Page 19 of The Christmas House

In her dreams, Liz kept slogging through snow, stuck in the same spot. When she awakened and peeked under the shade and saw clear skies and sunshine, she was more than happy to put yesterday’s struggles behind her.

She could hear someone shoveling outside as she dressed for the day, and after she’d put her hair up in its proper bun, she opened the shade and saw Matt and her brother Henry clearing the snow from the long walkway behind the house, Henry talking cordially with Matt as they worked.

At breakfast, Mamm asked Henry about the condition of the roads now, wondering aloud if Dat and Adam would be able to travel home from Somerset today as planned.

“It’s possible the roads won’t be drivable between here and Somerset,” Henry suggested almost tentatively, as if regretting it. “The highways might be okay, but these back country roads will take some time to clear out, ’specially with power lines down.”

“Onkel Joe has a small scraper plow,” Martha Rose suggested hopefully.

Mamm nodded. “True, but he won’t be able to do all the roads in the hollow,” she said. “He has his own large property to plow, and he often does ours.”

“And with this cold, who’s to say how long before the snow will melt,” Henry added, before excusing himself and heading out to do more shoveling.

There was a short lull as Mamm got up to pour more coffee for Matt. “A big horse like King could manage to get through the unplowed roads round here, ain’t so?” Liz asked.

Mamm frowned. “Do you have something in mind?”

“We’re all ears.” Matt gave Liz a quick smile.

“I know the bishop’s not too keen on us ridin’ horses, but this is important.” She began to share her brewing idea with the others.

When she finished explaining, Matt leaned forward, elbows on the table. “It’s a great idea, Liz.”

Martha Rose grinned as she looked back and forth between Matt and Liz, but Mamm’s expression was anything but agreeable.

“There’ll be no worry about being out and about now,” Liz assured her softly, “what with the sun shinin’ and the winds calm.”

Matt nodded emphatically. “I’ll go with ya, Liz. King can easily carry both of us.”

At Matt’s remark, Mamm’s countenance altered, and after Liz borrowed some trousers from Adam’s closet to wear under her long dress and apron, the two of them bundled up in their coats. This time, Liz wore her snow boots, and Matt wore Adam’s.

Then, remembering the scarf and matching hat she’d knitted—and since it was Christmas Eve, after all—she removed her boots and hurried upstairs to get Matt’s gift, unwrapped though it was.

When she returned, she gave them to him, and he promptly pulled on the knit hat and wrapped the scarf around his neck. “Perfect timing,” he said, winking at her. “A real nice gift. Denki , Liz.”

She bent down and pulled on her snow boots yet again, feeling good about herself. “When I saw ya put on the knit hat last night, I wasn’t sure ya’d need another one with a scarf to match.”

His sweet smile and soft eyes seemed to indicate that if they’d been alone, he might’ve reached over to give her a grateful hug. But Mamm and Martha Rose were hovering near, so Matt’s adoring expression was enough for now. “I’ll get gut use out of these, for certain. Denki again.”

“You’re welcome,” she said, delighted. “Now, let’s get King out of the stable.”

Thanks to Henry and Matt’s earlier shoveling, they headed with ease down the walkway and up the driveway to the stable. “Glad ya like my idea,” she told him.

And in the stable, where no one but the livestock could see, Matt reached for her and embraced her gently. She leaned her face against his big shoulder, warm down to her toes.

“This might just be the answer to your prayers,” he whispered.

“I really hope so,” she said, smiling as he released her and opened the door to King’s stall.

Matt placed the riding saddle on the big horse and led him out of the stable.

Outside, he put his foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself into the saddle, then reached down with one arm to pull Liz up to sit behind him.

With Liz holding tightly to Matt, they headed down the snowy driveway and turned right onto the snow-drifted road toward Onkel Joe’s farm.

When they arrived, Liz got down from the horse and headed around to the back porch, where she encountered Joe coming down the steps. “ Gut to see ya, Lizzy. What’s up?” He waved at Matt, who nodded from his saddled perch.

“Power lines are down in the hollow,” she began by saying, then mentioned the Hyatts. “It’s surely an inconvenience for them, if not a hardship. Could be a couple days.”

“Didn’t realize there’s an outage,” Onkel Joe said, reaching for the snow shovel propped against the porch banister.

“I have an idea to help the Hyatts ’til their electric is back on,” she told him.

“And what better time than at Christmas, jah ?” She went on to ask if he could spare a quart jar of vegetables, some dried meats, or jams—and one battery-operated candle to donate to Logan Hyatt and his family.

“If so—and if you can get there—meet me at the Christmas House this evening at seven-thirty. If each family does a little, together we can make a big difference.”

“Well now, Lizzy.” He gave her a quick smile. “This does sound like somethin’ you’d think of.”

“Will ya spread the word?”

“ Abselutt .”

“This is just a start,” she told him, following him down the walkway. “Matt an’ I plan to stop by as many Amish farms in the hollow as possible.”

“You’re a kind young woman. Gott be with ya ... and Matt, too.” He bobbed his head toward Matt.

She hurried over to the horse and got back up. Holding on to Matt again, she told him how nice her uncle had been, and they made their way back toward the road. “Not even a speck of reluctance.”

“ Des gut , but be prepared to meet with resistance from most of the folks,” Matt said over his shoulder. “It’s unlikely everyone will be so agreeable, considerin’ everything.”

“I hope you’re wrong.” She held on more tightly as King began to trot.

Come what may , I believe God put this on my heart.

They spent the rest of the morning going from farmhouse to farmhouse, asking the People for a little neighborly help.

The day continued to be sunny but bitterly cold, and when Matt mentioned he’d like to try to make it home for Christmas Eve, Liz wholeheartedly agreed.

