Read Cousin's Challenge for Free Online Page B

on hand. Enough so that Sharon can make a new quilt for her bed.”
    Sharon puckered her lips. “But Mom, I don’t know how to sew a quilt.”
    â€œThen it’s time you learned.” Mom nudged Sharon’s arm. “And for taking those beets up to your room, you’ll have extra chores to do for the next two weeks.” She grimaced. “The fire never would have happened if you’d eaten the beets in the kitchen like you know you’re supposed to do.”
    Lonnie bent down, scooped up the quilt, and dropped it into the wheelbarrow. He was on his way to the garbage can when Pop, walking briskly beside him, grabbed hold of his arm. “What are you doing home? Didn’t Rueben have any work for you today?”
    Lonnie held up his bandaged hand. “Couldn’t do much with this hurting the way it does.”
    â€œYou managed to put out a fire and haul Sharon’s quilt outside. How do you account for that?”
    Lonnie gritted his teeth. Was Pop trying to provoke him into an argument? “Seemed like putting out the fire was an emergency, so I ignored the pain in my hand.” Lonnie hurried off before Pop could say anything more.
    ***
    As Jolene headed down the road toward the Troyers’ place, her stomach twisted with nervousness. What if Sylvia and Irvin didn’t like her? Worse yet, what if the children’s parents didn’t like her? She remembered Aunt Dorcas telling her that it was very important for a teacher of deaf students to get acquainted with the students’ parents. This, she’d said, would help the teacher understand the things the children might tell her that had happened at home. Getting to know the parents also helped the teacher see how the parents were dealing with the children and their loss of hearing.
    Jolene tightened her grip on the reins. It wasn’t in her nature to worry so much or get worked up over things. She knew she needed to relax and commit this to God.
    She whispered a prayer, took a few deep breaths, and relaxed her grip on the reins. By the time she’d pulled off the road and was heading up the Troyers’ driveway, she felt calmer and a bit more confident.
    Jolene pulled up to the hitching rail and stepped down from the buggy. She’d just finished securing the horse when a tall, freckle-faced man with red hair stepped out of the barn. Figuring he must be the children’s father and having been told that he could sign, Jolene used signing as she spoke the words.
    â€œI’m Jolene Yoder. I’ve been hired by the school board to teach your children.”
    He gave an enthusiastic nod and signed as he spoke. “I’m Harvey Troyer, Sylvia and Irvin’s daed. It’s good you have come. We know that the teacher at the Amish schoolhouse can’t teach them, and we don’t relish the idea of sending them away to school.”
    â€œI understand.”
    Jolene spent the next several minutes talking with Harvey about how she’d lost her own hearing and had received training from her aunt in Pennsylvania, who’d been teaching deaf students a good many years. Then they talked about Jolene’s previous years as a teacher and how she wanted to be a good teacher to his children as well.
    â€œI hope to not only teach the children their lessons, but also how to formulate words and read lips,” she said.
    â€œThat would be a good thing.” He smiled. “Now let’s go in the house so you can meet my wife, Mary, and the children. Sylvia and Irvin both know how to sign and have had one year of schooling, so I don’t think teaching them will be a problem.”
    â€œI’m looking forward to meeting them,” Jolene said.
    Harvey led the way, and when they entered the house, Jolene was met by the enticing sweet smell of gingerbread. She followed Harvey into the kitchen, where a woman with light brown hair and pale blue eyes stood near the stove. A little boy