Dear to Me Read Online Free PDF

the kitchen, she was surprised to see Faith sitting at the table having a cup of tea with their mother. “Wie geht’s, Faith?” Susie asked. “I didn’t know you were here.”
     Faith smiled. “I’m doing fine. I came over to help Mama clean house today.”
     “I appreciate it, too,” Mama said with a nod. She took a sip from her cup. “Of course, we’re not getting much done sitting here drinking tea.”
     “Well, you deserve a little break,” Susie said as she grabbed her lunch pail off the counter and flipped it open so she could begin making her lunch. “I’d help with the cleaning if I didn’t have to work at Kaulp’s General Store today.”
     “If it makes you feel any better, Melinda won’t be helping us, either, because she’s working for the vet today.”
     “She’s been working there a lot lately, jah?” Mama asked.
     “A little too much, if you ask me.” Faith’s voice held a note of irritation, making Susie wonder if her big sister disapproved of her daughter working for the English vet.
     “Why do you say that?”
     Susie’s ears perked up. That was something she’d like to know herself. She glanced discreetly over her shoulder and waited for Faith’s response.
     “All Melinda talks about anymore is either the critters she’s caring for at home or the ones she helps Dr. Franklin with at his clinic.” Faith set her cup down and popped a couple of knuckles, causing Susie to cringe. “Gabe Swartz and Melinda are courting, yet she spends more time with those silly animals than she does him.” Faith popped a couple more knuckles. “Wouldn’t you think she would want to concentrate on honing her cooking, sewing, and baking skills so she’ll be ready for marriage, rather than trying to play dokder to a bunch of smelly creatures?”
     “If I had a boyfriend, I sure wouldn’t be thinking about any dumm old animals or trying to play doctor,” Susie put in as she slathered two pieces of bread with butter.
     “Do I detect a note of envy in your voice, daughter?”
     Susie turned to face her mother. “I don’t begrudge Melinda having a boyfriend; she has the right. I just wish I was being courted by someone, that’s all.”
     “It will happen in due time,” Faith put in. “Just try to be patient and wait on the Lord to bring the right fellow along.”
     Susie shrugged and turned back to her sandwich making. At the rate things were going, Melinda would be married with a houseful of kinner before Susie had a boyfriend. It didn’t seem fair that everything always seemed to go Melinda’s way. It wasn’t fair at all.

Chapter 4
    O n Sunday morning when Melinda and her family arrived at Grandma and Grandpa Stutzman’s for church, Melinda spotted Susie on the wooden two-seater swing hanging from the rafters under the Stutzmans’ front porch. Papa Noah and Isaiah headed to the barn to put the horse inside, and Mama and Grandpa Hertzler went into the house right away. Melinda stopped at the swing to speak with Susie.
     Susie patted the seat beside her. “Why don’t you sit with me awhile before everyone else shows up?”
     “Don’t mind if I do.” Melinda sat down and started pumping her legs to get the swing moving again. The day was warmer than most April mornings had been so far, and the breeze from the motion of the swing felt nice.
     Susie glanced over at Melinda with a puckered brow. “I see you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. How come?”
     “I stayed up late last night caring for my animals.”
     “Which ones?”
     “I’ve only got a couple I’m taking care of right now. One’s a baby goat, and I’ve been checking to be sure the mother goat keeps feeding her little one.” Melinda tapped her finger against her chin. “I also helped Papa Noah groom the horses and spent some time with my raccoon because she was acting kind of peculiar.”
     Susie’s eyebrows shot up. “What coon? I didn’t know you had a coon.”
     “I got her from