The Amish Millers Get Married BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: The Way Home, The Way Forward, The Narrow Way) (Boxed Set: Amish Millers Get Married)

by Ruth Hartzler

  The young man put his head to one side. “Afraid of…?”

  “Going in there.” She nodded her head to the hospital.

  “I see. And who is it you have come to see?”

  “My sister, her name's Rebecca. We were in a buggy accident together. I got out of the hospital, but she’s still here. I do know her room number as I visit her most days.”

  He scratched his chin. “Well, speaking as a doctor, I would advise you not to visit your sister.”

  Hannah was aghast. “Don’t visit her?" she exclaimed. "But she’s waiting for me; I told her I’d come. I come nearly every day. It's just that…” Hannah's voice trailed away.

  “Aren’t you scared, though?”

  Hannah looked up at the hospital and then back to the doctor. “Yes, but I have to go in.”

  The doctor looked at Hannah for a moment before he said, “What if I take you in the back way? You can pretend that you're walking into a different building and not into a hospital.”

  Hannah nodded. “That would be good.”

  The doctor smiled and said, “This way.” He took Hannah around the side of the large building and through an insignificant looking door. Hannah forced herself to pretend that she was just going into any old building and not into a hospital.

  “There, we're in.” The doctor smiled at Hannah, revealing a perfect set of teeth. “I’m Dr. Hanson.”

  “Very nice to meet you; thanks for helping me. My name's Hannah Miller.”

  “Would you like me to call for a nurse to help you to your sister’s room?”

  Hannah shook her head. “Nee, I’m sure I’ve taken up enough of your time already.”

  He smiled again and tipped his head. “Glad to be of service.”

  Hannah took hold of her crutches firmly and made her way to her sister’s room. Breathe, Hannah, breathe, she told herself. She found that breathing deeply and diverting her attention away from what was troubling her, always helped her greatly.

  * * *

  Noah Hostetler was leaving the hospital after visiting Rebecca, and saw Hannah walk around the side of the building with a young, handsome mann. The mann had his hand on Hannah's arm, helping her along on her crutches, the crutches that he, Noah was responsible for. A sharp pang of guilt struck at Noah's heart, followed closely by a pang of jealousy.

  Matthew 5:38-39.

  You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

  Chapter 3 .

  "Hannah!" Rebecca let out a squeal of delight when she saw Hannah, and Hannah at once felt bad for not wanting to come. It wasn't that she didn’t want to visit Rebecca; she did, but it was the hospital that made her afraid.

  She still remembered vividly how she had awoken in a cold, sterile room and the first thing that she remembered was the unpleasant smell of the hospital disinfectant. She remembered the unbearable pain in her leg and how much her head hurt. She remembered the fear of not knowing what had happened to her sisters.

  Finally her parents had been allowed into her room and explained that she had broken her leg, and that Martha had two broken ankles and a broken arm. They told her that Esther and Rebecca both had a spinal injury in the form of a herniated disc.

  However, Martha was now at home as her injury had responded to medication, whereas Rebecca's injury was far worse and had required surgery.

  Hannah felt yet another pang of anger toward Noah Hostetler. They had known each other since childhood and never would she have imagined that he would turn out to be so irresponsible, even on his rumspringa. It was only through the grace of Gott that no one had been killed by Noah's reckless driving. Even poor old Rock, the big, bay, Saddlebred gelding that was pulling the family wagon, was now retired due to knee injuries sustained in the accident.

  Hannah drew her attention back to Rebecca. Oh well, we're all alive, and even Rock is too, she thought. Still, she could not get rid of the bitterness in her heart toward Noah. She even used to have feelings for him, before the accident of course. Now her only feelings for him were of anger and resentment.

  Back then, Hannah had thought that she would one day marry Noah, but that was before he went on rumspringa. That had filled her with dismay. Hannah herself had never even wanted to go on rumspringa. The ways of the Englisch held no attraction for her, none whatsoever. Now her former adoration for Noah had faded, not surprisingly since he was the cause of all their injuries.

