Hannah nodded, a little embarrassed.
"Now, down to business. This store sells mainly quilts, but also wall hangings and quillows - you know, a quilt and pillow combined."
Hannah nodded.
"Everything is hand done, but I use a sewing machine to piece the quilts. It would take far too long otherwise, and I'm already getting behind with orders." Katie nodded to the door to the main section of the store. "I have a foot-operated, treadle sewing machine out there. The Englisch customers are intrigued by it." Katie laughed, but then looked somber. "I won't get you to sew on it yet, with your leg."
Hannah made to protest. "It's my left leg that's injured, and I'm sure I could use my right leg on the treadle. I'm sure I could manage."
Katie looked doubtful. "But surely, before…," she broke off and caught her breath, "the accident, you used both feet?"
"Yes, Mrs. Hostetler, oh sorry, Katie, but I'm sure it would be easy enough to do with one foot. I don’t think the cast would get in the way; I'm sure I could figure it out." Hannah was worried that Katie Hostetler hadn’t taken her leg into consideration when she had wanted to employ her and had been hoping she would sew on the machine.
Katie Hostetler cleared the plates and cups away. "When your leg is out of its cast, of course you may piece the quilts, but I have plenty of sewing for you to do before that."
Hannah breathed a sigh of relief.
"I sew in the front of the store," Katie Hostetler continued, "as the Englischers like to see me sewing, and it’s easier to serve customers if I'm already out there. There's plenty of room for us both to sit out there, and we can chat as we sew."
Hannah's heart fell. As nice as Katie Hostetler was, Hannah did not wish to spend hours chatting to her. What could they have to talk about? Hannah's sisters, injured by Katie Hostetler's son? Hannah's mother, who was just as upset with Katie Hostetler's son, Noah, as Hannah herself was? This is going to be awkward, Hannah thought. She hoped that Katie Hostetler had plenty of work to do on the treadle which would make talking over the noise difficult.
By lunchtime, Hannah was more relaxed and even enjoying herself. Katie Hostetler had talked about aspects of quilting all morning, much to Hannah's delight. Hannah had always been keen on sewing.
"Lunch time," Katie suddenly announced.
Hannah was embarrassed. She hadn't thought to bring lunch with her as she wasn't sure how long she'd be working that first day. The thought had also occurred to Katie. "Hannah, I'm so thoughtless. I should've said that I wanted you to work 'til 3 today but only to midday other days. Never mind, I have plenty of lunch here for you."
Hannah made to protest but then stopped herself. "Denki, Mrs. Hostetler."
"Remember I said to call me Katie." With that, Katie smiled and went into the back room. After a minute or two, she poked her head around the door. "Come on, Hannah, lunch."
Hannah stood up, and immediately noticed that her back pain had gone and her arms weren't aching. The morning's rest, sitting down, has done me a power of good, she thought.
Hannah hadn't realized how hungry she was until she saw the little table laden with schnitz und knepp, ham and apple dumplings. As she sat down on the wooden chair, she looked around for a cookstove but couldn’t see one.
Katie laughed. "I use a small gas cook stove, just over there. Anyway, how did you find the morning's work?"
Hannah smiled. "I enjoyed it, denki."
"Your sewing is very good. Do you make quilts?"
Hannah looked up, surprised, and then realized that Katie was asking her if she made quilts at home, not quilts in her shop. "Jah, I do."
Katie set a plate of schnitz und knepp in front of Hannah. "If you're interested, I could sell your quilts here on commission. They do bring good prices here."
"Jah, I saw." Hannah had been surprised at the high prices of quilts in Katie Hostetler's store. This could be a further way to help her parents' financial problems over the medical expenses.
The bell over the door sounded and Katie Hostetler went into the front room to attend to the customer. Hannah followed, but far more slowly. As she opened the door she heard Mrs. Hostetler hiss words such as "Ferhoodled," confused, mixed up, and "Ab im kopp," crazy. Surely Mrs. Hostetler wouldn’t be speaking to a customer like that?
