expression as serious as if he was going to a burial.
âSomeone left this for you at McClusky General Store,â Henry said as he handed her a white business-sized envelope.
As she turned it over in her hands, worry gripped her. âDid Daed see it?â
âNo.â He looked at her curiously. âThe person said it was for an Amish girl named Katie. Ron said he didna know of anyone else by that name. Is it yours?â
âMaybe. Probably.â As she looked at the writing on the envelope, Katie fought to keep her expression innocent.
It was mighty hard to do, because from the moment sheâd spied the writing on the envelope, sheâd known immediately that the letter was for her and her alone. More important, she also knew who the author was. Hollyâs handwriting had had those distinctive curves. No one else had ever written her name so fancy.
It seemed a strange coincidence that Holly had written her so soon after sheâd just been thinking about her.
Unfortunately, Henry was not as easy to fool as she might have hoped. âKatie, who would be writing you in care of the general store? What is the note about?â
âNothing. Iâ¦made some friends among the English. You know that. This must be from one of them.â
âBut you arenât looking at the note like itâs from a dear friend. You are looking at it like it might bite you.â
She gripped it harder. Wished she could just wish it away. Wish that neither Henry nor she had ever seen it. With even greater effort, Katie fought to keep her voice calm and neutral. âDonât be silly.â
Still playing detective, Henry said, âIf this person is such a good friend, why didnât she have your address? Why all the secrecy?â
âI donât know the answer. I havenât opened the letter yet, have I?â
âWell, then, open it up.â He crossed his arms over his chest and waited, just like heâd used to do when theyâd walk to school and she hadnât been able to keep up with his long stride.
There was no way she wanted him to spy the contents. She slipped it in the pocket of her apron. âI will, later.â
âButââ
âItâs private, Henry.â
âPrivate?â A pair of lines formed between his brows.
In her pocket, the letterâs weight burned. âIâm allowed privacy too, arenât I?â Remembering how sheâd interrupted him and Anna kissing just two days ago, she said, âOr is privacy only for courting couples?â
Henry bowed his head in embarrassment. âOf course you may have your privacy. You are as prickly as a cactus lately. I donât know whatâs wrong with you.â
âNothing is wrong, Henry.â
âYou canna fool me, Sister. Iâve known you too long for that.â
After securing Roman in one of the stalls in the barn, Katie scrambled to her room, letter safely hidden in her apron, Henryâs words echoing in her heart.
Yes, she had changed. And it didnât matter how sweet and kind she tried to be now. Inside, where it counted, sheâd always be the girl who made a very big mistakeâ¦and had run from it.
As she stared at the letter she only knew one thing for certain: she was wanted again.
Chapter 4
Winnie was in good spirits. âMalcolmâs letter was a full three pages. He gave me news about his family and their neighbors. He sends his good wishes to you, Jonathan.â
âI appreciate that,â Jonathan mumbled. When Winnie looked up, he turned back to his task of loading the wagon so she wouldnât see his expression. It was getting harder and harder to keep his personal feelings about Winnieâs pen pal to himself. It was even more difficult to refrain from sharing his thoughts about her infatuation.
âDo you appreciate his wishes? You donât sound like you do.â She walked by his side as he continued to load the
Kathleen Duey and Karen A. Bale