Joyful by Shelley Shepard Gray

happier when they were standing on fresh straw.
    But those reasons didn’t mean that he wanted to drag the task out longer than necessary.
    â€œI told you I got this, Levi,” Randall said under his breath.
    â€œAnd I told you that taking care of these stalls is my job.” With a scowl, he snatched the rake out of his hands. “I promised Junior I would still do it after he left.”
    It made no sense, but his youngest brother’s reminder that Junior’s word was still heeded—even though he was living on his own now—grated something awful.
    Enough to pick a fight.
    â€œAnd I told you that I have time, and I don’t mind doing it. Let me be and go on to work.”
    â€œI don’t start my shift until eleven today,” Levi said as he neatly ran the rake along the side of the stall, easily picking up more soiled straw in one pass than Randall did in three. “Plus, you aren’t doing it right.”
    â€œAnd we both know that there’s only one way to clean out a stall.”
    â€œThere’s only one way to do it the way Bright likes.”
    â€œShe’s a horse.”
    â€œShe’s a gut gaul . Even I remember Daed saying that we needed to care for her well, because she cares for us,” Levi snapped. “Don’t you remember that?”
    â€œOf course I do. Daed told me that a whole lot longer ago than you.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back. The reason Levi hadn’t heard his father’s words of wisdom for as long was because he was so young when their father passed away. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
    â€œ Bruder , what’s wrong with you? You’re not acting like yourself at all.”
    Randall immediately felt ashamed. His brother was right. There was no reason for him to be taking out his frustration on a horse’s stall anyway. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
    â€œYou know, if you’re upset with the way you treated Elizabeth, you should just go over there and apologize. It might take a while, but I bet you’ll find the right words to say to her sooner or later.”
    â€œI didn’t know you were now in the business of giving advice, bruder .”
    â€œI’m not. But if you aren’t going to be paying a call on Elizabeth, let me know. I’ll go over there and apologize.”
    Against his will, a burst of jealousy hit him hard. “Have you developed a crush on her, Levi?”
    Taking a deep breath, Levi rested the rake against the slats of the stall before facing him. “You know, I used to really admire you. Out of all my older brothers, I admired you the best. I liked how you were always so easygoing. I liked how you kept to yourself and worked construction and always had a joke or a smile for me. But now I get it.”
    â€œAnd what do you get?”
    â€œYou weren’t easygoing; you were selfish. You were happy because you were doing exactly what you wanted, when you wanted. And now that you can’t, you don’t know how to deal with it.”
    â€œThat is not true.” At least, he really hoped it wasn’t.
    â€œIt sure seems like it is. If you don’t want to be in charge, tell Micah or Neil. Or tell Junior. I bet he’d come back and do everything again. And then you could go back to doing what you wanted.”
    â€œListen to you,” he said sarcastically. “You’ve got all the answers this morning.”
    â€œNot really. Because Kaylene is still sad, we’re going to have hockey-puck chicken again tonight, and you probably hurt Elizabeth’s feelings. She’s probably wondering how she’s going to be able to take care of her grandmother now.” Looking even more irritated, Levi thrust his rake at Randall. “Here, you want to finish up? Go ahead. I’m going to walk Kaylene to school.”
    â€œWait. I haven’t made her lunch