Patricia Davids - An Amish Christmas Journey

Turning around in the road, she walked back the way she had come with renewed resolve. No matter what her uncle said or did, she would turn the other cheek and give him the care he needed, even if she couldn’t do it with a glad heart.

On her walk back, she noticed the Christmas decorations on the houses and lawns along the road that she had been too upset to see before. A huge blow-up snowman and an equally large Santa adorned one yard while a second house had only a row of red lights around the porch. She and her sisters had enjoyed the few times they were allowed to go into town during the Christmas season. The lights and decorations were pretty, but they didn’t hold the true meaning of the season. This year, she would try hard to make her heart worthy of the gift God had given the world on that first Christmas Day. His only Son.

She reached the clinic just as the van returned. Arles got out and gave her a big smile. “Grandma Coblentz was sure happy to see her grandkids. It’s the best part of my job, bringing families together. I like it when it’s for weddings and Christmas, but I don’t much care for carrying folks to funerals. Still, even death has its place in our lives. It brings us together, too. How is that poor cat?”

“The vet was still working on her when I stepped out.”

“I hope we can get going soon. The weather report is calling for central Ohio to get heavy snow. It could be a humdinger of a storm. I’d sure like to stay ahead of it.” He held open the clinic door and she walked in.

Just as they entered, the vet came out carrying a cardboard box with rows of round holes along the sides. She set the container on the chair beside Marianne and opened the top. Everyone but Morris crowded around to look.

Christmas lay curled up sleeping. The cat had a bandage around her head that left her good ear protruding through a slit in the material. The side of her neck had been shaved. A half dozen dark stitches were visible in the pink skin.

The vet held out a bottle of pills to Greta. “I’ve given her some sedation. She should sleep for a while. When she wakes up, I want you to give her one of these three times a day. It’s an antibiotic. Keep the stitches clean and dry. Watch for signs of infection. If she starts scratching at it, cover it with a dressing. I gave her a flea treatment, too. She needed it. Give her water, but don’t give her any food for a few hours. Do you have anything to feed her?”

Greta shook her head. The doctor left the room and returned with a second cardboard pet carrier. “I’ve put some kitty litter and a couple of pouches of cat food in here. It should be enough to last a few days. I think she’ll be fine.”

“Never seen a cat wearing a bonnet before. She looks almost Amish,” Arles said with a chuckle.

Greta had to admit he was right. The only thing the cat’s head covering was missing to make it more bonnetlike was the ribbons. After settling the bill, Greta handed the box to Marianne. It looked for a moment as if the girl would refuse to carry it, but the cat meowed pitifully from inside.

Marianne took the box and set it on the floor. She opened the top. Reaching in, she petted the cat. “It’s okay. Go back to sleep.”

Arles said, “We should get on the road if we are going to make Upper Sandusky before dark. We’ll stop briefly in Beaverdam for Mr. Barkman to take his walk. Hopefully, we won’t have any more delays.”

“Just a minute.” The vet left the room and returned a few moments later with a pink cord and a small pink dog harness in her hand. “You will have to keep her on a leash when you let her out so she doesn’t run off. Someone left these here. You can have them. No charge. This way you won’t have to put a collar over those stitches.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Greta said.

“It was good of you to take care of this poor little stray. I’m sure her former mistress is looking down and smiling to know that her companion has found a new family.”

Toby picked up the pet carriers and they all went out to the van. Without the Coblentz family taking up most of the seats, it was much roomier. Morris climbed in first. Marianne sat behind him in the second row. She looked at Toby. “Can Christmas sit with me?”

“Sure.” He put the cat on the seat beside her and the box with the supplies on the floor.

He stepped aside as Greta got in. She paused beside the seat behind Marianne, but decided to go all the way to the back so Toby could sit behind his sister. She was surprised when he came and sat down with her.

“Do you mind?” he asked.

Chapter Eight

H e wants to sit with me.

A flush of pleasure made Greta smile and look down. Hopefully, he wouldn’t notice she was blushing. She felt like a schoolgirl again. “I don’t mind at all.”

“Did your walk help?”

She glanced at him sharply. “It did.”

“ Goot. Want to talk about it?”

It was tempting but she shook her head.

“And here I expected to be entertained by your nonstop chatter.” His teasing tone pulled a reluctant smile from her.

“If you want nonstop chatter, I suggest you start talking.”

“I guess I’m not in the mood for it, after all.” He stifled a yawn.

“You can sleep. It won’t bother me.”

“Are you trying to tell me I look tired?”

She tipped her head to regard him closely. “Tired? Nee. Haggard to the point of collapse. Ja. ”

He chuckled again. “Sadly, that is a fair assessment.”

“Shall I move up to another seat so you can stretch out?”

He settled lower, leaned his head back and closed his eyes. “I think I have forgotten how to sleep lying down. It’s been so long. I just need to close my eyes for a minute. I hope Marianne isn’t overdoing it. I worry about her. She doesn’t have much strength.”

“You stayed with your sister while she was in the hospital?”

“I had to. She got very upset if I wasn’t there. There wasn’t anyone else to stay with her. We hadn’t yet settled into a community here or joined a new church. A few of my friends came at first, but the hospital would only allow family members into the burn unit. Our aunt wanted to come, but she has a big family to care for, and I knew it would be a hardship for her. In retrospect, I should have accepted her offer.”

“Do you do that often?” Greta asked.

He opened his eyes and frowned. “Do I do what?”

“Refuse help when you need it?”

He gave her a wry smile. “Am I guilty of being prideful? I have been, but I’m learning that I can’t do everything.”

Greta gathered her things. “Then stretch out on this bench and take a nap. I will keep an eye on your sister and wake you if she needs anything.”

He nodded his consent. Greta moved up to one of the single seats where she could keep an eye on Marianne and on Toby. He folded his long legs on the seat and pillowed his head on his coat. It wasn’t long before his breathing became deep and even and she knew he was asleep.

She had never watched a man sleeping before. At least no one younger than the elders who sometimes nodded off during the long church services. The lines of strain around Toby’s eyes touched a chord within her. She wanted to see them soothed away.

They didn’t detract from his good looks. At leisure to study him, Greta assessed his features one by one, trying to decide why she was so attracted to him. He had a strong square jaw and lean cheeks with high cheekbones. His nose was a little too prominent, but added to the whole, it fit him. She decided his mouth was his best feature. His lips were perfectly shaped, not too full, not too thin, and they curved easily into a friendly smile. Yes, she liked his smile the best. And the small dimple it revealed in his left cheek.