Read Online A Home for Hannah by Patricia Davids - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Patricia Davids
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me?”
Miriam didn’t blink. “Before.”
Ada rolled her eyes. “110 over 66, satisfied?”
Smiling broadly, Miriam nodded. “ Ja, Mamm dat is very goot. ”
“And we will be very late if you don’t hurry up and eat.” Her mother carried the empty muffin tin to the sink and then returned to the table. After bowing their heads in silent prayer, the woman began eating.
Ada asked, “Have you decided what to tell people about Hannah?”
“The truth is generally best. I will tell people she was left with us to care for until her mother returns.”
The baby began to fuss. Miriam reached over to her cradle, patted her back and adjusted her position.
Ada smiled. “She is such a darling child. I dread to think we might never see her again when her mother does come for her.”
Miriam remained silent, but the same concern had taken root in her mind, too. Hannah was quickly working her way into Miriam’s heart and into her life. Letting go of her wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
Nick stopped his SUV near the end of the lane at the Zook farm. He knew the church members wouldn’t appreciate his arrival in a modern vehicle on their day of worship. He wasn’t here in an official capacity, so he wasn’t wearing his uniform. It was almost noon,
so he figured the service would be over and he would be in time for the meal.
Most Amish Sunday preaching lasted for three or four hours. The oratory workload was shared between the bishop and one or two ministers, none of whom had any formal training. They were, in fact, ordinary men whose names were among those suggested by the congregation for the position and then chosen by the drawing of lots. It was a lifelong assignment, one without pay or benefits of any kind.
Following the services that were held in homes or barns every other Sunday, the Amish women would feed everyone, clean up and spend much of the afternoon visiting with family and friends.
Approaching the large and rambling white house, Nick looked for Miriam among the women standing in groups outside of the bishop’s home. Their conversations died down when they spotted him. It was unusual to have an outsider show up in such a fashion. Although many people knew he had Amish family members, he was still an outsider and regarded with suspicion by many.
He gave everyone a friendly wave and finally spotted Miriam sitting on a quilt beneath a tree with a half dozen other young women. Hannah lay sleeping on the blanket beside her. He caught Miriam’s eye and tipped his head toward the house. He needed to pay his respects to Bishop Zook and the church elders before speaking with her. She nodded once in agreement and stayed put.
Inside the house, several walls had been removed to open the home up for the church meeting. The benches that had arrived that morning in a special wagon were now being rearranged to allow seating at makeshift tables. The bishop sat near the open door in one of the few armchairs in the room.
A small man with a long gray beard, he looked the part of a wise Amish elder. Nick knew him to be a fair and kind man. He rose to his feet when he saw Nick. Worry filled his eyes. “Sheriff, I hope you do not come among us with bad news.”
More than once, Nick had been the one to tell an Amish family that their loved ones had been involved in a collision with a car or truck. He often asked the bishop to accompany him when he brought the news that the accident had been fatal.
“I don’t bring bad news today, Bishop. I’m here to speak with Miriam Kauffman, and to give you greetings from my grandmother.”
“Ah, that is a relief. How is Betsy? I have not seen her for many months.”
“She’s well and busy with lots of great-grandchildren,
but not enough of them to keep her from trying to marry off the few of us who are still single.”
Bishop Zook chuckled. “She always did fancy herself something of a matchmaker. I believe Miriam is outside with some of our young mothers. The case of
Miriam didn’t blink. “Before.”
Ada rolled her eyes. “110 over 66, satisfied?”
Smiling broadly, Miriam nodded. “ Ja, Mamm dat is very goot. ”
“And we will be very late if you don’t hurry up and eat.” Her mother carried the empty muffin tin to the sink and then returned to the table. After bowing their heads in silent prayer, the woman began eating.
Ada asked, “Have you decided what to tell people about Hannah?”
“The truth is generally best. I will tell people she was left with us to care for until her mother returns.”
The baby began to fuss. Miriam reached over to her cradle, patted her back and adjusted her position.
Ada smiled. “She is such a darling child. I dread to think we might never see her again when her mother does come for her.”
Miriam remained silent, but the same concern had taken root in her mind, too. Hannah was quickly working her way into Miriam’s heart and into her life. Letting go of her wasn’t going to be easy.
* * *
Nick stopped his SUV near the end of the lane at the Zook farm. He knew the church members wouldn’t appreciate his arrival in a modern vehicle on their day of worship. He wasn’t here in an official capacity, so he wasn’t wearing his uniform. It was almost noon,
so he figured the service would be over and he would be in time for the meal.
Most Amish Sunday preaching lasted for three or four hours. The oratory workload was shared between the bishop and one or two ministers, none of whom had any formal training. They were, in fact, ordinary men whose names were among those suggested by the congregation for the position and then chosen by the drawing of lots. It was a lifelong assignment, one without pay or benefits of any kind.
Following the services that were held in homes or barns every other Sunday, the Amish women would feed everyone, clean up and spend much of the afternoon visiting with family and friends.
Approaching the large and rambling white house, Nick looked for Miriam among the women standing in groups outside of the bishop’s home. Their conversations died down when they spotted him. It was unusual to have an outsider show up in such a fashion. Although many people knew he had Amish family members, he was still an outsider and regarded with suspicion by many.
He gave everyone a friendly wave and finally spotted Miriam sitting on a quilt beneath a tree with a half dozen other young women. Hannah lay sleeping on the blanket beside her. He caught Miriam’s eye and tipped his head toward the house. He needed to pay his respects to Bishop Zook and the church elders before speaking with her. She nodded once in agreement and stayed put.
Inside the house, several walls had been removed to open the home up for the church meeting. The benches that had arrived that morning in a special wagon were now being rearranged to allow seating at makeshift tables. The bishop sat near the open door in one of the few armchairs in the room.
A small man with a long gray beard, he looked the part of a wise Amish elder. Nick knew him to be a fair and kind man. He rose to his feet when he saw Nick. Worry filled his eyes. “Sheriff, I hope you do not come among us with bad news.”
More than once, Nick had been the one to tell an Amish family that their loved ones had been involved in a collision with a car or truck. He often asked the bishop to accompany him when he brought the news that the accident had been fatal.
“I don’t bring bad news today, Bishop. I’m here to speak with Miriam Kauffman, and to give you greetings from my grandmother.”
“Ah, that is a relief. How is Betsy? I have not seen her for many months.”
“She’s well and busy with lots of great-grandchildren,
but not enough of them to keep her from trying to marry off the few of us who are still single.”
Bishop Zook chuckled. “She always did fancy herself something of a matchmaker. I believe Miriam is outside with some of our young mothers. The case of
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