Hymn of Praise Read online

  Putting those thoughts aside, Jay secured his horse and then jogged around to the front of the little house and up the porch steps. He raised his hand to knock on the screen door but then froze when he heard a single beautiful voice singing inside.

  His heart seemed to turn over in his chest as he took in the lyrical tune and angelic voice singing “How Great Thou Art.”

  His lips turned up in a smile. That had to be Sharon. He’d caught her singing “Jesus Loves Me” with one of the toddlers in their church district a few weeks ago, and he was struck by the beauty of her voice. But he’d noticed more than her singing voice lately. He’d seen her in a whole new light.

  They’d known each other since she started school when she was seven and he was nine. As the years went by, he’d always found an easy friendship with her. During the past couple of months, though, he’d found himself wondering if they could be more than friends. The feelings had seemed to come out of nowhere, and they’d stunned him. Was it even possible that Sharon could see him as someone to . . . love? Or would she reject that idea as a crazy notion?

  He pulled open the screen door and stepped into the small family room. After navigating past the furniture in that tight space, he stood in the doorway of the kitchen to listen. Sharon was still singing alone, her eyes closed.

  Jay was mesmerized, his own eyes glued to her face. With light-brown hair, baby-blue eyes, high cheekbones, and pink lips, she was so pretty. Had she grown more beautiful just this week?

  Sharon opened her eyes and stopped singing when her eyes locked on to his. Her mouth closed, and then her cheeks turned bright pink as she glanced down at her lap—as pink as her dress against a white apron.

  What did that mean?

  “Jay!” Martha said, her greeting enthusiastic. “How nice of you to come. Please sit down and sing with us.”

  Cal grinned at him. “It’s about time you got here. We saved you a chair.”

  “Sorry I’m late.” Jay cleared his throat and entered the kitchen. The empty chair was next to Sharon. Perfect. He smiled to himself as he sat down next to her. “Hi,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I interrupted you.”

  “It’s no problem.” She gave him a little shrug and then looked across the table at Alice, who seemed to give her a strange expression.

  “We have kichlin.” Sharon pushed a plate of cookies toward him. “Would you like some milk?” She popped up from her chair. “I’ll get you a glass.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to—”

  “I’m froh to.” Sharon took another glass from a cabinet and brought it to the table. “Here you go.”

  “Danki.” He poured himself some milk. “You sounded amazing.”

  She waved off the compliment. “I lost my place . . .”

  Had she been about to say more? That she lost her place when she saw him? Maybe she felt the same growing attraction between them he did. Was it even possible for her to care for him after being just his friend nearly her whole life?

  “Should we start over? Or should we try a different hymn?” Alice asked.

  “Have you sung ‘Peace Like a River’ yet?” Jay asked.

  Sharon turned and blessed him with a sweet smile. “Oh. One of my favorites.”

  “Mine too.” He returned her smile, and he was certain something special passed between them. He felt the sudden urge to ask her if she’d like a ride home so they could talk alone.

  “Great,” Alice said before she gave them the first note. It was a blessing so many of his friends had perfect pitch.

  Everyone joined her as Martha nodded her head along with the beat. He discreetly leaned a little closer to Sharon and enjoyed the lovely lilt of her voice.

  They sang and talked with Martha until it was close to suppertime, when Sharon stood and started gathering glasses and plates. “We’ll clean up before we leave, Martha.”

  Alice scooped up the napkins and utensils, and Darlene lifted the plate, now empty of cookies. Soon all three of them were at work.

  Martha pushed back her chair, and both Jay and Cal jumped up to help her as she stood. Andrew handed her the cane. Then Martha looked up at Jay and patted his cheek with a frail hand. “I appreciate that you all came out to see me today.”

  “It was Sharon’s idea.” When Sharon turned from the sink and gave him a shy smile, warmth seemed to rise from some new place in his heart.

  “May we make supper for you before we leave?” Darlene made the offer as she dried a plate Sharon handed her.

