Following Your Heart by Jerry S. Eicher

desserts.
    â€œI’ll get pie later,” Thomas said.
    â€œIf there’s any left,” James warned. But he too passed up the pies and followed Thomas toward the benches set up in the living room. As they passed through the line of girls forming behind the boys, Eunice glanced at both of them, her eyes lingering on Thomas.
    â€œHey, Eunice was looking at you,” James teased when they’d seated themselves.
    â€œEunice you can have,” Thomas said, digging his spoon into his mashed potatoes.
    â€œEunice is a nice enough girl, so don’t go knocking her,” James said out of the corner of his mouth.
    â€œI didn’t say she wasn’t,” Thomas said. “She’s just not for me. So you go ask her home.” When James didn’t respond, Thomas continued. “What are you waiting for? You’re not getting any younger, you know.”
    â€œI’m not that old,” James retorted, “so don’t start that on me.”
    â€œYou’re old enough to be married,” Thomas said. “Instead, you’ve passed up a lot of gut chances. What happened with Rose from Geauga County?”
    â€œIt’s none of your business,” James said. “Let’s just say it didn’t work out.”
    â€œSo there!” Thomas said. “A case in point. You really should think about Eunice. She’s a nice girl.”
    â€œMaybe I’m waiting for the perfect girl,” James said, his spoon stopping halfway to his mouth.
    â€œYou’re going to have a mighty long wait,” Thomas said. “Susan’s the closest to perfect and she’s taken—by me. So you’re left with the pickings, I’m afraid.”
    James got a sober look on his face and leaned in close. “I guess you know that Englisha woman they have in their house isn’t making things look gut for you,” he said. “She might even be part of your problem with Susan.”
    â€œI know.” Thomas grunted. “I wish there was something I could do about it.”
    â€œMaybe you should speak with Menno,” James offered. “He might be able to do something. Daett says the ministers aren’t backing down from their stand about the girl.”
    â€œLike Menno will listen to me,” Thomas said. “And Susan will barely let me in the house.”
    James smiled. “You can talk with Menno in the barn, you know.”
    â€œSo why don’t the ministers take a stronger stand?” Thomas asked. “They should ask the woman to leave and take her baby with her.”
    James shrugged. “That does seem like the easy answer. Daett said they weren’t going to take that step.”
    â€œWhy not?” Thomas asked.
    â€œSomething about trying to help the woman the best they could, but the truth is I don’t know. Daett seems to be holding back on sharing for some reason.”
    â€œLike that’s going to stop Bishop Henry if he wants to move hard against the woman,” Thomas muttered.
    â€œWell, they do have to have unity,” James offered. “I know that much from growing up with a deacon for a daett . Some of the ways of Amish ministers are mysterious, but that one’s plain enough. They stick up for each other.”
    Thomas grunted again. “I wish something could be done.”
    â€œSo why don’t you think of something then?” James said. “There’s always some way to do everything. Now, how about tying into some of that cherry pie back at the table?”
    â€œI’m with you!” Thomas said, scraping the last of the gravy off his plate. As they moved across the crowded room, other boys were getting to their feet. A small line formed by the time they arrived back at the food table. James talked with a boy ahead of him, and Thomas stared out of the kitchen window at the falling darkness.
    James could well be right, he figured. The Englisha girl might be having some