Hannah hesitated, wondering if she should enter the room, but she was there to work after all. No doubt Mrs. Hostetler would take the person into the back room if she wanted to have a private conversation with him or her.
Hannah hobbled forward on her crutches, only to look up into the face of Noah Hostetler.
"You!"
The word came out as an accusation, but Hannah had no time to mind that, as, in surprise, she stepped forward without her crutches and fell forward hard onto the floor.
It seemed to happen in slow motion and she saw both Mrs. Hostetler and Noah start toward her, shock on their faces.
Noah reached her first, and helped her to her feet.
"Denki." Hannah knew the word had come out stiffly, but she was fortunate that she had managed to speak at all. Noah's proximity had set her heart racing, and vibrations were running through her. She felt as if she had placed her hand on a generator. Her breath came in short bursts.
Mrs. Hostler reached her and helped her to a chair, her face full of concern.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Hannah protested to Mrs. Hostetler who was bending over her while at the same time nodding to the door in an attempt to get Noah to leave. "I'm just doplich."
"You're not clumsy, Hannah." Mrs. Hostetler fussed over her like a mother hen. "Are you hurt?"
"Nee." Only my heart is hurt, Hannah thought. She looked past Mrs. Hostetler, but Noah had gone. He had left the store.
Why did her heart race so when she saw him? How could her feelings for him still be there after everything Noah Hostetler had done to her, and not only to her, but to her sisters too?
* * *
Noah stumbled out the door, heartbroken. This was the first time he had spoken to Hannah since the accident. The very first word she had said to him had been nothing less than an accusation. She must really hate me, he thought despondently. And who can blame her? If it wasn't for me, Hannah and her three schweschders wouldn't be injured. It's all my fault. I'm sure she'll hate me forever.
The bishop had warned Noah to keep away from Hannah's mudder, Mrs. Miller, as it would likely take her some time to come to terms with the accident. Even the kindly Mr. Miller had told Noah the same thing. Noah was surprised that Hannah had agreed to work for his own mudder, but he figured that Mr. Miller must have had a hand it, perhaps to try to force reconciliation between the familyes.
It had been a mistake to come here today; Noah knew that now. Yet it was so hard for him to keep away from Hannah. He had been about to tell her his feelings for her, right before the accident. Now his hopes and dreams had all been cruelly shattered, just because he'd gotten behind the wheel of the car that day. The worst thing of all, was that he had no one to blame but himself.
Luke 13:2-5.
And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Chapter 6 .
When Hannah arrived home that night after visiting Rebecca in the hospital which she did after working in the quilt store, she felt happier than she had in quite some time. Rebecca was in high spirits as her regular hospital physical therapist was pleased with her improvement. Further, Hannah had enjoyed chatting with Katie Hostetler, but even more, had enjoyed the good rest that hours of sitting had afforded her. In fact, the only parts of her that hurt somewhat were her eyes, from close stitching
. Her leg did not pain her at all, for the first time since the accident.
Hannah's heart was singing but that did not last when she entered the haus and saw their dinner guest, David Yoder, the son of her mudder's close friend Beth Yoder. Her mudder had been doing her best to be a matchmaker and had her heart set on Hannah marrying David. Before the accident, her mother had approved of Hannah's attraction to Noah Hostetler, but of course that had all changed.
David's face lighted up when he saw Hannah and she did her best to smile. She was not attracted to David, not in the slightest. He was good looking enough, being tall and wiry, but he always had an arrogant manner and a cold, thin-lipped smile. There was no warmth about him whatsoever. She had heard rumors that he had been seen with Englisch girls.
David continued to stare at Hannah. He's looking me over like I'm a cow at the market, Hannah thought, and she could not suppress an involuntary shudder.
On the other hand, Mrs. Miller clearly did not share her opinion of David. She gushed all over him. "Look who's here, Hannah."
Hannah resisted the urge to say something sarcastic, and merely said, "Hiya, David."
