Judith Miller - More Than Words

More Than Words
Copyright 2010
Judith Miller

Cover design by Lookout Design, Inc.

Cover photography by Aimee Christenson

With special recognition to The Amana Historical Society.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwisewithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Miller, Judith, 1944

More than words / Judith Miller.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7642-0643-6 (pbk.)
1. Amana SocietyFiction. 2. Young womenFiction. [1. IowaHistory19th centuryFiction.] I. Title.

PS3613.C3858M66 2010

813'.6dc22

2010014685

To Jim
I love you
more than words

Books by

Judith Miller
FROM BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS

The Carousel Painter

DAUGHTERS OF AMANA

Somewhere to Belong

More Than Words

BELLS OF LOWELL*

Daughter of the Loom

A Fragile Design

These Tangled Threads

LIGHTS OF LOWELL*

A Tapestry of Hope

A Love Woven True

The Pattern of Her Heart

POSTCARDS FROM PULLMAN

In the Company of Secrets

Whispers Along the Rails

An Uncertain Dream

THE BROADMOOR LEGACY*

A Daughters Inheritance

An Unexpected Love

A Surrendered Heart

JUDITH MILLER is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her novels, many of which have appeared on the CBA bestseller lists. Judy and her husband make their home in Topeka, Kansas.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for
the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

I SAMUEL 16:7

CONTENT

April 1885
Homestead Village
Amana Colonies, Iowa

Come down from that tree, Oma! Id done my best to sound firm. Taking a sideways step, I shaded my eyes to gain a better view among the bloom-laden branches of the apple tree.

My grandmother peered down at me with a devilish grin, her leather-clad feet wedged into a crook of the tree. Nein, Gretchen! Im going to get an apple. She pointed a gnarled finger toward a spindly branch bearing a few spring blossoms.

Dont go any further, Oma. There arent any apples, and that branch wont hold you.

Ignoring me, she grabbed another limb and hiked her right leg toward a scrawny branch that would surely crack under her weight. The old womans addled brain might be willing to make the climb, but her aged and fragile body was going to end up on the ground.

After steadying the ladder that Oma had placed against the tree trunk, I lifted my skirt and stepped onto the bottom rung. Just wait until Stefan gets home! I issued the muttered warning from between clenched teeth and cautiously began my climb. No matter how often I scolded my brother, Stefan never put anything away. Hed used the ladder to retrieve a ball from the roof yesterday afternoon, and instead of putting it back into the shed, hed left it sitting outdoors. Out where it created an alluring diversion for Oma, who had somehow managed to drag it across the yard and balance it against the apple tree.

A low-hanging branch snagged my finely knit black cap, and Oma chuckled as she watched my attempts to disentangle the head covering. After finally grabbing the cap and giving it a one-handed shove onto my head, I glanced upward but quickly averted my eyes. Oma! Put your leg down. I can see your undergarments.

She leaned forward and peeked down, as if she intended to check the truth of my statement. Her body listed sideways, and one foot slipped from the branch. A snowstorm of flowering blossoms showered down on me.

Hold on, Oma! Im coming up to help you.

Dont bring the blackbird, she shrieked. It will eat the apples.

My frustration mounted as Oma continued the childlike behavior. For all of my life, my mothers mother had lived with us, and we shared a special bond. But when these bouts of dementia took hold, there was no dealing with her. There are no blackbirds and there are no apples, Oma. I took another step up the ladder and reached for a thick branch. The rough bark dug into my palm as I tightened my hold. If I inched a little closer, I could grab hold of her leg.

Go away! Youre bringing the blackbird with you.

She climbed higher into the tree, and I gasped in fear. Now I couldnt even reach her foot. There are no birds in the tree, Oma. Ive frightened them all away. Come back down to me.

She peered over her shoulder. A flash of terror shone in her dark eyes. Her once-gentle lips twisted in a menacing jagged line. The look would have held a stranger at bay, but I wasnt a stranger, and I wouldnt be deterred.

Theres a blackbird on your head, she cried. Get it away! Shoo it off before it eats my apples.

Utter defeat shot through me. Would I ever learn to deal with Omas episodes? If I didnt get her out of the tree within the next few minutes, my father might discover the dilemma. That thought alone propelled me back into action. I yanked the hat from my head. The blackbird flew away. See, Oma? Look at me!

Lips curved in a toothy grin, she leaned forward, peered around my shoulder, and cooed, Pretty boy, come and get me.

Oma! Please come I lifted my foot to mount the next rung but was stopped short when two strong hands encircled my waist. I grabbed hold of the ladder and glanced over my shoulder. Conrad. I exhaled my friends name along with a silent hallelujah.

Come down, Gretchen. Ill get her. His hands remained clasped around my waist while I descended to the ground. With one sympathetic gaze, I was enveloped in comfort. He touched a finger to my trembling lips, and warmth spiraled up my spine. You should have come for me when you first discovered her.

I know, but I thought shed listen to me.

He tilted his head toward the ladder. Did she drag this from the shed by herself?

Stefan, I said.

He nodded his understanding. Hes a boy. In a few years he will begin to remember what you tell him.

I thought it would take more than a few years before Stefan remembered anything other than how to have fun, but I didnt say so. I dont know who creates more problems, Oma or Stefan. Neither one of them will listen to me.

With a chuckle he mounted the ladder and waved to my grandmother. Ive come to rescue you, Sister Helga. Let me help you out of the tree.

I stood below and prayed this wouldnt take long. For a brief moment Oma eyed Conrad with curious suspiciona strange occurrence, for she usually fancied him her beau when in a delusional state of mind. I immediately feared the worst.