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

others. As a father, he owed that to his little boy. He owed it to Alice and to his Gott too. He must not quit. Not now, not ever. The Savior would want him to forgive and keep going. Surely Sam would start to talk again on his own. If they just left him alone, the boy would figure it out and speak again. Wouldn’t he?

Feeling overwhelmed by his convictions, Jesse leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He stared at the growing light of day until the sun became a golden ring of light and his eyes burned and his vision blurred. And then, as the grief washed over him in a fresh wave of pain, he bowed his head, cupped his face in his hands, and wept.

He was watching her again. Becca felt Jesse King’s eyes on her even before she turned and looked at him. Sitting on the hard, backless bench, she tried to concentrate on what the minister was saying. It was Sunday morning, a bright, crisp day that was perfect for worship services. For several minutes, she focused on the preaching. Quoting Psalms 127, Jeremiah Beiler’s voice was filled with emotion as he described children as a heritage from God who should be loved and cherished.

Looking up, Becca saw Jesse gazing intently at the minister. Jesse’s forehead was furrowed in a slight frown, his eyes crinkled in thought. Hmm. Maybe he should remember that Sam should be valued instead of being brushed off as a bother.

At that moment, Jesse tilted his head and his eyes clashed, then locked with hers. She looked away, her face heating up with embarrassment. She’d encouraged him to let her help with Sam’s speech problem and he’d refused. She’d do what she could for the boy during school hours but she couldn’t force Jesse to listen to her. He had to take the next step. She just hoped that was soon before Sam was too old and set in his ways to start talking again.

“What’s going on between you and Jesse King?” Naomi Fisher asked Becca later as they cleaned up after the noon meal.

Naomi was Becca’s aunt and had helped her get this teaching position in Riverton. Knowing how Becca’s heart had been broken by Vernon, Naomi had written her in January to ask if she might like to stay with her and work as the teacher until the school year ended in May. Longing for a chance to escape Vernon and Ruth’s happy preparations for their marriage, Becca had jumped at the chance.

“What do you mean?” Becca asked.

Standing in the kitchen at the bishop’s home, she washed another plate and set it in the dish drain. Aunt Naomi promptly picked it up to dry with a long, white cloth.

“I saw you two looking at each other during the meetings. You are lovely and he is a handsome widower. I’m not surprised he might be interested in you,” Naomi said.

Becca snorted. “Believe me, Jesse King is far from interested. I’ve simply offered to assist Sam with his speaking problem and the man refuses to be helped.”

Though she spoke low so the numerous other women working around them wouldn’t hear her words, Becca couldn’t prevent a note of irritation from entering her voice.

“I’m sure he’s still hurting,” Naomi said. “You know he lost his wife and two young daughters in a house fire a year ago.”

“Ja, I know all about it. But it’s no excuse to ignore Sam’s needs,” Becca said.

“Ach, did you also know it was Sam who started the fire?”

Becca gasped and turned to stare at her aunt. “Ne, I didn’t know that. Are you sure?”

Naomi shrugged and set the clean plate aside before picking up another one to dry. “Since I wasn’t there, I’m not sure of anything. But that’s what Sarah Yoder said.”

Sarah was the bishop’s wife and would be privy to such private information like that.

“I’m surprised Sarah would tell you something so personal. It sounds like gossip to me,” Becca whispered low.

Naomi drew her shoulders back, her expression filled with dignity. “She wasn’t gossiping at all, I can assure you. I accidentally overheard her talking to Bishop Yoder about it right after Jesse and his son moved here to Riverton. She didn’t know I was there listening and I haven’t spoken about it since. I have only told you because you’re my niece and I think the information might help you to resolve Sam’s problem. The poor child. Losing his mamm and sisters so young. No wonder the little lamb doesn’t speak. And no wonder Jesse is so sullen all the time. I feel bad for him, having to carry such a horrible burden on his shoulders.”

Yes, no wonder. But knowing that Sam had started the house fire changed everything and nothing. He still needed help. And soon. Was it possible that Jesse was angry with his son for starting the fire? Did Jesse hold a grudge against his own son? Oh, it was too cruel. No wonder Sam didn’t speak. Knowing what he’d done, he must be wracked by guilt. And living with a father who blamed him for what happened must be more than Sam could bear. No doubt Jesse fought against his own guilt as well.

“Ahem, excuse me, ladies. I’m sorry to interrupt your work.”

Becca looked up, surprised to see Jesse King standing in the open doorway to the kitchen. And for the umpteenth time that day, her face flamed hotter than a bonfire. Had he overheard her and Aunt Naomi talking about him? Did he know how curious she was?

The room went deathly quiet. Sarah Yoder stepped away from the gas-powered oven and nodded pleasantly. Since this was her home, she was their hostess and responsible to see that everyone was comfortable.

“Hallo, Jesse. What can we help you with?” she asked.

His gaze drifted past the sea of smiling faces until it landed on Becca.

“I was hoping to speak with Miss Graber for a moment,” he said.

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