Balm of Gilead by Adina Senft

Author:Adina Senft
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FaithWords
Published: 2015-07-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Corinne Yoder wouldn’t hear of Henry’s going home to his solitary kitchen that evening, after he’d brought her and Jacob and Amanda back to the farm. “With all you’ve done for us today, Henry Byler, you must let us give you dinner. It is the least we can do to thank you for your kindness.”

“My kindness, as you call it, was the least I could do for my neighbors.” He hustled to hold the kitchen door open as Jacob hovered next to Amanda, his strong, sinewy hands ready in case she should lose her balance. She navigated the steps and her new crutches with much more skill than Henry would have anticipated.

“Does it hurt, Dochder?” Corinne asked anxiously. “Do you need one of the pills the doctor gave you?”

“Neh, Mamm. It only hurts when I put weight on it. The real question is, how are you going to manage to keep house for six weeks without me?”

“We’ll think about that later. For now, let’s get you into your bed and I’ll bring you some supper on a tray.”

A few minutes later, with Amanda apparently comfortably settled, Corinne hurried back in and pulled a bib apron from the back of the kitchen door. “Has anyone found Jesse Riehl’s parents?” she asked. “He looked so alone in the emergency room—not that he was in any shape to appreciate company after the drugs took hold. But someone ought to let his family know. Amanda says he is staying with a Mennonite aunt and uncle.”

“The sheriff would have called, I think,” Henry said. “If he’s living at their address, then the license plate would have been registered there and it would have been straightforward to get a phone number.”

Jacob shook his head. “Imagine an Amish boy driving a car.”

“Imagine an Amish girl riding in it,” his wife said tartly. “But that’s a conversation for another time. All I can say is I’m glad you were there to help, Henry. They would have been lying on the side of the road yet if it hadn’t been for you.” She put a pot of coffee on and laid out bread, jam, honey, and sliced cheese, in case anyone was hungry before dinner.

“Sarah sent Priscilla to get me. You should have seen that girl, astride a buggy horse and riding like the wind. It was straight out of Paul Revere.” Suddenly he found himself starving, and helped himself to bread and jam. Raspberry. Heaven.

“Priscilla is a good girl,” Corinne said. “And Joe Byler is a fine young man. They are young yet, but I hope something comes of it someday.” She got a parcel wrapped in white butcher’s paper from the refrigerator. “I wonder where Sarah is. I thought she would be here waiting for us.” She began to cut up onions and mushrooms. “And what of you and Ginny Hochstetler? How are your plans coming along?”

Henry felt the stiffness in his spine begin to relax as he watched the comfortable movements of a woman at home in her own kitchen.

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