Read Online The Quilter's Daughter by Wanda E. Brunstetter - Free Book Online
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
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and served a purpose. She had been quilting since she was a young girl and never tired of the tedious work or longed for any other occupation. Quilting was her life, and she couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Abby’s attention was diverted when she heard a woman shouting, “Katie! Katie! Where are you, daughter?”
Smoothing the wrinkles in her long, green dress, Abby stood and turned around. A young Amish woman hurried up the driveway, frantically waving her hands. “Have you seen my little girl? She was playing in the yard while I fixed supper, and when I went outside to get her, she had disappeared.”
Abby’s heart clenched at the thought of a child who might have wandered onto the road, where cars often went much faster than they should. “I’ve only been out here a short time,” she replied, “and I haven’t seen any children playing nearby.”
“I don’t believe I know you,” the woman said, tipping her head toward Abby.
“I’m Abby Miller—Fannie’s daughter.”
“Jah, jah. Your mamm’s mentioned you, but I’m new to the community and haven’t met you before.” She extended her hand. “I’m Irma Hochstetler. My husband, Sam, and I moved here from Indiana a few months ago with our little girl, Katie. Sam’s a painter, and he’s been workin’ for Jacob Weaver. But Sam’s not home yet. If he were, he’d be out looking for our little schtinker , who likes to wander off.” Irma glanced around the yard. “I’ve caught Katie over here several times, playing in the barn or bothering Mary Ann, so I’m hoping that’s where she is now.”
“Mary Ann’s in the kitchen setting the table for supper,” Abby said. “If your daughter did wander over, maybe we should take a look in the barn.”
Irma nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Abby led the way, and Irma followed. Inside the barn, they called Katie’s name and searched in every nook and cranny. Abbywas afraid to think of the outcome if the child wasn’t found. She knew the little girl’s mother was equally frightened, because Irma’s voice trembled as she continued to call Katie’s name.
“I think we should get some others to help us look,” Abby suggested. “Maybe Katie wandered up the road to someone else’s farm.”
Irma nodded, and tears splashed onto her cheeks. “I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to my daughter. I should have been watchin’ her closer—shouldn’t have let her play in the yard alone, not even for a few minutes.”
Abby gave Irma a reassuring hug, even though she didn’t feel so confident right now. What if the child had been kidnapped? Could the same thing have happened to little Katie as happened to Abraham’s boy, Zach? “Why don’t you go back to your house in case Katie comes home?” she suggested. “I’ll run out to the fields and see if I can enlist the help of Abraham and his sons.”
Irma’s chin quivered. “Jah, I’ll appreciate all the help I can get.”
As Abby headed into the fields, she sent up a prayer for Katie and one for Zach Fisher. Mom rarely mentioned him in her letters anymore, but she felt sure the boy’s family had not forgotten him.
Abby had only made it halfway across the alfalfa field when she saw a small figure zigzagging her way. When she came upon the little blond-haired girl, she knew immediately that it must be Katie Hochstetler.
“Danki, Lord,” Abby murmured. At least one of her prayers had been answered, and now she could take the little girl home, gather up the quilts that were on the fence, and return to the house knowing Katie’s parents wouldn’t have to suffer the way the Fishers had for so many years.
A bby could hardly believe she had been in Pennsylvania a whole month. She supposed the time had swept by so quickly because of her busyness. She had been working at her mother’s quilt shop five days a week, and when she wasn’t there, she was at home with Mom, making sure everything ran smoothly and offering her
Abby’s attention was diverted when she heard a woman shouting, “Katie! Katie! Where are you, daughter?”
Smoothing the wrinkles in her long, green dress, Abby stood and turned around. A young Amish woman hurried up the driveway, frantically waving her hands. “Have you seen my little girl? She was playing in the yard while I fixed supper, and when I went outside to get her, she had disappeared.”
Abby’s heart clenched at the thought of a child who might have wandered onto the road, where cars often went much faster than they should. “I’ve only been out here a short time,” she replied, “and I haven’t seen any children playing nearby.”
“I don’t believe I know you,” the woman said, tipping her head toward Abby.
“I’m Abby Miller—Fannie’s daughter.”
“Jah, jah. Your mamm’s mentioned you, but I’m new to the community and haven’t met you before.” She extended her hand. “I’m Irma Hochstetler. My husband, Sam, and I moved here from Indiana a few months ago with our little girl, Katie. Sam’s a painter, and he’s been workin’ for Jacob Weaver. But Sam’s not home yet. If he were, he’d be out looking for our little schtinker , who likes to wander off.” Irma glanced around the yard. “I’ve caught Katie over here several times, playing in the barn or bothering Mary Ann, so I’m hoping that’s where she is now.”
“Mary Ann’s in the kitchen setting the table for supper,” Abby said. “If your daughter did wander over, maybe we should take a look in the barn.”
Irma nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Abby led the way, and Irma followed. Inside the barn, they called Katie’s name and searched in every nook and cranny. Abbywas afraid to think of the outcome if the child wasn’t found. She knew the little girl’s mother was equally frightened, because Irma’s voice trembled as she continued to call Katie’s name.
“I think we should get some others to help us look,” Abby suggested. “Maybe Katie wandered up the road to someone else’s farm.”
Irma nodded, and tears splashed onto her cheeks. “I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to my daughter. I should have been watchin’ her closer—shouldn’t have let her play in the yard alone, not even for a few minutes.”
Abby gave Irma a reassuring hug, even though she didn’t feel so confident right now. What if the child had been kidnapped? Could the same thing have happened to little Katie as happened to Abraham’s boy, Zach? “Why don’t you go back to your house in case Katie comes home?” she suggested. “I’ll run out to the fields and see if I can enlist the help of Abraham and his sons.”
Irma’s chin quivered. “Jah, I’ll appreciate all the help I can get.”
As Abby headed into the fields, she sent up a prayer for Katie and one for Zach Fisher. Mom rarely mentioned him in her letters anymore, but she felt sure the boy’s family had not forgotten him.
Abby had only made it halfway across the alfalfa field when she saw a small figure zigzagging her way. When she came upon the little blond-haired girl, she knew immediately that it must be Katie Hochstetler.
“Danki, Lord,” Abby murmured. At least one of her prayers had been answered, and now she could take the little girl home, gather up the quilts that were on the fence, and return to the house knowing Katie’s parents wouldn’t have to suffer the way the Fishers had for so many years.
A bby could hardly believe she had been in Pennsylvania a whole month. She supposed the time had swept by so quickly because of her busyness. She had been working at her mother’s quilt shop five days a week, and when she wasn’t there, she was at home with Mom, making sure everything ran smoothly and offering her
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