Amish Heritage, page 9
“Good, I will be home soon.”
“I will be out here or in the house.”
“Love you.”
Miriam ended the call with a smile and headed up to the barn.
When Radar saw her, he let out a heartful whinny. “Yes, you had a wonderful girl care for you. I am glad I can make the loss better my big man.” She rubbed the blaze which went from his forehead to his nose. “My husband really knows horses.”
Miriam unhooked his lead from stall door and attached it to his halter. “You want to go for a run?”
His nodded yes, Miriam eventually closed her mouth and opened his stall door. “Be good Radar. We could make this a daily outing for you.” When they reached the pasture, his head was moving in all directions, discovering his surroundings. He walked in with her, never once pulling her. She closed the gate and then unlatched him. “You can run now, Radar. Go on it is okay, have fun.”
Miriam watched as he backed away from her then took off, “He is so beautiful, my goodness look at his tail standing straight up.”
She never thought of moving out of the pasture, sure he would not hurt her. “Oh, he is pacing. Wait until I tell Levi.”
He stood still when he came to the end of the pasture. He started calling then stopped as if waiting for someone to answer, and they did. Miriam looked to her left where she knew the mares were pastured. She could not see them, but she did hear their answering his call. She quickly looked at Radar, he called again and then reared up pawing the air. He indeed held a magnificence about him.
He took off pacing about the open field. Miriam felt confident she could leave him now, and he would be fine. She rechecked the gate lock one more time before leaving him. He did seem to settle down a bit and began eating some fresh grass. “I will be back in about an hour.”
He called back to her as if he understood, causing Miriam’s laughter to float on the breeze. “A truly wonderful day.”
CHAPTER 17
Levi and Asher faced each other as they drank coffee and ate pie at the Paradise Wells coffee shop. “I'm glad you could meet me this morning, Levi,” Asher said, then he took a bite of the peach pie and followed it up with steaming coffee.
Levi leaned over toward his friend and asked, “Have there been more horses missing?”
Shaking his head, Ash offered, “No. Nothing. It’s been over a month since we tried to surprise them in your barn. Not one report of anything on this side of the state. Everything has stopped.”
“It makes a person wonder why,” Levi said.
“True. I’ve been wondering if the thieves are in our midst. Like some of the newcomers back into the Amish fold.” Asher’s brows knit in concern.
“Ach, surely not. I have met all the families, and no one seems to be the sort to do this.”
The bells attached to the cafe door rang as Bishop Eischler stepped in. He looked around and spotted, Levi and Asher. He walked toward them.
“Take a seat, Bishop,” Levi said. He pulled out a chair beside him, then motioned to the waitress to bring another cup of kaffe.
The bishop spoke up, raising his voice, he told the girl to bring him an apple pie.
“You two looked in serious conversation when I walked in. Has there been more missing horses?”
Asher shook his head and put down the coffee mug. “Nothing. It has me worried. Why did all this stop? I told Levi I wondered if some of the new people you have in your fold might have been involved, and now their lives are calming down and they have work, the thieving may have stopped because of this.”
The Bishop shook his head. “I do not think this could be the case.”
“I just do not understand. Could it be the thieves were on to us? Someone saw the men hiding the night we tried to apprehend them?”
Asher scraped up the crust crumbs on his plate. The waitress arrived with the bishop's pie and coffee. Asher cleared his throat as she turned to leave. “How about bringing me a piece of apple pie, it looks fantastic.”
“Sorry, Asher, that was the last piece. We have another of your favorites, strawberry rhubarb. We are trying the pies from the new girl who bought the bakery. I swear, we run out of them fast. What goes even faster are her muffins. You have to be here early if you want one.”
“Ok, bring me her pie. It’s a long time until lunch, and I’m still hungry.”
Levi poured more cream into his refilled coffee. “If you ask me, I think everything is going great. All the men have jobs, and the women are working hard to help Anna with the big house and cooking for all the people there. Four families living together can be quite difficult if someone shirks their duties,”
The Bishop laughed under his breath. “Have you met John and Susan Lantz?”
