A Wife for Jacob

“He spoke to us,” he said. “That’s a gut sign.” He offered her an encouraging smile. “I’m praying for his quick recovery.”

Tears sprang to Annie’s eyes. “I appreciate that.” It was a kind thing for him to say, but then Jacob had been kind to her from the first moment he’d jumped out of his buggy and offered his help. And she’d been anything but kind to him.

A nurse appeared from behind them. “You may see your father now but only for a few minutes. We’ll be taking him up to surgery shortly. Only immediate family may see him.”

“Thank you,” Annie said. She turned to Jacob. “I’ll let you know how he is as soon as I can. I don’t want to keep you.”

Jacob smiled. Amusement flashed in his golden eyes. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I’ll wait for you.”

“I won’t be long,” she said as she turned away.

“Annie,” Josiah interrupted, “we have to go now, or we’ll miss our chance to see Dat.”

She hurried to join her brother, and they headed into the emergency room for a brief visit with their father.

* * *

Jacob waited with Annie and Josiah while Horseshoe Joe was in surgery. He could tell that Annie was anxious. Josiah was quiet and didn’t have much to say. Within the hour, Nancy King arrived, greeted them and then sat next to Josiah. Annie’s brother’s expression brightened; he was obviously glad to see her.

Jacob glanced at the couple, then averted his gaze. Nancy had been his sweetheart, if only for a short time. They had parted ways after she’d gone with her grandparents to visit relatives in North Carolina. On her return, something was changed between them. It was almost as if they’d never spent time together. And then Nancy had begun walking out with Josiah.

He’d felt hurt at the time, but later when he’d thought about it, he realized that he hadn’t been too upset by the breakup. God had helped him understand that Nancy King wasn’t the woman he was intended to marry. If he’d loved Nancy as much as Noah loved Rachel or Jed loved Sarah, he might have tried to win Nancy’s affection again. But he hadn’t; he’d simply accepted that their relationship was over.

Thinking about marriage, Jacob knew that he had nothing to offer a wife. If Nancy hadn’t gone away, he might have married her, but he didn’t know how he would have provided for her, or for any woman he courted with the intention of marrying. He was getting older now and had to think about his future.

“Jacob?” Annie interrupted his thoughts. “Dr. Moss warned us that this would be a long surgery. It will be another hour, at least, until Dat is in recovery.”

“I’ll wait,” he said. She hadn’t always been a prickly thing. Her breakup with his eldest brother Jedidiah must have changed her.

Annie stood, and he followed suit.

“Restless?” he asked her.

She nodded. “It’s going to be a long while yet.”

“Let’s go downstairs for coffee,” he said, expecting her to refuse. She surprised him when she agreed.

“Josiah, we are going down to the cafeteria for coffee,” Annie said. “Would you like to come?”

“Nay. I’ll stay,” her brother said, and Nancy edged closer to him. His expression softened. “If we hear anything,” he told his sister, “we’ll let you know.” He had taken off his hat and he held it between his knees, twirling the brim.

Jacob saw that Josiah was more upset than he’d originally let on. “This is an awful thing, but the Lord will help your vadder.”

Josiah stared at him a second and then gave a nod. “Ja. When you are done,” he asked, “would you bring up coffee for us?”

“Ja,” Jacob said with a slight smile. “We won’t be long.” He knew Annie would want to return as soon as they’d entered the cafeteria. She wouldn’t be able to help it; he could tell she was terrified that something awful would happen to her father during surgery.

He followed her into the elevator, pushed the button and stood silently, studying her as he waited for them to reach the bottom floor. She didn’t look at him once during the entire ride. It didn’t bode well for their having coffee together. He would just have to somehow put her at ease.

Chapter Two

Jacob studied Annie across the table as she sipped from her cup of coffee, set the mug down and stared into its contents. The hospital cafeteria was quiet. The long institutional-type tables were empty except for Annie and him and two female nurses and a male hospital worker, who occupied another table on the other side of the room. It was too late for breakfast and too early for lunch. “How’s the coffee?” he asked softly.

She lifted her gaze from the steaming mug. “Gut.” He could see the sheen from the rising moisture on her forehead. She looked at him a moment, her blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears, then glanced away. He could see how the events of the morning had taken a toll on her. “Jacob, I appreciate your help with Dat,” she said, almost reluctantly.

