Both women continued down the street and were soon out of sight.

Nathaniel held out his hand. "Could I borrow that hanky?"

Kate handed him the slightly damp piece of cloth.

He waved the handkerchief in the air like a flag. "I surrender, Aunt Lisa. I surrender." Smiling at Kate, he folded the handkerchief and put it back in his pocket. "Very gute. We have found a new use for the handkerchief. Oh, wait. Do you still need it?"

"Nae," Kate said. "Unless you want to take me into a grocery store. Lettuce always makes me teary."

"I will not take you to any distressing places," Nathaniel said. "But would you care for a short outing to my farm? It is only a fifteen-minute walk across the fields."

The thought of an encounter with Nathaniel's mamm coupled with the memory of all she'd heard in the quilt shop stomped on her momentary happiness and, try as she might, she found it impossible to hold back new tears.

Nathaniel's troubled expression reemerged. "I hate to see you like this." He softly brushed another tear from her face. "Tell me what I can do."

"Ach, it is nothing. A long walk will do me very much gute, I think."

"And you can water the fields as we go. The farmers will be grateful." He grinned and winked at her. "There is the smile I've been so eager for."

Kate sniffed. "Do you think we could avoid seeing your mamm today? I look like I've been crying."

Nathaniel nodded thoughtfully. "We don't have to go into the house. I want to show you something in the barn."

"Absolutely not, Nathaniel King. Every time you say you want to show me something, you give me a gift. I will not stand for it," she said, smiling to herself at his crestfallen expression.

He spread his hands to show he had nothing to hide. "Why are you so suspicious?"

"Because I know you too well."

He didn't reply but casually took her hand and led her out of the alleyway. The unexpected gesture unnerved her.

As soon as they were to the street, however, he released his grip. "I will not hold your hand in public." His eyes twinkled with mischief. "Like Aunt Lisa said, I must watch myself."

It was a pleasantly warm walk to the Kings' property. With the sunlight soaking through Kate's black bonnet, she almost felt like herself again. She picked up a stick and tapped each fence post along the lane.

"I heard from my professor yesterday," she said. "I got the highest rating ever by an academy student at the Padlow vocal competition."

Nathaniel looked at her out of the corner of his eye and gave her a belated smile. "Congratulations. But I am not surprised. I've always known you were very, very gute."

"I do not mean to brag." She shook her head. "I suppose I am bragging, but you and Elmer are the only two who care about my singing. I like to share the good news with someone."

She could see the muscles of his jaw tighten but the smile stayed in place. "I want you to share-everything. Otherwise, half of yourself would be a stranger to me."

They ducked into the cool barn and let their eyes adjust to the dimness. Kate's fears of meeting up with Nathaniel's mamm lessened. The barn sat almost a quarter mile from the house.

"We only have one cow," he said. "And three horses." He walked to the corner and tapped on the buggy standing there. "And a special buggy for Dat and his wheelchair. We don't take it out often, except for church."

"Where is your workshop?"

"Attached to the house. Dat built the barn out here because Mamm didn't want to be bothered with the flies."

"Or the smell, probably," Kate said, gazing at the bales of hay stacked neatly against one wall.

"Cum," said Nathaniel, barely able to contain his excitement. "Will you allow me to show you something?"

Kate groaned. "Ach. Very well, even though my better judgment tells me you are up to no good."

He motioned for her to follow and led her to an unused stall. Among the soft mounds of hay sat a black-and-white cat surrounded by seven kittens-two jet-black and five black-and-white mixes.

Forgetting her troubles, Kate squealed in delight and knelt down for a better look. "Can I hold them?" she asked.

"Jah, of course. They are ready to leave their mother. She does not mind."

Choosing one of the solid black ones, she picked it up and nuzzled it against her cheek. The kitten mewed quietly. "Oh, it is so soft. Look at his tiny nose and tiny paws."

Almost forgetting Nathaniel was there, Kate fussed over the kittens, holding and petting them one at a time, giving them temporary names, and talking to them as if she were carrying on a conversation with one of her brothers. She sat cross-legged and let all seven of them crawl around her lap.

"Aren't you sweet," she said, picking up the other black one, the smallest of the litter. "Are your brothers and sisters nice to you? You tell them to be nice or Auntie Kate will scold them."

Nathaniel, who was standing with his elbows draped over the stall door, chuckled in amusement. "You should be their mother. They don't get this much attention from her."

Kate stifled a grin. "Quit your teasing, Nathaniel King, or I will have to scold you too."

Nathaniel left his perch and squatted next to Kate.

Welcoming his closeness, she laid a hand on his arm. "Denki for bringing me here today. This is just what I needed."

His eyes held a tenderness Kate had not seen before. "Do you like them?" he asked, almost in a whisper.

"I love them."

"Gute. Which one do you want?"

"You want to give me one?"

"Jah. They are weaned now."

Kate snapped her head up to glare at Nathaniel then plopped the kitten next to its mother. "Wait a minute. You almost tricked me."

Nathaniel shrugged innocently. "Trick you?"

"You promised no more gifts."

"This isn't really a gift. I have to find a good home for each of these kittens. You would be doing me a favor by taking one off my hands."

Kate didn't for a minute believe his story about needing to get rid of the kittens, and her practical side told her she should stand her ground. But kittens loved unconditionally and never gossiped or chastised someone for being too worldly. And she didn't really want to resist Nathaniel's enchanting smile or the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the world. Was it the warm tone of his voice that sent chills down her spine? Surrender seemed her only option.

