Harlequin Love Inspired March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Patrice Lewis (best large ereader .txt) 📕

It was her first glimpse into the heavy schedule Levy set himself. All day long, he picked fruits and vegetables and hauled them back to the cool barn. The delicate raspberries he brought into the house, and Jane put them down in the basement. Levy didn’t complain about the workload, but Jane could tell he was stressed.

She did a load of laundry, gave the house a quick dusting and sweeping, made a hearty dinner, washed the dishes and made sure Mercy was bathed and diapered.

“Don’t forget,” she reminded him toward evening. “I’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”

“Oh that’s right.” He made a face of dismay. “That means I’m back to taking care of the baby.”

“I know you’re busy, but ultimately she’s your responsibility, not mine.” Jane tried not to let her temper rise. “I can’t work all the time.”

“Well, I work all the time.”

She lifted her chin. The martyr act wouldn’t work on her. “That’s your choice. Now, what time do you need me here tomorrow?”

“Early, if you can. The farmer’s market opens by nine o’clock, so I plan to leave here by seven at the latest. You’ll have to pack a diaper bag for her…”

“Diaper bag?” Jane raised her eyebrows. “You mean I’ll be working the market with you? I thought I’d just stay home with the baby. Wouldn’t that be easier?”

“Surprisingly, no. A second pair of hands is best, if for no other reason than the occasional break.” He offered a thin smile.

Quickly, she adjusted her thinking. Working at a farmer’s market actually sounded like fun. “I’ll be here by six thirty then. That way I can handle the baby while you pack the wagon.”

His nod was curt. “Danke.”

“Good night, Levy.” She handed him Mercy.

Her annoyance faded as she walked back toward her aunt and uncle’s. His apparent objections to her attending the barbecue seemed deeper than mere inconvenience regarding childcare or a busy schedule. Was there a problem with the youngies in town? Instinct told her it was something more. She wondered if she’d ever learn what it was.

* * *

As Levy watched Jane walk away, he couldn’t shake the eerie feeling he was watching his sister walk away to attend a youngie event. Eliza had always been keen to get away from him, from her home, from her responsibilities. For a fraction of an instant, he saw his sister’s retreating figure instead of Jane’s.

Then he shook his head and snapped out of it. It was unfair to project his worries over Eliza’s fate on the woman who had kindly taken on the chore of caring for her baby. Jane was nothing like his sister. She was steady, levelheaded and incredibly efficient.

For once, Mercy lay quiet in his arms. He looked down at her tiny face, trying to see his sister in her features, wondering where Eliza was and if she missed her baby.

Then he looked up, but Jane had already disappeared down the road. He was glad she was coming to the farmer’s market with him tomorrow—for deeper reasons than merely caring for the baby.

He didn’t want to examine those deeper reasons. Not yet.

CHAPTER FOUR

That evening, as Jane got ready for the barbecue, she tried not to be annoyed at Levy. He was stressed, no question. Most Amish men worked hard, but it seemed to her Levy worked too hard. It was tough enough to operate a small farm solo. Throw in the complication of an abandoned baby, and it was a recipe for strain and pressure.

Her thoughts went to the barbecue and all the people she would meet.

“Are you nervous?” Catherine asked.

“Ja, maybe.” Jane washed her face and tidied her hair at the kitchen sink as her aunt lingered nearby. “Back home, I knew everyone. Here I don’t. It’s just something I have to face, getting used to a new crowd.”

“They’re a nice group.” Catherine handed Jane her kapp. “I’m sure you’ll have fun.”

“Except I’ll feel guilty all evening, leaving Levy in charge of Mercy. He wasn’t happy about it.” Jane pinned on her kapp and slipped a clean apron over her dress.

“He’s going to have to get used to caring for her, that’s all there is to it.” Her aunt gave her directions to the host farm. “Have fun at the barbecue, lieb.”

“Danke.” Jane kissed her aunt’s cheek and set off down the road.

The farm hosting the barbecue was a mile away. Catherine had told her the Yoder family, with four teenagers still at home, enjoyed hosting youngie events. Already dozens of people were gathered in the front yard under the shade trees. Jane thought she was looking forward to the event, but now that it was at hand, she wondered if she would fit in. It was one thing to grow up in a community and know everyone since birth. But she knew no one here. She shoved her glasses higher on her nose, took a deep breath and walked on.

Sarah, the young woman she’d met earlier, spied her right away. “You came!”

“Ja, thank you for letting me know about it.” Jane glanced at the young people milling about, chattering, laughing, roasting hot dogs over a pit fire.

“I’ll introduce you around, if you like,” offered Sarah.

“I’ll never remember everyone’s names,” warned Jane. “But please introduce me.”

What should have been a fun evening with new friends was anything but. Jane felt shy and awkward despite the support of Sarah and Rhoda, who took her under their wing.

“I feel like I’m sixteen instead of twenty-three,” she groused to Sarah as she sprawled on the lawn with her new friends, learning each of their stories. “Will I ever grow out of being awkward, do you suppose?”

“I’m sure it’s just because you’re in a new place,” soothed Rhoda. “You’ll fit in just fine when you have a chance to know more people. That’s why I think you should keep coming to singings and other youngie events. How else will you get to know anyone?”

“Ja, true…” Jane trailed off, thinking about Levy’s awkwardness while being