A Simple Christmas Wish by Melody Carlson Page B

bed, and Cookie was purring contentedly.
    Even so, Rachel knew it was getting late and was about to call it a night when Lydia came out to the barn and insisted it was time for the girls to go to bed.
    “You both have school tomorrow,” she told them sternly.
    “ I have school?” Holly gave Rachel a puzzled look as she gently eased Cookie from her warm, comfy bed. “I thought I was on my Christmas vacation.”
    “School goes all week here,” Lydia quickly explained. “Right up until Christmas. And, ja , you will go to school with Sarah and Ezra in the morning.”
    “We get some days off after Christmas,” Sarah assured Holly. “And don’t worry—we’re mostly working on our Christmas play this week.”

    “You’re having a Christmas play at your school too?” Holly’s eyes lit up. “Is it A Christmas Carol ?”
    Sarah frowned. “I don’t know what it’s called.”
    “I’m sure it’s not A Christmas Carol ,” Rachel told Holly.
    “Will I be in the play?” Holly asked hopefully.
    “ Ja , I think so,” Sarah said. “I’m playing the innkeeper’s wife, and Ezra is Joseph this year. Maybe you can be an animal. The younger children are mostly animals.”
    “I want to be a horse,” Holly proclaimed.
    Sarah looked uncertain. “I don’t think we have horses in it.”
    “Come now, liebschen .” Lydia wrapped an arm around Holly. “It is time to go to bed.”
    Holly turned to Rachel. “You can stay here and watch Buttercup have her baby,” she said. “You don’t have to go to school tomorrow.”
    “Ja,” Lydia told her. “You do not need to go inside unless you want to, Rachel. I will see the girls go to bed.”
    Once again, Rachel felt dismissed, but it seemed pointless to resist. Lydia was clearly in charge of her household. Besides, Rachel was curious to witness a cow giving birth. “All right,” she told Holly. “I’ll stay here. But first let me kiss you good night.” She bent down to hug and kiss Holly. “Good night, sleep tight, and don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
    Holly giggled at the familiar saying, but Lydia gave her a confused frown.
    “I don’t have bugs in my bed,” Sarah told Holly as they headed for the door.
    “It’s just a joke,” Holly said. “My daddy used to say it to me.”
    The barn grew quiet now, with just the sounds of theanimals and Buttercup rustling around, trying to get comfortable. “Do you think she’s going to be okay?” Rachel asked Benjamin as she sat back down on the milking stool that he had provided for her.
    “I think so. She’s never had a problem before, but there’s always a first.”
    “What would you do if she did have a problem?” Rachel wasn’t really sure she wanted to hear the answer, and yet she was curious.
    “Well, it’s not something I want to do, but I would have to sacrifice the calf in order to save the cow, and it wouldn’t be pretty. If it comes to that—and it won’t be until after midnight—I’ll need you to go in and get Daniel to help me. And I’m sure you won’t want to watch.” He peered at her from over Buttercup’s back, from where he was rubbing her side in the hopes the calf would turn around. “You might not want to stay out here that late.”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s not easy sleeping in a strange place, and the cot wasn’t too comfy. I’m sure I was wide awake for half the night.”
    His brows arched.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to complain. Your sister is kind to put me up like this.” Rachel reached down to where Cookie was rubbing against her legs, and as soon as she petted the cat, she hopped up into Rachel’s lap, which Rachel didn’t mind a bit, because the warmth was nice.
    He grinned. “No problem. You can complain to me. I wouldn’t like sleeping on a cot either.”
    “And I’m sure I’ve worn out my welcome,” she continued. For some reason she felt comfortable letting her guard downaround this guy. She knew he was Amish, yet he didn’t seem as