, Naomi motioned to the small rig. “I hitched the pony cart up for you so you can easily climb in and out of this low-to-the-ground thing.” She winked at Hannah. “Now, go, Son. And if the rains catch you, stay at John Yoder’s for the night.”

  “Gosh, Mamm, are you trying to get rid of me?”

  Naomi chortled and turned to go inside.

  Grateful for an escort, Hannah climbed into the weathered wooden rig. After settling on the bench, Matthew laid his crutches between him and Hannah. He took the reins and slapped them against the horse’s back. Hannah set the bag of honey in the seat, feeling nervous about being gone so long.

  The pony trotted across the top of the ridge and into the Yoders’ barnyard before Matthew brought the rig to a stop. “I’m glad you got to meet Elle.”

  Hannah climbed out of the cart. “Me too. But remember what
I said about that midnight ride. Just don’t tell anyone it was you, and your relationship with Elle won’t feel any strain from the rumors.”

  Matthew shrugged as he scanned the yards. “Looks like Mary had more Englischers come visit.”

  Paul was backing Gram’s car out of the driveway.

  Hannah’s heart jerked inside her chest.

  Paul pulled onto the paved road, disappointment so thick he couldn’t think. Maybe it would be better if Gram drove, since he was almost blind with disappointment. All his weeks of planning ruined, and because he hadn’t seen her today, he probably wouldn’t have the chance to see her over Thanksgiving either. He doubted he could change his dad’s mind about leaving the state for the Christmas holidays. After disappointing his father with how little he’d been home over the past few years, he couldn’t refuse his father’s gift of a family vacation at the beach. Besides being rude, it would cause a rift between them, and he needed his father on his side during the lengthy spell to win the approval of Hannah’s family.

  Paul sighed. He didn’t know when he’d been more aggravated. Now he might not see Hannah until May. Would she continue to wait for him through all these unforeseen obstacles? Another angry sigh escaped his lips. May was too far away. Something had to be done.

  He glanced at his grandmother. “Gram, you’ve got to help me get a letter to Hannah.”

  Gram’s soft wrinkles seemed to droop more than normal these days. He figured she was missing Hannah as much as he was. Hannah was one of the few people who managed to ignore his grandmother’s curtness and stubbornness. Gram could hire laborers left and right, but she couldn’t pay someone to truly care. Hannah always cared.

  Gram harrumphed. “I can’t, Paul. I came here today. That will have to be enough.”

  He squeezed the steering wheel. “Please, Gram. Surely you can pass her one letter.”

  She shook her head. “I promised …” Gram dropped her sentence, squirming uncomfortably against the bucket seat.

  Paul stopped the car, not caring that he was in the middle of the road. “Go on.”

  The lines on Gram’s face stiffened. “You two will be fine … if you’re supposed to be. That’s all there is to it.”

  “Who did you promise that you wouldn’t pass letters to Hannah?” Paul stage-whispered the words in an effort to remain gentle and respectful with his grandmother. There were only a few people who would ask for a promise like this from his grandmother: Hannah’s father, her mother, or one of her older brothers. Paul decided to go with the most likely person. “Did her father come to see you?”

  Gram didn’t move a muscle. “She is his daughter, Paul. And whether you believe this or not, he has more rights over Hannah’s life than you.”

  A deep disappointment stabbed him in the center of his chest. Mr. Lapp wasn’t supposed to know, not yet. Not until Hannah was legally an adult so she couldn’t get into too much trouble with her father. “What did he say?”

  The sternness on her face softened as her eyes glistened with tears. Paul realized he’d been putting her in a tug of war for months by wanting one thing from her while Hannah’s father demanded another.

  She pulled a handkerchief out of her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “It came to his attention that Hannah had been waiting on letters to come to my house for her. Her father suspects there’s an Englischer or Mennonite working for me who is tempting his daughter away from where God has placed her. He didn’t ask for specific information, and I offered none. I did, however, agree not to allow any more letters.” She shoved the hanky back into her purse. “Paul, I’m sorry, but the man has good points. She’s his daughter, and by English laws she’s a minor.” She clapped her hands and motioned for Paul to get the car moving.

  He eased his foot onto the gas pedal, driving without noticing much of anything. “How did he learn of the letters?”

  “I think Sarah told him.”

  So even her sister was against him and Hannah being together. The magnitude of all that was against them settled heavily onto his shoulders.

  Gram rubbed her forehead. “When Hannah got sick right after you left, Sarah started coming in her stead. She asked me if I had any letters for Hannah. My guess is that Hannah must have asked her to pick up anything that came to me for her.”

  Coming to a stop sign, Paul brought the car to a halt. “So her father is going behind her back to end things. This isn’t good. I wanted a chance to earn his respect.”

  Gram glowered at him. “Kinda hard to earn respect when you’re sneaking around behind the man’s back.”

