CHAPTER FOURTEENThe day arrived as the clearest of mornings in the middle of May. Zach was to turn fifteen. After the birds were turned out to fly, I went into the backyard with my basket. Beepah had backed the pickup near the barn doors. There were four bales of straw in the truck bed. He pulled one off and dropped it just inside the barn, out of the way of any approaching weather. I kicked along through grass heavy with dew. It cleaned my boots left muddied by the coop floor.
Beep looked my way and smiled. “If you’re going for eggs, you’re heading in the wrong direction.”
“Nope. I’m going to the meadow to check on bellyachers,” I said of the meadow apples. “I can’t think of anything better for Zach’s birthday than bellyacher pie with worms.”
Beep chuckled. “You’re a thoughtful sister,