Mamm insisted he wear Adam’s snow boots and warmest coat to walk all the way out to the main crossroad to meet Bill.

Liz went out and stood on the back porch with him, thanking him for going with her all over Hickory Hollow.

“Glad to help,” he said. “We’ll see what comes of it.”

“Wouldn’t ya like some hot cocoa before ya leave?” She hated to see him go.

“Another time, okay?”

She smiled and nodded.

“Have a real nice Christmas with your family, Lizzy.”

She grinned at the nickname. “You too.”

After he left, she got busy making pies for Christmas dinner tomorrow, since all her siblings and their families would come to celebrate the Lord’s birthday with them.

Martha Rose and Mamm had already cooked up a few of the side dishes this morning, and the other families were bringing the rest. Mamm and Liz would rise very early tomorrow morning, since the two large turkeys would require at least four hours to roast in the oven once they were stuffed.

To get a head start, though, Mamm would mix together the dry ingredients for the dressing, keeping them separate from the wet ones, and refrigerate them overnight.

As always , Christmas dinner will be wonderful-good!

Once she had a free moment, Liz went out to the utility room to put on her coat and boots.

She remembered being greeted so warmly by Mamm and Martha Rose yesterday when she and Matt arrived from the blizzard.

And there was the lovely memory of the unexpected though welcome hug from Matt in the stable this morning.

She walked down the driveway Onkel Joe had plowed while she and Matt were out going from house to house, curious to see if the mail had been delivered. A stretch of their country road had been cleared as well, and she assumed her thoughtful Onkel was responsible.

Opening the mailbox, she wasn’t all that surprised to find nothing when she looked inside. Shivering and wondering where Dat and Adam might be—and praying they were all right—she hurried back toward the house.

Later that afternoon, Martha Rose told Liz, “I don’t see how we’ll get to Christmas Eve supper for the youth tonight. I mean, the girls won’t want to ride horseback to get there, and the snow is too deep for a sleigh.”

“Aww, then you won’t get to see your beau,” Liz replied.

Martha Rose pressed her lips together. “Honestly, I don’t mind. I’d like to be here when Dat and Adam walk in that back door.”

Studying her sister, Liz said thoughtfully, “A few of us will be over at the Christmas House by seven-thirty, if ya want to join us.”

Not but a few minutes later, a knock came at the back door. Martha Rose hurried to answer it, and there was Ben Fisher, dressed for the cold weather in a black coat, knit hat, and a woolen scarf over his face. Only his eyes were showing.

“Just makin’ the rounds to let everyone know there won’t be a youth supper or caroling tonight as planned.

We’ll meet next Tuesday night for the postponed supper.

” His eyes crinkled as he smiled beneath the scarf.

“Sorry,” he said, lowering his voice. “I was lookin’ forward to it and to goin’ caroling with ya, too. ”

“Would ya like to come in and warm up?”

He brightened all the more. “I would, but I need to get the word out. Hope ya understand.”

Martha Rose nodded. “Of course.”

Ben smiled, turned slowly, and headed down the porch steps toward his saddled horse.

Liz, who’d overheard their conversation, waited for her sister to return to the kitchen. “You’ll have tomorrow and Second Christmas to look forward to,” she said, hoping that was of some comfort.

Martha’s face was still aglow. “Well, this way, I can go with you and Mamm over to the Christmas House ... if we can get there with the horse and buggy.”

I wonder if any neighbors besides Onkel Joe will brave the weather to meet us there?

Before the sun set, Liz saddled up King, wanting to investigate the roads leading to the Christmas House prior to heading out later with Mamm and Martha Rose in the family buggy. Hopefully there had been some improvement since her morning ride with Matt.

First, though, she went to the barn phone to check if there was a message from Dat, but none had been left, which wasn’t like Dat at all.

Mamm will worry if we don’t hear something soon , she thought, realizing she was a bit worried herself.

But better her father and brother come home when it was safe than take a risk on roads that might still be treacherous in places.

Somerset was nearly three hours away even in the best of conditions.

Once she and King were on their way, Liz could see that some of the Amish farmers had plowed areas of the road near their property, which was heartening.

As she rode, Liz couldn’t help thinking about Matt, wondering if he’d made it home all right and how long it might be before she’d see him again.

She even daydreamed about someday maybe getting to spend Christmas with him, either here or in Bird-in-Hand.

To her thinking, it really didn’t matter where, as long as they could celebrate together.

Tomorrow would be a reenactment of what her family had always done for as long as she could remember, a day to honor the Lord Jesus and enjoy each other’s company.

But if Dat and Adam weren’t able to get home, things would be off-kilter.

Once more Liz prayed silently that all would be well, and that God would guide them safely home.

And as she went, Liz kept an eye out for a passenger van.

Just in case they make it. Oh, she hoped so!

She also contemplated Adam’s return and what it would mean for her tours but hadn’t discussed her thoughts on that yet with Matt.

As enthusiastic as he had been about working with her, she could only hope he might be willing to continue on.

Surely Adam would be relieved , she thought.

He never expected to do this permanently , anyhow.

The road was lumpy and bumpy in many places, with piles of packed snow here and there, especially where some farmers had shoveled out a ways from their driveways or lanes.

Without a rise in temperatures over the next couple days, the snowpack would remain.

Even so, Liz thought that if she took it slow with the horse and buggy, she could get Mamm and Martha Rose safely to the Christmas House and back home this evening.

It was a short distance, and the enclosed buggy would be warmer than riding in an open sleigh, for sure.

O Lord , please help us and any who might go to the Hyatts’ place to get there safely , she prayed as she turned back toward home.