The Letters by Suzanne Woods Fisher Read Free Book Online Page A

family together. Including Mammi Vera.
    But mostly, Bethany thought of Rose as her mother because she was always there for her. She was a rock. She was safe.
    Unlike her real mother.
    Bethany could hardly remember her real mother. It was sad that there were no pictures of her. If Bethany were a bishop, she would change that rule, first thing. She grinned. Imagine that—a woman becoming a bishop. It would never happen! But she would love to have a picture of her mother. She had deserted their family when Bethany was just a toddler.
    A few years later, her father married Rose, and Rose became her stepmother. That was the happiest day of Bethany’s childhood. Bethany admired her more than anybody she had ever met. Rose was always thinking of others and she took the brunt of everything, especially her grandmother’s sour tongue, yet she wasn’t beaten down by it. When Mimcomplained about the work required to get the basement into shape as an inn, Bethany replied, “But isn’t the point to give Rose a chance? Isn’t that the whole point?”
    As close as Bethany felt to Rose, she couldn’t call her “Mom.” In her heart, she had a real mother and, one day, she hoped to find her. To ask her why she left.
    Luke and Sammy came galloping through the back door. “Bethany, come see! Galen’s brought over some furniture for the basement.” They galloped back out again.
    Hallelujah! If Rose was determined to see this crazy notion through, at least get those strangers out of their house and into the basement.
    “You boys quiet down out there!” came a cry from the depths of Mammi Vera’s gloomy bedroom.
    “They’re already back outside, Mammi Vera,” Bethany called back. She looked out the window and saw Naomi alongside her brother, Galen, coming up the driveway, in an open wagon filled to the brim with furniture. She wiped her hands on a dishrag and hurried outside.
    Naomi waved eagerly when she saw her. It always surprised Bethany that Naomi was so fond of her. There couldn’t be two more opposite girls in all the world over. Naomi was frail and thin and often took to her bed. Bethany was strong, curvy, and had never been sick a day in her life. Naomi was pious and pure and reserved, while Bethany was blunt and outspoken, with a hot temper. Why, hadn’t she nearly spouted off a curse word or two at Jimmy Fisher just yesterday?
    And all the while, Jimmy Fisher just watched her with those mischievous eyes, enjoying her outburst. Not at all offended, he had made good on his offer to give her a ride home in his buggy so she could hurry back to Mammi Vera’s side. It washer job to settle Mammi Vera down after pitching one of her fits that ended in relentless hiccups.
    Nonetheless, the buggy ride home did not change Bethany’s opinion of Jimmy Fisher: he was arrogant and cocky just because he was so handsome and charming and likable.
    She wondered if he might drop by sometime. She didn’t want him to, but she wondered if he might.
    Naomi hopped off the wagon and hurried to Bethany. “My brother emptied out the attic! He brought over extra beds and rugs and tables for the new bed-and-breakfast.”
    “Not a minute too soon,” Bethany said. “I can’t handle having strangers in the house. Asking questions and poking around the house. One of them walked right into Mammi Vera’s room yesterday and she screamed bloody murder.”
    “She’s always lathered up about one thing or another,” Luke piped up.
    Bethany pointed a finger at him. “You respect your elders.” Then she shooed him away. “Get Sammy and make yourself useful. Go help Galen unload the wagon.” She turned back to Naomi. “Come and see how the basement’s starting to take shape. You won’t believe it.”
    Naomi followed Bethany to the basement door. It had been divided into two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a living room with a small kitchen. A week ago, after Rose and the boys had emptied everything out and put it in the hayloft, Galen brought a few