Mrs. Miller's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, silly me. I forgot to collect the eggs. Hannah, would you and David go and collect the eggs for me?"
David leaped to his feet, but Hannah stood there staring at her mother. "But, Mamm, it's night, and besides, the chickens aren’t laying at this time of year."
Her mudder's face turned beet red, and Hannah at once realized that this was a matchmaking ploy. "Okay, Mamm," she said, before her mother could rebuke her. The last thing she wanted was any time alone with David, but her mudder had other ideas.
Hannah put her warm mittens and her long, wool coat back on, and hurried out to the barn carrying a lantern, followed closely by David. She figured if she kept ahead of him, that there would be less opportunity to speak to him. Hannah rushed into the coop and shut it behind her. She hurried to look in the nest boxes despite knowing that there were no eggs, but then she could at least say she had looked. She turned around and hurried out of the coop.
When the latch was shut, Hannah turned around but David was standing directly in front of her. She was unable to step back, so quickly took a step to the side. David attempted to put his arm around her waist, but she pulled away. "David Yoder!" Hannah said by way of rebuke.
David removed his arm, but blocked her way. "Hannah, I was wondering if you'd come on a buggy ride with me one afternoon."
"Nee, David," she snapped, and made to push past him. Hannah felt bad for snapping, but she most certainly did not want to date David Yoder. She had heard rumors that he'd been seen with Englisch girls, and had paid the rumors no mind, but his act of trying to put his arm around her in a darkened barn did not help her opinion of him. That was most certainly inappropriate behavior. She had never given him any encouragement whatsoever. Still, she at once wished that she had turned down his invitation graciously, but his physical proximity had alarmed her.
"I'm afraid of buggies, after the accident," she added in a more measured tone.
David reached for her hand but she pulled it away. "Is that why you won’t come on a buggy ride with me then, as you're scared of buggies now." He said it more as a statement than a question.
"Nee." Hannah wished she hadn't opened her big mouth and made that remark about buggies, as she could see why it had given David the wrong idea.
Still, David was persistent. "Are you seeing anyone else?"
"Nee," Hannah said again before thinking. It was none of David's business whether she was seeing anyone or not.
"Is it Noah Hostetler? You always were following him around. I thought him causing your accident would cure you of him."
David loomed over her, so close she could feel his breath on her check. Hannah pushed him away, hard, and then hurried back to the haus as fast as she could, holding the lantern in front of her.
When Hannah returned to the haus, she helped her mother serve Dutch Goose to the family and their guest. Her sisters were already sitting at the table. Hannah noticed that David seemed to be in a sulky mood. He had certainly gone quiet. Hannah could not help but shoot him a furious gaze from time to time but he simply smirked at her.
Both her sisters were watching the exchange and Hannah knew she would have to answer their questions later. Still, she was grateful for their unspoken support.
"I sat up for longer today," Esther announced. "My back doesn’t hurt as much."
"Wunderbaar," Mr. Miller said. "And how were you today, Martha?"
"Getting there," Martha mumbled, trying to eat with her left hand.
"And how was your first day working for Mrs. Hostetler, Hannah?"
"Gut, Datt. I enjoyed it." That is, until I saw Noah Hostetler, Hannah silently added.
Hannah's mudder muttered under her breath, but it was David who spoke up. "You're working for Mrs. Hostetler!" he exclaimed.
"David." Just the one word from Mr. Miller caused David to go silent, but a tension had descended over the room. The tension lasted the entire meal. David left after dinner, and Hannah helped her mudder clean up.
"What do you think of David?"
Hannah knew her mudder wouldn’t be happy with her answer. "Mamm, I have no interest in David."
Her mudder turned to her, surprised. "Hannah, you're not getting nay younger. David's a good man."
A chill ran up the back of Hannah's spine. "But Mamm, I'm not in love with him."
Mrs. Miller snorted rudely. "Love? Lots of men and women aren’t in love when they marry. They grow to love each other. If it's in Gott's will, it works out well between them, and then the bopplin come along."
