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  “What pesticide were you using?” Eli asked.

  “Malathion. I sprayed my cornfield, hoping to kill the earworms so I’ll have a bigger crop next year. When my back was turned, Timmy tried to mix some of the concentrated poison himself. He was only trying to help, but he spilled it down his shirtfront and breathed in a lot of fumes. I’ve got the container outside in my buggy.”

  “Gut. That was smart to bring it with you. The hospital will need to know exactly what chemicals we’re dealing with. Komm, let’s go.” Taking for granted that David would follow, Eli picked up Timmy and carried him through to the living room.

  Lizzie followed, grasping the handle of a gas lamp and holding it high as David opened the front door and they all stepped out onto the porch. A brisk wind made Lizzie gasp. Night had fallen, the frosty air thick with the promise of snow. At some point during the melee, she’d doffed her warm coat and now wrapped an arm around herself. Darkness shrouded the farm in shadows and she hated to let the men leave without her. Hated not knowing the outcome of this frenzied night. But she would have to remain behind with her sisters.

  She held the lamp high as the men climbed into the buggy and settled Timmy comfortably. With a frantic yell, David slapped the lead lines against the horse’s back and they took off at a swift trot. Before the buggy turned onto the main road, Eli threw a quick look back at Lizzie. In the vague moonlight, she saw him lift one hand in farewell and mouth the word danke. Or at least, she thought that’s what he said. She wasn’t certain.

  She waved, but felt haunted by Eli’s gaze. In his eyes, she saw something that she’d never seen there before. Complete and utter fear. But what did it mean? Was he afraid Timmy might die? Or was his fear connected to something else? She had no idea, but sensed it had a deeper meaning than just the possibility of losing Timmy.

  Lizzie hurried into the waiting warmth of the house. Thankfully, it wasn’t snowing yet. It would normally take thirty precious minutes for the men to make it to the hospital in town...twenty minutes at the swift speed they were traveling. She only hoped and prayed the horse could stand the rapid pace.

  * * *

  Timmy trembled and Eli tucked the quilt tighter around him. Gazing at the boy’s ashen cheeks, Eli feared the worst. A vision of Shannon’s pale face filled his mind. Her weak voice as she begged him to save her life chimed in his ears. Her cries of fear as he tried to stop the bleeding seemed to haunt him. Her brown eyes as they closed for the last time never left his mind for long. He’d failed her. He couldn’t save her life. And what if he lost Timmy too? He loved being a paramedic. Loved helping others. But he couldn’t lose another patient. He just couldn’t!

  “Can’t we go any faster?” he asked.

  David slapped the leads hard against the horse’s back. The animal plunged onward at a breakneck speed. “I don’t dare push Ben any harder for fear he’ll collapse and leave us afoot. I’m also worried a car might come up from behind and crash into the back of us.”

  Of course. What was Eli thinking? This was a horse and buggy, not an automobile. He’d grown too used to the Englisch world where he’d ridden everywhere in cars, trucks and buses. The rapid speed had spoiled him for this slower pace. He had to remember that he was in the Amish world now, where he should rely on faith and Gott’s will to get them through. Above all else, they needed to arrive safely. It’d do Timmy no good if the horse dropped dead of exhaustion, or if they collided with a car. Then they’d have to carry the boy into town on foot and they might arrive too late.

  Minutes passed slowly until they finally crested a hill and the lights of Riverton came into view. A fresh pulse of anxiousness swept over Eli. Just a few more minutes now.

  “Timmy, vie gehts?” he asked the boy, trying to keep him awake...to ensure he was still alive.

  “Uh-huh.” The child’s voice sounded vague and his eyes barely fluttered.

  “We’re almost there now. You’re doing fine. Soon, you’ll be up and running around your farm with your brieder and schweschder.”

  Eli spoke to Timmy over and over again, trying to encourage the boy. Trying to encourage himself. He mustn’t give up hope. He must exercise faith. And for the first time since Shannon’s death, he offered a silent prayer for help.

