Kathleen shifted on the buggy seat as Noah settled next to her. When he flicked the reins and the horse stepped forward, her stomach lurched in tandem with the buggy.
What was wrong with her? She had countered doctors senior to her when a patient was at risk, even grouchy Dr. Wilson. She had taught an undergraduate class. She had stood shoulder to shoulder with other doctors in an operating room.
Or was it this handsome Amish man sitting next to her? Couldn’t be. It had to be returning home.
This was her family. Who loved her. And that was the problem. It was one thing to have an arrogant doctor think ill of her, but quite different to have her family view her poorly. That would hurt too much.
Kathleen sat up a little straighter. Regardless of her family’s reaction, Gott had called her to this path. She had done nothing wrong in His eyes. And wasn’t He the one who mattered most?
Noah turned off the road and into her driveway. “Everything will be well. You’ll see.”
She hoped so. And strangely his words comforted her.
Like the other homes, solar panels sat on the roof.
A tricolor Australian shepherd loped from the barn, barking, announcing their arrival. A dozen or so chickens squawked and scattered.
Noah pulled to a stop and set the brake. When he got out, the dog pranced and leapt around him. “Sit.”
The dog raced a few feet away and tore back just as fast.
Making his voice more ominous, he repeated his command. “Sit!” When the dog finally obeyed, it settled at Noah’s feet, still wiggling as though it might burst. Noah tousled the shepherd around the neck. “What are you doing here? You should be at home guarding my sheep.”
Kathleen stepped down. “This is your dog?”
“Ja. She’s still young. My other two are supposed to be keeping an eye on her and training her. She does well while I’m on the farm but strays when I’m not there.”
She bent toward the dog. “What’s her name?”
“Kaleidoscope, on account of her eye.”
She looked at the dog’s eyes more closely. One brown and the other a patchwork of blues. “Are all your dogs this same breed?”
“I have a black Belgian sheepdog and a black-and-tan Cardigan Welsh corgi.”
The Australian shepherd rolled onto her back.
Kathleen obliged by rubbing her tummy. “How old is she?”
“Almost eleven months. She has a lot of growing up to do.”
“Noah!” a man called from the barn.
Kathleen froze. Was that her dat’s voice? She remained crouched with the dog and stole a glance out of the corner of her eye. The man walking toward them was too young to be her dat. Benjamin? He’d grown into a man.
The screen door of the house creaked, and her mutter spoke. “Noah, so glad you have come. Who have you brought?”
Air lodged in Kathleen’s lungs. She could breathe neither in nor out.
Kaleidoscope flipped from her back to her feet and ran for Benjamin. Fool dog. She was Kathleen’s excuse for not looking directly at anyone.
“Someone you’re eager to see,” Noah said in a light tone. His deep voice brushed over her, calming some of her nerves.
Still looking at the ground, Kathleen saw three pairs of smallish women’s shoes come into view. Her mum and sisters?
The time had come. Taking a deep breath, Kathleen stood and gazed directly into her mum’s face.
Her mum’s smile dropped, and her mouth slipped open. “Kathleen? My Kathleen?”
Kathleen nodded. “Ja, Mum.”
Mum cupped her face in both hands. “You’re home.” Her eyes glistened.
“I’m home.” Kathleen’s eyes filled with tears as well.
“I cannot believe this.” Mum pulled her into her arms. “Finally, my child has returned.”
After a moment, Ruby’s arms wrapped around her and Mum.
“Is that my girl?” Her dat’s voice came from beside her.
Both women released her, and her mum spoke. “Noah has brought our Kathleen home.”
Strangely, she liked the sound of that. Noah had brought her.
Beside Dat stood Benjamin, who had grown into a strapping young man, as well as Joshua and a gangly Samuel.
Dat gave her a pat on the shoulder in greeting. Exuberant for him. “You know Benjamin and Joshua, but you’ve not met Samuel.”
How old were they all now? She counted in her head. Benjamin would be twenty, Joshua eighteen, and Samuel thirteen. She’d missed so much.
Her brothers each gave a nod.
“Pleased to meet you, Samuel.”
He gave her another nod.
Mum hooked her arm around Kathleen. “You remember Ruby.”
Her twenty-one-year-old sister smiled. “Of course she does. It’s Jessica she might have forgotten. She was only one when you left.”
Fifteen-year-old Jessica was the spitting image of Mum.
Kathleen took one of Jessica’s hands and held it in both of hers. “Naturally I remember you. I carried you around wherever I went.”
Mum gave half a laugh. “She was quite put out when you left. No one could console her.” Her words weren’t said as an admonishment but in loving kindness.
Jessica gave Kathleen a quick hug. “Welcome home.”
“Supper will be ready in an hour,” Mum said. “Noah, you’ll stay and eat with us.”
Not a question but a command.
He chuckled. “I’d love to.”
His laugh warmed Kathleen.
Mum shooed the men away. “Get your work finished so you won’t keep supper waiting.”
The men—including Noah, leading his horse and buggy—tromped off toward the barn.
Noah glanced over his shoulder as he walked away, and a smile jumped to Kathleen’s mouth.
Ruby grasped the handle of the suitcase.
Kathleen reached for it. “I can get that.”
“Nonsense. You’ve had a long trip.” Ruby struck out across the yard toward the house.
Mum snatched Kathleen’s backpack of medical supplies off the bumping suitcase. And when her coat slid to the ground, Jessica retrieved that. With nothing left for Kathleen to carry, she followed in their wake.
She basked in her family’s love. All her trials, doubts and time away would be worth the heartache she’d endured to finally be able to help her people.
Jessica and Samuel might be strangers to her, and she to them, but she looked forward to getting to know them.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with her mutter and sisters in the kitchen was both familiar and foreign to Kathleen. The other three obviously had their regular tasks and worked in harmony. Kathleen was more of a hindrance than a help until Mum sat her at the table to snap the green beans. In time, she would ease back into the flow of the goings-on in and around the house. Hopefully, that wouldn’t take too long.
* * *
Noah washed up at the outside spigot with the Yoder