hear tell he’s got marrying on his mind, and word has it you’re the man’s first choice.”
John stepped onto the porch. “Guder mariye, ladies,” he said with a nod in Barbara’s direction.
“Morning, Bishop Frey,” the women said in unison.
He gave his beard a quick tug. “You’re looking tired today, Barbara. Are you sure you don’t want me to send one of my girls over to your place to help out?”
She smiled, but it appeared to be forced. “I’m managing, but I’ll let you know if I should need anything.”
“All right, then. I’ll be around to call on you again soon.” He took a few steps closer to Barbara. “Oh, by the way, I spoke to Margaret Hilty the other day, and she said she’d be happy to help with your garden. She and some other women will come over next week to help.”
“I appreciate that.”
John shifted his weight from one foot to the other while clearing his throat. After a few awkward moments, he glanced over at Faith. “How are things with you and Noah these days?”
“We’re doing fine. Noah’s keeping busy with his job, and I keep busy with things at home.”
“It’s always good to be busy. Jah, real good.” He shuffled his feet a few more times, then looked back at Barbara. “Well, I’d best be getting inside now. Service will be starting soon.” With a quick nod, he left.
From where Paul sat on the men’s side of the room, he had a perfect view of Barbara Zook. She looked serene, sitting on the bench, cradling her infant son. A deep yearning welled up in Paul’s chest, just as it had that afternoon in Barbara’s kitchen. Had he made a mistake thinking marriage wasn’t for him? Should he lookfor a wife when he returned to Pennsylvania? Only problem was, he wasn’t interested in anyone back there. No other woman had affected him the way Barbara had, yet his attraction to her made no sense. Whenever they were in the same room, he either felt uncomfortable or irritated with her criticism.
Paul forced his gaze away from Barbara and tried to focus on Bishop Frey’s sermon.
“ ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.’ Psalm 127:3–5,” the bishop read from the Bible he held. “And chapter 128, verse 1, says, ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.’ ” He smiled. “Be fruitful and multiply and be blessed.”
Paul shifted uncomfortably. Were the bishop’s words directed at him? Was God speaking through John Frey, telling Paul he should get married and raise a family and that by so doing, he would be blessed? He thought about his conversation with Noah Hertzler the other day. Noah had mentioned the bishop’s interest in Barbara. Maybe the man’s sermon was directed at himself. Could be that John thought if he took another wife and had more children, he would be twice blessed. That wife could turn out to be Barbara Zook.
I’ve got to quit thinking about this , Paul reprimanded himself. If the bishop should marry Barbara, it’s none of my business. She has the right to choose whomever she pleases . He shuddered. Then why does the idea of her becoming the bishop’s wife make me feel so miserable?
After the noon meal, Barbara put the baby and Zachary down for naps. She stared at her youngest son, sleeping peacefully on his side, and a lump formed in her throat. She knew she was more protective of him than she had been with her other three. Maybe it was because this little guy would never know the wonderful man for whom he’d been named. Or maybe her own insecurities caused her to feel overly protective. Ever since David had been snatched away so suddenly, Barbara had been a little paranoid. What if something bad happened to one of her children? What if she died and
John stepped onto the porch. “Guder mariye, ladies,” he said with a nod in Barbara’s direction.
“Morning, Bishop Frey,” the women said in unison.
He gave his beard a quick tug. “You’re looking tired today, Barbara. Are you sure you don’t want me to send one of my girls over to your place to help out?”
She smiled, but it appeared to be forced. “I’m managing, but I’ll let you know if I should need anything.”
“All right, then. I’ll be around to call on you again soon.” He took a few steps closer to Barbara. “Oh, by the way, I spoke to Margaret Hilty the other day, and she said she’d be happy to help with your garden. She and some other women will come over next week to help.”
“I appreciate that.”
John shifted his weight from one foot to the other while clearing his throat. After a few awkward moments, he glanced over at Faith. “How are things with you and Noah these days?”
“We’re doing fine. Noah’s keeping busy with his job, and I keep busy with things at home.”
“It’s always good to be busy. Jah, real good.” He shuffled his feet a few more times, then looked back at Barbara. “Well, I’d best be getting inside now. Service will be starting soon.” With a quick nod, he left.
From where Paul sat on the men’s side of the room, he had a perfect view of Barbara Zook. She looked serene, sitting on the bench, cradling her infant son. A deep yearning welled up in Paul’s chest, just as it had that afternoon in Barbara’s kitchen. Had he made a mistake thinking marriage wasn’t for him? Should he lookfor a wife when he returned to Pennsylvania? Only problem was, he wasn’t interested in anyone back there. No other woman had affected him the way Barbara had, yet his attraction to her made no sense. Whenever they were in the same room, he either felt uncomfortable or irritated with her criticism.
Paul forced his gaze away from Barbara and tried to focus on Bishop Frey’s sermon.
“ ‘Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.’ Psalm 127:3–5,” the bishop read from the Bible he held. “And chapter 128, verse 1, says, ‘Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.’ ” He smiled. “Be fruitful and multiply and be blessed.”
Paul shifted uncomfortably. Were the bishop’s words directed at him? Was God speaking through John Frey, telling Paul he should get married and raise a family and that by so doing, he would be blessed? He thought about his conversation with Noah Hertzler the other day. Noah had mentioned the bishop’s interest in Barbara. Maybe the man’s sermon was directed at himself. Could be that John thought if he took another wife and had more children, he would be twice blessed. That wife could turn out to be Barbara Zook.
I’ve got to quit thinking about this , Paul reprimanded himself. If the bishop should marry Barbara, it’s none of my business. She has the right to choose whomever she pleases . He shuddered. Then why does the idea of her becoming the bishop’s wife make me feel so miserable?
After the noon meal, Barbara put the baby and Zachary down for naps. She stared at her youngest son, sleeping peacefully on his side, and a lump formed in her throat. She knew she was more protective of him than she had been with her other three. Maybe it was because this little guy would never know the wonderful man for whom he’d been named. Or maybe her own insecurities caused her to feel overly protective. Ever since David had been snatched away so suddenly, Barbara had been a little paranoid. What if something bad happened to one of her children? What if she died and
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