Free A Hope for Hannah by Jerry S. Eicher Page B

rough.”
    “I will,” Hannah said and meant it but wondered if she would actually have the courage to ask for help. To beg was an embarrassment, no matter the reason.
    “Will your parents be staying with you?” Betty asked.
    Hannah knew why she had asked. Betty wanted her to share Kathy. But Hannah wanted her mother with her the whole week and said, “Yes. They’ll be with us the whole week.”
    “Well, how about supper at least?” Betty asked. “I’ll have to steal them a little. You’ll come over for supper one of those nights, won’t you?”
    “Of course,” Hannah agreed quickly, delighted at the invitation.
    “What do you think of the minister thing?” Betty whispered.
    “Surprising,” Hannah said because it was true and because the answer seemed safe to say. Any discussion of the subject wasn’t considered good form, and she hoped Betty wouldn’t go any further.
    “There’s Steve now,” Betty said. “I’d better get ready to go.”
    “Will you be at the singing?” Hannah asked, thinking she and Jake might go. If nothing else, it would get them out of the house. If Betty and Steve went, Jake might be easier to persuade.
    “I don’t think so,” Betty said, already moving toward the kitchen to pick up her wrap.
    Ten minutes later Hannah saw Jake hitch the horse and joined him at the buggy.
    They drove home in silence. Jake made no mention of the day’s events, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
    “Do you want to go to the singing?” she asked.
    Jake shook his head just as Hannah expected.

Eleven
     
    During the first two days of the week, Jake made some repairs to the springhouse to make it even more secure from the bear. On Wednesday, he headed back into Libby to look for work. How Jake expected to find work as an Amish man in the Englisher world, Hannah wasn’t certain. It seemed to her an impulse-driven move, born of desperation, but she admired him for his persistence. At least he wasn’t sitting around the house moping.
    When Betty dropped by that afternoon, she brought with her the first good news Hannah had heard in a long time. She said Bishop Nisley could use some help with barn repairs. Nothing was said about pay, and Hannah didn’t raise the issue. She knew it was being offered as charity work even though Bishop’s barn probably really did need the repairs. But with winter still ahead, he just as easily could have waited until spring.
    Mr. Brunson stopped by just as Jake was pulling in, returning from his trip to Libby. By the time Hannah noticed and stepped out to the porch, Mr. Brunson had left, heading back toward his place.
    “He was just checking on the bear,” Jake said to Hannah’s unspoken question.
    “Did you find any work?” Hannah asked.
    “Mr. Brunson asked that too,” Jake said dejectedly. “The answer is no.” Jake went into the house and flopped onto the couch, his whole body language communicated discouragement.
    “Betty stopped by,” Hannah said. “John has a few days worth of barn work for you.”
    “So it’s come to that?” Jake asked as he stared out the window toward the quickly falling dusk.
    “It’s better than doing nothing,” she said.
    “I suppose so,” Jake allowed. “Mr. Brunson said he’s seen nothing of the bear the past few days.”
    “Neither have we, now that I think of it,” Hannah said.
    “It probably moved on, what with winter on its way.”
    “I hope it stays away. I don’t want to see it back next spring,” Hannah said. “So, what do you think? Will you go to Bishop’s tomorrow?”
    Jake nodded.
    Hannah made a good supper in hopes it would cheer Jake. He would need a good dinner because he had work tomorrow—work that, no doubt, would be difficult. When she called Jake to the table, the way he looked at the mashed potatoes, gravy, and ham made her glad she had made the extra effort. His eyes were hungry enough, but the doubt on his face still troubled her. He was probably looking at the days ahead, and the