Becca was leaning over Susan Hostetler, helping the girl sound out a particularly difficult word, when the door opened again. Glancing up, she saw Jesse King standing there, his gaze resting on her. And instantly, her face heated up like a road flare. She felt as if everyone in the room was watching her. What was Jesse doing here? Any of their people were invited to attend the school board meetings but he’d never participated before. And they’d just spoken that morning. So, what reason did he have to be here now?
He reached up and removed his straw hat, glancing around the room for a place to sit. Bishop Yoder motioned to him and he sauntered over to sit nearby, his legs overly long in the small desk.
Becca ducked her head further over Susan’s reading book, hoping no one noticed her hot cheeks. She scolded herself, remembering to act professional. She had no idea why Jesse affected her like this. He was just the parent of one of her students. That was all. Nothing more.
Standing straight, she moved toward the front of the room, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “Scholars, we’d like to willkomm our visitors to our school. Will you please put away your studies now and stand at the front of the room?”
There was a slight rustling as the children did as she asked. As usual, they would sing a couple of songs for their guests, then go outside. Some of the children would go home to do their evening chores while others would play in the yard until their parents were ready to leave. They’d been rehearsing their songs and Becca had reminded them of the board meeting earlier that morning, so they were prepared.
She stood beside her desk, waiting for the scholars to line up with the oldest and tallest students in the back and the younger children in the front. They all looked so earnest, eager and innocent as they waited for her signal. And she loved each and every one of them. How she would miss them when the school year ended and she had to leave to find employment elsewhere.
Lifting her hand, she hummed a note to give them their starting key, then led them in two German songs. Their voices rang out in unison, sweet and melodious. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Jesse watching his son with unblinking eyes. The man’s countenance was one of rapt attention and appreciation. In spite of his gruffness, she knew he loved the little boy very much.
The other parents in the room wore similar expressions. Like any caring parent, they adored their children. And a quiet pain settled within Becca’s chest. Yes, she’d chosen the teaching profession. It was a career she hoped to embrace and excel at. One that would support her financially throughout her life. But teaching was also a labor of love. She took her responsibilities seriously, to mold her young scholars into upstanding Amish people. But a part of her ached with emptiness. All her life, she had hoped to marry a kind, loving man and hold her own children within her arms. Now, it seemed that would never happen. Because Vernon had broken her heart, she didn’t dare trust another man again. And at times like this, she had trouble accepting that.
During church the previous Sunday, the sermon had been out of the Gospel of Matthew. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find. It occurred to Becca that, if she wanted to remain in Riverton, she should ask the Lord and exercise faith that He could make it happen.
The last note of the song ended and Becca lowered her arm and smiled at her students. “Danke, scholars. You have done well today and are now dismissed from school. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
The children put on their coats and gathered up their bags and lunch pails before racing outside. Their laughter rang through the air as they closed the door behind them.
As if on cue, the school board members stood and walked to the front of the room. With their long beards and black frock coats, the three fathers looked a bit intimidating. As was their habit, they sat facing Becca’s desk.
Forcing herself to retain her composure, Becca picked up her notebook and pencil and waited for Bishop Yoder to conduct the meeting. She presented a list of supplies and they discussed a couple of discipline problems.
“I understand my son Caleb has been acting up in school,” the bishop said.
Becca nodded. “Ja, he and Enos have caused a couple of disturbances in the past.”
“They are not causing trouble now?”
“Ne, lately they have been gut as can be. In fact, I assigned both boys as reading and math partners with some of the younger scholars and they both seem to have taken this task quite seriously. I have had no more problems with either boy for some time now.”
“Gut. I had heard there was a problem and waited for you to speak with me about it, but you never did,” he said.
A moment of confusion filled her mind. Had she made a mistake by not talking to him about it sooner?
“I... I wanted to handle it myself, if possible. And it turns out that everything is fine now. The boys are being very well-behaved.”
Hopefully, the board members were impressed enough with how she had handled the situation that they would write her a good teaching recommendation for a future position somewhere else.
“I am happy to hear this news. You are to be commended for how you have dealt with the problem,” Bishop Yoder said.
Becca couldn’t help feeling pleased by the bishop’s praise. Not only did she highly respect this man but she also wanted to do a good
