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

leaky roof and broken fence posts. Then you’ll be ready to buy the livestock you need. And later, the women have prepared a nice lunch for us all to enjoy. We’re here at your disposal, so use us well.”

Jesse frowned and Becca held her breath. He hesitated, looking at all of them. They waited. No one said a word. But it was obvious they were hoping he would agree. Finally, it was Dawdi Zeke who broke the silence.

“Ach, of course he’ll use us. We’re here to work and that’s what we’ll do.” The elderly man hobbled over to the back of the wagon and lifted out a silver toolbox. Without waiting for an invitation, he shambled toward the house.

“Where’s your ladder?” he called over his shoulder in a commanding voice.

That spurred everyone into action. The men and Reuben hurried after him while the women gathered up their paintbrushes. Sam stayed close beside Becca. He clicked his fingers and the puppy scampered after him. She was surprised to see that he’d trained the dog to follow him with just a snap of his fingers.

“Jakob, don’t let your dawdi up on that roof,” Aunt Naomi called to her son.

At the age of ninety-six, Dawdi Zeke was too old and frail to be climbing any ladders. Naomi looked so concerned that Jakob tugged on his grandfather’s arm.

“Dawdi, I don’t want you up on that roof. Mamm would skin me alive if you fell and got hurt,” Jakob said.

Zeke simply laughed. “Ach, of course I’m not going up, though I’ve been on more roofs than you can shake a stick at. But those days are long gone now. I’ll stay safely on the ground and hand you up the wood and shingles you’ll need.”

“Gut. That will really help us out. Then we won’t have to climb down as often and you can supervise things on the ground,” Jesse said.

He sounded so positive that Becca wondered if he’d just needed friendship to open him up to the man he really was inside...to smile and be happy again. Either way, it was quite nice of Jesse to look out for her grandfather. It told her that he was considerate and respectful of the old man.

Dawdi Zeke clapped a hand on Jesse’s shoulder and nodded with approval. His gray eyes danced with a zest for life and that’s when Jesse smiled wide. It was infectious. Everyone felt happy today. Becca knew work frolics were like that. They were always a lot of fun. An opportunity to serve others and accomplish some worthwhile tasks for someone else. Knowing they could visit while they worked and that a nice meal awaited them was all the reward they needed.

“Komm on, let’s get to work,” Naomi called to the women and girls.

Carrying the baby and a bucket of paint, Becca followed them inside the house. Sam scurried after her, the puppy clambering at his heels. The boy didn’t speak but he held up a forbidding hand and made Patches stay outside. Becca could see why. The dog’s paws were muddy and would dirty the floors. She was delighted to see that Sam had a new friend and was actively training the little pup.

Becca almost told Sam to join the men. After all, he should learn from the hands of his father what he should do. But then she thought better of it. Maybe the boy needed a little more time to grow more confident. Later, once he was speaking regularly again, then he could join Jesse and the other men.

Since she’d been here before, Becca showed Naomi and Abby what needed to be done. Ruby was given the chore of tending the baby and fetching things for them now and then. With her arms free, Becca was able to set to work, helping to clean the house thoroughly from stem to stern. Sam helped all he could, scrubbing, fetching and carrying.

The women painted the living room first, the kitchen second and then the bathroom. As they finished removing the plastic drop cloths from the wooden floors, Becca and Abby carried in the large rag rugs with Sam’s help. The heavy braids weaved together were big but looked absolutely lovely in the middle of the living room floor. Becca admired the colorful pattern for just a moment, thinking how pleased Jesse would be to have something warm beneath his bare feet. Then, she turned away. Hochmut was the pride of the world and something the Amish shunned. She must not allow herself to dwell on such things.

Their afternoon work would see them finish painting the three bedrooms upstairs, while Naomi measured and hand-stitched some modest curtains for the bare windows.

Now, it was time for lunch. Becca’s stomach growled loudly as she wondered how the morning had passed so quickly. She stepped into the kitchen to lay out their noon meal, still able to hear the other women’s jolly voices coming from the living room.

“Many hands make light work,” Aunt Naomi answered her unasked question. “Look at what we’ve accomplished already. Jesse and Sam will be much more comfortable in their house after this. Those poor dears. I can’t imagine how awful it’s been, living here without Sam’s mudder to love and care for them. A home needs a woman’s touch, and that’s all. Too bad our Becca isn’t interested in marrying the man.”

From the open doorway, Becca saw Abby surveying the empty living room as she sat in a rocking chair with Chrissie. “Ach, it’s still a very empty house but at least it’s clean now. And Becca could have any man she wanted. She’d make a real catch for some gut Amish man.”

“Ja, she would. The house is definitely much more cheerful now. Those filthy walls made me want to shudder. And it was time for Jesse to make friends. We’re his neighbors and his brothers and sisters in the faith. It’s time for him to be a part of our Gmay,” Naomi said.

As she lifted the heavy basket that contained