Amish Christmas Kinner by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-06-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Emily found a quiet corner and pulled her cell phone from her pocket. Grateful Millie had insisted Emily and her mamm needed phones for emergencies with the foster children, Emily speed-dialed Millie.

As soon as the social worker picked up, Emily explained the situation and relayed what little information she had. “Boy, maybe eight or nine, called himself David, but his sister called him Jax. Girl age six. Real name seems to be Violet. Brother calls her Rose.”

“Any chance you got a last name?”

“Neh. Sorry. The boy claimed their last name is Miller, but he hesitated before saying it, so it’s likely fake.”

“Not much to go on, but give me their descriptions. I’ll check for missing person reports.” Once Millie had jotted all the information down, she thanked Emily. “Can you keep an eye on them while I check this out?”

“Of course.” Emily hoped to find out more about the children—and to feed them.

“I appreciate it.” Millie sighed. “Most likely Children’s Services will take them out to your house anyway.”

As soon as Emily hung up, she bought chicken barbecue, fries, and applesauce at Hartzler’s. Then she hurried back to the cheese stand, unsure how Hosea would feel about having two children underfoot the rest of the evening.

Jax cast a wary eye on the food bags, but Violet tore into hers. Then he gobbled his. They ate like they were starving. And when she handed them water bottles from her lunch, they gulped them down. How long had they gone hungry and thirsty?

Now that she had them settled, she needed to make things right with Hosea. “I’m so sorry for leaving you with all the work.” She handed him the third bag of chicken barbecue. “I got this is for you. I can take over so you can have a break.”

Hosea’s face darkened like a thundercloud about to burst into storm, and Emily braced for a tempest.

* * *

Ever since Emily had pointed to the children, raging pain had swirled inside Hosea, until it reached the point of unbearable. The bag Emily offered as a peace offering and her soft, gentle words pierced him. Why did she always throw him off? Make him want to run a finger down her cheek, to—?

Stop it! Concentrate on something else.

Hosea gritted his teeth and forced himself to deal with the other problem he faced. “Could you take the children elsewhere?” He regretted the harshness of his tone, but keeping his eyes averted hadn’t stopped the longing to touch her. And it couldn’t assuage the agony flooding through him at the thought of the boy.

“But—but they need help. The social worker is trying to find their parents. Where can I take them?” Emily sounded desperate.

“I don’t know. Anywhere but here.” Hosea squeezed his eyes shut to stop them burning. Nine years ago today, he’d been the happiest man in the world. He’d held his son in his arms for the first time. His wife, exhausted and wan, had beamed up at him.

Hosea had prayed to be the man God wanted him to be, so he could model godly living for his precious boy.

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