“I didn’t do much—”

“I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t stopped to help,” she admitted.

“I wouldn’t have left you,” he assured her. “I knew something was wrong the minute I saw you.” He frowned. “How are your feet?”

She blushed as she shifted briefly to glance beneath the table at her grandmother’s navy sneakers, worn over her grandfather’s black socks. “They are fine. They barely hurt.”

“Must have been broken glass alongside the road.”

“I was so scared, I just ran,” she admitted. “I didn’t take time to look down.” Her blond hair was a beautiful shade of gold beneath her white head covering. After the blush of embarrassment left her, she looked pale, too pale.

“May I get you something to eat?” he asked. She looked lovely and vulnerable; he wished he could do more for her.

Annie shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”

“We’ve been here for over two hours and the only thing you’ve had is that coffee. Once your vadder is out of surgery, you may not have another opportunity to eat. How about a sandwich?” When she declined, he said, “A cookie? A piece of cake?”

She didn’t answer. He heard her sniff. “Annie.” Jacob hated to see her troubled, but he understood. “Annie.”

She looked up, started to rise. “We should get back.”

He stood. “I’ll get the coffee for Josiah and Nancy. You can go ahead if you’d like.”

She shook her head. “Nay I’ll wait for you,” she said, surprising him. “You may need help with the coffee.”

Jacob paid for the drinks for Josiah and Nancy, and on impulse, he purchased two large chocolate-chip cookies. He tucked them under the coffee fixings in the center of the cardboard cup holder. He was back with Annie in less than a minute. There’d been no one in line at the register. “I grabbed sugar and cream for the coffee,” he told her. She inclined her head.

He silently rode with her on the elevator up to the surgical floor. The doors opened and Jacob waited for Annie to precede him. To his surprise, she suddenly stopped and turned to him. “What are we going to do, Jacob? How will we make do, when Dat can’t work?”

Jacob considered the woman before him, noting the concern in her expression. “I can help out in the shop, and our community will be there for you, too.”

She shook her head. “You don’t have enough experience. You could do more harm than good.”

“I’m not a boy, Annie. I can do the job.” There was a charged moment as awareness of her sprung up inside him. Jacob shook it off. “If I don’t do it, who will?”

“I don’t know.” She seemed to think about it. “I’ll have to ask Dat.”

She had grabbed his hat from the table, where he’d set it down when he’d gone for the coffee for her brother and Nancy. Now she fingered the brim nervously.

“We are friends, aren’t we, Annie?” he asked. “I remember seeing you in the open shop doorway when we were kinner, watching me with your dat.”

She hesitated, then smiled slightly. “I was sure you would burn yourself with the hot metal, but you never did.”

“Not that you ever saw.” He remembered her as a young girl, the first girl he’d ever liked.

Her expression turned serious. “Jacob, it’s nice of you to offer your help, but we can’t accept it.”

“But if Joe agrees?” he said softly.

“Then I guess the decision will be made.” She continued down the hall toward the surgical waiting room.

Jacob fell into step beside her. He studied her bent head, admiring the beauty of her profile. She looked pale and tense, and he didn’t seem to be able to help. He saw Josiah leave the waiting room up ahead and approach.

“How’s Dat?” Annie asked.

“No word yet from the doctor.” Josiah nodded his thanks as Jacob handed him a cup of coffee. He declined sugar and cream and grabbed the other cup for Nancy.

Inside the waiting room, Jacob set down the cardboard cup holder, accepted his hat back from Annie and then took a seat near her. They waited in silence. He retrieved and handed her the wrapped cookies. “For when you’re hungry.”

Annie’s eyes locked with his. She opened her mouth to say something but then nodded silently instead. Jacob found that he couldn’t look away.

“Are those cookies?” Josiah asked, capturing Annie’s attention.

“Ja, Jacob bought them.” Annie handed him one, and Josiah beamed.

“Gut thinking, Jacob,” Josiah said before he unwrapped the treat and broke it in half. He handed a piece to Nancy and then took a bite of his own.

Jacob smiled. He was pleased to see Josiah enjoying it, even more pleased to note that Annie had kept one for herself.

