Hazel grimaced. “You’re hard to beat tonight!”

“You should play Mamma if ya think I’m gut.”

Hazel smiled halfheartedly. “If you were truly my best friend, you’d let me win sometimes.”

“Are we best friends?” Britta looked up, holding her breath.

Hazel caught her eye. “It all depends,” she said, playing along.

“On what?”

“If you let me win sometimes.”

Britta laughed as they finished the close game. I’ll make sure I win fewer games in the future, she decided.

“You’ll have to come to my house next time.”

“Okay.”

After the fourth game—which Hazel won without any help from Britta—Hazel picked up her big flashlight. “Denki for havin’ me over.” She headed for the back door, carrying her neon green reflective vest, and Britta followed.

“Be sure an’ wear your safety vest,” Britta said, walking out onto the back porch with her. “My mother always reminds me to if I’m out after dark.”

“Okay, Mamma,” Hazel called back teasingly as she scampered down the steps.

Britta stood there wondering how long it would be before Susie returned home. And sighing with the significance of Hazel’s revelation about her brother, she hurried upstairs for bed, wanting to avoid any conversation with Susie tonight.

CHAPTER
6

Just after dawn the next morning, amidst the sound of birdsong, Susie awoke with a bittersweet memory she’d nearly forgotten. Early one Saturday, she, Eli, and Dat had gone to the creek behind the line of tall trees not far from the northernmost meadow. It was one of the few times Dat hadn’t taken just Eli, and lo and behold, young Susie had caught a nice-sized panfish. Even now, Susie remembered the feel of the abrupt jerk on her line and the way Dat had immediately reached for the pole, his strong hands over hers, helping to reel in the flapping fish.

Susie’s catch had been a pleasant surprise for Mamma, who let out a little whoop and offered her a big hug. And Mamma had rolled it in cornmeal and fried it up, along with the fish Dat and Eli had caught.

Carrying the recollection close to her heart, Susie slipped out of bed and thanked the dear Lord for all the memories of Dat . . . and Eli, too. She raised the green window shades and looked out over the paddock below. “I miss ya both,” she whispered, recalling now how Dat had taught her to whistle while they cracked English walnuts together on the back porch.

Feels like a lifetime ago . . .

Susie carried her laundry to the basement and turned on the water for the wringer washer, preparing to put in the white clothing. Britta had already brought her and Mamma’s whites down and piled them nearby on the counter.