Katie's Way by Marta Perry

the other, his eyes narrowing.
    â€œNo, not at all.” Katie had switched back to Englisch, her voice firm. “The price is two hundred. Now, if you’re interested in taking some pieces on commission for your shop . . .” She let that trail off.
    Hargrove’s lips tightened to a thin line, and he shot an annoyed glare at Caleb. “I don’t deal in commissions. Never have, never will. And if you want to make a success of this place, you won’t, either.”
    â€œIt is a way that is fair to the quilter,” she said mildly.
    â€œIt’s a good way to go broke,” he snapped. He turned, stomping toward the door. “Suit yourself. Your place will go belly-up before the year’s out, anyway. Not enough traffic through this out-of-the-way place.”
    He grabbed the door and yanked it open, the bell jangling furiously. “Let me know when you have your going-out-of-business sale. Maybe I’ll buy something.” He punctuated the words with a slam of the door.
    For a moment silence filled the shop.
    â€œWell.” Katie let out a long breath. “I hope I don’t have many visitors like that.”
    Her tone was light, but Caleb saw her fingers press against the countertop until they were white.
    â€œYou don’t want to listen to somebody like Hargrove.” He wasn’t very good at finding comforting words to say. “You’ll do fine.”
    â€œI hope so.” But the confidence was lost from her voice. None of his business, Caleb reminded himself. Still, he had to do something.
    â€œI’ll go and get that quilt rack,” he said. “Which quilt do you want to hang on it?”
    Her gaze met his, and the sparkle came back into her eyes. “Ach, your mamm’s baby quilt, of course. What else?”

CHAPTER FOUR
    T his feels familiar, ain’t so?” Molly tilted her head toward the grounds around the township fire hall, her dimples showing when she smiled. “You had Mud Sales at home, I’m sure.”
    â€œJa, you’re right.” Katie glanced across the grassy area, already turning muddy from all the people who crowded around stalls selling everything from plants to funnel cakes to the latest kitchen gadgets. “Except there I knew everyone.”
    She wished the words back immediately, reminding herself that “everyone” included Eli and Jessica.
    Molly squeezed her arm. “You’ll soon get to know folks here.”
    â€œFor sure.” She pinned on a smile.
    Aaron, Molly’s oldest brother, caught up with them. “What are you looking to buy today, Cousin Katie? A pan of sticky buns or a vegetable chopper or a new harrow? Whatever it is, someone has it.”
    Her smile broadened. Aaron’s happiness was contagious as he looked forward to his fall wedding to Sarah Mast, the midwife. “I don’t think I need anything, but you are the one to shop today,” she said. “You’ll be setting up housekeeping with Sarah at the birthing center before long. There must be some things you both need.”
    Aaron’s face gentled, as it always did at the mention of his intended. “Sarah’s aunt has lived in the house for so long that it’s well-furnished. Still, Aunt Emma will be moving furniture into the grossdaadi haus once it’s finished, and we might need a few things.”
    Aaron, a carpenter, was building an addition to the old house for Sarah’s aunt, a semi-retired midwife who still helped out with the births.
    â€œGo along with you.” Molly flapped her hand at her brother. “You know you want to check out what they have at the auction. And if you see Jacob, tell him I’ll take the boppli whenever he wants.”
    Nodding, Aaron moved off through the crowd.
    â€œI think everybody in the township is here today,” Molly said, nodding to an older couple who passed them. “You should have just closed the shop and let Rhoda