The Reconciliation by Susan Lantz Simpson

Author:Susan Lantz Simpson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2018-12-14T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“Kumm, girls. Let’s let your mamm and new bruder rest a bit.”

“Again? Didn’t they take a nap when we did?”

“They did, Mary, but having a boppli is very hard work. Your mamm needs to rest up.”

“The boppli just eats and sleeps.”

“That’s because he is very tiny. His tummy can’t hold all the cookies yours can.” Becky reached out to tickle first Mary and then Eliza. “He needs to eat often. Your mamm has to get up a lot to feed him, so she’s tired. How about if we go outside? We can only stay a few minutes, because it’s very cold. When we kumm back inside, we’ll heat up supper.”

Becky smiled at the girls as they nodded enthusiastically at her idea. They’d been inside all day. A brisk outdoor playtime would do them gut—provided she could stand the cold herself. Supper would be easy to prepare. So many women had brought casseroles, soups, and pies that she simply needed to pick something and add some vegetables or bread to round out the meal.

She bundled the girls into their coats, scarves, and bonnets and made sure their little hands were tucked inside warm mittens. She dressed the same way herself, took a last breath of warm air, and pulled open the door. “Ready?”

The little girls shrieked as they ran around the yard. The brisk wind whipped their cheeks and stained them red. Becky laughed watching their antics and was glad the windows were tightly closed so Lena would not be awakened by the noise. To keep from freezing, she ran around the yard with them. They held hands to play Ring Around the Rosie. Little Eliza couldn’t quite get the hang of the game and dropped to the ground at odd times, which sent Mary into fits of giggles. This was what they needed. A little outside time to run off pent-up energy and have fun did them a world of gut.

Becky was so distracted she didn’t hear or see the approaching buggy until it was halfway up the driveway. She thought she recognized the horse and buggy but couldn’t clearly see the occupant. Maybe Saloma had decided to check on Lena, but she should be preparing supper for her own hungry crew about now. Maybe she had sent Malinda over.

A push against her leg snapped her attention back to the girls. Mary’s cry of “You’re it!” sent her scurrying after them. She pretended she couldn’t catch them as they ran in two different directions, squealing in delight. Becky ran after Eliza before she got too far away.

“I got you!” a male voice that made Becky’s heart flip-flop called out.

She snatched up Eliza and turned around to see Mary squirming and giggling in Atlee’s arms.

“What are you doing out on such a cold day?” He had to raise his voice to be heard over Mary’s laughter.

“The girls have been cooped up inside all day. They needed to run off some energy so they can sleep tonight.”

“My mamm used to send us outside to do that until I got big enough to be outside doing chores.

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