The next four days, Anna pondered Gabe’s invitation while trying to keep her attention on her work. It was all she could do during her tours not to take note of one Old Order Amish farm after another, one mule team out harvesting, one horse and buggy, and more. In fact, everywhere she turned, there seemed to be Old Order folk working and living their beautiful, simple lives. And even though this was nothing new, it somehow seemed that their way of life was calling to her. Do I crave a more humble life? she wondered. Is that the draw for me?

Anna realized she was also either thinking about Gabe or praying for him several times a day now. Well, not for him, but rather how she could justify continuing her time with little Emmie on Fridays while aware of her strong feelings for Gabe . . . and his for her. Was it right when their relationship seemed like a dead-end street, especially where her parents were concerned?

Thursday after work, Anna stopped at the Strasburg Market Place for Sadie, as she sometimes did, and saw Gabe rushing across the parking lot to assist an elderly man who’d dropped his bag of groceries. Cans were rolling everywhere, and the man had dropped his cane.

Immediately, Gabe took the man’s arm, led him to his car, and helped him inside. Then, Gabe ran back to gather up the scattered grocery items and the cane and brought them to the man. Gabe crouched at the car window and talked with the now-smiling man for a few moments, undoubtedly to see that he was all right.

Anna brushed tears from her face, her heart beating for Gabe—a wonderful man, and she realized how terribly sad she would feel to walk away from him. I’d always regret not accepting his offer to court—to see where things might lead, she thought, reaching for her purse and grocery list. Unfortunately, however, she still had no idea how to get her parents to understand her romantic interest in an Old Order Amishman.

The very thing they feared . . .

The next afternoon was cold—the wind shrieked down the chimney—and thus an ideal day to stay indoors and sew with Sadie once Anna returned from spending time with Emmie. Anna stood very still on a stool as Sadie marked the hem of her new plum-colored dress, one she’d needed for a while now.

“I’m praying about possibly accepting Gabe’s offer to explore a relationship,” Anna confided. “But first I should try to resolve my parents’ concerns about his church—well, your church.”

“Truth be told, I’m glad we’re talking ’bout this. You see, I went out on a limb,” Sadie said, asking her to turn slowly. “I called your Mamm.”

Anna was surprised. “You did?”

Nodding, Sadie admitted, “I talked with her for quite a while about many things, including our church district.”