An Amish Match by Jo Ann Brown

ready.”
    â€œI was baptized, married and had a kind by the time I was his age.”
    She slowed her rocking to stop. “Each of us is different, Joshua. Daniel will make the right decision when it’s God’s will for him to do so.”
    â€œ Ja . Daniel is a gut man.” With a sigh he looked back at her. “I meant to ask you. Daniel was glad to have Levi help him this afternoon. He’d like Levi to come back a day or two each week if you can spare him.”
    â€œIt would be gut for Levi to learn more about what his onkel does.” She smiled as she began rocking again slowly and watched the lights from a car ripple through the trees along the road. “With only a few years of school left for him, he can learn about a craft he might want to pursue.”
    â€œMy thoughts exactly, but I don’t want him neglecting his chores here. The garden needs—”
    â€œDeborah, Sammy and I will take care of the garden. You don’t need to worry about it.”
    â€œI wasn’t.” He paused and looked everywhere but at her. “How did Sammy do today?”
    â€œHe spent the day exploring the house. Fortunately I was able to block the cellar door with a chair before he took it into his head to investigate down there.”
    Again he drew in a deep breath. “I know it may take time, but I wish he felt more comfortable around me.”
    â€œIt will take time.”
    â€œI know that, but I wish he wouldn’t cringe away in fear. Every time that happens, I feel like a horrible beast.”
    Was he still talking about Sammy, or was he referring to her reaction by the door? She must not ask.
    â€œSammy has had a lot of changes in his life over the past couple of days. He was too wound up today to take a nap, so he’s overly tired, too.”
    â€œAt least he’s happy to spend time with Deborah.”
    â€œAnd she with him.” She started to add more, but put her hand to the side of her belly when the boppli kicked. “Ouch!”
    â€œA strong one?” he asked.
    She smiled. “It kicks like a horse. Maybe it’s warning me that I won’t get much chance to sit once it’s born. When I’m busy, it’s quiet. As soon as I take a moment’s rest, it begins its footrace.”
    â€œDo you have names chosen?”
    She shook her head, not wanting to hear his next words. The ones everyone said. If it was a boy, surely she would name it for its late daed . How could she explain Lloyd was the last name she would select? Without being honest about the man he’d been, she would sound petty and coldhearted.
    â€œDon’t let the kinder know,” he said, startling her with his smile. “You’ll be bombarded with more name suggestions than you could use for a dozen litters of kittens. I doubt the names Mittens and Spot would be of much use to you.”
    She laughed honestly and freely. The sound burst out of a place within her she’d kept silent for so long she’d almost forgotten it existed. Tears teased the corners of her eyes. Not tears of pain or fear but tears of joy.
    â€œThat’s a nice sound,” he said, his smile growing wider. “It gives me hope that we’re going to make this marriage work better than either of us can guess right now.”
    â€œI hope so.”
    â€œAnd to that end...” He moved to the other rocking chair. When he began to ask about her daily schedule and if she wanted him to pick up the few groceries they’d need from his brother’s store or if she preferred to do the shopping herself, his questions showed he had many of the same anxieties she did, along with the determination to overcome them.
    She answered each question the best she could. She had some of her own, which he replied to with a smile. More than once he mentioned he was glad she had thought of some matter he hadn’t. His words made her feel part of the family, not an outsider