The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (all ebook reader .txt) 📕

“I don’t make things in bulk. I make them one at a time. Each one is a little different.”

“As the owner of the company I work for would say, that’s the charm of an object handmade by Amish craftsmen.”

“This Amish blacksmith should get back to work,” Willis said. “The potato harvest will start in a few weeks and everyone needs some sort of part made or repaired for their old potato digger. They don’t appreciate the charm of my work, only that I get it done as quick as possible.”

Harley, who was standing by the windows, turned to look outside. “The Fisher family is here. Do you want to get your hands dirty, Danny?”

“What do you have in mind?” Danny crossed the windows to look out. Willis followed him. Ezekiel Fisher and his four sons had rolled up in a large wagon pulled by a pair of gray draft horses.

“They are going to dig and pour the foundation for the new barn,” Willis said.

“Mr. Fisher looks like he has plenty of help. If those are his sons, they are a strapping bunch. Are those two twins?”

“Triplets.” Willis grinned at Danny’s surprised expression. “Asher, Gabriel and Seth. Moses is the youngest. They are wheelwrights and buggy makers. The Lord has blessed us. Our community is growing rapidly.”

Danny grinned. “The Lord has certainly blessed that father. I’ll be happy to lend a hand today. All I need is a shovel and a pair of gloves.”

“I can get that for you,” Otto said.

When Otto, Harley and Danny went out the door Maddie followed them and Willis turned his attention to Eva. “I like your brother.”

“I like him, too. He’s a lot different than my older brother.”

“So have you made your decision?” He prayed for her to stay but he wanted her to be content wherever she went.

She shook her head. “I haven’t. I want to stay here. I want to become a fixture in the community of New Covenant. I had hoped to grow old and gray and have my students come back and visit me for years after they’ve graduated to tell me what a wonderful impact I made on their lives.”

“So why not stay?”

“I’m trying to figure out Gott’s plan for me. I’m praying He will show me the answer I need soon.”

It was hard not to admit how happy he would be if she stayed and how sad he would be if she left. “I hate the idea of losing a goot neighbor.”

Eva chuckled. “Are you afraid the next teacher might complain about your hammering at all hours of the day and night?”

“It’s rare that I work at night.”

“Then she’ll complain about your noisemaking while her scholars are trying to study but she still might make you some blackberry jam.”

“What faults do you have that I can complain about?”

“Ha. That’s a trick question if I’ve ever heard one. If you haven’t noticed my faults, I’m certainly not going to point them out to you.”

He cupped one hand over his chin. “I’ll have to study on that for a while. I’m sure you have them.”

“And it would be un-Christian of you to point them out. Speaking of, I know this coming Sunday is our prayer meeting, but I haven’t heard where it’s going to be held.”

“I believe the Fishers are hosting this time.”

“I hope the weather stays fine.”

“If it is raining, I will take you up in my buggy.”

She inclined her head, and the ribbons of her kapp fell forward. “Why, thank you, neighbor Willis. That’s very generous.”

“I didn’t say for free. I will expect two jars of jam as payment.”

She laughed. “One jar of jam and one loaf of fresh bread.”

“It’s a deal.” He realized he was smiling foolishly but he didn’t care.

She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a stack of papers. She looked up at him. “Don’t you have to go to work?”

He did, but he didn’t want to leave. It was too much fun to spend time teasing her and laughing with her. Neighbors until they were both old and gray. It didn’t sound bad.

But would he be able to keep his secret from her for years or would she discover how dimwitted he really was? And then what would she think of him?

Chapter Eleven

Eva saw the smile on Willis’s face fade and wondered why. Was he unhappy that she might be leaving New Covenant? Maybe she assumed he was thinking about her when he had something else on his mind.

“What’s wrong, Willis?”

“Nothing. I was thinking about what your brother said. That he knows someone who might buy hardware from me.

“Do you think they will purchase some of your work?”

“I think it’s worth a try to find out.”

“When could you have enough pieces ready to show them?”

“Two weeks maybe.”

“That’s exciting. Why aren’t you smiling?”

He did smile at her then. “It’s a pretty big if.”

Her heart grew lighter once more. “I think when the Good Lord inspires us we should hold on to that hope.”

After Willis left the schoolhouse she went to work on making folders for each student where she could keep their information handy. That way, another teacher could quickly read up on each scholar. Once the folders were finished, Eva found herself struggling to concentrate on her lesson plan for the first week of school. More and more, her thoughts were drawn to Willis. His brothers and sister were delightful, but Willis had a stronger hold on her emotions. As much as she wanted to rationalize it away, it wasn’t working. She was falling for her friend. If he didn’t return her feelings then staying in New Covenant would become much more difficult.

She got up and went to check on Maddie. The little girl was busy building mud pies and cookies. Otto, Harley and Danny were helping the Fisher brothers string chalk lines in a large rectangle to make sure the building would be straight and square. Maddie got up from her play kitchen and carried several pies on a piece