Read Online Kate's Song by Jennifer Beckstrand - Free Book Online Page A

my lifetime ago. I think I can move past it now, don’t you?”
    “You did allow me to bring you to Eicher’s Dairy today. This is progress. Perhaps next week I will try taking you to Burger King.” Nathaniel’s eyes flickered with mischief, and he scattered grass on Kate’s shoulder. “There has been a gross misunderstanding, though. I made this birdhouse for your mamm. You would not refuse a gift for your mamm, would you?”
    Kate couldn’t suppress a smile. “You are a rascal, Nathaniel King, and jah, my mamm would love a birdhouse.” She put a hand up to halt his rejoicings. “But don’t give her any more gifts, either, unless you are ready for a stern scolding.”

Chapter Ten
    Kate ambled down the road, her basket hanging casually over her arm as she hummed “O Mio Babbino.” Dat couldn’t spare the buggy, so she was forced to walk the five miles to the Millers’ house. Not that she minded. The crisp spring afternoon provided perfect weather for a stroll, and the long walk gave her plenty of time to be alone with her jumbled thoughts.
    After “O Mio” she favored the fence posts with the “Queen of the Night” aria. The energetic tune inspired her to skip along the pavement. With every stanza, the sound got bigger and the dancing became livelier. “The Doll Song” was accompanied by hand waving and toe tapping that put Kate completely out of breath.
    That must have been why she didn’t hear the buggy come up behind her.
    “Kate Weaver, what do you think you are about?”
    Kate turned to see a buggy stopped in the middle of the road with two women staring curiously from the front seat.
    Grinning, Edna Miller held tightly to the reins of her horse and leaned out of the buggy like a tree bent in the wind. “You better climb in here before someone sees you wildly flailing about, liebe. Someone besides me and my sister. We don’t count, do we, Naomi?”
    Naomi and her legendary sour disposition sat next to her sister with her arms folded and a prominent frown plastered on her face. “I think we count for plenty,” she said.
    “Denki,” Kate said as she began to climb into the buggy.
    “ Nae , nae, sit in front,” Edna said. “The back is loaded with Luke’s stuff. That man is the worst pack rat I ever knew.”
    Kate squeezed into the front seat next to Naomi, who didn’t seem to want to scoot over one bit for an unwelcome guest. Good thing all three of them were on the skinny side. Edna urged the horse forward.
    “You are very kind to offer me a ride,” Kate said. “I was actually coming to your house.”
    “My house? I am honored,” Edna said. “But it is such a long walk—especially if you dance all the way.”
    “Acting awfully wild, if you ask me,” Naomi said, sniffing the air as if expecting to pick up the scent of sin.
    “Don’t be rude, Naomi.” Edna eyed Kate and smiled. “We’re coming from my daughter Lizzie’s house. The new baby isn’t taking well to the nursing, and you should see Lizzie’s timid husband. As helpless as a kitten in a canal.”
    “Oh, that is too bad,” Kate said, trying to ignore the hostility oozing from Naomi as she stared unabashedly at Kate.
    Edna glanced at her sister and sighed. “Lizzie will get the hang of it. That first little buplie is always so hard to nurse. ”
    Kate swallowed hard. “How is Lizzie feeling after the new baby?”
    “Ach, poorly to be sure. The midwife said it was a hard delivery. Lizzie probably should have been in a hospital, but she’s a little afraid of them. And she wanted to have her first baby at home. But with Naomi taking care of her, she’ll be fit as a fiddle in no time. Naomi has a healer’s touch. If she would show a cheery disposition once in a while, she wouldn’t scare off so many patients.”
    Naomi leaned her elbow on her knee and pinned Kate with an accusatory stare. “It is high time you stopped all this nonsense.”
    Edna sighed again, louder. “Naomi, please.”
    “‘Resist the