Abram's Daughters 01 The Covenant by Unknown Read Free Book Online

hunting, enjoying his membership in the "52-20
    lub," his unemployment pay.
    "Give him more time, dear. He'll get his bearings soon > unugh," Lorraine had said when he voiced his concern. "He
    54
    lu J2e
    survived D day, for pete's sake."
    But Henry wasn't sure it was a wise thing to let a boy coast on his wartime merits. Discharged soldier or not. After all, young Derek had the next thing to a full-time job working for Peter Mast, an Amish farmer over on Grasshopper Level, and planned to join the military once he turned eighteen in December. Robert, at twenty, needed something to get him up and going in the morning. What would be so wrong with his elder son picking up the phone and asking Peter if he had need of another hired hand?
    Gathering up the dirty jeans, Henry carried them into the house and down to the cellar, where he found Lorraine piling up damp clothes into the wide wicker basket at her feet. What a hardworking, devoted wife. He knew he was lucky to have married someone like her. She had helped him through most all the years of medical school, even stayed true to him during the year their marriage was sorely tested, looking after the needs of her trio of men. One of which Henry felt he must confront with last night's walk in the woods.
    After lunch Mamma went off to her bedroom for a catnap, so Sadie decided now was as good a time as any to go to Naomi Kauffman's and pick up the knapsack she'd given her for safekeeping and to cover her tracks a bit.
    "Well, it's gut to see you made it out of the woods last night," Naomi said in the privacy of her bedroom. "I was so afraid you'd get swallowed up."
    "I'm here, aren't I?" , .:.,;
    55
    o o e n a nt
    I "Ynii were lucky this time. Just don't go back there again." Ilinil leaned over and pulled Sadie's pack with its bunched|rlulliin{U| out from under the bed. "No one here suspects l#!'p we were last night, or what we were wearing. No one
    Lit,"
    I 0? %l(id you don't have a sister named Leah, thought Sadie.
    Unki thank you."
    I "Si i , , . did you let him hold your hand the whole time?"
    I "I'm pity's sake, Naomi, he's a worldly boy."
    I "I'm not blind! I saw him reach for your hand when you
    I mil of the car."
    I SiuIii- turned the tables. "Have I asked 'bout your English
    Lir
    I Nnomi squelched a smile. "Ach, and he was ever so good-
    pkIn', loo. Ain't so? We oughta sneak out again next Friday
    hi. 1 hear there's a doin's over at Strasburg. Wanna go?"
    I "Might not be such a gut idea, for us ... well, for me, at
    l|t, Neein' as how I'm taking instructional classes for bap-
    m, ya know."
    [ "But 1 thought*.."
    I "Nee no, it's*time I settled some things," Sadie insisted,
    bln^ her friend wouldn't suspect.
    I "So, then, you're finished with running round? Ready to
    h church?"
    I That's not what she'd said exactly. Sure, she was taking
    BtlNinal classes and all, but she was just going through the
    If Ions so far. She hadn't decided whether or not she would
    Bow llirough with the kneeling vow when the time came.
    I roiirse, she wouldn't be the first young person to change
    I mind this close to the sacred ordinance.
    ' Sadie sighed. "How many times do you really think we
    55 56
    could go to Strasburg dressed up painted up, too like fancy girls and not get caught?"
    "You never seemed worried before."
    "I've been thinking. You'd best be goin' to Sunday night singings from now on. Let some nice Amish boy court you, settle down some, get married in a year or so."
    Naomi was indignant. "Ach, you've changed your tune, Sadie Ebersol!"
    "Well now, have I?" she said, turning toward the door. Naomi followed her into the hall and down the steps.
    "You said before you wanted some excitement and fun adventure out in the modern world. Wanted to see firsthand
    what you'd been missin'."
    Sure, she'd said that. Said it with a vengeance, nearly. But now? Now she had what she wanted a boy named Derry but she couldn't for all the world spill the beans to Naomi. No, such a thing would spread like