“I’ll check with Dad,” Katy said, “but it sounds good to me. I doubt Gramma Ruthie will be able to help Shelby with that quilting project like we’d planned. She’s so busy with Uncle Albert and Aunt Rebecca’s boys.”
Annika touched Katy’s arm. “Your aunt’s cancer has changed a lot of things, hasn’t it?”
Katy didn’t want to think about everything that had changed since cancer intruded in her family. Instead of answering Annika’s question, she said, “Let me go ask Dad about visiting you this afternoon. Stay here, Shelby — I’ll be right back.”
She left Shelby and Annika to chat and jogged toward Dad. He stood in the shade beside the church building, talking with two of the elders. Rather than interrupt their conversation, she hung back. She couldn’t make out what the other men were saying, but she heard Dad’s low-toned reply: “Let’s not jump to conclusions. It could just be a rumor.”
The others murmured something in reply and then ambled off. Katy moved to Dad’s side and touched his arm. He jumped as if she’d startled him. She frowned. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” His smile seemed forced, though. He slipped his arm across her shoulders and aimed her toward the middle of the yard. “What did you need?”
Katy repeated Annika’s request then asked, “Would that be all right?”
“So you aren’t planning to eat with Annika—just visit her later?”
“Yes.”
Dad offered a quick nod. “That would be fine. Rosemary and I will probably go into Schellberg this afternoon to check on Rebecca. We might not be back in time to fix supper or do the milking. Would you …?”
Katy refrained from releasing a sigh. She’d hoped for a free afternoon, but how could she refuse to help? “That’s fine, Dad. We’ll make sure we’re back by five so I can help with the milking if I’m needed, and Shelby and I can put something on the table for supper.”
“It’ll probably just be setting out leftovers,” Dad said, “so it shouldn’t tax you too much.” He paused and stared across the yard at something, his brows pulled down in confusion. Or worry.
Katy bumped her arm against his side. “Dad, are you sure you’re all right?”
“Hmm?” He gave another little jerk and shifted to smile down at her. “Yes, yes, just fine. Don’t worry. Why don’t you and Shelby go to the car now. I’ll get Rosemary and we’ll head home.”
Katy moved slowly to obey, a troublesome thought plaguing her. Something was bothering Dad — something he didn’t want her to know. A second thought intruded: if anyone would be aware of something amiss in Schellberg, it would be Annika. Somehow that girl managed to gather every bit of information from every source available. And Katy would have her cornered for the afternoon.
Katy hurried to her friends, determination squaring her jaw. She didn’t like to encourage gossip, but she’d pry whatever she could from Annika when she had the chance.
Chapter Sixteen
Annika’s little brothers wanted to play in the barn, and it was too hot to be in Annika’s second-story bedroom, so the girls crowded into the two-wheeled cart’s seat and drove to the pond behind Katy’s house. They spread out an old blanket Annika had dragged along and sat in the shade of a straggly cottonwood tree.
Shelby leaned against the tree’s trunk with one knee bent and her cast-wrapped foot stretched out. Katy sat cross-legged next to Shelby, and Annika kicked off her shoes and then lay on her stomach. She twirled a dried piece of grass while bouncing her crossed ankles. Since she hadn’t talked to Katy much during the summer weeks, she had a lot to say. Shelby and Katy mostly listened, but Katy didn’t mind. She relaxed more and more as the minutes slipped away. Even though it was hot, it was bearable in the shade with a nice breeze blowing, and she encouraged Annika to tell them everything the youth of Schellberg had done while she and Shelby had been busy at the fabric shop.
When Annika finally seemed to run out of words, Katy cleared her throat. She plucked a length of grass and stuck it in the corner of her mouth before asking, “Annika, is there anything … important … or disconcerting … stirring in the fellowship?”
Annika scrunched her forehead. “Disconcerting? What’s that?”
Shelby answered. “Something that bothers you.”
“Oh.” Annika didn’t seem disconcerted that both Shelby and Katy knew a word she didn’t. She scratched her chin. “No, nothing I can think of.” Then she pushed up on her elbows and sent a bright look in Katy’s direction. “But what do you think of Caleb wanting to go to high school?”
