Despite the awkwardness of recent days, Susie enjoyed working alongside Britta. While typically subdued in public, her sister brightened when wrapping up one of her quilted table runners or a half dozen popcorn balls for a customer. The jams and jellies they’d brought along had run out, so Susie was very happy to take multiple orders for her cross-stitched family trees.

After the hectic noon hour, Roy’s mother, tall, blond Elizabeth Lantz, and his two younger sisters, Lizzy and Jessie, came strolling up to the market table. Elizabeth sought out Britta and inquired about her table runners. “They’d make real nice Christmas gifts,” she remarked, smiling warmly while her daughters glanced at each other as if sharing a secret. Susie noticed Britta’s cheeks flush, although she seemed to be enjoying the attention. She seems comfortable with Elizabeth, thought Susie, wondering if she might become Britta’s future mother-in-law.

“Jah, I’m accepting custom orders,” Britta was telling Roy’s mother.

Elizabeth looked quite pleased. “It’s only a few weeks till Christmas. Are ya sure?”

“Just tell me which colors you’d want,” Britta replied. “I’ll find a way.”

Susie detected an eagerness to please in her sister’s demeanor. Is she still worried what people will think of her if they know how she came to be in Hickory Hollow, maybe? Or is it because Elizabeth is Roy’s Mamm?

Lizzy and Jessie were chattering quietly between themselves, admiring the tiny stitches in Britta’s table runners, oohing and aahing. Susie took notice of their sweet interaction and close companionship. In spite of their age gap, she and Britta had always had a similar relationship, and thinking about that, she suddenly felt determined not to take Allen’s suggestions as to where she and Britta should live once the house was rented out.

Not separately, she thought with a sigh.

It was late that night when Susie crept down to the outer room to put on her coat and boots, then darted out to the stable through the snow with the big flashlight. She’d waited till Britta was asleep and even slipped into her sister’s room to listen to her slow, steady breathing, just to be sure.

Now, as she dialed Allen’s phone number, she planned to leave a voice mail, knowing there was little chance she would reach him at this hour. Even so, it was only right to tell her elder brother how essential it was for Britta to remain in Hickory Hollow to eventually be courted by Roy. They should at least have a chance. And, if at all possible, she and Britta should stay together.

The phone rang and rang, but just when she assumed it would go to messaging, Allen answered, “Hullo, Masts.”

“Allen.” She faltered at hearing his voice. “It’s . . . Susie.”

“Ach, so late there! Yous all right?”

“Jah.” She paused. “I just need to talk privately . . . ’bout your recent letter.”