A Promise for Ellie by Lauraine Snelling Page A

I know you love him far more even than I do and you want the best for him. It’s so hard for me to believe my sweet little Andrew is really old enough to graduate and to think of marrying. And Ellie has been like a daughter to me for so many years. This will be one more thing to draw us closer .
    Ingeborg checked on the two chickens she had baking in the oven for the community dinner at the school, since the graduation ceremony would be held in the church. Andrew and Ellie had taken the buggy over already. The rest of them would come in the wagons.
    “Anything I can do to help?” Goodie asked after coming down the stairs.
    “You don’t want to muss your good clothes.”
    “Ingeborg Bjorklund, this is me you’re talking to. Can I use that apron?” Goodie pointed to one of the aprons hanging on a peg on the wall behind the stove. “Things ready to be loaded?”
    “You can pack those baskets if you like.” Ingeborg pointed to the table laden with baked pies, rolls, and three loaves of bread. Baskets waited on chairs.
    “Slice the bread first?”
    “Please.”
    Rachel followed Astrid back down the stairs, both of them with their hair gathered up from the sides and front and tied with a bow to flow down their backs.
    “I thought you were going to ask Astrid to braid your hair.”
    “I want it like hers and Ellie’s.”
    “But it will get all tangled when you are playing.”
    “No, I’ll be good.”
    Ingeborg and Goodie swapped mother looks that included smiles ripe with memories—of Ellie and Astrid wanting to wear their hair up, of them coming in muddy or covered with hay or straw dust, their knees dirty from kneeling as they weeded in the gardens. How they’d loved playing with the calves, even the chickens, which had always been Astrid’s specialty, some of the hens her pets. They especially loved the fluffy chicks, cuddling them gently under their chins.
    Rachel leaned against her aunt. “I don’t want Ellie to go away.”
    “I know. Me neither, but she’s grown up now, and she loves Andrew.”
    “He don’t love her much as I do.”
    Again the mothers exchanged looks as Goodie hugged her niece and kissed the top of her head.
    “Andrew could come live at our house. He could have Hans’s room.”
    Ingeborg glanced up at the carved walnut clock on the shelf, both shelf and clock gifts from Onkel Olaf. “We better hurry. Astrid, you and Rachel go bring the team and wagon up. Haakan has them harnessed.”
    Astrid grabbed Rachel’s hand and out the door they went, laughing at something only they knew.
    “Let Astrid comb out the snarls. She’s enjoying being ‘big sister’ to her.”
    Goodie chuckled but used the hem of the apron to wipe away the moisture in her eyes. “I don’t know how I’m going to bear it with Ellie gone.”
    Ingeborg wrapped her arms around her friend. “And here I’ve been so selfishly looking forward to having my other daughter back. Oh, Goodie, I have missed you all so much. Much as I enjoy your letters, there’s been a hole here without all of you.”
    “Grafton just isn’t the same as Blessing. The people are nice enough, and we have a good church. The children have done well in school there, but our family is here.” Goodie leaned into Ingeborg’s arms. “Ellie told me what Andrew said. He seems some upset.”
    “He is—more so I think since he talked with Ellie. I thought that would help, but . . .” She shook her head. “Can’t say as I blame him. He’s talked about marrying up with Ellie ever since he was in short pants.”
    “I know. Andrew is always so sunny, I hardly recognize his face behind the frown.”
    “Mor, we’re ready,” Astrid called from outside.
    “Oh my, and here we stand gabbing instead of packing.” Goodie brushed the backs of her hands across her eyes. “It will all come out all right?”
    Ingeborg knew her friend didn’t really mean that as a question. “I have to keep reminding myself that God is in control. He has a plan,