Free Ties That Bind by Cindy Woodsmall Page A

glanced at the clock. “In about forty-five minutes.”
    “Why?”
    She stretched. “Because I have someone lined up to stay with Berta this afternoon as well as tonight, and Rudy and I have made arrangements to meet the real-estate agent at the café. Hopefully I can renegotiate the agreement to pay down less or something so I can purchase the café sooner.”
    Salome moved closer to the bed. “I was hoping to snag a few uninterrupted minutes with my very busy, beautiful, and oh-so-popular sister.” She looked around as if searching for something. “But Susie isn’t in here, is she?”
    Ariana broke into laughter. “So you woke me to be mean?”
    “Is there a better reason?”
    “I had thought so, but based on what you just said, the answer is no.”
    Salome must be feeling more like herself again since she was teasing. Maybe the birth of her new daughter would douse the fire of resentment that had burned in her since Esther was injured.
    Ariana stretched. “If you hadn’t awakened me, I think I could have slept straight through until my shift for the baby.”
    “I’m sure you could after helping Berta so much since she returned from the hospital, as well as all the sleep you’ve been missing during the night while keeping Katie Ann for me.”
    “Ya, what’s with that baby of yours?” Ariana teased. “She sleeps great as long as someone is holding her.”
    Salome chuckled. “It’s no great mystery to me. She’s difficult and demanding…just like her Aenti Ariana.”
    “Ya.” She dragged out the word while going to her closet. “That’s it.” She began looking through a dozen hand-me-down dresses, searching for one that wasn’t as tattered as what she had on.
    “So,” Salome laughed, “you’ve finally matured enough to admit it.”
    This was the kind of nonsense chat she’d missed having with Salome since Esther’s injury two and a half years ago—a silly conversation that was simple and amusing, where neither of them ever took offense. Only enjoyment and camaraderie.
    Ariana pulled out a rose-colored dress.
    Salome moved to the bed and sat. “I…I heard about the breakfast you had on Sunday before last where you invited all the sibs. Mamm explained why.”
    “I haven’t mentioned it because I didn’t really want you burdened right now. You’ve got enough to think about.” She put the dress over her arm and went to her dresser. “Can we talk later? I need to jump in the shower before Rudy gets here.”
    “What made you think someone, anyone in Summer Grove is leaving the Amish?”
    “Salome, I just asked if we could talk later.”
    If Mamm hadn’t told Salome, a married adult who lived with them, about Quill being at his mother’s place, then Mamm hadn’t told anyone. That was good. It would be best if as few people as possible knew Quill visited his mother. The last thing Berta needed was a church leader questioning her.
    “But how do you know someone is planning to leave?”
    “That’s not important, and it could be an uncle, aunt, or cousin, but I don’t think so. Whoever it is, I have a bit of information this time, and that gives me the ability to plan. I won’t be caught completely blind, and I’ll put a stop to it before it happens.”
    “Ari…, honey, listen to yourself. I know this is far more distressing to you than most of us can under—”
    “I can fix this. I know I can.”
    “See, that’s what we need to talk about.” Everything about her sister seemed as calm as the summer breeze floating through the open window, but her eyes held deep concern. “Could you maybe have a short date with Rudy, just go for an hour drive and come back home?”
    Laughter one minute and having to stand her ground the next. Sisterhood was like having a vivid rainbow and a gloomy thunderstorm in the same room at the same time. “I’ll be home to keep Katie Ann tonight. I need the help I’m giving to be enough right now, okay?” Quill was not stealing another person from