direction ji i Uluckbird Pond, where they'd gone ice fishing three days
1 "I low long ago?"
"Oh, it's been some time." Miriam wore a sudden frown. ' \ j;ihkI two hours or more, I'd have to say."
A I remor of foreboding caught Abram off guard, and he i ii ual and swiftly headed down the steps, waving his hand in il in well without looking back.
103
11
'? WFff W104
Two hours . . . in this cold?
He could not imagine what Abe might be doing out in this frigid weather, and he quickened his pace.
Lorraine Schwartz had been rather astonished at how much her husband had seemingly enjoyed himself at the Nolts' house last evening. When Henry had first met the Ebersols there, she'd noticed that he was somewhat standoffish, yet as the ice was broken and people began passing the food, eating and talking, he relaxed and entered into conversation with Abram, who was quite an interesting fellow, Lorraine thought. She had also noticed her husband discreetly studying Sadie, whom Lorraine had recognized with a jolt, to be sure, recalling the urgent look on Sadie's young face when she had unexpectedly come calling for Derek years ago.
Something else had caught Lorraine's interest last evening. It was the way Henry spoke to young Carl Nolt his gestures, the softness in his voice. She couldn't help but notice the camaraderie between them and wondered how it was that Carl, healthy as he had always been, would have connected so well with Henry on so few clinic visits. Yet Henry was undeniably playful and easily succeeded in drawing out the young boy. Henry will be a wonderful grandfather someday, she thought with a smile.
Presently making her way to the kitchen, the recollection of the supper next door caused her to wish the whole group of them might enjoy yet another opportunity to dine together.Perhaps at Robert's wedding . . . if Robert can indeed win Mary Ruth's heart.
104 105Jrodigal
She would not hold her breath on that matter, however, brilUlse Mary Ruth gave the distinct impression she was holdIng buck. Lorraine didn't mind if Robert took his time wooing the funner Amish girl, for she was fond of both Mary Ruth Hlul her older sister Leah. Each of the Ebersol girls was sweet ill her own unique way, although the pained, sad eyes of their filler sister, Sadie, caused Lorraine to wonder just what the lirmililul girl had ever wanted with Derek that distant night, Wnlling for hours on their front steps for his return home.
liroo
"Abe . . . no!" Abram gasped, sucking cold air into his tinijlj.s as he stooped down. There before him lay his son faceiil"\vn on the ice of Blackbird Pond. He called to him and
11- -Iled him over, patting his face at first, and then slapped him
11H ii- quick smack, becoming even more alarmed when Abe did K respond. Not even an eyelid flickered. , M"Abe!" he hollered. '/';/ '.-.V.'.
^Hol'ill no response.
Wm Abram panicked and, not wasting another moment, he lirooped his limp child into his arms and carried him back to [tile Peacheys' house. Somehow or other Abe had been Ik nocked out cold, and the fierceness of the winter weather digressed Abram as he pounded his fist on Smitty's storm Illnor.
I This time the blacksmith himself came and opened the Id* >r, his eyes growing round when he spied unconscious Abe. I"/ limmel, come in, Abram, come in."
I "He was all sprawled out on the ice," Abram said, a catch in i liis voice as both Smitty and Miriam gathered near.
105
-TT106
e v> e r i y
Lu ,
"Lay him out on the rug here, close to the wood stove," Smitty offered.
Miriam knelt beside Abe, touching his hair and face. "Ach, he's ice-cold."
Abram's heart caught in his throat and he realized he was petrified with fear. As gently as he could, he removed the boy's shoes and socks to check for frostbite, noticing immediately the telltale signs of hard and shiny grayish skin.
"We best not be warmin' him too quickly," advised Miriam, hovering near Abe and wearing a worried frown.
Abram made an attempt to
1 "I low long ago?"
"Oh, it's been some time." Miriam wore a sudden frown. ' \ j;ihkI two hours or more, I'd have to say."
A I remor of foreboding caught Abram off guard, and he i ii ual and swiftly headed down the steps, waving his hand in il in well without looking back.
103
11
'? WFff W104
Two hours . . . in this cold?
He could not imagine what Abe might be doing out in this frigid weather, and he quickened his pace.
Lorraine Schwartz had been rather astonished at how much her husband had seemingly enjoyed himself at the Nolts' house last evening. When Henry had first met the Ebersols there, she'd noticed that he was somewhat standoffish, yet as the ice was broken and people began passing the food, eating and talking, he relaxed and entered into conversation with Abram, who was quite an interesting fellow, Lorraine thought. She had also noticed her husband discreetly studying Sadie, whom Lorraine had recognized with a jolt, to be sure, recalling the urgent look on Sadie's young face when she had unexpectedly come calling for Derek years ago.
Something else had caught Lorraine's interest last evening. It was the way Henry spoke to young Carl Nolt his gestures, the softness in his voice. She couldn't help but notice the camaraderie between them and wondered how it was that Carl, healthy as he had always been, would have connected so well with Henry on so few clinic visits. Yet Henry was undeniably playful and easily succeeded in drawing out the young boy. Henry will be a wonderful grandfather someday, she thought with a smile.
Presently making her way to the kitchen, the recollection of the supper next door caused her to wish the whole group of them might enjoy yet another opportunity to dine together.Perhaps at Robert's wedding . . . if Robert can indeed win Mary Ruth's heart.
104 105Jrodigal
She would not hold her breath on that matter, however, brilUlse Mary Ruth gave the distinct impression she was holdIng buck. Lorraine didn't mind if Robert took his time wooing the funner Amish girl, for she was fond of both Mary Ruth Hlul her older sister Leah. Each of the Ebersol girls was sweet ill her own unique way, although the pained, sad eyes of their filler sister, Sadie, caused Lorraine to wonder just what the lirmililul girl had ever wanted with Derek that distant night, Wnlling for hours on their front steps for his return home.
liroo
"Abe . . . no!" Abram gasped, sucking cold air into his tinijlj.s as he stooped down. There before him lay his son faceiil"\vn on the ice of Blackbird Pond. He called to him and
11- -Iled him over, patting his face at first, and then slapped him
11H ii- quick smack, becoming even more alarmed when Abe did K respond. Not even an eyelid flickered. , M"Abe!" he hollered. '/';/ '.-.V.'.
^Hol'ill no response.
Wm Abram panicked and, not wasting another moment, he lirooped his limp child into his arms and carried him back to [tile Peacheys' house. Somehow or other Abe had been Ik nocked out cold, and the fierceness of the winter weather digressed Abram as he pounded his fist on Smitty's storm Illnor.
I This time the blacksmith himself came and opened the Id* >r, his eyes growing round when he spied unconscious Abe. I"/ limmel, come in, Abram, come in."
I "He was all sprawled out on the ice," Abram said, a catch in i liis voice as both Smitty and Miriam gathered near.
105
-TT106
e v> e r i y
Lu ,
"Lay him out on the rug here, close to the wood stove," Smitty offered.
Miriam knelt beside Abe, touching his hair and face. "Ach, he's ice-cold."
Abram's heart caught in his throat and he realized he was petrified with fear. As gently as he could, he removed the boy's shoes and socks to check for frostbite, noticing immediately the telltale signs of hard and shiny grayish skin.
"We best not be warmin' him too quickly," advised Miriam, hovering near Abe and wearing a worried frown.
Abram made an attempt to
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