The younger men shook their heads.
“John is the laziest man I’ve ever encountered. Once he is back from working at David Fisher’s farm, he comes back to the dawdi haus, leaves his horse tied up under the tree then goes to bed leaving his sister to take care of the horse.” Bishop Eischler shook his head. “The sister, Ruth, seems to be nice, but overworked. I am not offering gossip here, men, I just want you to be aware of this and also, Levi, maybe Miriam could drop in on Ruth. She is much too thin, and her face is lined with worry. Maybe she is ill.”
“Or worn out from doing all the work for that worthless brother of hers,” Asher laughed. Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He fiddled with a clasp on the case, then spoke into the phone. He stood and then walked to the back of the cafe, where there were empty tables for privacy. After a few moments, he returned to their table and sat to finish his pie and coffee. “I’ll have to leave in a bit. There has been a car crash ten miles south of here. Scotty, my new deputy, has it handled, but I want to offer him support.”
Asher left the cafe, and Levi and the bishop continued talking. Suddenly, the bishop looked up and clapped his hands together. “I forgot to tell you. I had a single fellow come by looking for work. Jim Hooley, he said his name was. He looked as tattered as the rest of the folks, so I am letting him stay in my barn. I can use a hand with my land as spring is here. I certainly hope all these people work out and come to baptism.”
Levi nodded. “I sure hope so as well.”
The men sat quietly and finished their mid-morning snacks.
CHAPTER 18
Miriam could not sleep. She tossed this way and that way, and no matter how she turned, the baby moved and would not settle. Sighing, she sat up. Not wanting to awaken Levi, she slid from the mattress and put on her slippers with leather soles. The thick heavy wrap hung from the back of the door. Miriam trudged to the opening, slipped on her robe then quietly pushed at the door. The words, please stay asleep, Levi, cried through her mind. She left it open, not wanting to chance him hearing the latch.
The house was shrouded in darkness but every few moments, distant lightning flashed as an early spring storm began to roll in. Miriam’s vision in the dark was good, so she filled the tea kettle with a mug full of water and turned on the propane stove. It would not take long to have a cup of chamomile tea. Hopefully, it will help her to relax and get to sleep.
Sitting at the table, she rubbed her ample belly. Miriam worked with expectant mothers, but she did not recognize until her own body stretched into something she did not know, just how painful the changes were. And sharing your body with another being was nearly frightening. Smiling, she patted her baby and whispered, “Little one only a few more weeks, and we will see each other.”
The water rumbled in the pot. Miriam rinsed out her teacup, which was sitting in the sink. She had not washed up the few dishes which remained after their supper snacking. The tin which held the tea bags sat on the counter, and after taking one out, she walked back to the table. After a few minutes dunking the bag up and down, she took a sip. The smooth, precious liquid accompanied by the sweet smell of flowers relaxed her immediately.
As Miriam sat waiting for the sensation of sleep to overwhelm her, she watched the lightning come closer and closer. Suddenly, Radar began to fuss in his stall. He did not sound happy at all. Her love for the horse caused her to stand. Looking at the clock, she saw it was three a.m.
Grabbing an apple from the fridge, she took off toward the barn.
A few drops of cold rain hit her head as she ran toward the sliding barn door. As she approached it, a flash of lightning illuminated the area. The barn door was open.
She stopped. Had Levi forgotten to close it? The notion did not feel right. He would never do this. Of course, she remembered hollering out to him earlier when supper was ready. So, maybe he forgot.
Walking into the dark barn, she heard the horse kicking at the stall and making sounds that curdled her blood. What was the matter with that darn horse?
“Radar! What is your problem?” Miriam spoke to him in a calming voice. “I brought you an apple. It is only a storm.”
As she neared the stall, she saw a tall man leading Radar into the central part of the barn. “What’s the problem in there, Jim?”
