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her stepdaughter, Naomi, who stood behind the counter, and wondered if she was listening to this conversation. She had to be careful what she said, because if Naomi repeated it to her father, he’d probably lecture Fannie about letting their children live their own lives and tell her not to discuss Timothy and Hannah with Sally.
    Sally touched Fannie’s arm. “Is everything okay? You look umgerrent .”
    “I’m not upset.” Fannie lowered her voice to a near whisper. “You know, Sally, I haven’t lost just one son to Kentucky; I’ve lost three. And if I can deal with it, then I think you can, too.”
    Sally’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you saying you’re okay with the fact that three of your boys live two states away?”
    “I’m not saying that at all. I’ve just learned to accept it because it’s a fact, and short of a miracle, none of my sons will ever move back to Pennsylvania.”
    Sally tapped her chin, looking deep in thought. “Then I guess we ought to pray for a miracle, because I really want Hannah to come home.”

C HAPTER 7
    Pembroke, Kentucky
    H ow would you like to go over to the B&B and meet Bonnie?” Esther asked Hannah after Leon and Marla had left for school.
    Hannah shrugged. “I suppose that would be okay.” Truth be told, she didn’t really care about meeting Bonnie but guessed it would be better than sitting around Samuel’s house all day, trying to keep Mindy occupied and making idle conversation with Esther, whom she barely knew. Of course, I don’t know Bonnie either , she reasoned. But it’ll be good to get out of the house and go for a buggy ride .
    “We can take my horse and buggy,” Hannah said. “After being confined in the trailer with Timothy’s horse on the trip here, Lilly’s probably ready for a good ride.”
    Esther hesitated a minute then finally nodded. “I’ll get the kinner ready to go while you hitch your horse to the buggy.”
    Hannah wasn’t sure she wanted Esther to do anything with Mindy, so she quickly said, “On second thought, maybe we should take your horse and buggy, because I’m not used to the roads here yet, and neither is Lilly.”
    “If that’s what you’d prefer.” Esther went over to Jared and Penny, who sat beside Mindy playing with some pots and pans, and explained that Hannah would help them wash up and get their jackets on because they were all going to Bonnie’s.
    Samuel’s children leaped to their feet and started jumping up and down. Following suit, Mindy did the same.
    “ Ruhich , Mindy,” Hannah said, putting her fingers to her lips. “You need to calm down.” She looked sternly at Penny and Jared. “You need to be quiet, too.”
    The children looked at Hannah and blinked several times as tears welled in their eyes.
    “Now don’t start crying,” Hannah said.
    “They’re just excited.” Esther spoke in a defensive tone. “They love going over to Bonnie’s and playing with her dog, Cody.”
    “Well, they’re getting Mindy all worked up, and it’s hard for me to get her settled down once that happens.”
    “Be still now,” Esther said, placing her hands on Penny and Jared’s heads. “Listen to Hannah and do what she says while I go out and hitch Ginger to my buggy.”
    The children calmed down right away, and so did Mindy. Then as Esther went out the door, Hannah led the three of them down the hallway to the bathroom to wash up. When that was done, she took their jackets down from the wall pegs in the utility room and helped the children put them on.
    By the time they stepped onto the back porch, Esther had her horse hitched to the buggy. When she motioned for them to come, Hannah ushered the children across the yard. Once they were seated in the back of the buggy, she took her seat up front on the passenger’s side.
    “Everyone, stay in your seats now,” Hannah called over her shoulder as Esther directed the horse and buggy down the driveway. “This road is bumpy.”
    “You’re right, the driveway is