  When David pulled the buggy in front of the small emergency room, no orderly came out to greet them like they did at the large hospital where Eli had worked in Denver. Overhead lights gleamed brightly in the covered driveway with very few cars in the dark parking lot...not surprising in this small community. As he climbed out of the buggy, Eli figured they’d have one doctor on duty tonight. He just hoped he was inside and not at home waiting for a call.

  “I’ve got Timmy. You should see to your horse, then come inside.” Eli spoke quickly to David as he held the little boy in his arms.

  David looked panicked. Eli knew the man didn’t want to leave his son’s side for even a moment. But reason won out over instinct. Since Eli was already turning with Timmy toward the doors and the horse’s sides were lathered and heaving from exertion, David nodded his assent.

  Without a word, David directed the buggy out of the way of possible traffic. Eli felt the power of David’s trust like a heavy mantle resting across his shoulders. A flash of memory swept over him and he remembered the trust in Shannon’s eyes too.

  He hurried inside, the wide double doors whooshing open then closing behind him.

  “I’ve got a code blue pediatric case here. We need a rapid response team. Now!” Eli called loud and urgently to the receptionist.

  A plump, older woman rushed around the reception counter and reached to look at Timmy’s face. She didn’t seem to notice Eli’s Amish clothing, but a few other people sitting in the waiting room stared with open curiosity. Eli ignored them.

  “He’s a poison victim. Malathion,” Eli spoke to the nurse.

  Seeing the urgency of Timmy’s condition, the woman waved a hand. “This way.”

  As Eli followed her, a man wearing a white doctor’s coat and a name badge that read Dr. Graham ran toward them.

  “He’s got a shallow pulse, contracted pupils and is breathing with difficulty.” Without being asked, Eli rattled off the information, just as he would have done as a paramedic in Denver.

  They entered a treatment room and a nurse reached for an oxygen mask. Eli laid Timmy on the bed and opened the quilt so the doctor could get a better look at him.

  “What poison are we dealing with here?” Dr. Graham asked in a serious tone, flashing a small handheld light into Timmy’s eyes to see how his pupils reacted.

  “Malathion,” Eli said. “We changed his clothing since it was spattered with pesticide and bathed him to get the poison off. After that, he started breathing a bit easier.”

  With a nod, the doctor ordered an antidote while the nurse hooked up an IV. Even being poked by a needle, Timmy didn’t move, remaining as still as death. The slow rise and fall of his chest was the only indication that he was still alive.

  Eli stepped back, letting the hospital staff take over. Though he was certified, they didn’t know him and now wasn’t the time to explain. Bracing his back against the wall, he prayed he wasn’t too late. As he listened to the doctor giving instructions for the boy’s care, Eli had mixed feelings. A part of him missed this action. The thrill of being able to use his expertise to help others. The joy of saving a life. But another part of him was terrified. He might have done something wrong. It had taken so long to get Timmy here.

  “Has your son had any convulsions?” Dr. Graham asked, glancing at Eli from over his shoulder.

  “He’s not my son, but I’m not aware of any convulsions.”

  The nurse touched Eli’s shoulder. “Why don’t you wait outside? I’ll bring word to you as soon as I can.”

  He got the message loud and clear. He was in the way.

  Stepping out into the reception room
, he saw David standing in front of the desk holding his black felt hat in his hands. He looked helpless and confused, glancing around for some sign of his son. When he saw Eli, he showed a relieved expression and hurried over to him. Eli quickly told him what he knew, which wasn’t much.

  They sat down to wait. Time passed slowly and Eli had too much time to think about his regrets. Leaving Lizzie four years ago was at the top of the list, followed by losing Shannon. But if he hadn’t left Lizzie, he never would have met and fallen in love with Shannon. He wouldn’t have had his paramedic training or be sitting in this emergency room now.

  He wouldn’t have known what to do to save Timmy’s life.

  “I don’t know what I’ll do if I lose my sohn.” David leaned forward and covered his face with his hands.

