Holly And Mistletoe. Susan Mallery

Josiah?”

      “In the barn.”

      “I took care of the animals earlier,” he said.

      The front door slammed. “Annie,” Josiah called out, “the animals have been fed and watered—”

      Annie met his gaze as her brother entered the room and stopped abruptly. “Jacob took care of them.”

      Jacob rose to his feet. He and Josiah stared at one another a long moment, and Annie remembered suddenly that Nancy King, the girl Jacob had fancied and lost, was currently her brother’s sweetheart.

      “I appreciate what you did for Dat.” Josiah extended his hand.

      She watched the interaction between the two men and then saw Jacob smile. They shook hands and stepped back.

      “I should go,” Jacob said. Annie watched him grab his hat off a wall hook. “You both need your rest.” He hesitated. “I made sandwiches. I put them in the refrigerator.”

      Annie blinked, shocked. “You made yourself at home.”

      He raised an eyebrow at her tone. “Nay. I simply fixed a meal for friends in need.” He jammed his hat on his head. He gave a nod to her brother. “Josiah.”

      “Jacob.” Josiah inclined his head.

      As Jacob headed outside, Annie felt as if she’d been too mean-spirited toward him, and it didn’t set well with her. It wasn’t the way of her community or the Lord—and it wasn’t like her to behave this way, either.

      Annie followed him, stopping to stand in the open doorway as he descended the porch steps. “Gut day to you, Jacob Lapp,” she called out to him.

      He paused and turned. “Rest well, Annie Zook,” he replied and then he walked away, without glancing back.

      Annie felt awful as she watched him leave. Contrary to her behavior, she had appreciated having Jacob nearby. His quiet strength and presence had soothed her during the crisis with her dat. She reminded herself that he was her childhood friend, and she shouldn’t worry about spending time with him. He wasn’t Jed, and he wasn’t in the position to break her heart.

       Chapter Three

      “Aren’t you done with that family?”

      Jacob buttoned his light blue shirt without glancing toward his twin brother. “Which family?”

      “The Zooks.” The mattress springs squeaked as Eli sat and kicked against the bed’s wooden frame.

      “What are you trying to tell me?” He knew what Eli was hinting at, but he wanted to hear him say it.

      “I’m reminding you that while Horseshoe Joe was gut to you, you can’t say the same for his daughter.”

      Jacob sighed as he pulled one suspender over his shoulder before drawing up the other one. “So, I once liked Annie, and she liked Jed. I got over her years ago.”

      “So you say.” Eli rose from his bed, bent to pick up a shoe, which he pointed at Jacob. “Mark my words. She still pines for him, Jake. Even though he’s married to Sarah now.”

      Jacob grabbed the black shoe, and with a teasing look Eli retrieved the other one from the floor for him. “And I shouldn’t help Horseshoe Joe because Annie likes Jed?” He snatched the second shoe from Eli’s hand and set both back onto the floor. He pulled on his socks.

      “Nay,” Eli said. “I just want you to be mindful of the past. I know ya like the back of my own hand, like you know me.” He grinned, and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners. “We are twins after all.” He plucked a straw hat off the wall peg.

      “We are?” Jacob replied with feigned surprise. He grinned as he snatched his hat from his twin’s hands and tossed it on the bed. “I’m not a boy, Eli. Neither are you. And I’m not pining for Annie.” Although he was very glad he’d been able to help in her time of need. “Do you ever think about marrying someday?”

      “Ja, I think about it.” Eli ran a hand through his golden-blond hair. “But until I find the right one to wed, I’ll not be thinking too much of it.” He grinned, displaying even white teeth.

      Jacob laughed. He loved his brother, not necessarily more than the rest but differently, with the love born of brothers who’d entered this earth on the same day. A relationship which started in Mam’s womb, he thought. The connection between them was strong. They’d been raised from the cradle together, although no one looking at them would believe them twins. Eli’s hair was as fair as his was dark. Day and night, someone had once said of them. They might be different in looks, but that was all. They were close, often sharing each other’s thoughts, sometimes finishing each other’s sentences.

      Eli, more than anyone, had understood how he’d felt when Annie Zook had finally won Jed’s attention. They’d been sixteen years old, and although it had been years since he’d stopped hanging about Zook’s Blacksmithy, hoping for a glimpse of Annie, his loss hadn’t been any less painful. He was over Annie, and she certainly didn’t care for him. So why was she so wary of him? Simply because Jed was his brother?

      “You don’t have to worry about me.” Jacob slipped on his shoes, then propped a foot onto a wooden chest to tie his shoelaces. “Annie made it clear that she only tolerates me because I stopped to help Joe. Once the ambulance arrived, she wanted me to leave.” He lowered his right leg and raised his left.

      “But you stayed anyway,” Eli pointed out.

      “Ja.” Jacob finished up and straightened. “I went to the hospital and the haus.” When he’d returned home the day of Horseshoe Joe’s accident, he had confided in Eli how he’d gone to the Zooks’ to check on the house and Millie, and dared to stay to help out. Annie hadn’t liked it, although she’d seemed grateful that he’d found her dog. “Why should I care what she thinks? I was concerned about Joe. And I was worried about her dog.”

      Eli laughed. “You were worried about the dog.” His brother regarded him with sympathy, as if Jacob were fooling himself to think that his time at Annie’s had anything to do with an animal. “And now you’re going to talk with Horseshoe Joe, to see if he’ll let you take over his work in his shop until he is well. From what I’ve heard, his recovery could take twelve weeks or more.” Eli paused. “That’s a long time.

      “Ja, I know, but I’ll be available if Dat needs me.” He retrieved his hat from the bed, then preceded Eli out of their room and down the stairs to the first floor. “If I have to, I’ll work part-time in the shop and the rest at the farm.”

      “As long as Horseshoe Joe agrees,” Eli said from behind him.

      “As long as Joe agrees to what?” Isaac asked as he came out from the back of the house.

      “Jacob is going to offer to work in the blacksmith shop while Joe recovers,” Eli told their younger brother.

      Isaac shrugged as he continued past them. “I’m sure Joe will appreciate it,” he threw back over his shoulder, before he started up the stairs.

      “Jake, I hope you know what you’re doing.” Eli followed his brother into the yard. “Helping Joe will put you in frequent company with Annie.

      “It will,” Jacob said. “And her sister Barbara. Shall I worry about her, too?”

      Eli chuckled. “Maybe you should.”

      “Jacob!” Dat exited the house and approached. “Heading over to the Zooks’?” Jacob nodded. “I’d like to go with you.”

      “I’ll bring around the buggy.” Jacob flashed a cheeky glance at his twin brother before he headed toward the family’s