A Sister's Test Read Online Free PDF Page A

lately.”
    “Would you like me to speak with him?” Ruth asked. “Maybe I can help in some way.”
    “I appreciate the offer,” Abe replied, “but I believe in time the boy will come around.”
    “I think we’d better go,” Martin said before Ruth could respond. “We don’t want to get Anna back to her folks too late, or they might start to worry.”
    “Oh, okay.” Ruth glanced over her shoulder as Martin led her toward the door. “Danki for letting me see your shop, Abe. It’s very interesting in here.”
    “Jah, sure. I’m glad you like it.”

    Grace entered her new living room and seated herself in the rocking chair near the fireplace. She leaned her head against the cushion and placed both hands on her stomach.
    “You feeling all right?” Cleon asked as he took a seat on the sofa across from her.
    “I’m fine,” she said with a nod. “I just felt the boppli kick.”
    “He’s an active one, isn’t he?”
    “Jah, but it could be a girl, you know.”
    He shrugged. “I guess Anna would like a baby sister.”
    “What about you? Will you be disappointed if the babe is a girl?”
    “I’ll be fine with whatever God chooses to give us,” he said.
    “Me, too.” Grace smiled. “I was pleased to see how Anna perked up when she found out Ruth was taking the puppy over to Esta. I’mglad Ruth didn’t mind taking Anna with her.”
    “I’m not sure Martin was so pleased about Anna tagging along, though.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “I’ve got a hunch Martin wanted to be alone with your sister today.”
    “Then he should have said so.”
    “Probably didn’t want to hurt Ruth’s or Anna’s feelings.”
    “Anna would have been disappointed, but I’m sure she’d have gotten over it.” Grace stopped rocking and stood.
    “Where are you going?”
    “I’ve got a cramp in my leg, so I need to walk around a bit.”
    Cleon was immediately at her side. “Want me to rub it for you?”
    Grace appreciated her husband’s concern, but sometimes he could be a bit overprotective. “If it doesn’t relax soon, I might take you up on that offer,” she said with a smile.
    Despite the uncomfortable knot in her calf, Grace felt peace and joy in her heart. It was hard to believe that just a few weeks ago things had been strained between her and Cleon. Then the day their house had burned, Cleon had apologized for his part in their marital problems, and she’d done the same. Grace had never felt closer to him, and with each passing day, their relationship seemed to grow stronger.
Let it always be so,
she silently prayed.
Let peace and joy reign in this house.

W hen Martin pulled his buggy into a grassy area near the pond, Sadie and Toby were already there. He and Ruth hadn’t planned to meet them until noon. According to his pocket watch, it was just a little past eleven thirty. So much for spending time alone with his girlfriend.
    Ruth looked over at Martin and smiled. “Looks like they beat us here.”
    “Jah.” Martin halted the horse, climbed down, and secured the animal to the nearest tree. He hurried back to the buggy to help Ruth down, but by the time he got there, she had climbed out on her own.
    “Hey, you two,” Sadie hollered with a wave. “Looks like we’ve got the perfect day for a picnic.”
    Ruth lifted her face toward the sun. “Jah, it’s a beautiful spring day. Much better than the low-hanging clouds and gusty winds we had earlier in the week.”
    “Let’s hope the fish are biting today.” Toby thumped Martin’s shoulder. “I’d like to catch a couple of big ones. How about you?”
    “That’d be fine with me.” Martin scooted around to the back of his buggy and withdrew his fishing pole.
    “No fishing until we’ve had our lunch,” Sadie said with a shake of her head. “If you fellows put your lines in the water now, we’ll never get to eat, and I’m hungry.”
    “Aren’t you the bossy one today?” Toby tweaked Sadie’s freckled nose. “Sadie Esh, my