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

to admit it. Their first kiss had been amazing. This kiss was far more wondrous.

His lips were firm and gentle as they touched hers. A shiver raced down her spine and she leaned closer, melting against him, loving the way he made her feel cherished and as giddy as any teenager. He pulled away with a sigh and tucked her head under his chin. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t think you mentioned it.”

“Eva darling, I love you. Today, tomorrow, for the rest of my life and into eternity, I will always love you.”

She would never tire of hearing those words or of saying them. “I love you, too. What did I do to deserve such happiness?”

“I am asking myself the same question. I reckon only God knows for sure. Or maybe Bubble does.”

“Gott has truly blessed us.” She rose on her tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips. “What does Bubble have to do with any of this?”

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her closer and kissed her until her head was spinning and she was breathless all over again. Pulling away, he took a deep breath. “Bubble gave me some interesting encouragement.”

Eva settled her face against the side of his neck. He smelled of smoke and leather and the pine forests all around them. She breathed in the scent knowing she would never forget it. “What sort of encouragement did an imaginary girl give you?”

“You’ll laugh.”

“At you? Never. With you? Every chance I get.”

“Bubble told me you would say yes if I proposed to you.”

“She did? Isn’t she a bold child?”

He leaned back so he could see her face. “Maybe, but sometimes she spouts the truth when I’m least expecting it. Was she right?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

She looked up and tapped his nose with her finger. “You have not asked me.”

He held her at arm’s length. “Teacher, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“To have and to hold?”

He cupped her face with his hands. “In sickness and in health, ja, all of that. Will you please marry me? I desperately need someone to help me with the children and I need a good cook.”

She pulled his hands away. “I knew you had an ulterior motive.”

“I’m simply going down the list the kinder made. You’re pretty and you aren’t too old.”

She laughed out loud. “I love you, Willis Gingrich and all your family.”

A knock at the door startled them both. Willis moved a few steps away. Eva straightened her kapp and smoothed the front of her dress. She opened the door. Samuel Yoder stood there with a manila folder and his hand.

He cleared his throat. “I believe there has been a mistake. And I’m afraid that I am the one who has made it.”

“Won’t you come in?” Eva said. What was this about?

Samuel stepped to the door and nodded to Willis. “I finished reading your file on young Otto.”

“I see. Please have a seat.” She led the way to her sitting room and sat down in her rocking chair. Samuel sat on the edge of the sofa while Willis stood in the doorway, leaning one shoulder against the doorjamb.

Samuel looked from one to the other. “I was unaware of Otto’s difficulties and I humiliated him in front of the other children. I want to apologize. In looking through your desk I saw numerous articles about dyslexia. Clearly, you have a plan to help the boy. I don’t want to rob him of his chance to learn. I hope that you will consider returning to your teaching post. I will write to your brother and explain that you can’t be spared at this time. If you want to stay?”

Eva’s heart gave a little leap of joy. She glanced at Willis before replying.

“Your decision,” he said with that adorable little half smile on his lips.

She folded her hands together tightly. “I will consider it.”

The outside door opened. The children followed by Danny tripped into the kitchen with ice cream cones in their hands. They made themselves at home around the table. Danny looked into the sitting room. “Are we interrupting?”

Eva stared at him in amazement. “Did you miss your bus?”

“Nope. I saw it. I bought my ticket. I put my suitcase on it and then I changed my mind. Fortunately, I was able to get my suitcase off before the bus left. And I got a refund for the ticket.”

“You’re staying here? In New Covenant? Why?”

“I had a sneaking suspicion that there was going to be an opening for a new teacher soon. Also, Bubble mentioned that you were getting married. Can I guess who the poor fellow is?”

“Willis,” Maddie called out. “Bubble said so.”

Willis wagged his eyebrows at Eva. “Bubble is right again.”

Danny handed his melting cone to Eva. “Brother Yoder, I’d like to talk to you about a teaching position. Have you considered hiring a man?”

“Having a man as a teacher is most unusual.” Samuel stroked his beard. “But I will bring this to the attention of the school board.”

“Fine. And is your granddaughter Becca seeing anyone?”

Samuel frowned. “My granddaughter?”

“I was just curious. Come, I’ll walk you out.” The two men went out the door, leaving Eva and Willis with the three children.

Willis tipped his head toward the kitchen. “I have some explaining to do. Care to listen?”

She walked up to him and laid her hand on his cheek. “If you are sure you don’t mind?”

“I never want to keep secrets from you again.”

Willis took a deep breath and sat down at the table with his brothers and his sister. “You heard me tell Eva that I can’t read.”

“Is it true?” Maddie asked.

“It is.”

“But you read me stories at night sometimes.”

“I only look at the pictures in your book and I make up the story as I go along. I’m not reading.”

“You could have fooled me,” she declared and licked her ice cream.

He saw Eva struggling not to laugh. “I fooled