Kate's Song by Jennifer Beckstrand

the other side of the fence. One of the disadvantages of having her older brother and his family live next door was that few things in the Weaver household were safe from Ada’s keen eye. Kate wiped her face and nodded. “Hello, Ada. Hello, Sarah.”
    Ada looked at the letter in Kate’s hand. “Bad news?”
    “Just a letter from a friend in Milwaukee.”
    Ada clucked her tongue. “You miss that place right much, don’t you? Some girls are suited for that type of thing.”
    Kate didn’t answer.
    Ada reached out and straightened a crease in Kate’s apron. “You are looking healthier, Kate. Relaxation has worked wonders for your complexion.”
    “Denki,” Kate said, doing her best to keep from frowning. She marveled that Ada could make a compliment sound like an insult. Jah, Kate’s relaxation today had consisted of milking the cows, planting peas, mopping the floor, and baking four loaves of bread.
    “Sarah came to help me get my spring cleaning caught after,” Ada said. “You will watch my boys while we work, won’t you?”
    “I’m sorry, Ada. Mamma went to visit Aunt Erla, and I promised her I would finish piecing the quilt.”
    “I can’t see how it is any trouble for you to tend to my boys while you quilt. There are always grandchildren running around over there. I am not well. My health prevents me from keeping up with those boys all day like you and Mamm can.”
    “Oh, jah, little boys can sure be a handful.”
    “It will be all right, Ada,” said her sister. “I’ll keep an eye on the boys and help redd up at the same time. We wouldn’t want to interfere with Kate’s plans. I will stay until we are done, even if it’s late. I promise. We’ll make do,” Sarah said, a sigh of forbearance escaping her lips.
    “We will do no such thing,” Ada protested. “I’m sending those boys over, Kate.”
    Kate tightened her fingers around her letter, reducing it to a crinkly ball.
    “You can work on the quilt while you are tending. If it’s not too late, Sarah will drop by after cleaning and help with your quilt. She’s as good a quilter as our mamm ever was. Just the other day Nathaniel King saw a quilt Sarah made for Luther and was amazed at how tiny and even her stitches are.”
    “Oh, stop, Ada,” Sarah said, fixing her eyes on Kate.
    “Stick me with a pin if I’m lying. Nathaniel has said more than once what a good homemaker you are, Sarah. It’s no secret he admires your skills.” She turned to Kate. “The skills a good Amish wife needs.”
    Biting her tongue on a tart reply, Kate smiled and turned her face toward home. “Sarah is wonderful gute with a needle. That stitching she did for your wedding was exquisite. I know it’s wrong, but I have always envied your ability to make tiny stitches,” Kate said. “My fingers are too thick. Good milking hands, Elmer says.”
    Sarah giggled. “They are not too thick.”
    “They are gute strong hands too, because when Elmer insults me like that, he usually gets punched.”
    “Jah, I have hit my brothers a time or two when they act ugly,” Sarah said.
    “I do not suppose you’ll need to know how to quilt at the academy. So it’s just as well you aren’t very good at it,” Ada said.
    “Just as well,” Kate said. She turned and walked quickly down the lane toward the house, saying, “Send the boys over. I will teach them some songs to pass the time.”
    Kate took one moment to enjoy the look on Ada’s face before turning her back and striding toward the house.
    I shouldn’t have said that. Time to go home and repent right-quick .

Chapter Eight
    Nathaniel ran his hand tenderly along the unfinished block of walnut, one of the most expensive pieces of wood he had ever purchased. Closing his eyes, he breathed in the earthy scent of wood fresh from the lumber mill. This was a special piece, one he would take great care in shaping.
    The small room in which he stood served as his private workshop, where he made cradles, tables, and