Abram's Daughters 04 The Prodigal Read Online Free PDF

I Lizzie nodded her head, a tear glistening in her eye.
    Struggling to take in this bewildering revelation, Sadie whispered at last, "How does Leah feel 'bout this?"
    "Oh, we never speak of it anymore, just as the People do not speak of the shun once a person repents," said Lizzie.
    Sadie found this news not only curious but altogether unnerving. Lizzie had given Leah to Mamma and Dat to raise, yet her child had grown up at arm's length, where Lizzie could observe and love her.
    A sftiver of sadness flew up her back, and Sadie, for a fleeting moment, recalled with dread the days and nights she had frequently heard the cries of a phantom baby, a constant reminder of her first wee one.
    "I don't know what to say, really," she confessed, choking down the lump in her throat at the thought of Leah's unexpected bond with the aunt Sadie so admired. "To think you and Leah . . . well, I guess I might've wondered all those years why Leah was the only dark-haired one in the family. But I never would've guessed this."
    Aunt Lizzie went on to say that, at the time of Leah's
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    conception, she had been so caught up in her youthful rebellion she hadn't cared what anybody thought. "I just did as I pleased."
    Same as 1 did, Sadie thought ruefully.
    "Thankfully, your parents took me in as their own for a time, even as they did Leah when she was born."
    "So the young man, Leah's father, never wanted to marry you or care for you?" The question slipped out effortlessly, though as soon as Sadie had voiced it, she felt suddenly sorry. "Uh, that's not at all for me to ask."
    "No . . . no, it's to be expected, really 'tis."
    But when Lizzie did not offer to say more about Leah's blood father, Sadie knew better than to press the question now burning in her mind.
    Just who is Leah's real father? ,'.-. , ., .-[
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    j\ Jid says might just be a gut idea if the hex doctor's on hand for rliis baby," Hannah told Aunt Lizzie in the privacy of her Cozy kitchen on Christmas Eve day. "He thinks we should've i'hiul him here for the first two, just to be safe."
    She had been pouring tea for herself when who but Lizzie Inul come knocking at the back door. Having felt awful slug#\h\\ all day, Hannah was glad for a chance to sit down and hhnre a nice cup of tea with Lizzie. They'd gotten on to the lupic of Hannah's cjtoice of an Amish midwife when Hannah Icll she ought to speak up about her fears.
    "Dat still feels strongly that Mamma would be alive today il he'd had his way about calliii' in the powwow doctor." She wiitched Aunt Lizzie closely, hoping for some further explanation as to why Lizzie, like Mamma, was so opposed to the hyiupathy healers.
    Lizzie's hazel-brown eyes appeared more earnest now; it was surprising to see her usually cheery aunt turn suddenly solemn. She poured a rounded teaspoon of sugar into her teacup and stirred slowly before looking up at last. "I hesitate to
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    talk much about so-and-so's stubborn stand on this subject, but if I do ... well, please don't say anything."
    "You have my word, Aendi."
    Lizzie took several sips of hot tea. Then, setting the pretty floral cup down lightly on its matching saucer, she continued. "This has been a sore point with your father and me for much too long, I must admit. Here lately, though, I think he may be coming round 'bout the things your mamma believed in. I pray so."
    Hannah found this admission hard to understand. What was Lizzie saying? That she and Dat had started to see eye to eye on the Amish doctors? If so, what would it mean for her and Gid . . . and the baby soon to be born? Would Dat interfere, try to convince Gid otherwise?
    She shuddered to think of risking her baby's life as Mamma had done, only to lose her own. It was a miracle young Abe was as sturdy and smart as he was. Any of the women folk, if they were privy to all that Leah said poor Mamma had gone through to birth Abe, might still be bracing themselves, waiting for