Free The Miting by Dee Yoder Page A

stepbrother’s been doing—”
    “Leah! Oh no. When did you tell?”
    “A few days ago. Hasn’t the bishop—”
    “The bishop?”
    “I’m sorry! I told Maem , and she told Daet. They went to the bishop.”
    Martha’s pale cheeks glowed in the dim light of the shed. Her eyes darkened as she stared at her friend. “Oh no! Now what do I do? Abner— and Maem —oh no.” She dropped her head in her hands.
    Tears stung Leah’s eyes as she witnessed Martha’s distress. Remorse flooded her body. “So no one has said anything to you yet?”
    “No.” Martha groaned the word, her eyebrows drawn tightly together.
    “Yesterday, Maem told me the bishop came by the house and asked my parents questions. He told them he was on his way over here.”
    “The bishop came here? Yesterday?” Martha jumped up. “Now it makes sense,” she muttered as she paced. “I was trying to put the pieces together—the goings-on in my house this morning. Abner glared a hole in me at breakfast. Maem slapped my bowl of oatmeal on the table, wouldn’t say a word to me. But I couldn’t figure out why they were acting like that. They must have already talked with the bishop.” Martha sat down again, staring into space.
    Then she shook her head. “I wonder what they decided to do. Obviously, they didn’t make Abner leave the house.” She frowned. “Why didn’t they talk to me ? I wonder if that means they don’t believe me? Leah!” Martha’s eyes widened. “Do you think Abner—I bet he convinced them I lied! Do you think they believe him over me?”
    Leah shrugged, guilt landing on her shoulders like a heavy weight. “Maybe they decided to wait until church was over today before saying anything. Maybe they’ll talk to you when Abner goes to work tomorrow.” Never had she felt more shame. “I don’t know. I wish I did know what happened.” She raised her eyes to her friend. “I’m sorry. So sorry.”
    Martha nodded, her voice a whisper as she held Leah’s gaze. “I know you meant well, Leah. Maybe this is all for the best. Gott knows how often I’ve begged Him to help me with Abner. I don’t know—could this be His way of helping me?” She shrugged. “I’ll just have to wait and see, right?”
    Silence grew between them. Finally Martha shook her head and rose to stretch her arms high over her head. “Let’s talk about something else. How’s it going with the Sunday night singings? Any fun coming from that? Any buve taking you home in the dark?”
    Her voice held a mocking note, and a challenge glittered in her eyes.
    “No. Not yet. What’s it like?”
    Martha laughed. “Easy. You hop in a buggy and find a place to neck. No big deal. Any boy will ask you once they know what you’re willing to do.” When she noticed Leah’s flushed cheeks, she pointed her finger at herself. “But I’m different. I don’t mind the kissing and stuff. My life is such a wreck anyway, it doesn’t matter what the boys think.” She giggled and tossed her head. “With your parents the way they are, they’d have a thousand fits if they knew I told you that. What would they say? Tell you to leave me alone?” She squinted, her eyes holding a dare. “What would you say if a boy wanted to bed date?”
    Leah swallowed hard, uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. “I know what my parents think of bed dating—they don’t like it and wouldn’t allow it in our home.”
    Martha smirked, a hint of condescension in her expression.
    Wanting to meet Martha’s unspoken challenge, Leah blurted out her plans to sneak away to a place her parents had forbidden her to go.
    Martha sat up straight, intensely interested. “Really? Where?”
    Leah scuffed the toe of her shoe into the dirt floor, wishing she had never answered her friend’s dare. There was no going back now.
    “I heard about an English Bible study. I want to go, but Maem and Daet— ”
    Martha burst out laughing, her troubles momentarily forgotten. “Oh, Leah! I