Katie's Choice(43)
“She takes care of the family,” Ruth said with a shrug, but Zane could see the light of admiration in Annie’s eyes. That was a lot of work for one person, but such effort was looked upon favorably in the district. As it should be. Hard work like that should never go unnoticed. Surely a woman who worked that hard for others would be a prime catch for an Amish man. So maybe her fate was more a personal choice than anything else. But why was she so against marriage? It didn’t have anything to do with his story, but Zane made a mental note to find out the answer.
Zane was about to head down the stairs for afternoon chores when his cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“Tell me you have pictures to go with these notes.”
“Good afternoon to you too, Jo. Yes, as a matter of fact, it is a lovely day.”
“Don’t play with me, Carson. These notes you sent over are spectacular. But I need the visual angle.”
“About that . . .” Zane rubbed the back of his neck trying to ease the tension that had settled there. “They don’t allow their picture to be taken.”
“Of course they don’t. That’s why I sent you. If anyone can get the photos, it’s you.”
The image of the stern-faced Abram Fisher popped into his head. Abram was nothing if not fair. Pious and straight-walking. And Ruth who was so self-conscious of her post-chemo body, plus Annie, John Paul. Katie Rose. He had grown to care for them all since coming here, and Zane couldn’t find it in himself to betray their trust.
His silence must have said it all. Or at least enough. “Listen, Zane. Juarez is a big job. Big job. If you can’t handle the Amish . . .” She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t have to. If he couldn’t complete his assignment with the Amish, then he’d lose the Mexico assignment to another reporter.
He heaved a sigh, resigned to follow through with his instructions. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Zane could hear the triumphant smile in her voice. Jo always liked to get her way. Now all he had to do was figure out how to complete his assignment without alienating the people around him.
6
Zane heard the car approach and moved even farther to the side of the road.
“Wanna ride?”
He looked up at John Paul’s smiling face. Zane knew for a fact the young man had been out half the night, but he still looked as refreshed as if he’d slept plenty. He stopped and thought about asking where he’d been, but that surely wasn’t part of his story. Instead he shook his head. “Nah. It’s too pretty to be cooped up in a car.”
John Paul looked crushed. “You’ll get there faster.”
“That’s exactly the problem.”
“I’ll drive the speed limit.”
Zane shook his head. “No, thanks. Driving too fast isn’t your only problem. How did you get a license, by the way?”
John Paul just smiled. “Where are you headed?”
Zane nodded down the road. “The schoolhouse. Katie Rose said I could come by today and she would show me around, tell me about teaching all the grades in one room.”