Along Wooded Paths Read Free Page B

older brother Levi joined the church and married Naomi, then they could’ve had a baby by this time too.
    A few rays of sunlight filtered through the kitchen window, but the gray clouds made it impossible for any warmth to break through. Her heart ached for Mem’s losses—unfulfilled dreams—but a new emotion stirred too. Anger. Why did this pressure have to fall on her? She had enough to worry about. Now she had to carry Mem’s burden too?
    God, it doesn’t seem fair. Couldn’t You have made it easier? Help me here. She waited for His peace to come, but instead the glass pane of the window radiated more cold.
    “I . . . I didn’t say I would never consider marrying Aaron. It’s jest I’d like some time to think some more. Maybe whenever I do go back, I can see him and we can talk about things.”
    Was it just her imagination or did Mem’s shoulders straighten a bit?
    “Yes, gut , but don’t wait too long. There are other young women . . .” Mem let her voice trail off. “There are rumors.”
    “Rumors?”
    “That Aaron was in a relationship. Or at least it appeared as such.”
    Mem didn’t mention Naomi’s name. Marianna wouldn’t either, but they both knew. She thought back to the letters from her friends talking about how close Aaron and Naomi seemed to be at Clara’s wedding.
    “I’ve heard the same, but you know rumors.”
    “Don’t break his heart, Mari.” Mem’s whispers sounded like a low hiss. “He has yet another woman who’d give her heart to him. And where would that leave you? Don’t walk away from your dream and live with regrets for the rest of your life. Don’t let your heart get caught up in what it ought not.”
    “Mem, you don’t understand—”
    Mem turned to her. “Really? Do you honestly believe that? Do you not think I was young once?”
    “Of course, I know you were—”
    Mem raised her hand. “Don’t believe yer the only one whose eyes have turned to a handsome Englischman, Marianna Sommer. There was a time I—”
    Dat’s steps sounded, and Marianna turned toward his approach.
    “Ruth.” Dat walked into the kitchen. “Do you have any more clean rags? I’d like to change the dressing on Charlie’s wounds.”
    Mem brushed a strand of hair back from her face and patted her kapp. Then she forced a smile. “ Ja , of course. I washed some and have them hung to dry upstairs. I’ll fetch them.”
    “I can do it—”
    “Nah.” Mem raised a hand. “I should check on Joy. She hasn’t eaten in a while.”
    Mem rushed from the room. Dat seemed oblivious to the pain on her face, but Marianna hadn’t missed her mother’s furrowed brow, red cheeks. Anger and something else . . . shame?
    Who was this Englischman Mem spoke of?

CHAPTER THREE

    Whitefish, Montana, next stop!”
    The conductor’s voice echoed through the car as he strode by. Aaron straightened in his seat and looked out at the town coming into view, at the mountains stretching into the sky. He’d never seen such mountains! They were beautiful, but their sharp peaks and jagged cliffs reminded him he was far from home. Give him a field and a dozen cattle any day. Give him lumber and some nails. Those he could control. Here?
    Nothing seemed in control.
    Maybe he should have let Mrs. Sommer tell Marianna he was on his way. For the first hundred miles on the train he pictured Marianna’s smile as she saw him. But the closer he got, the more he questioned if that would be the case. Had the distance ruined any chance of the love he’d once counted on?
    First he felt a shudder, then the grinding of wheels locking up. Finally a loud clanging sounded as the train slowed to a stop. Aaron adjusted his straw hat and grabbed his suitcase, eager to leave behind the movement of the train that caused his stomach to rumble as if it were filled with a hundred bees.
    Descending the train steps, he scanned the old-fashioned platform. The crisp, cold Montana air hit him and his stomach ached. People moved about,