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

bedtime story to Sam. It had been a surprisingly pleasant task. Jesse had read one of the books Becca had brought them. Acting out the voices of each character, he’d made Sam smile several times. He’d even tried Becca’s tactic and asked the boy who was his favorite person in the story. But Sam hadn’t said a word. He’d simply pointed at the mother in the story and Jesse’s heart had filled with so much pain that he thought he’d cry right then and there in front of his son.

Sam missed Alice. So did Jesse. More than he could say. He loved her with all his heart, mind and strength. And he could not forget her. No, not ever.

Sam’s words spoken to Becca that evening hadn’t been much but, in his heart of hearts, Jesse had cheered loud and hard the moment he’d heard them. Finally. Finally, Sam had spoken again. And if he could do it twice, he could do it again. Surely the dam of silence had been broken open. The boy obviously felt comfortable and safe with Becca. But that didn’t matter to Jesse. Because other than educating Sam, Jesse must not let the pretty schoolteacher impact his emotions or his life any more than that. No, sirree. Not one single bit.

Chapter Seven

By Saturday morning, the skies had cleared to an azure blue. Rainstorms had all but dissipated the snow across the countryside, leaving the earth saturated and smelling of musty, damp soil. As Becca drove the horse and buggy over to Jesse’s farm, she didn’t care a bit. It was still early and, though she was glad the day was clear and free of wind for this outing, she was too happy and excited to worry about the weather.

Aunt Naomi and her eight-year-old granddaughter, Ruby, sat beside Becca on the seat. On her lap, Naomi held her sixteen-month-old granddaughter, Chrissie. Jakob, his wife, Abby, and Dawdi Zeke rode in a horse-drawn wagon behind them, with ten-year-old Reuben in the back. A sense of exhilaration swarmed Becca’s chest when she considered the surprise they were about to offer Jesse and Sam. The buggy and wagon were laden with a nice lunch, hand tools, buckets of off-white paint and brushes, three large rag rugs that Aunt Naomi didn’t need anymore, and plain muslin cloth to make curtains for Jesse’s windows.

Dressed in a black chambray shirt, Jesse was just crossing from the barn to his house when they pulled into his graveled driveway. When he saw the long entourage, he stopped and stared with wide eyes and a crinkled forehead. At the noisy rattle of the harness and wagon, Sam came running from the chicken coop. Becca was startled to see a little black-and-white puppy bounding at the boy’s heels. Like his father, Sam gaped in surprise at the buggy and wagon. But when he saw Becca, he grinned and ran straight toward her.

“Guder mariye.” Dawdi Zeke waved a wrinkled hand in the air. Jakob hopped down off the wagon first, then reached up a supporting arm to help his wife and the elderly man down off the high seat.

“Guder daag,” Jesse greeted them, a heavy dose of curiosity filling his eyes.

Becca had stepped out of the buggy and greeted Sam.

“Hallo! Do you have a new puppy?” she asked, eyeing the little furball who gave several shrill barks.

Sam nodded and picked up the mutt, snuggling it close beneath his chin.

“What have you named it?” she asked.

Sam looked down and scuffed his booted feet against the damp gravel. He glanced nervously at Naomi, who still sat in the buggy.

“Patches.” Jesse spoke nearby, looking a bit embarrassed. “I suggested he name the dog after the story in his book, and he acknowledged that he liked that.”

Becca smiled up at him. “Ach, so you got him a dog. I’m glad. I’m sure that pleased Sam.”

It was a statement, not a question. And she couldn’t have been happier. This gesture more than anything showed her what a kind, loving father Jesse really was inside. He’d been hurt and seemed all gruff and disapproving but Becca was quickly learning otherwise.

She reached into the buggy to take the baby while Aunt Naomi and Ruby hopped down. As the men spoke together, her ears were tuned to every bit of conversation going on around her. A feeling of happiness hummed inside of her. Last night at supper, Aunt Naomi had suggested they have a work project today, to help Jesse and his son. And the entire familye had agreed it would be fun, as well as beneficial to the King familye. Becca had concurred.

When she turned around, she caught Jesse staring at her. Something in his eyes told her he was both irritated and glad to see them here. His gaze swept over her, taking in the domestic scene as she cuddled Chrissie close in her arms. Suddenly, Becca felt out of sorts and a rush of heat stained her face. She hoped he didn’t think this was her idea and she was being forward. Though she’d been over to his farm three times this past week to tutor Sam, she didn’t want Jesse to believe she was interested in him romantically. Because she wasn’t. No, absolutely not.

Deciding to let the men take the lead, she bounced the baby on her hip and waited.

“What brings you here to my place so early on a Saturday morning?” Jesse asked Jakob and Dawdi Zeke.

Jakob stepped forward to explain, his smile wide, his tone filled with a pleasantness that none of them could deny. “You’ve been a member of our Gmay for over three months now. Though you’ve never asked any of us for help, we understand you need some repairs done around your place. We know you can do the work over time, but it’s winter now and some of the chores should be done immediately. If you’ll allow us to assist you, the women will paint the inside of your house while us men repair your