  "Hannah! You seem a million miles away."

  "Sorry. I was lost in thought," Hannah said, sitting on the end of Rebecca's bed. "How are you feeling today? I'm sorry I haven't been in to see you sooner."

  Rebecca smiled. "I'm okay. Are you okay? I know that the hospital really frightens you. Anyway, I'm very glad you've come to visit. I don't know what I'd do without my big sister."

  Hannah reached out to clasp her hand. "I'll always be here for you," she said, as Rebecca stifled a yawn. "Are you tired?"

  "I am, but don’t think you're going to get away with avoiding the subject. Tell me what you were thinking about. Don't make me guess. You know how annoying I can be when I'm trying to guess what's on your mind."

  Hannah laughed heartily. "No matter what's going on, you always guess that the problem's a boy."

  Rebecca giggled. "And I'm always right. So are you going to talk about Noah Hostetler, or are you going to spend this whole visit thinking about him while I sit here staring at you? I'm fine with either." Rebecca smirked at her.

  Hannah scrunched up her nose. She had no wish to speak about Noah Hostetler, but did not want Rebecca to know how she now felt about him. After all, Rebecca had shown no signs at all that she resented Noah for the accident. "Would you tease me relentlessly if I did talk to you about a boy?"

  "Absolutely," Rebecca said, "but you still have to tell me. Don't make me go on and on about how bad I feel, until you have to confess everything out of pity for me. So, do you still like Noah, or not?"

  Hannah sighed deeply. "He just seems so changed," she said. "Rumspringa has turned him into a person I no longer recognize. I did have feelings for him, I truly did. I know we can never marry now. Not after what happened."

  Rebecca shook her head. "Don't take this to heart, but aren't you being a little too harsh on Noah? We've known the Hostetler family our entire lives. There's nobody kinder or more generous."

  "I suppose." Hannah shrugged. If only I could be as forgiving as Rebecca, she thought.

  "Besides, the accident wasn't really Noah's fault," Rebecca said. "They say he was a careful driver, but you remember how misty it was that morning? How frosty the roads were? We could hardly see a thing." Rebecca stifled another yawn. "Sorry, Hannah. I'm excited to see you; I'm just more tired than I thought."

  Hannah stood up and patted her schweschder on the shoulder. "You rest," she said. "I promise to visit again tomorrow. No matter how terrified I am of hospitals, I'd never dream of letting down my youngest sister."

  Psalm 139:13-14.

  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

  Chapter 4 .

  Tonight there was great excitement in the Miller haus as it was the first time that all the three sisters who were back at home were able to sit at the table to eat dinner. Martha had to be helped from the wheelchair onto a chair, as the table was too high for her. Her legs were healing well, but as both had been broken, she was unable to hop along like Hannah could. She was getting better at eating with her left hand, but still had to have all her food cut up for her. Martha often said that she wished it had been her right arm that was broken rather than her left.

  Mrs. Miller, with Hannah's help, had prepared meatloaf and mashed potatoes. This was also the first time that the girls' physical therapist, Amy Nolt, had accepted Mrs. Mi
ller's invitation to stay for dinner after one of her visits.

  "Thank Der Herr you're all recovering." Their mudder had a tear in her eye.

  Hannah was concerned to see her mudder's face as she had never really shown any outward affection.

  "My back hurts a bit though, Mamm," Esther said, "but it's much better than lying on my side to eat. This is gut, being able to sit up."

  "Don’t sit for too long then, Esther," Amy said. "Go lie down if it hurts too much. You shouldn't overdo it. If it gets worse it will be a long time before you'll be able to sit again."

  Esther nodded and ate another mouthful of mashed potato.

  Mrs. Miller turned to her husband. "How was your work today?"

  Mr. Miller looked down at his food. Hannah suddenly felt that he was hiding something, but then dismissed the idea as fanciful. After all, what on earth could her daed be hiding?

