Chapter 3 Summary

Sarah arrives in the spring. The fields are in bloom with red and orange, blue-eyed grass, and Indian paintbrush. The morning of her arrival, Papa dresses carefully. He saddles up the two horses, Old Bess and wild-eyed Jack, and then heads off down the dirt road toward the train station. Caleb and Anna do their chores silently. Finally Caleb breaks the silence with questions. He asks Anna if he looks all right, if she thinks Sarah will be nice, if Sarah will like them, and if she will bring the sea. Anna says yes to everything except for Sarah bringing the sea; it can't be done, she explains to Caleb. Nervously they watch the road until finally they see Papa's wagon returning to the house. Caleb is excited to spot a yellow bonnet through the cloud of dust that surrounds the wagon.

Sarah...