  Paul accelerated too quickly, causing the tires to squeal. “I don’t know what else to do, Gram. Let her go when that’s not what either of us wants? I mean, if God’s Word said something against two people who love Him falling in love, then I’d back off.”

  Hannah stood by the side of the road, watching Gram’s car disappear around a curve. She was so tired of life not being fair that she could crawl in a hole and stay there. She waited, hoping Paul would spot her in the rearview mirror. But as the car disappeared around a bend, her heart sank. She turned and trudged back up the driveway.

  She heard a horse exhale and looked up. Matthew had ridden from the barnyard and down the driveway.

  He stood beside the buggy, holding up the sack containing the honey jars. “You forgot the honey.”

  She reached for the bag. “Thanks.” Holding the honey against her chest, she faced into the wind and took a deep breath, trying desperately to get a hold on her emotions.

  Matthew motioned toward the paved road. “I take it whoever was in that car is the reason you don’t mess with singings.”

  Hannah closed her eyes, weary of secrets, half truths, and slinking through life as if she was a sinner. Even Matthew didn’t understand. She saw it in his eyes. In spite of Elle’s background, he didn’t understand that all she wanted was a life with Paul. That’s all.

  The wind thrashed against her cheeks as thunder rumbled and a streak of lightning shot across the sky. She wished it were possible for the wind to snatch her up and land her in a place where life wasn’t a constant choosing of sides.

  “You’d better go on in, Matthew. The rains will be here before you get to the edge of the field.” Hannah took the pony by the harness. “Go on in. I’ll put the rig in the barn and the pony in a stall. When the storm blows over, you can go home.”

  Matthew surveyed the skies while grabbing his crutches and getting out of the wagon.

  Before he could say another word, Hannah led the pony into the barn. As she unhitched the animal from the carriage, a delicious new thought danced into her mind. Maybe, just maybe she could use the Yoders’ phone to call Paul. She had no idea why she hadn’t thought of it before. Maybe because using the phone for the first time earlier today had made her realize how easy it was to place a call. Excitement pulsed through her.

  As she put the pony in a stall, another round of thunder clapped, vibrating the air around her. The fast-paced clops of a horse heading in her direction made her quickly fasten the stall gate and rush to the door of the barn.

  Luke.

  Looking pale with worry, he came to a halt just outside the barn and slid off the horse. Holding the reins, he sprinted into the shelter. “How is Mary?”

  “Still asleep as far as I know.” Becky would be calling for me if she weren’t.

  He thrust the reins toward her. “Edna said she had some sort of spell today.”

  “A tiny one.” Hannah took the leather straps, knowing he intended for her to walk the horse until it was cool and to rub the sweat-soaked creature down. “We just need to make sure she has less excitement and no hint of discord with anyone.” She patted the horse’s neck, feeling the sweat on the beast. “She’s never been one to cope well with gossip, and a quilting is not the place for her right now.”

  Between his concern for Mary and the brewing storm, Hannah knew her brother would be staying the night. With Luke there, hopes of sneaking out long
enough to call Paul faded. She grabbed a sackcloth and started drying the horse’s neck.

  Luke struck a match and lit a kerosene lamp. “That’s why she didn’t want to come to the farm without you the night of the accident; she was afraid it’d stir unfounded gossip about us.”

  “She didn’t want to be the target of speculation where you were concerned.” She hung the damp sack on the rail and grabbed a dry one.

  “Ach,” he growled. “So it’s my fault?”

  “That’s not what I was trying to say. Luke, I … I’m sorry I didn’t go with you that night. Really I am.” Hannah could only take his word for how her decision to stay home had resulted in their accident.

  “Bein’ sorry doesn’t fix a thing, now does it? She’s your best friend, Hannah. You knew how she felt about being seen with me on our property without you there to make it look like friends spending time together. You knew!” Luke turned his back on her and dashed for the house.

  Large drops of rain pelted the tin roof. Hannah swiped the cloth over the other side of the horse. Luke’s words could only hurt her so deep this time. His resentment against her was ridiculous. He had told Mary he forgave the man driving the car that hit them. So why couldn’t Luke forgive his own sister? She was fast becoming weary of her brother. He was too much like her father—pleasant to those he agreed with, angry and demanding with those he didn’t.

  Longing to talk to someone who truly knew her welled in her heart. She had to call Paul, regardless of Luke’s presence. Maybe now was the best time, while they thought she was tending to the animals. Hannah hurried to finish this chore so she could steal around the back way to the phone. If only she could hear his voice, she could endure until Christmas.

  As she tossed feed into a trough, she noticed John Yoder’s horse penned up for the night. The men and boys of the Yoder family must have returned from their hunt and from school while she was at the Esh place. Her stomach growled. It was past time for supper, and she hadn’t had lunch.

  She turned off the kerosene lamp and shut the barn door behind her. Standing under the eaves of the barn, she plotted the best route to the phone without anyone seeing her. Having settled on a course that went behind trees and bushes, she took off running.