sighed and released Sarah’s hand. “Mudder knew I was different from you.”
“All the more reason.”
“She had a heart.”
“So do I, Josiah. That’s why I want to do what is best for you.” His expression bleak, Luke nudged Emma. “Let’s go.”
“But—”
“Up.”
Catherine slid out and Emma followed suit. Luke stood and leaned close to Josiah’s ear. His voice was soft. “Say your good-byes. You’ll not be seeing each other again. I’ll go to Wichita to speak to Sarah’s father myself.”
Josiah flinched as if Luke had struck him. “Luke, no—”
Luke backed away. “Let’s go.”
Her heart a stone in her throat, Emma glanced back at Josiah. “I’m sorry.”
He put his arm around Sarah and smiled, a sweet, little boy smile. “Don’t be, schweschder. It’s not over yet.”
Then why did it feel like everything was ending?
Chapter 12
T he babble of many women’s voices met Thomas at his parents’ door. He smiled at the familiar sound. When he was growing up, quilting frolics were regular events at his house. It brought him comfort to think that some things never changed. Now Rebecca would learn to quilt, just as his sisters had. Just as Joanna had. The thought tasted bittersweet in his mouth.
“Daed, what are you waiting for? I get to cut the squares today, Groossmammi said.” Rebecca wiggled past him and pushed the door open. “Groossmammi, we’re here! Where are the scissors? Is there pie? Are the
aentis
here?”
Thomas chuckled. His daughter loved social occasions, just like her mother. She loved a good crowd, and the women loved her. They couldn’t resist her freckled nose, dimpled cheeks, and sunny disposition. His sisters took turns teaching her the things she needed to know. God provided what Thomas couldn’t.
He hesitated. Emma and her sisters might be there. He hadn’t thought to ask his mother if they were coming. With all that had been going on at the Shirack homestead, it seemed unlikely. He couldn’t decide if he would be disappointed if she weren’t in the room or relieved.
Stop procrastinating
. Thomas plunged into a room so filled with women, material, scissors, and his mother’s treadle sewingmachine, he could barely move. He quickly reconnoitered the room. No Emma. But Annie Shirack sat across from his Aunt Sophie, her head bent over a strip of multicolored squares.
“Thomas.” His mother bustled across the room, her hands fluttering. “Come say hello to everyone before you rush off.”
“I’m on my way into town for the horse sale.” He settled his hat on his head. He knew exactly what his mother was doing. “There’s a roan that looks good to replace Doc.”
“Two minutes.” She held up a plate of brownies. “I know you can’t pass up my apple brownies.”
She had a point. He selected the largest piece and let her take his arm and guide him through the room. Annie gave him a curious look.
“Annie, it’s good to see you out and about.” He glanced around. “Did Emma and Catherine come?”
Just the right touch of casual inquiry. And he’d remembered to include Catherine in the question. Just making conversation.
Annie shook her head. “Emma said she had too much work to do, but I think she was feeling blue today. I wish she would’ve come. The company would do her good. She needs to get out more.”
Something in the way she looked at him made Thomas examine her words for some inner message. What was she saying? Why didn’t women just say what they had on their mind? It would make life so much simpler. “I hope she feels better.”
His mother tugged on his arm. He started to move away. Annie inclined her head over her work. “I’ll tell her you asked after her.” Her words wafted after him.
Thomas tried to think what that meant. Nothing. Anything.
His sisters Molly, Elizabeth, and Delia had an assembly line going. One measuring squares, one cutting, and the other starting to pin them together. They were so similar in
“All the more reason.”
“She had a heart.”
“So do I, Josiah. That’s why I want to do what is best for you.” His expression bleak, Luke nudged Emma. “Let’s go.”
“But—”
“Up.”
Catherine slid out and Emma followed suit. Luke stood and leaned close to Josiah’s ear. His voice was soft. “Say your good-byes. You’ll not be seeing each other again. I’ll go to Wichita to speak to Sarah’s father myself.”
Josiah flinched as if Luke had struck him. “Luke, no—”
Luke backed away. “Let’s go.”
Her heart a stone in her throat, Emma glanced back at Josiah. “I’m sorry.”
He put his arm around Sarah and smiled, a sweet, little boy smile. “Don’t be, schweschder. It’s not over yet.”
Then why did it feel like everything was ending?
Chapter 12
T he babble of many women’s voices met Thomas at his parents’ door. He smiled at the familiar sound. When he was growing up, quilting frolics were regular events at his house. It brought him comfort to think that some things never changed. Now Rebecca would learn to quilt, just as his sisters had. Just as Joanna had. The thought tasted bittersweet in his mouth.
“Daed, what are you waiting for? I get to cut the squares today, Groossmammi said.” Rebecca wiggled past him and pushed the door open. “Groossmammi, we’re here! Where are the scissors? Is there pie? Are the
aentis
here?”
Thomas chuckled. His daughter loved social occasions, just like her mother. She loved a good crowd, and the women loved her. They couldn’t resist her freckled nose, dimpled cheeks, and sunny disposition. His sisters took turns teaching her the things she needed to know. God provided what Thomas couldn’t.
He hesitated. Emma and her sisters might be there. He hadn’t thought to ask his mother if they were coming. With all that had been going on at the Shirack homestead, it seemed unlikely. He couldn’t decide if he would be disappointed if she weren’t in the room or relieved.
Stop procrastinating
. Thomas plunged into a room so filled with women, material, scissors, and his mother’s treadle sewingmachine, he could barely move. He quickly reconnoitered the room. No Emma. But Annie Shirack sat across from his Aunt Sophie, her head bent over a strip of multicolored squares.
“Thomas.” His mother bustled across the room, her hands fluttering. “Come say hello to everyone before you rush off.”
“I’m on my way into town for the horse sale.” He settled his hat on his head. He knew exactly what his mother was doing. “There’s a roan that looks good to replace Doc.”
“Two minutes.” She held up a plate of brownies. “I know you can’t pass up my apple brownies.”
She had a point. He selected the largest piece and let her take his arm and guide him through the room. Annie gave him a curious look.
“Annie, it’s good to see you out and about.” He glanced around. “Did Emma and Catherine come?”
Just the right touch of casual inquiry. And he’d remembered to include Catherine in the question. Just making conversation.
Annie shook her head. “Emma said she had too much work to do, but I think she was feeling blue today. I wish she would’ve come. The company would do her good. She needs to get out more.”
Something in the way she looked at him made Thomas examine her words for some inner message. What was she saying? Why didn’t women just say what they had on their mind? It would make life so much simpler. “I hope she feels better.”
His mother tugged on his arm. He started to move away. Annie inclined her head over her work. “I’ll tell her you asked after her.” Her words wafted after him.
Thomas tried to think what that meant. Nothing. Anything.
His sisters Molly, Elizabeth, and Delia had an assembly line going. One measuring squares, one cutting, and the other starting to pin them together. They were so similar in
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