Read The Face of Heaven for Free Online Page B

happened here, of course.”
    “Oh, the good sheriff.”
    “Lyndel, please—”
    “Our people will only argue he was not Amish.”
    “He took sanctuary with us. He trusted us as he trusted God. He will be buried as one of us. You must remember who you are and what you believe. You must calm yourself.”
    “I can’t. We betrayed Charlie.”
    “We have a righteous Judge in heaven who will protect Charlie Preston’s soul from all harm and calamity. He is safe with Jesus. I ask you again to calm yourself and to remember what you believe. If you cannot trust me today you can certainly trust God.”
    “It will take some time, Papa, for me to forgive myself, to forgive all of us.”
    “Yes. Time. Prayer. In Christ you will find what you need.” He put his arms around her briefly. “I’m sorry you saw what you saw. I wish it had been otherwise. I’m sorry you feel I failed you.” He stepped back and wiped his face with a large white handkerchief.
    “Bishop Keim.” Nathaniel’s face was white and blank as a field of snow. “I apologize. But I need to be on my way and I wish to speak with you before I leave.”
    “ Ja , What is it? Do you need to borrow one of my son’s shirts?”
    “Thank you. I always keep a spare one under my seat in case the one I’m wearing gets dirty. What I wanted to say—do you recall how I asked in December if I could visit the families in Indiana who left to settle with the Amish there and help them out?”
    “Of course I remember your request.”
    “Perhaps now would be a good time for me to pay our people that visit.”
    Bishop Keim looked at him a long time and then nodded. “You may be right. I will discuss it with the pastors tonight when I call them together about the funeral. If you would be so kind as to ask your parents for their approval and blessing.”
    “Yes, I will.”
    Nathaniel began to walk toward his carriage and his horse. Lyndel, feeling completely depleted, watched him go. Well, that is it, Lord. He has come and gone. But thank you for his walk from the carriage to the pasture gate just the same. I saw his eyes then and his eyes were for me.
    Nathaniel rubbed Good Boy between his ears and spoke to him for a few moments. Then he pulled a white shirt from under the seat of the buggy, tugged it on, and began to climb up. Suddenly he stopped and looked at Lyndel. Despite the weight she knew he carried over Charlie’s hanging, a bit of life returned to his eyes for a moment.
    “Weren’t we supposed to have a visit today?”
    “Yes. But the day has changed.”
    “It has changed but I still would like to have that visit. What about the day after tomorrow?”
    “The day after Charlie’s funeral?”
    He nodded. “I think—Charlie Preston would smile and whisper it was a good thing.”
    “That would suit me, Nathaniel King.”
    “God willing, I’ll be here.” He finished climbing up into the buggy and took hold of Good Boy’s traces. “I have something important to ask you.”
    Lyndel narrowed her eyes. “Important?”
    “Get up there, Boy. Yes, very important.”
    “Are you serious?”
    “I am.”
    “And you are just going to drive off?”
    “I am.”
     
    The King buggy rattled toward the road. Lyndel’s father looked at her. “Is there something between the two of you I have missed?”
    “I’m not sure, Papa.”
    “There is nothing?”
    “I didn’t say there was nothing. I said I’m not sure.”
    “Well,” said Levi, “I have this for you anyway, whether you’re sure or not sure.”
    He held out a jar that had collected some rainwater.
    “What on earth is that for?” she asked him.
    “It’s for your snapdragons and pussy willows.” He placed the glass jar in her hand. “If they last a little bit longer, perhaps God will grant that whatever you and Nathaniel feel or don’t feel for each other may last a little bit longer as well.”

4
     
    A light rain was falling the next day, April 4th, a Thursday. The showers and clouds