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

“I think you were the only applicant.”

She laughed and clasped a hand over her heart. “You have returned my ego to its normal size. How can I ever thank you?”

He smiled along with her. “We are blessed to have you.”

She leaned toward him slightly. “We will have to wait until we have Bubble’s assessment of my teaching skills before jumping to any conclusions. Guten nacht, Willis Gingrich.”

“Good night, Teacher.”

She walked away into the darkness. He watched until he saw her enter her house across the way. There was something attractive about Eva Coblentz that had nothing to do with her face or her figure. She was the first woman in a long time who made him want to smile.

He went back inside the house. The children were still eating. He took his place at the head of the table, bowed his head for a silent prayer, then reached for a bread roll. It was still warm. He looked at Maddie. “What did you say to your teacher that made her bring food here tonight?”

Maddie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know.”

“You must have said something.” He took a bite of his roll.

Maddie had a whispered conversation with the empty chair next to her. She looked up and grinned at him. “Bubble says that she told teacher you need a wife who is a good cook.”

He started coughing. Otto pounded on his back while Harley rushed to give him a glass of water. When he could catch his breath, Willis stared at Maddie in shock. “Eva thinks I’m looking for a wife?”

Maddie nodded.

Willis hung his head. Nothing could be further from the truth. There was no way he could keep his secret from a wife. Even if he found the courage to reveal his handicap to a woman again, there was still one pressing reason he had to remain single.

Amish ministers and bishops were chosen by lot from the married men of the congregation. At baptism every Amish fellow vowed to accept the responsibility of becoming a minister of the faith if he should be chosen. What kind of preacher would he make if he couldn’t read the Word of God? The humiliation didn’t bear thinking about. He would remain a single fellow his entire life. That was God’s plan for him.

He turned his attention back to Maddie. “You were wrong to tell your teacher that I’m looking for a wife. I’m not. Now what am I supposed to do?”

Maddie lifted both hands. “Just tell her you don’t want a wife. How hard can that be?”

Chapter Three

Early the next morning Willis hurried to get the cabinet pulls installed on Eva’s desk and on the cupboards in the school. He glanced constantly toward the door, hoping she wouldn’t show up until after he was gone. He had no idea how he was going to face her. He tried to convince himself that it had simply been kindness that brought her over with a delicious supper last night and not because Maddie had said he was looking for a wife.

Maybe he shouldn’t even mention it except to thank her for the food. If he kept quiet, was he encouraging her or discouraging her? How could a six-year-old get him into hot water with her teacher in less than twenty-four hours?

He needed to make Eva understand that he wasn’t interested in marrying without hurting her feelings or embarrassing her. She wasn’t a giddy teenage girl. She seemed to be a mature and sensible woman. He would remember that and not beat around the bush with her. Maybe. Unless his courage failed him. These days it seemed in short supply.

He was fastening the final coat hooks in the cloakroom when he heard the outside door open. Maybe if he waited quietly she would go away without realizing he was in the building. So much for his courage.

He closed his eyes and listened for her footsteps. He heard her cross the room and open the drawers of her desk one by one. After a few minutes he heard her crossing the room again. Was she leaving? He held his breath.

“There you are. Goot morning, Willis. I didn’t think you were about.”

He opened his eyes. She was smiling at him from the doorway of the cloakroom. His heart sank. His courage had deserted him for certain. He couldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m almost finished here. I’ll get out of your way as soon as I can.”

“You’re not in my way.”

He concentrated on installing the next hook. Only three more to go. “I know you must have work to do. Don’t let me keep you from it.” How did a man broach the subject of not looking for a wife like a rational adult?

“Is something wrong?”

“Nee.” He pulled another screw from the large front pocket of his leather apron but fumbled the thing. It dropped and rolled across the floor to her feet.

She picked it up and held it out in her hand. “Maybe it’s just my imagination but you seem upset.”

“Nope.” He snatched the screw from her palm. “Danki.”

“Well, then, I’ll let you finish so you can get home to your family. Please tell Maddie that I said hello.”

He turned to face Eva. “I’m not looking for a wife.”

Her eyebrows rose. She tipped her head slightly. “Okay.”

“I know Maddie led you to believe that I am, but I’m not.” His neck felt as hot as his forge.

“What makes you think Maddie gave me that impression?”

“You know. The supper you brought over.” He rubbed his damp palms on the sides of his apron.

Her eyebrows drew together, creating a tiny crease between them. “I’m sorry, I still don’t understand.”

“Maddie told you I was looking for a wife who was a good cook.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, and you think I brought you supper to prove I had the culinary skills you are looking for? Sort of an audition for the position?” She covered her face with both hands and burst out laughing.

It dawned on Willis