Hannah's Joy by Marta Perry Page A

was better not to let on that she knew about William’s feelings for Rachel, but she sensed her face had already given her away.
    Before she could come up with something to say, another Amish woman, carrying a tray of cupcakes toward the kitchen, stopped behind Anna. She looked at Hannah with curiosity in her round, red-cheeked face.
    “This is Paula Schatz’s niece, ja?”
    Hannah nodded. She was beginning to accept the fact that everyone here could identify her. “Yes, I’m Hannah Conroy.”
    “This is my sister-in-law Barbara Beiler,” Anna said. “My oldest brother’s wife.”
    All Barbara’s interest focused on Hannah. “You are the one helping William Brand with his talking, then.”
    She nodded. If William had hoped to keep that fact quiet, he’d obviously failed. How did the Amish spread news so quickly, even without the help of telephones?
    “It’s wonderful kind of Hannah to do that,” Rachel said quickly.
    “It certainly is,” Anna added. Oddly, there seemed to be a warning in her voice, as if . . .
    “Ja, I’m sure that’s so,” Barbara said. “It’s chust too bad that everyone doesn’t see it that way.”
    “Barbara . . .” Anna began.
    “What do you mean?” Hannah felt as if she’d missed a step in the dark and come down hard.
    “Some folks are saying that William is as God made him. That he should be satisfied with that and not be trying to change.”
    “Barbara, that’s not a thing you ought to be repeating.” Rachel spoke sharply, the tone a contrast to the gentleness in her face.
    “I’m not saying I think that,” Barbara said. “Just that some folks are saying it.”
    “That doesn’t mean you should tell Hannah such a thing.” Anna’s fair skin had flushed, as if her sister-in-law had embarrassed her, and Myra, also a sister-in-law, looked as if she wanted to crawl under the table.
    “Well, I didn’t mean anything.” Barbara looked genuinely surprised by their reaction to her words. “Guess I’d best get these cupcakes to the kitchen.” She hurried off, as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.
    There was an awkward silence in Barbara’s wake.
    Rachel hurried into speech. “Don’t heed what a few foolish people think, Hannah. Please. You are doing a gut thing for William. He should have a chance to speak for himself.”
    “Barbara means well.” Anna’s expression was rueful. “I have to remind myself of that a half-dozen times a day. It’s just too bad that everything she thinks comes out of her mouth.”
    “It’s all right.” Hannah tried to muster a normal-looking smile. “I was a little taken aback, but what William wants is all that matters.”
    But was it? She couldn’t help but remember what Katie had said—that William was upset about the thought that people would gossip about them.
    Now it was happening. How would he react? Would he feel that working with her wasn’t worth the hassle?
    That was his decision, Hannah reminded herself. But the possibility made her more uneasy than it should.
    *   *   *
    On the off Sunday, when they didn’t have church, most Amish visited friends or relatives. William supposed the Mennonites did the same, making him wonder for a moment where Hannah and her little boy would spend the day. Paula had a flock of relatives in Pleasant Valley, so they were probably visiting someone.
    He’d been invited to Myra and Joseph Beiler’s for supper. When he’d stopped by the machine shop that Joseph ran with Samuel Weaver to pick up a mower piece Isaac needed, Myra had hurried out to the buggy before he left to invite him. A kind thought, that was, inviting him by himself instead of assuming he’d be going somewhere with Isaac’s family.
    The lane to Joseph and Myra’s place ran between two properties, with the Beiler house on the left and the home of Samuel and Anna Weaver on the right, beyond a fenced paddock. Samuel had a gift with horses, and he was often training an animal or two for someone,