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

“It’s about Sam,” Jesse continued, as if sensing the other women’s interest.

A pulse of energy shot up from Becca’s toes. He wanted to talk to her about Sam. Maybe he was finally ready to make a plan with her to help the boy. Everyone knew she was the schoolteacher and that Sam didn’t talk. Not even to his school friends. She was duty bound to help the child in any way possible. What could be more natural than for Jesse to want to confer with his son’s teacher about the boy’s problem? But Jesse’s timing couldn’t be worse. Becca hated the thought that everyone in her Gmay might think there was something romantic going on between them. Because there wasn’t. No, not at all.

“Of course! I’d be happy to discuss Sam with you.” Giving an efficient nod, she quickly dried her hands and set the towel aside.

As Becca made her way over to the door, Lizzie Stoltzfus and Abby Fisher, her cousin’s wife, ducked their heads together to share a whispered comment. Even Julia Hostetler, who had been Englisch before her recent conversion and marriage into their faith, was grinning like a fool. Only old Marva Geingerich, who was almost ninety years old, was frowning with disapproval.

Had they all lost their minds? Becca had no romantic interest in Jesse King. None whatsoever. She hated the indifferent way he treated Sam. Even if he was handsome and tall as a church steeple, his brusque manner made it difficult for Becca to like him.

He lifted a hand for her to precede him as she stepped out into the sunshine. As she stood beneath the barren branches of a tall elm tree, the frosty wind sent a shiver through her that made her gasp and wish she’d grabbed her warm shawl on her way outside. Before she knew what was happening, Jesse had doffed his warm frock coat and swept it over her trembling shoulders. She instantly caught his scent, a warm clean smell of hay, horses and peppermint. He was gazing at her lavender dress and she looked down, wondering if she had spilled something on it.

“That’s a nice color on you. I’m sorry to bring you out here on such a cold day. I’ll try not to keep you very long,” he said.

She stared up at him, blinking in stunned amazement. All rational thought skipped right out of her head and she didn’t know what to say. Had he actually paid her a compliment? Maybe her ears had deceived her. “I, um, danke, but that really isn’t necessary.”

She forced herself to hand his coat back to him. Though she really was freezing, a glance at the house told her that Aunt Naomi and Sarah Yoder were both staring out the kitchen window at her. To make matters worse, they had most certainly watched as Jesse offered her his coat. No doubt it would be all over the Gmay by early evening that she and Jesse King were an item. And having been the focus of romantic gossip back in Ohio, that was the last thing Becca wanted here in Colorado.

Seeing the smiling women at the window, Jesse inclined his head and seemed to understand her dilemma. “I’m sorry if I’ve created trouble for you. That wasn’t my intention. I only wanted to ask if you know what is wrong with Sam.”

She folded her arms tightly as he put his coat back on. Licking her dry lips, she tried to concentrate on the subject at hand. “I’m not an expert but I believe he has what is called selective mutism.”

She briefly explained what she knew about the disorder and that she didn’t think Sam had any choice in the matter.

“His anxiety is so strong that he is literally scared silent. He’s not trying to be rude or mean or cause you problems. He couldn’t speak even if he wanted to,” she said.

Jesse frowned. “You think he’s too frightened to talk?”

She nodded. “Exactly. I know it must be a sensitive subject but I believe something about his mother and sisters’ deaths has created so much apprehension in Sam that he literally cannot talk anymore.”

Jesse looked down at the ground, scuffing one toe of his black boot against a small rock. “I was afraid of that. When I was in the library yesterday, I came across a couple of books on this topic but I haven’t yet had the opportunity to read much about it. I was planning to start reading the book you checked out for me later this evening.”

So. Maybe he really did want to help his son after all.

“From what I understand about the disorder, such children usually talk at home, where they feel more comfortable,” she said. “But at school or in other social situations where they feel uncomfortable or nervous, they are silent. And punishing the child or making him feel guilty for not speaking would only exacerbate the problem.”

Jesse’s forehead curved in a deep scowl. “But Sam doesn’t speak at home either.”

He sounded so forlorn that Becca didn’t have the heart to point out that Sam obviously didn’t feel comfortable inside the walls of his own house. She figured that was possibly Jesse’s fault. The boy must fear his own father. And whether that was because Sam felt guilt over his mother and sisters’ deaths or for some other reason, Becca couldn’t say.

“If you’re amenable, there are a few techniques we can try to help Sam.” She then launched into a rapid description of what those methods were. Last night, she’d done a lot of reading on the topic and put a great deal of thought into how they both might assist Sam with his problem. She’d even written up a plan of action last night. Things each of them might do to help Sam and techniques to measure Sam’s improvement. She was eager to share her ideas with Jesse in detail and