Katie's Journey to Love by Jerry S. Eicher Read Free Book Online Page A

turned to the floor and her face was expressionless. No doubt she was thinking of teacher Ruth, and wishing she was sitting on the couch beside Joel instead of Mamm .
    Ruth Troyer might be able to run a household better than Mamm and even bake better pecan pies—like the ones Ruth brought over in her attempt to capture Jesse’s heart—but Mamm had succeeded in capturing his attention where Ruth had failed. Not that Mamm had tried. She was just better at such things than even she knew.
    Jesse interrupted Katie’s thoughts. “So let’s pray and thank Da Hah for our many blessings tonight. And then you women can get back to your dishes.” Jesse got down on his knees.
    They all followed. Katie buried her face in her hands. Jesse hadn’t mentioned a word about the trouble they were having with Mabel, but perhaps he didn’t know. He does care about me , Katie reminded herself. He has welcomed me into his home . He’d made his feelings known before the wedding, and she would always be able to depend on him. Jesse thought Mamm the best thing to happen in his life in a long time. He’d said some man would someday think the same thing about her. Ben Stoll, perhaps, Katie added. If he ever really noticed her.
    â€œGreat Father in heaven,” Jesse was praying, his voice muffled by the rocking chair, “You who made the worlds and all that is in them, hear tonight the feeble sound of our voices. We lift themin thanksgiving to You. How great are the things You have given us. First of all, we give thanks for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came down to this earth to walk among us. Your care and compassion for our lost souls is more than we can ever understand. You have shared with us love from Your own heart, and then from each of our hearts to each other. This is a great gift that we can never give sufficient thanks for. You have also given me Emma for my frau and to be a mamm for my children. And You have given me a love to fill the emptiness of my heart. Truly You have said that it is not gut that man should be alone.”
    Jesse continued on, giving thanks for many other blessings Da Hah had given them all. Katie pressed back the tears. She had much to be thankful for in a daett like Jesse, and she would have to try even harder to understand and get along with Mabel. Now if Da Hah would only grant her heart’s desire and bless her with Ben’s affections. But that might never happen, and she had to accept that. How much it would hurt if Ben began seeing another woman! Katie wanted Ben to bring her home from the Sunday night hymn singing someday. She wanted him to ask if he could come back again for another evening after that. And someday she wanted him to ask her if she would be his frau . She wanted it very badly. Katie took a deep breath and calmed herself. She had to get control of her emotions. Apparently Mamm ’s warning about Ben being a lot like her Daniel wasn’t that far off target. But she wouldn’t act like Mamm had, Katie declared silently. Even if Ben never paid her any serious attention, somehow Da Hah would continue to give her grace. He had so far, hadn’t He?
    â€œAmen,” Jesse said, as if answering her silent question. Katie got to her feet along with the rest. She hid her face for a moment to surreptitiously wipe her eyes. Hopefully Mabel wasn’t looking. A quick glance toward the girl showed she was already disappearing into the kitchen.
    â€œYou can dry the dishes,” Mabel told Katie when she walked into the kitchen. Mabel tossed her a towel. Katie tried to smile, standing off to the side as Mabel took center stage at the sink. Mabel washed with a flourish, the soapsuds soon rising high. Mamm came in and scraped the skillets without saying a word. Carolyn soon appeared and helped Katie dry.
    â€œSo what did you do today?” Carolyn asked, looking up at Katie.
    â€œShe works at Byler’s,” Mabel snapped,