the STRUGGLE (13 page)

“Some years we do. Other times we hardly get any at all.” Esther motioned to the window. “If this is an indication of what’s to come, we might be in for a bad winter this year.”

Hannah frowned. “I hope not. The weather needs to be nice so Timothy’s folks and mine can get here for Christmas.”

Esther smiled. “From what Samuel’s told me, his folks are really excited about coming, so it would probably have to be something bad like a blizzard to keep them at home. Maybe the snow will stick around, if it stays cold enough, and give us a white Christmas.”

“My parents are looking forward to coming here, too, and I guess if this is the only snow we get until they arrive, it would be nice to have it around for Christmas.”

“Can we go outside and play in the
schnee
?” Penny asked as she, Jared, and Mindy raced into the kitchen.

“That sounds like fun,” Esther said. “And when you’re done playing in the snow, you can come inside for a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup.”

Jared and Penny squealed, jumping eagerly up and down.

“Schnee! Schnee!” Mindy hollered, joining her cousins in their eagerness to play in the snow.

Hannah put her finger to her lips. “Calm down.” She looked at Esther. “I’m sure it’s frigid out there, and I don’t think any of them should go outside to play.”

“They’ll come in if they get too cold,” Esther said.

Hannah shook her head. “I don’t want my daughter getting cold and wet.”

“I understand that, but I don’t think a few minutes in the snow will hurt her any. I’m sure when you were little you loved the snow. Didn’t you?”

“Jah, but I was never allowed to play in it very long because my mamm always worried about me getting chilled.”

“Please…please…can Mindy go outside with us to play?” Penny pleaded.

All three children continued to jump up and down, hollering so loudly that Hannah had to cover her ears. “Oh, all right,” she finally agreed. “But I’m going outside with you, because I want to make sure Mindy doesn’t wander off or slip in the wet snow and get hurt.”

“I think I’ll turn down the stove and join you,” Esther said. “It’s been awhile since I frolicked in the snow.”

After all the fuss, Esther was surprised to actually see Hannah laughing and romping around in the snow like a schoolgirl. She even showed the children how she liked to open her mouth and catch snowflakes on the end of her tongue.

“This is
schpass
!” Penny shouted as she raced past Esther, slipping and sliding in the snow.

“Jah, it’s a lot of fun!” Esther tweaked the end of Penny’s cold nose. “Should we see if there’s enough snow on the ground to make a snowman?”

All three children nodded enthusiastically, and even Hannah said it sounded like fun.

Hannah helped Mindy form a snowball, and they began rolling it across the lawn while Esther helped Jared roll another snowball. Since Penny was a bit older, she was able to get a snowball started on her own.

As the children worked, they giggled, caught more snowflakes on their tongues, and huffed and puffed as their snowballs grew bigger. Esther was pleased to see Hannah actually enjoying herself. It was the first time she’d seen this side of Hannah. Maybe she was warming up to the idea of living here. There might even be a possibility that the two of them could become friends. It wasn’t that Esther needed more friends; she had Suzanne and Bonnie. But Hannah needed a friend, and if she could act happy and carefree like she was doing now, she’d probably make a lot of friends in this community. Unfortunately, though, since Hannah had arrived in Kentucky, her actions had made her appear standoffish.

After they finished building the snowman, Esther suggested they look for some small rocks to use for the snowman’s eyes and buttons for his chest.

The children squatted down in an area where some dirt was showing and started looking for rocks, and Esther joined them.

“Maybe I should run inside and check on the soup,” Hannah said. “Just to be sure it’s not boiling over.”

“I turned the stove down, so I’m sure it’s fine.” Esther reached for a small stone she thought would be perfect for one of the snowman’s eyes. “And Hannah, I just thought of something.”

“What’s that?”

“I was wondering what your thoughts are on the two desserts I’m hoping to make for Christmas.”

“What did you have in mind?” Hannah asked.

“One of the things I wanted to make is pumpkin cookies, because I know Samuel and the kinner like them. I also found a recipe for Kentucky chocolate chip pie, and I was thinking of trying that, too. I’ve never made it before, but it sounds really good.”

“I could make the pie if you like,” Hannah said. “I’m always looking for new recipes to try.”

“That’d be great.” Esther was glad Hannah had made the offer. It was what she’d been hoping for. Maybe baking together would bridge the gap that still seemed to be between them.

Hannah smiled. “Timothy loves anything with chocolate chips in it, so I know at least one person who’ll be eager to try out the pie. That is, if it turns out okay.”

“You’re a good cook, so I’m sure it’ll turn out fine.” Esther felt hopeful. She was glad today had been going so well.

“I can only hope so. Now, I think somebody ought to check on that soup,” Hannah said. “So, if you’ll keep a close eye on Mindy, I’ll go do that.”

“Sure, no problem.” Esther glanced up at Hannah to make sure she’d heard her, and when Hannah turned and headed into the house, she continued to look for more rocks.

