by Jo Ann Brown
“How are you?” Timothy asked, stepping forward. She couldn’t miss the concern in his words or his posture.
“It’ll look worse before it looks better,” Brad said with a sigh. “The EMTs who stopped by warned her that she’s going to have two reasons for a headache in the morning. The bruises and a hangover.” He looked at his daughter. “Go ahead. This won’t get any easier if you put off doing what you should have done in the first place.”
Rebekah was surprised when Alexis turned to her. “Tim thinks you found the beer in the barn.”
“And the well house,” she said, putting her hand on Joshua’s arm when he opened his mouth to ask a question. He remained silent as she added, “I did find it. I was afraid it might belong to someone in this family, but it didn’t, did it?”
“No. The beer in the barn was mine.”
“Alexis—”
She interrupted Timothy with a sad smile. “You don’t need to cover for me any longer, Tim. I’ve told my parents everything. Now I need to be honest with your folks so they know the truth.”
He nodded, his shoulders sagging in obvious relief.
“I didn’t think it was any big deal,” the girl said, then shivered. “That is, until the police came to the house. They told me that Tim might get arrested because he took my car and crashed it. That’s when I knew I had to be honest. I can’t let Tim pay for my mistakes when he was simply trying to be a good friend.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “I asked Tim to hide the beer so my parents wouldn’t find it. I brought it over the other night and he agreed, though I could tell he didn’t like the idea of deceiving our parents. Tonight I picked him and the beer up, and we went to a party out by the Conestoga River with some of my friends.”
“Where you drank the beer?” Joshua asked.
“Yes. You must have seen the beer cans in the car.” She grimaced. “Chief McMurray sure did! But Tim didn’t have any beer.”
“I don’t like it.” Timothy shrugged and smiled weakly. “Tastes worse than it smells.”
“I did drink some of the beer.” Alexis sighed when her daed glared at her. “Okay, I drank a lot of the beer. Too much to drive home. Tim suggested I call my folks, but I didn’t want them finding out that I’d had so much to drink. I insisted I was okay to drive home. He took my keys and wouldn’t let me.”
Rebekah patted Timothy’s arm and said, “You did listen to your daed about drinking and driving.”
“Hey, sometimes he’s right.”
Even Sammy laughed at that, though he couldn’t have understood why. When he yawned, Joshua picked him up and cradled him in his arms. Rebekah’s heart almost overflowed with joy at the sight of the strong man holding the little boy so gently.
Her attention was pulled back to Alexis, who was saying, “So it’s true that Tim drove without a license, but he did it to keep me from driving drunk.”
“And you told the police that nobody else was in the car, Timothy, because you didn’t want Alexis to get into trouble,” Joshua said as if he were thinking aloud. “You shouldn’t have lied to the police.”
“I was honest with them. I didn’t say I was alone, Daed. I said I was driving by myself. I was because Alexis was asleep in the passenger seat, so she wasn’t helping me.”
“Timothy, a half truth is also a half lie.”
“I know.”
Alexis interjected, “If that deer hadn’t jumped in front of us, he would have gotten us home without anyone knowing the truth.”
“But God had other ideas,” Brad said quietly. “He was tired of Alexis’s behavior and brought it out of the shadows.” He turned to Timothy. “I’m sorry you were caught up in this mess, son, but thank you for being such a good friend to Alexis.”
Timothy took the hand Brad held out to him and shook it. “I didn’t want Alexis to risk getting kicked out of school. She has her heart set on attending the University of Pennsylvania.”
Looking to where Joshua had come to stand beside Rebekah, Brad added, “You’ve raised a fine son, Joshua. I hate to think what might have happened if he hadn’t been there tonight.”
“Then don’t think of it,” Joshua said quietly.
Brad turned to Timothy. “The police will still want to talk with you, son, but now to confirm what Alexis has already told them.”
“We will cooperate with the police.” Joshua gave his son a look that said he would tolerate no more half truths.
“I know you find that uncomfortable, so I’m doubly thankful to you.” Brad smiled. “Chief McMurray has assured me, Timothy, that any pending charges against you, other than the driving without a license, will be dropped. Even extenuating circumstances won’t wipe out that ticket, but Alexis will be paying the fine for you.”
“Danki,” he said.
“No, son, thank you for making sure my daughter got home alive tonight.”
“I’m sorry,” Alexis whispered. “I hope we can still be friends, Tim.”
“We’ll always be friends.” He glanced at his daed. “Just friends.”
Brad and his daughter urged them to sleep well and left. As soon as the door closed, Timothy turned to Joshua.
“I am sorry about the half truths,” the boy said. “Even though I thought I had a gut reason, I know there’s never any gut reason to lie. I hope you can forgive me.”
“I already have.” He handed Sammy to Rebekah.
