A Hope Springs Christmas by Patricia Davids

counted. The shelves and bins are labeled. Write down the number of items you find in each one.”
    Sally glanced at the clipboard. “That’s it?”
    “That’s it.” He nodded and returned to work on the farm wagon.
    “Levi, what is an axle nut?” Sally asked as she stood looking at the eight-foot-tall wooden cabinet filled with drawers that covered the west wall.
    He put aside the hardware meant to hold the tongue to the front axle and crossed the room to show her the correct drawer. Pulling it open, he said, “It’s used to hold the wheel on the axle.”
    “I thought as much.” She counted the ones in the drawer and pushed it closed.
    “Anything else?” he asked.
    “No, I’ve got this.” She opened a second drawer and began counting.
    Levi returned to wrestling with the wagon waiting to be finished.
    “Why do you have left and right axle nuts?”
    He exhaled in frustration. “Because the nut on the axle had to be threaded to turn right on one side and left on the other side.”
    “Why?”
    “To prevent the nut from being spun off when the wheel is going in the same direction. If that happens, the wheel falls off.” He lay down to tighten the bolts under the tongue.
    “I see. What is a clip bar used for?”
    He finished tightening the bolts, wiped the sweat from his face and rose to walk past to her. “Moses will be in to help you. I have work to do outside.”
    He rolled down his sleeves, donned his jacket and escaped out the door. How many questions could one woman ask? Outside, he found young Ben Lapp unloading a wheel from his wagon. Ben was a few years older than the twins. He rolled the wheel toward Levi. “I’ve got a broken fellow on this one. Any chance I can get it replaced today?”
    Behind Ben’s wagon, Daniel Hershberger was helping his new wife out of their buggy. He had a second horse tied on behind.
    Atlee and Moses came hurrying up. Moses took the wheel from Ben. “We can’t get to it today. It will be tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.”
    Ben nodded. “That will work. I also need a new left axle nut.”
    Levi pointed over his shoulder. “Sally Yoder can find you one.”
    Ben’s eyes brightened. He looked with interest toward the building. “I didn’t know Sally was working here.” He headed inside without another word.
    Dan Hershberger, with his bride, Susan, at his side, approached Levi. They made an imposing pair for both were tall with ample figures and stern expressions. Dan said, “I understand my wife’s new carriage is done.”
    Levi nodded. Atlee said, “I’ll hitch your horse for you. The two of you can take it for a ride around the block to make sure it’s to your satisfaction.”
    Susan folded her arms and gave Levi a stern glare, ignoring the twins completely. “I would prefer that my husband harness the horse.”
    She wisely didn’t trust his brothers. Neither of the boys looked disappointed, so perhaps they didn’t have a prank in mind. Levi said, “It’s this way.”
    Levi walked toward the back lot. Dan followed, leading his spare horse. It was a high-stepping and spirited coal-black mare. Glancing over his shoulder, Levi saw Susan waiting near their buggy. She was keeping a close eye on the twins.
    The open carriage was sitting in the center of the back lot. Dan’s stern face broke into a wide grin when he saw it. “This is exactly what I had in mind. Susan will love it. I hope she will love it, for a happy wife makes a happy life.”
    The two men hitched up the horse and led her to the front of the building. Susan walked around the buggy, tested the doors, and ran her hand over the leather upholstery. Turning to her husband, she finally smiled. “It is wonderful, danki, mie husband.”
    “It is my joy to see you happy.” He opened the carriage door and assisted her to climb in.
    Levi happened to catch a glimpse of Atlee’s gleeful face from the corner of his eye. A cold feeling settled in his bones. What had they done?
    * * *
    Sarah