Willis frowned as he helped her to her feet. “I thought you were staying for the entire school year.”
“I hope I will be but Samuel Yoder made certain I understand I am working on a month-to-month basis. You should see the amount of paperwork he left me.” They all walked out onto the porch.
“Don’t let old sour face fool you,” Ivan said. “He’s happy to have an Amish teacher here. He has two grandsons who will be attending your school.”
“I pray that sentiment continues. I appreciate the loan of the horse and cart.”
Michael walked to the horse’s head and rubbed the white blaze on his brown nose. “I brought hay and grain for him. His name is Dodger. Where shall I put him?”
“Stable him at my place for now,” Willis said.
“The church plans to hold a frolic next month and put up a barn and corral for you,” Michael added.
It was news to Eva but it made sense. Most of her students would walk to school but some would need to come by buggy or ride horseback. In the winter those in outlying areas would arrive in horse-drawn sleighs. The school would need a place to stable those horses.
She had been involved in many of the working parties the Amish called frolics. When work needed to be done, the entire community would set aside a day to raise a barn, repair a home or harvest a crop for someone in the hospital. Everyone from the youngest to the oldest looked forward to the event and everyone helped.
After the men left Eva put out her books and then returned to her paperwork and lesson plans. She had a lot to learn before school started.
After two hours she decided against spending the day inside even with the drizzle. She took a cup of tea out on the porch and saw Maddie with Willis through the open door of his smithy. Without considering why, she grabbed a gray shawl and swung it over her shoulders then crossed the road to see what the pair was up to. The little girl was sitting on a stool, watching Willis pump the bellows to heat his forge.
“Maddie, you look so glum. What’s the matter?” Eva asked.
“I can’t tell you anything that Bubble says anymore.”
“And,” Willis prompted.
“I can’t make up things for Bubble to say.”
“That severely limits your conversation, doesn’t it?” Eva winked at Willis. He shook his head as if wondering which side she was on.
Maddie leaned closer to Eva. “Bubble isn’t happy.”
Eva fought back a smile.
Willis kept his focus on his forge but glanced up at her briefly. “Did you get settled in?”
“For the most part. I should be working but I have decided to play hooky for the rest of the day. I can’t look at one more lesson plan. May I try working the bellows?”
“By all means.” He stepped aside.
She took over pumping a large wooden arm that worked the bellows. A few ashes floated onto her face and she brushed them away.
He glanced her way. “You’ll have to pump faster. I’m losing the heat.”
She picked up the pace. It wasn’t as easy or as much fun as it had looked. The heat from the forge soon had her sweating. She cast aside her shawl. Willis turned a block of iron in the coals with a pair of long tongs. “When do you know you have it hot enough?” she asked.
“By the color. Iron glows red, then orange, yellow, and finally white when it’s heated hot enough. A bright yellow-orange color indicates the best forging heat.”
“Isn’t it yellow-orange enough yet?” Her arms were getting tired.
“Almost.”
She kept pumping until her arms were burning. “That’s enough,” he said.
Grateful to step aside, she let him take over. No wonder he had such muscular arms. “Now what?”
“Now I beat on the iron until I make something.”
“What are you making?”
“A brake pedal for a buggy.” He lifted the hot metal from the forge and placed it on an anvil. She watched him mold the metal into the shape he wanted by pounding on it. When it grew too cool it went back into the coals. In a surprisingly short amount of time, he had a new brake pedal ready to be attached.
“That is amazing. How did you learn to be a blacksmith? Was your father one?”
“Papa made furniture,” Maddie said.
“Our onkel had a smithy near our farm in Maryland. He taught me the trade.”
She tipped her head, glad for the chance to learn more about Willis and his family. “What made you move all the way up here?”
“The same reasons a lot of Amish folks are here. Farmland is cheaper than back home. Plus, I got tired of the Englisch tourists that came to gawk at us Amish. I wanted to practice my faith and my trade without feeling like I was a circus act.”
“I know what you mean. I have this wonderful book that talks about how we strive to live apart from the world but by simply being Amish we are being drawn into that world more every year. Have you read it? I can loan you my copy.”
He started pumping the bellows again. “I don’t have time to read.”
Eva swallowed her disappointment. “I understand. I reckon I’ve played hooky long enough. Thanks for letting me help in my limited way.”
His mouth lifted in a brief grin. “You did okay. If you get tired of teaching, come look me up. I could use an apprentice.”
She rubbed her aching forearms. “I don’t think this is the trade for me.”
“Can I help you at the school, Teacher?” Maddie asked.
“I would like that if your brother doesn’t object.”
“She is all yours. Remember what we talked about, Maddie.” He leveled a stern glance at her.
“I remember.” Maddie hopped off her chair and took hold of Eva’s hand.
Willis met