Miriam turned and caught sight of two more men as more lightning seared through the sky. They had a horse trailer backed up to the smaller back door of the barn. They must have come up from the gravel road at the side of the barn.
The horse thieves.
Miriam reached into her robe pocket. Her cell phone rested there. Grabbing it, she held it up. “Get out of here right now, or I am calling the police!”
“No Miriam, get down!” Levi rushed up behind her, pulling her behind him.
Suddenly, a flash split the darkness, and the sound of a gun going off made her drop to the floor. Was she shot? Moving her body around, she did not feel any pain. Looking up, she saw the men race from the barn with Radar right behind them as the terrified horse made his escape.
A boom of thunder and the flash of lightning shook the ground. And on the ground lay Levi. Blood seeping from his chest.
“No!” Miriam screamed into the night.
Terror filled her, but she had sense enough to dial 911. After gasping the information into the phone, she dropped and crawled to Levi.
She could detect a faint erratic pulse in his neck, and his breath was shallow and rapid. None of her medical knowledge came to her mind. Nothing but her healing methods.
Pulling at each side of Levi’s shirt, Miriam saw a dark round wound near the middle of his chest where blood was pouring out. She remembered she needed to keep him warm. Tearing off her robe, she put it over her husband, then looking to the heavens she began to pray. Oh, please, dear heavenly father. Please let me keep Levi. The boppli and I need him so much. Place your hands over mine and guide me to heal his dreadful wound. Please, God. Please.
As she prayed, the sound of sirens grew closer and closer. Help was coming. Miriam continued praying and holding her hands on Levi’s gunshot wound.
The barn door slid all the way open, and an ambulance raced inside, its lights flooded the area. Three men ran toward her, two of them with a gurney. They were followed by Asher.
Miriam watched as if she were above the room. The voices were faint. “Mrs. Miller move back so we can help your husband.”
She shook her head. No way she could stop the healing. She would know when it was time. Another man touched Levi’s neck. He looked to his partner and shook his head. “There is nothing we can do for him.:
“No!” Miriam screamed. “We have to get to the hospital.”
Asher squatted at her side. “Come on, Miriam, let him go.”
She violently shook her head. “No! No way.” She had to keep on. This was the only way for him to survive.
Asher looked at the EMTs. “Load them both up into the ambulance and get them to the hospital. She will feel we tried to help him.”
The men loaded Levi onto the gurney with Miriam never raising her hands. The EMTs lifted her as well and Levi.
Sirens screamed, but Miriam could barely hear them. She prayed for Levi continually. Then God spoke to her. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Miriam felt a jostle, and one of the EMTs spoke to her telling her they were in the emergency room. Never leaving Levi, she kept her hands in place. She saw the sadness in Asher’s eye as he took in the scene, the EMTs looked worse. They thought her actions futile.
Doctors and medical people moved around Levi. Meriam deepened her trance-like state, and in her mind, she saw Levi tossing a blond-haired little girl in the air. He smiled down at her. At that moment, she knew Levi would survive.
“We’ve got a faint pulse.” A doctor spoke excitedly. “Let’s get him to OR, STAT!”
A nurse moved Miriam aside and softly told her of the excellent care they would give Levi, and for her to go to the waiting area. Miriam had no idea where it was at. All she knew was her beloved husband was moving down the hallway to an elevator.
She closed her eyes and blinked tears. When she opened them, her sister, Ruby, stood looking at her. “How is he?” she asked softly. Her face was white.
“They are taking him to surgery.”
“But Asher told me the EMTs said he was gone.”
“No. Mammi, God and I healed him enough to get him back.”
The last thing Miriam heard was Ruby scream as Miriam’s water broke and she fainted, dropping to the floor in front of Ruby.
CHAPTER 19
Miriam began to awake. Pain screamed through her body. She opened her eyes and found herself inside a curtained area.
“Miriam. You are awake!”
