Wild Horses (Sadie's Montana #1)(71)

Mark stood inside the door, waiting until Sadie asked him to sit down. His large frame seemed to fill the entire loveseat, so Sadie sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, her body tense, the pulse in her temples pounding. She pleated the fabric of her skirt over and over, her long, thin fingers never ceasing their movement. Her head bent, her voice barely audible, she related Mam’s disappearance and the shameful, sad history of her parents’ relationship.

“I think Mam is in a much more serious depression than any of us realized. The only person that had any idea was Dat, and he is much too stubborn or proud to admit anything is ever wrong in our family. As long as he can present a smiling group of good Christians to the Amish community, he thinks everything is just great.”

Mark nodded. “Do all of you want to live here in Montana?” he asked after a respectful silence that was so typical of him.

“I have no choice, so this is home now. But if I was allowed to choose, I’d probably go back to Ohio.”

“Why?”

“I miss family. I miss Eva most of all. We’ve been here for almost six years now, and I’m used to Montana. But…” she broke off, timidly.

“What?”

“Well, it’s just that ever since the accident with Ezra and those wild horses, I sense a bad omen. It’s as if fear is alive and haunting, and that black, devilish horse … and then Nevaeh … I don’t know. Is there such a thing as an un-blessing? You know how the ministers say, an unsayah.”

Mark was silent.

The small heart-shaped alarm clock ticked steadily. Only their breathing could be heard above it.

Then there was a great shout from the kitchen, followed by a hubbub of low voices, high ones, and everything in between.

Sadie jumped to her feet and dashed to the door. Mark following closely. As she pulled the door open, was it only her imagination, or did Mark place his hand on her waist, as if to steer her through the door like a gentleman?

Reuben’s tousled head appeared.

And then Leah was pounding up the steps, calling her name, nearly colliding with all three of them.

“They found her! Oh, Sadie! She’s been found!” Leah burst into sobs of relief.

“Where, Leah?”

“In an airport somewhere!” Leah said between her sobs.

“A what? Are you sure?”

They hurried down the stairs and into the crowd of people rejoicing and crying. So much relief. So much happiness. It was hard to grasp this joy when only moments before the despair had been so real.

Finally someone clapped their hands and the room grew silent. All heads turned to the aging, white-bearded gentleman who stood just inside the door. His eyes were kind but stern, and he was flanked by two policemen in heavy coats.

“Annie Miller has been found. She is extremely disoriented and her speech is totally incomprehensible. We need Mr. Miller and any of the immediate family who wishes to accompany us.”

Dat’s sad eyes searched his daughters’.

“I’ll go,” Rebekah said immediately.

“I’ll stay with Anna and Reuben,” Leah volunteered.

“Come with us, Sadie,” Dat said, a pleading note in his voice.

Sadie’s heart melted. Forgiveness like a soothing balm ran joyously over her heart, coating it solidly with love for her father. He had only been doing what he felt was best for his family, regardless of how foolish it seemed now.

It was all surreal, the long ride through the night, the winding country roads turning onto the interstate highway, the kaleidoscope of bright lights, hissing tires, neon signs blinking. It seemed as if they had left the state of Montana.

Finally the car slowed onto an exit and circled the ramp to a red light. Turning left, they came onto a steady stream of vehicles and more red lights.

Sadie wondered what all these people were doing out in the middle of the night. She had no idea the world didn’t sleep at night. How would they ever be able to get up and go to work the next morning? No wonder people were fired from their jobs. They should all be at home in bed getting their much needed eight hours of sleep.

The car slowed again and turned left into a huge parking area. The building ahead of them towered like the buildings in New York City. Well, almost.

Sadie counted eight stories.

Toshkoma Medical Center.

Mam was at a hospital!

Acceptance settled across Sadie’s shoulders. It was a yoke to bear—a heavy, sad feeling—but it was coupled with joy. There was finally help available for poor, dear Mam.

They found Mam sitting on a chair in a large, blue waiting room. Her cumbersome luggage was by her side. Her head was bent, her hands twisting and turning in her lap. She was wearing her black bonnet and her Sunday coat with the new buttons she had sewed on herself. Her woolen shawl was folded neatly on top of her big suitcase. She was mumbling to herself and didn’t see them until Dat stood close to her, touched her shoulder, and said, “Annie.”

At first, Sadie thought she would not recognize them. Her eyes were so clouded and she seemed a million miles away. She was talking in mumbles, laughing hoarsely, then crying.

Cold chills crept up Sadie’s spine, the icy feelings of fear and dread.

Mam! Have we lost you completely through our neglect?

White-coated doctors joined them. Psychiatrists, nurses, men in authority, talking, talking. They could not admit Mam without her consent.