Katie's Choice by Amy Lillard Page A

“It’s important for the church members to stand united before God, show their trust in Him. Their obedience. It’s not about color as much as it’s about reverence. Being part of something bigger than oneself.”
    Ruth smiled. “Well put, my dear.”
    “ Danki .”
    “You understand now?” Ruth asked Zane.
    “I’m going to have to think about that awhile.”
    The cooperative was about serving the greater good of the community. What the people grew, they shared with their friends and neighbors. There was a community garden, a community everything. But what they wore was of no consequence. Maybe because they didn’t worship a god who expected anything from them in return. It was about living off the land and staying out from under “the man’s” thumb.
    This, it seemed, was something entirely different.
    He made a mental note to talk to Annie about it. What better way to find out about the differences between the Amish and the English than talking to a convert?

    Once the clothes were hung, they went in to have breakfast. The sky had turned the most beautiful shade of lavender that faded to blue, promising a beautiful day.
    “How will we know if we’ve won the laundry standoff?”
    Annie smiled. “I haven’t seen Katie Rose drive by yet, so I’d say we did it.”
    Zane couldn’t stop his smile. Maybe because the news brought one to Ruth’s face as well. Then he realized this had more to do with being capable than it did about being first. Ruth had to prove to herself, despite her treatments, despite her cancer, that she still had it. The woman had spunk, he had to hand it to her.
    “Katie Rose drives by each day?”
    “Only on Mondays when she goes to help Deacon Esh.”
    “Right.” Zane snapped his fingers, in remembrance. “She helps him do his laundry, after she does her own, then she goes to teach school?” Amazing.
    “After she cooks breakfast.”
    “And in the evening?”
    “She takes care of the family,” Ruth said with a shrug, but Zane could see the light of admiration in Annie’s eyes. That was a lot of work for one person, but such effort was looked upon favorably in the district. As it should be. Hard work like that should never go unnoticed. Surely a woman who worked that hard for others would be a prime catch for an Amish man. So maybe her fate was more a personal choice than anything else. But why was she so against marriage? It didn’t have anything to do with his story, but Zane made a mental note to find out the answer.

    Zane was about to head down the stairs for afternoon chores when his cell phone rang. “Hello?”
    “Tell me you have pictures to go with these notes.”
    “Good afternoon to you too, Jo. Yes, as a matter of fact, it is a lovely day.”
    “Don’t play with me, Carson. These notes you sent over are spectacular. But I need the visual angle.”
    “About that . . .” Zane rubbed the back of his neck trying to ease the tension that had settled there. “They don’t allow their picture to be taken.”
    “Of course they don’t. That’s why I sent you. If anyone can get the photos, it’s you.”
    The image of the stern-faced Abram Fisher popped into his head. Abram was nothing if not fair. Pious and straight-walking. And Ruth who was so self-conscious of her post-chemo body, plus Annie, John Paul. Katie Rose. He had grown to care for them all since coming here, and Zane couldn’t find it in himself to betray their trust.
    His silence must have said it all. Or at least enough. “Listen, Zane. Juarez is a big job. Big job. If you can’t handle the Amish . . .” She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t have to. If he couldn’t complete his assignment with the Amish, then he’d lose the Mexico assignment to another reporter.
    He heaved a sigh, resigned to follow through with his instructions. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    “I’m sure you will.”
    Zane could hear the triumphant smile in her voice. Jo always liked to get her way. Now all he had to do