Only a moan slipped past her lips. Why was Ruby standing by her bed? Suddenly, pain ripped through her heart. It hurt worse than her belly. “Levi, where is he, sister.” The look on Ruby’s face made her heart feel like it was skipping beats. A machine at the head of her bed let out a blaring sound in time with her heart. “Someone shot him in the barn. I need to go to him. Help me up.” She struggled to sit up, but the pain ripped through her again.
Ruby gently laid her back on the bed. “The doctors have Levi in surgery. A nurse spoke to me thirty minutes ago. He was holding his own. The gunshot nicked his heart, and the doctors are working on getting the bleeding stopped. Your healing hand kept him from dying, Miriam. Now we let the medical people make him well.”
Miriam shook her head. “He has to make it, he has to for our daughter.”
“You just concentrate on bringing this boppli into the world. Your water broke, and you passed out from the stress of all this.”
“Nee! It is too soon!”
“Your doctor thinks the boppli will be fine, but there is a problem.”
Miriam groaned then asked, “What is it, sister? What is wrong with our boppli?”
Ruby laughed under her breath. “There are two babies. Both of them are large. To keep all three of you safe, they want to do a cesarean. Dilation has begun, so they want to take you in shortly. They were waiting for you to wake up to sign the papers.”
Tears poured down Miriam’s cheeks. How had everything turned out so wrong? Not only did she worry about Levi, now she has two children to bring up. Two. It explained so much. Her size, the painful movements of the babies.”
A tall, thin woman with short-cropped hair walked into the cubical between the curtains. “The nurses tell me you’re awake. I’m your doctor, Dr. Carlisle. I’m here to tell you what’s happening with your babies. Did you know you were having twins?”
Miriam shook her head. “Nee, we home birth in our district unless something is wrong. I am the midwife of our district.”
The woman smiled at her and offered her hand to shake. “From one professional to another, something is wrong. You are built too small to deliver these babies the natural way. A cesarean is the only way, and we need to do this immediately. You have a belt around you, which keeps track of the babies heart rates. The largest baby is fine, but the smaller one is struggling each time you have a contraction.”
Ruby presented Miriam with a clipboard where the permission paperwork lay, awaiting her signature. Miriam took the pen and asked Ruby, “Will you show me where to sign?”
In moments the papers were in the doctor’s hands, and nurses replaced her. Swarming the bed, they readied Miriam for transport. “Ruby, come with me. I cannot do this alone. With Levi in surgery, I need strength from you.”
Ruby looked at the nurses who nodded their permission.
The elevator carried them up three floors to the operating suites. Miriam grasped a nurses’ hand and asked, “Is my husband near here?”
The older woman nodded. “Yes, he is in the room next to yours. Of course, your recovery room will be in obstetrics, and your husband will be in intensive care. All of us will take good care of your family.”
The nurse gave her comfort as she was wheeled into the delivery room.
Miriam was no more than settled under a bright light when the doctor walked in. She spoke to another doctor who had the nurses turn Miriam to the side. After a sharp poke in the back, she returned to a prone position.
Ruby was dressed in a gown and stood by Miriam’s bedside holding her hand. Miriam felt nothing, and in moments, she heard a baby cry. “This one is a boy. She could see the doctor hand him over to one of the nurses. “She’ll bring him right back to you. Now let’s see who we have waiting.”
In just a bit another howl came from the second baby. “This one is a girl. She’s the smaller of the two.” Another nurse took her across the room to join her twin, but just as she arrived, the other nurse brought back her brother to Miriam. He was cleaned off and wrapped in a soft blue blanket He had a sweet little hat on his head. Miriam smiled and reached for him. “Come little one. Let me see you.” He was beautiful with smooth skin and full lips which pulled into a wail. Miriam laughed. She was accustomed to the newly arrived boppli. Finding him crying was the best news.
Suddenly, she worried about her daughter. Miriam did not hear her crying. She wondered if the nurses were taking longer with her than they had with her brother. Just as her pulse began to speed in her veins, the nurse came with the boppli. This one covered in pink. Settling into Miriam’s other arm, her daughter let out a howl louder and longer than her brother.
