Samuel crossed his arms. “One year.”
“Sir?”
“Live with us, as we do, for one year.” Samuel glanced at the faces of his friends and family. “If, on this day next year, you still wish to join us, you may.”
Rebekah’s knees quaked, and happiness bubbled in her stomach. Unable to contain herself, she clapped her hands together in a sharp snap. Joseph laughed.
Simon Wagler stepped forward, his hand outstretched. “I’m Simon Wagler. It was my son, Elijah, who pointed you here in the first place.”
Peter’s eyes widened as he grasped Mr. Wagler’s hand.
“That there’s my wife, Sarah.” He nodded toward the throng of women. “We’d be much obliged if you’d stay with us for the duration of this year.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wagler. I’d be much obliged.” Peter’s smile was so wide that it seemed he could hardly force his mouth to form words.
Simon clapped Peter on the back. “Come on then, let’s get you into some more fitting attire.”
“Ma, can we come down now? Jeremiah’s read our Bible lesson to us four times already.” Thomas’s tiny voice sounded supremely put-out. Glancing down the stairs, his eyes lit on Rebekah. “Sissy!”
Quicker than a fish could find a hole in a fishing net, Thomas flew down the stairs and into Rebekah’s waiting arms. The rest of the Stoll boys thundered after him. “Sissy. Oh sissy, you’re alive! I prayed for you all night long.” Wrapping his little arms around her neck, he buried his face in her shoulder. His tiny hat fell to the floor.
“I love you, littlest brother.”
Thomas sniffled. “I love you, too.”
In the midst of the commotion, Rebekah noticed Joseph and her father slip out the front door.
Probably getting something for Peter or putting up his wagon.
Well-wishes from the Stoll boys ended with Jeremiah approaching Rebekah last. “I didn’t like your display at breakfast the other day.”
“I’m really sorry, Jeremiah. I meant to apologize to you and the boys when I got home, but everyone was fishing, and I went to wash the clothes—”
He held up his thirteen-year-old hand. “But I probably would have made an even bigger scene if I’d had gotten the same news.” He grinned. “Welcome home.”
She grasped her biggest little brother in a tight embrace and planted a kiss on the top of his best hat. “Thank you, I missed you.”
Jeremiah flushed and waved her off. He turned toward the kitchen, where Heloise Graber had started serving the lunch. Before he stepped away, he turned back. “Missed you, too.”
“Rebekah?” Her pa’s voice called her attention away from the little men. “Joseph asked me to tell you that he’s on the front porch if you need to find him.”
“Did he wish to speak with me, Pa?” She glanced from side to side. “Pa?”
Hmm, where’d he go?
Rebekah wove through the families of Gasthof Village until she finally arrived at the front door.
“Rebekah?” Katie’s voice came from beside her.
“Hallo, Katie.” She placed her hand on the doorknob. “I finished my quilt, thanks to your squares.”
“Good. Um, Rebekah, I was wondering…”
“Yes?”
The girl stared at her hands. “If, well, the next time you talk to Peter—” Her gaze danced around Rebekah. “If you might tell him I know a great place to picnic.”
Katie spun on her heels and retreated into the mass of people.
Rebekah’s jaw went slack as she watched her.
Is her neck flushed? Oh my, Katie is blushing!
An invisible weight lifted as Rebekah slipped her cloak about her shoulders and stepped out to join Joseph on the porch.
“I’m glad you came out.” He stepped toward her. “It’s still below freezing out here, so this won’t take long.” His lips quivered, and his hands were deep in his pockets.
Rebekah danced from foot to foot. Indeed, it was frosty out. She cupped her hands and blew on her already-throbbing fingers. “Is everything all right?”
“Everything’s more than all right, Rebekah.” Drawing ever nearer, he took one hand from his pocket. Letting it brush the side of her face, he remained silent while the little puffs from their breath in the frozen air mingled between them.
Icy fingers grasped her stomach and sent a rush of nervous butterflies fluttering through her body. “Katie stopped me on the way out—”
Joseph laid a finger lightly on her lips. “I don’t want to talk about Katie. I want to talk about you. And us.”
With her knees threatening to give way, Rebekah dropped her voice to a whisper. “I don’t really want to talk about Katie either, even if she may be my sister-in-law someday.”
His eyes glimmered as he stared into hers. “Maybe she’ll be mine, too.”
