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

this home. The way he wished his house could be. With time, he hoped he could make a comfortable place for him and Sam to live again. But they’d always be lonely.

Dawdi Zeke beckoned to Sam, enticing the boy to sit on the couch beside him. The elderly man held out a piece of peppermint candy. Sam took it into his hand but didn’t say thank you.

A subtle movement across the room caused Jesse to lift his head. Becca Graber stood there, wiping her hands on her apron. Jakob stood behind her with his wife and mother. Jesse could see the curiosity in their eyes. As a new widower, he was highly aware of his marriage eligibility. In fact, Bishop Yoder had just reminded him at church that they had several attractive young women in the Gmay who needed husbands. Becca was one of them. But Jesse wasn’t interested. He knew as an Amish man that it was his duty to remarry and bring more children into the world. To work and live and raise a good familye who loved Gott. But Jesse didn’t want to marry again. He couldn’t even think about replacing Alice. Not when his love for her was still so strong.

Naomi Fisher eyed him like a hawk eyed a field mouse. He knew they were all wondering what he was doing here. It was already dark outside and he should be home, putting Sam to bed. In a glance, Jesse took in Becca’s flushed cheeks, startling blue eyes and flustered expression. Tendrils of golden hair had escaped her kapp. She looked beautiful and a warning tingle slid down the column of his spine. All his senses ratcheted into high alert and his common sense told him to leave right now.

Becca stepped over to one of the soft chairs and sat down before smoothing her apron over her knees. “Mr. King, what can I do for you?”

Here it was. The big question.

Jakob and Abby still hovered near the open doorway with Dawdi Zeke still on the couch, and Jesse was suddenly at a loss for words. They could hear everything. Maybe he shouldn’t have come here. Maybe he should have waited to speak with Becca until he picked Sam up from school tomorrow afternoon. But he feared by then he would have lost his courage.

He cleared his throat. “Miss Graber, I’m sorry for the interruption. I was hoping I could speak with you for just a few minutes about Sam. In private, please.”

Okay, he’d gotten that much out. But his words caused another stir as Jakob and the other two women sought to move away from the doorway.

“I’ll see if Reuben and Ruby are ready for bed yet.” Abby climbed the stairs, her skirts swishing as she went.

“And I better go read them a bedtime story,” Jakob said, following after his wife.

Dawdi Zeke came to his feet with a bit of difficulty and took Sam’s hand.

“How about if you and I go see if there’s any apple pie left over from supper?” The elderly man spoke to the boy as he hobbled toward the kitchen.

Sam went with the elderly man. He didn’t speak but his eyes sparkled and he nodded eagerly. Jesse wasn’t surprised. With Alice gone, they rarely enjoyed anything sweet at home. A slice of pie would be a real treat for the child. Even Jesse’s mouth watered at the thought.

Naomi welcomed the boy into her kitchen with a cheery voice. “Hallo, Samuel. There’s plenty of pie to eat. Have you had your supper yet?”

Sam nodded but Jesse knew his son could eat again. The cold beans and burnt corn bread Jesse had prepared earlier hadn’t done much to appease either of their appetites. Their stomachs were full but the meal had left a lot to be desired.

“Ach, and how about if I send an apple pie home with you and your vadder to enjoy tomorrow? You can eat it at your leisure and have some left over for the next day too,” Naomi said.

Jesse almost smiled at that but didn’t want to betray his eagerness. At this point, an apple pie seemed like a feast. This house smelled of pine needles and a delicious supper and his stomach rumbled in spite of having already eaten.

“Won’t you sit down?” Becca invited with a lift of her hand.

He sat opposite her on the sofa, perched there as he set his hat on the coffee table. She folded her hands primly in her lap, her blue eyes unblinking as she gazed at him expectantly.

“Ach, so what did you want to speak with me about?” Her voice sounded calm and soothing, not at all perturbed by his unexpected visit.

Here it was. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t move or breathe. Afraid to upset her. Afraid she’d say no. After all, he’d been rather rude to her in the past. Maybe he’d already burned his bridges with this woman. Maybe her offer to help him with Sam was gone.

“Ahem, I... I’ve been thinking about what you’ve suggested, with Sam. I mean, I’ve been reading the book you checked out for me and realize his problem isn’t going away anytime soon.”

He paused, taking a deep breath as he tried to gather his thoughts. She inclined her head but waited patiently, her gaze never leaving his face.

“I don’t want Sam to grow up and not be able to speak,” he continued. “I want him to have a gut future. I’m at my wits’ end and don’t know what to do to help him. Please. Will you work with him?”

There. He’d gotten his request out in one long breath. He hated to beg but that’s what he’d do if it meant Sam could talk and be normal again.

“I would love to help,” she said immediately.

It took a moment for his mind to digest what she’d said. And when he did, her words put him instantly at ease.

“You would?” He could hardly believe it. He was beyond relieved.

“Ja, you already know