Read Online Abigail's New Hope by Mary Ellis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Ellis
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Mrs. Fisher. Wasn’t that what “manslaughter” meant?
He thought she had “practiced medicine” on a dying woman. But in a way she had, in an attempt to save her life.
And she certainly had been practicing midwifery without a license for several years.
Guilty as charged
.
Once she was back in her cell, Abby knelt in prayer to ask for relief from her stupidity, forgiveness for her sins, and clear direction as to what she should do next. Because never before in her life had she felt so confused.
Twenty minutes later she rose from her knees, took a pen and some paper she’d found in the common room, and began a letter to her sister. Catherine loved children and had worked as a nanny to an English family since leaving school almost nine years ago. Daniel would need help tending the children and keeping up with household chores. No better choice came to Abby’s mind other than her
schwester
. He might not relish someone else in his house, but with bail set at half a million dollars, who knew how long Abby would be here?
Catherine spent the two-hour drive to her sister’s home trying to concentrate on the countryside instead of her sad thoughts. At least her brother James had volunteered to drive her to Daniel and Abby’s farm instead of her
daed
. Her father would have spent the time cautioning her on what constituted proper behavior in her brother-in-law’s home.
Don’t chatter at meals
.
Keep busy with household tasks. Don’t be idle
.
Don’t change your
schwester
’s rules with her
kinner.
Keep your opinions to yourself about Abigail’s troubles.
Instead, her brother talked about the ongoing dry spell and his hope for a downpour once his hay had been cut and stored. Afterward, he remained quiet for the rest of the drive.
Considering Catherine’s frame of mind, his silence proved to be a blessing. After receiving Abby’s letter, she had jumped at the chance for a change of scenery. A week or two with her niece and nephew would get her mind off a person better off forgotten. At twenty-three, she had some experience with courting. But after mustering the courage to ask a certain young man for a ride home from a singing, the result had been disastrous. The man of her dreams had agreed to give her a lift home—in the backseat. Another gal had apparently captured his heart and therefore the front seat at his side. Along the way home, he couldn’t have hung onto Rachel Hawk’s words more than if they’d been made of glue.
Life wasn’t fair.
Rachel had her pick of beaus. Why did she have to pick the plum Catherine had been eyeing? Rachel was also younger, while prime marriageable age was about to pass Catherine by.
“I said, how long do you think you’ll be staying at Abby’s?” Her
bruder
’s question finally roused her from her mental replay of Sunday’s heartbreak.
“
Mir leid
,” she apologized. “I was daydreaming.”
“
Jah
, you’ve been doing that a lot lately.” His dark hair, in need of a trimming, hung in his eyes.
She chose to ignore his comment. “I don’t know how long Abby will be…gone. Maybe just a few days. But don’t worry, James. I’m sure Daniel will drive me home once she’s back.” She couldn’t bring herself to think about Abby being in a jail, let alone speak the words aloud. She had never known a person who’d been arrested. Her sister must be mortified with shame.
“That’s
gut
. I need to rake, bale, and store the hay in the barn while the dry weather holds. But if you want me to come get you, call the Wainwrights on Abby’s cell phone. They’ll know how to get word to me.”
“
Danki
,” she murmured. As they rounded a bend, the Graber farm came into view. Catherine loved the three-story white frame house. With porches on all four sides and plenty of windows, there was always somewhere to sit and catch a cool breeze. It was one of the few Amish homes in their district that had never had a
dawdi haus
added during previous generations of
He thought she had “practiced medicine” on a dying woman. But in a way she had, in an attempt to save her life.
And she certainly had been practicing midwifery without a license for several years.
Guilty as charged
.
Once she was back in her cell, Abby knelt in prayer to ask for relief from her stupidity, forgiveness for her sins, and clear direction as to what she should do next. Because never before in her life had she felt so confused.
Twenty minutes later she rose from her knees, took a pen and some paper she’d found in the common room, and began a letter to her sister. Catherine loved children and had worked as a nanny to an English family since leaving school almost nine years ago. Daniel would need help tending the children and keeping up with household chores. No better choice came to Abby’s mind other than her
schwester
. He might not relish someone else in his house, but with bail set at half a million dollars, who knew how long Abby would be here?
Catherine spent the two-hour drive to her sister’s home trying to concentrate on the countryside instead of her sad thoughts. At least her brother James had volunteered to drive her to Daniel and Abby’s farm instead of her
daed
. Her father would have spent the time cautioning her on what constituted proper behavior in her brother-in-law’s home.
Don’t chatter at meals
.
Keep busy with household tasks. Don’t be idle
.
Don’t change your
schwester
’s rules with her
kinner.
Keep your opinions to yourself about Abigail’s troubles.
Instead, her brother talked about the ongoing dry spell and his hope for a downpour once his hay had been cut and stored. Afterward, he remained quiet for the rest of the drive.
Considering Catherine’s frame of mind, his silence proved to be a blessing. After receiving Abby’s letter, she had jumped at the chance for a change of scenery. A week or two with her niece and nephew would get her mind off a person better off forgotten. At twenty-three, she had some experience with courting. But after mustering the courage to ask a certain young man for a ride home from a singing, the result had been disastrous. The man of her dreams had agreed to give her a lift home—in the backseat. Another gal had apparently captured his heart and therefore the front seat at his side. Along the way home, he couldn’t have hung onto Rachel Hawk’s words more than if they’d been made of glue.
Life wasn’t fair.
Rachel had her pick of beaus. Why did she have to pick the plum Catherine had been eyeing? Rachel was also younger, while prime marriageable age was about to pass Catherine by.
“I said, how long do you think you’ll be staying at Abby’s?” Her
bruder
’s question finally roused her from her mental replay of Sunday’s heartbreak.
“
Mir leid
,” she apologized. “I was daydreaming.”
“
Jah
, you’ve been doing that a lot lately.” His dark hair, in need of a trimming, hung in his eyes.
She chose to ignore his comment. “I don’t know how long Abby will be…gone. Maybe just a few days. But don’t worry, James. I’m sure Daniel will drive me home once she’s back.” She couldn’t bring herself to think about Abby being in a jail, let alone speak the words aloud. She had never known a person who’d been arrested. Her sister must be mortified with shame.
“That’s
gut
. I need to rake, bale, and store the hay in the barn while the dry weather holds. But if you want me to come get you, call the Wainwrights on Abby’s cell phone. They’ll know how to get word to me.”
“
Danki
,” she murmured. As they rounded a bend, the Graber farm came into view. Catherine loved the three-story white frame house. With porches on all four sides and plenty of windows, there was always somewhere to sit and catch a cool breeze. It was one of the few Amish homes in their district that had never had a
dawdi haus
added during previous generations of
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