Reckless Heart (Kauffman Amish Bakery 5.5) by Amy Clipston Read Free Book Online

the hospital longer.”
    Lydia nodded. “I understand.”
    Dat
gave her a quick smile, telling Lydia that he was proud of her and causing tears to form in her eyes again. The weight of her parents’ request both frightened and saddened her.
Am I strong enough to do all they’re asking? What if I let them down?
    “What about me?” Irma asked. “What can I do?”
    Mamm
smiled. “You can help Lydia as much as possible.”
    Lydia touched her sister’s prayer covering. “Maybe you can sweep the kitchen floor every night after supper.”
    Irma looked encouraged. “I can do that.”
    “I’ll take care of the animals,” Titus said. “You don’t worry about it,
Dat
. I can feed and water them, and I’ll also collect the eggs.”
    “
Danki
,”
Dat
said.
    Mamm’s
eyes moved to the clock on the wall. “It’s very late. We better get to bed. I have to get up early in the morning to take Ruthie back to the doctor.”
    “Let’s pray before we go to bed,”
Dat
said. “We have to ask God to hold little Ruthie in his loving arms and give her doctors strength and wisdom.”
    Lydia bowed her head and tried to swallow the lump in her throat while silently praying for her sister. When she heard her father’s chair push back, she knew it was time for bed.
    As she walked past her mother, Lydia stopped and touched her arm. “I’m sure everything will be okay.” Her weak voice betrayed her words. In her heart, she knew there was a chance things wouldn’t be okay.
    Her mother nodded, but her eyes didn’t echo her agreement. “You go on to bed, Lydia. Tomorrow will be a long day.”
    “I’ll tuck Irma and Titus in, and you go on to bed,” Lydia insisted. “You will be tired in the morning.”
    Mamm
cupped her hand to her mouth to stop a yawn. “I think I’m going to sleep in Ruthie’s room again tonight. I worry that she’ll wake up and cry for me.”
    Seeing the worry and exhaustion in her mother’s eyes caused Lydia to protest. “No.” She touched her mother’s arm again. “I’ll listen for her. If I can’t handle it, then I’ll come for you.”
    Mamm
looked surprised. “Are you certain?”
    “
Ya
. I can handle it for you.” Lydia kissed her mother’s cheek. “You just take care of yourself.”
    “
Danki
,
mei liewe
,”
Mamm
said softly. “You’re a
wunderbaar gut dochder
.”
    Unable to speak, Lydia moved toward the door.
    “Wait,”
Mamm
called to her.
    Lydia turned and found her mother holding up a small booklet. “What’s that?”
    “I thought you might like to read a little bit about Ruthie’s illness.”
Mamm
stood and brought it over to Lydia. “This has some information on the disease, and it’s fairly easy to understand.”
    “
Danki
.” Lydia took the booklet and headed for the stairs.
    Once upstairs, Lydia placed the booklet on her bureau, changed into her nightclothes, and headed out into the hallway to tuck in her siblings. She found Titus sitting up in his bed and staring at a book.
    “It’s bedtime,” Lydia said gently. “
Mamm
and
Dat
are talking downstairs, so I thought I would come and tuck you in for them.”
    Titus met her gaze and his big brown eyes were glassy where tears had collected. “Do you think Ruthie is going to live?”
    Lydia forced a smile and hoped it was convincing. She couldn’t let her brother know how scared she truly was. “
Ya
, I do. According to the doctors, most
kinner
live and the treatments do their job. You have to trust that the doctors know what they’re doing, and they’re going to make her better. It just might take some time.”
    He snuggled under the covers. “I’ll pray for her, and I’ll do my chores too.”
    “
Gut
,” Lydia said, touching his hair. “I’m going to needyour help, so I’m glad you’re going to do your chores.” She kissed his head. “Gut
nacht, mei bruder
. Don’t forget your prayers tonight. Try your best to sleep and don’t let your worries take over your rest.”
    “I won’t,” he said