Free Looking for a Miracle by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page A

folded, and chin tucked against her neck, remained seated. Why was it that everything always had to be about Rebekah?
Rebekah needs more understanding. Rebekah should sell plants at the farmers’ market. Rebekah will soon be getting her own greenhouse.
Nadine was sick of her sister being the center of attention and getting to do all the fun things she was never allowed to do.
    She thought back to the day at the farmers’ market when she’d been denied the privilege of having lunch with Carolyn and her cousin Melvin. Rebekah had gotten back late from her lunch with Mary Ellen, and by the time Nadine was free to go, Carolyn and Melvin had already left the market.
    It’s not fair,
she grumbled in silence as the rain continued to fall.
I’m always kept busy with chores, and I hardly ever get to do anything just for fun.
    “How come you’re still out here in the rain? I thought you’d gone inside with the other women.”
    Nadine whirled around. Dad stood behind her with a disgruntled look on his face. At least he hadn’t referred to her as a little girl. She supposed that was something to be thankful for.
    “I was just sitting here thinking,” she mumbled.
    He lifted his hand and caught several raindrops in his palm. “You like thinkin’ in the rain?”
    She gave an exaggerated shrug.
    “You’d better get into the house now. This storm is getting worse, and we’ll be leaving as soon as we’ve had our dessert.”
    With a weary sigh, Nadine climbed off the picnic bench and trudged toward the house, feeling even more frustrated because she wouldn’t be allowed the privilege of sitting in the rain by herself.
    ***
    “Dad, I wish we weren’t heading for home already,” Nadine complained from the back of their closed-in buggy. “That homemade ice cream Uncle Amos made was sure good, and I wanted a second helping.”
    “We left because of this storm,” Dad called back to her. “It’s getting worse all the time, and we need to be home to see that the livestock gets fed and put to bed.”
    It was obvious by the way their father gripped the reins that he was fighting to keep the horse under control. Jagged streaks of lightning zigzagged across the horizon, thunderous roars shook the sky, and the rain pelted to the ground in torrents.
    “I’m scared,” Nadine whined. “I hate
wedderleech
and
dunner.
I wish we could have stayed at Aunt Mim’s house until the storm was over.”
    “Aw, a little lightning and thunder is nothin’ to be scared of,” Simon asserted. “This is just a typical summer storm.”
    Mom looked back at them over her shoulder. “There’s nothing typical about this weather, and I think it would be wise if we all kept quiet so your daed can concentrate on his driving.”
    Rebekah leaned her head a little closer to Nadine, hoping to calm the girl’s nerves. “We’ll be home soon enough.”
    Another shuddering clap of thunder sounded, and the horse whinnied loudly. “Whoa there. Steady, boy,” Dad said in a soothing voice.
    They were nearing their farm, and as they turned up the gravel driveway, Mom let out a shrill scream. “Fire! Oh, Andrew, our barn’s all ablaze!”
    “It must have been struck by lightning.” Dad urged the horse into a fast trot. When they reached their front yard, he halted the gelding and jumped down from the buggy. “Go get help!” he called to Mom. “Simon, you and Nadine should start filling some buckets with water right away.”
    “What about me?” Rebekah asked, feeling helpless and frightened. Wasn’t there something she could do to lend a hand?
    “You can either go on up to the house or ride with me,” Mom said over her shoulder.
    Rebekah looked out the window and saw Dad running toward the water trough, with Simon and Nadine on his heels. It was obvious that none of them had the time to help her out of the buggy right now. “I’ll ride with you, Mom,” she replied, knowing full well that they couldn’t afford to waste a single moment.
    Mom