Meek and Mild Read Online Free PDF

would only slow down the others.
    “I’ll take her,” Rhoda said. “I simply wanted you to know I’ll be out of the house for a while.”
    Clara glanced out the window. “It’s a lovely morning to walk. Take your time. I’ll start the laundry water to boil.”
    “I’ll do that when I get back,” Rhoda said. “If your father comes in, you can tell him I’ll have coffee cake for him at midmorning.”
    “I’ll mix it up,” Clara said.
    “I’m sure you have things to do,” Rhoda said. “I know just how he likes it.”
    As if I don’t , Clara thought as Rhoda herded her children out the front door. Clara followed them out and sat on the top step. Rhoda supported Mari on her hip with one hand while with the other she straightened the shoulders of Josiah’s white shirt and smoothed his black suspenders. At the last minute, before they stepped out of the yard and onto the path to the road, Hannah turned and waved. Her expression was lost in the morning glare, but Clara was certain her mouth was a wide smile. It always was when she waved good-bye.
    Clara blew out her breath and closed her eyes to focus on the sensation of the sun bleeding orange through her eyelids. The truth was, she had little to do since Rhoda had begun refusing her offers of help around the house, so she closed her eyes and raised her face to the sun. Each day was warmer than the one before, and the heat came earlier. Another week would bring unquestionable summer, vanishing the threat of retreating into the cool, damp days of spring. At least Josiah and Hannah would be out of school after tomorrow. Josiah would be eager and content to work alongside his father in the fields. Hannah would be the wriggly one. Hiram had never let Clara work in the fields, so she doubted his policy would change for Hannah. And Hannah wouldn’t want to. She would prefer to flit in and out the back door doing whatever caught her fancy. Rhoda, on the other hand, would have a more structured method to keep Hannah occupied.
    The approaching clatter of horses pulling a rickety wagon demanded Clara open her eyes.
    Yonnie Yoder. Andrew brushed off Yonnie’s mannerisms in amusement, but Clara was not so noble. Yonnie usually did the second collection route for the Amish dairy that employed him closer to midmorning, though occasionally he took a turn at the early-morning route. But what brought him to the Kuhn farm? The Kuhns did not keep extra cows. With six people in the house—and Hiram’s well-known affinity for cheese—they consumed most of what their two cows produced.
    Clara descended the porch steps and paced out to meet Yonnie’s wagon.
    “ Gut mariye ,” she said when he pulled to a stop. Who could complain about a morning greeting? For Andrew’s sake, she injected an extra dose of friendliness into her words. “What brings you here this morning?”
    “Your cousin was out at the road first thing this morning waving me down,” Yonnie said.
    “Fannie?”
    “She sent a note.”
    “So early?” Clara took the envelope from Yonnie. “Thank you for coming out of your way to deliver it promptly.”
    “Are you suggesting sometimes I am not prompt?”
    “No, of course not,” Clara said, wondering how Andrew tolerated someone so inclined to be suspicious and snippy. She was not sure she would have the fortitude if one of her childhood friends had grown up to have Yonnie’s temperament. “Thank you, Yonnie. I pray God blesses your day.”
    He turned the wagon in a wide circle around the yard and left. Clara tore off the end of the envelope and unfolded the single sheet inside.
Dear Clara ,
Please come as soon as you can. My heart is heavy once again, and I have received stunning news which ought to make my heart glad but which instead weighs on my spirit. I can tell no one but you .
Your cousin ,
Fannie
    Clara read the words a second time but found no further meaning in them. An empty day stretched ahead of her. Why should she not go to Fannie now? She