Letters to Katie Read Online Free PDF Page A

he was closer to telling her
     his real feelings. To starting the future he had dreamed of the past few months.
    His life couldn’t get any better.

C HAPTER 4

    “I’m sorry, sohn . I wish I didn’t have to do this.”
    Johnny froze in disbelief as Gideon Bender spoke. Just this morning he was counting
     his blessings. Two hours later his boss yanked the rag rug from under his boots.
    “But I thought business was picking up.” He looked around the small shop, filled with
     broken machines in need of repair.
    “It is. But other businesses aren’t.” Bender wiped his grease-covered hands on an
     old towel and flung it onto a nearby workbench. “John, Zach lost his job at Kline’s
     buggy shop. Kline laid him off yesterday.”
    A knot of dread formed in Johnny’s gut.
    “You’re like familye to me. I hope you know that. But mei sohn has a frau and kinn to take care of. He needs the work. He needs my help.”
    So do I .
    “You understand, ya ? Business is gut , but I don’t have enough work to keep both of you.” He glanced away, runninghis thumb against the dirty Formica countertop. “I can give you two more weeks.”
    “That’s it?” The words thawed Johnny’s body. He clasped his hands behind his head,
     not caring anymore how desperate he looked. Or sounded.
    “I wish it could be different. You’ve been loyal to me and the job. I’ve always appreciated
     that.” His expression turned grim. “You have a gut work ethic, more so than my sohn had. At least at first. But Zach’s come around. He’s grown into a fine mann .” Bender’s throat bobbed.
    Johnny was familiar with the strife between father and son, strife that had lessened
     over the years, especially after Zach married Ruth Byler and became a father. But
     Johnny hadn’t thought he’d be replaced. He knew Zach had been happy at the buggy shop.
     Like Johnny had been happy working here.
    Bender sighed. “I don’t see any other way. I can’t abandon mei own familye .”
    Johnny nodded, swallowing the stone lodged in his throat. “I know.”
    “If you need a recommendation, I’ll be happy to give you one.” The old man’s weary
     gaze finally met Johnny’s.
    A recommendation.
    Johnny gritted his teeth. A recommendation wouldn’t pay to fix the house or rebuild
     the barn. It wouldn’t provide grain for his horse or food for his own table. Only
     a week had passed since he bought the farm, and he’d barely started work on it. Without
     a job, he couldn’t afford to do anything.
    “Here are your past two weeks’ wages.” Bender handed him a check.
    Johnny looked at the amount, and his last shred of hope crumbled. Enough to last him
     two or three weeks of living on his own, taking care of his basic needs and not much
     more. He’d have one more check, then that would be it. Less than a month to find another
     job—and jobs were hard to come by. Even Caleb was struggling to find work—he hadn’t
     had a steady job since he graduated from school three years ago.
    Even in the midst of his own desperation, Johnny couldn’t hold this against Bender.
     He could see the man was struggling with the decision. “Danki,” he said, folding the check and putting it in his pocket. Then he held out his hand.
     After a moment’s hesitation, Bender shook it.
    “Don’t thank me. You earned every penny.” He paused before touching Johnny’s shoulder.
     “I hope you know this isn’t personal. It’s just business.” Johnny could only nod.
     Bender turned away, snatched up a screwdriver from the toolbox, and began working
     on a generator a customer had brought in last week. The conversation ended as quickly
     as he’d ended Johnny’s employment.
    During the day Johnny tried to focus on repairing a wringer washer, but his mind kept
     drifting. Where would he find another job? He would start at the woodshop first. Maybe
     Sawyer’s family was hiring. But the only job they ever seemed to hire out for was
     the office position, and