A Family for Christmas Read Free Page B

irritated that she’d asked the question.
    The silence that greeted his comment stabbed at Evan’s heart. “We can still be engaged, Wendy. And after you graduate in the spring, we’ll be married. You can come here to live.”
    Live on a farm when she’d fleetingly envisioned being the wife of a college professor! Disappointment turned Wendy into the kind of shrew she despised.
    â€œThe Bible says that a man is supposed to leave his mother and father and stick with his wife.”
    Evan laughed shortly, surprised that she knew anything about the Bible. “When did you learn that?”
    â€œI had to sit through Sunday school and daily Bible readings during the ten years when my grandparentshad visiting rights. I still remember some of the things I heard.”
    â€œThen you must not have heard that the Bible also says a man is obligated to take care of his family. Wendy, it’s my duty to take over the farm until Daddy is better,” he said, a pleading note in his voice. “Besides, I want to do it. I love my family.”
    â€œMore than you love me, apparently.”
    â€œBut you’ll be a part of my family when we’re married,” he argued, trying to control the pain her words had brought.
    â€œNo, thank you, Evan. I’m not keen on being Old MacDonald’s wife. Our engagement is off before it ever really started. Maybe it’s good I learned your intentions before you bought a ring.”
    She hung up the phone and fell facedown on the bed, feeling as if the bottom had dropped out of her life. Within one week, she had skyrocketed from boredom to the heights of ecstasy and love, only to be plunged suddenly into the depths of despair. Though she lay on the bed for an hour, with her hand on the phone, hoping Evan would call back, Wendy didn’t cry. Her sorrow was too deep for tears.
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    Evan pocketed his cell phone and walked slowly into the hospital. The thought of marrying Wendy had dominated his mind for weeks. He hadn’t considered when they could get married, or even where they would live if they got married. He had planned to combine teaching agricultural subjects at a nearby college or a high school with work on the family farm. When his father retired, Evan would leaveteaching and take over the full-time management of the farm.
    Of course, Wendy hadn’t known that. He had put the cart before the horse. He should have told Wendy about his future plans before he asked her to marry him. His proposal had been too hasty, but if he had waited another year or two, his purpose wouldn’t have changed. He loved Wendy, and he wanted to marry her.
    Evan was hurt by Wendy’s attitude, but he understood why she would be disturbed. Still, he had no choice. The farm had been in the Kessler family for a long time, and it was a tradition that the oldest son always inherited the farmland. Not only was Evan the oldest child in the family, he was the only son.
    On the second floor of the hospital, Hilda Kessler sat patiently beside her husband’s bed, holding his hand, where she’d been since Evan had arrived home three days ago. Evan stood at the foot of the bed and watched his father’s erratic breathing. Karl knew the family when he was awake, but he slept most of the time.
    â€œMom, please go home and get some rest. Uncle Gavin is coming to spend the night with Daddy.”
    â€œI can’t leave him.”
    â€œHe’ll be taken to rehab department soon, on the fifth floor, for a few weeks. You can’t spend all of that time at the hospital.”
    â€œI know,” she agreed, her blue eyes dulled with pain over her husband’s illness. “I’m neglecting the girls, but I don’t want to leave him.”
    An hour later, when Gavin Kessler came to sit withhis brother, Evan finally persuaded Hilda to leave. Despite her obvious concern for her husband, when Hilda settled into the car beside Evan, and he headed