Read Online The Christmas Cradle by Charlotte Hubbard - Free Book Online Page A

didn’t.
    â€œWhat was that all about?” Savilla demanded. She stood at the stove, warming a can of soup for their Sunday dinner. Her purple dress was faded and her face seemed pale beneath the black hair that was tucked under her kapp . “For a moment you lost that hangdog look you’ve had lately. Must’ve been Lena, huh?”
    Josiah’s lips twitched. How did women figure out what he was caught up in—and how he should respond—before he knew? “You and I have been asked to cater a wedding dinner next week,” he replied. “I’m guessing we could use the kitchen of that café I told you about—”
    â€œWe’ve worked in worse places.”
    â€œâ€”and the whole town would probably come out for it,” Josiah continued in the most nonchalant tone he could muster. “We could run our business from there, too, once everybody gets a taste of our food. Miriam’s all for it, but Ben wants the details in writing. I just don’t know about that.”
    Savilla planted a fist on her hip. “Fine and dandy, but what’ll we do with this farm and the animals? What’ll we say to the neighbors? And what’ll you tell that Knepp fellow?” she demanded. “Lots of questions have been hanging fire since you saw his ad, and I’ve not heard any answers!”
    â€œYou know, I’ve had enough of people telling me what to do,” Josiah retorted.
    â€œThen make up your mind,” his sister shot back. “You suddenly have some new opportunities, and until you commit to one of them, Lena and I are left hanging. I don’t like feeling so betwixt and between, Josiah.”
    â€œSo marry Floyd Stoltzfus and your troubles will be over,” he blurted out, regretting his words even before they rang in the high-ceilinged kitchen.
    As Savilla faced the stove again, her crestfallen expression made Josiah want to kick himself. Why did he smart off to everyone lately, wounding the two young women who loved and depended on him? Floyd had wanted to court Savilla for months, but why would his beautiful sister hitch up with a widower who was ten years her senior and had four rambunctious kids? Stoltzfus ran a sawmill and had all the personality of the sawdust that clung to his shaggy hair.
    â€œThat was a low blow. Sorry,” Josiah mumbled.
    The color rose in Savilla’s cheeks. “Join the church and marry Lena and your troubles will be over,” she shot back. “Or at least your soul—and your baby—will have a future. If marrying Floyd would make you take charge of your life, Josiah, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
    Josiah went to the counter to slice some bread. He couldn’t expect Savilla to keep this old place running by herself, and he really didn’t want her to marry Floyd. “Okay, so let’s cater that wedding next week,” he suggested. “If our food’s a hit, we can sign on with Miriam to do a supper shift in her café.”
    â€œAnd if her husband tells us to move on? What then?”
    â€œMaybe by then Knepp’s supper club will be built.”
    â€œAnd what’ll we do about this farm?” Savilla repeated. “Considering the consequences of your snap decisions has never been your strong point, little brother.”
    Josiah winced, knowing she was right. But if he put their property up for sale, who would buy it? The dingy paint in the kitchen was a minor detail compared to the deteriorating boards in the barn and the leaning pasture fences. He’d been too busy cooking the past few years to remedy the many problems of this poor old place.
    â€œLet’s say we could sell the farm,” Josiah began cautiously. “Then we could probably afford a house in Willow Ridge. Meanwhile, the Hooleys have offered Lena their dawdi haus , and they were letting me stay in a spare bedroom—”
    â€œBuying a house in a new town is a big