Esther was only vaguely aware that Jared and Mindy had begun chasing each other around the yard, until she heard a bloodcurdling scream.

Dropping the rock she’d just found, she hurried across the yard, where Mindy stood holding her nose. Blood oozed between Mindy’s gloved fingers and trickled down the sleeve of her jacket. The children had obviously collided. So much for fun in the snow!

Just then, Hannah rushed out of the house. Seeing Mindy’s bloody nose, she glared at Esther. “What happened?”

“The children were running, and I think Jared and Mindy collided with each other,” Esther said.

Hannah knelt down to take a look at her daughter’s nose. “I thought you promised to keep an eye on Mindy for me,” she said, taking a tissue from her jacket pocket and holding it against Mindy’s nose. “If you’d been watching her, Esther, this wouldn’t have happened!”

“I’m sorry,” Esther said above Mindy’s sobbing.

Hannah grabbed Mindy’s hand and ushered her into the house.

That’s just great
, Esther thought.
Things were going so well between Hannah and me. Now this is one more thing for Hannah to complain to Samuel about when he gets home from work tonight. If Hannah and Timothy don’t move into a place of their own soon, Hannah will probably have Samuel convinced that I’m not fit to be his wife or the kinner’s stepmother
.

C
HAPTER
17

Branson, Missouri

I
s this your first time here?” an elderly woman with silver-gray hair asked Trisha as she took her seat in one of the most elaborate theaters in Branson. She’d gone to the women’s restroom before entering the theater and was surprised to see that even it was ornately decorated.

Trisha nodded, feeling rather self-conscious. “Does it show?”

The woman chuckled. “Just a little. I couldn’t help but notice the look of awe on your face as you surveyed your surroundings. It is quite beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is a magnificent theater,” Trisha said. “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before.”

“You know the old saying, ‘You ain’t seen nothin’ yet’? Well, you just wait until you see this show. The star attraction is a violinist, and his Christmas show is absolutely incredible. I’ve seen him perform before, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”

Trisha smiled in anticipation. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“So, are you here alone?”

Trisha nodded. “I’m from California, and I’m making a trip across the country to take in some sights I’ve always wanted to see. After I spend a few days here, I’ll be heading to Nashville. From there, I’m going to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to see an old friend.”

Just then the show started, ending their conversation. As the curtain went up, Trisha turned her attention to the stage, listening with rapt attention to the beautiful violin music that began the show. So far this trip was turning out well, and she looked forward to spending Christmas with her friend Carla.

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

“I’m so glad the weather’s improved and there’s no snow on the ground,” Hannah said as she and Suzanne pushed their carts into Walmart’s produce section. Since it was Saturday, and Samuel and Timothy had volunteered to watch the children, Hannah and Suzanne had hired a driver to take them to town so they could do some grocery shopping and buy a few Christmas gifts.

“It would be nice to have a white Christmas,” Suzanne said wistfully, “like the ones I remember from my childhood.”

“Esther said the same thing about having a white Christmas. Maybe so, but snowy weather makes it harder to travel, and I don’t want anything to stand in the way of my folks coming for Christmas.”

“I’m sure their driver will have either snow tires or chains for his van, so driving in the snow shouldn’t be a problem. Unless, of course, it became a blizzard.”

Hannah nodded. “That’s what worries me. I’d be so disappointed if my folks couldn’t come, and I’m sure Timothy and his brothers would feel bad if their folks couldn’t make it either.”

Suzanne patted Hannah’s arm. “Not to worry. I’m sure everything will be fine and we’ll all have a really nice Christmas, with or without the snow.”

Pembroke, Kentucky

“I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” Timothy said when he returned to the house after checking the messages in Samuel’s phone shanty.

“Let’s have the good news first,” Samuel said, placing his coffee cup on the kitchen table.

“Mom and Dad’s message said they’re still planning to come for Christmas and they can stay until New Year’s.”

Samuel grinned. “That is good news. It’ll be great to see our folks again, and we’ll have plenty of time to visit and catch up on things.” He picked up his cup and took a drink. “So, what’s the bad news?”

“Hannah’s mother left a message saying she and Johnny won’t be coming after all.” Timothy groaned. “I sure dread telling Hannah about it, because I know she’s gonna be very upset. She’s been looking forward to her parents’ visit for weeks now.”

“Why can’t Sally and Johnny come?” Samuel asked.

“Johnny injured his back picking up a heavy box at the store. He’s flat in bed, taking pain pills and muscle relaxers. Sally has to wait on him hand and foot because he can’t do much of anything right now and was advised by his doctor to stay in bed for the time being.”

“That’s too bad. I remember last year when Allen hurt his back after falling down some stairs. He was cranky as a bear with sore paws and none too happy about his mom coming to take care of him.”

“Doesn’t he get along well with her?” Timothy asked, taking a seat beside Samuel.