Love's Abundant Harvest (36 page)

“Need some help?” Her
mamm
's offer was casual enough, but Fannie figured there was
something brewing, and it didn't involve milking cows. She knew her
mamm
's goal in
life was for her daughters to become brides, and she was the only one left.

“
Nee
, you forget. I do most of the milking.”

“
Ach
,”
Mamm
smiled. “So what do you think of Doc's offer?”

“That he's manipulative and controlling. He gave me no option.”

Mamm
was unusually quiet for a moment. “No option for what?”

“Being his assistant.”

Mamm
looked at her daughter and frowned. “I would think it was a compliment. Choosing
you shows how much he thinks of you.”

Fannie snorted. “I doubt that. And I don't want to be ‘picked' by anyone.”

“Well, I don't know why you're being stubborn about it, especially when you've been
saving to buy that Appaloosa you've become so fond of.”

Whenever her
mamm
suggested something, Fannie figured she meant the opposite, so
she paused, trying to decide what was the right thing to do. She hadn't thought about
the horse, but the extra money would help her get him sooner.

“I didn't think you favored my working to save money to buy Ap.”

Mamm
's head snapped up. “You've named him?
Ach
, no.”
Mamm
knew once Fannie gave an
animal a name, it was a keeper. “You're going to have to expect some questions if
you have an Appaloosa running around the community.”

“It's been done. Remember the Fishers' horse?”

“
Jah
, but that was a different situation. She was new to our ways. You are not.”
She lifted a brow, her way of saying she was sure she was right.

“It's for me to decide.” As soon as Fannie said it, she
realized she shouldn't have.
Her
mamm
's eyes lifted, her warning to be wary.

Fannie knew then that she'd work with Doc, if for no other reason than to buy her
horse. She looked at the sun making its way up into the sky and wondered what she
was getting herself into.