“I’m all right, Mamm.” She bent to press her cheek against her mother’s. Mamm was sitting with her mending in her lap, but hadn’t yet taken a stitch. “Really. I’d rather do something.” “Play Chinese checkers with us?” Emma asked, her tone hopeful. She was poised by the stack of games on the bookshelf, ready to pull the game out. “Ja, that’s a gut idea.” Sarah smiled at her little sister. “That will get my mind on beating you.” She knew she’d said the right thing when the lines in Mamm’s face relaxed. “Set it up,” Sarah instructed. “I’ll be back in a minute, soon as I tell Jacob something.” She hurried toward the kitchen, listening to her sisters squabbling good-naturedly about who would go first. The door was closing behind Jacob, but he must have heard what she’d said, because he was waiting on the porch when she got there.
