Free Katie's Journey to Love by Jerry S. Eicher

Esther offered.
    â€œThat ought to be interesting,” Katie said, following Esther toward the barn. A thought flashed through her mind. She’d not only forgotten about Christmas, but also the secret Margaret and Sharon would be telling her tonight. It couldn’t be much of anything, she figured.
    Ahead of them a girl Katie didn’t know came out of the barn.
    â€œHowdy there, Nancy,” Esther greeted her. “Where is everybody?”
    Nancy nodded a greeting to the girls and said, “Just follow the racket, and you’ll find them.”
    â€œI don’t remember seeing her before,” Katie said as they walked further back in.
    â€œShe’s Nancy Keim, just back from Holland,” Esther told her.
    â€œHolland!” Katie exclaimed. “What was she doing over there?”
    â€œWorking a year for a Mennonite Youth Outreach in the town of Haarlem.”
    â€œThat’s fascinating.” Katie turned around to look back toward the house, but Nancy had disappeared.
    Esther pushed open the barn door and led the way inside. Older teens were scattered all over the place. A knot of them were deep in conversation while others were working on nailing down a hayloft floor above them. Several people were carrying in lumber from neat piles off to the side of the barn. They handed them up to those working on the floor.
    â€œWell!” Esther came to a sudden stop. “What a racket. I thought this would be a peaceful evening.”
    Katie laughed. “I think it’s my kind of excitement.”
    Esther waved toward someone on the other side of the building. When the girl waved back and motioned for them to come over, Esther led the way again. Margaret came rushing toward them before they’d taken more than a few steps.
    â€œHi, Esther and Katie!” she said. She turned to Katie and gave her a hug. “Oh, I’m so glad you could come!”
    â€œHi,” Katie returned. “And it’s so gut to see you again.”
    â€œI’ll see both of you later,” Esther interrupted. “I see someone I need to talk to.”
    â€œWere you going somewhere with Esther?” Margaret asked.
    â€œNot really,” Katie said. “Someone waved at Esther, and we were going over to see her. I couldn’t see who she was, so I guess I’ll stay here with you. Is there something I can do to help?”
    â€œOf course!” Margaret pointed toward the scattered groups. “We have tons of floorboards to put down and only so much time.”
    â€œAt least it’s well lit in here,” Katie said. “That’s a little better than the gas lanterns we use.”
    Margaret smiled. “I told Dad we have to stop by nine-thirty. I’m already falling over from exhaustion.”
    Katie looked around at the piles of lumber and the amount of people working.
    â€œCan you finish all this by nine-thirty?”
    â€œProbably not,” Margaret said. “But Dad understands that. This will give him a head start on his work tomorrow.”
    â€œOkay,” Katie said. “I know I can carry lumber, and I’m sure I can nail boards even though I haven’t done much of that before.”
    â€œThen how about helping with the nailing for awhile?” Margaret pointed out a spot where several girls were gathered. “They’re taking turns over there so no one gets too worn out.”
    â€œI can do that,” Katie said, moving toward the group.
    Margaret called after her, “Don’t leave before I have a chance to talk with you—someplace away from all this racket. I have something special…”
    â€œI’ll do that,” Katie hollered back even as Margaret’s words faded away. She wanted to know what Margaret’s news was right now, but she guessed she’d just have to wait.
    Where is Sharon? Katie wondered. She didn’t see a sign of her anywhere. Well, she would find her later