Free Following Your Heart by Jerry S. Eicher Page A

things will get clearer for you the longer you’re back home.”
    â€œOkay, enough of this,” Mamm said, taking control. “You can preach about the Englisha some other day, Menno. We are almost there, and thankfully we aren’t late. So Susan, who will keep Samuel during the services?”
    â€œI’ll keep him,” Susan said, looking down at his little face.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Daett said. “I think it’s best if Mamm keeps Samuel with her.”
    â€œAre you afraid the people will think he’s mine?” Susan asked.
    â€œ Nee , it’s just not proper. It will be best if Mamm keeps the child,” Daett asserted.
    â€œI think he’s right,” Mamm agreed. “It will be more proper, and the people will feel better about it.”
    It was sad, but it was true, Susan thought. And it might help Teresa in the long run. If they saw Mamm with the baby, they would think she approved of Teresa in some measure.
    â€œWhoa!” Daett called to Toby as he pulled the horse to a stop at the end of Deacon Ray’s walk.
    Susan pushed open the door and waited until Mamm got down and came over to her side of the buggy. She handed Samuel to her before climbing down herself. With the blanket protecting Samuel’s face, they went up the walk to the house. Behind them the buggy clattered on toward the barnyard.
    Miriam met them at the washroom door, reaching for the bundle in her mamm ’s arms.
    â€œSo you did bring him!” Miriam whispered. “I heard the news, and I thought ‘ Mamm will still bring the child, as sure as I know her.’ ”
    â€œIt was the mother’s idea,” Mamm whispered back. “And Teresa is the girl’s name. This is little Samuel.”
    More women’s faces appeared in the kitchen opening. Susan smiled at them before taking off her shawl and bonnet. Mamm carried baby Samuel into the kitchen, shaking hands and greeting the women as she went. She looked just like she must have looked years ago when she arrived at church with her own children. Samuel was getting the best of treatment, Susan thought as she followed Mamm around the line of women.

C HAPTER S EVEN

    T he four ministers came down the stairs, their heads bowed, as singing filled the house. Bishop Henry was in the lead, with Deacon Ray at the end. They seated themselves on the bench between the kitchen and living room, the line falling into place with order and grace.
    A visiting minister rose to his feet, clearing his throat. His eyes swept over the congregation, and he clutched his hands together on his chest beneath his lengthy beard. “Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, we have come together again on this our Lord’s most holy day to refresh and encourage our souls unto holiness. I hope our hearts are all drawn toward heaven this morning and to the home that lies on the other side.”
    The minister paused, lowering his eyes to the floor as if to ponder the implications of what he had said. He cleared his throat again and quoted from Psalm 29: “Give unto the L ORD , O ye mighty, give unto the L ORD glory and strength. Give unto the L ORD the glory due unto his name…”
    Menno watched the minister’s face, trying to draw his thoughts away from Teresa’s baby across the room. The child stayed quiet, which was gut . What wasn’t gut were the thoughts rushing into his mind. Thoughts that hadn’t come while he was at home and should have been gone forever a long time ago. He had made his peace with the past, had he not? He had left behind the world and all its lusts. Had he not begged forgiveness from Da Hah many times? Had he not wept tears of regret? Why today, then, did seeing the baby in Anna’s arms bring back what should have been forgotten—and indeed had been forgotten for so many years? His thoughts were too shameful to speak of. One expected such sin from the world’s