Mother For His Children, A by Jan Drexler

it.
    â€œSo, did Eliza suggest a solution?”
    John laced his fingers over his stomach and looked out the window again. “She did, but I’m not sure I like it.”
    â€œShe told you her idea to take Nellie and Nancy to live with her?”
    John nodded. “It’s a hard thing to contemplate separating children from their family, but she did have a point. Your children need a mother.”
    â€œ Ja, they do. But I’m not having much success in finding them one.”
    Clearing his throat, John lowered his voice even further. “You know how much I had hoped my Ellie would accept your proposal.”
    â€œBut that wasn’t God’s will.” Ellie Miller had been a convenient choice, but he didn’t love her. He would never have made her as happy as she was with Bram Lapp. “Now you can see why I hired Ruth Mummert, can’t you? I had expected her to be older, since she was a maidle and willing to move such a long distance, but she’s here now. I can’t very well send her home again, can I?”
    â€œI can see your point, but it’s still something the ministers will need to talk over. As pure as your intentions may be, we must avoid the appearance of evil.”
    â€œI’ll be sure to keep a distance between us. She’s a great help to me, with the girls and all. I treat her no differently than I would a hired farm worker.”
    John gave Levi’s shoulder a pat. “That’s what I would expect. You’ll let me know if anything changes?”
    The stone turned again in Levi’s gut. John was asking him to be accountable for his actions...and his thoughts. He would keep his distance from Ruth Mummert—he had to for his children’s sake. “ Ja, John, I will.”
    Levi’s eyes followed John as he moved through the big front room, opened to twice its normal size for the church meeting. The older man stopped to talk to several men as he made his way toward the kitchen, including Bram Lapp, his son-in-law. The man who had married Ellie Miller last fall had become a good friend, but what would he think about this matter with Ruth? Bram had spent twelve years living an Englisch life in Chicago—he had witnessed much worse situations than this...but the people there weren’t Amish. They weren’t living under the Ordnung.
    Ach, he was making a mountain out of nothing. Ruth was a lovely young woman. He ran his fingers through his beard. A young woman with the kinds of skills, strength and determination that made a good wife. He had to make sure he kept distance between them, for his family’s sake.
    Levi took a sip of his cooling coffee and stared at the cloud bank. If rumors started hinting that he had any romantic feelings for Ruth, Eliza would be sure to press the point with the ministers. He took another sip. He had to keep his children together, no matter what.
    * * *
    Ruthy was glad to take chubby Elias Beachey from Annie’s tired arms. The six-month-old sat happily on her lap while she visited with her new friends.
    â€œWas it hard to leave your home to come out here to Indiana?” asked Ellie Lapp, Annie’s sister-in-law.
    â€œSome.” Ruthy shoved her mind away from thoughts of Elam and Laurette. “I miss my mam and daed, but it’s an adventure, ja? ”
    â€œIt certainly would be, caring for Levi Zook’s ten children!”
    â€œThey aren’t so much work. They’re all gut children, and Waneta is such a big help.”
    Ellie nodded toward a quiet corner where Waneta was standing with a young man. “And with you to run the house, she may even have some time for courting.”
    Ruthy watched Waneta’s face as the young man spoke to her. She remembered feeling that way when she was sixteen, when she and Elam first started courting.
    â€œDo you know anything about that young man? Is he baptized yet?”
    Annie laughed and Ellie smiled at Ruthy. “ Ja,