The Amish Teacher's Dilemma and Healing Their Amish Hearts by Patricia Davids (best chinese ebook reader TXT) 📗

stepped inside and sat on the seat, he was shivering and his teeth chattered. Patches wasn’t in much better shape. The little dog gave a good shake to get the water off before curling next to her side.

“You’re both frozen clear through.” She reached for the warm quilt her cousin kept stowed on the back seat. After draping it over Sam and Patches, she tucked the edges around them both before rubbing the boy’s arms briskly.

“What are you doing so far from home in this storm?” she asked, not really expecting an answer.

He glanced up, his big, brown eyes filled with so much misery that she made a sad little sound in the back of her throat. Before she could stop herself, she pulled him close for a tight hug. After a moment, she released him and clicked to the horse to walk on.

“Ach, it can’t be all that bad, can it? Did you run away from home?” she asked as she drove the horse through the driving rain.

The boy sat close beside her and she was half-surprised when he gave a slight nod. Oh, no! She hated the thought of Jesse and Sam having trouble between them.

“Did you have a disagreement with your vadder?” she asked.

He stared down at Patches and gave another nod.

She hesitated, wondering what she could say to make the situation easier.

“Your vadder loves you very much. You know that, don’t you?” she asked.

He tossed her a doubtful glare and shook his head. Her heart gave a powerful squeeze. For some reason, it hurt her to think that Sam doubted his father’s affection.

“Sometimes it isn’t easy to honor our eldre but it’s a commandment from Gott. Your vadder knows what’s best for you and you must obey him in all things,” she said.

Sam’s forehead crinkled and he stared out the window, at the sheets of water blanketing the buggy. It wasn’t long before they arrived at Jesse’s farm but he wasn’t there. Maybe he was out looking for Sam.

Becca stowed her horse and buggy inside the barn, then hurried to the house with Sam and Patches. While she got a towel to dry off the dog, she sent Sam upstairs to change out of his damp clothes. Then, she built up the fire in the stove. Since it was late afternoon, she took the liberty of fixing Sam something to eat. She found a pound of ground beef in the refrigerator and made a quick casserole. The boy wolfed down the hot food, which told her he hadn’t eaten in a while. She also fed the puppy, satisfied when both of them were warm again.

An hour later, the rain let up and Jesse came home. The moment he stepped inside the kitchen, his gaze riveted on Sam. The boy still sat at the table, sipping a cup of hot chocolate. Patches lay on the floor beside the warm stove.

Without a word, Jesse knelt beside Sam and scooped the boy into his arms to hold him close for several long moments. This action alone told Becca he was beyond relieved to find the boy safe. It displayed Jesse’s fear and love for his son more than anything else could. But then, Jesse drew back and clutched Sam’s upper arms as he gazed into his eyes. Becca could see that Jesse was cold and angry. No doubt he’d been outside in the rain for quite a long time, looking for his son.

“I’ve been so worried about you. Where have you been?” Jesse asked, his eyes narrowed on the boy.

Sam stared at his hands folded in his lap, his cup of hot chocolate ignored.

“I found him and Patches walking alone along the side of the road. I was worried because they were out in the freezing rain, so I brought them home,” Becca supplied.

Jesse gave a stiff nod. “Danke for bringing them home.”

“You’re willkomm.” She spoke in a cheery voice, hoping to alleviate some of the tension in the air.

It didn’t help. Jesse rounded on Sam again, his face tense with annoyance. He swept his black felt hat off his head and tossed it onto the table before wiping his damp face with an impatient hand. Like his son, his cheeks were pink from the cold and his heavy wool coat was soaked clear through.

“Do you know how worried I was when I found you missing? I had to leave my work and spent most of the afternoon searching for you. I don’t have time to go traipsing all over the valley looking for you because you’d rather read your books than do your morning chores. It is not right for you to throw a temper tantrum and run away.”

Standing in front of the sink, Becca held very still. Was that what this was all about? Sam had been reading instead of doing his work? Oh, dear. No wonder Jesse was upset. Any Amish father would feel the same way. A disobedient son who didn’t do his chores put the entire familye at risk. Jesse would be derelict in his parental duties if he didn’t reprimand the boy.

“Go to your room now and get ready for bed. I’ll be up to collect your books in a few minutes. Except for school and bedtime, there will be no reading in this house for a week,” Jesse said.

Something cold gripped Becca’s heart. Would Jesse really ground the boy from reading for an entire week?

Sam nodded in obedience as he slid out of his chair and left the room in a rush. Patches padded after him. When they were gone, Becca looked at Jesse, finding his expression grim and forbidding.

“Surely you won’t keep the boy from reading, will you? He’s been making such great progress. It’s his one true enjoyment,” she said in a quiet voice.

He looked at her as if he had forgotten she was there. “He’s got to learn that work comes before pleasure. He’s reading so much that it’s interfering with his chores on the farm. He didn’t do