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least several months. There’s no telling how long it will take you to find work. And if you haven’t some trade, any work you find will pay a meager wage.”
    The boy’s shoulders sagged, and I knew he’d been discouraged by my comments. But I couldn’t mislead him. Our life had been hard in Baltimore, and I wouldn’t let him believe he could walk away from this place and easily support himself in the outside world.
    I glanced at Brother Dirk as I started toward the door. His eyes shone with a look of appreciation, but I wasn’t sure why. Was it because I’d taken time to speak with Werner, or was it because I’d reinforced the things he’d likely already told the boy? I couldn’t be certain, but I liked this man who appeared to have a kind and nurturing heart.

Chapter 6
    Lukas arrived at the kitchen house with Werner and Brother Dirk, but instead of taking a seat at the table where the outsiders ate their meals, he scooted in between the two men. When I crooked my finger and signaled for him to come and sit at the outsiders’ table, he turned away and acted as though he hadn’t seen me. For a moment I considered going across to the men’s side of the dining hall and escorting him back to the proper bench, but such an act would draw too much attention.
    I lifted my gaze and was met by Brother Dirk’s kind blue eyes. He placed one hand on Lukas’s shoulder and gave a slight nod that seemed to indicate Lukas could remain with him. Though I wasn’t happy with the arrangement, I nodded and returned to the kitchen.
    â€œLukas has returned?” Sister Erma continued to heap boiled potatoes into large bowls as she asked about the boy.
    â€œYes, but he’s sitting on the men’s side between Brother Dirk and his apprentice instead of sitting at the outsiders’ table.”
    â€œJa, well, the two of you are not exactly outsiders. You are both living in the Küchehaas. Brother Dirk is a gut man. If Lukas needs correction, Brother Dirk will teach him the proper way of doing things.”
    Her comment was meant to mollify my worries, but it had little effect. Correcting and teaching Lukas was my responsibility, not a task to be assigned to some stranger. I swallowed my rebuttal and followed the other women into the dining hall, where we bowed our heads while one of the elders offered a prayer of thanks for the meal. As soon as he uttered amen, the helpers and I scurried back into the kitchen. We picked up the overflowing bowls of potatoes and green beans and the platters of roast pork to be placed on each of the tables.
    The men’s door leading into the dining hall opened, and I looked up to see Brother Bosch enter the room and take his regular place at one of the tables. He cast a quick glance across the room, and I wondered if he was looking for his wife. I found this custom of men and women eating at separate tables odd, but I’d soon learned that not only did men and women enter separate doors and eat their meals at separate tables, they did the same when they attended church meetings. One door for the men, another for the women. Hard wooden pews on one side of the meetinghouse were designated for men and those on the other side for women.
    When I questioned Sister Erma about the practice, she explained the separation was something that had begun long ago. “We believe that a man or woman can devote more of themselves to God if they do not have a spouse or children who need their time and will frequently fill their thoughts.”
    I had been amazed by her reply, for many of the colonists were married.
    Noting my surprise, Sister Erma continued. “The elders do not prohibit marriage, but there is a year of separation once a couple has permission to wed—to make certain they are strong in their love and commitment.”
    If Fred and I had tested our commitment in such a manner, I doubt he would have taken his vows. Instead,