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be involved in this project. Let someone do it who believed in midwives.
    “I didn’t doubt that.” He said the words gently. “But if you’re talking about investing all that you have in this—Well, I don’t want to see you get hurt if it doesn’t work out.”
    “It will work out.” The words were filled with such longing that they touched his heart. “My life is here now.”
    The door opened, and Bishop Mose stepped out to join them before Aaron could think of any proper response.
    “Well, have you two figured everything out? Aaron, how soon will you be able to start the work here?”
    With Bishop Mose’s wise old eyes on him, with that vulnerable expression on Sarah’s face, Aaron discovered that it was impossible to say what he’d intended.
    “Next week.” He heard the words come out of his mouth with a sense of disbelief. “We should be able to start next week.”

CHAPTER THREE
    P eople were looking at her. That was only natural, arriving as Sarah was for worship for the first time, but it still made her feel self-conscious.
    She walked beside Aunt Emma toward the barn at Leah and Daniel Glick’s place. Just being with her aunt was a lesson in humility. Every person knew Emma Stoltzfus, of course, as any Amish person knows everyone in the church district.
    But people greeted Emma with a special combination of affection and respect. She’d served them faithfully for so many years—how could they help but feel that way?
    Would the Amish of Pleasant Valley ever accept Sarah? If she modeled herself on Aunt Emma, perhaps.
    Her aunt crossed the frosty stubble of grass to a group of older women, some widows, as people began to gather into the groups in which they’d file into the barn for worship. The Glick family would no doubt have spent the week scrubbing and clearing the barn to prepare for this day. Each family in the congregation would take a turn hosting church in home or shop or barn, and that space, no matter how humble, became a house of worship for the day.
    She was about to join the group of older women when someone caught her arm. She turned to see Rachel Zook smiling at her.
    “Wilkom to worship, Sarah. I want you to meet my friend Leah Glick.”
    The woman who stood next to Rachel was the one hosting services that day, then. Seeing them together it was clear that they were friends, just by their quick exchange of glances.
    “We are so glad you have come to join us.” Leah’s serene smile seemed to radiate warmth. “We’ve been working our Emma so hard. Now she will have someone to help share the load.”
    “That’s what I hope.” Sarah smiled at the toddler pressed close to Leah’s skirt. “Are you one of my aunt’s babies?”
    “Ach, no, my sister Leah didn’t wait for the midwife to arrive,” another young woman said as she joined them, smiling at the question.
    “Sarah, this is my sister, Anna Fisher, just back from her wedding trip.” Leah patted the newcomer’s arm. “She means that Rachel here had to deliver her namesake when our little Rachel arrived ahead of schedule.”
    “She must have done a wonderful-gut job, then, to bring such a beautiful little girl into the world.”
    Leah’s child stared at her with a solemn expression in her huge blue eyes and then reached out a chubby hand, patting Sarah’s skirt.
    The women laughed.
    “See, she knows already that you are someone who loves a boppli.” Anna leaned a little closer. “I’m so glad you are here as well, Sarah. I pray that I’ll have reason to visit you soon.”
    “Ser gut,” she said. “My aunt and I will be happy to see you.”
    This warm welcome was what she’d hoped for, but at the same time it made Sarah a tiny bit uneasy. She wanted to help Aunt Emma, not replace her. Their relationship might be difficult if patients started asking for her instead of her aunt.
    “There will be plenty to keep you both busy,” Rachel said, as if she understood the concern that lurked in Sarah’s