LITMIR.BIZ

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Maggie told them.

      “Hallo, Ellen.” Matthew turned to Nell next with a smile. “Nell, ’tis gut to see you.”

      Nell’s lips curved. “Matthew.”

      Adam and Ruth Troyer approached. “Ellen, Nell. ’Tis gut to see you both. Ellen,” Ruth said, “is your mudder inside?”

      “Ja, I last saw her in the kitchen.”

      Loud, teasing male voices drew their attention. Nell’s Lapp cousins Elijah, Jacob, Noah, Daniel and Joseph hurried out into the yard and gathered on the back lawn. Moments later, they were joined by her friend Ellen’s younger brothers, Will and Elam.

      Jedidiah came from the direction of the barn. “Found them!” he said, holding up a baseball bat and ball.

      “Matthew! You going to play ball with us?” Isaac called.

      “Ja, I’ll play.” With another smile in Nell’s direction, the young man left to have fun with Nell’s cousins.

      “Nell, you watch the game and I’ll bring your pies inside.”

      She smiled as she gave her pies to her friend. “Danki, Ellen.”

      Ellen entered the house, leaving her alone with Maggie.

      “I didn’t know you had another bruder, Maggie,” Nell admitted, focusing on Maggie’s revelation, as the baseball game began.

      “Ja. He’s a doctor and seven years older than me. He left our community when he was eighteen.” Maggie’s eyes filled with affection. “I’ve missed him so much. I was able to spend time with him yesterday but still...” She grinned. “Fortunately, he’s moved closer to home, and we’ll be able to see him more often. I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually.”

      Nell didn’t know why, but she felt an odd anticipation as if she were on the urge of learning something significant. “You said your bruder was called out on an emergency,” she said. “What does he do?”

      “He’s a veterinarian. He’s recently opened a clinic here in Happiness.”

      The strange sensation settled over Nell. Despite the difference in their last names, could James be Maggie’s brother? If the young woman’s sibling was a veterinarian, then she doubted that the man was a member of the Amish community. “What’s his name?” she asked, although she had a feeling she knew.

      “James Pierce.” Maggie smiled. “He owns Pierce Veterinary Clinic. Have you heard of him?”

      “Ja. In fact, ’twas your bruder who treated my dog, Jonas, after I found him.”

      “Then you’ve met him!” Maggie looked delighted. “Is he a gut veterinarian?”

      Startled by this new knowledge of James, Nell could only nod at first. “He was wonderful with Jonas. He’s a kind and compassionate man.” She studied Maggie closely and recognized the family resemblance that she previously hadn’t noticed between her and James. “How is he a Pierce and you a Troyer?”

      “I am a Pierce.” Maggie grinned. “Abigail is, too. But we don’t go by the Pierce name. Adam is our stepfather, and he is our dat now. We were young when we lost our vadder. I was six, and Abigail was just a bebe. We lived in Ohio back then. After our vadder died, Mam moved us to Lancaster County where she was raised. She left Pennsylvania to marry Dat and start a life with him in Ohio. Mam was heartbroken when Dat died. She couldn’t stay in Ohio without her husband and decided to return home to Lancaster County.”

      Maggie’s eyes filled with sadness. “I didn’t mind. I was too young to care, but James was thirteen and he had a hard time with the move. He loved and admired Dad, and he’d wanted to be a veterinarian like him since he was ten. James used to accompany Dad when he visited farmers to treat their animals. He was devastated by Dad’s death, and he became more determined to follow in Dad’s footsteps.”

      Nell felt her heart break for James, who must have suffered greatly after his father’s death. “You chose the Amish life, but James chose a different path.”

      “And he’s doing well,” Maggie said. “My family is thrilled that he set up his practice in Happiness, because he wanted to be closer to us.”

      “He missed you,” Nell said quietly.

      The young woman grinned. “I guess he did. I certainly missed him. I’m glad to have my big bruder back.”

      Nell couldn’t get what she’d learned about James and the Troyers out of her mind. It didn’t help her churned-up emotions when, later that afternoon, James arrived to spend time with his family.

      She recognized his silver car immediately as he drove into the barnyard and parked. Nell watched as he got out of his vehicle, straightened and closed the door. James stood a moment, his gaze searching, no doubt looking for family members. She couldn’t move as he crossed the yard to where William Mast and others had set up tables and bench seats. They had enjoyed the midday meal, but there was still a table filled with delicious homemade desserts, including the schnitz pies that she and Leah had baked yesterday morning.

      She couldn’t tear her gaze away as James headed to the gathering of young people, including his sisters Maggie and Abigail as well as their stepsiblings, Rosie and Matthew.

      Nell found it heartwarming to see that all of his siblings regarded him with the same depth of love and affection. She watched as James spoke briefly to Maggie, who grinned as Abigail, Rosie and Matthew approached him, clearly delighted that he’d handled his emergency then decided to come. She heard the siblings teasing and the ensuing laughter. Maggie said something to James as she gestured in Nell’s direction.

      James turned and saw her, and Nell froze. Her heart started to beat hard when he broke away from the group to approach her.

      * * *

      “Nell!” Warmed by the sight of her, James smiled as he reached her. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

      Her lips curved. “I didn’t expect to see you here either.”

      “So you know my family.” He didn’t know why the knowledge startled him. Not that he was upset. In fact, it was nice to know that before they’d even met, he and Nell had shared an undiscovered connection.

      “I’ve known them a long time. I had no idea that your family is the Troyers.” She shifted her gaze to his sister Maggie. “Then I recognized the resemblance between you and Maggie.” She smiled. “I’ve always liked your sister. She’s a gut friend, and I like her sweetheart, Joshua Fisher, too.”

      “Joshua is here?” James attempted to pick him out of the gathering.

      “Nay. He couldn’t come today. His grossmudder is ill, and he thought it best to spend time with her and his family.”

      He was pleased to hear that Nell thought well of the man his sister loved. “He’s a good man,” he murmured, his gaze on his sister’s smiling face.

      “Ja, and he’ll make Maggie a gut husband.”

      James settled his gaze on Nell’s pretty, expressive features. “I’m glad you think so. I haven’t met him yet, but I trust your judgment.”

      Nell appeared startled. She blushed as if embarrassed by his praise. “I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”

      They stood silently for several seconds. James felt comfortable with Nell, and she seemed to have relaxed around him, too.

      “Nell.”

      She met his gaze.

      “I was going to stop by your house. I received a phone call from Michelle today. Her stomach virus has spread to her husband and children, and she won’t be back for days. Perhaps even a week. Janie isn’t due back from vacation for another week. Would you consider working at the clinic next week? I’ll pay you a good wage.”

      She

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