She took him and almost cried out as a pain cut through her back and around across her stomach. It faded as quickly as it had started, so she carried Sammy in and set him on the sofa. He curled into a ball, never waking.
Turning around, she watched Joshua put his hand on his son’s shoulder. “If we expect to be forgiven, we must be forgiving. Now I must ask you to forgive me.”
“For what?” Timothy asked.
“I should have given you a chance to explain. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”
“You didn’t have far to jump. I was driving the car, and it’s my fault it crashed.”
“But it’s a daed’s job to listen and learn if he expects his kinder to do the same. I’ll try to do better next time, if you’ll forgive me for this mistake.”
“I heard a wise man once say that if we expect to be forgiven, we must be forgiving.”
Joshua glanced at Rebekah, and she smiled. There were many challenges before them with their kinder, but she and Joshua would weather each storm as it came.
Together.
“We have to stop hiding secrets from each other,” Joshua said. “Secrets don’t have any place among the loving members of a family. They ended up causing us even more pain.”
“I know that now, Daed.”
Joshua looked at her.
“I know it, too.” She blinked back tears. “But I couldn’t bear the thought of people looking at Sammy and judging everything he does to decide if he’s starting to take after his daed.”
“No one will. They’ll see that he is like his mamm. Generous and loving. I’ve said it before, but I need to say it again, because I can’t keep it a secret any longer. Ich liebe dich.”
Happiness welled up in her at his words and his loving gaze. As she reached out to take his hands, she stiffened. Pain scored her again. Harder this time. When she bent, holding her hands over her belly, she heard Joshua and Timothy ask what was wrong.
She had to wait for the pain to diminish before she could gasp, “It’s the boppli. It’s coming.”
Joshua kept one arm around her as he ordered, “Timothy, go to the Grangers and use their phone.” He fished a piece of paper out of his trousers. “Here is Beth Ann’s number. Call her and tell her to come now!”
Timothy grabbed the page and ran out.
With Joshua’s arm guiding her, Rebekah went to the bedroom. She reached
it as another contraction began. They were coming close together. Why hadn’t she had more warning? Then she realized she had. Her aching back could have been mild contractions. She’d ignored them.
After he helped her lie down on the wide bed, he said, “And I thought we’d had enough excitement tonight.”
She tried to smile, but another contraction bore down on her, and she couldn’t think of anything but riding its crest until it receded. She opened her eyes and saw Joshua’s worried face.
“Do you think Beth Ann will get here in time?” he asked.
“I hope so.” She clutched his hand. Looking up at him, she said, “I’m glad you’re here, Joshua.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
There was so much she longed to say, to tell him how she loved him and how sorry she was to have ever believed he would treat her as Lloyd had. Gripping his hand, she focused on the boppli, who was coming whether the midwife was there or not.
Chapter Fifteen
The bedroom was quiet. The kinder were upstairs, tucked in their beds for the night. Beth Ann had finished up and left along with the doctor. Sadie would be returning in a few hours to help with the new boppli and take care of the household until Rebekah could manage on her own again.
Joshua put the dish towel on the rack where it could dry. Taking a deep breath, he yawned as he gazed out the window. The moon had set, and the stars were a glittering tapestry of God’s glory. To the east, a thin, gray line announced the coming of a new day.
The day another kind had joined their family.
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. His favorite verse echoed in his mind, this time a praise instead of an urging to get through yet another day while weighed down with grief.
Wanting to see the little one again, because it had been so long since there had been a boppli in the house, Joshua tiptoed into the downstairs bedroom to make sure mamm and boppli were doing well.
Despite his efforts to be quiet as he edged around the bed, Rebekah’s eyes blinked open. With her magnificent red hair scattered across the pillows and a joyful smile warming her lips, she was more beautiful than he’d imagined. She held out a hand to him.
Sitting on the very edge of the bed, he asked, “How are you doing?”
“Happy.”
“Ja, I know.” He didn’t say any more. There wasn’t any need.
The night had begun as a nightmare. One that left his hands shaking whenever he thought of what could have happened when his inexperienced son had driven that powerful car along the twisting, hilly road. It had ended with healing between him and his oldest, as well as the appearance of his youngest.
At that thought, he reached down into the cradle Jeremiah had made and lifted out a swaddled bundle.
“She is sweet,” he said. “Debbie is going to be so pleased to have a sister.”
“Wanda Almina Stoltzfus,” Rebekah murmured. “Welcome to the world.”
He handed the boppli to her. “Mamm will be pleased that you want to name this little one in her honor.”
“I was named for my grossmammi, and I loved having that connection. Little Wanda will have that same connection with your mamm and mine.”
“A very special gift for her very first birthday.”
“I’m glad you think so.” She looked from the beautiful boppli to him. “Danki for being here, Joshua.”
“Where else would I be when our boppli was being born?”
“Our boppli,” she whispered.
