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

just did, I’m sure we would be done before the hour is out.”
    Ben laughed softly.
    Katie finally turned to face Ben.
    â€œHi, Katie,” Ben greeted as he smiled. “I heard you came to these gatherings.”
    How did you know that? she wanted to ask. You don’t even know I exist . She finally managed to say out loud, “I haven’t been coming long.”
    He raised his eyebrows, a question obvious on his face.
    She searched for the best thing to say. “It’s that…well…I’ve become gut friends with Margaret and Sharon. And I work with Esther, so she picks me up so I can come.”
    â€œAnd we love having her. All of us do,” another girl spoke up. “Are you staying for the whole evening, Ben? I heard there will be ice cream and hot dogs served afterward.”
    â€œI think I will.” Ben eyes lingered on Katie’s face for a moment. Then he broke into a smile—aimed solely at her.
    Katie could almost feel her knees buckle. She’d lived under his nose for most of her life, and in the past minute, he’d paid more attention to her than in all those years combined. Ben had noticed her!
    â€œWell, I guess I’ll see you later then,” Ben said as he moved on.
    â€œOh, isn’t he just the charm?” Edith said, staring after Ben.
    â€œThat he is,” Katie agreed. Edith didn’t seem to hear the emotion in Katie’s voice. And underneath her words, Katie’s heart was pounding like a drum. Ben Stoll had spoken to her! Was this encounter perhaps part of Da Hah ’s leading? Here she thought she was running away from a problem—Mabel, the Amish youth, and Ben—and had she really run smack into Ben? Even if it was only for one evening, this was a place where Ben could see her in a totally different light. That was something that would never happen at an Amish youth group gathering. There her reputation and past were too well known. Being Emma Raber’s daughter was simply too large an impediment to get over. But she’d gotten around it by coming here. In one flying leap she’d accomplished that just by walking through the doors Da Hah had opened for her.
    Katie forced herself to breathe and then offered to take another turn at nailing the floorboards. She whacked the nails so hard that she moved rapidly down the space placing one nail after another in quick succession. After fifteen minutes, she was breathless again and handed the hammer to the next girl in the rotation.
    Standing up, Katie dared take a peek across the barn floor. She caught sight of Ben talking with one of the boys, laughing as they both carried boards into the barn. Could this really be happening? Was Ben really here? Or was she imagining things? She wasn’t. The look on Ben’s face had been plain enough to see. He’d been surprised and maybe even impressed at seeing her here. Ben had never been one to hide his feelings. She’d always noticed that about him. Every emotion he had seemed to flash across his face. Unlike her, Ben had probably never had the need to hide what he felt.
    Oh, she must give time spent with Ben every opportunity to grow. From now on she’d come to every Mennonite youth gathering there was. Just on the hope he might stop by. Not a chance must be missed. In the rush of her optimistic thoughts, dark ones soon crept in. Is this what Mamm used to feel for Daniel Kauffman? Is this what Mamm was trying to warn her about? It couldn’t be! This was too wunderbah a feeling for that. It couldn’t be the same. Still, Katie was sure Mamm would say it was just that—if Katie ever shared this news with her. But she wouldn’t. This would be her secret to hold and cherish in her heart. Someday it would grow into something wunderbah —so wunderbah she wouldn’t believe it herself. Mamm had only wished for Daniel Kauffman’s love. For Katie, love between Ben and her might