Free Mother For His Children, A by Jan Drexler

plate Ruth had set on the table behind him and took a bite. A piecrust cookie, just like his mam had made. Ruth Mummert was full of surprises.
    â€œA young girl, living in the same house as an unmarried man.” Eliza leaned the rocker forward. “You know how that will look to the community.”
    Levi glanced at Ruth. Her face was growing red, but she tilted her chin up as she returned his look.
    â€œI’ve done nothing against the Ordnung, sister. Ruth is no different than any other helper I might hire to work on the farm.” Levi kept his voice sure and strong, but at the back of his mind a whisper of doubt crept in. What would the ministers say about this situation? After all, it wasn’t what he had expected when he made the arrangement.
    â€œI still think you should follow through on what we agreed.”
    All doubt disappeared.
    â€œWe never agreed to anything, Eliza. I am the head of this family, and I would never agree to send any of the children away.”
    Eliza drained her coffee cup and then looked at Levi. “You would if the ministers insisted.”
    She was right, of course. If the ministers decided it would be best if the girls went to live with Eliza, he wouldn’t have any choice but to submit to their decision. He had hired Ruth Mummert to avoid this, but Eliza seemed intent on pursuing her plans. If only she had remarried when she had the chance twenty years ago, then she might have her own family and wouldn’t be so interested in taking his.
    Eliza planted her cane in front of her and hauled herself to her feet.
    â€œI must be getting back. Susie needs milking on time, you know.”
    Ruth hurried to fetch Eliza’s bonnet and shawl from the hook by the door. “You’ll miss seeing the scholars. They’ll be home in another hour.”
    â€œ Ne, I can’t wait that long.”
    Levi saw Sam peering around the door from the front room. “Sam, go ask Elias to hitch up Aunt Eliza’s rig for her.”
    Sam edged past Eliza and then scooted out the door. His sister had never been friendly with the children, so why was she so insistent on raising Nellie and Nancy?
    â€œWe’ll make the trip to see you next, some Sunday after the snow melts.”
    Eliza smiled as she pulled his sleeve until he bent down for her kiss on his cheek. “I may be seeing you sooner than that, little brother. You never know.”
    Levi walked with her to her sleigh. Elias held Ginger’s reins as the horse tossed his head. The short rest in the barn had renewed his fire.
    â€œThat’s a pretty feisty horse you have, Eliza. Are you sure he isn’t too much for you?”
    Eliza smiled at him from her seat as she wrapped a wool horse blanket around her legs. “Don’t worry about me, Levi. I can handle him.”
    She nodded to Elias and he let go of Ginger’s head. The horse lurched forward, but before they reached the end of the lane Eliza had him settled into a controlled trot. At the corner she turned Ginger neatly onto the snowy road and headed north.
    Levi shook his head and reached back to massage his tense neck muscles.
    â€œDid she ask you to let the girls come live with her again?” Elias asked, watching Eliza drive away.
    â€œ Ja, but it won’t do her any good. I told her our family was staying together.”
    Elias turned to him, a younger version of himself. When had the boy gotten so tall?
    â€œIs that why you brought Ruth Mummert here? To keep the family together?”
    â€œ Ja. With Ruth here, Eliza doesn’t have any good reason for going to the ministers to ask for the girls.”
    Elias rubbed the back of his own neck. “I sure hope it works.”
    Â 

Chapter Six
    S unday morning dawned bright and crisp. By the time the sun rose above the horizon, the Zook family, plus Ruthy, were crowded into the family buggy on their way to Sunday meeting at John Stoltzfus’s. Elias followed behind in