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be—” I shot to my feet. “I’ll go check.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    While she waited for Holly’s return, Esther topped off Nathaniel’s, Mamm’s, and Armin’s coffee. Then she heard the truck’s engine gunning. Holly would no doubt come back inside moments later with a dejected expression on her face. How Esther wished she could spare her daughter sadness.
    Esther sat again, and passed the sugar bowl to Nathaniel. As she watched him add a tablespoon and swirl the white crystals into his coffee, she recalled conversing with Mamm at sunrise today while preparing breakfast. Subterfuge is what Holly would call Esther and Mamm’s scheming to derail Holly and Zach’s wedding. She knew Holly would be furious. But on the other hand, finally, Esther and Mamm were on the same page, in agreement. A new experience for two old women, Esther thought, and chuckled to herself. Well, apparently she wasn’t too old to fall head over heels in love with Nathaniel. Nor too old to bend at the knees and join the Old Order Amish church, which she should have done decades ago. The picture of herself confessing her sins—all of them—in front of the congregation and her family and before God, made her insides shudder as if she’d swallowed an ice cube. At least Beth would not be in attendance, since she was not a member.
    But as Esther watched her mother nibble her meal, then set her fork aside, she worried Mamm’s allegiance to Beth could be an impediment. Surely, Mamm understood that Zach was Beth Fleming’s son, unless Mamm’s mind had gone verhoodled .
    Esther listened to the truck jerk away. Moments later, Holly slogged into the kitchen carrying a package. “FedEx,” she said, and handed Esther a carton big enough to hold a shoe box. Esther recognized the return address: The Amish Shoppe. She had to admit to herself she missed the store—her dream child. But not half as much as she’d miss Nathaniel, her mother, or Holly should Esther return to Seattle.
    Holly plopped down on her chair. “I wonder what Dori sent you, Mom.”
    Esther set the package at her feet. “Maybe she found more yarn.”
    â€œThen why not give it to me when I flew here?”
    â€œShe might have just discovered it.” Esther nudged the package out of sight with the side of her foot. “I’ll open it later.”
    A dog woofed outside. “That’s my Rascal,” Armin said. “He must have broken loose when he heard the truck.”
    â€œI love dogs.” Holly’s soprano voice sounded invigorated. “Let him in.”
    â€œNathaniel won’t allow Rascal in the house and won’t let me bring him over here while I work.”
    Nathaniel tapped the table with his knife handle. “Did he or did he not kill my favorite Rhode Island hen a couple days ago? And he steals eggs.” He was acting uncharacteristically grumpy, but Esther could understand he’d grow weary of the dog’s shenanigans.
    â€œHe won’t do it again,” Armin said, between bites.
    â€œDogs that kill farm stock don’t belong on a farm.” Nathaniel forked into his meal.
    â€œRascal won’t misbehave now that I told him not to,” Armin said. “He was brought up in a town, ya know. At least I think he was. If you’d let him in the house he wouldn’t go looking for trouble.”
    Nathaniel gulped a mouthful of coffee. “Dogs don’t belong inside and that’s that.”
    â€œSince when?” Holly demanded. Esther thought she sounded impertinent.
    â€œOur Mudder never did,” Nathaniel said. “And she was right.”
    â€œWhat kind of dog is Rascal?” Holly asked Armin.
    â€œMostly collie. The prettiest dog you’ll ever see.” Armin emptied his coffee cup. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
    â€œYou haven’t eaten dessert,” Mamm said.
    â€œNo matter, I’d