"You are so thoughtful, Nathaniel. I would be very happy for a kitten."

He gazed at the kittens for a long while then looked away and stared out the high window. "Denki, Nightingale," he whispered. "Denki."

Chapter Twelve.

Kate cuddled the furry black kitten in one hand while pouring fresh milk with the other. The kitten mewed and fussed until Kate set the tiny animal on the floor. She stroked her finger lightly over the kitten's head while it lapped up its breakfast from one of Mamma's cereal bowls.

"And what do you think you have there?" Mamma said as she came into the kitchen.

Kate gave her mother a half smile. "It is a gift, Mamma."

"A gift! Another gift from that boy I am not supposed to know about? If he wants to be secretive about his courting, he should think better about bringing you a present every time he comes."

"They are not just for me, Mamma, or I would never have accepted them," Kate said. "They are for all the family."

Mamma laughed. "Ach, does that young man think I just fell off the turnip truck? Soon I will have to move out of the house to make room for all the gifts that aren't really yours." Mamma bustled over to the kitten and bent down to run her hand over its soft fur. "Did you tell him I am not keen on animals in the house?"

"I did not have the heart. He was so excited to give it to me."

"You do not have the heart to ever disappoint him, I think," Mamma said. When Kate did not reply, she added, "She will be a very beautiful cat."

"I can keep her in my room," Kate said.

"For a few more weeks, until she is old enough to look after herself. Then she stays in the barn with Rollie and the cows," Mamma insisted.

"What will I tell Nathaniel?"

Laughing, Mamma stopped her ears with her hands. "Ach, do not say his name! How are you supposed to court in secret if your mother knows so much? It is lucky that you did not betray his last name. Still, you have gotten my curiosity up. Now every time I meet a 'Nathaniel' I will look at him and wonder if he is your boyfriend."

Kate joined in the laughter. "Oh, Mamma. The secret courting happened in Grandmammi's day, not now. But when you see my mystery boyfriend, perhaps you should tell him you will soon be living in the barn to make room for all his gifts."

"I could never scold the poor boy. He could not be more altogether-turned-every-which-way in love with you. He has enough to worry about." Mamma's cheerful expression faded, and she grasped Kate's hand. "If you leave us, leibe, you will let him down softly?"

Unable to speak with the boulder-sized lump clogging her throat, Kate nodded.

"Jah, I know my Katie." Mamma gave her hand a squeeze. "Will you separate the cream and make the butter before you mop?"

"Jah, of course."

Mamma smiled weakly, picked up the compost bucket, and hurried out the back door.

Kate couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of resentment that Mamma felt concern for Nathaniel King's feelings and seemed to disregard Kate's. But she immediately regretted that unworthy sentiment. Of course her family cared about Nathaniel. He was one of the community. Kate felt more like an outsider every day.

She playfully fondled the kitten's ears, feeling renewed gratitude for Nathaniel's gift. She would be a beautiful cat, as Mamma said.

"He's taking a great risk, you know." Kate snapped her head up and saw Elmer, arms folded, leaning against the doorframe.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," she said. "You shaved ten years off my life."

"I was just standing here. It's not my fault you never notice me. The kitten saw me."

Kate rolled her eyes.

"The big question is, did Mamma see the kitten?" Elmer said.

"Jah. She's been banished to the barn as soon as she is old enough."

Elmer knelt next to Kate and rubbed the kitten's head. "It's too bad you had to come to the one house in Apple Lake that does not welcome furry creatures. Mamma is very hostile about cat hair."

"She is pretty, though, isn't she?"

"A gift from Nathaniel?" Elmer said.

"Jah. How did you know?"

"That is probably the dumbest question you have ever asked, and I've heard some dumb ones."

Kate cuffed Elmer on the shoulder before he could scoot away from her.

"You can't keep anything from me. I'm your brother. And smart. Too smart to be fooled."

"And humble."

"Jah," Elmer said. "Humility is my best quality."

Kate lifted the kitten into her arms and nuzzled it against her cheek. "A kitten is a practical gift. Nathaniel has a gute head on his shoulders, you know."

Elmer scratched his head. "If that is true, why is he taking such a chance with you?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Just in case you haven't noticed, Nathaniel is well-liked and highly respected. He cares for his dat, and he employs eleven or twelve men in his business. He's the first to help solve problems with windmills and propane tanks or rebuild after a fire."

"Jah, of course people regard him highly. He is a gute man. I know that."

"He has made it perfectly clear how he feels about you," Elmer said. "To everyone. When it comes to Kate Weaver, we all know right where he stands, even though no one is sure how you feel about Nathaniel. He doesn't hold anything back or try to be anything less than honest about his intentions."

Kate lowered her head and looked at the floor. "Jah, I know. It is one of the things I love about him. But you cannot blame me for that."

"No, of course not. I don't. But, Kate, if you reject him, the entire community will know, and they will pity him. They might treat him with uncommon kindness, but he will still feel their pity. And such a man as Nathaniel surely would dislike being pitied by anyone."

Kate couldn't meet Elmer's eyes. She handed him the kitten then stood and pulled an empty pitcher out of the cupboard. "If you tell me this to make me feel worse, it's working."