Free A Daughter's Dream by Shelley Shepard Gray

couldn’t help but compare your situation to mine. I’m trying to be a teacher but I’m not very good at it. Most of the time when I’m there, I watch the clock and look forward to when I can leave,” she commented as they started to walk.
    â€œUh-oh.” He grinned, and some of that same admiration she saw earlier in his eyes appeared again.
    She wasn’t the only person feeling that attraction between them.
    She hoped she wasn’t blushing again. “Uh-oh is right. Basically, I keep wondering why I am even trying.”
    â€œLilly said you’ve been there a lot.”
    Rebecca wondered how he knew about that. Was Lilly sharing more or had Jacob been asking about her? “I have. I just wish my time there was easier.”
    â€œIf it’s so hard and it’s making you so uncomfortable, why are you doing it? I mean, do you ever wonder why you are trying to do something over and over that you can’t seem to figure out?”
    â€œAll the time. But there’s something inside me that is afraid to give up. Teaching has been a dream of mine for years. I’ve always pushed it aside and put my family and the lumber mill first. I don’t want to look back on this time in my life and wonder if I should have tried harder.”
    â€œI’m doing the same thing. I don’t want to give up.”
    â€œAre your parents helping you?”
    â€œYep. They say I’m being too hard on myself. They say that farming is as much about luck as it is about experience.”
    â€œI’m fortunate in the fact that I have an understanding older brother. Lukas is now a big believer in following one’s heart. He understands that each day is a gift.”
    â€œNow?” He glanced her way. “Is that because of the mill accident?”
    â€œMaybe. It might also be that he and Darla Kurtz recently got married. They had quite a few obstacles between them but they followed their hearts instead of letting their fears guide them.”
    He chuckled. “Even I have heard about their sudden romance. He proposed at the post office, didn’t he?”
    She grinned. “Indeed, he did. Rumor has it that he locked the door and wouldn’t let her leave until she said yes.”
    â€œThat’s just a rumor, is it?”
    â€œThat’s what some say,” she teased. With some surprise, she realized that they were standing right in front of the lumber mill’s entrance. “It looks like you walked me all the way to work. Thank you.”
    â€œDon’t thank me. Our conversation helped me a lot. Thanks for listening to me whine.”
    â€œI’ve done my share of whining from time to time and can promise you that you were not whining. There’s nothing wrong with being honest.”
    â€œI guess not. Well, I’ll let you get to work. You put in some long days.”
    â€œI do, but it’s worth it. I want to spend time at Charm Amish School and follow my dream, if only for a little while.”
    Jacob glanced toward the store. Through the big plate-glass windows across the street, he could see that Lilly was at the checkout counter. “It looks like Lilly found my mamm’s apples without a problem. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
    â€œYes. And don’t worry. People tell me farming is a grueling job, even for the most experienced farmer.”
    â€œThanks for that,” he said with a sarcastic smile.
    He had just turned to leave when the door to the mill opened and Lukas came out. “Jacob, wait,” Rebecca called. When he turned, she held out a hand toward her brother. “This is Lukas. Lukas, this is Jacob Yoder. He just moved here from Florida.”
    Lukas held out his hand. “Good to meet you. What brought you to Charm?”
    â€œMy brother recently passed on to Heaven. I’m currently attempting to farm my family’s land.”
    Lukas’s brows rose. “Sounds like there’s a