  Eli laid a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder. He considered the unconditional love of a father and wondered if he would ever have a child of his own. First, he would have to find a wife—and he’d already ruined both of his chances at that. Even though he’d lost both of the women he’d wanted to marry, he could never regret loving them. And that realization surprised him. Loving someone else was deeply personal. Something to be cherished and protected. It was a conscious decision to hold them in your heart for always. And recognizing this gave Eli hope that he might find love a third time. But when he tried to imagine taking a wife, the only one he could picture by his side in the Amish life he’d chosen was Lizzie—and he held very little hope that Lizzie might love him again.

  Chapter Eight

  Lizzie pulled Ginger into the parking lot of the town park and headed toward a hitching post where a sign read Buggy Parking Only. With the number of Amish families increasing in the area, the town had accommodated them by providing a safe and convenient place with a carport cover for their horses.

  Eli had tested Billie and deemed the animal ready for buggy driving again, but Lizzie still felt unsure of the horse. Ginger was older and calmer, so that’s the animal she chose for this journey.

  Bundled in her heavy winter coat, she hopped out of the buggy. As she tightened the scarf around her neck, she could see puffs of her breath on the chilly air. A skiff of snow that morning hadn’t stopped her from coming into Riverton to visit her father and see how Timmy was doing. She’d also stopped off at Ruth Lapp’s house for a short visit, happy to find that the woman was over her bronchitis and feeling much better.

  Lizzie tied the horse securely, then stepped over to the sidewalk skirting the street. She had just dropped the girls off at school. It hadn’t been easy to coax them out of the buggy. They hadn’t heard any word on Timmy’s condition and were eager to know if the boy was all right. They also were missing their father and wanted to see him. Lizzie couldn’t blame them. She also wanted her dad safely at home.

  As she walked up the steps to the front of the white brick building, the double doors swished open and she stepped inside. The doors closed and the welcoming warmth enveloped her. She doffed her coat and wiped her damp feet on the large floor mat and looked up.

  “Lizzie!”

  Linda Albrecht stood in front of the reception counter with her husband, Darrin. He was deep in conversation with the receptionist.

  “Have you heard about little Timmy Hostetler?” Linda rushed over to her.

  Lizzie nodded eagerly as she removed her gloves. “Ja, David brought him to our house last night for Eli’s help before coming to the hospital. Is Timmy all right?”

  Linda released a deep breath and placed a hand over her heart. “Ja, thank the dear Lord. But Eli told us a moment ago that it was a close call.”

  Darrin Albrecht joined them, folding some papers before tucking them inside the front of his coat.

  “Eli is still here?” Lizzie asked.

  “He is.” The deacon smiled. “He refused to leave Timmy’s side until he was sure the boy was okay.”

  Lizzie wasn’t surprised. Eli would undoubtedly want to stay and offer comfort to David if little Timmy had taken a turn for the worse.

  “Were you here to visit Timmy?” Lizzie asked.

  “Ne, we came for a follow-up visit with Dr. McGann,” Linda said. “It turns out that Eli was right and Darrin has diabetes. Dr. McGann also prescribed an antibiotic for the wound on Darrin’s leg.”

  Deacon Albrecht nodded. “That’s right. Thanks to Eli, the cut is almost completely healed now. Linda has changed our diet, and between that and my diabetes medication, I feel better than I have in months.”

  Lizzie blinked at this news, remembering that day at church when Eli had advised Deacon Albrecht to go see a doctor soon. Apparently Darrin had accepted Eli’s advice and was doing much better because of it.

  “I’m so glad the gut Lord has blessed you,” she said, feeling reluctant to give the credit to Eli. After all, Gott provided everything, including Eli’s education and knowledge.

  “Ach, we’d best get moving. We’re supposed to have more snow this afternoon and we still have shopping to do. Don’t you stay in town too long,” Linda admonished.

  “Ne, I won’t,” Lizzie promised.

  She waved as they hurried outside, both surprised and pleased that Deacon Albrecht was feeling better and Timmy was going to be okay. Thanks to Eli and the schooling Gott had provided him with.

