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

devil, and he will flee from you,’” Naomi said.
    Edna nudged her sister with her elbow. “Do you remember how we talked about sticking our nose into other people’s business?”
    Naomi snorted. “I’m simply saying what everybody is thinking.”
    Edna prodded the horse to go faster. “Naomi, Kate is a good girl. Shame on you for prying. Let’s talk about something less distressing, like the dysentery epidemic in Africa.”
    Stifling a smile, Kate tucked a loose lock of hair under her kapp. “Nae, Edna, it is all right. I know what people must be thinking about me. But that is why we have rumschpringe—so young people can decide for themselves.”
    Naomi folded her arms and harrumphed. “It is shameful when children use the rumschpringe as an excuse for gross wickedness.”
    Kate found the courage to put her arm around Naomi, who looked at her as if she were a creature from another planet. “My Amish faith and my desire to sing have struggled with each other for many years. I want to know God’s will for my life. If I want an answer, I have to do my part to get one. ‘Faith without works is dead.’”
    Naomi shrugged Kate’s arm from her shoulders. “I can tell you right now: God wants you to be baptized.”
    “How do you know?” Kate said.
    “Because He wants everyone to be baptized.”
    Edna clicked her tongue in indignation. “Naomi, do not presume to counsel the Almighty. You do not know.”
    “Here is where God has placed her. She should not seek to leave her place.”
    “Maybe the Almighty placed her here to struggle,” Edna said. “He gave her a beautiful voice, didn’t He?”
    “But where does the wickedness end with that sort of life?” Naomi pressed a finger into Kate’s arm. “I will tell you. It ends in your destruction.”
    The buggy jerked to a halt, and Edna breathed a sigh of relief. “To your house already, Naomi. Denki for coming with me.”
    Kate practically leaped out of the buggy. Naomi scooted over and slid slowly to the ground, grunting and panting as she went. When she steadied herself on her own two feet, she shook her finger in Kate’s face. “Mark my words. The path you are on leads to nowhere but hell, young lady.”
    “Good-bye, Naomi. I’ll be here at seven tomorrow morning,” Edna chirped.
    Kate climbed back into the buggy and Edna snapped the reins before Kate could even plant herself firmly in the seat. As they drove away, they watched Naomi hobble to her front door in her orthopedic shoes.
    “I hope you will forgive Naomi,” Edna said. “She tells it how she sees it, and sometimes she doesn’t wear her glasses.”
    Kate managed a half smile. “You might not believe this, but all opinions are welcome. My dat would say that the ones that make me uncomfortable are the ones I should pay most attention to.”
    “Most young people are not mature enough to see the truth in that.” Edna winked at Kate. “Naomi often has sensible opinions, but the way she delivers them chases away all but the most humble.”
    The clip-clop of the horse’s hooves changed to a muffled crunching as they turned from the paved street to the gravel road that led to Edna’s house.
    “What’s in the basket?” Edna asked.
    “I brought you a loaf of bread and a jar of apple butter,” Kate said, lifting the cloth draped over her basket.
    “Bread and a visit. This really is an honor.”
    “I need some advice.”
    “Ah, shall I take you back to Naomi’s? She hands out advice like trees hand out leaves in the fall.”
    Kate grinned and shook her head. “Maybe some other time.”
    “You come to counsel with Luke?”
    “Nae, I want your advice.”
    “Me? I am not qualified to give advice to anyone,” Edna said. “I am a simple Amish housewife who knows how to get my laundry clean, milk my cows, and cook a filling meal. Your mamma can do all of those things better than I.”
    “But you left the community once. During rumschpringe.”
    Edna nodded and pursed her lips. “I