Read An Unforgivable Secret (Amish Secrets - Book 1) Page 17
Chapter 14
When Samuel entered the barn, he spied Christian near the horses' stalls. His head was bowed down and Samuel was unsure whether he was praying or not. As Samuel quietly approached, Christian lifted his head.
“I'm sorry if I interrupted,” Samuel said.
“Ach, nee. Sometimes I just need a little quiet time. It's hard with everything Hannah and I have gone through. I'm worried about what will happen if she becomes pregnant again. She's had such a difficult time dealing with losing the other bopplin.”
Samuel clasped Christian's shoulder. “And how about you, Christian? How are you doing?”
“I'm dealing with it the best way I know how. I'm working.” He gave a half-smile. “It seems to keep my mind occupied, but it's not always easy.”
“Nee, I'm afraid life is rarely that. Do you know what Carolanne said when the doctor offered pain medication for her cancer?” He didn't wait for a response, but continued on. “She said that Gott promised never to give us more than we can handle, and that she would trust Him for her comfort.”
“It sounds like your Carolanne was a wise woman, and a strong one,” Christian said.
“I believe her strength came from Der Herr. It is that strength that helped me through her death.”
“Jah, I am trusting Gott. I worry about Hannah, though. She is not strong.”
“Christian, have you and Hannah ever trusted Christ for salvation?” Samuel asked.
“I cannot speak for Hannah, but I myself have,” Christian said.
“Perhaps that is why she struggles so.”
“Perhaps.” Christian pondered a moment, then smiled at Samuel. “Denki, Samuel, for coming home. I have missed your friendship.”
Samuel grabbed a pitchfork and began mucking out a stall. “And I have missed yours too, Friend. Now I think we'd better get to work before Hannah refuses to feed us.”
“If you don't work, you don't eat!” They both recited in unison. Christian laughed. “I don't know how many times I heard that growing up. Probably too many to count.”
After Christian fetched a rake and began contently working side by side with Samuel, all became quiet, but for the sound of their working and breathing.
Hannah glanced out the window when she heard a buggy rumble up the drive. She smiled when she realized Deborah and Peter had come to visit. No doubt they'd gotten wind of Samuel's return. Hannah dried her hands and walked outside to meet her sister.
Christian and Samuel emerged from the barn as well. Hannah watched as Samuel and Peter embraced. Young Elam jumped into his uncle's arms and Samuel spun him around like an airplane. The resemblance between the two of them was remarkable and Hannah wondered, had things turned out differently, what a child of Samuel's would've looked like. At that moment, Samuel’s and Hannah's eyes met and a knowing look passed between them.
Deborah grasped Hannah's hand and pulled her toward the house after offering her two brothers-in-law a quick greeting. She took her infant daughter from Peter's arms and gave her to Hannah to hold. “Hannah, Becky, and I will go round up some snacks for everyone,” she informed the men.
“How did you know Samuel was here?” Hannah wondered aloud as they entered the kitchen.
“The mysterious buggy in your driveway yesterday and someone in town mentioned they thought they’d seen Samuel, so I put two and two together. I'm just wondering why he's here.”
Hannah didn’t miss Deborah’s pointed look. She threw up her free hand. “Don't look at me. I was just as surprised as you are.”
“So he's going to be staying here?” Deborah raised her eyebrows.
“Apparently.” Hannah shrugged.
“And you're okay with that?”
“Deb, I don't have much of a choice. Christian invited him to stay here. I already tried protesting and it didn't work,” Hannah said.
“If I were you, I'd tell Christian about your and Samuel's past relationship.”
Hannah looked at her sister in horror. “Ach, nee. I could never tell him.”
“I hope you know what you're doing, Hannah.” Deborah shook her head. “Having him here in the same house isn't wise.”
“He's not here, he's in the dawdi haus. Besides, it's not my decision to make, Deb. I try to avoid him the best I can. Other than that, there's not much I can do.” The baby began fussing in Hannah's arms and she handed little Becky to her mother. “Besides, he's here for Christian, not for me.”
“I really hope you're right.”
Several hours after her sister had left and she'd finished cleaning up the kitchen following supper, Hannah made a beeline for the stairs, determined to stay occupied. Hannah's broom now moved slower and slower as Christian's and Samuel's cheerful voices wafted up the stairs to where she was working. She had no desire to be in Samuel's company, but couldn't help but envy the two men's camaraderie as they sat downstairs playing checkers. It used to be the three of them, but now here she was upstairs by herself while Christian and Samuel laughed downstairs. Why couldn't things just go back to the way they were before love had to come along and complicate everything?