“Hello, Cousin Sadie,” Rachel’s voice came over the recording. “I thought I’d call to see how our daughter’s getting along there. No hurry, but when you have a few minutes, would you return my call? You have our number.”

Sadie clicked off and searched for Alvin and Rachel’s number on the paper chart thumbtacked to the bulletin board on the wall near the telephone. The last names were listed in alphabetical order, so it was easy to spot Beachy. “I’ll call her now, since I’m here,” Sadie murmured, suspecting her cousin was missing her daughter. I’d miss Anna, too, if she were mine. . . .

Sadie dialed the number and recalled that her rather modern Mifflinburg cousins had a phone or two inside their house. Must be convenient come winter, she thought, though she tried not to covet that for herself.

Her cousin answered, “Rachel Beachy speaking.”

“Hullo, Rachel. I heard your message. Everything all right there?”

“Oh jah . . . just hoping Anna’s doing okay, getting settled in.”

“She’s fine, from what I can tell.” Sadie mentioned that Anna had attended both Sunday morning and evening services at a nearby Beachy Amish church. “And she’s talkin’ of going tonight to Bible study, too.”

“Good to know,” Rachel said, then sighed. “Honestly, it’s too quiet around here. We’re already missing our girl.”

“I imagine you are, but I s’pect she’ll want to visit yous from time to time.”

“And we’ll be happy to have her, believe me.”

“I remember how tough it can be when a daughter first moves away,” Sadie said, hoping to soothe Rachel’s qualms. “You’ve raised a real sweet young woman.”

“I hope she can be some help to ya there.” Rachel paused a moment. “We pray daily for the Lord’s hand on her life.”

Sadie caught herself nodding. Cousin Rachel sometimes talked so freely about the Lord God and what she believed He was doing in folks’ lives; Sadie rather liked that about her.

“Denki again for taking Anna in and looking out for her. Alvin will be sending a check soon.”

“Ach, ya mustn’t.”

“Nee, it’s already been decided.”

Recalling Rachel’s way of insisting when her mind was set on something, Sadie had to smile.

“Of course, once Anna starts getting a paycheck, she’ll be responsible to pay her way,” Rachel said, that determined tone still in her voice.

“Maybe Glen and Alvin should discuss this,” Sadie suggested, wanting to stay out of it.

“All right, then. I’ll have Alvin contact him.”

They said good-bye and hung up.

“Rachel Beachy sure knows her own mind,” Sadie whispered, opening the wooden door to the phone shack to head home.