  “No, danki.” Martha shook her head and leaned against the counter. “Mei sohn and his family insist I share meals with them.” A smile broke out on her lips. “I suppose they’re afraid I’ll leave the burner on under a pot and burn down the haus.”

  Jay and his friends laughed.

  “They keep asking me to move in with them, too, but I enjoy my privacy here.”

  When the kitchen was clean, they told Martha good night and then filed outside.

  Jay turned to Sharon. “Could I give you a ride home?”

  Her pretty eyes widened as she nodded. “That would be nice.”

  Alice sidled up to them. “Could I ride with you, too, Jay? Since my farm is beside hers?”

  “Oh, of course.” Disappointment threatened to strangle his excitement, but he managed to keep his expression pleasant.

  “Have a gut week at the store.” Cal patted Jay’s back.

  “You too. Sell a lot of horses for your dat.” Jay shook Andrew’s hand. “I hope you have a gut week at your dat’s furniture store.”

  “Danki.”

  Darlene asked Cal for a ride, then they both waved good-bye to everyone before climbing into his buggy.

  When Jay slipped into his buggy with Sharon on the bench seat beside him, his happiness returned. At least he could enjoy having her there during the short ride home.

  “That was fun,” Alice said from the back as Jay guided the horse toward the road. “I think Martha enjoyed it.”

  “I do too.” Jay snuck a peek at Sharon, who was smiling as she gazed out the windshield. He took in her profile and tried to commit it to memory.

  “I’m so glad we went,” she finally said. “First, I just kept feeling like we needed to do something meaningful this afternoon, and then during the second sermon, it was as if God put the idea to sing for Martha in my heart.” Sharon looked at Jay, and her expression grew sheepish. “Does that sound gegisch?”

  He shook his head as he peered out at the rolling patchwork of green on the farms they passed. “I don’t think it’s silly at all.”

  “I don’t either,” Alice piped up from the back.

  “Have you ever felt led to do something?” Sharon asked him.

  “I have.” Jay opened his mouth to share a story, but he was cut off by Alice.

  “We need to do this more often,” she said. “We should sing for more church members who are alone or krank.”

  Sharon turned around and nodded. “I agree.”

  Jay once again longed to be alone with Sharon so they could really talk. Maybe he could give her a ride home after church in two weeks. Or if they all sang for someone before then, he could ask her if she needed a ride and maybe ask Cal to give Alice a ride.

  “How is your family doing?” Sharon’s question broke through his thoughts. “I’m so sorry about your daadi.”

  “We’re okay. We really miss him, but we’re leaning on God’s comfort. Danki.”

  “Of course,” she said. “How’s business at your dat’s lawn ornament store?”

  He glanced toward her and found her looking at him rather intently. “It’s gut. This is the start of our busy season, and we get a lot of rush orders too. We’re already selling quite a few wishing wells and lighthouses. We had to hire more carpenters to keep up with the demand.”

  “That’s exciting.” Sharon tilted her head as if studying him. “Do you like making lawn ornaments?”

  “I do.” He nodded. “I like working with my hands.”

&n
bsp; “Do you think you’ll take over the business someday?”

  “I hope Dat will ask me to when he’s ready to retire. After all, I’m his only kind, and of course, his only sohn. At least I hope he does instead of asking one of mei onkels.”

  “I’m sure he will.” Sharon looked out the side window at the traffic rushing by.

  He merged onto a road that would lead them to Alice’s farm first. “How’s your dat’s dairy farm doing?”

  Sharon shrugged. “Well, I think it’s fine. Dat seems froh, and he has two farmhands to help him.”

  “Mei bruder helps mei dat on our farm,” Alice announced from behind them.

  This time Jay was startled by Alice’s voice. He’d almost forgotten he and Sharon weren’t alone in the buggy.

  Sharon’s smile faded slightly. “I used to wonder if mei dat regrets not having a sohn, since Ruby Sue and I don’t help with the farmwork as much as a bu would. We mostly help Mamm in the haus.”

  Jay was struck by this comment. Could a father truly regret not having a child the “right” gender? Wasn’t each child a gift from God?

  “I doubt that,” Alice said. “Your dat is so loving and patient. He adores you and Ruby Sue.”

