that Jonas had gone out with Shirley a few times.
Ivan retreated as an ambulance pulled up. He’d best get out of here before he was blocked in. Jonas and his passenger were now in capable hands. Ivan could do nothing more for them. He climbed into the buggy and guided Billy off the road shoulder, moving slowly until he was clear of the ambulance and the police cars that had arrived. Already a man in uniform was directing traffic around the accident.
Ivan was back on the road, still shaken by the accident and considering if the passenger was Miriam’s sister. It was well known that Shirley was on her rumspringa . Ivan knew Eli Yoder wouldn’t take it well if his daughter had taken up with the likes of Jonas Beachy.
Chapter Eight
S hirley clung to the side of the gurney as the ambulance sped through the night. She tried to move her head to glance at the attendant on one side of her, but she couldn’t.
“Hold still, dear,” a voice ordered above the chatter of a radio.
The pain from her head and face seemed to burn through her whole body. Shirley whimpered as the memory of the accident replayed in her mind. The line of deer seemed to appear suddenly on the road ahead of them. The next scene she remembered was a glimpse of brown coming over the hood and then a sudden explosion of white hitting her in the face, followed by a swerving motion she figured was Jonas slamming on the brakes and steering sideways. She vaguely remembered something hitting her head and face over and over, but she was so dazed that she wasn’t sure what had happened.
Shirley groaned. Why had this happened? Was this the Lord’s punishment on her? Shirley tried to move her hand up to her head, but it wouldn’t move.
A voice gently said, “No, ma’am. Don’t move. You’ve been in an accident and are hurt.”
Shirley already realized that, but how bad was she? She wanted to ask, but no words would come. Was she all right? She shivered as pain overwhelmed her again. She remembered seeing blood around her, and the truth crept in. Her head must be injured badly. The more she thought about, the surer she was. There had been a lot of blood. And her face hurt. Much more than superficial cuts and bruises would. She tried to shift on the gurney.
“Hold still, dear,” the voice ordered again. “I’ve given you something to dull the pain and help you relax. You’re in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.”
Shirley tightened her fingers on the thin rail and allowed her mind to drift. A numbing haze seemed to be wafting around her. She felt the pain ease, but the the calm was punctured with another question. Have Mamm and Daett heard about the accident yet? Daett already had strong objections to her relationship with Jonas. Now he would have a lot to say when he learned she was in the hospital. And this ride in the ambulance would have to be paid by someone, to say nothing of doctor and hospital bills. They had no insurance, but perhaps Jonas did. But really, Jonas wasn’t responsible for deer ambling onto the road. How did people pay for things caused by accidents?
At least Jonas had held her hand while they waited for help. She’d noticed that he didn’t leave her side until she was loaded into the ambulance. Shirley groaned and felt someone squeeze her arm gently.
“We’re almost there. Please hold still.”
Noise chattered from somewhere above her head. This time she realized that information was being passed back and forth, probably via a radio. The attendant next to her leaned into her line of sight. “Shirley, your parents have been notified by the police. A state trooper will bring them to the hospital.”
Shirley held perfectly still. Was she supposed to be happy about this? Mamm and Daett ’s presence wasn’t the most comforting thought right now. This night had turned into a nightmare—and after such a pleasant evening with Jonas. She tried to turn her head, but cried out from the increased pain.
“Dear!” The
Ivan retreated as an ambulance pulled up. He’d best get out of here before he was blocked in. Jonas and his passenger were now in capable hands. Ivan could do nothing more for them. He climbed into the buggy and guided Billy off the road shoulder, moving slowly until he was clear of the ambulance and the police cars that had arrived. Already a man in uniform was directing traffic around the accident.
Ivan was back on the road, still shaken by the accident and considering if the passenger was Miriam’s sister. It was well known that Shirley was on her rumspringa . Ivan knew Eli Yoder wouldn’t take it well if his daughter had taken up with the likes of Jonas Beachy.
Chapter Eight
S hirley clung to the side of the gurney as the ambulance sped through the night. She tried to move her head to glance at the attendant on one side of her, but she couldn’t.
“Hold still, dear,” a voice ordered above the chatter of a radio.
The pain from her head and face seemed to burn through her whole body. Shirley whimpered as the memory of the accident replayed in her mind. The line of deer seemed to appear suddenly on the road ahead of them. The next scene she remembered was a glimpse of brown coming over the hood and then a sudden explosion of white hitting her in the face, followed by a swerving motion she figured was Jonas slamming on the brakes and steering sideways. She vaguely remembered something hitting her head and face over and over, but she was so dazed that she wasn’t sure what had happened.
Shirley groaned. Why had this happened? Was this the Lord’s punishment on her? Shirley tried to move her hand up to her head, but it wouldn’t move.
A voice gently said, “No, ma’am. Don’t move. You’ve been in an accident and are hurt.”
Shirley already realized that, but how bad was she? She wanted to ask, but no words would come. Was she all right? She shivered as pain overwhelmed her again. She remembered seeing blood around her, and the truth crept in. Her head must be injured badly. The more she thought about, the surer she was. There had been a lot of blood. And her face hurt. Much more than superficial cuts and bruises would. She tried to shift on the gurney.
“Hold still, dear,” the voice ordered again. “I’ve given you something to dull the pain and help you relax. You’re in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.”
Shirley tightened her fingers on the thin rail and allowed her mind to drift. A numbing haze seemed to be wafting around her. She felt the pain ease, but the the calm was punctured with another question. Have Mamm and Daett heard about the accident yet? Daett already had strong objections to her relationship with Jonas. Now he would have a lot to say when he learned she was in the hospital. And this ride in the ambulance would have to be paid by someone, to say nothing of doctor and hospital bills. They had no insurance, but perhaps Jonas did. But really, Jonas wasn’t responsible for deer ambling onto the road. How did people pay for things caused by accidents?
At least Jonas had held her hand while they waited for help. She’d noticed that he didn’t leave her side until she was loaded into the ambulance. Shirley groaned and felt someone squeeze her arm gently.
“We’re almost there. Please hold still.”
Noise chattered from somewhere above her head. This time she realized that information was being passed back and forth, probably via a radio. The attendant next to her leaned into her line of sight. “Shirley, your parents have been notified by the police. A state trooper will bring them to the hospital.”
Shirley held perfectly still. Was she supposed to be happy about this? Mamm and Daett ’s presence wasn’t the most comforting thought right now. This night had turned into a nightmare—and after such a pleasant evening with Jonas. She tried to turn her head, but cried out from the increased pain.
“Dear!” The
Similar Books
