rock out of his way and again felt a deep urge to lay hands on Edward King. It seemed unfathomable to him that Sarah now belonged to the insufferable buwe , and that it had been at his own insistence. But what else was I to do . . .
âHi, there.â
Mahlon came to a dead stop, so involved in his own thoughts that heâd nearly run full tilt into Jude Lyons.
â Ach . . . hiya.â
Mahlon had a cautious friendship with the younger man whoâd only recently joined the Ice Mountain Amisch community.
âIs something wrong?â Jude asked, adjusting his spectacles.
âWrong? Jah . . . and you can ask yer bruder -in-law what.â
Jude frowned. âYou mean Edward?â
âSure I do. He jest married my Sarah.â
âWhy now? Although I know theyâve been courting.â
Mahlon snorted. âAm I the last on this mountain to know such things for certain?â
âOh, I bet Iâll be the last one to fathom it when Rose starts to court.â Jude spoke of his new baby daughter with obvious pride.
âIâve got to get on,â Mahlon said, knowing he was being abrupt.
âSure. Iâll see you soon, and donât worry about Edwardâheâll turn out all right. Remember, you didnât like me so much when we first met. Maybe Edward deserves a chance, too.â
Mahlon shrugged. âI donât think I got it in me to give it to him.â
âYou might be surprised.â Jude smiled.
âI donât think so.â
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âI need a drink,â Edward said, reaching a hand behind his neck as if to ease an ache.
â Nee, you donât,â Sarah cried and he half smiled.
âIâd wager you need one yourself, Sarah, after that fiasco.â He coughed and started to ease back out of his shirt. âWhen everybodyâs settled down, weâll get an annulment or something.â
âWhat?â Her voice seemed shrill and hurt his head.
âSarah, sweet . . . please . . . why not let me lie down for a few hours . . . shake off this cold.â He brushed past her, patting her shoulder absently, and made for the bed in the other room.
âAre you narrisch? â she asked, following him.
âCrazy?â He tugged off a boot. â Nee , but I am probably still a little drunk.â
âAnd married,â she pointed out.
âAnd married,â he agreed with a yawn, slipping off his pants.
He felt her frustration, but it seemed muted somehow, cocooned away from him as he lifted the quilts and slid into the warm bed with an audible sigh. âYouâll see, Sarah,â he slurred. âEverything will be all right.â
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He thought he was dreaming. The wind had picked up until it seemed to shake the very foundation of the old cabin, and there was an ominous glow to the light outside the bedroom window. The sound of limbs breaking like the crack of gunfire penetrated the storm and he sighed, rolling to his back and stretching out his right arm to a more comfortable position. When the ancient oak toppled and fell through the roof of the cabin, he came awake long enough to feel a brutal crushing weight, a red haze of pain, and then, mercifully, darkness.
Chapter Three
âMrs. King?â
Sarah looked up from her folded hands as the surgeon spoke her new name from the doorway of the crowded waiting room. She got to her feet in a daze, aware of friends and family in vinyl chairs behind her, but her eyes focused oddly on the single drop of blood on the doctorâs scrubs.
Her steps were halting and the older doctor reached out a hand to her, guiding her gently by the elbow into the quiet hall of the large hospital where Edward had been flown.
âMrs. King, your husband is stable. We were able to stop the bleeding, but he did lose his right eye and, despite our best efforts, will have some pretty severe scarring on the right side of his face.â
Sarah nodded, steepled her