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couldn’t remember the last time she’d been disciplined harshly by either one of their parents. “I doubt you’ll get a bletsching, but you might be right about having to do extra chores.” Lonnie reached for the handle on the screen door. “Why don’t you try washing the part of the quilt that has beet juice on it?”
    â€œI tried that already, but the red’s still there.” Sharon’s nose began to run, mixing with her tears. She sniffed a couple of times. “You got any ideas what I should do, Lonnie?”
    He shrugged. “If it were me, I’d try putting some bleach or peroxide on the stain, and then I’d wash it really good.” She swiped at her tears with the back of her hand. “You think that might work?”
    â€œIt’s worth a try. Maybe by the time the folks get home, you’ll have the beet juice out and your quilt will be good as new.”
    â€œBut how am I supposed to get it dry in time? There’s not much sun today, and Mom and Dad will probably be here in a couple of hours. That might not give the wet spot on the quilt enough time to dry.”
    â€œWhy don’t you drape it over the clothes rack and set it in front of the stove?”
    â€œI guess that might work.” Her lips turned up. “Danki, Lonnie; I appreciate your suggestion.”
    â€œNo problem. That’s what big brothers are for.” Lonnie slipped Carolyn’s letter in his jacket pocket and handed Sharon the rest of the mail. “Put this on the table, would you? I’m going out to the barn to read my letter.”
    â€œSure.” Sharon gave him another smile and scurried into the house.
    Whistling all the way, Lonnie hurried to the barn.
    As soon as he stepped inside, he lit a kerosene lantern and found a seat on a bale of straw. Tearing Carolyn’s letter open, he read it silently to himself:
Dear Lonnie, I received your letter yesterday, inviting me to come to Topeka for a visit. I’d love to see where you live and spend time with you and your family. Mom said I can have some time off from our general store, so my plan is to get a bus ticket and arrive in Elkhart two weeks from today. If you could hire a driver to pick me up, it would be appreciated.
    Lonnie smiled as he folded the letter and returned it to his pocket. Then he leaned his head against the wooden beam behind him, feeling fully relaxed. Carolyn was coming for a visit. In just a couple of weeks, he could ask her to marry him. Except for the throbbing in his hand and the fact that he’d lost out on some pay, this day wasn’t going so bad after all.
    Lonnie closed his eyes and let his mind wander as he pictured himself and Carolyn on their wedding day. He saw the two of them standing before the bishop, answering his questions and agreeing to stay married until they were separated by death.
    He continued to daydream, thinking about how his life would be once they were married and raising a family of their own. How many children would they have? If they had girls, would they have hair the color of golden wheat and sparkling blue eyes like Carolyn? Would the girls enjoy quilting and working with flowers the way she did? Would their boys take after him, with wavy blond hair and closely set brown eyes? Would they have an ear for music, like their father had?
    Bam! The barn door opened and shut with a bang, and Lonnie’s eyes snapped open. Sharon, wide-eyed and red-faced, rushed into the barn. “Lonnie, come, schnell!”
    Lonnie groaned, feeling irritated by the interruption. “Where is it you want me to go quickly, Sharon?”
    Tears coursed down her cheeks. “My quilt’s on fire!”

CHAPTER 6
    Lonnie’s heart pounded as he raced for the house. When he stepped inside, he saw smoke and flames coming from the kitchen.
    He grabbed a towel from a wall peg, wet it at the utility sink, and draped it over his head. Then he grabbed a bucket,