Sister's Choice by Judith Pella Page A

distracted aspect to the embrace, as if his fears were still grasping him.
    No wonder she worried that Maggie’s wedding day might come before hers. It didn’t help to know that Mama had reservations, too. Mama was mostly concerned about Zack’s being able to support a family by Christmas. Who else had doubts? Obviously someone had been saying things to Zack to make him doubt.
    Ellie welcomed the distraction from her thoughts when Maggie came in later. Ellie quickly tried to hide the work in her hand. She wanted the quilt to be a surprise.
    “What’s that?” Maggie, ever perceptive, asked.
    “Oh, nothing.”
    “Looks like something new.”
    Ellie had to smile. “Time was you never noticed stitching. You are changing, sis.” When Maggie came over to take a closer look, Ellie decided to be honest. “You can’t see this,” she said, tucking it under the hexagons in the basket. “It’s a surprise for you, and that’s all I’m going to tell you.”
    “For me? A quilt?”
    “A wedding quilt.”
    Maggie chuckled. “You have a lot more confidence in my prospects than I do.”
    “You might beat me, Maggie.”
    Maggie blinked, then her brow creased. “Don’t tell me you and Zack had your first fight. I thought he left kind of early this evening.”
    “It wasn’t exactly a fight. He’s worried about his future prospects and his ability to support me.”
    “Well, a girl’s gotta eat,” Maggie said flippantly. Then, when Ellie gave her a frown in response, she added, “You two will be fine because you are meant to be. You are perfect for each other. I don’t care what Mama says.”
    “What did Mama say?”
    “Oh, nothing . . . well, I overheard her talking to Grandma the other day. She worries about your having to struggle. But all mothers worry about such things.”
    “I suppose . . .” Ellie wanted to believe this. It was important that her parents supported her choice. She thought of something else. “Maggie, I wouldn’t care if you married before me. Some have the notion the elder sister has to marry first, but I don’t hold with that. You have my blessing—”
    “Whoa!” Maggie exclaimed. “Let’s not get the cart before the horse. First I have to snag the man, and that won’t be so easy. Which reminds me, I spoke to Evan today, and he’s going to help me—you know, he wants Tamara, so if we join forces, we each might have half a chance.”
    Ellie listened as Maggie chattered about her big plans to win Colby. She had reservations about all this maneuvering, but Ellie was also happy to immerse herself in her sister’s love life so as not to fret so much over her own.

NINE
    The next day Maggie made Ellie go with her to the Stoddards’. She remembered accompanying Ellie on a few visits to “Reverend Locklin” back when they were trying to woo the minister. So Ellie owed Maggie, though Ellie was happy to help anyway.
    Maggie wasn’t exactly certain what she expected from this visit. She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable about it.
    “Evan Parker seems like a nice fellow, doesn’t he?” Ellie said as they walked down the road on their way to the Stoddards’.
    “Yes, he is. We had a nice talk.” She had told Ellie all about their conversation.
    “I’m still surprised he agreed to help in breaking up Colby and Tamara—”
    “They are not even together!” Maggie broke in defensively. “They are not engaged or even courting. So there is nothing to break up. I wish you would support me for once!”
    “I was supporting you before it got so complicated.” Ellie paused.
    Maggie wanted to say something to interrupt her train of thought, but just as she opened her mouth, Ellie went on.
    “Maggie, I won’t be a party to deception.”
    “Now you are going to be Miss Goody-Two-Shoes!” Maggie said disdainfully.
    “I would hope you would have some moral fiber in this matter, as well.”
    Oh, how Maggie hated it when her sister got so high and mighty. She hated it more when