LITMIR.BIZ

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Did you hear me?”

      “My husband died almost a year ago.”

      Elam blew out his breath. How awful for her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

      They passed a few farms, bright white light spilling from the windows of fancy Englisch homes. Softer, paler light flickered from the plain white Amish houses. He glanced over his shoulder. “That must have been hard.”

      Naomi swiped away a stray tear. “It was. He fell from a roof. But Joseph was a wonderful surprise. His coming eased some of the hurt. I’ll have a piece of Daniel with me forever.”

      He returned his attention to the road. Daniel always had his eye on her. Elam shouldn’t be surprised she’d married him. Unable to forgive Elam for his one mistake, she had moved on with her life. Had turned her back on what they shared and became another man’s wife. The pain that pierced his chest startled him. That part of his life should have been far behind him.

      He shook his head. Such thoughts were useless.

      He didn’t have time to dwell on this information as they soon arrived at her parents’ home and her father’s woodworking shop, where he had once worked. Before he could come around to help her out, she unlatched the belt, slid from the truck, and slammed the door shut. He jogged behind her to the house, the bobbeli’s weak, raspy cries reaching them as they crossed the front porch.

      A moment after entering through the kitchen and into the living room, Naomi was at her mother’s side. Sarah Bontrager rocked the infant in a well-worn rocking chair, and Naomi’s sister Laura was at their mamm’s side. Joseph coughed, deep and tight, the sound tugging at Elam.

      Sarah wiped the bobbeli’s perspiration-dotted brow. “You got here fast. That’s gut. He was fussy, so I picked him out of his cradle. The heat of his body radiated through his clothes. When he hacked, such a terrible cough, I sent Sam for you right away. I can’t get him to eat either.”

      Naomi felt her son’s forehead and widened her eyes. “We need to get him to urgent care. Now. With his heart condition...”

      Sarah cradled Joseph. “Laura, tell Daed to run and call Frank Jameson and see if he can drive. Naomi and I will get Joseph ready.”

      Elam stepped from the shadows. “No need. My truck’s right outside, warmed and ready to go.”

      Both women stared at him with open mouths, as if he’d appeared out of thin air.

      Sarah stood from the rocker, handed the bobbeli to Naomi and then clenched her hands. “Elam Yoder. You still have that truck?”

      That truck. The one that had caused so much damage. They would never let him forget. Not this family. Not this district. He stepped back. “Ja, I do. I brought Naomi from the singing. I can take her.”

      “No need.” Naomi shook her head so hard it was surprising it didn’t fly off her shoulders.

      And her mind was made up.

      She hustled by him into the kitchen, and he followed. From a peg by the back door, she grabbed a diaper bag. “Frank Jameson can be here in less than fifteen minutes. There’s no reason for you to make the trip. The doctor might send us to Madison.”

      She was that afraid of him? Would his actions from that night haunt him forever?

      The little one coughed. “We’re wasting time debating this. If you go with me, I can have you there fifteen minutes sooner than Frank.”

      Naomi’s daed entered the kitchen from the hall. “I’ll go phone for Frank.”

      Elam suppressed a sigh. “If the bobbeli is so sick, you shouldn’t waste time.”

      “And let my daughter and grandson end up like my son?” Leroy Bontrager crossed his arms, jaw tight.

      Naomi’s hand trembled as she brushed her boy’s cheek. “He’s so warm.”

      Joseph gasped and coughed.

      “Let me take you. Please. I can help. I want to.”

      She glanced away from him, then back in his direction. “I don’t know.”

      “Naomi.”

      She gritted her teeth. “Fine. I’ll get Joseph’s blanket, and we can leave. Mamm, you’ll come with me, right?”

      “Of course.” Sarah entered the kitchen, her sweater already in her hands.

      Leroy stepped to within inches of Elam. “If anything happens to any of them, I will hold you responsible. You be careful with that truck. They are precious cargo. This is only because the need is so urgent.”

      Naomi placed the bobbeli into the car seat on the hall floor. His face. Wide-set eyes, thick lips and a flat nose, all positioned in a round face. His Englisch boss at the construction company had a daughter like that. He called it Down syndrome. What a burden for Naomi to carry, on top of losing her husband.

      The object of his thoughts tucked a fuzzy blue blanket around Joseph then swept up the car seat by the handle. “We’re ready. Let’s go. Do you know the way?”

      “Ja. Don’t worry. We’ll be there soon.”

      “It can’t be soon enough.” A tear trickled down Naomi’s cheek.

      Elam held himself back from wiping it away. She wouldn’t allow him to comfort her.

      Sarah rubbed her daughter’s back. “We must trust God to do what is right.”

      Elam held the door open for the two women. As he turned to shut it, he caught sight of Leroy, who glared at him.

      Elam shivered and then stepped into the chilly Wisconsin night.

       Chapter Two

      Naomi stroked her son’s hot, damp cheek with one hand and clung to the edge of the truck’s back seat with the other as they raced toward the clinic. Joseph cried weak, pitiful mews, stopping only to catch his breath, which he did far too often. Her throat burned. “Can’t you go faster, Elam?”

      “I’m speeding as it is. We’re in town. Not far now.”

      The trip had taken much too long. Why did the clinic have to be so far? The dim glow of the streetlights illuminated Joseph’s red face.

      Mamm reached over the car seat and patted Naomi’s hand. “Don’t worry so. We’ll be there soon. You just drive careful now, Elam.”

      He clung to the steering wheel and peered out the windshield. At least he heeded Mamm’s instructions.

      After another eternity, they pulled into the parking lot. Elam rolled to a stop as she grabbed Joseph’s car seat and hopped out, Mamm sliding out the other side.

      “I’ll park and be right—”

      Naomi slammed the door.

      By the time she carried her wailing child inside and registered him at the desk, Elam had joined them. Why had he come? Better for him to stay in that truck. Mamm was here.

      The waiting room buzzed with activity. Sick children. Some virus or bug must be going around. Maybe Joseph had picked up his illness from one of the children at the church service two weeks ago. Mamm calmly sat on one of the chairs on the far side of the room. Probably praying.

      Elam sat across from her, clasping his straw hat with his big, work-roughened hands. She paced the room and jiggled Joseph on her hip. Elam patted the chair on his left. “Come sit, Naomi. You’re going to wear yourself out.”

      “I can’t. What’s taking them so long?”

      “Fretting about it won’t make them call you sooner. Now sit. I can hold Joseph if you want a break.”

      “Nein,

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