“I cannot think of her any other way. I am blessed to have three sons and two daughters.” He chuckled. “They make me ab in kopp way too often, but I am even crazier in love with you.” He became serious. “I told you that earlier tonight how I love you. Do you love me?”
“Ja. Looking back, I think I started falling in love with you the day you came with your nervous proposal.” She laced her fingers through his much wider ones. “At first I tried to stop myself because I knew you still loved Tildie.”
“But—”
“Let me say this, Joshua.” When he nodded, she continued. “I knew that you still love Tildie, and I thought there was no place in your heart for me. It took me far too long to realize that our hearts can expand to love many people. Timothy, Levi and Debbie hold a place in my heart as surely as if I had given birth to them. I see you with Sammy and Wanda, and I know you’ll be a devoted and loving daed for them.” She laughed. “Look how far my heart has expanded to welcome your mamm, your six brothers, your two sisters and the rest of your family. I’m blessed that there’s no limit to the number of people a heart will hold.”
“As long as there’s always a place for me.”
“There always will be.”
He gently kissed her lips, knowing she was spent after the night’s events. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future to kiss her more deeply, and, as Rebekah Mast Burkholder Stoltzfus’s husband, he didn’t intend to let a single one pass them by.
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from THE COWBOY’S TWINS by Deb Kastner.
Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Paradise Springs...and greetings if this is your first visit. I like to read (and to write) about strong women, especially those who live their lives with quiet courage. When I decided to write about a woman who had survived a marriage to a weak man, I knew I wanted her to have a chance for a joy-filled life with a man whose spirit and faith were as strong as hers. I hope you have enjoyed reading their story of perseverance in the search for a happy-ever-after ending as much as I did writing it.
Stop in and visit me at www.joannbrownbooks.com Look for my next book in the Amish Hearts series coming soon from Love Inspired.
Wishing you many blessings,
Jo Ann Brown
Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!
Do you want to earn Free Books and More?
Join Harlequin My Rewards points program and earn points every time you shop.
You can redeem your points to get more of what you love:
Free books
Exclusive gifts and contests
Book recommendations tailored to your reading preferences
Earn 2000 points instantly when you join—getting you closer to redeeming your first free book.
Don’t miss out. Reward the book lover in you!
Click here to sign up
Or visit us online to sign up at
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010001
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.
You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.
Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!
Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Harlequin.com/newsletters
Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
HarlequinBlog.com
The Cowboy’s Twins
by Deb Kastner
Chapter One
There was only one conceivable reason why Jax McKenna would ever consider putting himself at Serendipity, Texas’s Bachelors and Baskets auction like a mule among thoroughbreds—and it wasn’t because his loudmouthed brothers, Slade and Nick, were forcing him into it.
Nor was it the sweet talking of Jo Spencer, the spry, seventy-something redhead who owned the town’s onl
y public eatery, Cup O’ Jo’s Café. She was the one who’d organized the event in the first place and she was pretty much capable of talking anyone into anything—but it hadn’t been necessary this time. Not with Jax.
They all might think they were strong-arming him, but if he hadn’t ultimately made the final decision to do this, he wouldn’t be here, and no amount of coercing or cajoling on their part would have seen him do otherwise.
He’d made the choice to be here because the fundraiser was important to him. He’d do his bit to help it succeed, even if it meant humiliating himself in front of the town. But that didn’t mean he had to be happy about it.
He scoffed quietly and glared at Slade, whose lips twitched to keep back a grin. Jax’s scowl deepened.
“Settle down, people. Settle down.” Jo spoke directly into the microphone, cringed at the earsplitting feedback and flipped it off. It wasn’t as if she needed the thing. Her voice easily carried across the distance of Serendipity, Texas’s community green, where practically everyone in town had gathered for this event. “Time to get this party started.”
Jax crossed his arms over his chest and grunted. Since when was pure torture considered a festive occasion?
Today, apparently.
When the ruckus didn’t immediately subside, old Frank Spencer—Jo’s crotchety husband—put his fingers to his lips and whistled shrilly. “Listen up, folks. The First Annual Bachelors and Baskets Auction is about to begin. Gather ’round, y’all.”
Jax crushed the toe of his tan cowboy boot into the soft grass, wishing he was anywhere else. Where did Jo come up with this silly idea, anyway? It wasn’t like any auction he had ever heard of, although he didn’t know why he was so surprised by the fact. Serendipity wasn’t exactly known for being normal with anything, especially with Jo Spencer at the helm.
What had started out as Jo’s simple if archaic idea to pawn off the single men for money had grown into something much larger and more complex. She might have originally set out to nab the town bachelors, but her idea had spun so far out of control that now nearly every man in town was lined up to strut his stuff, single and married alike. Now, the idea was that the women could bid on men for tasks instead of dates—with the tasks to be determined by the winning bidder.
