The Promise of an Angel (A Heaven On Earth 1) (10 page)

The crack of branches above them caused her to flinch. Startled by the noise, she bolted into what felt like a wall— Andrew’s thick chest.

His sturdy arms surrounded her. “You’re trembling,” he whispered, tucking her head against him.

She listened to his heartbeat, steady and firm. His affection caught her off guard. He was usually so reserved.

Levi had mocked Andrew, saying the girls found him boring. Obviously, Andrew hadn’t recovered from Esther’s death. Perhaps he never would, seeing how Levi said even the bishop couldn’t persuade his son to find a mate.

Andrew eased her back to arm’s length. “Are you okay
nau
?”

Judith nodded. “What was that? Please tell me it was a squirrel.”

He glanced up at the limb overhead and chuckled. “Would it be less frightening to think it was a furry rodent lurking in the darkness?”

She crossed her arms. “You think that’s funny?”

He shrugged, and his lips twitched as he tried to hold back his laughter.

She groaned. Not him too. Andrew Lapp never poked fun at people.

“I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “It was a raccoon.” His lips twitched again.

Judith wanted to hold on to her annoyance, but the silliness of the situation hit her, and soon she was laughing with him.

He stood with his hands jammed in his pockets, rocking back on his heels, a sheepish grin splayed across his face. “You have a nice laugh.”

She covered her mouth with her hand long enough to compose herself. “What are you doing out here?” She hoped her tone didn’t sound as ruffled to him as it did to her.

Andrew looked toward the trail. “I was looking for you. Everyone is.”

Everyone. Had a search group been called? David, in particular, would be upset with her for worrying their parents and for disregarding supper preparations.

“
Kumm
, I’ll walk you to the
haus
.” Andrew pulled his hand from his pocket and placed his arm around her long enough to turn her toward the path. “Where have you been anyway?”

“I . . . got lost.”
Following an angel through the ferns
.

He stopped and stared at her, longer than she liked.

She began walking to break the awkwardness of his gaze.

After several moments, he broke the silence. “We’ve all been down to the river a thousand times. How did you get lost?”

His tone didn’t sound accusing, yet she felt the weight of his probing question. She slowed her pace, scuffling her feet and kicking up leaves as she walked. She was grateful they were deep into the woods and the sun had set, so he wouldn’t see the turmoil on her face.

“I wasn’t lost. I was hiding.”

He blew out a breath. “From who?”

She continued to walk. “Some of the parents . . .” Her words trailed off, and she wished her thoughts would fade with them.

A light flickered in the distance. Her leg muscles locked.

Andrew halted at the same time. “What’s wrong?”

“Did you see that?” She wouldn’t have to explain her vision if the angel appeared now. Andrew would have his own story to tell.

He nudged her shoulder. “You’re getting awful jumpy.”

Jumpy, he says. If he’d seen what I did, maybe his nerves would be on edge too
. After concentrating her focus on that section of woods and not seeing another flash, she let out her breath. With Andrew at her side, her muscles recovered and she could walk without her legs feeling like noodles.

At another flicker of light, she gasped. “Did you see that?”

Andrew’s chest expanded protectively, and he shielded her with his arms before he took a step forward. “Levi, is that you?”

“
Jah
.”

Judith sighed so hard, she was sure Andrew felt her breath on the back of his neck.

Twigs snapped in the wooded area, and Levi’s light became visible. “Did you find Judith?”

Andrew turned, his breath warming her face. “She’s with me.”

A pine branch sprung forward, then swept back as Levi emerged. He directed the flashlight in her direction. “What have you been doing?”

“What are you doing with a flashlight? You frightened her,” Andrew said.

“I keep one in my buggy for when I’m out late.” He turned to Judith. “I was worried about you.”

Her heart lightened at the thought. She longed to see the sincerity in his eyes, but the beam of light aimed at her face blacked everything out.

“Martha said you created quite a stir in the
haus
.”

Martha said .
. . Her stomach knotted.

Levi directed the light over to Andrew. “She was making more claims that Samuel will walk.”

Judith had a full view of Andrew’s raised brows.

Levi flipped the light back on her. “I told you, Judith. There wasn’t any fog that day, and no one saw a man standing at Samuel’s side.”

“He was kneeling,” Judith corrected.

“Kneeling,” Levi echoed in a mocking tone. “Did you tell Andrew what this man said?”

Judith raised her hand to block the beam. Why was Levi doing this to her? She thought he cared about her. Her thoughts swirled. How could she love a man who didn’t believe in her?

“You don’t have to tell me, Judith.” Andrew stepped onto the trail. “We all should get back.”

“Her imaginary man told her Samuel would walk.” Levi chuckled.

Andrew’s abrupt stop caused Judith to plow into him. His hand reached out to steady her balance. “Don’t laugh at Samuel’s condition,” he replied before turning and trudging toward the house.

“Hey, Andrew.” Levi waited for him to turn. “Catch.” He tossed the flashlight to Andrew. Judith started to follow, but Levi reached for her arm and held her back. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t laughing about Samuel’s paralysis.”

She looked at the trail and watched the beam of light grow faint as Andrew moved farther away from them. “I know you didn’t intend to be mean-spirited.” She glanced again to check Andrew’s distance. “But why did you try to make me look foolish? I just saw the
Englischer
again. Only—”

“Only what?”

“He’s an angel.”

“
Ach, nett
so.”

Judith pushed past him.

“You spent time with a man at the river?” Levi grabbed her arm and stopped her. “Answer me.”

“Why?” She jerked her arm away. “You wouldn’t believe me anyway.”

“So this is your choice? You want to spend time with another man?”

Judith walked away. Levi had no idea what she wanted. She wanted to marry him. She wanted a houseful of children. She wanted to grow old in her community surrounded by her church family. She wanted him to believe her.