Katy nearly choked on the piece of grass. She flung it aside. “What?”
Annika frowned. “You didn’t know? He’s at your house every day, so I figured —”
“He’s in the barn every day,” Katy said, “not in the house. And since I’ve been closing the shop in the late afternoon, I usually don’t even get back until he’s gone.” But why hadn’t Dad told her? Or why hadn’t Caleb tried to seek her out and discuss something so important with her? Now that he didn’t try to pester her all the time, she didn’t mind talking with him. She could answer his questions and give him advice. For reasons she couldn’t understand, it hurt to be left out of such substantial news.
“Well …” Annika rolled to a seated position. “He hasn’t said anything to me either, but Mom and Dad were talking about it. The elders are considering his request — I mean, they kind of have to after letting you go — but they’re half-afraid …” She hunched her shoulders and giggled.
“What?” Katy and Shelby said at the same time.
Annika smirked at Shelby. “They think maybe Caleb only wants to go because Katy’s going.” She shifted to look at Katy. “Would it be so surprising that he wants to be with you?”
Katy searched Annika’s face for signs of jealousy. But Annika only seemed amused. Katy asked, “And what do you think?”
Annika shrugged again and began breaking the piece of grass into small pieces. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Caleb Penner … interested in school?” She snorted. “And after all, he’s liked you for a long time.” She looked up at the waving tree branches overhead and sighed. “I think he liked me for a little bit, but it didn’t last. I figured he’d go after you again. Old habits die hard.”
Shelby said, “And that’s okay with you?”
Annika made a face. “Well, it wouldn’t be except …” She giggled again. “Todd’s started coming around. He’s older — eighteen already. And taller. And I love his black hair. I got a peek at our reflection together in the big window of the grocery store, and we just look like we, you know, fit together. Plus he likes me — he really likes me. With Caleb, I’d always wonder if I was his second choice.” She grinned and flipped her hand in a dismissive gesture. “So Katy’s welcome to Caleb.”
Katy didn’t care for being handed Annika’s cast-offs, but she didn’t say so.
Shelby sagged against the tree trunk. “Wow … Caleb Penner asking to go to school. So there might be two Mennonite kids at Salina High North next year.” She poked Katy with her elbow. “How about that, Katy? You won’t be alone.”
Katy offered a weak smile and a nod. Shelby and Annika went on talking, but she turned her focus inward. What would it be like, having Caleb at school with her? They wouldn’t be in many classes together, since he’d be a sophomore and she was ready for her junior year. But maybe they would ride in together in Caleb’s car — no more bus with all those younger, rowdy kids. Instead, she’d start and end her day with Caleb. The thought wasn’t as offensive as it once might have been.
Caleb had done some changing lately, Katy mused. He was less obnoxious. More giving. Oh, he still had his moments — he was Caleb, after all. But if he kept making changes, he could end up being pretty decent. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all to have more time with him. She liked his family; her family liked him. They shared the same faith. They both wanted to remain in the same community. There were lots of reasons to spend time with Caleb, when she r
eally thought about it.
“Katy?”
Katy jolted and looked at Shelby.
“Did you hear what Annika just said?”
Embarrassed, Katy shook her head.
Shelby laughed. “She asked if you wanted to go back to her place for some lemonade before we go home.”
Katy pushed to her feet. “Sounds good to me.” She gave Shelby’s hands a tug to help her stand, and the girls clambered into the cart. They giggled at the snug fit while rolling toward Annika’s house. After their lemonade, Katy helped Shelby back into the cart and then climbed up beside her.
Annika stood in the yard and smiled up at them. “I hope your interview tomorrow goes well, Katy,” she said. “Come by here on your way home and tell me all about it. If you get the job, I’ll bake a special cake to celebrate, okay?”
“Thanks — I’d like that,” Katy said. She flicked the reins and set Rocky into motion.
“That was nice of her, wanting to bake you a cake,” Shelby said.
