A Baby for Hannah (Hannah's Heart 3)

by Jerry S. Eicher

  “I hope these fit in the buggy,” Uriah said with a smile. “I told Mom not to pack so much, but she thinks we’re going to visit the wilderness.”

  “Just ignore Uriah,” Ida said, coming up to stand beside Hannah. “We’ll be perfectly fine. I know about your cabin, and Jake’s stinginess with modern things. I do think gas is allowed in your church, isn’t it? But it’s like Jake to try and save money. Hannah, you should have complained to him about those things a long time ago.”

  “Oh, but I like our cabin,” Hannah said quickly. “And I don’t mind heating water on the woodstove. I hope it won’t bother you too much.”

  “We grew up poor,” Ida said. “And it won’t hurt us to live a little lower for one weekend.”

  “You make things sound terrible at their place,” Uriah said as they reached the buggy.

  “I didn’t mean to,” Ida said. “But it was you who brought up the subject.”

  “That’s okay, Dad,” Jake said. “I know I’m stingy, but I do have plans to build something better for Hannah soon. She deserves a nicer place.”

  “I’m sure she does,” Ida said. “And is this your buggy?”

  “No,” Jake said. “We haven’t purchased a surrey yet. This is borrowed from Betty, Hannah’s aunt. It’s their old one, and they said we could use it while you were visiting.”

  Jake’s dad laughed as he climbed in, “And here I thought it might be another example of Jake’s stinginess. Because when you do buy one, son, you really better get something in better shape than this one.”

  “I will, Dad, when the time comes.”

  “It looks like the time’s not that far away,” Uriah said, with a glance to Hannah in the backseat.

  “We can still drive the two single buggies for awhile,” Jake said. “Even after the baby arrives.”

  “I suppose so,” Uriah said, settling in as Jake waited for the highway to clear before turning Mosey onto it.

  “Are you seeing a midwife or a doctor by now?” Ida asked as Jake gently slapped the reins on Mosey’s back.

  “Jah, a midwife,” Hannah said. “I was seeing a doctor, but I’ve settled for a midwife for the delivery. Her name is Mattie Esh, and she came down the other week for our first visit. I liked her. Although Jake hasn’t met her yet.”

  “Then all is going well?”

  “Mattie thought so, and I checked out fine on my last visit to Dr. Lisa. She will also be available if something goes wrong. I guess they work together well—the midwife and Dr. Lisa.”

  “Well, you certainly look okay,” Ida said with approval as silence settled over the buggy, broken only by the steady beats of Mosey’s hooves on the pavement.

  After a few moments Hannah glanced out of the side door and stiffened as they approached the now open field.

  Ida’s gaze followed Hannah’s. “Is this where they had those horrible tent meetings?”

  Hannah nodded.

  “It even killed the grass,” Ida said, leaning out of the buggy for a better look.

  “The tent sat there for almost a whole month,” Hannah said. “But I guess the worst is over now.”

  “Did you lose a lot of people?”

  “One family and a widow.”

  “Isn’t that just awful?” Ida said. “Even one person lost to the world is a great tragedy.”

  “It is,” Hannah said. “But it could have been worse. My sister Miriam’s boyfriend didn’t leave, even though his brother did. That had us worried.”

  “You don’t think he’s staying Amish just to get her? And then leave later? They do that sometimes, you know.”

  “I don’t think so,” Hannah said. “Dennis doesn’t seem to be that type of man.”

  “I hope not,” Ida said. “But you can’t be too careful about such things. Once they get the knot tied, men can get mighty strange ideas into their heads. But the worst thing is when they decide to get up and leave the church. I guess there’s not much a woman can do in such situations.”

  “Rebecca is pretty broken up about their move,” Hannah said. “That’s Will Riley’s wife, the young couple who’s leaving.”

  “Is there a Mennonite church around here?”

  “No. They’re moving back to Idaho where Will’s parents live. We expect them to go anytime now.”

  “Are they still coming to church?”

  “So far, but Mary Keim, the widow, has already left for Kalispell. Her son is keeping the farm. He’s the one who’s dating my aunt Betty’s daughter.”

