Read Online Courting Emily (A Wells Landing Book 2) by Amy Lillard - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Amy Lillard
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room.
It was dark and surprisingly cool inside. James sat on the edge of his bed, his head cradled in his hands. Joy stood over him, her fists propped on her hips in a defensive pose.
“ Dat, I brought Emily to you.”
He looked up, his eyes shining with recognition. “I want to watch the men paint.”
Emily glanced toward Joy who stiffened at his request. “It’s too bright out there, James. It’ll make your head ache.”
“My head aches anyway.” He pouted. “Emily, take me outside.”
“Emily is not going to take you anywhere.”
She couldn’t tell if Joy was upset with this latest development or not. Her eyes were unreadable and her expression stoic.
“Maybe if we put him in the shade . . . ?” Emily started, quietly so that only Joy could hear.
“I do not think it is a gut idea.” She bit her bottom lip, but otherwise her strong stance remained steady.
“Nor is allowing him to get this upset,” Becky pointed out.
Joy took them by the arms and led them to a corner across the room. “I worry,” she started.
Emily patted her hand. “I know. But sunshine might do him some gut. I’ll sit with him,” she offered. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t get up or wander off.”
Tears rose in Joy’s eyes. “You would do that for him? For us?”
“Of course.” It was all part of giving back to the community, the cornerstone of being Amish.
“Will you help me get him up and around?”
Emily wasn’t sure if Joy had changed her mind about taking her husband outside or if she was tired of fighting him about staying in bed. Whatever it was, Emily was willing to help. She nodded and together the three of them prepared James for his trip outside.
Joy decided it would be easiest to take James only as far as the front porch, but Becky pointed out it might just frustrate him as he wouldn’t be able to see all of the men as they worked.
“There are three of us,” Emily reasoned. “We should be able to get him down the steps and to the big oak next to the shed.”
James was willing enough, just unsteady on his feet as they helped him outside. Emily took one elbow and Joy the other, while Becky hurried ahead and spread a quilt underneath the tree.
In no time at all, they were settled under the big branches while the men painted and the women watched. It wasn’t as bright under the tree, but Emily made a mental note to check into some of those dark glasses the Englisch wore when they were outside. They might hide the glare enough for James to be comfortable out in the sun.
A softball game had started among some of the children. A few were painting on the lower parts of the barn while still others ran in circles and chased the dogs. Johanna Riehl was one of these, until she saw her father had come outside. She veered off from the rest and raced to his side.
“ Dat, ” she squealed as she hurled herself at him.
The smile on James’s face was worth every bit of worry Emily had gone through to get him to the yard. Mixed with Johanna’s grin, they were both brighter than the sun.
She turned and caught Elam’s stare. Her own smile died on her lips at his scowl. Whatever goodwill was between them earlier vanished in that instant.
She thought for a minute that he was about to storm over to her and demand she take his father right back into the house, but someone next to him spoke and she was granted a reprieve.
But not for long. As Johanna and her dat played hand games and found shapes in the clouds above, Elam stalked over.
“Emily, may I have a word?”
She wanted to tell him no and remain seated under the big oak tree, but that would only fuel his anger.
“ Jah .” She stood and brushed her hands down the sides of her blue frack . Not that her clothes were wrinkled enough for much attention, but suddenly she felt a little like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “I know what you are going to say,” she started.
“You have no idea.”
She reared back at the harshness of
It was dark and surprisingly cool inside. James sat on the edge of his bed, his head cradled in his hands. Joy stood over him, her fists propped on her hips in a defensive pose.
“ Dat, I brought Emily to you.”
He looked up, his eyes shining with recognition. “I want to watch the men paint.”
Emily glanced toward Joy who stiffened at his request. “It’s too bright out there, James. It’ll make your head ache.”
“My head aches anyway.” He pouted. “Emily, take me outside.”
“Emily is not going to take you anywhere.”
She couldn’t tell if Joy was upset with this latest development or not. Her eyes were unreadable and her expression stoic.
“Maybe if we put him in the shade . . . ?” Emily started, quietly so that only Joy could hear.
“I do not think it is a gut idea.” She bit her bottom lip, but otherwise her strong stance remained steady.
“Nor is allowing him to get this upset,” Becky pointed out.
Joy took them by the arms and led them to a corner across the room. “I worry,” she started.
Emily patted her hand. “I know. But sunshine might do him some gut. I’ll sit with him,” she offered. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t get up or wander off.”
Tears rose in Joy’s eyes. “You would do that for him? For us?”
“Of course.” It was all part of giving back to the community, the cornerstone of being Amish.
“Will you help me get him up and around?”
Emily wasn’t sure if Joy had changed her mind about taking her husband outside or if she was tired of fighting him about staying in bed. Whatever it was, Emily was willing to help. She nodded and together the three of them prepared James for his trip outside.
Joy decided it would be easiest to take James only as far as the front porch, but Becky pointed out it might just frustrate him as he wouldn’t be able to see all of the men as they worked.
“There are three of us,” Emily reasoned. “We should be able to get him down the steps and to the big oak next to the shed.”
James was willing enough, just unsteady on his feet as they helped him outside. Emily took one elbow and Joy the other, while Becky hurried ahead and spread a quilt underneath the tree.
In no time at all, they were settled under the big branches while the men painted and the women watched. It wasn’t as bright under the tree, but Emily made a mental note to check into some of those dark glasses the Englisch wore when they were outside. They might hide the glare enough for James to be comfortable out in the sun.
A softball game had started among some of the children. A few were painting on the lower parts of the barn while still others ran in circles and chased the dogs. Johanna Riehl was one of these, until she saw her father had come outside. She veered off from the rest and raced to his side.
“ Dat, ” she squealed as she hurled herself at him.
The smile on James’s face was worth every bit of worry Emily had gone through to get him to the yard. Mixed with Johanna’s grin, they were both brighter than the sun.
She turned and caught Elam’s stare. Her own smile died on her lips at his scowl. Whatever goodwill was between them earlier vanished in that instant.
She thought for a minute that he was about to storm over to her and demand she take his father right back into the house, but someone next to him spoke and she was granted a reprieve.
But not for long. As Johanna and her dat played hand games and found shapes in the clouds above, Elam stalked over.
“Emily, may I have a word?”
She wanted to tell him no and remain seated under the big oak tree, but that would only fuel his anger.
“ Jah .” She stood and brushed her hands down the sides of her blue frack . Not that her clothes were wrinkled enough for much attention, but suddenly she felt a little like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “I know what you are going to say,” she started.
“You have no idea.”
She reared back at the harshness of
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