  “I suppose.” Sharon’s smile returned. “Do you like being an only kind, Jay?”

  He shrugged. “It’s all I’ve ever known, so I’m not sure if I like it or dislike it. And I have a lot of cousins, so I’m never lonely, especially at family gatherings.”

  “That makes sense.”

  Jay spotted Alice’s farm ahead of them and Sharon’s in the distance. The ride with Sharon would soon end, and disappointment gripped him almost as hard as he gripped the reins. But at least he’d have a few minutes alone with her.

  “Danki for the ride,” Alice said as the buggy moved up her rock driveway.

  “Gern gschehne.”

  Jay halted the horse by her back porch, and Sharon jumped down from the buggy to help Alice make her way out. She gave her friend a quick hug. “See you soon.”

  Alice waved at Jay. “Danki again.”

  He waved back. “Have a gut week.”

  Sharon returned to the buggy as Alice climbed the back-porch steps. Then as his horse started down the driveway, Jay wished he could just keep riding around Bird-in-Hand with Sharon at his side.

  “Do you have any special plans this week?” she asked as his horse clip-clopped up the street toward her father’s farm.

  “Just work, as far as I know.”

  “Oh.” She looked at him and smiled again. “I appreciate the ride home.”

  “Anytime.” He guided the horse into her driveway and halted it by the back porch before angling his body toward hers. “Let me know if you want to sing for another church member. I’d love to join you.”

  “Of course. We need your voice. Singing wouldn’t be the same without you, Cal, and Andrew.”

  His smile wobbled at the mention of his friends’ names. Did she like one of them? She’d accepted his offer for a ride, but maybe she would have preferred to ride home with Andrew or Cal. He ignored the threatening jealousy and concentrated on her sweet smile.

  He was glad he did. Somehow, it felt as though it was meant for only him.

  Sharon pushed the buggy door open and stepped out.

  “Remember. Call me if you want to get together to sing again this week,” he said.

  “I will. Be safe going home.” She pushed the door closed.

  He lifted his hand in a wave and then started his journey home.

  He smiled as he recalled his afternoon with Sharon and their friends. He could still hear her beautiful voice singing “How Great Thou Art.” He would be so blessed to have her as his girlfriend. But how could he ask her for a new relationship after all these years? And what if she said no? That would make everything awkward between them.

  The questions lingered in his mind as he stowed the horse and buggy in the barn before entering his house. He left his boots and hat in the mudroom and stepped into the kitchen, where his father sat at the table. His mother carried a warmed dish from the oven, and Jay’s stomach gurgled with delight at the delicious smell he recognized as chicken and broccoli casserole—his favorite!

  “How was your afternoon?” Mamm asked as she placed the casserole on a hot pad she’d placed on the table.

  “It was gut.” Jay crossed to the sink and began washing his hands.

  “What did you do?” Dat asked.

  “Sorry I didn’t tell you before we left.” I was distracted. “We visited Martha Bontrager and sang for her.” Jay turned to face his parents and leaned back against the counter as he dried his hands with a paper towel.

  “I’m certain she enjoyed that,” Dat said.

  “She did.” Jay tossed the paper towel into the trash can and then took his usual seat, his parents on either end of the table.

  After a silent prayer, Dat scooped a pile of casserole onto his plate and then scooted the dish to Jay.

  “You made my favorite, Mamm. Danki.” Jay grinned at his mother before placing a mountain of casserole on his own plate.

  “Of course. I told your dat it was your turn for a favorite meal. Didn’t I, Moses?”

  “That’s right.” Dat held up a forkful of casserole as if to toast her. “You’re a gut mamm, Louise!”

  Mamm grinned and reached for the casserole dish. “So I made it last night after you went upstairs to your room to read. I’m surprised you didn’t smell it baking. Who all went to Martha’s today?”

  “The usual group—Cal, Andrew, Alice, Darlene, Sharon.” He smiled as he said her name. “It was Sharon’s idea to sing for Martha. I told her to let me know if she wants to sing for more members of our church district.”

