Hester on the Run by Linda Byler

Author:Linda Byler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Good Books
Published: 2014-08-24T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

WHEN HESTER WAS FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, KATE died in childbirth at the age of forty-four.

The day was gray with rain coming down in slanted, cold sheets, reflecting the misery of the huddled family, hovering about with empty faces, unable to grasp what was before their eyes.

Hans lifted his face to the rain and could not understand God’s ways. The little ones cried, snuffling into Hester’s shoulder, clinging to her skirts, and whining like little lost lambs.

Noah and Isaac shed solemn tears, even while they squared their shoulders, shoved their hands deep into their pockets, and tried their best to look manly. But tears of grief swam across their eyes, ran over, and coursed down their cheeks, falling on their linen shirts. They blew their noses, blinked, and were finished.

Hester moved about the house as if in a dream. Nothing seemed real. Everything was without clarity. A fog of disbelief left her feeling lethargic, as if nothing mattered. Her dark eyes glistened with unshed tears.

She had cried before. Kate had told her, as her body wasted away, the once ample arms becoming thinner as the months wore on, that she would try her best. But deep inside, she felt as if God was telling her she needed more strength than she could find.

“Perhaps my time has come, Hester. I’m counting on you, though, to keep the family together, if . . . if something should happen to me.”

“Mam, don’t.”

But Kate had pushed on, speaking words like slaps from her hand, words Hester could not bear. She had tried, but she failed to hold back the premature sorrow.

A sadness so heavy lay over the graveyard, crushing Hans, even as the sun shone down on them the day of the burial. Kate and her unborn child were lowered into the wet earth beside the tiny gravestone inscribed with “Rebecca Zug. Daughter of Hans and Catherine Zug.”

The community rallied around them, powerful in their kindness, bringing food and labor and sympathy. Love flowed among them, binding them together with its strong ties, and Hester was comforted by these gentle well-wishers who wanted only the best for her.

That she had so little schooling was something they took into consideration, but Hester refused to budge. School held no promise for her. Memories of being mocked formed like clouds on her inward horizon, and she remained obstinate about going back.

Baby Emma was one year old and cried incessantly for her mother. Barbara and Menno wandered around without understanding, and Hester took them under her wing like a fledgling mother hen.

Hans refused to eat or drink, saying he needed to fast and pray, which Hester respected. She eyed him with a new reverence and was thankful she had shown so much obedience. For Hans blamed himself for his wife’s untimely death. He had prayed for her life now, and God had not heard him. He was sure his sins were piled around his head, and he sat in the proverbial sackcloth and ashes, repenting of his misdeeds for three days.

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