Chapter 14
O n the morning of the program, Lilly hurried through her routine and prayed her mother would be cooperative. Lilly had reminded her of the program the night before but had gotten no response, so she knocked with faint trepidation on her mamm’s door, surprised that she hadn’t been summoned already. When her mother didn’t respond, Lilly opened the door.
“Mamm?”
She peered into the shadows and saw that the bed was made, an unusual thing since it was her responsibility to make up her mother’s bed after school each day. Her heart started to pound and she tried not to panic. Of course her mother could be anywhere about, but Lilly recalled the one other time that she’d been gone before dawn—she had driven into Lockport and had indulged in her desire to buy things, spending their meager savings before Lilly had been able to find her.
“Ach, not today, dear Lord,” she breathed aloud as she began to methodically search the house.
“Mamm? Mamm?” Her pleading calls received no response and she flung her book satchel on the kitchen table before heading out to the barn. She saw, before she ever got there, that the wide doors gaped open and Ruler and the buggy were gone. She glanced at her brooch watch. School was to begin in half an hour. She caught at the railing next to the porch steps and tried to regulate her breathing. She might have gone to the Planks’, but she knew that Alice and her family had been gone for a few days visiting an ailing aunt in another county and weren’t due to return until the afternoon.
“Think, Lilly Lapp. Think.” Her words were caught by the cold wind as one face came to mind. Jacob. Somehow she knew by instinct that he’d help her and would be discreet in doing so, and not just because he was her betrothed, but because he was that kind of person.
The thought warmed her as she raced back inside, caught up her books, pulled on an extra wrap, and began the mile-and-a-half run to the Wyses’ farm. She slipped twice, falling hard against the icy ground, but got back up, propelled by worry for her mother and what the children would do if she weren’t there to greet them.
She arrived panting at the Wyse door and pounded with an ice-cold hand. Samuel Wyse opened the door.
“Lilly, what is it?” He took her satchel of books.
She shook her head, trying to get her breath. “Jacob, sei so gut.”
Both Jacob and Seth had risen from the kitchen table when she entered and now bumped into each other in an effort to come to her. She saw Jacob glare at his brother and Seth step back. Then Jacob came forward to catch her shaking arms in his hands.
“What’s wrong?”
Her bottom lip quivered at the concern in his tone but she kept stalwart focus. “My mamm … Ruler’s gone. I think she went to town, but I can’t be sure. I’m going to be late for school and the children will be cold.” She broke off, stifling a half sob. He ran his large hands up and down the cold wraps on her arms.
“It’s all right, Lilly. We’ll help you. I’ll find your mamm.”
He pulled her against his broad chest and she listened for a few intense seconds to the steady beating of his heart. Remembering that his family stood about, she moved away. He let her go. She looked at the faces of the Wyse men and Mary Wyse, who’d come in from the kitchen, but saw nothing but concern in their eyes. She thanked God for bringing Jacob to mind.
“Mamm, will you make some hot tea for Lilly?”
Lilly shook her head. “Oh, I can’t, Jacob—the children.”
He waved at her to be silent.
“Seth, go over to the school and get the woodstove going. Tell the kids to come in when they get there and have them run through their practice for the program. Then come back and get Lilly, please, once she’s had a chance to warm up. I’ll take Thunder and ride into town to find Mrs. Lapp.”
“I’ll search the other areas nearby, son.” Samuel pulled on his overcoat and left as everyone was galvanized into action with Jacob’s words.
“Don’t worry, Lilly.” Mary Wyse stood by her side.
“Danki, all of you,” Lilly whispered.
“Come, child. Take your wraps off for a minute to warm up.”
Lilly obeyed, then startled at Mary’s sudden cry.
“Lilly! Your arms are bleeding through your blouse.”
Jacob got up from where he was putting on his boots. He caught Lilly’s right forearm and turned it over with gentle firmness. Her blood made bright red stains through the snow-white of her sleeves around her wrists and forearms.
“Did you fall?”
She nodded. “Twice.”
He frowned, looking angry, though she wasn’t sure why.
“It’s nothing,” she assured him, but he was rolling back her cuffs to expose the abrasions made from landing on the ice. He grunted, then pulled her by the hand over to the pitcher of water on the table.
“Mamm!” he bellowed.
“Jacob, honestly, I’m right here. I’ll take care of her arms. You’re just going to upset her more.”
Lilly knew he was staring at her but couldn’t return his gaze for more than a second. She felt stupid and clumsy and very cold. But she melted inside when he lifted her chin with warm fingers. “I’ll find your mamm, Lilly. Don’t worry.”
She swallowed and nodded. “I know you will. Danki, Jacob.”
He stalked out the door with Seth at his heels, and the kitchen was quiet.
Mary Wyse urged her to sit down as she brought strips of linen to clean and bandage her arms.
“Danki, Mrs. Wyse. I appreciate your care.”
“Call me Mamm, and nee, thank you.”
She looked up in surprise to meet the woman’s warm smile. “For what?”
“For waking up my son.”
Lilly wrinkled her brow in confusion as a vivid image of her shaking Jacob’s shoulder while he slept crossed her mind. “I … don’t understand.”
“Jacob’s been asleep for years, lulled by a dream. I think that you might be the one to show him that a heart awake to real life might be better than any dream.”
Lilly flushed, and though she couldn’t fully understand all of what Jacob’s mamm suggested, she knew it was praise.
“I’ll do anything I can to help him.”
Mary patted her bandaged arm with tenderness. “I know you will, Lilly.”