The Believer by Ann H. Gabhart Page A

and curled down her neck. Sweat moistened her upper lip and sat in beads on her forehead. She took a plain cotton handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her face dry.
    "I spent the day stirring apple butter, and the heat of the stove stays with me,' she said almost as an apology. "It is warm for October"
    "I left the sugar there for the morrow," Issachar said before he looked at Elizabeth and Hannah. "Have patience, young sisters. And courage"
    Everything happened too quickly after that. Payton went with Issachar into the men's side of the house. Payton glanced back at Elizabeth. She saw his worry, but there was nothing she could do. She had chosen this path for them. But it wasn't until Ruth took hold of Hannah to pull her away from Elizabeth's side that she truly questioned the wisdom of her decision. Hannah clung to Elizabeth's hand.
    "Can we not stay together this night?" Elizabeth asked.
    "Nay;" the woman said. "It is better to begin the Believer's way at once. Do not let her hold to you" She yanked Hannah's hand away from Elizabeth.
    "Izzy," Hannah screamed. It had been years since she had called Elizabeth that. She jerked loose from Ruth and wrapped her arms around Elizabeth's waist. She held on so tightly that Elizabeth could barely breathe. Sister Ruth put her hands on Hannah's shoulders, and Hannah screamed again. "Izzy, don't let them take me:"
    "Please, let me talk to her," Elizabeth begged the woman. "Please"
    Ruth did not want to give in to Elizabeth's request, but Nola put a hand on Ruth's shoulder. "Give the children a moment"
    "She's not a baby;" Ruth said. "There's no reason for her screams
    "Just a few minutes;' Nola said softly.
    "Very well. A moment only." Ruth turned loose of Hannah, but she didn't look pleased.
    Elizabeth sat down on the stone steps into the house and pulled Hannah down beside her. Nola took Ruth's arm and moved her a few feet away to give them some privacy.
    "I don't want to go with her," Hannah said. "I want to stay with you"
    "I want you to stay with me:' Elizabeth put her arm around Hannah and pulled her close. "But that must not be the Shaker way.
    "Then I don't like the Shaker way"
    "It does seem strange to us, but we must try to accept their ways at least for a little while" Elizabeth tipped Hannah's face up until she was looking directly into her eyes. The panic there made her heart hurt. "We can do this, Hannah. We must do this. At least until spring. Can you try to do that? For me?"
    "And when spring comes?"

"We'll leave if you remain unhappy with their ways."
    "Do you promise?" Hannah dug her fingers into Elizabeth's arm as she waited for her answer.
    "Yes, I promise:" Elizabeth didn't want to think of what that promise might mean or what she might have to do to keep it, but she made the promise anyway. "Do you promise in return?"
    "I will go with the mean one if you say I must" Her shoulders drooped as she let her hand fall off Elizabeth's arm.
    Elizabeth glanced over at the sisters, hoping they hadn't overheard Hannah's words. "She is not mean;' she said softly. "Only stern. She has rules we must follow"
    "I don't like rules:' The panic in Hannah's eyes changed to rebellion.
    "I know, but you will listen and do as they ask. You promised me:" Elizabeth looked at Hannah steadily until the rebellion faded from her eyes and she only looked sad. Very sad and a little frightened. Elizabeth put her hand on Hannah's heart as she had earlier at the cabin. "Remember, my love is always in your heart:"
    "But my heart hurts, Elizabeth. I'm afraid it will break apart and all the love will spill out:"
    "That can never happen. Not with my love or our mother's and father's love. It's here:" Elizabeth pressed down on Hannah's chest. "Always. Forever."
    "I believe you, Elizabeth, but I wish I could run into the woods:" Hannah looked past Elizabeth toward the trees that grew in the distance behind the houses.
    "That you cannot do;' Elizabeth said firmly. "You promised:"
    Hannah sighed heavily.