Free The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher Page A

much about me,” she asked Emma, “why don’t you just ask her?”
    These days, Esther barely said more than a few words to Carrie other than to point out Andy’s shortcomings. Yesterday at church, Esther had picked up Andy by the back of the collar, like a coat on a peg, and told Carrie that he needed a haircut.
    Emma planted her hands on her hips. “There’s no need to get huffy. I just figured you’d be—”
    “Cinnamon rolls are burning, Emma,” Daniel interrupted, passing the women on his way to the barn.
    “Himmel! No! I told Yonnie to take them out thirty minutes ago . . .” Emma hurried to the kitchen, her legs pumping hard as if she were being chased by a swarm of yellow jackets.
    Carrie turned to Daniel. “I saw Yonnie take those rolls out of the oven awhile ago.”
    His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Ach? Ich bin letz.” Oh? My mistake. Into his mouth he popped the last bite of a cinnamon roll he had hidden behind his black leather apron. A smile flickered over Daniel’s lips, so quick, so faint, that Carrie thought she might have imagined it.

    The first snowfall of winter dusted Stoney Ridge on Christmas. Before dawn, Daniel woke Andy to show him the sight of moonlight casting shadows on the white earth. Afterward, the two went into the barn to feed the animals. Andy flew out of the barn and let out a thunderbuster bellow that shook the air. Carrie rushed down, thinking something terrible must have happened.
    Instead, it was something wonderful.
    Daniel had surprised Andy with a pony, Strawberry, and a cart of his own. When Carrie saw the look on Andy’s face as he stroked the roan-colored pony in the stall, her eyes filled with tears.
    “Aw, it’s not so much, Carrie,” Daniel said, but he looked pleased. “Just a way to get him to school and back.”
    The Zooks had invited Carrie’s family over to share Christmas dinner, so later that day Eli readied the buggy. Carrie looked forward to being with Mattie, but she worried about the turn of weather. The day had grown dark and cold, and snow was starting to pile up. Carrie fussed over Yonnie in the buggy, covering her with blankets warmed by the kitchen stove. Daniel wanted to train Andy to manage Strawberry, so they followed behind in the cart. Carrie peered through the back window of Eli’s buggy at the sight of them. Daniel stood with his arms wrapped around Andy, partly to block the wind and partly to help him control the reins. Andy’s hat had blown off, his coat was open, his red cheeks looked windchapped. But the look of pure joy on his face warmed Carrie’s heart like a summer day.

    Winter storms hit twice in January, just enough to keep things interesting, Eli said, without making life too difficult. In the middle of the month, the skies were blue, but a cold snap kept the ground frozen solid, so Eli and Daniel decided the time was right to prune the orchards. If the weather turned too warm, the slushy snow would turn to mud, slowing them down.
    Midmorning and midafternoon, Carrie brought a warm drink and snack out to Daniel and Eli in the orchards to keep them fortified. As they finished pruning the last few acres of apple trees, she noticed that Eli had to stop frequently. He had trouble catching his breath, like he was at the top of a mountain and couldn’t get enough air. She thought he was just having a hard time climbing up and down the ramp, dragging heavy saws, but she could see that Daniel was concerned.
    One day at lunch, Eli felt so worn out that he decided to lie down in his room for a few minutes. After watching Eli slowly make his way up the stairs, Daniel asked her if she knew of any heart doctors in town, but she only knew of blood doctors.
    “Has your father had trouble with his heart?” Carrie asked.
    Daniel didn’t answer right away, so Yonnie filled in. “Terrible trouble. He has a bad heart. Doctor had to open him up. Doctor said it was like . . . like fixing a leaky sprinkler.”
    Daniel rolled his eyes.