Katy nodded. It was nice. She and Annika had done some fussing in the past year as they adjusted to growing up, but deep down, they were still good friends. Annika’s willingness to celebrate with Katy proved it. But if I get the job, seeing my name in the newspaper will be celebration enough.
“Well, Miss Lambright, it’s apparent you have some natural ability as a writer.”
Katy sat in a chair across from the editor’s messy desk and clutched her hands in her lap to keep from nibbling her nails. The editor, Mr. Matthews, didn’t smile, but neither did he frown. In fact, he hadn’t changed expression once during the thirty minutes he’d spent interviewing her. Katy wasn’t able to discern what he was thinking. She wished she could get at least a small clue. She had no idea how to respond to him.
He ran his hand down his thick, gray beard, as if smoothing it. Since he had no hair on his head, Katy presumed the beard gave him something to comb. “According to your English teacher, a Mr.” — he leaned sideways and peeked at a paper on the corner of the desktop — “Gorsky, you are dependable and hardworking. Those are admirable qualities.”
Katy squeaked, “Thank you, sir.”
He nodded. Brusquely. No smile. “Your lack of experience, however, gives me pause.”
Katy’s heart sank. He was going to send her away.
“The idea is sound, and I do believe there would be at least a modicum of interest in what you’ve proposed to write. Especially in these frantic times, people yearn for a slower pace — a gentler time.” Mr. Matthews leaned back in his chair and fixed Katy with a serious look. “Your articles might provide that.”
Katy stifled a laugh. If the man had any idea of her life right now, he wouldn’t use the words “a slower pace.” She sat quietly and allowed him to continue.
“But to be honest with you, Miss Lambright, I don’t believe I could make space in the Gazette for something experimental by an unknown writer.”
Katy’s shoulders sagged. She nodded. “I understand. Thank you for your time.” Eager to flee the building and give vent to her disappointment, she rose.
“Now wait a minute.” The man waved his hand at her, gesturing for her to sit.
She sank into the chair. Blinking rapidly, she inwardly prayed she wouldn’t dissolve into tears and embarrass herself.
“I can’t put you in the Gazette, but we have a secondary publication — the Free Bee. Have you heard of it?”
“Um … yes, sir.” Katy had seen it — someone threw it at the end of the driveway a few times each month. But Dad never brought it to the house to read, he just tossed it into the burn barrel. She held her breath, hoping Mr. Matthews wouldn’t ask if she’d read it.
“Then you know it’s a smaller paper, delivered once a week free of charge to every resident of Saline County — hence the word ‘free’ in the title.” Mr. Matthews grimaced, as if apologizing. “It’s mostly advertisements and notice of items for sale with a few general interest articles. But I wonder if your writing wouldn’t work well for its format.”
Katy’s held breath escaped. She dared to let hope blossom again.
“I wouldn’t be able to pay you much — twenty dollars a week — but we can give it a trial run and see what kind of interest it brings.” For the first time, the hint of a smile appeared on the corners of the man’s lips. “That is, if you’re interested.”
Katy beamed. “I’m interested!”
“All right then. Come with me.” Mr. Matthews rose and rounded the corner of the desk. He ushered Katy into the main room, where partitions separated the various working stations. He guided Katy to a cubicle in the far corner and poked his head around a bright orange partition. “Marge?”
A middle-aged woman with a white-blonde ponytail and green, bejeweled square-framed glasses on the end of her nose looked up from her computer keyboard. “Uh-huh?” She gave Katy a quick perusal from head to toe and up again. Katy tried not to fidget beneath the woman’s curious examination.
“This is Kathleen Lambright.”
Marge’s lips quirked into an impersonal but not unkind smile. “Hello, Kathleen.”
“Hello,” Katy said in reply. She wished she knew the woman’s last name so she could address her properly.
Mr. Matthews said, “She’s going to start writing a weekly article for the Free Bee. She’ll need to complete the standard paperwork for employment, and I assume” — he raised his eyebrows and peered at Katy — “she will not be submitting via email attachment.”
Katy nodded rapidly, her ribbons bouncing against her shoulders. “That’s correct. I don’t own a computer.”