She couldn’t answer his questions with the knot that formed in her throat. She increased her pace. Up ahead, Andrew stopped and pointed the light at the ground, illuminating the path’s ruts from the tree roots.

Levi was right behind her and blew out a breath. “I’m still waiting to hear your choice.”

“It’s late. I don’t want everyone to worry.” She also didn’t want to defend herself to him anymore.

Levi looked at Andrew. “
Nau
she thinks about that.”

Andrew redirected the beam on the path. “She’s right. It’s late, and we have chores in the morning.”

Judith whispered,
“Denki,”
under her breath. If Andrew heard, he didn’t reply. He continued on the path home.

Once they rounded the back side of the barn, others circled her with lanterns lifted to get a good view of her face.

David moved forward. “Where were you, Judith?”

Andrew stepped between them. “She was lost. I found her in the woods.”

“Humph.” Levi stared at Andrew. “That isn’t what she told me.”

They all turned their eyes to Judith. Andrew’s face held the only welcoming expression, but she didn’t dare use him for support. She couldn’t burden him with her problems.

Levi nudged her arm. “Tell them, Judith.”

She looked over her shoulder, her stomach churning. Even the bishop had come to search for her.

God, if the angel was from You, please help me. I believe You sent him, but they won’t
.

Her father came forward. “Your
mamm
would worry sick if she knew about this.”

“I’m sorry.” Judith sidestepped toward Levi.

“What were you doing?”

Reflections from the lantern’s tongued flame flickered across the ground. Whatever she said they would refuse to believe.

“Is this about Samuel walking again?” her father asked.

Lord, I need Your strength. Guide my tongue
.

“I believe he will,” she whispered.

“She said she heard that from God,” David added. “God spoke to her.”

Judith closed her eyes as the crowd gasped.

Bishop Lapp stepped forward. “Child, do you know what that statement implies?”

Judith kept her focus on her shoes. She’d heard that people in cults sometimes claimed they heard from God. Surely they wouldn’t think she would join a cult or that she’d want to stray from the church. She loved God with her whole heart.

“Answer the bishop,” her father demanded.

Judith bit her lip. “I spoke with an angel.”

Her father leaned forward. “No one heard your mumbling. Say it louder.”

She lifted her head. Her eyes darted from the bishop to her father to David, then settled on Levi. “I have faith that Samuel will walk. I was told that . . . he would.”

“We
muscht
accept Samuel’s outcome.” The bishop paused. “It is what God has decided.”

“God’s decision is for him to walk.” Judith regretted her words the moment she spoke. She should have guarded her mouth.

“You do not think like God thinks. To talk as though you have the power is blasphemy,” declared the bishop.

Her father drew in a sharp breath and clutched his chest. He made a high-pitched wheeze, and Judith moved to his side. As he gasped for air, anger rose up in her chest. Her father hadn’t had a breathing attack in months.

Why now, God?

“I’ll be . . .” His breathing ragged, he leaned on David for support.

“Amos, would you help him back to the house?” David turned to Judith. “
Daed
doesn’t need any more stress, ain’t it so?”

She swallowed hard.

Her brother pointed toward the barn. “Wait for me in there. You and I will talk after the bishop and I finish speaking.”

Judith walked with her head lowered. She didn’t want to look anyone in the eye, especially Levi. Speaking out of turn to the bishop, she had shamed herself and her family. Entering the dark barn, she didn’t bother to light a lantern. Somehow, the darkness felt comforting. Levi had told her to choose. After his public accusations, she understood. He had chosen for her. He would never marry her now.

Andrew pondered what gave Judith the nerve to speak up against everyone, including his father. She’d never planted discord and had always been compliant with the
Ordnung
, even content. She hadn’t allowed him to cover for her whereabouts, and now she was at the hand of her brother. Where had her courage come from, if not from the Lord?

“Something about her has changed.” Levi broke the silence.

Andrew turned from watching Judith walk to the barn to see Levi shaking his head. If anyone understood Judith, it should be Levi. Yet he seemed annoyed and impatient with her stressful family situation, rather than sympathetic.

Levi turned toward his buggy. Andrew walked alongside him.

“Why did you do that to her?” Andrew tried to mask his irritation, but Levi’s smug attitude made him angry. He offered up a quick silent prayer for wisdom, then continued. “She deserves more from you.”

“People need to know how sick her mind has become. I was planning to marry her.” Levi motioned toward the barn. “But even if David was to whip her, it wouldn’t change her mind.”

“David said he planned to talk with her, not lash her.”

“
Jah
, so he said. How much
gut
talk will do, I don’t know.” Levi’s shoulders dropped. “Why was Judith the only one to see an
Englischer
the day Samuel fell off the roof?”

Andrew shook his head. He hadn’t seen a stranger, but he had seen Judith run off into the pasture and head toward the apple orchard. He looked at Levi, but in the darkness he couldn’t read his expression. Maybe his cousin was actually worried about Judith. There was no telling. But Andrew decided not to reveal how he’d seen Judith running off that day. Levi had caused enough heartache. Andrew wouldn’t give him ammunition to hurt Judith more.

Levi’s eyes narrowed. “If she’s running around with an
Englischer
, I don’t want to be made a fool.”

Andrew looked over his shoulder. His father and the others had walked to their buggies. “My
daed
is waiting. I need to leave.”

Andrew headed toward his father’s buggy, remembering how frightened Judith had been in his arms.
Lord, please give David wisdom when he talks with Judith. If what she claims is true, let him see with his own eyes
.

Andrew hurried to his father’s buggy and placed his hand on his father’s coat. “I believe her,” he said, loudly enough to cause David to glance in his direction.