River of Mercy by BJ Hoff

Author:BJ Hoff
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780736940528
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers, Inc.

26

WHAT IF?

It seemed life held

No future and no past but this.

LOLA RIDGE

On Sunday morning, Rachel closed the barn door and stood looking around. Her milking and feeding chores done, she supposed she should head for the house to fix her own breakfast. Still she hesitated, taking in the crisp, frost-covered surroundings and watching her breath, clouded with steam from the cold.

She felt as if she’d been holding her breath for days now. Perhaps later today she would finally be able to release the tension.

On the other hand, the strain might turn to something worse. It all depended on how the lot was cast. As had been the way of the People for many years, the hand of God would direct one man to choose a hymnbook in which a paper had been placed—a paper on which a specific Scripture verse was written.

Abe Gingerich, Malachi Esch, or Samuel Beiler. Which man would choose the hymnal containing that paper? On this man would be conferred the power and authority to affect and even change the lives of many in their community—including Rachel.

More than once, the thought had entered her mind to pray about this divine appointment. But only for a fleeting instant before, overwhelmed by her own audacity—the sin of even entertaining such a thought—she had gone to her knees to plead for forgiveness. One must not, one dare not attempt to interfere in the Lord God’s work. There was no comprehending how great a sin it would be to pray for an event that would benefit her personally!

Later today, she would know. She might be given a hint of hope, or things could go on just as they were. Or just as likely, she might have to face the shattering reality that any hope she and Jeremiah had was gone.

She assumed that should Malachi Esch be chosen, there might be reason for optimism, not only for her and Jeremiah but for all the people. Malachi was a kind and decent man, a man of wisdom known to be fair and just.

As for Abe Gingerich, he had the reputation of being resistant to change. Although Abe was known to be a steady, good-hearted person, he had always stood on the side of tradition and was disinclined to compromise.

Finally, the thought of Samuel Beiler as bishop caused a shudder unrelated to the cold to roll over her. But why? Other than his ongoing pursuit of her hand in marriage, Samuel had done nothing she could point to that should induce uneasiness or apprehension in her. She had no concrete reason for the feeling of dread he frequently evoked.

No, that wasn’t quite true, she realized. More than once she’d had the feeling he was threatening her. Not overtly. Not a heavy-handed sort of menacing, but a vague sensation of warning, a sense that even the slightest indication of defiance on her part would be met with severe consequences.

She realized now that her qualms about Samuel becoming the new bishop weren’t altogether related to her future with Jeremiah.

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