billowed from beneath the four wheels, evidence we hadn’t had rain for far too many days.
When I turned to go back inside, I spotted Sister Veda hiking down the street with Trudy on her hip and a basket slung over her arm. I hurried in her direction and held out my arms to the child. “Let me carry Trudy.”
“Thank you.” She released the little girl into my arms and wiped the corner of her apron across her forehead. “Each day she seems to get heavier. We could sure use some rain. Terrible hot and dry for this time of year, ja?”
“Ja. I was just thinking the same thing.” I slowed my step and touched Sister Veda’s arm. “When I returned to the store, Oma seemed to be doing fine. She may question why you have come to help.”
A firm nod caused Sister Veda’s bonnet to slip forward, and she pushed the brim back from her face. “You should not worry. We will do just fine. She knows you are leaving?”
“Not yet. I was helping load the Wilsons’ wagon and was going to tell her when I returned inside.”
“You tell her, and I will take over from there. Ja?”
I smiled and bobbed my head. When we entered the store a few moments later, I motioned to my grandmother. “Look who I saw coming down the street, Oma.”
My grandmother glanced up from the work pants she was stacking on a shelf. “Sister Veda. It is gut to see you. And your little Trudy, she is growing as fast as the weeds in my flowers.” Oma looked at Sister Veda. “She can have a treat?”
“Sure, sure. A treat is fine,” Veda said.
I stood Trudy on the floor and took her hand. The two of us followed after my grandmother, who had headed toward the candy jar. “I have to leave for a short time, Oma.”
“Ja. Go on. I can look after the store. It will be quiet. The train won’t be here for two more hours. I don’t need your help.”
“Since it will be quiet,” Sister Veda said, “maybe Trudy and I could visit with you and have a cup of tea. I get lonesome for company staying at home all day with Trudy.”
My grandmother’s eyes twinkled. “That would be very nice. And I think we will open one of these tins of graham wafers to have with our tea.” My grandmother waved at me as though flicking a pesky fly. “Go on, Gretchen, go on.”
I shot a look of thanks at Sister Veda and strode toward the door. I’d go and meet Conrad at the barbershop. If I waited around, Oma might begin to question exactly where I was going. A sense of relief washed over me once I was out of the store. Sister Veda understood Oma’s problems, and for that I was thankful. I knew if Oma suddenly changed from her right mind to her wrong mind, Sister Veda could handle her.
Conrad was placing a sign in the window when I arrived. “Stefan said the Gypsies are camped south of town. Do you think he told me the truth?”
“Ja. They are set up in the elm grove. Lots of shade and water. They always pick a gut spot when they plan to stay for a while. It is closer if we head off this way rather than keep to the road.”
Conrad grasped my elbow, and we trudged in silence through the uneven terrain that would lead us to the Gypsies and, I hoped, to my brother. Conrad’s legs were longer than mine, but I didn’t want to admit it was difficult to keep up. We’d gone only a short distance when my skirt caught between my legs. Had it not been for Conrad’s strong hold, I would have toppled to the ground.
He came to a sudden halt. “You should have told me I was walking too fast. I don’t want you to fall and injure yourself. Then we would never find Stefan.” When his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, I knew his concern for my brother ran deep. Maybe he wasn’t as certain about Stefan’s whereabouts as he’d boasted.
“I am fine, but we must hurry. If Stefan isn’t there, we will need time to look other places.” My heart pounded beneath the bodice of my dark calico, and my mouth turned dry with the fear that we might not find him.
“He will be
When I turned to go back inside, I spotted Sister Veda hiking down the street with Trudy on her hip and a basket slung over her arm. I hurried in her direction and held out my arms to the child. “Let me carry Trudy.”
“Thank you.” She released the little girl into my arms and wiped the corner of her apron across her forehead. “Each day she seems to get heavier. We could sure use some rain. Terrible hot and dry for this time of year, ja?”
“Ja. I was just thinking the same thing.” I slowed my step and touched Sister Veda’s arm. “When I returned to the store, Oma seemed to be doing fine. She may question why you have come to help.”
A firm nod caused Sister Veda’s bonnet to slip forward, and she pushed the brim back from her face. “You should not worry. We will do just fine. She knows you are leaving?”
“Not yet. I was helping load the Wilsons’ wagon and was going to tell her when I returned inside.”
“You tell her, and I will take over from there. Ja?”
I smiled and bobbed my head. When we entered the store a few moments later, I motioned to my grandmother. “Look who I saw coming down the street, Oma.”
My grandmother glanced up from the work pants she was stacking on a shelf. “Sister Veda. It is gut to see you. And your little Trudy, she is growing as fast as the weeds in my flowers.” Oma looked at Sister Veda. “She can have a treat?”
“Sure, sure. A treat is fine,” Veda said.
I stood Trudy on the floor and took her hand. The two of us followed after my grandmother, who had headed toward the candy jar. “I have to leave for a short time, Oma.”
“Ja. Go on. I can look after the store. It will be quiet. The train won’t be here for two more hours. I don’t need your help.”
“Since it will be quiet,” Sister Veda said, “maybe Trudy and I could visit with you and have a cup of tea. I get lonesome for company staying at home all day with Trudy.”
My grandmother’s eyes twinkled. “That would be very nice. And I think we will open one of these tins of graham wafers to have with our tea.” My grandmother waved at me as though flicking a pesky fly. “Go on, Gretchen, go on.”
I shot a look of thanks at Sister Veda and strode toward the door. I’d go and meet Conrad at the barbershop. If I waited around, Oma might begin to question exactly where I was going. A sense of relief washed over me once I was out of the store. Sister Veda understood Oma’s problems, and for that I was thankful. I knew if Oma suddenly changed from her right mind to her wrong mind, Sister Veda could handle her.
Conrad was placing a sign in the window when I arrived. “Stefan said the Gypsies are camped south of town. Do you think he told me the truth?”
“Ja. They are set up in the elm grove. Lots of shade and water. They always pick a gut spot when they plan to stay for a while. It is closer if we head off this way rather than keep to the road.”
Conrad grasped my elbow, and we trudged in silence through the uneven terrain that would lead us to the Gypsies and, I hoped, to my brother. Conrad’s legs were longer than mine, but I didn’t want to admit it was difficult to keep up. We’d gone only a short distance when my skirt caught between my legs. Had it not been for Conrad’s strong hold, I would have toppled to the ground.
He came to a sudden halt. “You should have told me I was walking too fast. I don’t want you to fall and injure yourself. Then we would never find Stefan.” When his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, I knew his concern for my brother ran deep. Maybe he wasn’t as certain about Stefan’s whereabouts as he’d boasted.
“I am fine, but we must hurry. If Stefan isn’t there, we will need time to look other places.” My heart pounded beneath the bodice of my dark calico, and my mouth turned dry with the fear that we might not find him.
“He will be
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