The Courtship Basket by Amy Clipston

ENEWED GUILT WASHED OVER R ACHEL AS SHE WROTE THE class schedule on the dry-erase board the next morning. She’d tossed and turned most of last night as she remembered the anguish in Mike’s eyes when he shared all the stress he faced daily. She longed to go back and relive the events of yesterday so she could take it all back.
    If only she’d listened to Malinda and not gone to visit Mike. Now she’d made her relationship with him worse. How could she and Mike possibly work together to help John when she had offended him?
    When she’d arrived home yesterday, she thought about telling her mother what had happened, but she was too embarrassed. How could she admit her stubbornness and quick temper had gotten the best of her again? She’d broken the rules and jeopardized her job. But, worst of all, she’d hurt Mike Lantz, who was already carrying enough stress on his shoulders. The last thing she needed to do was add to the poor man’s troubles.
    “I think we should encourage the students to read on their own today and then have them summarize aloud what they read to test their comprehension. Do you think that’s a gut idea?” Malinda lifted a stack of reading books and began to place them on the students’ desks.
    “ Ya , that sounds like a great idea.” Rachel fingered the marker in her hand as she watched Malinda distribute the books. It was time to tell Malinda the truth. After all, Malinda would find out what Rachel had done when the school board chairman came to visit them and fired Rachel.
    “I need to tell you something,” she blurted.
    “What?” Malinda faced her.
    “I didn’t listen to your advice yesterday.” Rachel placed the marker in the small tray below the board. “I did exactly what you told me not to do.”
    “What are you talking about?” Malinda’s expression clouded with puzzlement.
    “Yesterday you told me not to go talk to Mike Lantz.” Rachel’s stomach tightened as Malinda gaped at her. “I should’ve listened to you, but like you said, I’m too stubborn for my own gut .”
    “ Ach , no.” Malinda shook her head. “Tell me you’re joking. You didn’t really break the rules again, did you, Rachel?” When Rachel didn’t respond, Malinda glowered.
    Rachel swallowed. “I did, and I’m very sorry.”
    Malinda groaned as she sank into Luke King’s chair. “What happened?”
    Rachel explained how she’d gone to visit the Lantz farm and then went to Bird-in-Hand Builders. She detailed her conversation with Mike, and as Malinda listened her eyes darkened with a combination of disappointment and anger.
    “I never should have done it,” Rachel said, her voice trembling with both guilt and shame. “I realize now I did more harm than gut .”
    Frowning, Malinda bent her arm on the desktop and then rested her chin on her palm. “You have no idea how hard I’ve worked to build a gut relationship with the parents and the school board, and you managed to undo that in one conversation.”
    “I’m so sorry.” Rachel dropped onto the desk chair beside Malinda.
    “I know you’re sorry.” Malinda wiped her hand across her face. “But that doesn’t change the fact that Mike Lantz could complain to the school board chairman and get you fired.”
    “I know,” Rachel said softly. “He said he might.”
    Malinda glared at Rachel. “What were you thinking?”
    “I wasn’t thinking clearly. You know how I get when I’m focused on something. I was completely fixated on working with Mike to help John.”
    “You could have done that without accusing him of neglecting John.” Malinda sat up straight and wagged a finger at Rachel. “That’s what the journal is for. We’re supposed to write in the journal and communicate with the parents that way, not by visiting them at work or home.”
    “I know.” Rachel studied the toes of her black shoes. “I’m going to make this right.”
    “How can you possibly do that?” Malinda asked, looking skeptical.
    “I’ll write a