died?”
“Yes, sir, that’s what I mean.”
He thought for a moment. “ Mein bruder was weak and could not eat. He became so thin and did not survive the winter.”
“When was that, Mr. Fisher?”
“Years ago, when I was a boy.”
“Were other family members affected?”
He shook his head. “I do not think so. What does this have to do with Sarah?”
“There are certain diseases that are seen more often among the Amish. I need to know if any of those illnesses run in your family.”
“You think this baby will be born sick?”
“I hope not. But if that is the case, by knowing a family history, I can begin to treat the infant immediately.”
“Another child, on my wife’s side, was sickly. The child was born in the winter and did not live to spring.”
“Did anyone mention the baby’s cause of death?”
“The winter was cold. The father tried to cut wood to burn in the stove, but he hurt himself with his ax. He became sick, and the baby did, as well.”
“I’m sorry about the loss of life.”
“ Gott’s ways are not our ways.”
Noticing the old man’s shortness of breath, Ella glanced at Zach. He nodded, joining in her concern.
“Sir?” She patted the man’s arm. “How long have you had trouble breathing?”
“I am fine.” He waved her off.
Refusing to be deterred, she leaned in closer. “Your breathing is labored. As we age, our bodies sometimes need help. I’d like you to come to my clinic, Mr. Fisher. I could check your heart and your lungs.”
“My heart is strong, and my breathing is fine. You can keep your medicine.”
“There would be no charge. You could visit Sarah while you were there. I know she’d like to see you.”
“I do not want to see my daughter or have my body examined by a woman.”
“Sir,” Zach interrupted. “Dr. Jacobsen is only thinking of your health.”
“The Amish do not go to doctors.”
“Some do,” she corrected.
“Like my daughter, who does not follow the Amish ways.”
“I think you’d find her very Amish, sir. She’d like to see you.”
“Sir, someone broke into the doctor’s clinic,” Zach said. “I wondered if you’d heard of anyone who wanted to do harm to Dr. Jacobsen. Or anyone who didn’t want her clinic to succeed.”
“There are many who wonder why she came here.”
“I came to work with the Amish, Mr. Fisher. As you may know, the nearest medical care is in Freemont. That’s a long ride in a buggy.”
“But we do not need doctors.”
“Even the Amish get sick,” she responded.
“Can you think of anyone in particular who might want to do the doctor harm?” Zach asked again.
“The Amish are peace loving people.”
Who shun their family members , Ella wanted to mention. Even those who remained within the community could be excluded, such as Sarah, all because she went against her father’s wishes. Mr. Fisher didn’t see the hypocrisy of his statement.
Zach pointed to the rifle propped by the door. “Do you use your Winchester for hunting?”
“I do not hunt much.” The old man touched his fingers to his eyes. “It is hard to see.”
Ella scooted closer. “Have you had your eyes checked recently?”
“As I told you, I do not go to doctors.”
“But you might need glasses,” she said. “Cataracts form later in life. An eye specialist will be able to fit you for glasses. The cataracts can be removed, if your vision is compromised.”
The old man ignored her and turned back to Zach. “Do you hunt?”
Evidently talk of hunting was more to his liking than any talk about his physical condition.
Zach nodded. “Although I don’t have much time these days. When was the last time you shot your gun, sir? You might need to have it cleaned. I’d be happy to help you with that.”
“My son helps me, as I already said. He hunts.”
“Has he taken the gun recently to do some hunting?”
“ Yah , earlier today.”
Zach looked at Sarah. “Would you mind calling your son so I can talk to
“Yes, sir, that’s what I mean.”
He thought for a moment. “ Mein bruder was weak and could not eat. He became so thin and did not survive the winter.”
“When was that, Mr. Fisher?”
“Years ago, when I was a boy.”
“Were other family members affected?”
He shook his head. “I do not think so. What does this have to do with Sarah?”
“There are certain diseases that are seen more often among the Amish. I need to know if any of those illnesses run in your family.”
“You think this baby will be born sick?”
“I hope not. But if that is the case, by knowing a family history, I can begin to treat the infant immediately.”
“Another child, on my wife’s side, was sickly. The child was born in the winter and did not live to spring.”
“Did anyone mention the baby’s cause of death?”
“The winter was cold. The father tried to cut wood to burn in the stove, but he hurt himself with his ax. He became sick, and the baby did, as well.”
“I’m sorry about the loss of life.”
“ Gott’s ways are not our ways.”
Noticing the old man’s shortness of breath, Ella glanced at Zach. He nodded, joining in her concern.
“Sir?” She patted the man’s arm. “How long have you had trouble breathing?”
“I am fine.” He waved her off.
Refusing to be deterred, she leaned in closer. “Your breathing is labored. As we age, our bodies sometimes need help. I’d like you to come to my clinic, Mr. Fisher. I could check your heart and your lungs.”
“My heart is strong, and my breathing is fine. You can keep your medicine.”
“There would be no charge. You could visit Sarah while you were there. I know she’d like to see you.”
“I do not want to see my daughter or have my body examined by a woman.”
“Sir,” Zach interrupted. “Dr. Jacobsen is only thinking of your health.”
“The Amish do not go to doctors.”
“Some do,” she corrected.
“Like my daughter, who does not follow the Amish ways.”
“I think you’d find her very Amish, sir. She’d like to see you.”
“Sir, someone broke into the doctor’s clinic,” Zach said. “I wondered if you’d heard of anyone who wanted to do harm to Dr. Jacobsen. Or anyone who didn’t want her clinic to succeed.”
“There are many who wonder why she came here.”
“I came to work with the Amish, Mr. Fisher. As you may know, the nearest medical care is in Freemont. That’s a long ride in a buggy.”
“But we do not need doctors.”
“Even the Amish get sick,” she responded.
“Can you think of anyone in particular who might want to do the doctor harm?” Zach asked again.
“The Amish are peace loving people.”
Who shun their family members , Ella wanted to mention. Even those who remained within the community could be excluded, such as Sarah, all because she went against her father’s wishes. Mr. Fisher didn’t see the hypocrisy of his statement.
Zach pointed to the rifle propped by the door. “Do you use your Winchester for hunting?”
“I do not hunt much.” The old man touched his fingers to his eyes. “It is hard to see.”
Ella scooted closer. “Have you had your eyes checked recently?”
“As I told you, I do not go to doctors.”
“But you might need glasses,” she said. “Cataracts form later in life. An eye specialist will be able to fit you for glasses. The cataracts can be removed, if your vision is compromised.”
The old man ignored her and turned back to Zach. “Do you hunt?”
Evidently talk of hunting was more to his liking than any talk about his physical condition.
Zach nodded. “Although I don’t have much time these days. When was the last time you shot your gun, sir? You might need to have it cleaned. I’d be happy to help you with that.”
“My son helps me, as I already said. He hunts.”
“Has he taken the gun recently to do some hunting?”
“ Yah , earlier today.”
Zach looked at Sarah. “Would you mind calling your son so I can talk to
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