At Home in Pleasant Valley by Marta Perry

responsibility.
    â€œA fine boy, that,” Mahlon said. “Not a schnickelfritz like Levi’s boy.”
    â€œHe gets into mischief already,” he said, remembering the motorcycle. “I understand you might be setting up a family for yourself sometime soon,” he said.
    Mahlon flushed. “Ja, we will that.” He glanced toward the kitchen,where the debate apparently still went on. “Just as well, I think, with Mamm and Daadi moving into the daadi haus. Barbara will want this place for her family, especially with another babe on the way.”
    â€œYour sisters will still be here though,” Daniel pointed out.
    Mahlon shrugged. “Anna’s old enough to start thinking about a wedding instead of running around all the time. And Leah—well, Leah’s a gut aunt.”
    It seemed the unspoken thought was that Barbara would be foolish to think of causing problems for Leah in the house. Still, the change couldn’t make for an easy situation for Leah.
    His gaze sought her out, and he realized that he’d known all along where she was, spreading a cloth over the picnic tables, even though he hadn’t been consciously thinking about her.
    Her situation was not easy in a lot of ways. She didn’t fit in with the other unmarried girls, all younger than she, who were giggling and flirting as they went about their chores. And the young married women, who were more her age, were occupied with babies and growing families.
    â€œShe would be a gut mother herself, as well as an aunt.”
    The fact that he’d said the words aloud startled him. He didn’t want people getting the wrong idea about him and Leah.
    Mahlon looked startled as well. “Leah? She always says she’s past getting married. Although I suppose—”
    He stopped, apparently thinking that Daniel could be a prospective suitor. Mahlon flushed to the tips of his ears. “She’s a fine person. I didn’t mean—”
    He stopped again, maybe because everything he tried to say seemed to lead in the wrong direction. He bent and grabbed the bottom of the cabinet.
    â€œLet’s get this inside. Maybe then Barbara will make up her mind. I’m ready for middaagesse.”
    It looked as if the servers were about ready for lunch, too. Women were carrying baskets to the tables, where Leah supervised setting them out.
    He picked up his end of the oak cabinet. “We’d best do some carrying to earn our lunch.”
    Would he talk with Leah then? They hadn’t spoken all week, but he felt as if that conversation in the garden had happened minutes ago.
    They hoisted the cabinet into the kitchen. Faced with its size, Barbara seemed to realize there was only one proper place for it, and it was deposited there without further trouble.
    â€œThat will do it.” She glanced at him. “It’s kind of you to help, Daniel.”
    He gave the nod that was the only right response. Barbara seemed to look at him with more interest than he’d expected. True, he was new in the district, but this wasn’t the first time they’d met. He’d expect her to have gotten over her curiosity by now.
    Mahlon nudged him. “Let’s get some food before the others hog it all. Komm.”
    He’d guess that Mahlon was still filling out his long frame, but he followed him outside to the picnic tables. Leah, seeing him coming, stepped a little away from the table to meet him.
    â€œYour brother is ready to eat,” he said.
    â€œMy brother is always ready to eat.” She waved her hand at Mahlon as if she shooed away a fly. “Go on, fill your plate already.”
    Mahlon grinned and took a ladleful of potato salad that filled half his plate.
    â€œHe’s still a growing boy,” Daniel suggested. “I seem to remember feeling like that.”
    Leah didn’t smile in return. Instead she looked at him with a kind of sweet gravity. “I must tell you