An Amish Wife For Christmas. Patricia Davids
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the bishop seemed to be going.
“Then you agree that we can’t let the reckless actions of one boy ruin what has been created.”
“He isn’t trying to spoil anything.” Bethany was compelled to defend Ivan, but the truth was she didn’t know what was wrong with him. Was he acting out because of his grief or was something else going on?
His schoolwork had suffered in the past weeks. His teacher had complained of behavior issues in class. He had been in several scuffles with non-Amish boys earlier in the year but they weren’t anything serious. It was his recent secrecy and withdrawal that bothered Bethany the most. How could she help him if she didn’t understand what was amiss?
She lifted her chin. “There is no proof that he damaged Greg Janson’s tractor or that he is responsible for letting Robert Morris’s cattle loose.”
Bishop Schultz leveled a stern look at her. “He was seen near both farms at the time and he’d been in fights with both the Janson and Morris boys.”
“That’s not proof,” she insisted.
The bishop pushed back from the table. “I have written to your uncle in Bird-in-Hand.”
She frowned. “To Onkel Harvey? Why?”
“Elijah mentioned that Harvey and his family plan to visit you this Christmas.”
“That’s true. We are expecting them to stay a week as they were unable to come to the funeral.”
The bishop rose to his feet. “I have asked your uncle to take Ivan with him when the family returns to Pennsylvania.”
Bethany’s mouth dropped open. “Nee, you can’t send Ivan away. This isn’t right.”
“It was not an easy decision. I know your intentions are goot but the boy needs the firm guidance of a man. You are too easy on him.”
“Because he’s still a little boy.” The situation was quickly slipping out of her control. They couldn’t take her brother from her. Fear sent her pulse pounding in her temples. “Please, Bishop, you must reconsider.”
“I will not.”
Bethany pressed both hands to her heart. “I promised my mother before she died that I would keep the family together. I promised her. Don’t do this.”
The bishop’s expression didn’t change. Her plea had fallen on deaf ears. Men were the decision makers in her Amish community. The bishop had the last word even in this family matter.
He took his coat and hat from the pegs by the door and put them on. “Bethany, if you were married I wouldn’t have to take this course of action. Your husband would be the one to make such decisions and discipline the boy. With Elijah gone, I see no other choice. I must think of what is best for all, not just for one.”
He nodded to her and left. Bethany wanted to cry, to shout at him, to run after him and beg him to change his mind, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good.
“I’m sorry.” Gemma laid a hand on Bethany’s shoulder.
“What am I going to do? There has to be a way to change the bishop’s mind.”
“Why don’t I make us some toast and a cup of coffee. Then we’ll put our heads together and come up with a plan.”
“We’re out of bread and I don’t want any coffee.”
“What Amish woman runs out of bread?”
“This one. There has been so much to do since Daadi’s passing I haven’t had time to bake. If Ivan straightens up and starts behaving, if he apologizes to the bishop maybe he’ll be allowed to stay. It’s five weeks until Christmas. That’s enough time to prove he has changed.”
“Or you can get married. That will fix everything.”
Bethany gave her friend an exasperated look. Gemma knew Bethany’s feeling about marriage. It wasn’t for her. “It’s unlikely that I could find someone to wed me before Christmas, Gemma.”
“If you weren’t so particular, maybe not. Jesse Crump holds you in high regard.”
Bethany wrinkled her nose. “Having a conversation with Jesse is like pulling teeth. He’s a nice enough fellow, but he never has anything to say.”
“Ack, you’re too fussy by far.”
“You marry him.”
Both Gemma’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? Not a chance. Besides, it isn’t my brother that is being sent away.”
Bethany battled her rising panic. “I wish Daadi were still here. I don’t know what to do.”
Gemma slipped an arm around Bethany’s shoulders and gave her a hug. “If your grandfather was still alive we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“I know.”
Ivan’s troubling behavior had started when their grandfather became ill early in the fall but it had gotten much worse since his death. Her gaze moved to the closed door leading to her grandfather’s workroom. Their grandfather had happily spent hours repairing clocks and antique watches during the long winter months in his tiny shop. With the door open she used to hear him humming or muttering depending on how a particular project was progressing.
The workshop hadn’t been opened since Ivan found Elijah slumped over his desk barely breathing. The boy ran to find help but by the time it arrived Elijah was gone.
She should have mailed his unfinished works back to their owners before now but she couldn’t bear to enter the room. The grief she tried so hard to control would come pouring out when she did.
Tears stung the backs of her eyelids, but she quickly blinked them away. The quiet strength and unquestioning love of her grandfather had seen Bethany through the worst times in her life. It was still hard to accept that she could never turn to him for guidance again.
She drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. He would tell her prayer and hard work solved problems. Worry and regret never did. There had to be a way to keep her family together and she would find it. Perhaps her uncle would side with her. She would write her own letter to him and plead her case.
She slipped into her coat. “Thank you for coming today, Gemma, but I’d best get the rest of my chores done.”
Gemma followed her to the door. “I don’t know how you’ll manage this farm without Elijah and Ivan.”
“One day at a time and with the help of our neighbors if I need it.”
“I’ve never known you to ask for help.” Gemma moved to put on her black bonnet and coat.
“I asked you to sit with me when the bishop came today, didn’t I?”
Gemma rolled her eyes. “Okay, you have asked for help one time. I wish I knew what to say but I think it is all up to Ivan. I’m surprised he wasn’t here this morning.”
“He’s at school. I didn’t want to take him out of class.”
The New Covenant Amish community was too small yet to have their own school. The five Amish children in their church, including her brother and sister, attended the nearest public school. It was far from ideal but the teachers and school board had taken great pains to accommodate the needs and customs of the new Amish pupils.
The two women walked outside together. Gemma pulled on her gloves. “Do you want me to come over this evening when you talk to him?”
Bethany shook her head. “Danki, but I think it’s best I speak to him alone.”
“All right. I’ll stop by tomorrow and you can tell me all about it.” The two women exchanged a hug. Gemma climbed into her buggy and drove away.
Bethany’s breath rose as puffs of white mist in the chilly mid-November