Heritage of Lancaster County 03 The Reckoning Read Online Free PDF Page B

between them, they'd lost touch with each other.
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    She wrote several more first lines before crumpling those pages, too, into the wastebasket. Clearly, she needed help. Going to the wall, she pulled a velvet rope, the bell that would summon her favorite housemaid.
    Rosie arrived quickly, appearing rather puzzled about Katherine's idea once the explanation was offered. "Here, I'll give you an idea of what I mean." She showed Rosie a newly written single-line greeting.
    Wide-eyed, the maid read the beginnings of a letter. Sliding her reading glasses down off her nose, she shook her head. "Won't it seem rather peculiar for your friend to receive a letter from a perfect stranger?"
    "Maybe, at first." Katherine hurried to her writing desk. "But it's the best way, I think. Wouldn't want Mary getting in trouble. The bishop would never hear of it . . . her receiving mail from me. Never... never."
    "Well, if you say so." Rosie, looking a bit stumped, sat down and picked up a pen.
    "This might seem a bit awkward, but I think we--you and I--will make a great team," Katherine said. "You see, I really miss talking to my friend. We grew up sharing everything."
    Rosie, wearing her prim white apron and maid's cap, nodded. An understanding smile played across her lips. "I fear you've been through too much for one so young."
    "I've brought a lot of it on myself." Katherine pulled up a chair next to the desk, staring into Rosie's kind face.
    Leaning back in her chair, Rosie sighed, laying the pen on the table in front of her. "Why don't we begin by you telling me about your girlfriend. I would like to know more about Mary." She chuckled. "After all, she and I are soon to become pen pals, right?"
    Katherine had to laugh. Then she and Rosie spent the rest of the afternoon talking about her fondest memories of Hickory Hollow and her bosom buddy. She was careful,
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    however, not to speak a word about either Bishop John or her long-deceased love, Daniel.
    When they finished their letter-writing collaboration, Rosie addressed the envelope to Mary Stoltzfus in her own hand, and the two headed down the long hallway to the kitchen.
    At Rosie's insistence, Katherine joined the staff--Selig, the assistant cook, and the other domestic help, including Garrett Smith, head steward and nephew of the grandfatherly chauffeur, Theodore Williams--for lunch. The tasty meal consisted of a fruit and nut salad, tuna casserole, homemade rolls, and a warm mug of cocoa.
    This was not the first such occasion. After several days of eating alone in the grand dining room--not much fun at all--Katherine had decided she much preferred the company of her new friends. After all, she'd grown accustomed to sharing meals with family and friends after house church meetings and quilting frolics. Breaking bread and fellowship went hand in hand with community living.
    Selig hadn't forgotten Katherine's weakness for sweets, she soon discovered. The noontime dessert was a delicious, moist German chocolate cake. While enjoying a slice, she thought of Mary once again. Her friend's birthday would be coming up in a couple of months. Lifting a forkful, Katherine stared at her plate--Mary's all-time favorite cake. She knew it sure as the day, desperately missing her friend and hoping the unusual letter might not offend or cause trouble.
    "Will you drive me to town this afternoon?" she asked Theodore, who was sitting in his usual spot next to the spacious kitchen window.
    "Just state the time, Miss Katherine."
    "Theodore's got cabin fever, I suspect, what with the weather being so dreary," Fulton spoke up, glancing down the table at the older gentleman.
    "I wouldn't be surprised if we got snowed in," Rosie
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    observed, at which they all turned their heads toward the window.
    "I see what you mean," Katherine said, peering at the
    overcast sky. "So we'd better plan to leave right after lunch." "Very well, miss," Theodore replied.
    She shook her head. "I wish you'd call me Katherine-- just