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placed the bird on the coffee table. “Ben Yoder did this up for Dad, and the bill is two hundred dollars—which is exactly how much money we have.”
    “The last thing we need is a pheasant.” Arlene crossed her arms.
    “It’s a nice reminder of Dad, and maybe one of the men or boys in our family would like it.”
    Arlene sighed. “Since Ben did the work, I guess we should use the money we found to pay him.” She handed Elsie the bills and glanced briefly at the bird. “It sure looks real, doesn’t it?”
    “Jah. Ben did a good job.” Elsie moved toward the door, clutching the money in her hand. “I’d best not keep him waiting on the porch. As soon as I pay him, we can have lunch.”

    “What should we do next?” Arlene asked when she finished drying their lunch dishes. “We’ve gone through most of the magazines on the first floor and taken a break. Well, I did anyway, while you took care of Glen’s sheets.”
    Elsie wrung out the sponge and began wiping down the counter closest to the stove. “Guess we could do some more sorting upstairs.”
    “There’re still things in the basement that haven’t been gone through.”
    Elsie shivered. “I’m hoping we can talk the men into cleaning down there because
schpinne
are bound to be lurking about.”
    Arlene waved the dishtowel at Elsie. “You and your fear of spiders.”
    “I can’t help it. They creep me out.”
    Rolling her eyes, Arlene reached for the last dish she’d dried and placed it in the cupboard. “Maybe we should take the magazines and catalogs we’ve already looked through out to the burn barrel. There’s no point in keeping them.”
    “True.” Elsie put the sponge away. “Let’s put our jackets on and take care of those now. It’s a chilly day, and it might feel good to stand around the barrel while the magazines burn.”
    Arlene chuckled. “Next thing you’ll be suggesting we look for some marshmallows to roast.”
    “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” Elsie poked her sister’s arm. “Just kidding.”
    After putting on their jackets, they stacked magazines in a cardboard box and carried it outside.
    Arlene was about to light the fire when Henry Raber’s tractor pulled in. He climbed down and headed their way, leaving his dog in her carrier fastened to the back of his rig.
    “I was driving by and saw two buggies parked by your daed’s barn, so I decided to stop and give you my news.” Henry’s smile stretched wide.
    “What news is that?” Elsie asked.
    “I’ve hired a driver, and me and Peaches will be heading to Florida next week.”
    “So you’re really going to do it, huh?” Elsie remembered hearing Henry previously mention his desire to go there.
    He bobbed his head enthusiastically. “I’ve rented a small house in Pinecraft, and I plan to stay through the winter. Won’t return to Ohio till the weather warms up.” Henry stared at the ground and shuffled his feet. “I’d hoped your daed could make a trip to Florida with me, but since that’s not gonna happen, at least I’ll have my
hund
to keep me company.”
    “It sounds like a real adventure.” Arlene smiled. “Someday, when Samuel’s older, maybe my family will make it to Florida. I’m sure the kinner would love being able to run around in the sand and play in the waves.”
    Elsie thought about Doris, and how she and Brian had talked about going to Sarasota for a vacation. Once Doris’s leg healed, it might do her some good to get away for a while—especially to someplace warm.
    “I’m surprised to see you two here today,” Henry commented. “I heard what happened to Doris and figured you’d be in Berlin taking care of her.”
    “We’ve been doing that,” Elsie replied. “But Aunt Verna showed up yesterday to help out, so Arlene and I decided to take off for a few hours and get some more sorting done.”
    “Any luck finding your daed’s will?”
    Arlene shook her head. “It’s like looking for a sewing needle in a bale of