Read An Unforgivable Secret (Amish Secrets - Book 1) Page 26

Chapter 23

  Determined to complete the last few rows by night fall, Christian urged the team of draft horses forward. Sweat dripped from his brow, evidencing the hours he’d been in the field. As the team turned another loop, Christian spied a carriage coming up the lane. He squinted to see who might have come to call. It appeared to be Minister Fisher’s buggy.

  Great, that’s all I need. Christian grimaced.

  He continued to work as though he hadn’t noticed the minister. Maybe if I keep working, he’ll go away. Christian advanced onward while puffs of dust rose into the air. He’d completed more work than he remembered ever doing in one day. It would have felt good if it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t get Hannah off his mind. He didn’t want to care for her, but he still did. As upset as he was about what she and Samuel had done, he knew he still loved her. He would always consider her the love of his life. But there was no way he was going to forgive her.

  “Hullo, Christian.” Minister Fisher’s voice called out. The minister stood at the end of the row now, just a few feet ahead of the team.

  Christian brought the horses to an abrupt stop in order to avoid running the minister over. “Are you ab im kopp?”

  Minister Fisher’s blue eyes sparkled. “It’s been said.”

  “I could have killed you.”

  The minister shrugged. “I’m still here, aren’t I? The fact that you brought that team to a stop proves that you’re a good man, Christian.”

  “There is none good.”

  “Ah, I see you’ve been reading the Scriptures. Or perhaps paying attention at meeting.”

  “Look, Minister Fisher –”

  “Jonathan. Just Jonathan.”

  “Look, Jonathan. I’ve got work to do here. I intend to finish this field tonight.”

  “I need to speak with you on some important matters.”

  “I ain’t got time for talking,” Christian insisted.

  “Go ahead and finish up. I can wait. I’ll just go up to the house and put some coffee on for us.” Jonathan turned to go.

  Christian remembered the mess in the bedroom. “Uh, on second thought, would you mind helping me unhitch the team? I think I’ll call it a day.”

  Jonathan hid a smirk. “Sure.”

  Christian set two mugs of hot coffee on the table. “You like cream and sugar?”

  Jonathan nodded silently.

  Christian placed the cream and sugar on the table then watched as Minister Fisher lumped five heaping spoons of sugar into his mug. “Does your wife let you put that much sugar in your coffee?” He knew Hannah would’ve protested if he’d tried to do the same thing.

  “Na. I just take it when Susie’s not looking.” Jonathan smiled mischievously. “Sometimes the kinner tell on me, though.”

  “So what happens when you get caught?”

  “She comes and kisses me and tells me I’m already sweet enough.” His eyes sparkled.

  If only Hannah and I had that kind of relationship. Christian sighed. Who knows? Perhaps he could learn a thing or two from the minister. “You wanted to speak with me about something?”

  “Why are you not with your wife at the hospital?”

  Christian did not expect such a direct question. “She is shunned to me.”

  “How do you figure that?” Jonathan’s eyebrows rose.

  “My wife is a Jezebel. She fornicated with Samuel Beachy before we were married, then killed their unborn baby. I just found all this out a couple of days ago.” He scowled.

  “I see.” Jonathan scratched his beard. “So she has not asked for forgiveness?”

  “She has.”

  “Yet you choose not to forgive?”

  “How can a person forgive something like that, Jonathan?” Christian’s voice rose. “If it were your wife, would you forgive her?”

  “It would be difficult, but jah, I would. We must follow Christ’s example. Do you think it was easy for Him to forgive those who nailed Him to the cross?”

  “Nee. But I am not Christ. He was perfect.” Christian took a sip of his coffee.

  “Perfect, jah. But a man, like us. It wasn’t any easier for Him.” Jonathan tapped the table. “Have you considered the prophet Hosea?”

  Christian’s eyebrows furrowed. Which prophet was he? He strove to remember but came up blank. “I don’t know if I remember which one that is.”

  “Jah, all those prophets are sometimes hard to keep straight.” Jonathan chuckled. “He was the one whom God told to marry a harlot.”

  Christian still couldn’t recall that story. “God told someone to marry a harlot?”

  “Yep. Think I would’ve had a hard time obeying that one.”

  “Why would God tell him to do that?” Christian wondered.

  “To show His people how much he loved them. You see, no matter how much God’s people messed up, He always forgave them when they turned back to Him. It was a picture of His unconditional love.” Jonathan went on. “Unconditional love is not human. We can only give it by the strength that comes from Der Herr.”

  Christian pondered the minister’s words. He realized he hadn’t been forgiving at all. No, he’d been judgmental, hateful, and vengeful. “Samuel had asked for forgiveness, but I did not grant it. Now, it’s too late. I’ll never have another chance to make amends with Samuel. My best friend died thinking I hated him.” The thought now brought tears to his eyes.

  Jonathan listened quietly, allowing Christian to unburden himself.

  “My wife lies in the hospital probably thinking the same thing.” He thought of Hannah and all the kinner they’d lost. Next, she’d been rejected by Christian. And now, she’d lost Samuel. He couldn’t imagine the emotional grief she must be experiencing. His heart ached just thinking about it. “I will go to her.”

  “Perhaps you should spend some time in prayer first,” Jonathan suggested.

  Christian nodded. “Jah, that is a gut idea. I will do that.”

  “I’d like to pray with you before I leave.”

  “Denki, Jonathan. You don’t know how much I appreciate you coming by today.” He hung his head. “I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t want you here at first.”

  “I know.” Minister Fisher smiled as they bowed their heads in prayer.