One or two families were loading up to leave, while several horses stamped their hooves with impatience.
“Rest easy, Abby,” said Iris. “Little Abraham is doing fine, and I plan to take good care of him.”
Abby smoothed her palms down her skirt. “I know you will. It was nice to see you again, although I wish it had been under pleasanter circumstances.” She voiced a particularly English expression she’d picked up from Dr. Weller.
“That’s all right. We can’t control circumstances, but at least you were able to see he’s doing well.” She shifted the boy to her other arm. “Why don’t you stop by my son’s house for a bite to eat? He doesn’t live far from here. We have plenty of food.” Iris looked her in the eye and held her gaze. “Do you remember the way?”
Abby considered accepting the invitation. If they attended, she would have a chance to hold the child and be assured he was thriving. And she might find out more about Ruth Fisher, but Daniel squeezed her shoulder.
“Danki,” he said, “but we need to get home. Our two kinner are at a neighbor’s house and I’m behind on my chores. We are real sorry for your loss.” He nodded at Iris, grasped Abby’s hand, and led her away from the mourners as though she were a child.
She felt oddly annoyed and yet relieved at the same time as they walked back to their buggy without speaking. She didn’t wait for his help to climb inside. With a cluck of his tongue to the horse, the buggy rolled down the dirt lane in between closely packed graves. Once they reached the county road, she said softly, “I don’t see what harm it would have done to stop by the Fishers’.”
“Not a matter of harm, fraa, but what good would it have served? You got to see the boppli to set your mind at ease, but stopping there would only have prolonged your misery. You need to put this delivery out of your mind and concentrate on the hundreds of successful ones. Folk die. It’s part of life. We might not like it, but upsetting yourself isn’t going to bring her back or change a thing.” He clamped his jaw closed the way he always did when he wished a subject dropped.
Abby swallowed down her reply. Arguing with her husband wouldn’t help matters, and he was probably right. It just didn’t seem so at the moment. She nodded and Daniel slapped the reins against the horse’s back to pick up the pace.
On the way home she concentrated on the green hayfields waiting to be cut and the knee-high stalks of corn standing in neat rows. Sunlight sparkled off the clear blue water of ponds, while hawks wheeled on wind currents overhead, watching for tasty prey to make their lunch. Daniel’s idea about focusing on the hundreds of successful births made sense. She would remember Ruth in her prayers for many nights to come, but her death shouldn’t cripple her ability to serve her community.
“Do we have any leftovers in the fridge?” Daniel’s question broke the long silence. “All that talk about food made me hungry. I’d better eat something before heading to the fields.” He glanced over at her and they both burst out laughing.
“You’re the one who passed up a free meal, Mr. Graber. Now you’re probably stuck with a bowl of soup or a ham sandwich.” She tugged the sleeve of his coat.
“Serves me right for not listening to my smart fraa.” He offered a wink as he shrugged out of his coat. With their farm in sight, he would forgo his proper appearance.
“Good gracious, what is going on?” Abby’s attention had focused on a vehicle in their driveway. The sheriff’s cruiser was parked near their barn; its red and blue lights still spinning as the car idled.
“Git up there, Sam!” Daniel slapped the reins once more. “What on earth could the sheriff want at our farm?”
An icy chill pooled in Abby’s belly. “Oh my. I hope nothing’s happened to the kinner.” She jumped down before Daniel brought the buggy to a stop and ran toward the cruiser. She saw no one inside or near the vehicle. With her heart slamming against her ribcage, she ran to the barn door and nearly collided with the exiting sheriff and his deputy.
“Easy there, ma’am. No need to knock us down.”
Abby stepped back with fear and confusion. “What’s wrong? Has something happened to my children? They were supposed