managed to arrive so quickly through the storm.
But she understood how their system worked.
When her brother Simon had rung the bell outside their barn, its call had carried to at least four other farms. They in turn had sent out a similar cry for help, which had reached still more farms. No one stopped to ask questions. The call was enough.
One call sent out a ripple through their people.
One call and all would come.
Folks parted as Bishop Beiler made his way to the center of the room and placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. Miriam’s mind flashed back to six days before when Gabe and Jacob had stood at the front of their Sunday meeting, when Gabe had joined the church and Grace had stood beside her father to be prayed over. It had been here, in their home, but no one could have known then that the girl’s life would be at stake a few days later.
“I didn’t know it was Grace, but I knew someone must be missing for the call to have gone out. I spoke with the Englisch ,” Jacob said. “They are sending people out to help, but because of the storm the roads are impassable. The road crews have been sent to clear a path, but it will be a few hours before the Englisch officers arrive at your farm.”
“In the meantime we go to your place to start searching on our own.” Joshua stepped forward and set his kaffi cup on the table. “It’s not hopeless, son. Every man here knows these winters, has experienced these storms, and has a dochder or schweschder at home. We’ll find your Grace.”
Gabe nodded and Miriam thought he wouldn’t speak, but then he stood and cleared his throat. “ Danki . I appreciate what you’re doing. I…I need to remind you that my Grace…she can’t…that is… she won’t talk.”
He looked from man to man and then continued. “She’s not slow minded. She’s lost. If she sees you, she’ll make a signal so you can see her, but I don’t think she would cry out. I don’t think she would speak. I thought I should let you know.”
Each man confirmed their understanding with a gesture, nod, or word of encouragement as they filed out into the gathering darkness and into the snow, which hadn’t slowed in its assault.
Gabe was walking out with Miriam’s oldest brother, Noah, when she thought of Pepper. She hurried to catch up with them before they were out the door and reached forward to snag Gabe’s sleeve.
He glanced back at her in surprise.
A few other women had come with the men. They were moving supplies into boxes, and boxes into buggies.
“Simon is coordinating supplies,” Noah said, pushing out through the front door, but Miriam pulled him back.
“It’s not that. It’s Pepper. I think he can help.”
Gabe shifted from foot to foot, his eyes on his horse. Someone had given the gelding a few oats in the barn and then brought him back around. Miriam knew she would need to explain quickly if she had any hope of Gabe and Noah hearing her out.
“He’s a good hunting dog. He’s familiar with Grace. At least give him a chance. What can it hurt?”
“We’re not hunting, Miriam.” Gabe’s voice was more tired than angry.
“He’s a German shorthair, he operates off scent, and he’s spent time with your daughter. What harm is there in allowing him to help?”
“You may have a point, but we can’t wait for you to get him ready. Bring him with Simon and the supplies.” Noah pulled on his gloves and walked out of the house.
As Miriam was about to turn away, Gabe stopped her. “Here. Take this.” Cupping her hand in his, he reached into the pocket of his coat, and pulled out something small, knitted, and blue. Slipping Grace’s mitten into her hand, he closed her fingers around it.
He paused long enough to look deeply into her eyes, to share with her what he’d been careful to keep hidden since she’d known him—the pain, the loss, and the loneliness.
Then he disappeared into the storm.
Chapter 14
G race kicked the snow out from under the branches of
But she understood how their system worked.
When her brother Simon had rung the bell outside their barn, its call had carried to at least four other farms. They in turn had sent out a similar cry for help, which had reached still more farms. No one stopped to ask questions. The call was enough.
One call sent out a ripple through their people.
One call and all would come.
Folks parted as Bishop Beiler made his way to the center of the room and placed his hand on Gabe’s shoulder. Miriam’s mind flashed back to six days before when Gabe and Jacob had stood at the front of their Sunday meeting, when Gabe had joined the church and Grace had stood beside her father to be prayed over. It had been here, in their home, but no one could have known then that the girl’s life would be at stake a few days later.
“I didn’t know it was Grace, but I knew someone must be missing for the call to have gone out. I spoke with the Englisch ,” Jacob said. “They are sending people out to help, but because of the storm the roads are impassable. The road crews have been sent to clear a path, but it will be a few hours before the Englisch officers arrive at your farm.”
“In the meantime we go to your place to start searching on our own.” Joshua stepped forward and set his kaffi cup on the table. “It’s not hopeless, son. Every man here knows these winters, has experienced these storms, and has a dochder or schweschder at home. We’ll find your Grace.”
Gabe nodded and Miriam thought he wouldn’t speak, but then he stood and cleared his throat. “ Danki . I appreciate what you’re doing. I…I need to remind you that my Grace…she can’t…that is… she won’t talk.”
He looked from man to man and then continued. “She’s not slow minded. She’s lost. If she sees you, she’ll make a signal so you can see her, but I don’t think she would cry out. I don’t think she would speak. I thought I should let you know.”
Each man confirmed their understanding with a gesture, nod, or word of encouragement as they filed out into the gathering darkness and into the snow, which hadn’t slowed in its assault.
Gabe was walking out with Miriam’s oldest brother, Noah, when she thought of Pepper. She hurried to catch up with them before they were out the door and reached forward to snag Gabe’s sleeve.
He glanced back at her in surprise.
A few other women had come with the men. They were moving supplies into boxes, and boxes into buggies.
“Simon is coordinating supplies,” Noah said, pushing out through the front door, but Miriam pulled him back.
“It’s not that. It’s Pepper. I think he can help.”
Gabe shifted from foot to foot, his eyes on his horse. Someone had given the gelding a few oats in the barn and then brought him back around. Miriam knew she would need to explain quickly if she had any hope of Gabe and Noah hearing her out.
“He’s a good hunting dog. He’s familiar with Grace. At least give him a chance. What can it hurt?”
“We’re not hunting, Miriam.” Gabe’s voice was more tired than angry.
“He’s a German shorthair, he operates off scent, and he’s spent time with your daughter. What harm is there in allowing him to help?”
“You may have a point, but we can’t wait for you to get him ready. Bring him with Simon and the supplies.” Noah pulled on his gloves and walked out of the house.
As Miriam was about to turn away, Gabe stopped her. “Here. Take this.” Cupping her hand in his, he reached into the pocket of his coat, and pulled out something small, knitted, and blue. Slipping Grace’s mitten into her hand, he closed her fingers around it.
He paused long enough to look deeply into her eyes, to share with her what he’d been careful to keep hidden since she’d known him—the pain, the loss, and the loneliness.
Then he disappeared into the storm.
Chapter 14
G race kicked the snow out from under the branches of
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