  "Gut." Her usually talkative daed had still not looked up, and Hannah was sure that her mudder was glaring at him.

  "What work do you do, Mr. Miller? Farming?"

  Mr. Miller did look up then, and his face relaxed into a smile. "Nee, Mrs. Nolt, I used to, but with four girls I decided to scale down the farming and start another business some years ago. My bruder and I are woodworkers; we have a furniture store."

  Amy Nolt looked interested. "What kind of furniture do you make?"

  "Many things. We make cedar bedroom sets, oak ones too, mailboxes, birdhouses, and all sorts of furniture really, from oak, cherry, hickory, and cedar. Rocking chairs are most likely our best sellers."

  Amy Nolt nodded. "Oh yes. I know your store; I've been in there a few times. My husband loves the craftsmanship."

  There was silence for a while until Mrs. Miller left the table to serve blueberry pie.

  "Hannah."

  "Yes, Datt?" Hannah looked up to see her daed's blue eyes twinkling mischievously at her.

  "I was speaking to Mr. Hostetler today and he tells me that Mrs. Hostetler could do with some help with sewing quilts."

  It took Hannah a moment to realize that her daed wanted her to help Mrs. Hostetler. "But Datt," she protested, "I'm not piffling around; my days are already taken up by helping Hannah and Martha and trying to help Mamm, and visiting Rebecca in the hospital!"

  Mr. Miller fixed her with a stern look of disapproval. "The pay is gut."

  Hannah immediately felt ashamed. The medical expenses for her and her sisters were high, and her parents had refused financial help from the Hostetlers. Her parents had of course accepted the free-will plan, where their community had taken up an offering, and then their community had sent to neighboring communities to take up an offering, but it was still not enough to cover all the expenses. The community had also raised funds through food drives. While no one had discussed it openly with her, Hannah had gotten the impression that while these had gone a considerable way to paying the expenses, there was still a shortfall.

  Hannah suspected that the Hostetlers had contributed heavily to the free-will plan, but perhaps this was a way the Hostetlers figured they could contribute even more directly, by paying her wages for sewing. But where would she find the time? She was already exhausted. "Of course I will, Datt," she said, as convincingly as she could. What choice did she have?

  Mr. Miller beamed at her, but at that moment Mrs. Miller came back in with the blueberry pie. "Mrs. Hostetler," she muttered angrily to herself.

  Hannah was glad that the physical therapist, Amy Nolt, was there, or further words might have been said.

  "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses," Mr. Miller said, his tone firm. Her daed always quoted the Bible to end arguments or to make his point.

  Mrs. Miller did not respond, but muttered, "Scripture smart" to herself and cut into the blueberry pie with firmer than necessary strokes. Hannah agreed with her mudder; she wanted nothing to do with the Hostetler familye, but then again, her familye needed the money. What if she ran into Noah? Nee, surely Mrs. Hostetler would have the good sense to make sure that that would never happen.

  "Mrs. Hostetler's store is only one block from the hospital," Mr. Miller added, avoiding his wife's gaze, "so it won't take up any extra taxi money."

  Both Esther and Martha shot Hannah sympathetic glances.

  Hannah swallowed her mouthful of blueberries. "Gut." Great, she thought, now I feel doubly guilty, all the medical bills and with me using money for taxis, just because I can't get over my fear of buggies. Hannah had suddenly lost her appetite.

  After dinner, Amy Nolt left and Hannah did her best to help her mudder in the kitchen. Esther's back was a little sore so Hannah filled a hot water bottle and set it in the small of Esther's back. She returned to the kitchen to fill a hot water bottle for Martha and one for herself. This took some doing as she was only able to manage one at a time with her crutches. Hot water bottles all done, she managed to get Martha out of her wheelchair and onto the mattress. Then she helped both girls into their thick, flannel nightgowns.

  Hannah opened the potbelly stove door and looked inside. It was almost out of wood. Hannah sighed. The potbelly was great for putting out warmth but it tended to go through too much wood too quickly. The little wood box nearby was empty so Hannah hobbled out to the kitchen to ask her daed to fetch more from the wood box on the porch.