Hannah shuddered at the thought, a fact which was not lost on her mudder.
Mrs. Miller turned her back to Hannah and banged some pans around. "David is a wealthy man from a wealthy family, and bills will be taken care of if you marry him. It will take a burden from us."
Burden? That's how Mamm sees me? Hannah bit her lip and did her best not to burst into tears. It was so unfair. She hadn’t caused the accident; she was the victim. There was no way she was going to marry David Yoder. The very thought made her cringe. Even if she had to sit up half the night making quilts to sell in Mrs. Hostetler's store, along with all her other duties, it would be worth it to avoid such an unpleasant situation. Besides, her mudder could not force her to marry David Yoder, and she was sure her daed was on her side. After all, her daed had always approved of Noah Hostetler.
Noah. The very thought of him caused Hannah's heart to race. Today was the first time they had spoken after the accident. He had visited her in the hospital more than once, but each time she had shut her eyes until she heard him leave the room. Tears had pricked her eyes each time when he again and again poured forth his heartfelt apology, but she simply could not open her eyes and face the man who had caused such harm. Her previous feelings for him only made the situation so much worse.
Hannah lay on the mattress that night, unable to sleep. Hannah had assumed that her old feelings for Noah had left, but seeing him again today had made her doubt that. Even thinking about him now, her heart yearned for him, to her dismay. "Don’t be so stupid," she said aloud to herself, and then put her hand over her mouth when Esther stirred.
Whatever future there might have been between her and Noah Hostetler had been destroyed the day he ran into their buggy.
Luke 13:23-24.
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Chapter 7 .
Hannah was now working three mornings a week on a regular basis in Mrs. Hostetler's store. On those days, she visited Rebecca in the hospital in the early afternoons, and then hurried home to help her mudder with Martha and Esther.
One afternoon, she visited Rebecca as usual, and on this occasion, a young nurse was talki
ng to Rebecca when Hannah entered the room. The nurse made to leave, but paused at the door and looked back at the two. "Rebecca, you have so many visitors that you'll be sad to go home. You'll miss them, I bet, especially the handsome young men." With that, the nurse winked at Rebecca and then left.
Handsome young men? Hannah thought. She looked at Rebecca and saw that she was decidedly uncomfortable, squirming in her bed. Then it dawned on her - the young men must be the four Hostetler brothers, Noah, Jacob, Moses, and Elijah. Her stomach churned and the room spun.
"Hannah, you've gone white. Sit down, in my bed or the chair."
Hannah sat on the edge of Rebecca's bed and struggled to control her breathing. After the accident, the psychologist had told her that anxiety can be managed by long, slow breaths. Four breaths in, hold for two counts, four breaths out, she silently told herself. Hannah sat for a while, breathing in a controlled manner, and then opened her eyes to see Rebecca peering at her with worry stamped all over her face.
"When," she stammered, "when have they been visiting you?"
"Mostly in the mornings." Rebecca's voice was small and flat. "You always come in the afternoons and they come in the mornings."
Hannah shook her head. She didn’t want to begrudge her sister visitors - she knew only too well what it was like to lie in a hospital bed for weeks. Yet the Hostetlers of all people?
Rebecca broke the silence. "Hannah, it’s not of Gott's way to hold anger in your heart. Besides, Noah was the one responsible, not his bruders or his mudder or his daed."
Hannah did not trust herself to speak, so just sat there. Finally she said, "But Rebecca, Daed and Mamm will be angry when they find out. Whatever will they say? Sure, okay, I can understand the rest of the family, but Noah Hostetler himself visiting you?" She shook her head.
"They won't mind, Hannah." Rebecca's tone was insistent.
Hannah sighed. "Yes, they will most certainly mind if they find out."
"No, they won't. Oh Hannah, I'm not supposed to tell you, but…" Her voice trailed away and Rebecca fidgeted nervously.
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) Page 3
