The Duke and The Duchess by Lady Aingealicia Read Free Book Online Page A

Paul and Rebecca. She remembered it so clearly, he had brought her a dozen yellow roses. He said that it reminded him of her in the city when he went.

Summer Heat
     
    As the time passed, things did not change much in the community. Everyday there were chores, sewing bees, singing, service and the harvest to look forward to. Rebecca and Jedidiah would work to find time with each other, they knew that the time would come in the fall when harvest came. That was always their special time. It was something both of them looked forward to.
    Emma and Rebecca were busy preparing things for two households. The canning would come soon enough. They had plenty to do. Katura was to be married the first week after harvest and it was the first wedding that would happen for the year. There was much to prepare for such a simple, beautiful service. There were their own personal gardens to be taken care of, clothes that needed mended or sewn.
    Rebecca had been working on the quilt with Katura when they could. Katura became more excited as the harvest got closer. They had much to talk about at that time. What it would be like to be on their own, in of her own to take care of, to have a family. Rebecca could see the excitement in Katura’s eyes. It was an exciting time.
    Paul came in one day with Jedidiah after working in the field. She smiled brightly as she served dinner to them. Jedidiah touched her softly every time he could. She would blush as she listened to the talk between Paul and Jedidiah. He would look over at her with his soft blue eyes and grin. He knew she was excited for the upcoming wedding of his sister and Samuel.
    He remembered when he knew he loved Rebecca, it was while he was out on his Rumspringa. While he worked in the city and experienced life out in the world, every time he would pass by a yellow flower he would see her smile in it and he knew he had to come home to be with her. He remembered watching her brown eyes light up when she saw the roses.
    “It looks like it will be a good harvest Sir.” Jedidiah said as he ate the roast and potatoes. “Good meal Rebecca.” He nodded her way and smile. He saw she was cutting the chocolate cream pie. She knew that was his favorite. He noticed that she had shaved chocolate on top of the pie.
    “I made your favorite Pa and Jedidiah.” Rebecca smiled proudly. She served them each a piece to see how they would respond. The clean plates said it all. “Now don’t you both go working too hard.” She said as they headed back out into the field. She watched them walk back into the field of corn. It was growing better than it had in many years. Rebecca knew that meant it was going to be a good harvest.
    She washed the dishes and cleaned up. Her hands tracing over the wood of the table. She knew that Jedidiah had made this table as a holiday gift one year for Paul and her when she was about 10. It was the first time she had seen him as her betrothed. Her father said she had a gift of seeing things that sometimes did not appear to the normal eye.
    As the sun began to set, she lit the lamps and made sure that the table was set. The table was warm under her touch, she felt the love that was in the craftsmanship. Jedidiah had made her hope chest one year as well, as a request from her father. Paul could not give up Susan’s hope chest no matter how much he wanted to give it to Rebecca. Jedidiah had carved a bouquet of flowers in the lid.
    Every time she would open the lid, she would touch the carving and think of him. She put her collectables in there that she wanted to hold onto for her home. Looking around the kitchen, she crossed her hands over her stomach and smiled. Everything was set for the supper. The Otto’s were coming over and she wanted everything to be perfect. As Emma and Katura came in, they took off their capes and hung them in the hall way. Everyone else was out in the field looking at the crop that was coming in.
    As they came in, Paul and Levi were talking about