It wasn’t long before there was a light commotion right outside the waiting room. Soon, others within their Amish community arrived, having received word of Joe’s accident. As the newcomers entered the room, he got up and moved away to give Josiah and Annie the time to be comforted by their friends. Among the new arrivals were his parents—Katie and Samuel Lapp—Josie and William Mast and Mae and Amos King. Annie and Josiah rose, and their friends immediately surrounded them.

William Mast took off his hat, held it against his chest. “How’s Joe?” he asked Jacob.

Jacob acknowledged the older man. “He’s still in surgery.”

“Any idea how long?” the older bearded man asked. When Jacob explained it could be another half hour or more, William left to stand near his wife, Josie, who was comforting Annie.

Josie moved aside, and Jacob’s mother stepped in to give Annie a hug. She spoke briefly to her and Josiah before she moved back to allow others to talk with the Zook siblings.

His mam turned and saw him standing outside the group. She approached. “How bad?”

“Bad enough.” Jacob was conscious of Annie across the room. He glanced over briefly to see how she was faring, before he turned back to his mother.

“Isaac stopped by the house to tell us,” Mam told him. “You never know what can happen.” She touched his arm. “What was he doing on the roof?”

“Trying to repair a leak.”

“Why didn’t he ask for help? Joe knows your dat or one of you boys would have done the work.”

“Perhaps he wanted to do it himself.” Jacob held out his coffee toward her. “Would you like a sip?” After his mother declined, he drank from the cup, grimaced, then walked toward a trash can and dropped the remainder inside. “Good choice,” he told her with a grin.

“Jed would have come, but he’s working construction today and there was no way to reach him.” Mam glanced briefly toward the Zook siblings. “Sarah stayed at the house with Hannah. And Noah—”

Jacob nodded. He knew exactly why Noah hadn’t come. He was worried about leaving his wife, Rachel, who had lost their baby a month before her due date. Even now, months later, while she appeared strong to the outside world, Noah continually fretted about her.

The double doors leading to the surgical area swung open and Dr. Moss, dressed in green medical scrubs, stepped out and approached Annie and Josiah.

Jacob worried about Annie as she moved to stand next to her brother so Dr. Moss could inform them of the outcome of her father’s surgery. Nancy King stood on Josiah’s other side. He saw Josiah reach out to clasp hands with both women. Dr. Moss spoke at length, but from where he was, Jacob couldn’t hear. He stepped closer.

“The surgery went well,” the doctor said. “Your father is in recovery now. You’ll be able to go back and see him for a few minutes, but don’t be alarmed if he doesn’t respond. It will take him a while to come out of the anesthesia...”

Jacob saw Mae King slip an arm around Annie, watched as Annie leaned into the older woman for a moment’s comfort before she straightened. Her eyes narrowed as she looked about. Her glance slid over him without pausing before it moved on.

They’ll take care of her, he thought as he studied the group who were doing their best to be there for Joe’s children. Annie didn’t need him now. It was time for him to leave, to see what needed to be done at the Zook farm while Annie and Josiah stayed close to their father.

“I’m going to head back,” he told his parents as his father joined them.

His mother studied him, gave him a slight smile. “We’ll stay for a while.”

“You have a ride?” his father asked.

“Bob Whittier.” Jacob glanced at the clock, noted the time. “He should be here soon.”

Samuel nodded. “Are you going home?”

“Nay,” Jacob said. “I thought I’d go to the Zooks’ farm first.”

* * *

Rick Martin pulled into the Zook barnyard late that afternoon to drop off Annie and Josiah. He promised to return the next morning to take them back to the hospital. After Rick had left, Josiah sighed and ran a hand along the back of his neck. “I’ll check on the animals.”

Annie watched him walk away. “Are you hungry?” she called. “I can fix us something.”

He stopped and turned. “Ja,” he admitted. “Anything will do.”

As her brother walked to the barn, Annie headed toward the farmhouse. She froze in her tracks. Millie, she thought with alarm. Where was Millie? In all the commotion, she’d forgotten to put her dog back into the house before leaving for the hospital.

“Josiah!” she called. “Please watch for Millie. She got out of the house earlier.”

Josiah scowled but agreed. “She’ll come back eventually.”

