The Amish Teacher's Dilemma (North Country Amish)

The third issue of the North Country Amish series has Eva Coblentz moving from her childhood home in Illinois to the Amish community of New Covenant in northern Maine to start a new career. As a single woman, for several years, she has been living with her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Corinne, taking care of their family, and now she has a chance to live her own life.

An Amish school is newly built in this tiny town, and Eva accepts the job as their new teacher. In addition to the schoolhouse, she also is provided with a home to occupy. Any fears she may have moving far away and starting anew vanishes when she meets the townsfolk and sees the lovely surroundings. Leaving her home doesn't worry her, but the task ahead of her causes her great anxiety. She has no formal training, though not a prerequisite for Amish teachers, still, she wonders if she is biting off more than she can chew. 

Eva is introduced to the Gingrich children who live across the street from the schoolhouse. They are siblings of Willis, who now is guardian to his two brothers, Harley 13, Otto 11, and sister Maddie, age seven, since their parents passed away. Though a few weeks remain before classes start, Eva becomes familiar with the kids, and is delighted they will be under her care. Maddie, especially, warms her heart with her kind and precocious comments. 

The brothers are typical boys, full of energy and as opposite from each other as salt is from pepper. Otto professes his hatred of schooling and one day, in his angst, he accidentally breaks a window in the new schoolhouse. Having to own up to his misbehavior, he is given the tasks of cleaning up the broken glass, working to replace it, and writing, "I will respect school property" on the chalkboard 100 times. When learning his fate, he runs off stating writing on the board is "stupid," but Eva later finds him and Harley in the schoolroom where Otto is completing his punishment. Gazing at the blackboard, she is confused. The first line is well written, but the other 99 displays words with mixed up letters and a different style of handwriting. 

Conferring with the previous schoolteacher Eva concluded Otto may have a learning disability. Could this explain his intense dislike for learning? A worried Eva brings this up to Willis, though he appears angry, saying not everyone is book smart. Puzzled by his attitude, she lets it go, deciding to be more attentive to Otto when classes begin.

Meanwhile, as Willis and Eva are thrown together by unlikely forces, Maddie gets it in her head that Willis needs a wife, but Willis asserts he will never marry. Having been hurt long ago, he will not even consider a relationship. Though he is drawn to Eva, he will not suffer the embarrassment of his past, as well as reveal a secret no one can know.

Eva, attracted to the handsome smithy, restrains in her feelings, for she overhears him chastise Maddie, making it clear he does not want a spouse, though with his new responsibilities, a wife would be beneficial for him.

Eva tries to distance herself from him, realizing if something should happen between him or any other man, she would lose her job, for Amish teachers aren't allowed to be married. 

One afternoon Maddie wanders off and gets lost. Her kapp (a hat Amish females wear) is discovered near the entrance to the woods, and a search party is convened. Willis fears his little sister may be hurt and berates himself for being a bad caretaker. As Eva stands beside him offering comfort, her affection for him grows as his apprehension intensifies. 

"Ordinarily, it would have taken her weeks to get to know Willis and the children so well, but they had been together frequently since she had arrived. She didn't dream that Willis returned her warmer feelings. She was standing by him as a friend because that was what he needed now.

"She was happy if Willis found her presence comforting but to read anything else into his lingering touch just now was foolish on her part. She knew that. He wasn't interested in more than friendship. She suspected his reliance on her had as much to do with his insecurity regarding the children as anything else. She'd never had to worry about keeping her emotions in check in the past, but she would have to do it in the future where Willis was concerned."

Eva's younger brother Danny appears unannounced a few weeks after her arrival with news that Corrine's mother has had a stroke, and Eva's assistance is needed. Though Eva cannot understand why her lazy sister-in-law is unable to care for her mother, she does not want to go back to Illinois for she loves New Coventry. But what should she do? Does living her own life mean nothing to her brother or is she indebted to him and his family? Her feelings are torn for she enjoys her newfound freedom and responsibilities as well as the friends she's made.

This sweet, inspirational romance offers a fast and easy read. The plot is somewhat predictable; however, it contains heartwarming scenes of how the Amish community comes together to help each other. Though their lives are different from how many of the “Englisch" live, they share the same sorrows, insecurities, apprehensions, problems, and joys. Yet throughout all their tribulations, love prevails, especially when it’s least expected.