A Heart Once Broken Read Online Free Page B

around the thought. Daett was dead? But how could that be? He had been alive this morning. She had spoken with him only moments ago.
    â€œMove back,” the man’s voice ordered again, and several men retreated to allow Lena and several other women through. They stood beside Mamm , praying silently.
    Sandra felt a numbness creep over her. This was so strange and so sudden. Surely this wasn’t true. She looked up to see Ezra’s face among the gathered men. His features were drawn with concern. Only moments before they had laughed together and joked while Daett had been near death’s door. The meal wasn’t over, but no one would have any appetite after this. Not if one of their own had died in front of their eyes. The tears trickled down Sandra’s face, and she made no attempt to wipe them away.
    Bishop Henry spoke now. “We had best move him outside. Maybe that will help.” But the effort was useless, Sandra knew—as did all the others. Still, the men obeyed and gathered up the blanket.Sandra followed Mamm with Lydia beside her. Once outside, the men laid down the blanket and they all knelt to pray and wait.
    The usual Sunday afternoon noises had begun in the house behind them. The children had to be fed. Life had to go on. But would life ever be the same again for Sandra’s family? She tried not to think as flashing lights filled the driveway, and the paramedics took over. Mamm left with the ambulance, and Sandra stood unmoving as she watched the lights drive away. Could Daett be resuscitated? Sandra seemed to remember stories of men and women who had been dead, but had been brought back by paramedics. Maybe that could happen with Daett.
    â€œI’m coming over this afternoon and staying with you this evening,” Lydia whispered in Sandra’s ear.
    Sandra didn’t protest, and the two hugged each other. She could use Lydia’s presence in the house as they mourned this awful tragedy—if indeed Daett had passed from this life.
    Sandra had known something would happen today, but not this! Not Daett ’s death!

Chapter Four

    T hree days later, Sandra stood beside the open grave as Daett ’s casket was lowered slowly into the ground. Mamm wept silently with Lydia’s mamm , Mary, a step behind her. Sandra’s married brothers and sisters, along with their spouses, huddled on either side of them. Lydia had come up to slip her arm around Mamm ’s shoulder during the short graveside service, but Mamm had now moved forward to stand alone, so Lydia moved up to stand beside Sandra.
    With bowed heads they all waited as the last song was sung. Bishop Henry led the prayer with a tremble in his voice. “Now unto the most High God, the maker of heaven and earth, we lift our hearts today in sorrow and beseech His mercy and grace upon the soul of our departed brother. Be with us as we mourn our great loss, and surrender our own hearts to Your will. Bless the families who are left behind. Comfort them with Your presence. Let us all find peace in the perfection of Your will. Let no bitterness arise in our hearts as we ache and weep. Give us…”
    Sandra grasped Lydia’s hand as Bishop Henry’s prayer continued. She didn’t let go even after Bishop Henry said, “Amen,” or when the dirt was being thrown on the casket. Not until the mound reachedthe level of the ground did Mamm move back to Sandra, who met her with a long embrace. Sandra’s brother, Mark, still stood at the gravesite with his head bowed. He would grieve for a long time, Sandra knew. As the last son in the Troyer household still at home, Mark had been close to Daett .
    â€œWe must go on with the Lord’s help,” Mamm whispered. “We all must be strong for what lies ahead.”
    â€œ Yah ,” Sandra agreed. But there seemed to be more to Mamm ’s words than was readily apparent. Since Daett had passed on Sunday, there had been little time for