Read Online Katie's Journey to Love by Jerry S. Eicher - Free Book Online Page A

side of the kitchen wall as silence gripped the people at the supper table. Katie wanted to break out into sobs herself. She should have kept her mouth shut and allowed Mamm to handle this after she was gone. Now she had made the situation a hundred times worse.
    Jesse was looking at Mabel. “I’ve told you for the last time tonight to keep out of this. Do you understand?”
    â€œYes.” Mabel looked quite offended. “I’m not a child, Daett . But this is terrible. We’ve never had anything like this happen in our home before.”
    Jesse said nothing as he continued looking at Mabel.
    Under his gaze, Mabel finally glanced away and offered no further response.
    â€œNow, what were you saying, Katie?” Jesse turned back to her.
    â€œI’m very sorry about all this.” Katie got to her feet. “I’d better go see what I can do for Mamm .”
    â€œSit down, Katie,” Jesse said. He stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
    He disappeared into the living room.
    Mabel turned to glare at Katie. “I can’t believe you!” Mabel spat out.
    Katie looked away. She wasn’t going to fight about this. Besides, Esther was coming at any moment. In fact, she shouldbe here already. Katie wondered if she should change her mind and give up this idea tonight. It would temporarily solve things for Mamm , but that would only postpone the inevitable. Nee , she was going. A look of determination settled on her face. Da Hah had opened this door, and she was walking through it. Most of the family, including Mamm and Jesse, probably thought she’d pushed the door open on her own, but she hadn’t. Da Hah had done this for her. She was more certain of that each day. How a thing from Da Hah could cause so much trouble was hard to understand, but she wasn’t turning back now.
    Headlights bounced into the driveway, throwing beams of light through the living room windows. They ricocheted off the kitchen wall, stabbing through the bright glow of the lantern. Katie rose and, without looking at any of them, walked out of the kitchen. Mamm was seated on the couch beside Jesse, her head on his shoulder. Her sobs were silent now.
    â€œI’m so sorry about all this,” Katie said as she paused for a moment.
    â€œIt’s okay.” Mamm looked up, a faint smile on her face.
    Katie hesitated. But what more was there to say? Other than staying home, nothing would fully cheer Mamm . At least there was one thing to be thankful for. Jesse had done wonders for Mamm in the last few minutes. She had never recovered from one of her dark spells so quickly before.
    Grabbing her stuff, Katie headed out the door, closing it behind her. She walked down the steps as Esther’s headlights lit up the front yard. Katie squinted as she ran toward the car and opened the door. She slid in.
    â€œHowdy there,” Esther greeted her. “How are you doing?”
    â€œOkay, I guess,” Katie managed to say.
    â€œTrouble again?”
    Katie waited until Esther was on the main road before answering. “Everybody’s taking my leaving hard, and now there are people around other than Mamm .”
    â€œI can imagine.” Esther was all sympathy. “I guess you’ll just have to find your way. Carefully, that is. You are of age, aren’t you?”
    â€œNot in my world. We have to be twenty-one.”
    â€œAh, I’d forgotten about that.” Esther slowed to pass a buggy coming toward them on the side road. Her headlights illuminated the young man’s face for a moment.
    â€œThat’s the Yutzy boy, Mose,” Katie said, turning around in the seat to look back.
    â€œIs he your boyfriend?” Esther asked.
    â€œ Nee , but I think someone else is after him…someone like Mabel.”
    â€œHe looked kind of old. Are they seeing each other?”
    â€œI don’t think Jesse would permit Mabel to see a boy. She’s only