  Dat pointed his fork at Jay. “That’s a wunderbaar way to serve the Lord.” His smile faltered a little. “Your daadi would be froh to hear you’re helping others like that.”

  “Ya, I agree.” Jay nodded. “And I hope we do it again soon.”

  In fact, he longed to spend a lot of time with Sharon while also serving the Lord.

  Chapter Three

  “So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross . . .” Sharon sang the following afternoon as she hung towels on the clothesline that ran from the back porch to a tree near the pasture. “Till my trophies at last I lay down . . .”

  Ruby Sue appeared beside her and joined in. “I will cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown.”

  Sharon smiled down at her sister, who shared the same light-brown hair and blue eyes Sharon had inherited from their mother. At eighteen, Ruby Sue had a beautiful, sweet voice that matched a kind and thoughtful personality and her pretty face. “You have a lovely singing voice.”

  “No, you do.” Ruby Sue picked up another towel and handed it to Sharon. “I finished cleaning the bathrooms, and Mamm told me to see if you needed any help out here.”

  “Danki.” Sharon added the towel to the line.

  “Did you have fun yesterday?”

  Sharon took the towel from Ruby Sue. “I did.” She bit back a smile as she recalled how handsome Jay had looked, how he’d sat beside her at Martha’s house. And how he’d listened and smiled at her in the buggy during their ride home. She had to admit, she’d had to fight against being a little frustrated Alice was in the back seat.

  Oh how she hoped she and Jay could be more than friends someday!

  But she pushed those thoughts away and took the washcloth her sister held out to her. “And you played volleyball while we were at Martha’s?”

  Ruby Sue’s face lit up. “Ya. At Gretchen Zook’s haus. It was a combined event, so we met members of youth groups from Ronks and White Horse.”

  “How fun.”

  “It was.” Ruby Sue picked up another washcloth and a hand towel. “I had a gut day. The weather was perfect.”

  The back door opened, then clicked shut as Mamm joined them. Although her hair had hints of gray, she still looked young and full of life to Sh
aron. “I meant to remind you earlier that we’re hosting supper for another Englisher group Wednesday night. It’s a large group—twenty.”

  Ruby Sue’s eyes widened. “Twenty?”

  “That is a lot,” Sharon said.

  “I know.” Mamm smiled. “But these suppers are always a blessing to our family. I was so grateful when Tiffany from Lancaster Inn first called to ask if we would host a group of tourists who wanted to visit an Amish home. And I’m thankful we have an extra-large kitchen here to accommodate this larger group. Not only do I enjoy preparing meals for our guests but the extra money is a great help to your dat, even when the dairy farm is doing well.”

  “Are we going to make our usual barbecue meat loaf?” Ruby Sue asked.

  Mamm shook her head. “No, I think we need to introduce more variety. You never know when a guest might decide to come back with freinden or family.” Then she counted off what she wanted to make on her fingers. “I was thinking baked chicken, noodles, homemade brot, fruit salad, corn, and a crustless spinach quiche. For dessert we can make shoo-fly pie and whoopie pies. And, Sharon, you should make your appeditlich German chocolate kuche.”

  “That sounds perfect.” Sharon hung two more hand towels on the line and then looked out toward Alice’s farm. “I think we’ll need some extra help, though. Should I invite Alice and Darlene to come?”

  “That’s a great idea,” Ruby Sue chimed in. “Do you think the Englishers will ask gegisch questions again this time?”

  Sharon rolled her eyes. “Like asking why we have a stove instead of using a fire pit in the backyard?”

  “Or if we use deodorant!” Ruby Sue cackled. “I can’t believe someone asked me that last month.”

  Mamm shook her head. “Well, if they want to know something, they’ll ask.” She headed for the door. “I’m going to start a shopping list. We’ll have to get all our supplies for the supper tomorrow. You two finish the laundry and then start dusting.”

  “Okay, Mamm,” Sharon said as Ruby Sue handed her the last towel. “After we finish, I’ll call Alice and Darlene. Hopefully they’ll be free and willing to help us.”