* * *
Joann wasn’t sure what to make of Roman’s unusually kind gesture. He’d passed her dozens of times when she was walking along this road without offering her a lift. What was different about today? Did he know she was being fired in order to give him a job? She didn’t believe Otis would share that information, but perhaps he had.
Was Roman feeling guilty? If so, then it was up to her to grant forgiveness and get their working relationship off to a good start.
She leaned forward to look around his brother, determined to overcome the shyness that had gotten ahold of her tongue. “Congratulations on your new position.”
“What new position?” Andrew demanded.
She caught the annoyed glance Roman flashed at her. She sat back and looked straight ahead. So much for a good start.
“Onkel Otis offered me a job at his publishing office,” Roman admitted reluctantly.
“Why?” Andrew looked incredulous.
Roman didn’t reply. Joann immediately felt sorry for him. The answer was so obvious.
The reason finally dawned on Andrew. “Oh, because of your arm. You didn’t take it, did you?”
Joann hadn’t considered that possibility. Hope sprang to life in her heart. Was her job safe after all? She waited anxiously for his reply.
“I’m considering it,” he said.
Considering meant he hadn’t said yes. Was there some way she could convince him to turn down the offer? She had to try. “I’m sure the job wouldn’t be to your liking.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked.
She racked her mind for a reason. “The work is mostly indoors.”
“Not working in the hot sun this summer sounds nice.”
She chewed the corner of her lip as she tried to think of another reason he wouldn’t want the best job in the world. “It’s very noisy when the presses are running.”
“I seriously doubt it’s noisier than a sawmill.” His amusement brought a flush of heat to her face. How silly of her.
All that was left was the truth. She took a deep breath. “It requires hours of reading, excellent comprehension and a firm grasp of writing mechanics as well as an inquisitive mind,” she said.
He pulled the mare to a halt and turned to face her. Andrew looked from his brother to Joann and then leaned back out of their way. Roman’s brow held a thunderous expression that rivaled the approaching storm. “You don’t think I possess those skills?”
She swallowed hard. The truth was the truth. Just because he was upset was no reason to change tactics now. Her chin came up. “I doubt that you do.”
“Is that so?”
Joann was tempted to tell him his uncle only offered the job out of pity, but she wisely held her tongue. Nothing good could come from speaking out of spite. She tried to match his stare, but her courage failed. She dropped her gaze to her clenched hands. Why had she started this conversation? It was up to God to decide which one of them was best suited for the job.
In the growing silence, she chanced a glance at Roman’s face. His dark expression lightened. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Andrew asked.
“She’s right. I’m not a fellow who enjoys reading or writing.”
Joann’s hopes rose. “So you don’t intend to take the job?”
Roman slapped the reins to get the horse moving. “We’ll see. I can learn a new thing if I set my mind to it. Do you always speak so frankly, Joann Yoder?”
Embarrassed, she muttered, “I try not to.”
“And why is that?” he asked.
Did he care, or was he trying to make her feel worse? She repeated the phrase her brothers often quoted. “Silence is more attractive than chatter in a woman.”
“Says who?” he asked.
“A lot of people.”
He wasn’t satisfied with her vague answer. “Who, specifically?”
“My brothers,” she admitted.
Andrew nodded sagely. “I have to agree.”
“I think it depends on the woman,” Roman replied.
She glanced at him and thought she caught a glimpse of humor shimmering in his eyes, but she couldn’t be sure. Was he laughing at her? Most likely he was. He held her gaze for a long moment before staring ahead again.
Raindrops began splattering against the windshield and roof of the buggy. Joann was every bit as uncomfortable inside as she would’ve been out in the rain but for a very different reason. Being near Roman made her feel fidgety and on edge, as if something important were about to happen. Thunder cracked overhead and she jumped.
“How long have you worked for our uncle?” Roman asked, looking up at the sky.
“About five months.”
“He said that you’ll be my teacher if I take the job.”
“That’s what he told me, too.”
“What kind of things would you teach me?”
Andrew interrupted. “I don’t know why you’re considering it. Daed and I need your help in the sawmill. We can’t do it all alone.”
“I didn’t say I was taking it, but I need to know enough to make an informed decision. What things would I have to learn?”
“Many things, like how to set type and run the presses and how to use the binding machines. Eventually, you will have to write articles for the magazine. Many people send us stories to be printed. You’ll have to learn how to check any facts that they contain. We don’t want to hand out the wrong advice.”
“Give me an example.”
She thought a moment, and then said, “People send in home remedies for us to publish in our magazine all the time. Sometimes they are helpful, but sometimes they can be harmful to the wrong person, such as a child. When in doubt, we check with Dr. White or Dr. Zook at the Hope Springs Clinic.”
He glanced her way. “Have you written any articles?”
“A few.”
“What were they about?”
“I wrote a piece about our history in Hope Springs. I’ve submitted several tips for the Homemaker Hints section that were published. I’ve even done a number of poems.”
“Interesting. What else would my job entail?”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “I can just see you writing homemaker tips and poetry, bruder.”
Roman paused a moment, then said, “Roses are red, violets are blue, pine is the cheapest wood, oak is straight and true.”
Roman chuckled and smiled at his brother. Andrew grinned and said, “That’s not bad. Maybe uncle will use it.”
The affection between the two brothers was evident. Joann wished for a moment that she could joke and laugh with her brothers that way. They were all much older than she was. She had come along as a surprise late in her parents’ lives. Hebron, the youngest of her brothers, had been fifteen when she was born. They were all married and starting their own families by the time she went to school. Her brothers pretty much ignored her while she was growing up. It was only after their parents died that they decided