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“We’re in here,” he called back. He stifled the urge to run to her and waited instead for her to come to them.
She entered, looking lovely, flushed and out of breath. “I’m sorry I’m late. I didn’t have the use of a vehicle this morning, so I walked.”
Nate stared at her, aware of how pretty she was. “You walked?” he asked with disbelief.
Charlie nodded. “Ja.”
“Isn’t that three miles?” Jacob asked with appreciation.
Charlie shrugged. “More like four. Doesn’t matter. I told you someone would be here, and so here I am. A little late, and I’m sorry about that.”
Nate felt something inside him warm. “You’re here now and that’s what counts.” He caught a glimpse through the window of a horse-drawn wagon pulling into the yard. “Jed’s here.” He met Charlie’s gaze. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “A little winded because I was in a hurry, but otherwise I’m fine.”
Despite the fact that Jed waited, he hesitated. The sudden stark need to spend time with her startled him.
“Did you eat?” she asked. “Do you want me to fix you something before you go? A sandwich?”
“No need,” he assured her. “I already made one.” He held up a bag with a grin.
She smiled. “I’ll see you later, then.”
Jedidiah waited patiently for him as Nate left the house, crossed the yard and climbed onto the wagon seat next to him. “Gut morning,” Jed greeted.
“’Tis a gut day,” Nate responded. “Where are we headed today?”
“New Holland.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite some distance away.”
“We’re meeting a crew near Whittier’s Store where a driver and car will be waiting for us.”
Nate was relieved. He didn’t want to be gone longer than necessary. If he kept her too long from her family, Charlie might not return. For Jacob, he assured himself.
Jed steered his buggy toward the road. “Is that Charlie I just saw in the window?”
“Ja, she’s staying with Jacob today.” He explained about his brother’s injury and Charlie’s arrival on the scene of the accident. Jed expressed concern, then understanding as he explained how he wanted to keep news of Jacob’s injuries quiet. Happiness was a small community. If word got out, everyone would know and natter about it. Then someone was liable to say something to upset his father when he called to check in.
Jed grinned.
Nate scowled. “Why are you grinning?”
“Charlie helping out with Jake. She’s growing up.”
He sighed. Yes, he’d noticed. “She’s been a big help.”
Jed agreed quietly and quickly changed the subject as he drove toward Whittier’s Store.
Nate relaxed, glad that the topic of Charlie had been dropped as they headed toward a job that would earn him the remainder of what he needed to finalize the purchase of his farm.
* * *
Charlie hadn’t wanted to come, but none of her sisters were available and she’d promised that someone would be here to stay with Jacob. She watched Nate and Jed leave then went into the great room to check on her patient. “Do you want anything?” she asked. “Coffee? Something to eat?”
He shook his head. “Nay, but how about a game of Dutch Blitz?”
“Are you sure you want to play when you know that I can beat you?”
Jacob chuckled. “I’ll take my chances. This isn’t baseball.”
She snickered. “Where are the cards?”
“In the cabinet to the left of the kitchen sink.”
The morning went quickly as Charlie showed Jake just how well she could play by beating him at three games. But by the time lunchtime arrived, however, they’d won a total of five games each.
Charlie chose to clean the house after lunch. She started upstairs, dusting, sweeping floors and collecting dirty laundry. She had cleaned the bathroom when she heard thumping steps in the hallway outside the room. She was shocked to see Jacob on the landing. “What are you doing up here?”
The embarrassed look on his face told her all she needed to know. “Call out if you need help with the stairs.”
With laundry basket under her left arm, she descended the stairs then went to put the wash on. She returned to the great room to check on Jacob when she realized that he hadn’t come downstairs yet. She resisted the urge to check on him, knowing that she’d further embarrass him if she did. Heading into the kitchen, she decided to plan supper. She had no idea what time Nate would be home, but she didn’t want him to worry about fixing a meal.
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