“What’s on your mind?”

She sensed his tiredness. “Do ya have a few minutes? Don’t wanna keep ya.”

“Well, you’ve got me now—was just checkin’ on one of the calves—so go ahead.”

She began by saying that Britta and Roy Lantz had been friendly for some months now.

“Mamma mentioned somethin’ a while back. Real gut young man, Roy is. Gut family, too.”

Susie agreed. “Yes, and it’s one reason I think Britta and I need to stay in Hickory Hollow.”

“Oh . . . is that right?”

Susie held her breath, unable to speak now that she’d said what she felt she ought to.

“I’m sorry, Susie, but I can’t wait to rent the house till Britta weds. As I mentioned in my letter, I don’t want to run up a big bill with the community alms fund. Besides that, Mamm’s takin’ some mighty expensive medicine, and so is little Maggie here lately, too.” Allen paused. “Between the two of them, the bills for the doctor visits have been sky-high.”

Susie knew that her young niece also struggled with asthma and allergies.

“Well, what if Britta and I took jobs outside of Hickory Hollow to pay you rent?” Susie felt panicked. “We could bring in more money that way.”

Allen was quiet for a moment. “I’d never expect that of you. It wouldn’t be right.”

“But we need to stay here, together.” Her voice broke. “Please let me do my part, at least.”

“I’ve put pen to paper and tried to make things stretch as best I can,” he said apologetically. “Nee, I won’t put yous through that.”

“Allen, I’m willin’ to do whatever it takes . . . and if ya get the rent money, what’s it matter who pays it?”

“It would be quite a lot,” he said. “Listen, Susie, I’m sorry the timing isn’t better. This pains me, too.”

Not as much as it does me, she thought. I don’t want to lose Britta this way. I’ll have no one. . . .

“We’re just dealin’ with so much right now,” she finally said, then added, “Maybe this isn’t the right time to mention it, but Britta said Mamma was going to tell you ’bout her birth mother . . . and her connection to Eli.”

Allen was silent a moment. “Jah, Sarah and I were shocked to think Mamm kept it quiet all these years—such a secret! But Britta is family no matter where she came from.”

Even though he couldn’t see her, Susie nodded, clutching the phone.

After she and Allen said good-bye, Susie hoped her brother would reconsider. He needs to take his time deciding . . . not rush things.

Sighing heavily, she hurried back through the cold to the dark house.

CHAPTER
38