Annie opened the screen door and the inside door swung open. It didn’t surprise her that she hadn’t locked it after she’d grabbed her purse. Her one thought had been to get to her father.

She entered the house and wandered into the gathering room. Annie stiffened at what she saw. All of the laundry was stacked, neatly folded, inside the laundry basket. She experienced a chill. Someone had been here. But a burglar wouldn’t fold laundry, she thought.

She heard a short bark and was startled when Millie scurried into the room, wagging her tail happily. Annie bent down to rub her beloved pet’s fur. “How did you get in here?”

“Annie,” a deep voice said.

She gasped and spun toward the man who’d entered from the direction of the kitchen. “Jacob?” She rose to her feet, stared at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry.” His golden eyes studied her with concern. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I stopped by to look for Millie and found her. I suddenly remembered her running about before we left.”

“You shouldn’t have come.” She peered up at him with caution. “You folded the laundry.” Why would he fold laundry? The men in her Amish community didn’t fold laundry! It was an unheard of thing for any man to help with women’s work. “Why?”

He shrugged. “You didn’t get the chance, so I thought I’d finish it for you.” He flashed a brief glance at the clothes before refocusing on her.

Her spine tingled. “I could have done it.”

His lips curved with amusement. “I don’t doubt it.”

Millie licked her leg, demanding her attention. “You found Millie.”

“I found her chasing a cat through the fields.” He traced the edge of his suspenders with his fingers. “The door was open, so I brought her in.”

Watching, Annie wondered why her heart suddenly began to beat faster. “I forgot to lock the door.”

“Not to worry. No one disturbed the house.” Jacob was suddenly there beside her.

Overwhelmed by his nearness, she stepped back. “No one but you,” she accused.

She heard him sigh. “You look like you’re about to collapse,” he said quietly. “Come. You’ve had a terrible day. Sit and I’ll make you some hot tea.”

She sat down. “I can make my own tea.”

“Ja, I’m sure you can.” He narrowed his eyes at her from above. “But I’d like to make you a cup. Is that a problem?”

Feeling foolish, Annie shook her head. Reaction to Dat’s accident took over and suddenly cold she started to shake. She looked at him, but she couldn’t seem to focus. She felt warmth override the chill and realized that Jacob had grabbed the quilt from her father’s favorite chair and gently placed it around her shoulders. With mixed feelings, she watched him leave the room. He wasn’t gone long.

“Here you go.” Jacob held her hot tea. The sofa cushion dipped beneath her as he sat beside her. He extended the cup, and when she didn’t immediately respond, gently placed it within her hands, his strong fingers cradling hers until she became overly conscious of his touch.

She realized what he was doing, and she jerked back. “I’ve got it,” she said, relieved that he’d let go and that she hadn’t spilled any. He stood, and Annie felt the heat from the mug. She raised the rim to her lips.

“Careful!” he warned. “It’s hot.” He seemed upset as his golden eyes regarded her apologetically. “I shouldn’t have let it boil.”

“It’s fine, Jacob,” she said irritably. “If the water isn’t hot, it’s not a gut cup of tea.” Annie took a tentative drink. The steaming brew was sweet. She felt revived after several slow, tiny sips. She looked up at him. “Danki,” she said when she felt more like herself again.

Jacob gave her a slow smile that did odd things to her insides. She fought back those feelings. He studied her a long moment until he was apparently satisfied with what he saw. “Did you see your vadder?” His voice was soft as he moved the laundry basket from the sofa to the floor and sat down.

Taken aback by her reaction to him, Annie fought to stay calm. “Ja, we saw him. Once he was in his hospital room. When he finally woke up, he told us he was tired and wanted us to go home.” She drew a deep breath. “Jacob, I’m fine, You don’t have to stay—”

He nodded. “Where’s Josiah?”

“In the barn.”

“I took care of the animals earlier,” he said.

The front door slammed. “Annie,” Josiah called out, “the animals have been fed and watered—”

Annie met his gaze as her brother entered the room and stopped abruptly. “Jacob took care of them.”

Jacob rose to his feet. He and Josiah stared at one another a long moment, and Annie remembered suddenly that Nancy King, the girl Jacob had fancied and lost, was currently her brother’s sweetheart.

