Free A Baby for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher Page B

tempting, the weeds coming out easily in her hands after the shower last night. The bus was due at ten thirty, but Jake said the arrival time could vary due to how the bus managed the mountain roads. It simply wouldn’t do to be late and have Miriam wait alone at the depot in a strange town. Traveling was frightening enough for a girl without having anyone to greet you at your destination.
    Passing an open field at the outskirts of Libby, Hannah glanced sideways. Who were those three men and what were they doing? Two of them were obviously Englisha, and the third looked very familiar, his huge form standing with his back turned toward her. When he glanced in the direction of the buggy, Hannah caught her breath. It was Ben Stoll in his Mennonite clothing.
    He waved, smiling broadly, and then turned back to the two Englisha men. She clutched the lines, her heart pounding. So that was it. The men were obviously staking out the ground for where the Mennonite tent revival would be held. How did Ben dare do such a thing in broad daylight, coming to lure people away from the faith he once was a part of and obviously feeling no shame at all.
    Oh, if Miriam only wasn’t coming this summer. Last summer would have been so much better—or perhaps even next year. Now she was walking into the jaws of a church storm…and looking for love on top of it all. Betty had agreed that they must do something, but there really was nothing that could be done. Some things were out of their hands.
    Ahead on Main Street, the tall Greyhound bus came climbing up the hill. Hannah pulled into the gas station parking lot where the bus would stop. She climbed out of the buggy and tied Mosey to the fence. Behind her the roar of the bus filled her ears as it lumbered into the parking lot. Miriam was here, and she had best forget the community’s troubles for the moment and gather herself together to properly welcome her sister to the West.
    The door swung open and two Englisha women came out followed by a young boy holding his suitcase. He looked around, shading his eyes from the sun, before heading toward the gas station. Slowly the door of the bus moved in the slight breeze, but no Miriam appeared. Was Miriam not on the bus? Had she perhaps missed a connection and been unable to let her know?
    Hannah walked forward quickly. Perhaps she could ask the bus driver. Clutching her bonnet she approached the open door, catching the words in her mouth just as Miriam appeared on the top step.
    “Welcome!” Hannah shouted above the din of the bus motor.
    “Oh, it’s so beautiful!” Miriam said, stepping down. “I can’t believe you live in such a lovely place.”
    Hannah wrapped her arms around Miriam, pulling her into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
    “And you too,” Miriam said. “Has Betty come along?”
    “No, she’s busy at the house, plus we need all the room in the buggy for your luggage.”
    “I don’t have much,” Miriam said, walking over to retrieve a single suitcase from the bus driver who was still unloading luggage.
    Hannah took it from her hand and motioned toward the buggy. “I’m over there.”
    Miriam was staring at the mountain range, moving around to catch a better look between the storefronts. “The mountains are so beautiful. I don’t remember noticing just how lovely they are when I came out for your wedding.”
    “Come,” Hannah said, pulling on her arm. “You can see the mountains outside the town. People will soon be staring at us.”
    “I guess that’s true,” Miriam said, pulling her bonnet forward and hurrying after Hannah. “I got caught up in the moment is all.”
    “I still remember the first time I saw them when we came in with the van,” Hannah said, sliding the suitcase beneath the buggy seat. “I was hurting pretty badly from Peter’s funeral, but they lifted my spirits even then.”
    “Talking about Peter…” Miriam said, climbing into the buggy as Hannah untied Mosey.
    “What about