Britta clapped her hand over her mouth. “Ach, sorry for speak-in’ out of turn.”

She didn’t press further, but the odd way Britta was acting, like she was privy to something, made Susie wonder. But she let it go.

She made her way back down the hall, through the kitchen, and outside to the porch, where she sat in one of the hickory rockers to wait. She wondered if Obie knew that Jerome had already let the cat out of the bag to her. If so, would Obie reveal more about his plans?

In a few minutes, he came walking across the yard, carrying a large sack of what had to be several jars of peanut butter spread. He paused politely at the sidewalk to wait for her at the bottom of the porch steps, and together, they walked toward the driveway. It struck her as odd that her first ride with Obie should take place in his father’s rickety spring wagon.

Brushing the thought aside, she hoped God would calm her rattled nerves.

Obie placed the sack in the back of the wagon, then returned to offer his hand. “Here, I’ll help you up,” he said with a smile.

“Denki,” she said softly, dying to know what was on his mind.

Obie untied the horse from the hitching post, got into the driver’s seat on the right side of the wagon, reached for the driving lines, and directed the horse forward. When they were out on the road, Obie glanced her way. “You okay?”

“Just haven’t seen ya around is all.”

He nodded. “I apologize for askin’ spur of the moment like this. It’s just that this morning, Jerome said he’d told ya about my job offer. I’d wanted to be the one to talk it over with ya first.”

This surprised her but also made her feel warm inside.

Obie continued, “I know what my family thinks about the opportunity, Mamm ’specially.”

“I’m sure they want ya to stay round here,” Susie said. Like I do.

Obie nodded. “It would be different, bein’ gone so long, but my smithy uncle needs help after the corn harvest this fall. That is, if I agree.”

He’d leave in October, she thought, her heart beating faster. “What do ya mean by long?”

“Onkel Leon wants me to commit to at least two years,” Obie said, his eyes straight ahead as he held the reins steady. “Could end up as long as three, since it takes a while to learn the smithy trade.”

He turned to look at her just as Susie’s mouth dropped. “Ach . . . that is a long time. It sure wouldn’t be the same without ya round here.” Flustered, she wasn’t sure what to do now, and she fidgeted with her coat as Obie held her gaze, as though surprised at her reaction.