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

dawned on Jesse. He hadn’t seen his son look this happy since before the house fire. Already, Becca had made a huge difference in Sam’s life.

By the time Jesse loaded his sleepy son into their buggy for the short drive home, he couldn’t help thinking that his familye used to be fun like this. They used to laugh and talk and eat pie together around the kitchen table. Oh, how he missed them all. How he missed the love and companionship they used to share.

How he missed Alice.

He had Becca to thank for today. She was so dynamic and outspoken, but also kind and generous. Because she was Sam’s teacher, she seemed to think she was entitled to make demands on Jesse and his time. The most irksome part was that she was right. Sam needed help. His father’s help.

Becca was pushy, insistent and giving. She was so different from his gentle, quiet, submissive Alice. Jesse just hoped Becca’s plan worked and Sam would soon start talking again. And as he drove them home through the cold night air, all of a sudden the world seemed to be filled with amazing possibilities.

Chapter Five

The following morning, Sam didn’t show up for school. They’d had another bad snowstorm in the night, so Becca thought perhaps Jesse couldn’t get his horse and buggy through the tall drifts that covered the dirt road leading from his farm. Since she lived just one mile away from his place, she knew the plows had been out early that morning to clear the county roads so the school buses with the Englisch kids could get to school safely. And that benefited the Amish too. But each farm had a dirt road that extended quite a way down and no one plowed that for them. Maybe tonight, she’d suggest to Jakob that he take his horses and sleigh over to Jesse’s place to help clear his driveway and road.

Two hours into the school day, she was standing in front of the chalkboard, helping the fourth-graders work through some particularly difficult arithmetic problems. The front door suddenly blasted open with a gust of chilly air. Becca whirled around and saw little Sam standing there with his father. Both of them were bundled up in heavy black coats, boots, knit caps, gloves and scarfs. While Jesse closed the door, the boy hurried over to the coatracks where he doffed his winter wear and hung it up. A quick glance at the other first-graders told him what subject they were working on as he slid into his seat and took out his penmanship book. And that’s when Becca saw his red eyes and tearstained face. The boy had obviously been crying. But why? What was the matter?

“I’m sorry we’re late. It couldn’t be helped.” Jesse lifted a hand as he spoke in Deitsch.

Under normal circumstances, Becca would have just smiled and welcomed Jesse and Sam to school. But the fact that Sam had been crying upset her. Setting the chalk aside, she walked over to Jesse and indicated she’d like him to accompany her outside where they could speak in private.

“Continue with your studies, please,” she called to the scholars before shutting the door against intrusion.

Standing on the front step, she faced Jesse, her emotions a riot of unease. “What has happened? Why is Sam so late?”

It was only when he responded that she realized she had also spoken in Deitsch. His and Sam’s sudden appearance had flustered her more than she liked to admit.

Jesse shrugged, not meeting her gaze. “Sam had a bad morning. He is all right now.”

“Are you sure? He looks distressed.” She spoke in Englisch this time, trying to remain professional.

“Ja, he is fine now.”

Hmm. His comment led her to believe it wasn’t the heavy drifts of snow that had caused Sam to cry. So, what had happened?

“Are you sure you’re up to bringing him home this afternoon after school? We got nine inches out at our place and I don’t want you stranded on the road somewhere,” Jesse said.

He acted like everything was completely normal, which confused her even more. Little six-year-old boys didn’t cry for no reason. Maybe she could find out what was the matter from Sam, although that might prove difficult since the boy didn’t talk.

“Ja, the sky is clear and the snow is melting now,” she said. “We shouldn’t have any more storms for several days. I should be able to bring Sam home and tutor him this afternoon without any problems.”

“Gut, I’ll see you then. I’ll watch for you and komm looking for you if you’re late arriving at my place.”

His words gave her a bit of comfort. It was nice to know someone was looking out for her in case she had trouble with her horse and buggy.

Jesse turned and walked down the steps, his long legs moving fast as he stepped around muddy areas where the snow had melted into puddles.

Rubbing her arms against the frigid air, Becca didn’t call him back or question him further. She had no right to interfere.

She returned to the classroom and discovered that the students hadn’t made much progress without her help. Lenore Schwartz, an eighth-grader, had just stepped in to offer assistance. With Becca’s arrival, Lenore handed over the piece of chalk and returned to her desk.

“Thank you, Lenore,” Becca called after the girl in a pleasant voice.

“You’re willkomm.” The girl nodded and smiled shyly.

Becca could tell some of the scholars were becoming more relaxed around her. After all, this was only her sixth day of teaching these kids. She was delighted to know they were starting to feel comfortable enough to step in and help the younger children.

“Let’s see, where are we?” Pressing a finger to her lips, Becca stepped up to the chalkboard and studied the problem once more.

She glanced at Susan Hostetler, one of the fourth-graders who was working this particular problem. Becca pointed at a specific area of the addition. “I think you’re getting hung up right