“Must be his married sister Ella Mae was talking ’bout, then.”

“Might be.” Mamma leaned back against the seat. “I don’t keep up with the folk in Gordonville so much.”

Just then Susie remembered her earlier stop at Preacher Zook’s. “Before I forget, Linda Zook seemed mighty happy for the peanut butter spread. Said she’d come with pickled beets sometime for ya.”

“Ach, now my mouth’s watering.”

Susie chuckled a little. “Didn’t ya eat your fill at Ella Mae’s?”

“Well, there’s nothin’ quite like Linda’s beets, that’s for sure.” Mamma paused. “Kinda like how Obie talks ’bout your baking, ain’t?”

Susie smiled, hearing Mamma say that. “True, he’s never been shy ’bout compliments when it comes to food.” She hurried the horse.

“Are we in a rush?” Mamma asked.

“Well, chores are waitin’.”

“Aren’t you the Little Red Hen?” Mamma reached over and gave her hand a gentle pat.

CHAPTER
2

Two days later, Susie gathered up the letters Mamma had written the night before to Allen’s wife, Sarah, as well as letters to two Pennsylvania relatives who lived over in the community of Willow Street. Susie carried them to the mailbox at the end of the driveway while her mother assisted customers in her shop.

In the distance, she could hear the sound of a tractor, as well as the clip-clop-clip of a road horse. Fancy and Plain alike, Susie thought, opening the mailbox and sliding the letters inside.

She raised the red metal flag and turned to see a wagon coming into view. Del Petersheim sat high in the driver’s seat and waved as he slowed his gleaming black horse to a halt. She remembered what Mamma had said about Del’s sister wanting to drop by the shop. Not having heard about Del or his family since Allen moved to Missouri, it was kind of a surprise to see Del there now, smiling at her.

“Hullo, Susie.” Beneath his straw hat, his dark bangs ruffled in the breeze.

“Makin’ a delivery?” she asked, glancing at the wagon box filled with mulch.

“Just up the road to your deacon, jah.” He bobbed his head in that direction, a grin still on his tan face. “Say, I’ve been curious ’bout the family trees ya make,” Del said. “Do ya have a sample I could see? I might like to order one for my parents’ anniversary.”

“When is it?”

“Late November, but I wasn’t sure how long it’d take you to make one.”

“Well, not that long.” She laughed softly. “Where’d ya hear ’bout them?”

“Oh, one of my aunt’s friends received one you made. Her daughters ordered it as a gift recently. She’s mighty pleased . . . has it hangin’ in her front room to show it off.”