Free Katie Opens Her Heart by Jerry S. Eicher Page B

a gut thing. I’ve been to some myself. You’ve never been before, but I can tell you it’s not a bad thing.”
    “It’s Mamm ,” Katie admitted. “She’ll never agree to this. I’m not even allowed to do rumspringa .”
    “Oh, I forgot about that. She’s pretty strict, isn’t she? Are you sure she won’t budge on this?”
    “I’m quite sure,” Katie said.
    “Well, you’ll live through it,” Arlene said. “Your mamm will understand—after some time has elapsed. Just go home and tell her that someone invited you to a birthday party and that you’re going.”
    “It’s not just that it’s a Mennonite party,” Katie said before moaning. “It’s worse because it’s a party for a boy. You don’t know what that will mean to Mamm .”
    “She’ll be happy after she gets over the shock of her daughter finally growing up. All parents go through that. Mine did a few years ago, but they got over it.”
    “Maybe,” Katie said, but she knew it wasn’t true in her case. She wasn’t about to say more to Arlene about Mamm and why she felt the way she did.
    They walked around to Sparky, and Arlene helped Katie get him between the buggy shafts and hitched up. Then Katie headed home to face Mamm . She figured it would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do in her life.

Chapter Eleven
    As Katie pulled into their lane at home, she saw Mamm standing beside the barn. When she drove closer, she noticed Mamm ’s face appeared stern and her eyes were fixed on Katie’s buggy. Pulling to a stop, Katie let go of the lines. Her hands trembled as she climbed down using the buggy step.
    “I’m glad to see you’re finally home,” Mamm said as she came over to help unhitch.
    Katie’s heart pounded, but she didn’t look at Mamm ’s face. Her news about the invitation should be told soon, but her mouth was so dry nothing would come out at the moment.
    “One of our cows has a huge bulge on its side,” Mamm said, taking the tugs off on her side. “I went to the phone shack to call the vet. He should be here any minute. I certainly didn’t want to be here by myself when he arrived.”
    “Oh!” Katie’s mind whirled.
    “ Yah ,” Mamm said. “I know how you feel. We can’t afford to lose a cow, nor can we afford the vet bill either. But losing the cow would be worse.”
    “Do you know what’s causing the bulge?” Katie asked as she tried to collect her thoughts.
    “ Nee , but the swelling has gotten worse since I called the vet.”
    “Which cow is it?”
    “Molly.” Mamm glanced toward the barn. “Bossy looks okay to me, but you never know. I sure hope this isn’t something catching.”
    Katie focused her attention on the task at hand—finishing her side of the unhitching. She led Sparky forward while Mamm held the buggy shafts. Leading the horse into the barn, Katie slid the harness off and hung it on the wall. Mamm released Sparky into his stall and added oats in the feed trough. As mother and daughter entered the barnyard, Mamm pointed toward the ailing milk cow.
    Molly looked mournfully up at them as they approached, her upper left side extended with a large hump. It looked like a balloon had been stuck under her skin.
    Mamm ran her hand over the bulging skin, and Molly groaned in protest.
    “It looks awful,” Katie said.
    From behind them they heard the sound of an Englisha vehicle driving down the lane.
    “It’s the vet!” Mamm said, relief on her face.
    Katie stayed with Molly while Mamm went to greet the man. Bossy was standing by the barn door now, banging her head against the side boards and making her will to be milked known. This was a gut sign. Bossy must not have whatever Molly had caught.
    Katie turned back to the moaning cow and stroked the long, familiar face. There was nothing she could do but supply a little comfort. “Don’t go dying on us now,” Katie crooned. “We need you badly.”
    Molly continued moaning, lifting one of her front feet to stomp the ground. Behind