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

“Besides, we’re glad you’ve come.” Sarah spoke with such simple sincerity that Jane’s eyes felt hot. She loved the Amish sense of community.

“And it seems it was Gott’s will to find a job the moment I arrived too,” she replied. “Levy Struder—do you know him?—he’s taking care of his sister’s child. He hired me as the baby’s nanny.”

“Oh, Levy, he’s a gut man,” said Sarah.

“He seems a little old to be single. Why isn’t he married?” Jane asked, trying to keep her question casual.

“It all goes back to his sister,” Sarah answered, nibbling a cookie. “He practically raised her after their parents died, and when she left for her Rumspringa and didn’t come back, he took it very hard. I think he’s afraid he’ll mess up with everyone—a wife, his own children—so he never sought out the responsibility of a family. Which is pretty ironic, since he loves kids.”

“Yet he thinks he can raise little Mercy on his own,” observed Jane. “He refuses to give her to another family to raise.”

“He’s really eaten up by guilt over his sister,” said Sarah. “He can’t bear the thought of giving up his sister’s baby.”

“Did she…ah, was she not married?” asked Jane.

“I don’t know.” Rhoda looked troubled. “No one knows for sure, but why else would she give up her baby if she had a husband?”

“Well, I’ll do the best I can for the boppli, but I hope Levy remembers I’m just the nanny, not the baby’s mother.”

“What do you mean?”

“He’s very busy running his business. Two businesses, actually. Plus the baby isn’t sleeping through the night. I could literally have the care of her for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and I don’t think it would be enough time for him. Each evening when I go home, I feel guilty for leaving Mercy to Levy. I think he’s scared to be in sole charge of her.”

“Did you have a hard time getting away to come to the barbecue tonight?” asked Rhoda.

“Ja. I mean, he didn’t argue with me, but he got an odd look on his face.” Jane mimicked Levy’s expression so accurately the other girls laughed.

“I hope you can keep coming to the youngie events.” Sarah looked around at the chattering groups of young people lit up by the flickering flames of the pit fire. “We have activities just about every week during the summer. A lot of people knew someone was coming to stay with your aunt and uncle, and we were anxious to get to know you.”

She felt a quiver of unease. It seemed her adolescent awkwardness had never left her. She’d never really cultivated the social graces, and now she had to plunge outside her comfort zone. Had she made a mistake to leave home where she knew everyone, to immerse herself with strangers?

Yet Rhoda was right. If she didn’t keep coming to these events, how else would she get to know anyone?

“It’s late.” Rhoda climbed to her feet and dusted off her dress. “It’s been so hot lately, so we work outside in the garden in the early morning. I’d best get home.”

Others were departing as well, carrying empty food containers and walking through the darkness toward their homes. Jane walked alone—it was something she was used to—and headed for her aunt and uncle’s house.

In a moment of insight, she realized why she’d cultivated being useful. It covered for her plain looks, her awkward social skills. Everyone needed a useful woman.

She had been useful back home in Jasper. She would be useful here in Grand Creek, too.

* * *

She had cause to regret her decision to be useful by the next morning.

She arrived at Levy’s to find the baby wailing in her bouncy seat on the porch. Levy was loading boxes and baskets of produce into the wagon, which was already hitched to the horse.

“She’s all yours,” he snapped, his face tense. “I’ve got a lot to do before we leave.”

Jane didn’t say a word. Levy’s anxiety had communicated itself to little Mercy, and the baby cried louder.

She picked up the infant and cradled her in her arms. “I’m here, hush now, hush…”

It took some time for the infant to calm down, and even then she was edgy and cranky. Jane stayed out of Levy’s way while he dashed around. Instead, she concentrated on packing what she needed for the baby: a diaper bag with bottles of formula, several changes of clothing and diapers, a light blanket, the sling, the padded basket used as a cradle and the bouncy seat. For herself and Levy, she packed a large lunch since she suspected he’d forgotten about food for himself.

Levy poked his head through the kitchen door. “Can you be ready in five minutes?”

“I’ll be ready.” Slipping the baby into the sling, Jane picked up the diaper bag and a food hamper and walked outside.

The wagon was loaded to capacity with the shelving, displays, chairs, tools, a scale and all the other accoutrements of a farmer’s market booth. Boxes and crates and baskets of produce bulged at the corners. He’d even stuffed two bales of straw into the side. Jane managed to wedge the food hamper and diaper bag in a tight corner.

“Here, I’ll hold the baby while you climb up.” Levy appeared from the barn, mopped his brow with a bandanna and took the baby while Jane scrambled onto the wagon seat. She leaned down and took Mercy and settled the baby back into the sling while Levy stepped up, took the reins and started the horse down the road.

“Sorry I was so busy. I overslept,” he apologized.

“Let me guess—Mercy was up during the night?”

“Ja. I meant to get up much earlier, I fell back asleep after feeding her, and the next thing I knew the sun was already up when I opened my eyes. I dashed around getting all the chores done, but I’m afraid I didn’t have much time to devote to the baby, except for feeding and