  She stopped at the reception counter long enough to inquire if Timmy could see visitors, then headed down the hall to his room. She’d stop in briefly before visiting her father.

  “It’s a good thing you were around or I doubt Timmy would have made it. But I must admit I’m surprised to discover you’re a certified paramedic. We don’t see many Amish paramedics.”

  Lizzie turned a corner and came to a dead stop. Standing in the hallway were Eli, David and Dr. McGann. The doctor lifted a hand and rested it on Eli’s shoulder.

  “I heard from Dr. Graham that you saved Timmy’s life,” Dr. McGann continued.

  Eli flushed beet red and cast a sheepish glance at the doctor. “The Lord blessed him. I just did what anyone would have done.”

  “No,” David said, speaking in perfect English. “I didn’t know what to do. If you hadn’t been there, my son might have...”

  David didn’t finish the statement. His normally stoic expression showed both gratitude and bewilderment as he considered what might have happened to Timmy.

  “Thanks to you, a number of the Amish have been coming in to receive medical help. You’re a good paramedic and a credit to your people,” Dr. McGann said.

  “Yes, the Lord has truly blessed us all.” Eli turned aside, looking uncomfortable with the praise. His gaze landed on Lizzie and he showed a big smile.

  “Lizzie!” he called, looking relieved by the distraction.

  She hurried forward, not knowing what to make of all that she’d overheard. Also, being near Eli caused a buzz of excitement to course through her body.

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to milk the cows this morning, but I didn’t have a ride home,” Eli said.

  She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. You had more important things to do here. I understand that Timmy is going to be all right.”

  She couldn’t prevent a note of cheerfulness from filling her voice. All that mattered right now was that the boy was going to live.

  “Ja.” David nodded happily. “He’ll have to stay here a couple of more days, just to make sure he’s breathing okay on his own, but he reacted well to the antidote.”

  “Dr. McGann, this is Lizzie Beiler, a member of our congregation.” Eli made the introductions.

  “Yes, Ms. Beiler and I know each other already. I’ve been treating her father.” The doctor showed a kind smile.

  “That’s right. How is he doing?” she asked.

  “Very good. The swelling has gone down and I think we’ll be able to cast his leg tomorrow morning. He can go home the day after that. But he�
��ll need several more weeks of bed rest before resuming his usual activities. If you want to drive in on Thursday morning, he should be ready to go home then.”

  “Oh, that’s wundervoll!” Lizzie exclaimed.

  Two more days and her father would be home. What a relief!

  “And now, I’d better get back to work.” With a gesture of farewell, Dr. McGann headed down the hall.

  “And I’m going to go back in with Timmy. Thanks again, my dear friend. And thanks to Lizzie as well.” David reached out and shook Eli’s hand as he winked at Lizzie, then he turned and entered a room.

  Lizzie peered inside and saw Timmy lying on the hospital bed, his eyes closed in sleep. Covered by a thin blanket, he wore an oxygen mask, but she could see the easy rising and falling of his tiny chest.

  “And I had better go see my vadder.” Lizzie stepped around Eli, but paused when he briefly touched her arm.

  “Would you mind giving me a ride back to your farm when you’re finished? I used David’s cell phone last night to call my vadder and tell him where I am, but I came into town with David and my horse and buggy are still at your place,” he said.

  “Of course. I won’t be long. I heard that a snowstorm is headed our way and I need to pick the girls up from school before we go home.”

  He nodded and she hurried on her way, still feeling the warmth of his fingers on her arm.

  Jeremiah was sitting up eating lunch when she stepped into his room. He set a carton of milk on his tray and reached out a hand to her.

  “Lizzie! Did you bring me any homemade bread? I’m half-starved for your cooking,” he said.

  She laughed. “I’m afraid not, but it looks like you’ll be home in a couple of days, so you can eat all the bread you want soon.” She leaned over and hugged him tight, his words pleasing her enormously. A quick glance at his filled plate told her why he wasn’t happy with the hospital food. She had to admit, she wouldn’t be interested, either.