Free Seek Me With All Your Heart by Beth Wiseman

marriage. Mamm didn’t say that, but Emily knew it to be true. When Emily asked if she had sinned or gone against the teachings of the Ordnung , her mother assured her that she hadn’t. But Emily knew that no man would want her now. Since then she couldn’t seem to find the peacefulness that she’d always felt in her heart. She knew that fear and worry blocked the voice of God, but she’d stopped seeking Him. She was afraid she would be alone for the rest of her life, with no husband or children, and worry about the future consumed her. Her prayers lately were mechanical, simple, and without the heartfelt connection she’d once treasured.
    She kicked a rock in the road, then blew out a deep sigh and watched the frigid air cloud in front of her. She wanted to talk to God the way she used to.
    But God had al owed this to happen. It was His wil that she was damaged, with little hope for the future.
    Movement to the right caught her eye. She lifted her hand above her brow to block the bright sun and drizzling snow. She found the combination of warmth from the sun and cold from the snow al around her to be odd. She squinted until she made out the person walking toward her. David Stoltzfus .
    She tucked her chin, pul ed her bonnet lower on her forehead, and picked up her pace.
    “Emily!”
    Hugging her coat tighter around her, she walked even faster.
    He yel ed her name again, and as she cut her eyes in his direction, she saw him crossing the yard toward her. “Wait!”
    She let out a heavy sigh between her chattering teeth, turned toward him, and waited.
    “What are you doing?” He stood on the inside of a wooden fence that surrounded the property. “Why are you walking in this weather?” David pul ed his own black coat tighter around him, and Emily could see his teeth chattering also.
    “I—I just am. Mei mamm and Betsy went to Sister’s Day, and I changed my mind about going.” She forced a smile. “Nice to see you. Good-bye.” Then she headed down the road.
    “Wait!” David trudged slowly through deep snow until he was at the gate. He pushed it open and walked toward her. “I’l hitch up my buggy and take you home. It’s startin’ to snow real hard now.”
    Emily stopped. “No. It’s not much farther. I’m fine.” She turned toward the road again.
    “You don’t look fine. I reckon you’re freezing to death.”
    “I have to go.” She’d only taken a few steps when she heard him coming up behind her. She spun around and faced him. “Are you going to fol ow me?”
    “ Ya . I guess so. I can’t let you walk al the way home by yourself. So I reckon I’l have to freeze to death too, to make sure you get home al right.”
    He smiled, and his dimples added a childlike quality to his expression, which she found adorable. She resisted the urge to grin and put her hands on her hips. “Wel , that’s the sil iest thing I’ve ever heard.”
    “ Ya . It is.” He tipped his black felt hat down to block the fal ing snow. “So you should just let me give you a ride home. I can have Buster hitched to the buggy in no time.”
    She was chil ed to the bone, and the thought of David fol owing her al the way home was embarrassing. “Fine.”
    “Go in the haus and get warm. It won’t take me long. I think Lil ian left some kaffi on the stove.”
    “Are your folks home?”
    “No. But just go in and help yourself.” He pul ed the gate open for her to walk ahead of him. She stopped.
    “I—I don’t think it’s proper for me to go inside your haus without anyone home.”
    “It’l be just fine.” He reached out and took her arm to coax her through the gate.
    The feeling of his hand on her arm jarred her. She jerked away from him and took a step backward. “Stop it. I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to walk.”
    She spun on her heel, but he spoke up before she even took a step.
    “Emily!”

    She turned to face him again.
    His eyes were kind as he spoke. “I don’t know what happened to you, but I