  “Then the feelings can’t be too bad among the community people. That’s gut to hear.”

  “Jah, it is, and Jake had a lot to do with that.”

  “Jake did?” Ida said “Did he throw his support behind the bishop like he’s supposed to?”

  Hannah winced. “They did come to an agreement finally, but Jake’s wisdom and conscience helped out a lot.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Ida sighed. “I worry about Jake sometimes. He’s always been the strange one of the children, and then he was ordained at such a young age. I wish it hadn’t come so soon, but who can judge the ways of Da Hah?”

  “I think he’s been wonderful,” Hannah replied. “He sure has been wonderful for me. I couldn’t ask for a better husband.”

  Ida patted Hannah on her arm. “Then I shouldn’t be telling my fears to you, as I suppose all mothers worry about their children.”

  “I’m going to try not to,” Hannah said. “But I suppose it’s going to be hard.”

  “Especially when they get older, and start running with the young folks. That’s when it gets really hard.”

  “Jake said all of your family turned out okay, so you must have done something right.”

  “Only with grace from Da Hah did all turn out okay,” Ida said. “It certainly can’t be done any other way. And it seems like it takes more with each generation, but maybe that’s just because I’m getting older.”

  “That’s Betty’s place there,” Hannah said, motioning as they drove by. “My sister Miriam has been staying there all summer.”

  “Oh, that’s the farm where your wedding was held. I thought it looked familiar.”

  Uriah turned around in the front seat. “What are you two women chattering about back there?”

  “That’s where Jake and Hannah’s wedding was held,” Ida said, pointing to the ranch. “Hannah’s aunt Betty’s place.”

  “Oh,” Uriah turned around again. “It looks like a nice place.”

  Ida smiled at Hannah, taking her hand in hers. “I’m so glad Jake found such a gut wife. It does my old heart good to see him so happy.”

  “He’s wonderful,” Hannah said, feeling her face grow warm. Now why on earth am I getting embarrassed about Jake? I’m married to him, after all.

  “And one who stands by him in the faith,” Ida said, letting go of Hannah’s hand. “That’s something I wanted for all of my children. It’s hard enough to live life the way it needs to be lived without a life’s partner pulling the other way.”

  “I wouldn’t want anything else for Jake,” Hannah said. “I hope you know that.”

  Ida nodded, “But it’s gut to hear you say that.”

  The next several minutes passed in silence and then Hannah said, “We’re almost home.”

  Jake pulled back on half the reins and with a rattle of gravel they turned up the road toward the cabin.

  Ida was looking out of the window toward the mountains ahead of them. “Do you ever get used to such beauty all around you?”

  “I haven’t yet,” Hannah said.

  “They look a little scary though,” Ida said soberly. “I think one weekend will be enough for me.”

  “I don’t think Jake will ever want to live anywhere else.”

  “I heard that,” Jake said, not turning around in the front seat.

  “Well, I don’t think you would,” Hannah said. “You love it out here, don’t you?”

  “It’s much better than the flat country in Iowa, that’
s for sure,” Jake said.

  Uriah laughed heartily. “I can see your point, but I’ll take farming country any day. I like working in the open fields without high hills looking down on you all day.”

  “There’s our cabin, Mom,” Jake said, slowing Mosey down to a walk. “And Mr. Brunson—the man we’ve told you about—lives up the road a bit further.”

  “Well, it looks cozy,” Ida said. “But it could be a little bigger, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m ahead of you on that,” Jake said. “The plans for our new house are in the living room right now.”

  “We’ll want to look at them,” Ida asserted.

  “They’re very nice,” Hannah said. “I didn’t tell Jake exactly what I wanted, and he still came pretty close to what I would have chosen.”

  With a jerk Mosey came to a stop by the barn. Uriah jumped down. Hannah climbed out on her side, waiting behind the buggy until Ida joined her. Together they walked toward the cabin while the men unhitched the horse.

  Forty

  By the time the Sunday meeting was over and the four Bylers were settled back in the cabin after church, the rays of the warm afternoon sun were shining brightly through the front cabin window.

