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else, or can I go visit Annie for a spell?”
    “Maybe after lunch. Can you help Katie with the mending?”
    Her shoulders sagged. Annie would have to wait. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Jah. That’ll be fine.”
    ***
    The morning crawled by as if in slow motion. Daniel patiently tried to talk Jacob through problems, but most of the time Jacob felt hinnersich. Still, this was his first day as a blacksmith apprentice—a career he never wanted. Maybe he’d have more appreciation for Mose when he returned home.
    But there was something mesmerizing about pounding the hot metal into shapes and watching the forms appear that Daniel wanted.
    The clanging of the dinner bell coming from the house signaled a welcome break. Jacob looked forward to whatever Becky had been baking when he’d been in the kitchen earlier.
    When he came in, the table was already laden with bread-and-butter pickles, chowchow, jams, fresh baked bread, and pickled eggs. One of the girls—her name escaped him, but she looked about twelve—was just finishing setting the table.
    Jacob followed Daniel to the washbasin, watching out of the corner of his eye for Becky. She wasn’t anywhere in the room. Probably taking care of her boppli.
    Funny how her situation upset his stomach. He needed to pray for her—and the man who had wronged her.
    Jacob sat down at the table, his hands on his lap, watching the women bustle to load more food onto the table—Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and corn. They’d no sooner placed the last serving dish on the table when Becky hurried in, skirts swirling—though he tried not to notice—and slid into her chair, bowing her head for the silent prayer.
    Jacob followed suit. At least with his head bowed he didn’t have to pretend he didn’t notice her.
    If only she’d smile.
    He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes, forcing his focus away from the woman sitting across from him and onto the Holy One who deserved his undying devotion. Jacob offered up thanks for the bounty in front of him, adding a plea for help for Becky.
    And for a measure of wisdom for him. There must be some way to tease a smile out of her.
    Did the youth have singings here? He imagined they would. Maybe he could talk Becky into taking him to introduce him around. He could help her find a potential husband. Surely, she went. She was still in her rumschpringe. Right?

Chapter 6
    After the silent prayer, Daed took a helping of the meat and mushrooms, then passed the white serving dish to the left. Jacob accepted it, but as he reached for the fork, he glanced up, meeting Becky’s eyes. He grinned and winked. Her face warmed, and she hastily looked away, passing a dish to her sister.
    “So, Bex, are they having a singing tomorrow night?” He didn’t clarify who “they” were, maybe figuring she would know. And he’d called her Bex in front of her family. What did they think about that?
    Becky knew whom he meant by “they.” But if he wanted to know who would be hosting it, she didn’t know that. She hadn’t been to youth functions since before….
    She wouldn’t go there. Not mentally, and certainly not physically.
    Just at that moment, Ruthie passed the bicolor sweet corn. Did Becky read pity in her sister’s eyes? Becky glared at her. What would an eleven-year-old know about life?
    She stabbed the serving spoon into the bowl of corn. Thankfully, it seemed everyone else at the table was ignoring the conversation that Jacob had initiated. Except maybe Daed. He wore that knowing expression. The one he’d put on when he’d come into the kitchen the day Jacob had arrived. The one that said he knew a secret.
    Becky passed the corn on to Abbie and accepted the mashed potatoes, all without answering Jacob. As if the question would go away if she ignored it long enough.
    She caught a look from her mother as she passed the potatoes on to Abbie—the one that Mamm wore to say silently that rudeness would not be tolerated.
    Becky knew that her