Free Katie's Way by Marta Perry Page B

that evening—the endless giggles of the girls in the backseat or the utter silence that stretched between her and Caleb in the front. Amish men typically didn’t chatter, but she’d think he could say something as the horse clopped along. She’d assumed at first that he was concentrating on the traffic, but once they turned onto a winding gravel road, that wasn’t an issue.
    The road wound between pastures and through dense stands of hemlock and hickory trees. Slanting sunlight touched the fresh green growth, so much lighter and brighter than it would be later in the summer. She looked toward the distant ridge, where the setting sun had begun to turn the clouds to purple. Still . . . everything was so still, save for the girls’ soft voices and the clop of the horse’s hooves.
    She slanted a glance toward Caleb, but his strong-featured face gave nothing away. Probably it would be better if she could clear the air between them over Rhoda’s behavior the previous day, but she could hardly do that with Rhoda sitting behind her.
    Katie could be imagining the heavy disapproval that came from Caleb, but she didn’t think so. It was only too obvious that he didn’t care for the friendship that had grown between his niece and her sister.
    Well, if he wouldn’t speak, she would. “It was kind of you to pick us up tonight for the singing, Caleb.”
    â€œIt’s nothing.” His gaze was fixed at a spot between the horse’s ears. “Gideon suggested it.”
    Did that mean that Caleb wouldn’t have made the offer if Gideon hadn’t thought of it? Probably. She tamped her annoyance down.
    â€œI am used to having a horse and buggy of my own,” she said, “but it wasn’t practical to try and bring them this far. My cousin Aaron has a buggy I can use, so I’ll probably buy a horse.”
    That got Caleb’s attention, and he swung toward her, brown eyes seeming to frown. “Where will you keep them?”
    She stared blandly back at him. “Bishop Mose said that I can share the stable behind the building with you. After all, you only use it during the day.”
    A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I’m sure your cousins would be happy to take you anywhere you need.”
    â€œJa, they would, but I’m used to getting myself where I want to go.” She hadn’t particularly looked for such independence, but it had found her.
    â€œIf you were my cousin, I would not want you to have to do things like that.” His voice grated on the words.
    â€œThen it is a gut thing you are not my cousin, ain’t so?”
    He didn’t bother answering, just turned in at the farm lane behind several other buggies, all headed for the barn where they’d worshipped that morning. A small white sign announced the presence of RACHEL’S GARDEN, NO SUNDAY SALES.
    Katie clamped her lips shut. She’d said too much, no doubt about it.
    If Rhoda were to be happy here, she needed friends like Becky. For Rhoda’s sake, Katie should make an effort to get along with Becky’s uncle. Too bad he had the ability to bring out all the worst aspects of her nature with just a look.
    Caleb drew into the row of buggies parked along the lane, and a couple of boys ran to help. Rhoda and Becky slid out in a hurry, obviously eager to get to the fun, and Katie followed more slowly.
    â€œWe want to join the volleyball game. All right?” Rhoda said, nodding to where a net had been set up on the lawn near the barn, a safe distance from the greenhouse where Rachel obviously grew the plants she sold. A fair-sized group of boys and girls, maybe thirty or more of them, milled around the net, probably more interested in each other than in the game.
    â€œOf course.” Katie bit back the impulse to remind Rhoda to behave properly. Rhoda wouldn’t appreciate it, and no wonder. Katie certainly wouldn’t have at that age. “I’ll