“Puh! I’ve prob’ly said too much already.” Britta got up and reached for her scooter. “Nice talkin’ with you, but I best be getting home.”

“Okay, we’ll talk another time. Bye-bye,” Miriam called to her.

I shouldn’t’ve mentioned anything to her, Britta thought, hurrying along.

Bringing the scooter was a good idea, Britta thought as she pushed hard with her left foot, then coasted slightly downhill as she drew near Aendi Emmalyn’s. As she often did, she noticed the spot where Eli had died, and it crossed her mind that the flowers showing up every year on that day might mean something. But what?

She supposed it was best not to bring it up to Susie, considering how much she was juggling what with Mamma gone. I probably should’ve stayed home today, she thought.

Several family buggies passed by, and then a car, and Britta was careful to hug the shoulder as she scootered along.

A ways up the road, a spring wagon was coming toward her, driven by none other than Roy Lantz. She almost waved to him—a natural reflex—but she didn’t want to be forward.

Just then, Roy waved to her and even slowed his horse. “Hullo there, Britta!”

Smiling, she waved back, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach on the rest of the scooter ride home.

CHAPTER
28

At last, a letter from Mamma arrived. Susie was interested to hear all about her hospital experience—Mamma admitted to being surprised that the doctors and nurses had been such a help to her. I’m feeling so much better. Hardly a wheeze at all . . . and only an occasional cough now, too, she had written.

Susie couldn’t have been more grateful but wondered that the hoped-for letter had not hinted at how long it might be before Mamma returned home.

A number of days passed again with no word from Allen or Mamma as to when her trip might be. Every walk out to the stable, Susie or Britta checked the phone messages, in case there was more news from Missouri. Sometimes, Susie caught herself pacing from the stable telephone to Atta-Girl’s stall near the door and back again, staring hard at the phone. It was all she could do not to inquire in her next letter, yet she didn’t want to be pushy if Mamma was comfortable and enjoying her time there. Even so, it’s been nearly two weeks since she left, Susie thought sadly.

The autumn sun, reddish like the turning sugar maples on either side of the gazebo, dipped earlier in the western sky each night. And one afternoon, the phone rang while Susie was grooming Atta-Girl after returning from helping Aendi Emmalyn with some deep cleaning.

“Hullo?” Susie answered.

“Susie! It’s Allen. How’re you an’ Britta doin’?” her brother asked.

“All right. How’s Mamma?”