Free Her Restless Heart by Barbara Cameron Page A

prideful to share yourself and what you know with others, liebschen. You're not bragging about yourself, about your God-given gift, are you?"
    Mary Katherine shook her head. "Never."
    "And I've never known you to be self-important. As a matter of fact—"
    "What?"
    Leah sighed and reached out to touch Mary Katherine's cheek. "I love my bruder, but he is not an easy man to be around. You've blossomed here."
    Unbearably touched, Mary Katherine hugged her. " Danki," she whispered. "I was miserable on the farm."
    "It wasn't the farm, it was—"
    Conversation ceased as Naomi and Anna entered. They stopped when they saw their grandmother embracing Mary Katherine.
    "Is everything all right?" Naomi asked, looking concerned.
    "It's fine," Leah rushed to say. She stepped back from Mary Katherine. "Why don't you tell them your news while I make us some tea?"
    "News?" Anna grabbed Mary Katherine's hand and began leading her to the back room. She held up the bag she clutched in her other hand. "We got some more of those cinnamon rolls from the bakery. You can have the first one if you tell me your news."
    "It's hardly big news," Mary Katherine said.
    Anna stopped. "Does it have anything to do with the Miller family?"
    Mary Katherine and her grandmother exchanged a look. "No. Why would it?" She followed Anna into the kitchen, eager to find out what she knew about the Miller family coming into the shop this week.
    "They were in here a lot this week," Anna said as she got a plate from the cabinet and arranged the rolls on it.
    "So of course, Anna's imagination is running wild," Naomi remarked. But there was no censure in her tone. " Grossmudder, sit down, I'll get the tea."
    " Danki," Leah said with a sigh as she sat. "It's been a long morning."
    "You're sure there's no engagement in your future?" Anna persisted. She waved a roll under Mary Katherine's nose. "I can make you talk."
    "That works on you, not Mary Katherine," Naomi said, frowning at Anna.
    "True," said Anna, biting into the roll. Then, with a grin, she offered the plate of rolls to Mary Katherine.
    "It would be kind of hard hiding an engagement from you, don't you think?" Mary Katherine pointed out as she chose a roll and passed the plate to her grandmother.
    Naomi got mugs out, filled them with boiling water, and set one before each of them.
    Mary Katherine chose a tea bag—peppermint tea, her winter favorite—and passed around a bowl filled with a selection of tea bags.
    "So why do you think we all of a sudden had so many Millers in here, then?" Anna asked. "First Jacob and then all his sisters and his mother."
    Naomi gave Mary Katherine a sympathetic look. "She's like a dog with a bone."
    "I have no idea why they came. We did have a wonderful after-Christmas sale."
    Anna stared at her for a long moment, and then she burst out laughing. " Ya, I'm sure that was it."
    The shop door opened. Mary Katherine glanced out. "I'll take care of our customer."
    "Did you see who it is?" Anna could be heard asking. "Maybe it's another Miller."
    Mary Katherine shut the door behind her. " Wie geht's, Jacob," she said, smiling.
     

    "My mother loved her gift."
    He was struck again by that smile of hers. It had been worth the cold ride into town for that smile.
    "I thought the thimble was for her birthday."
    "I—decided to give it to her early." He felt the color creep up his neck. "So I need to get her something else."
    He started to look away, and then he realized that she was struggling to hide her smile. "What?"
    "What did you do?" she asked, covering her mouth with her hand. "You look so guilty."
    "I do not!" he protested. Then, as she continued to look at him, he shrugged. "It just seemed like a good time to give her a gift. And you can't do enough for your mamm, do you think?"
    He watched her smile fade and could have kicked himself. She'd never said much about either of her parents, but he didn't think they were as loving as his parents were. The Amish loved children, considered them