Evening. 10 miles from home. Crack. Right rear wheel — rim split. Buggy tilts. Bessie stops (knows something's wrong).
Josiah got out. Looked. Can't fix in the field (needs workshop, forge, new rim). No phone. No tow. Home — 10 miles. Walking — 2.5 hours.
Decision
Unhitched Bessie. Tied to roadside fence. Gave hay (always carries some). Left the buggy (who steals a buggy on an Amish road?). Walked.
10 miles. 2.5 hours. Dark. Stars. Familiar road (every rock since childhood). Feet know the way. Thought about: wheel (tomorrow — to craftsman), Bessie (won't freeze — July), Sarah (worrying — he's 3 hours late), life (10 miles on foot isn't catastrophe. Catastrophe is when you can't walk 10 miles).
Home at 11 PM. Sarah on porch. Tea (cold, but made). 'Wheel?' 'Wheel.' 'Bessie?' 'At Weber's, tied up.' 'You?' 'Tired. But good.'
Morning — to craftsman. Fix. Get Bessie. Home. Life continues — on four wheels.