  The weekend visit had been short, Hanna thought as she walked into the living room with heaping bowls of fluffy white popcorn for Jake and Uriah. Behind her Ida followed with freshly squeezed lemonade made with cold water from the spring. Hannah gave Uriah a bowl, and he took it with a big smile on his face. “Now is this as gut as Iowa popcorn?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” Hannah said as Ida passed him a cup of lemonade. “I guess you’ll have to taste it and see.”

  Uriah took a long sip, a satisfied look spreading across his face, “At least that’s gut stuff. The taste must come from your spring water because the lemons looked the same to me.”

  “Now you see why I don’t mind the lack of a refrigerator.”

  “I do see,” Uriah said. “I think I’d like to move out here myself. I’d love to live with a spring in my backyard. What do you think, Ida? Will you join me?”

  “Stop talking such nonsense!” Ida said, returning from the kitchen with two more glasses. “You are a farm boy at heart, and nothing is going to change that.”

  Uriah laughed. “I think I could get used to this country after only my second time here, and that’s saying a lot.”

  “Well, it is a nice community,” Ida said. “Now you sit down, Hannah, and I’ll get our popcorn bowls.”

  “And bring the big bowl back with you,” Uriah called to Ida’s retreating back. “This is as gut as Iowa popcorn.”

  “So what did you think of the people you met today, Dad?” Jake asked while slowly eating his popcorn.

  “Your Mom and I had a long talk with Bishop John. He had only gut things to say about you, and I can’t say how happy that makes both of us.”

  “Jake is a wonderful preacher,” Hannah said, not looking at Jake as he shook his head.

  “Sometimes that’s not gut though,” Uriah said. “But I was glad we got to hear you preach today, son. I didn’t hear anything I disagreed with.”

  Jake nodded but said nothing. Hannah thought he seemed a little nervous today, and this explained it.

  “You still did good,” Hannah whispered, reaching over to squeeze Jake’s hand.

  A grateful smile played on his face.

  “Did I hear you tell them we talked with Bishop John?” Ida asked, coming in with the popcorn bowls.

  “Jah,” Uriah said, nodding.

  “Did you tell Jake about what we asked him?”

  Uriah took another handful of popcorn and before eating it said, “No, and perhaps we shouldn’t even bring this up with Jake. He’s not responsible for church doctrine. Surely you know that.”

  “No, he’s not,” Ida said, “but it sounds like he has a lot of influence around here, and I already wrote to him about it, so it’s not like he doesn’t know how we feel. And I’d really like to know how Jake explains this assurance of salvation that Bishop John claims we can have.”

  “Mom, you know it’s not my place to instruct you and Dad,” Jake said. “I’d rather you asked Bishop John your questions.”

  “Then we’ll not count it as instructions,” Ida said. “Let’s just hear you explain this thing. How can we know Da Hah’s mind when it comes to our salvation?”

  “Mom, please,” Jake said, his hand on his bowl of popcorn.

  “Someone just drove in,” Uriah said, his voice low.

  Jake jumped to his feet. “It’s Mr. Brunson. I wonder what he wants on a Sunday afternoon?”

  “I still want my question answered,” Ida said. “But I can wait until the man leaves.”

  “I should think so,” Uriah said as Jake went to open the door.

  “Am I intruding?” Mr. Brunson’s voice reached the inside of the cabin.

  “Not at all,” Jake said. “My parents are here. Why don’t you come in and meet them?”

  “I’d like that,” Mr. Brunson said, stepping inside. “I so enjoyed meeting Hannah’s parents last year.”

  “This is my mom,” Jake said, “Ida Byler. And my dad, Uriah. This is only their second time visiting Montana, and Dad already wants to move here.”

  “Then they can have my place,” Mr. Brunson said, shaking their hands. “How are you folks? It’s great to meet you. Hannah and Jake have been such good friends during the time they’ve lived here. I can’t tell you what great people they are.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Uriah said. “The Lord wishes all of us to have a good testimony to those who are without.”

  Mr. Brunson laughed. “I don’t think I’ll be on the outside much longer.”