“I appreciate what you did for Dat.” Josiah extended his hand.

She watched the interaction between the two men and then saw Jacob smile. They shook hands and stepped back.

“I should go,” Jacob said. Annie watched him grab his hat off a wall hook. “You both need your rest.” He hesitated. “I made sandwiches. I put them in the refrigerator.”

Annie blinked, shocked. “You made yourself at home.”

He raised an eyebrow at her tone. “Nay. I simply fixed a meal for friends in need.” He jammed his hat on his head. He gave a nod to her brother. “Josiah.”

“Jacob.” Josiah inclined his head.

As Jacob headed outside, Annie felt as if she’d been too mean-spirited toward him, and it didn’t set well with her. It wasn’t the way of her community or the Lord—and it wasn’t like her to behave this way, either.

Annie followed him, stopping to stand in the open doorway as he descended the porch steps. “Gut day to you, Jacob Lapp,” she called out to him.

He paused and turned. “Rest well, Annie Zook,” he replied and then he walked away, without glancing back.

Annie felt awful as she watched him leave. Contrary to her behavior, she had appreciated having Jacob nearby. His quiet strength and presence had soothed her during the crisis with her dat. She reminded herself that he was her childhood friend, and she shouldn’t worry about spending time with him. He wasn’t Jed, and he wasn’t in the position to break her heart.

Chapter Three

“Aren’t you done with that family?”

Jacob buttoned his light blue shirt without glancing toward his twin brother. “Which family?”

“The Zooks.” The mattress springs squeaked as Eli sat and kicked against the bed’s wooden frame.

“What are you trying to tell me?” He knew what Eli was hinting at, but he wanted to hear him say it.

“I’m reminding you that while Horseshoe Joe was gut to you, you can’t say the same for his daughter.”

Jacob sighed as he pulled one suspender over his shoulder before drawing up the other one. “So, I once liked Annie, and she liked Jed. I got over her years ago.”

“So you say.” Eli rose from his bed, bent to pick up a shoe, which he pointed at Jacob. “Mark my words. She still pines for him, Jake. Even though he’s married to Sarah now.”

Jacob grabbed the black shoe, and with a teasing look Eli retrieved the other one from the floor for him. “And I shouldn’t help Horseshoe Joe because Annie likes Jed?” He snatched the second shoe from Eli’s hand and set both back onto the floor. He pulled on his socks.

“Nay,” Eli said. “I just want you to be mindful of the past. I know ya like the back of my own hand, like you know me.” He grinned, and his blue eyes crinkled at the corners. “We are twins after all.” He plucked a straw hat off the wall peg.

“We are?” Jacob replied with feigned surprise. He grinned as he snatched his hat from his twin’s hands and tossed it on the bed. “I’m not a boy, Eli. Neither are you. And I’m not pining for Annie.” Although he was very glad he’d been able to help in her time of need. “Do you ever think about marrying someday?”

“Ja, I think about it.” Eli ran a hand through his golden-blond hair. “But until I find the right one to wed, I’ll not be thinking too much of it.” He grinned, displaying even white teeth.

Jacob laughed. He loved his brother, not necessarily more than the rest but differently, with the love born of brothers who’d entered this earth on the same day. A relationship which started in Mam’s womb, he thought. The connection between them was strong. They’d been raised from the cradle together, although no one looking at them would believe them twins. Eli’s hair was as fair as his was dark. Day and night, someone had once said of them. They might be different in looks, but that was all. They were close, often sharing each other’s thoughts, sometimes finishing each other’s sentences.

Eli, more than anyone, had understood how he’d felt when Annie Zook had finally won Jed’s attention. They’d been sixteen years old, and although it had been years since he’d stopped hanging about Zook’s Blacksmithy, hoping for a glimpse of Annie, his loss hadn’t been any less painful. He was over Annie, and she certainly didn’t care for him. So why was she so wary of him? Simply because Jed was his brother?

“You don’t have to worry about me.” Jacob slipped on his shoes, then propped a foot onto a wooden chest to tie his shoelaces. “Annie made it clear that she only tolerates me because I stopped to help Joe. Once the ambulance arrived, she wanted me to leave.” He lowered his right leg and raised his left.

“But you stayed anyway,” Eli pointed out.