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

how good the harvest was going to be. Malachi, Solomon, Johnathan and Elijah washed up. Jedidiah came over by Rebecca and handed her a yellow daisy. She smiled at him as she took it. He always knew how to make her smile.
    “Looks good.” He commented and then went to wash his hands. Rebecca smiled as she placed the flower in a cup by the sink. She would leave it until she dried it to add to the others. As they sat around the table and the food was blessed. There was discussion of the barn raising that was going to happen the following week. Everyone would be there to see the house being built for Katura and Samuel.
    As Rebecca looked around the table, she caught Jedidiah looking at her and she would smile and grin. He sent butterflies in her stomach every time he would look at her. She remembered he would make her feel that way at the Sunday night evening sings they had and when they would have frolics. It had always been that way. How he made her feel.
    As soon as the supper was over Emma, Katura and Rebecca cleaned up the table and did the dishes as the men went to the living room and sat down to discuss the plans for the rest of the summers. The ladies sat in the kitchen and Rebecca brought out the quilt, to work on. It was almost done except the edges that needed to be finished.
    The night passed by quickly and the Otto’s left. Jedidiah left last as he looked at Rebecca and nodded. There were so many unspoken words between them. It had been a hard year because Paul had an accident the year prior. Rebecca helped him with recovering and Jedidiah did what he could to keep busy. He was still living with his family.
    Paul headed up to bed and paused looking at Rebecca. Rebecca went around and turned out the lanterns as she headed up to her room. Paul paused before he walked into his bedroom. Looking at Rebecca and coughed.
    “I know it has been a long year Rebecca.” He looked at her. “I know it has been hard on you and Jedidiah. I am doing much better now.”
    “I know Pa.” She said with a smile. “Jedidiah understands that it is the Lord’s way not ours.” Paul nodded and went into his room. Rebecca went into her room and let her waist length hair down. She remembered the day that her dad fell in the field. The Dr told him that his heart was weak and he needed rest.
    That year, the Otto’s and Rebecca brought in the harvest as Paul rested and recovered. Jedidiah and Rebecca had become closer together than they ever had been that year. Even though Paul thought that he was holding her back, she realized that this actually had brought Jedidiah together closer.
    Crawling into bed, she rubbed her hand by the empty spot beside her. Soon Jedidiah and she would share a bed. She knew it was only a matter of time. She would often dream of her wedding day. It was beautiful in her mind. The community there to welcome them to their new lives. She saw the smiling faces and the dinner after. Weddings were always a special time in the community. It reminded every one of their special day.
    As she rose for the next day and prepared, she knew the barn raising was soon. She looked forward to that day. There was so much to do beforehand. She noticed that Jedidiah was spending more time with Paul. This warmed her heart. The day turned into a week very quickly.

The Barn Raising
     
    There was much excitement in the air as the Saturday started. Everyone in the community was at the field where the house was going to go up. Most everyone had been there since sunrise. Rebecca and Paul were picking up more wood to bring for the house to be built. When they arrived, everyone was already pitching in and helping out. The children were playing baseball in the field.
    As the house went up, Rebecca longed for the day to have her own home. Jedidiah brought her some water. He nodded at the house and smiled. They were both thinking the same thing. She noticed he brought her another yellow daisy. She held it in her hand as she joined the women to