  “Oh,” Uriah raised his eyebrows. “Are you thinking of joining the Amish?”

  “Please have a seat, Mr. Brunson,” Jake said, offering him his chair.

  “I really can’t stay long,” Mr. Brunson said. “But thanks anyway.”

  Hannah held her breath, watching Mr. Brunson’s face, waiting for his answer to Uriah’s question.

  “Well, it’s like this. I almost got to join the Amish,” Mr. Brunson replied. “But the good bishop turned me down. Not that I have any hard feelings, as the Lord worked things out splendidly between Mary and me.”

  “Mary?” Ida gasped. “Is that the Mary who left the church? The widow? You have doings with her?”

  Mr. Brunson paused. “I guess Jake and Hannah haven’t told you?”

  Jake shook his head slightly.

  “I didn’t mean for Jake and Hannah to keep this a secret,” Mr. Brunson said. “Or is this one of those Amish ways I haven’t learned about yet?”

  “We just didn’t come across the subject,” Jake said.

  “I guess you know that we work together at the furniture shop,” Mr. Brunson said, glancing at Uriah, who nodded.

  “Mary’s leaving has been hard on all of us,” Jake said, clearing his throat.

  “I imagine so,” Mr. Brunson said. “I guess that means I have a lot of explaining to do.”

  Uriah cleared his throat loudly, “Do I understand you correctly that you are taking one of the Amish women out to the Englisha world?”

  “No,” Mr. Brunson said. “I am joining the Mennonite church with her.”

  “I see,” Uriah said. “That’s a little better, but is that something a man of your obvious character should be doing? Aren’t there women in your world who could be your wife?”

  “Uriah,” Ida gasped. “Please don’t speak such words.”

  “It’s okay,” Mr. Brunson said, a look of joy crossing his face. “Mary has been a gift from the Lord as certainly as my first wife, Bernice, was. Not since her passing have I felt such love for a woman.”

  “But this Mary is Amish,” Ida said, shifting slightly in her chair.

  “I must say it looked impossible,” Mr. Brunson said, the joy still glowing on his face. “But the Lord worked things out okay. Let’s just say I’m one happ
y man in my old age.”

  “Well, then, we wouldn’t want to speak against such a thing,” Uriah said. “And anyway, this is a local church matter.”

  “Jake has been wonderful to work with,” Mr. Brunson said. “But I really don’t want to interfere with your afternoon any longer than I already have. Mary has been wanting me to stop by and tell you the news, but I haven’t gotten around to it. I could have said something to Jake at the shop, but I wanted to speak with both of you, Hannah and Jake.”

  “Jah?” Hannah said, leaning forward on her chair. “Good news?”

  “We’ve set the wedding date for next month, and I’ll be moving to Kalispell to be with her. We’ve already found a place and are closing on it next week. Mary said she wants to send you a wedding invitation, but she doesn’t wish to make things more uncomfortable for you than they already are.”

  “I’d love to attend,” Hannah said, catching a glimpse of the look on Ida’s face. “But of course we can’t, so tell Mary I wish her all the best with her new life. She is such a gut woman.”

  “Yes, she surely is,” Mr. Brunson said. “Now, I really must be going.” Turning to Uriah and Ida, he said, “You two have a safe trip back home, and the offer still stands about my place.”

  “I don’t think we’re moving to Montana,” Ida said quickly. “Uriah is very much a farm boy.”

  “He looks like a farm boy,” Mr. Brunson said, glancing back as he opened the cabin door. “Sorry again to interrupt your Sunday afternoon.”

  Jake followed him outside, and their voices rose and fell as they continued to talk on the porch.

  “An interesting character, that man is,” Uriah said, resuming his popcorn eating.

  “But he stole an Amish woman,” Ida said. “That might be interesting, but it’s not very nice.”

  “I think Mary was quite willing,” Hannah said. “She went to the tent meetings on her own, and they met up there. That’s the story at least, and I guess they think it is Da Hah’s doings—His way of getting them together.”

  “People deceive themselves in all kinds of ways,” Ida said. “It sounds unlikely to me.”