An Unexpected Amish Family by Patricia Davids

Author:Patricia Davids
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-06-16T13:25:31+00:00

Chapter Two

The blood drained from Ben’s face at a pace likely exceeding all the sap running from the recently tapped maples. Stumbling to a nearby oak, he braced an arm against the furrowed bark of its trunk. Of all the things he’d thought of that night, and he’d thought a lot, he hadn’t considered this. But he should have. He lived on a farm where managing livestock supported their livelihood.

Lifting his head, he stared at Rachel, whose white face was surely a reflection of his. “You’re sure?”

Avoiding his gaze, she bobbed her head once. “Ja.” The whisper drifted to him across the feet separating them.

Inhaling sharply, Ben straightened from the tree. He stepped toward Rachel, only to halt abruptly at a call from behind him.

“There you are! Here’s your hot chocolate. Although hot probably won’t describe it any longer.”

Ben pivoted to see Lydia descending upon them, a smile on her lips while her hooded eyes shifted rapidly between him and Rachel. The hand he’d been extending toward Rachel reluctantly moved to accept the unwanted cup of chocolate. Not knowing what else to do, Ben concentrated on keeping his tremors under control so the dark brown contents didn’t splatter over the snow as he carefully brought the cup to his lips and took a sip.

“Denki,” he choked out as some of the lukewarm liquid went down the wrong tube in his tight throat. Thanks was not what he wanted to tell Lydia. Ben’s gaze swept over the woman he longed to talk with—needed to talk with—then returned to the one he needed to sidetrack from her. Stepping between the two females, he reluctantly gave his physical attention to the one, while his awareness and emotions were fixed on the other.

The sound of Rachel’s deep sigh reverberated through him. It was followed a moment later by the crunch of the snow as she walked away. It took all his willpower not to look in her direction as he headed back toward the gathering by the sled, Lydia walking close enough beside him for her arm to brush his elbow. Her dangling hand bumped against his own. Shifting the cup to that hand, Ben lifted it out of range.

“Thanks again for the chocolate. It’s just what I needed before the drive home.”

“Are you sure you don’t want company?”

Ach, he surely did. Just not hers. “I’m gut. Got a few more things to take care of this evening than I expected.” Like dealing with the concept of becoming a father. Ben stumbled at the realization, the hot chocolate arcing out in front of them to drop like a dark rain onto the snow.

To his chagrin, Lydia used the excuse to latch on to his arm. “Are you all right?”

Nee. He was far from all right. He’d betrayed his brother. He’d put himself and a friend he’d always cared for—even loved?—in a precarious situation. Ben’s feet continued to move of their own accord while the arm Lydia hung from was as stiff as the oak tree he’d recently leaned against.

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