Holly And Mistletoe. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ do more harm than good.”

      “I’m not a boy, Annie. I can do the job.” There was a charged moment as awareness of her sprung up inside him. Jacob shook it off. “If I don’t do it, who will?”

      “I don’t know.” She seemed to think about it. “I’ll have to ask Dat.”

      She had grabbed his hat from the table, where he’d set it down when he’d gone for the coffee for her brother and Nancy. Now she fingered the brim nervously.

      “We are friends, aren’t we, Annie?” he asked. “I remember seeing you in the open shop doorway when we were kinner, watching me with your dat.”

      She hesitated, then smiled slightly. “I was sure you would burn yourself with the hot metal, but you never did.”

      “Not that you ever saw.” He remembered her as a young girl, the first girl he’d ever liked.

      Her expression turned serious. “Jacob, it’s nice of you to offer your help, but we can’t accept it.”

      “But if Joe agrees?” he said softly.

      “Then I guess the decision will be made.” She continued down the hall toward the surgical waiting room.

      Jacob fell into step beside her. He studied her bent head, admiring the beauty of her profile. She looked pale and tense, and he didn’t seem to be able to help. He saw Josiah leave the waiting room up ahead and approach.

      “How’s Dat?” Annie asked.

      “No word yet from the doctor.” Josiah nodded his thanks as Jacob handed him a cup of coffee. He declined sugar and cream and grabbed the other cup for Nancy.

      Inside the waiting room, Jacob set down the cardboard cup holder, accepted his hat back from Annie and then took a seat near her. They waited in silence. He retrieved and handed her the wrapped cookies. “For when you’re hungry.”

      Annie’s eyes locked with his. She opened her mouth to say something but then nodded silently instead. Jacob found that he couldn’t look away.

      “Are those cookies?” Josiah asked, capturing Annie’s attention.

      “Ja, Jacob bought them.” Annie handed him one, and Josiah beamed.

      “Gut thinking, Jacob,” Josiah said before he unwrapped the treat and broke it in half. He handed a piece to Nancy and then took a bite of his own.

      Jacob smiled. He was pleased to see Josiah enjoying it, even more pleased to note that Annie had kept one for herself.

      It wasn’t long before there was a light commotion right outside the waiting room. Soon, others within their Amish community arrived, having received word of Joe’s accident. As the newcomers entered the room, he got up and moved away to give Josiah and Annie the time to be comforted by their friends. Among the new arrivals were his parents—Katie and Samuel Lapp—Josie and William Mast and Mae and Amos King. Annie and Josiah rose, and their friends immediately surrounded them.

      William Mast took off his hat, held it against his chest. “How’s Joe?” he asked Jacob.

      Jacob acknowledged the older man. “He’s still in surgery.”

      “Any idea how long?” the older bearded man asked. When Jacob explained it could be another half hour or more, William left to stand near his wife, Josie, who was comforting Annie.

      Josie moved aside, and Jacob’s mother stepped in to give Annie a hug. She spoke briefly to her and Josiah before she moved back to allow others to talk with the Zook siblings.

      His mam turned and saw him standing outside the group. She approached. “How bad?”

      “Bad enough.” Jacob was conscious of Annie across the room. He glanced over briefly to see how she was faring, before he turned back to his mother.

      “Isaac stopped by the house to tell us,” Mam told him. “You never know what can happen.” She touched his arm. “What was he doing on the roof?”

      “Trying to repair a leak.”

      “Why didn’t he ask for help? Joe knows your dat or one of you boys would have done the work.”

      “Perhaps he wanted to do it himself.” Jacob held out his coffee toward her. “Would you like a sip?” After his mother declined, he drank from the cup, grimaced, then walked toward a trash can and dropped the remainder inside. “Good choice,” he told her with a grin.

      “Jed would have come, but he’s working construction today and there was no way to reach him.” Mam glanced briefly toward the Zook siblings. “Sarah stayed at the house with Hannah. And Noah—”

      Jacob nodded. He knew exactly why Noah hadn’t come. He was worried about leaving his wife, Rachel, who had lost their baby a month before her due date. Even now, months later, while she appeared strong to the outside world, Noah continually fretted about her.

      The double doors leading to the surgical area swung open and Dr. Moss, dressed in green medical scrubs, stepped out and approached Annie and Josiah.

      Jacob worried about Annie as she moved to stand next to her brother so Dr. Moss could inform them of the outcome of her father’s surgery. Nancy King stood on Josiah’s other side. He saw Josiah reach out to clasp hands with both women. Dr. Moss spoke at length, but from where he was, Jacob couldn’t hear. He stepped closer.

      “The surgery went well,” the doctor said. “Your father is in recovery now. You’ll be able to go back and see him for a few minutes, but don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t respond. It will take him a while to come out of the anesthesia...”

      Jacob saw Mae King slip an arm around Annie, watched as Annie leaned into the older woman for a moment’s comfort before she straightened. Her eyes narrowed as she looked about. Her glance slid over him without pausing before it moved on.

      They’ll take care of her, he thought as he studied the group who were doing their best to be there for Joe’s children. Annie didn’t need him now. It was time for him to leave, to see what needed to be done at the Zook farm while Annie and Josiah stayed close to their father.

      “I’m going to head back,” he told his parents as his father joined them.

      His mother studied him, gave him a slight smile. “We’ll stay for a while.”

      “You have a ride?” his father asked.

      “Bob Whittier.” Jacob glanced at the clock, noted the time. “He should be here soon.”

      Samuel nodded. “Are you going home?”

      “Nay,” Jacob said. “I thought I’d go to the Zooks’ farm first.”

      * * *

      Rick Martin pulled into the Zook barnyard late that afternoon to drop off Annie and Josiah. He promised to return the next morning to take them back to the hospital. After Rick had left, Josiah sighed and ran a hand along the back of his neck. “I’ll check on the animals.”

      Annie СКАЧАТЬ