Abby Finds Her Calling Read Online Free PDF Page A

get to see nearly enough of you.”
    Mattie pursed her thin lips. “Well, I won’t be making the trip again—even if they set another wedding date and Suzanna convinces everyone she’ll go through with it.”
    “I don’t imagine Sam would be any too keen on footing the bill for that, either,” Fern speculated as she scanned the crowd for him.
    Abby glanced at her older brother, noting how worn he looked. “Sam was hoping James would be the fella to settle Zanna in some kind of purpose. He’s not used to having his plans thrown back in his face.”
    “Things’ll get interesting, for sure and for certain,” Mattie agreed.
    Fern’s smile resembled her sister’s. “We’ll be waiting for your letter, telling us what all this was really about.”
    Abby smiled glumly. It wasn’t always a joy to be the one whostarted the family’s round-robin letters. Where did she draw the line between keeping her aunts informed and telling tales on her little sister? Even if Zanna had a perfectly good reason for running away…
    But what reason would any woman have for leaving James Graber in the lurch? For humiliating him this way?
    It was an answer only Zanna could give.

Chapter 4

    “W hen any of you see Zanna,” Sam announced as they all sat in the kitchen late that evening, “you’re not to let her in this house. Understand? Not until she’s answered to me for the way she’s disgraced us today.”
    Mamm’s face crumpled, and Abby grabbed her trembling hand. It was after eight. Their out-of-state guests had started for home, and after a long day of commiserating, their neighbors had finally left, as well. They were all exhausted.
    “Sam,” Abby said, softly chiding her brother, “this is Zanna’s home, and—well, we’ll see the situation in a better light after a night’s rest.”
    “You think any of us will
sleep
?” Sam glared at Abby from the end of the table. His four children and his wife sat back, as though to stay out of the line of fire. “I plan to keep watch until that young lady apologizes. She’ll have plenty to confess before the church, as well.”
    Barbara cleared her throat gingerly. “I’m thinking she’s still not herself after her dat’s passing and—”
    “He was my dat, too!” Sam smacked the table with his palm,making them all jump. “And right now I wish he were still alive so he could march that girl out to the barn for a gut talking-to.”
    “Sam!” Barbara said with an apologetic glance at her mother-in-law. “Your parents did their best to raise her.”
    “And you kids should consider this fair warning,” he continued, looking pointedly at his three daughters and Matt, in turn. “Don’t think for a minute that I’ll make excuses for you if you duck out of such a solemn promise as your aunt Suzanna made to James Graber. It’s indecent, the way she treated him today, and I’ll have no more of it in my house.”
    His voice rang in a kitchen that had gone painfully silent. The ticking of the clock marked the minutes until Mamm rose slowly from her chair. She looked about a hundred years old. “Going to bed,” she murmured. “I’ve had about all I can take of this day.”
    Abby blinked back tears. “Can I make you some chamomile tea, Mamm? Or sit with you until you sleep?”
    “I’ve got a lot to pray on, and I’d best do it alone. But denki, Abby,” she added with a sad smile. “You’re a gut girl.”
    Abby’s tears welled up again and she could only nod. They had all fretted enough today that such a loving thought should have soothed her soul. Yet in her mother’s tenderness Abby heard regret… a silent condemnation of the daughter whose behavior had marked them as a family of scandal. It would be weeks before their friends, making their everyday purchases at the mercantile, would stop asking about Zanna. Mamm couldn’t avoid such curiosity in her shop, either. Treva’s Greenhouse was in its peak fall season, with her selling ornamental gourds,