My True Love Gave to Me by Witemeyer Karen

Author:Witemeyer, Karen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hope & Light Publishing
Published: 2023-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

Simeon kept a close eye on Anna as the days marched toward Christmas. He hadn't liked the way Herald Fielder acted around her, as if she belonged to him. His hand on her back, insisting she take his arm in public. Simeon had nearly stormed across the street and grabbed her away from the fellow. Thankfully, he'd kept his jealousy leashed and was rewarded by Anna's sweet kiss. Hearing her declare her love for him soothed the doubts that had crept up over the last week as he'd tortured himself with thoughts of another man courting her. A man who could offer her so many things Simeon couldn't. But his Anna hadn't wavered. He'd seen it in her eyes, heard it in her bubbling enthusiasm, and felt it in her touch. She was still as much his as he was hers. That made everything worth it. The sleepless nights spent forging ideas, the time away from the farm searching through bogs for cockleburs, chasing chickens, and recruiting assistants for the second round of courting gifts.

Not only did Anna give him reason to stay the course, but he'd seen something in her father's eye that seventh day as well. Herald Fielder had been shooting daggers at him from across the street when Anna had hurried to his side. But her father . . . he'd looked . . . thoughtful. Not particularly pleased, but thoughtful constituted progress. And progress took him one step closer to acceptance.

Simeon watched Mr. King even more closely than Anna. When Mary led eight little girls in a parade in front of the house, each girl with a bottle of milk to hand to Anna, Mr. King had stepped forward to help his daughter manage the volume. The next day when Simeon's little brother Gabriel came through with a noisy band of nine boys all drumming away on pots and pans with their wooden spoons, Mr. King had groused about the noise and covered his ears, but he'd made no move to stop Anna from clapping along. Nor did he keep her from running out to march alongside Gabe as he led the troupe in a wide arc in front of the house.

The real progress came on Day Ten, however. Grandpa Joe and nine of his cronies hobbled down the road to the King house and hollered for Anna to come out.

Mr. King had come through the door first, stomped onto the porch and scowled at the motley crew of gray beards assembled in his yard.

"And what are you supposed to be, Joseph? I hope you're not going to start leaping around the place like some kind of decrepit jackrabbit. You're likely to throw a hip out of joint."

"You done got yer days mixed up, David. We ain't no lords a-leaping." Grandpa Joe waited for Anna to come to the porch railing then waved at her. She waved back, her grin radiant as she waited for him to proceed with his performance. And Grandpa Joe did love having an audience.

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