opened the door. “Don’t tempt me. I think Hope meant we all rose early.”
“Yup. The early bird gets the worm.” Hope washed her hands at the kitchen pump.
Jakob and Annie exchanged a stunned look. Hope hadn’t mangled the cliché.
Oblivious to their astonishment, Hope finished washing up. “Reckon that’s why roosters make a bunch of racket at the crack of sunrise. Ain’t that just like a man—to go squawkin’ if ’n he’s hungry?” She laughed. “And truth be told, I’m just like all the hens that start a-cluckin’ after his first notes. Only they lay the eggs and I just cook ’em.”
“I’ll make breakfast.” Annie cast a glance at the stove, and her face fell. “You already started.”
“Yup. But tell you what: If ’n y’all go on ahead and make shore the oatmeal don’t burn and maybe set the milk and buttermilk on the table, I’ll see to a few other chores.”
“Hope is right. It’s early yet. Do I have time to milk the cows before breakfast?”
“I can set the oatmeal aside and leave the lid on so it stays hot.” Annie chewed on her lower lip for an instant—one of the habits she’d never had until she’d married Konrad. The action tattled on how uncertain and easily flustered she’d become.
“Better still, why don’t Phineas and I each milk a cow? That way, everything should be done about the same time. He can muck the stable while I go to town.”
“Aunt Annie? Miss Hope? Daddy?” Emmy-Lou’s tone grew more shrill with each name.
Jakob called, “We’re already downstairs, Liebling . Come down to us.”
“Daddy?” Near panic still quavered in her tone.
“I’m comin’ to fetch you.” Hope sounded easygoing, yet she mounted the stairs with notable speed. “Fact is, I needed to come grab my hairpins. I clean forgot ’em.” A second later, her voice drifted down the stairs to Jakob. “Now, lookee at that. See that purdy little wren out there?”
“It’s too dark. I don’t see him.”
Jakob tensed, ready to go up and soothe his daughter’s fears.
“He hopped behind that branch, but you can still hear him.
Betcha he heard the rooster and decided to make up a mornin’ song for hisself. You wanna sing a tune whilst we get you dressed and I pin up my hair?”
“I shouldn’t have left her all by herself up there.” Distress twisted Annie’s features.
“What will we sing?” Emmy-Lou asked.
Jakob relaxed at how eagerness replaced the fearful tone in his daughter’s voice. “Emmy-Lou is fine, Annie. Hope is good with her. Listen . . . she’s already singing. It will take time, but she will get over her fears.” Jakob wasn’t sure whether he was trying to convince his sister or himself. His cousin Miriam had been minding Emmy-Lou when the accident happened. Though no one else blamed her, Miriam couldn’t forgive herself or forget. She’d been every bit as anxious as Emmy-Lou—which was why she eventually left.
Snatches of a ditty drifted down to him. Hope didn’t dwell on Emmy-Lou’s fear, but instead diverted her attention toward something fun. I should remember that trick.
“She is singing.” Annie’s shoulders melted with relief.
Jakob smiled at his sister. “See? All is well. I’m going to do the milking.” How many times had he reassured her about things since he’d brought her home? He’d smooth over whatever he thought concerned her, then let her know where he’d be. Lord, my daughter and sister are so . . . scared. So fragile. Surely you sent us Hope . I don’t know who needs her the most—Emmy-Lou or Annie. Almighty Father, help me now to keep Hope.
Nine
A nnie, the rosebush is gonna be bribin’ the dog if ’n it don’t get watered today.”
“I’ll water it.” Annie set down her spoon and started to rise from the breakfast table.
Hope motioned her to sit back down. “Thankee. I keep forgettin’ it. I reckoned on getting a bunch of things done ahead of time. Your brother says he’s hoping to hurry things
“Yup. The early bird gets the worm.” Hope washed her hands at the kitchen pump.
Jakob and Annie exchanged a stunned look. Hope hadn’t mangled the cliché.
Oblivious to their astonishment, Hope finished washing up. “Reckon that’s why roosters make a bunch of racket at the crack of sunrise. Ain’t that just like a man—to go squawkin’ if ’n he’s hungry?” She laughed. “And truth be told, I’m just like all the hens that start a-cluckin’ after his first notes. Only they lay the eggs and I just cook ’em.”
“I’ll make breakfast.” Annie cast a glance at the stove, and her face fell. “You already started.”
“Yup. But tell you what: If ’n y’all go on ahead and make shore the oatmeal don’t burn and maybe set the milk and buttermilk on the table, I’ll see to a few other chores.”
“Hope is right. It’s early yet. Do I have time to milk the cows before breakfast?”
“I can set the oatmeal aside and leave the lid on so it stays hot.” Annie chewed on her lower lip for an instant—one of the habits she’d never had until she’d married Konrad. The action tattled on how uncertain and easily flustered she’d become.
“Better still, why don’t Phineas and I each milk a cow? That way, everything should be done about the same time. He can muck the stable while I go to town.”
“Aunt Annie? Miss Hope? Daddy?” Emmy-Lou’s tone grew more shrill with each name.
Jakob called, “We’re already downstairs, Liebling . Come down to us.”
“Daddy?” Near panic still quavered in her tone.
“I’m comin’ to fetch you.” Hope sounded easygoing, yet she mounted the stairs with notable speed. “Fact is, I needed to come grab my hairpins. I clean forgot ’em.” A second later, her voice drifted down the stairs to Jakob. “Now, lookee at that. See that purdy little wren out there?”
“It’s too dark. I don’t see him.”
Jakob tensed, ready to go up and soothe his daughter’s fears.
“He hopped behind that branch, but you can still hear him.
Betcha he heard the rooster and decided to make up a mornin’ song for hisself. You wanna sing a tune whilst we get you dressed and I pin up my hair?”
“I shouldn’t have left her all by herself up there.” Distress twisted Annie’s features.
“What will we sing?” Emmy-Lou asked.
Jakob relaxed at how eagerness replaced the fearful tone in his daughter’s voice. “Emmy-Lou is fine, Annie. Hope is good with her. Listen . . . she’s already singing. It will take time, but she will get over her fears.” Jakob wasn’t sure whether he was trying to convince his sister or himself. His cousin Miriam had been minding Emmy-Lou when the accident happened. Though no one else blamed her, Miriam couldn’t forgive herself or forget. She’d been every bit as anxious as Emmy-Lou—which was why she eventually left.
Snatches of a ditty drifted down to him. Hope didn’t dwell on Emmy-Lou’s fear, but instead diverted her attention toward something fun. I should remember that trick.
“She is singing.” Annie’s shoulders melted with relief.
Jakob smiled at his sister. “See? All is well. I’m going to do the milking.” How many times had he reassured her about things since he’d brought her home? He’d smooth over whatever he thought concerned her, then let her know where he’d be. Lord, my daughter and sister are so . . . scared. So fragile. Surely you sent us Hope . I don’t know who needs her the most—Emmy-Lou or Annie. Almighty Father, help me now to keep Hope.
Nine
A nnie, the rosebush is gonna be bribin’ the dog if ’n it don’t get watered today.”
“I’ll water it.” Annie set down her spoon and started to rise from the breakfast table.
Hope motioned her to sit back down. “Thankee. I keep forgettin’ it. I reckoned on getting a bunch of things done ahead of time. Your brother says he’s hoping to hurry things
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