Forever. Karen Hopkins Ann

from Sam and climbed on the bed beside me. “We’ve gone over it a million times. This is the best plan for now.”

      Even in the semidarkness I could see Sam’s head jerking back and forth. “I don’t agree. As much as I hate the guy, he should know what he did to Rose. She shouldn’t have to deal with it by herself.”

      “I’m not alone. I have you guys,” I piped up.

      “And, Sam, it’s only for a few weeks. Really, you’re making more drama than necessary.” Summer said it quietly and slowly enough that I was betting Sam wouldn’t argue.

      But I was wrong.

      “Dad should at least know. This is serious business—” his hand waved into the air at me “—she needs to see a doctor.”

      “Women have been having babies forever, a few weeks won’t make a difference,” Summer said with a shrug.

      “We aren’t even certain she’s pregnant, though.”

      “Don’t be dumb. She took five prego tests. She is, and that’s the end of it.”

      Sam muttered under his breath, “Damn, females are diabolical.”

      I heard him loud and clear, though...and I was suddenly afraid.

      3

      Sarah

      Glancing sideways, I quickly looked back into the laundry basket and blushed. Micah had been watching me.

      Oh, goodness, what should I do?

      Trying to ignore what my eyes had just told me, I reached into the basket and pulled out a pair of pants still heavy with dampness. Snapping them on to the line, I nearly jumped out of my skin when Micah spoke close behind me.

      “Would you like some help with that?”

      His words were fuzzy in my mind, and his face blurred for a second. Did the brown-haired boy with the prettiest green eyes I’d ever seen just ask me if I needed help hanging the laundry? Surely, I must be dreaming.

      Coming to my senses as quickly as I could, I looked around for anyone watching before facing Micah.

      “Uh, no...but it sure is nice of you to offer—none of my brothers ever have,” I said, turning back to the work.

      As much as I wanted his company, I wished he’d leave. If Father or Mother caught him talking to me, I’d be in trouble for sure. Especially with everything so mixed up with our families and all. Oh, if only Noah had never gotten involved with Constance. He hadn’t taken my advice, and now we all were paying the price—especially me.

      Micah chuckled softly and said, “My mother and sisters trained me well.” He paused and took a wet work shirt from the pile and began hanging it. “Actually, I don’t mind helping you at all.”

      I quickly grabbed the garment from his hands and tugged. “You mustn’t do that. Someone might see, and then questions will be raised.”

      Micah was strong, and he wouldn’t let go. He pulled the shirt back and argued, “There is nothing wrong with me assisting you. I hardly see why anyone would complain.”

      Nearly frantic, I glanced around and yanked hard. The rip was loud, and I didn’t need to see the shirt to know a seam had split. The material came loose from his hands, and I stepped back.

      My cheeks felt warm when I said, “Now look what you’ve gone and done. You’re supposed to be building a fence with Peter. And with all the trouble brewing, you should be happy that Father invited you to do so.”

      Micah must have lost his mind, I thought, when he came forward and whispered close to my face, “If you hadn’t refused my help, that wouldn’t have happened. Besides, the only reason my father allowed me to come over here at all was to spy.”

      I felt light-headed and ignored the possibility of others watching us.

      “What are you talking about?”

      Micah did a quick scan of the area and said, “I shouldn’t have said anything, but I don’t guess you’ll tell anyone. You used to talk to me and smile sometimes, and now you won’t even glance my way. Is it because of your brother and my sister?”

      Sighing, I said, “Of course, silly. I’m not sure why we became friends, but the things that your father has said about Noah and my family have made it impossible for our friendship to continue. It wasn’t proper, anyway. I’m going to begin courting Edwin.”

      His hand shot out and grabbed my arm. The heavy feel of it made the blood drain from my face. “What...?”

      “Are you crazy, Sarah? You don’t even like him.”

      “Course I do. And who are you to say so?”

      Micah leaned in and said with a sureness that made me believe him, “’Cause you like me, that’s why. Things will settle down soon between our families. Don’t do something that we’ll both regret.”

      He left me and went back to the fence across the yard. A part of me wanted him to come back, but the other wanted him to stay far away. He was dead wrong about our families. When the bishop announced Noah and Constance’s separation on Sunday, it would get worse.

      Wiping the wetness from my eyes quickly, I went back to work. I had to get Micah Schwartz out of my mind.

      He was nothing but trouble.

      4

      Sam

      Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stared at the ceiling. Why the hell did I have to get dragged into my family’s shenanigans? How did Summer manage to get me to do whatever fool thing she wanted? It was beyond me, but I was looking forward to the day when the honeymoon phase ended, and I could think straight again.

      “Come on, Sam, Dad’s downstairs and about to pop a blood vessel. He wants to get moving,” Justin said, peeking in the doorway. He was too smart to come all the way in and risk my early morning wrath.

      “If he only knew, he wouldn’t be in such a damn hurry,” I mumbled into the pillow.

      Justin risked a step in but kept his hand on the door. “What did you say?”

      I opened my eyes and stared at my little brother. He’d grown a couple of inches over the summer and was nearing my height now. At some point, my intimidation tactics might not work on him.

      “Are you so tied up in your fantasy military world that you don’t notice anything going on in the here and now?”

      Justin thought for a second, before saying, “I know everything going on. You’re the naive one, thinking I’m clueless. That’s what makes me smarter than any of you.”

      The smug expression on his face made me sit up straighter and narrow my eyes at him. Could he possibly know about Rose? I was suddenly suspicious that he might.

      With a speed that surprised even me, I was out of the bed and through the doorway. I tackled Justin to the floor in front of Rose’s room. The kid might be sneaky, smart and growing, but I still held the superior strength. Thank God.

      Near his ear I whispered, “You better tell me exactly what you know, or I’m going to sprain your hand and you won’t be able to hold your controller for weeks.”

      “You wouldn’t. Dad’s in the kitchen,” Justin whined quietly.

      “I don’t care where he is. I’ll do it and then I’ll lie to him about what really happened...you know I will.”

      The extra pressure on his wrist did the trick. Justin puffed out, “All right, ease up.” He lowered his voice and said, “Rose is pregnant.”

      The volume wasn’t low enough, though. Rose was standing in the doorway. I caught only a glimpse of her pale, shocked face before she stepped back into