  As she drew close, she heard her daed's voice. "Was mer net weess macht eem net heess." What you don’t know won’t hurt you.

  "Nee, Abraham. You must tell her! What happens when she finds out?" Rachel Miller's voice was insistent.

  Hannah hobbled forward on her crutches, wondering if they were talking about her, and at the same time, determined not to eavesdrop.

  Her parents both looked at her, startled, and exchanged glances with each other. By their expressions, Hannah was left in no doubt that they had been talking about her. "Mamm, Datt, there's no wood inside for the potbelly stove."

  Her daed jumped to his feet. "I'll get some now."

  Mr. Miller carried wood inside and filled the potbelly stove. He returned with more wood and stacked the wood box. "Are all you girls warm enough?"

  "Jah, denki, Datt," they all said.

  "Guten nacht."

  "Good night, Datt."

  Mr. Miller scurried upstairs. Their mudder was still in the kitchen, banging things around. Clearly, she was annoyed.

  Hannah changed into her warm nightdress and climbed under the thick blankets which covered her mattress. She normally found warmth comforting. In fact, she normally found the sound of the cold wind outside soothing and the smell of the wood fires cheering, but tonight there was no reassurance to be found. What were her parents keeping from her? And why did her mudder want her to know about this mysterious matter but her daed did not?

  Malachi 3:16.

  Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

  Chapter 5 .

  Hannah hobbled up the road on her crutches along to Mrs. Hostetler's quilt store. She knew where it was, but had never taken much notice of it. Now, she stood in front of it, taking in its gloomy appearance of faded, dark, wood planks.

  Hannah's mood matched the building's exterior. She was tired and had been unable to follow the doctor's instructions to keep off her leg, as much as she'd wanted to. The only rest she ever got was at night, in her bed, not exactly what the doctor had in mind. Her arms ached from the crutches and she had developed a sore back, and her supporting leg ached most of the time. Still, her three sisters were worse off and she needed to visit Rebecca in the hospital, and help her already overworked mudder care for Esther and Martha. At least sewing for Mrs. Hostetler was something she could do sitting down. That was something to be grateful for.

  Hannah knew Mrs. Hostetler from the church meeting e
very second Sunday and of course, they were both in the same community. However, since the accident, the Hostetlers and her family did their best to avoid each other. Hannah knew this was her mudder's doing.

  Hannah poked her head around the door, and looked straight into the face of Mrs. Hostetler who was hovering just inside. Hannah barely had time to look around the store's interior before Mrs. Hostetler took her by the arm and guided her to a room at the back of the store.

  "Sit, sit. Take some weight off your leg. I'll make us a nice cup of hot mint tea."

  Mrs. Hostetler went off to make the tea and Hannah stared at the obvious signs of electricity, not the least of which was the electric heater that was facing her.

  Mrs. Hostetler returned and smiled. "I rent this place," she said, nodding at the electric heater.

  Hannah wondered what that meant and made a mental note to ask someone. She knew that electricity was permitted outside the home in most cases, and her daed's store had electricity, but she didn’t know that smaller stores were permitted to use it. Hannah shrugged. She had no idea about such matters.

  Mrs. Hostetler set a steaming hot mug of mint tea in front of Hannah, and a large piece of Melassich Riwwelkuche, Shoo-Fly Pie. "Eat," she encouraged. "It will warm you up, to have something inside you." She patted her own tummy.

  Hannah at once relaxed. Mrs. Hostetler is very friendly. I always remember her as being very nice, she thought. She must be awfully embarrassed that her son caused the accident.

  While Hannah ate, Mrs. Hostetler asked after her sisters. Hannah tried to gloss over their injuries as she felt compassionate toward Mrs. Hostetler. After all, she wasn't the one who had driven into their buggy and caused the accident.

  "And now I'll tell you about your duties here," Mrs. Hostetler continued, "but please call me Katie."