Read Online Hope Chest by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online

unhitched the mare and led her off toward the barn.
    “Anna, where’s your apron and head covering?” Mom asked, as Anna stepped in front of the wheelchair.
    Rachel studied her sister closely. Sure enough, Anna wasn’t wearing anything on her head, and the black cape and apron she’d been wearing over her dark blue cotton dress when she’d left home were off, too. No cape. No apron. No head covering. What in the world was that girl thinking?
    Anna reached up to touch the top of her head. “I ... uh ... guess I must have left my kapp someplace.”
    Elizabeth stepped off the porch. “That makes no sense, sister. How could you have left your kapp anywhere when it’s supposed to be on your head?”
    Anna shot Elizabeth a look that could have stopped the old key-wound clock in the parlor, but she pushed past her little sister and stepped onto the porch without any comeback at all.
    “Wait a minute, Anna.” Mom propelled herself back up the ramp. “We need to talk about this, don’t you think?”
    “Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I’m kind of tired.”
    Rachel gulped. If Anna were a few years younger, she would have had a switch taken to her backside for talking to their mother that way. What in the world had come over her?
    “It may be getting late, and you might be tired, but this is a serious matter, and it won’t wait until tomorrow,” Mom said with a shake of her head.
    Anna pointed at Rachel, then Elizabeth. “Can’t we talk someplace else? No use bringing the whole family into this.”
    Mom folded her arms and set her lips in a straight line, indicating her intent to hold firm. “Maybe your sisters can learn something from this discussion. I think it would be a good idea if they stay—at least until your daed returns. Then we’ll let him decide.”
    Rachel sucked in a deep breath and held it while she waited to see what Anna’s next words would be.
    “Guess I don’t have much say in this.” Anna folded her arms and dropped to the porch swing with a groan.
    Elizabeth moved back to the checkerboard. “Are you gonna make your next move, Rachel? I just took one of your kings while you were starin’ off into space.”
    Rachel jerked her thoughts back to the game they’d been playing. “I don’t see how you managed that ... unless you were cheating. I was winning this game, you know.”
    Elizabeth thrust out her chin. “I wasn’t cheating!”
    Rachel was about to argue the point further, but the sound of her father’s heavy footsteps on the stairs drew her attention away from the game again.
    “Joseph’s tending the horse.” Dad looked down at Anna, who was pumping the swing back and forth like there was no tomorrow. “Now, are you ready to tell us where you’ve been all day?” A muscle in his cheek began to twitch, and Rachel knew it wasn’t a good sign. “Why aren’t you wearing your apron and kapp, Anna?”
    Rachel flinched, right along with her older sister. Their father didn’t often get angry, but when he was mad enough to holler like that, everyone knew they had better listen.
    “I ... uh...” Anna stared at the floor. “Can’t we talk about this later?”
    Dad slapped his hands together, and everyone, including Mom, jumped like a bullfrog. “We’ll talk about it now!”
    Anna’s chin began to quiver. “Couldn’t I speak to you and Mom in private?”
    He glanced down at Mom, who had wheeled her chair right next to the swing. “What do you think, Rebekah?”
    “I guess it might be best.” She turned her chair around so she was facing Rachel and Elizabeth. “You two had better clear away the game. It’s about time for you to get washed up and ready for bed anyway.”
    “But, Mom,” Elizabeth argued. “I’m almost ready to skunk Rachel and—”
    Rachel shook her head. “You’d better do as Mom says. You can skunk me some other time.” She grabbed up the checkerboard, let the pieces fall into her apron, folded up the board, then turned toward the front door. As