The Sacrifice by Beverly Lewis

Author:Beverly Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2004-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

The day following Christmas, Leah insisted on Mamma resting after the big noon meal. Even though their close neighbors, the Peacheys, along with Adah and husband Sam, had come to share the feast, Mamma excused herself at Leah’s urging and went to lie down.

Leah followed her to the upstairs bedroom, watching as she sat on the bed. “Here, let me help you,” Leah said, getting a blanket out of the chest at the foot of the bed. “Are ya in need of more warmth?”

“No, no . . . I’m just fine now, denki.” Mamma leaned back and sighed, closing her eyes. “Will ya see to our guests while I nap?”

Leah nodded. “Of course. You have nothin’ to worry ’bout.” She leaned down and kissed Mamma’s cheek, then quietly slipped out the door.

Downstairs, she found Miriam and Aunt Lizzie playing a game of checkers while Dat, Smithy, and Sam sat around the wood stove, rocking slowly and talking low. Adah was playing peekaboo with Lydiann, and Hannah and Dorcas were visiting quietly in the corner of the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Gid sat on the floor near the wood stove, reading The Budget, pausing to chuckle every so often at one humorous story or another. “Listen to this.” He held up the paper, and Dat and Gid’s father both leaned in to hear better. “Some folk over in New Holland had a letter the other day sayin’ they were gonna be getting a buggy full of company for supper, but it says right here they don’t have any idea who it’ll be.” Gid looked up, a grin on his face. “So they’re lookin’ forward to seein’ just who’s coming . . . and wonderin’ if their guess is correct.”

“That is funny,” Dat agreed.

Smithy Peachey nodded, rocking harder now. “Seems to me whoever wrote oughta have had the courtesy to say who they was!”

“You’d think so, ain’t?” Dat glanced at Leah, a quick frown on his brow. He motioned for her to come over, and Leah was glad to tell him Mamma was resting. “She’s all right now. Don’t worry.”

She went and sat on the floor on a round braided rug next to Gid as he read silently from the Sugarcreek, Ohio, newspaper. After a time he whispered, “Here, Leah, read this.” He pointed to a report from Lititz.

I went downtown and got myself a nice haircut last Tuesday, the Amish scribe had written. That afternoon Barbara Zimmerman and myself answered jah to several questions asked us by our old bishop. Then, quick as a wink, he changed Barbara’s name from Zimmerman to Wert. I’m awful glad she said yes, and she’s ever so glad I got me a haircut!

Leah couldn’t help but think next year around this time her name would be Leah Peachey. When she glanced at Gid, he smiled and winked at her. Leah’s cheeks flushed and her heart did a little flip-flop, and she wondered if he might give her his Christmas gift outside. Gid was pretty good at thinking of reasons to take her outdoors today.

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