Free The Rebel by Marta Perry

coffeepot.
    â€œSee? All settled,” Terry said. “Now, when are you coming out with Ashlee again?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Much as she enjoyed talking to Terry, her first excursion had left a bad taste in Barbie’s mouth.
    He raised one eyebrow. “Maybe you and I could go someplace together. Do something quieter, like dinner or a movie.”
    He looked very appealing, sitting there with that easy smile on his face. She felt her enthusiasm rise and nearly said yes. But she’d better think this through.
    Besides, it never hurt to let a guy wonder.
    â€œMaybe,” she said lightly, and turned away as the bell rang on the door.
    They grew busy enough that there wasn’t another chance for any private exchanges with Terry. But he caught her eye as he left. Grinning, he winked at her.
    By the time her shift was over, Barbie was relieved to find things had returned to normal with Ashlee. In fact, Ashlee hurried to catch up with her as she started to leave.
    â€œHey, wait up.” Ashlee thrust an envelope into Barbie’s hand. “Jean says someone left this for you by the cash register.” Her eyes sparkled. “Maybe it’s a note from Terry.”
    â€œI doubt it.” She studied Ashlee’s face. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    â€œFine.” There was an edge to the word that warned her off. “I better get back to work. I said I’d do an extra shift to make up for being late today. Let’s go out again soon. You owe me a whole evening, remember.” She hurried back inside.
    Barbie went slowly through the motions of harnessing the mare to the buggy. Go out with Ashlee again? Go out with Terry? She wanted to explore that new world, and she didn’t want to lose the friendship she’d started with either of them, so why did she hesitate?
    Maybe Grossmammi had been lucky to grow up when she did. She’d had her sorrow, but at least she hadn’t had to juggle two worlds and try to decide where she belonged.
    It would be nice to think she could talk the whole issue over with someone who wouldn’t judge, but she didn’t know anyone who didn’t have a bias when it came to being or not being Amish.
    As she climbed into the buggy, the envelope crackled,reminding her. She settled on the seat, ripping it open. Maybe somebody had chosen this odd way of leaving her a tip.
    But no money fell out. Just a small piece of lined paper that looked as if it had been torn from a notebook. The message on it was printed in pencil.
    Don’t think you’ll get away with leading innocents astray. Someone is always watching.
    Lancaster County, Spring 1960
    Elizabeth forced herself to keep smiling as she entered the front room at her sister Lovina’s house for the quilting frolic. Not because of the quilting, but because today they had met to complete a crib quilt for Cousin Jessie’s baby.
    Her heart twisted. The last time she’d come to a quilting frolic, they’d been doing the crib quilt for Matthias.
    This is Jessie’s time.
It would be unkind not to celebrate with her or to draw attention away from the joy of the day.
    â€œHere we are,” Mamm announced. She’d insisted on stopping to pick up Elizabeth today. Maybe she’d thought Elizabeth would need a little support. “You didn’t start without us already, did you?”
    â€œWe’ve been gossiping,” Lovina said, her cheeks pink with pleasure at having them all at her house. She hugged Mamm and then pressed her cheek against Elizabeth’s, holding her close for an extra moment.
    â€œThat’s as much fun as quilting.” Anna, Elizabeth’s other sister, hurried over to get her share of the hugs. “You’d think we didn’t see one another for a month instead of most every day.”
    Anna and Lovina were very alike, with only a little over a year between them. They both had soft brown hair that