Free The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page B

door?”
     
    Oblivious to the words of his master, Brutus started making muffled barking noises as he continued to sleep.
     
    Jan smiled to himself as he watched the dog, still dreaming and now making digging motions with his two front feet. How comical it looked with those paws moving while his muzzle quivered as if he was trying to bark. All Jan could do was chuckle as he thought,
Think I’d better get that dog pen built as soon as I can
.
     

     
    Goshen
     
    Ruby Lee stepped into the sanctuary to practice the songs she’d picked out for Sunday. A knot formed in her stomach. It was hard to believe she and Gene had been here for ten years already. It was also difficult to believe that the joy they’d felt when Gene had been asked to take this church was now far removed. At least for Ruby Lee. Gene went about his ministerial duties, acting as though nothing was wrong, but she was sure that deep inside he was hurting—probably more than her, truth be told. She’d seen her husband’s pained expression when he’d come home from the last few board meetings. She’d heard his concern when he talked about the future of their church. If she only knew of something that might make things better. If she could just take away the pain and frustration tugging at her and Gene’s hearts.
     
    Ruby Lee knew she should go to the altar and leave her burdens there, but she didn’t feel like praying today. Oh, she’d brought this problem to the Lord many times already. Nothing had changed, and it was beginning to affect her ability to minister to others. She felt as if her faith was being tested and wondered if an end was in sight.
     
    With a sigh of resignation, Ruby Lee took a seat at the piano and opened the hymnbook. Besides the lively choruses they sang every Sunday to open the worship service, they always did a few traditional hymns. Ruby Lee’s favorite was “Rock of Ages,” one of the songs she’d decided to play this Sunday.
     
    “‘Rock of ages,’” she sang as she played along, “‘cleft for me. Let me hide myself in thee.’”
     
    She certainly felt like hiding these days—hiding from the church people—hiding from her friends—and yes, even hiding from God. With the problems the church had been having, her faith in those who called themselves Christians had begun to dwindle little by little, week by week. But she couldn’t let on. She had to keep her chin high and put a smile on her face so no one would know about the deep ache in her heart. After all, she was the pastor’s wife, and it was her duty to set a good example to others. It wouldn’t be right to let anyone in the congregation know how truly miserable she felt. It might jeopardize Gene’s ministry.
     
    As Ruby Lee’s fingers glided easily over the piano keys, she continued to play the rest of the song. No longer able to sing, her thoughts went to the quilting class she’d attended last Saturday. Emma Yoder seemed like such a pleasant, patient person. The kind she could easily make her friend.
     
    In two days she would be going to Emma’s house for another lesson, and Ruby Lee wondered how things would go.
Too bad I’m not Emma’s only student, she thought wistfully. It would be easier to learn quilting if the others weren’t there, asking so many unnecessary questions and making catty remarks, the way Stuart Johnston did last week
.
     
    It didn’t take a genius to see that Pam and Stuart’s marriage was strained—maybe even in deep trouble. During Gene’s years of preaching, he’d counseled many couples with marriage problems. Some listened to his advice, and others continued down the same old path that had brought them to his office for counseling. A good marriage took commitment and a desire to meet the needs of one’s spouse. When selfishness and always wanting to have one’s own way took over, it spelled trouble. And from what Ruby Lee had seen during the quilt class, both Pam and Stuart had issues they were dealing