Marge pulled several pieces of paper from a gray file drawer. “Do you have Internet on a cell phone?”
“We don’t have any phones at home,” Katy said.
“You could fax us your article from the library,” Mr. Matthews suggested.
Katy cringed. “We don’t have a library in Schellberg.” She was making things difficult for them. Would they change their minds?
Mr. Matthews stroked his beard again. “Hmm, communicating with this young lady may prove challenging.” He looked at Katy. “You’ll need to be sure your article is on the editor’s desk a week prior to publication.” He shifted his focus back to Marge. “Give her a publishing schedule. Also put together a supply of envelopes and a sheet of mailing labels so she’ll be set to submit with good ol’ snail mail. Talk to Doug in typesetting about transcribing her articles for us.”
Marge opened a little cabinet behind her. “Will do.”
Mr. Matthews stuck out his hand, and Katy shook it. “Welcome aboard, Miss Lambright. And best of luck to you.”
Chapter Seventeen
“I need to tell Annika and Dad and Rosemary and Gramma Ruthie and Grampa Ben and Mr. Gorsky and —” Katy gasped. She was running out of air. She giggled for the dozenth time since leaving the newspaper office. “Can you believe it, Shelby?”
Shelby smirked. “Nope. I can’t.”
Katy, her hands curled around the steering wheel of Rosemary’s car, dared a quick glance at her friend. “Did you say you can’t?”
Shelby raised one eyebrow. “That’s right. I can’t believe you left Jonathan Richter off your list of people to tell. After all, he’s the one who sent you on this mission in the first place.”
Katy jerked her gaze to the road and chewed the inside of her lip. Shelby was right. She needed to tell Jonathan too. She needed to thank him again, not only for telling her about the possibility but also for praying for her. Her stomach fluttered like a million butterflies suddenly burst from their cocoons. Why did she experience both anticipation and apprehension when thinking about talking to Jonathan?
“Of course I’ll tell him. When I see him.” Katy wouldn’t deliberately seek him out. But he might come looking for her since he knew she’d been interviewed that morning. The butterflies multiplied. “But first things first — I need to go home and get those publishing schedule dates on my calendar. I don’t want t
o accidentally miss one of them and disappoint Mr. Matthews.”
Shelby propped her arm on the windowsill. The wind tossed her hair, but she didn’t seem to mind. “What’ll you write about first?”
Katy slowed to turn off the highway onto the dirt road. “The woman who helped me fill out all the paperwork suggested doing a kind of ‘meet Katy’-type article for the first one so people would know a little something about me.”
“That makes sense,” Shelby mused. She tucked her hair behind her ear and wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, dust. I’m rolling this up.” She cranked the window closed, and immediately the car felt stuffy. But they were close to home. “Will you ever include your poetry?”
Katy sent Shelby a curious look. “Do you think I should?”
“Duh!” Shelby laughed. “Katy, your poems are amazing. They’d be a great addition to your articles.”
Shelby’s enthusiasm made Katy smile. “Then maybe I will …”
They reached Annika’s farm. Katy pulled in, as she’d promised to share the news with Annika and her mom. Both of them gave Katy congratulatory hugs, and Annika said, “So what kind of cake do you want? German chocolate? Coconut? Red velvet?”
Katy waved both hands at Annika. “No, no, just something simple. You don’t have to go to a lot of trouble.”
Annika’s mother laughed. “Katy, you know Annika loves to bake, and making a cake for you will be a treat for her as well. It isn’t any trouble at all.”
“That’s right,” Annika insisted. “Name your pleasure.”
Katy licked her lips, thinking. “Well, if you really mean it, I love that strawberry cake you make that has the cream cheese filling …”
Annika beamed. “Strawberry cream it is! And — oh!” She slapped both hands to her face, her eyes wide. “I just got the best idea.” She spun to grab her mother’s hands. “Mom, could we have a party here Friday evening? Invite all the young people and Katy’s family — a celebration for Katy becoming a” — she affected a regal pose with raised chin and squinted eyes — “real, live, published writer?”
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