about speaking, the bishop rose to address the community.
“Before we would dismiss, there’s a matter of confession that’s come to my attention. Young Luke Lantz would ask your patience while he speaks.” The bishop sat down, and the crowd rustled with curiosity as Luke made his way forward to the head of the benches.
Rose’s heart ached at his pallor, but she knew his eyes were steady and clear. Priscilla now clasped her hand, and Rose was grateful for the support.
Luke began to speak in a strong voice, and the generalrustlings of the crowd ceased as his words burned into Rose’s heart.
“I have betrayed you all,” he began. “All of you, but especially those I love. It’s easier to tell what you may think is the heavier offense—that I’ve been the one who stole from you these past months.”
Rose couldn’t ignore the faint gasps of surprise, and swallowed hard.
“Why I took from you doesn’t matter. I did it. It was wrong. I confess this wrong and beg your forgiveness. But . . . there’s more . . .”
Rose felt his gaze rivet to hers across the space of crowded benches.
“I’ve betrayed you by expecting little from you as a community, as a people. The truth is . . . the truth is that I’ve been angry at Derr Herr since my mother died. And I’ve been angry at all of you. I started to believe that if you didn’t have the power to save my mother, then you had no power together at all. And that is so wrong. Someone very wise told me that I had judged you, and it’s true. I might have asked for your help for a woman and family in need, but I didn’t. I believed I could do it alone . . .”
His voice broke a bit, and silent tears slipped down Rose’s cheeks. Priscilla squeezed her hand harder.
“Alone is not what our people are about. Our strength lies in our community. I have wronged the community. I confess this before you all and ask for your forgiveness.” He dropped to his knees and bent his dark head.
The bishop rose and placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Is it the will of the community, then, to grant Luke Lantz the forgiveness he begs for?”
There was a general assent of ya ’s, and Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then,” the bishop continued, “please come forward following our dismissal to greet Luke Lantz with renewed goodwill and acceptance.”
Rose received Priscilla’s hug, then wended her way forward to stand next to Luke. He caught her hand in a fierce grasp, which she returned as people began to come forward.
“Stole my best linens, young man?” Esther Mast inquired with a glint in her faded blue eyes.
“Yes. I’m very sorry,” Luke said steadily.
The old woman sniffed. “Well, keep ’em. Probably for a gut cause. Would have given ’em to you had you asked.”
“I know that now.”
“Hmmm,” Mrs. Mast mused, ignoring the press of the crowd around her with the distinct dignity of the aged. “Seems like I’ve got some more linens in a trunk upstairs. They’ll make a fine wedding gift to go with what you already got.” She gave Rose’s hand a squeeze with her bony fingers.
“Danki,” Rose whispered.
Joseph Lambert was next. “Hey, anytime you want to talk, friend, I’m here. Ach , and keep that old goat of ours too. Kicked me once too often.” He shook Luke’s hand and winked at Rose.
They came, one after the other, to forgive and to give, telling Luke to keep all that he had taken and offering more should he need it.
Rose thrilled in heart and praised the Lord when Luke turned to her and whispered, “You were right, Rose.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
W ORD OF THE DETAILS OF S YLVIA AND THE CHILDREN spread about the community, and Luke was inundated with offers of places to stay, clothes for the children, and a hundred other small kindnesses that made abundance seem too small a word.
In all of the details, he barely had time to talk to Rose and sheepishly asked Joshua one morning if he’d do a favor for him.
“Flowers?” Joshua
“Before we would dismiss, there’s a matter of confession that’s come to my attention. Young Luke Lantz would ask your patience while he speaks.” The bishop sat down, and the crowd rustled with curiosity as Luke made his way forward to the head of the benches.
Rose’s heart ached at his pallor, but she knew his eyes were steady and clear. Priscilla now clasped her hand, and Rose was grateful for the support.
Luke began to speak in a strong voice, and the generalrustlings of the crowd ceased as his words burned into Rose’s heart.
“I have betrayed you all,” he began. “All of you, but especially those I love. It’s easier to tell what you may think is the heavier offense—that I’ve been the one who stole from you these past months.”
Rose couldn’t ignore the faint gasps of surprise, and swallowed hard.
“Why I took from you doesn’t matter. I did it. It was wrong. I confess this wrong and beg your forgiveness. But . . . there’s more . . .”
Rose felt his gaze rivet to hers across the space of crowded benches.
“I’ve betrayed you by expecting little from you as a community, as a people. The truth is . . . the truth is that I’ve been angry at Derr Herr since my mother died. And I’ve been angry at all of you. I started to believe that if you didn’t have the power to save my mother, then you had no power together at all. And that is so wrong. Someone very wise told me that I had judged you, and it’s true. I might have asked for your help for a woman and family in need, but I didn’t. I believed I could do it alone . . .”
His voice broke a bit, and silent tears slipped down Rose’s cheeks. Priscilla squeezed her hand harder.
“Alone is not what our people are about. Our strength lies in our community. I have wronged the community. I confess this before you all and ask for your forgiveness.” He dropped to his knees and bent his dark head.
The bishop rose and placed a hand on Luke’s shoulder. “Is it the will of the community, then, to grant Luke Lantz the forgiveness he begs for?”
There was a general assent of ya ’s, and Rose breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then,” the bishop continued, “please come forward following our dismissal to greet Luke Lantz with renewed goodwill and acceptance.”
Rose received Priscilla’s hug, then wended her way forward to stand next to Luke. He caught her hand in a fierce grasp, which she returned as people began to come forward.
“Stole my best linens, young man?” Esther Mast inquired with a glint in her faded blue eyes.
“Yes. I’m very sorry,” Luke said steadily.
The old woman sniffed. “Well, keep ’em. Probably for a gut cause. Would have given ’em to you had you asked.”
“I know that now.”
“Hmmm,” Mrs. Mast mused, ignoring the press of the crowd around her with the distinct dignity of the aged. “Seems like I’ve got some more linens in a trunk upstairs. They’ll make a fine wedding gift to go with what you already got.” She gave Rose’s hand a squeeze with her bony fingers.
“Danki,” Rose whispered.
Joseph Lambert was next. “Hey, anytime you want to talk, friend, I’m here. Ach , and keep that old goat of ours too. Kicked me once too often.” He shook Luke’s hand and winked at Rose.
They came, one after the other, to forgive and to give, telling Luke to keep all that he had taken and offering more should he need it.
Rose thrilled in heart and praised the Lord when Luke turned to her and whispered, “You were right, Rose.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
W ORD OF THE DETAILS OF S YLVIA AND THE CHILDREN spread about the community, and Luke was inundated with offers of places to stay, clothes for the children, and a hundred other small kindnesses that made abundance seem too small a word.
In all of the details, he barely had time to talk to Rose and sheepishly asked Joshua one morning if he’d do a favor for him.
“Flowers?” Joshua
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