Free A Marriage for Meghan by Mary Ellis Page A

played on the floor of the warm kitchen. Robert and his father were nowhere in sight. His mother listened patiently, nodding her head. When Catherine finished explaining about her son’s lack of attention in class and unfinished assignments, she had only one question for the teachers.
    “Is Owen Shockley the ringleader of this threesome giving you problems?”
    Catherine didn’t like to fix blame, but she had to be truthful. “ Jah , he is. Robert said he would complete his math problems tonight and took his book with him.”
    The woman’s gaze flickered over one and then the other. “His daed won’t like Robert having homework to do. He needs to help with farm chores after school. And neither of us likes the idea of him not minding his teachers. I don’t care how green you two are.”
    Catherine felt her armpits grow damp, while the woman turned back to the infant who just spit up something onto his bib. “I’ll see to it that he finishes those problems before he eats supper. That boy has one fierce appetite. And I don’t imagine you will get any more bad behavior from our son. Sorry for the trouble. Danki for stopping by.” She glanced at them one more time before turning to spoon-feed vegetables to her boppli. Catherine and Meghan nodded and left the house as fast as the boys had left the schoolroom earlier that afternoon.
    Joshua’s home was the next farm across the street. The young culprit answered the door with a face registering total shock. “Catherine, Meghan, what are you doin’ here?” he stammered.
    “We’d like to speak to your mamm or daed …or both. Would you get them please?” asked Meghan.
    Joshua backed up a step and stared, transfixed.
    “Now would be a good time,” she added.
    He closed the door and ran, leaving the women standing on the cold porch. He’d been gone a long time when his mother finally opened the door.
    “Goodness, come inside and get warmed up! I can’t believe that boy left you out there to freeze.”
    When Catherine and Meghan entered a kitchen smelling of pork and sauerkraut, they spotted Joshua hiding behind his mother. “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?” she asked. After they had both shaken their heads, his mamm took the lead. “My boy told me what’s been goin’ on and about the warning he got today. I guess he figured I should hear the story from him first. Now he’s got something to say to you.” She turned toward her pale son.
    “I’m sorry, Meghan and Catherine, for not listening the first time, for staring out the window, and for not doing my schoolwork. Sorry I left you outside just now.” Joshua glanced up before refocusing on the floor.
    “He won’t give you another moment of disrespect,” added his mother. “Or his daed will hear about this and take a switch to his backside.”
    “No more trouble,” promised Joshua.
    “Well then, our work here is finished,” said Meghan. “ Guder nachmittag to you.” She brushed her palms together as if she’d just finished rolling out pie dough and walked out the door.
    Catherine nodded at mother and son and then trailed her sister down the steps, thoroughly impressed.
    “I don’t want to see him get the switch,” whispered Meghan, “but I don’t think we have to worry about that.”
    “Two down, one to go,” said Catherine. However, their final stop before home didn’t go nearly so well. While they waited for someone to answer their knock at the Shockley home, they smelled a strong musty odor emanating from the canvas covering the woodpile. Catherine thought she would gag before Mrs. Shockley finally opened the door. The woman seemed reluctant to let them in. “We’re Owen’s new teachers and we’d like a word with you,” explained Catherine. After a moment’s hesitation, Mrs. Shockley stood aside so they could enter.
    Inside the shabby but clean kitchen, Mr. Shockley sat at the table, clutching a mug. “What’s this about?” he asked. He did not ask them to sit