Katie's Way by Marta Perry Page B

jacket.
    â€œMolly, it’s so nice to see you. How is the baby?”
    â€œAch, he is thriving.” Molly beamed at the mention of little Jacob. “I don’t think you have met my cousin, Katie Miller. She has the new quilt shop in town. Katie, this is Mrs. Macklin. Her gift shop is just down the street from your shop.”
    â€œLisa, please.” The woman’s warm smile included Katie. “In Pleasant Valley we’re all just down the street from each other, aren’t we? I’m sorry I haven’t been in to welcome you yet.”
    Katie wasn’t sure whether to respond to the introduction or to the woman’s comment. “It is nice to meet you, Mrs. . . . Lisa,” she amended. “Are you interested in quilting?”
    â€œInterested, but not very good. Still, I’d like to learn more about the lovely quilts the Amish make. I’ll stop by sometime next week, okay? Main Street merchants have to support each other.”
    It was a variation on what Rachel had said, and it warmed Katie still more, making her feel that she was not alone.
    â€œI’ll look forward to seeing you soon, then.”
    Lisa Macklin nodded. “You know, you might be interested in a project I’m working on. I’ve been thinking that if all of the merchants got together, we might find ways of drawing more tourists into town. That would be good for everyone.”
    Certainly good for her, Katie knew, but she couldn’t jump into anything without considering it carefully, especially if it would cost money.
    â€œI would like to hear about it,” she said politely. “But now I must go. I told my sister I would be back to take over the shop so that she can come and enjoy the sale.”
    â€œWe’ll talk about it when I stop by your shop, then.” Lisa nodded, turning to Rachel’s plants.
    Katie moved away, her spirits a bit lighter. She hadn’t come to the sale today with any particular hopes, but in a short time she’d gained a friend or two and lost some of the apprehension that had been dogging her. She’d been praying for guidance, and perhaps those two very different women were God’s answer.
    Molly caught up with her. “I’ll walk along with you as far as the auction tent. The boppli might be getting hungry.”
    â€œYou just can’t bear to be away from him, that’s all,” Katie teased.
    Molly glanced toward the tent, maybe looking for Jacob. “There is Naomi Brand with her family. I’m glad to see her out and about.”
    Katie looked in the direction Molly indicated. Naomi seemed to be surrounded by her entire family, except for one person.
    â€œCaleb isn’t there,” she pointed out. “He must be keeping his shop open today, too. So I’m not the only one who didn’t close.”
    â€œCaleb doesn’t go out to events like this very often.” Molly closed her lips, as if she’d said something she shouldn’t.
    â€œWhy is that?”
    â€œWhy what?” Molly tried unsuccessfully to look as if she didn’t know what Katie was talking about.
    Katie gave her arm a little shake. “You said Caleb doesn’t go out to events like this. What did you mean?”
    â€œNothing. I—nothing.”
    Katie tightened her grip on her cousin’s elbow. If Molly held the key to unraveling the puzzle that was Caleb Brand, she wanted to know it.
    â€œMolly,” she said warningly.
    â€œOh, all right.” Molly took a quick look around, as if to ensure that no other Amish were within earshot. “You must have noticed already how Caleb would rather stay away from people.”
    Katie considered. He did seem to keep to himself, but she’d thought maybe that was just with her. It was unusual among the Amish, to whom family and community meant so much.
    Molly took a deep breath and blew it out. “He’s a bit older than me, so I don’t know as much as