A Simple Amish Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

something they had to vigilantly guard against.
    “Rest is what he needs now. Go on to the store. We’ll be fine.”
    Rebekah nodded, pulled herself up straighter as she tied the strings of her prayer kapp. “Your bruder is working here today. David Hostetler has agreed to help out, and Adam is going to show him what needs to be done.”
    For a moment, Annie thought of confessing to her mother exactly what she’d been doing during her rumschpringe years. Perhaps if her mamm knew she’d been at school rather than running wild, she’d relax.
    Pushing her hair back from her face, she decided while it might ease her own conscience, it likely wouldn’t help her mamm a bit. Rebellion was precisely that in the eyes of the Amish people—didn’t matter that it was schooling she had pursued while she was away.
    The point was she sought that which was forbidden to them.
    Best to leave it alone.
    Her mamm had enough to deal with this morning.
    “I’ll shout for Adam if I need anything.”
    “Or ring the bell.”
    “ Ya , or I’ll ring the bell. I haven’t forgotten how we do things, you know.”
    “Of course you haven’t.” Rebekah stopped gathering her things and pulled her close. “ Danki for coming home.”
    Annie wanted to say so much in that moment. Instead she merely returned her mamm’s hug, forced back her tears, and nodded. “ Gem gschehne. Now go, or you’ll be late and the Englischers will be lined up outside the store waiting to purchase Mr. Fisher’s fine things.”

     
    Two hours later, Annie was checking her dat’s vitals when his hand reached out and covered hers. The sight of his weathered hand lying gently over hers caused tears to sting her eyes. She drew in a deep breath, willed herself not to cry, and reminded herself that she was a professional.
    “Please tell me you’re hungry.”
    “ Ya. Seems like you don’t feed your patients much around here.” His voice was weaker than she remembered, but those blue eyes opened with a twinkle, and a smile pulled his beard that was streaked through with gray.
    Annie forgot for a moment that she was a registered nurse.
    She threw herself into her father’s arms, buried herself in the smell of him—a smell that still held the barns and the fields, though he hadn’t been there in over forty-eight hours. It wasn’t until he patted her clumsily and began wheezing that she pulled back, wiping at the tears streaming down her face.
    “Did I give you so big a scare?” Jacob asked, his voice cracking.
    “You did. I suppose you did.” She flew to the pitcher of water, poured him a glass and held it to his lips as he struggled to sit up.
    Drinking even a little tired him, and he lay back against the pillows with a sigh. Looking out at the daylight, he shook his head, plainly unhappy. “Must be nearing nine in the morning.”
    “Don’t worry about the farm. Adam’s here, and David Hostetler is coming.”
    He nodded, but looked no happier.
    “What do you feel like eating? Maybe some bread first, or tea—”
    “Wait.” His voice stopped her more quickly than the hand that reached out to grasp her wrist. “I remember the hospital and a doctor.…”
    “Doctor Stoltzfus set your legs.” Annie said it gently, not sure if he realized yet the extent of his injuries.
    Jacob nodded, not looking down at the covers—bunched high from the casts covering both his left and right legs from knee to ankle.
    “ Ya. He spoke with me when I first arrived. I don’t remember anything of the procedure though.”
    “Your left leg is a simple break, according to Samuel. It should heal quickly.”
    “Samuel was here?” Jacob turned his attention from the window to her.
    “He found you, in the snow late that night, then rode with you to the hospital.”
    “Yesterday?”
    “Day before yesterday. You’ve been sleeping quite a bit.”
    “I don’t remember any of that.”
    “What about the accident?” Annie didn’t want to tire or upset him, but she’d