stay here right now, so she may as well try to relax and enjoy
the pampering.
I’ve lost Luke
, Meredith thought as her eyes drifted shut,
and I won’t take the chance of losing our baby.
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
Jonah had just finished working at the buggy shop for the day, so he decided to go
over to Meredith’s house. She was supposed to get out of the hospital this afternoon,
and he wanted to see how she was doing.
Jonah borrowed his dad’s horse and buggy, but he couldn’t seem to get the horse, Knickers,
to move along very fast. No matter where he went with the horse and buggy, Jonah usually
enjoyed taking in the scenery, but not today. He barely noticed the snow in the fields,
and the blue jays squawking overhead seemed more of an annoyance to him.
Finally, he was there, and after securing Knickers to the hitching rail near the barn,
he headed for the house. Jonah had just stepped onto the porch, when another horse
and buggy pulled into the yard. After the driver got out and secured the horse, Jonah
realized it was Meredith’s dad, whom he’d met at the hospital. Jonah waved and waited
for Philip to join him on the porch.
“If you’re lookin’ for Meredith, she’s not here,” Philip said.
“Is she still in the hospital?” Jonah asked.
“Nope. She was released this afternoon, and she’ll be staying at our place for a while.”
Jonah nodded. “Guess that makes sense. It’s probably not a good idea for her to be
here alone, trying to do things by herself.”
“It sure isn’t—especially now that she’s expecting a boppli. Losing Luke has been
hard on Meredith. She loved him a lot. But having a baby will help keep his memory
alive.” Philip leaned against the porch railing. “It’ll be hard for her to raise the
baby alone, so we’re gonna help out as much as we can, despite her objections.”
“Will Meredith sell her house and move in with you permanently?” Jonah questioned.
Philip shrugged. “I’m not sure about that. My daughter can be stubborn sometimes,
and I know she wants to make it on her own. But there are bills and taxes to pay,
and with no money comin’ in, she may be forced to sell.”
“That’d be a shame,” Jonah said, wishing there was something he could do to help out.
“Won’t some folks in this community give Meredith money?”
“There will probably be a benefit auction to help with her medical expenses.” Philip
glanced toward the barn. “But I’m thinkin’ she ought to sell Luke’s horse, because
she doesn’t need him anymore, and I’m sure the gelding would go for a fairly good
price.”
“I’d be interested in buying it,” Jonah said. “The horse I had in Ohio was getting
old, so I sold him before I moved here, and now I need a new one.”
Philip reached under his hat and scratched his head. “That should work out well for
Meredith, but I’ll have to discuss it with her first, of course.”
“Since she’s staying over at your place, why don’t I follow you home? Then I can ask
her about buying Luke’s horse.”
Philip shook his head. “I think it’s better if I talk to her first. Why don’t you
drop by our place sometime tomorrow?”
“All right then, I’ll come over after work tomorrow afternoon,” Jonah agreed, although
he was disappointed he wouldn’t be seeing Meredith until then.
Out back, an energetic German shorthair pointer barked frantically from his kennel.
“Guess I’d better get ole Fritzy boy and take him home with me,” Philip said. “Poor
mutt probably can’t figure out what’s goin’ on. Luke is gone, and now the dog’s most
likely wondering where Meredith is.”
Jonah extended his hand. “It was nice to see you again, Philip. I’ll take a look at
the horse before I go so I’ll have a better idea of how much I should offer for him.”
Ronks
Meredith had been resting on the sofa most of the day and was bored. Lying here gave
her
the pampering.
I’ve lost Luke
, Meredith thought as her eyes drifted shut,
and I won’t take the chance of losing our baby.
Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
Jonah had just finished working at the buggy shop for the day, so he decided to go
over to Meredith’s house. She was supposed to get out of the hospital this afternoon,
and he wanted to see how she was doing.
Jonah borrowed his dad’s horse and buggy, but he couldn’t seem to get the horse, Knickers,
to move along very fast. No matter where he went with the horse and buggy, Jonah usually
enjoyed taking in the scenery, but not today. He barely noticed the snow in the fields,
and the blue jays squawking overhead seemed more of an annoyance to him.
Finally, he was there, and after securing Knickers to the hitching rail near the barn,
he headed for the house. Jonah had just stepped onto the porch, when another horse
and buggy pulled into the yard. After the driver got out and secured the horse, Jonah
realized it was Meredith’s dad, whom he’d met at the hospital. Jonah waved and waited
for Philip to join him on the porch.
“If you’re lookin’ for Meredith, she’s not here,” Philip said.
“Is she still in the hospital?” Jonah asked.
“Nope. She was released this afternoon, and she’ll be staying at our place for a while.”
Jonah nodded. “Guess that makes sense. It’s probably not a good idea for her to be
here alone, trying to do things by herself.”
“It sure isn’t—especially now that she’s expecting a boppli. Losing Luke has been
hard on Meredith. She loved him a lot. But having a baby will help keep his memory
alive.” Philip leaned against the porch railing. “It’ll be hard for her to raise the
baby alone, so we’re gonna help out as much as we can, despite her objections.”
“Will Meredith sell her house and move in with you permanently?” Jonah questioned.
Philip shrugged. “I’m not sure about that. My daughter can be stubborn sometimes,
and I know she wants to make it on her own. But there are bills and taxes to pay,
and with no money comin’ in, she may be forced to sell.”
“That’d be a shame,” Jonah said, wishing there was something he could do to help out.
“Won’t some folks in this community give Meredith money?”
“There will probably be a benefit auction to help with her medical expenses.” Philip
glanced toward the barn. “But I’m thinkin’ she ought to sell Luke’s horse, because
she doesn’t need him anymore, and I’m sure the gelding would go for a fairly good
price.”
“I’d be interested in buying it,” Jonah said. “The horse I had in Ohio was getting
old, so I sold him before I moved here, and now I need a new one.”
Philip reached under his hat and scratched his head. “That should work out well for
Meredith, but I’ll have to discuss it with her first, of course.”
“Since she’s staying over at your place, why don’t I follow you home? Then I can ask
her about buying Luke’s horse.”
Philip shook his head. “I think it’s better if I talk to her first. Why don’t you
drop by our place sometime tomorrow?”
“All right then, I’ll come over after work tomorrow afternoon,” Jonah agreed, although
he was disappointed he wouldn’t be seeing Meredith until then.
Out back, an energetic German shorthair pointer barked frantically from his kennel.
“Guess I’d better get ole Fritzy boy and take him home with me,” Philip said. “Poor
mutt probably can’t figure out what’s goin’ on. Luke is gone, and now the dog’s most
likely wondering where Meredith is.”
Jonah extended his hand. “It was nice to see you again, Philip. I’ll take a look at
the horse before I go so I’ll have a better idea of how much I should offer for him.”
Ronks
Meredith had been resting on the sofa most of the day and was bored. Lying here gave
her
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