A Sister's Wish Read Free

would’ve likely been feeling much worse. She might have even passed out. But that didn’t mean he didn’t feel for her. Snake bites, venomous or not, were scary experiences.
    â€œI reckon it does.” Turning her hand, he searched for the puncture wounds. They were located at the bottom of her palm, less than an inch from her wrist. The affected area was slightly swollen and red. Most of the skin around it looked angry. Even if the snake hadn’t been poisonous, Simon knew the bite should probably be checked out.
    â€œLet’s get you on the porch. Once you get settled, I’ll hitch up Stormy to the buggy. We’ll run over to the emergency clinic in Berlin.”
    When she looked up at him with a fierce expression, he braced himself for an argument. Amy was proud, and she hated being coddled. Furthermore, she seemed to be under the misconception that her needs weren’t all that important.
    Ever since Lukas had taken over the day-to-day operations at the mill following her father’s death, she’d seemed intent on doing everything at home without complaint or help. And eventhough Rebecca, along with Lukas’s new wife, Darla, helped for a few hours every now and then, it didn’t make up for the fact that Amelia alone tended the animals, cared for the garden, cleaned the house, did the laundry, and cooked supper every single day.
    But to Simon’s surprise, instead of arguing, Amelia nodded.
    Unable to help himself, he brushed her wet cheek with the side of his thumb. “I’m glad you understand,” he said gently. “Now, give me your hand and I’ll help you up.”
    But when she tried to move, she winced, then cried out.
    He froze. “What’s wrong?”
    Averting her face, she started crying again—quiet, thick tears that cascaded down her cheeks and broke his heart.
    Concerned, he crouched by her side and promptly forgot all his intentions of treating her in a calm albeit friendly way. Sidling closer, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Amy, honey? Talk to me, jah ?”
    After taking a fortifying breath, she nodded. “Something else happened, Simon. Princess got scared of the snake and she kicked my shin. It hurts something awful. E-Even worse than my hand. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t put any weight on it.”
    With effort, he refrained from reacting. The last thing she needed was for him to get upset about her injuries or say what was at the center of his mind—that he’d known it wasn’t safe for her to be alone on the farm for hours at a time, day after day. But, of course, casting blame wouldn’t help her feel better.
    â€œWhich leg did she kick?”
    Awkwardly, she pointed to the one stretched out. “That one.”
    The hem of her dress was resting about mid-calf. He liftedthe fabric to her knee. Not seeing anything from that angle, he started to turn her calf when she cried out.
    Growing alarmed, he moved to her other side so he could see the full extent of the injury. A large—very large—black-and-blue mark decorated her leg. It was extremely swollen and slightly misshapen.
    He would bet money that the bone was broken. Visions of her sitting on the floor of the dusty barn in pain cut him deeply.
    Once again, he ached to corner Lukas, Rebecca, and the missing Levi and give them a piece of his mind. Yes, Amelia was an adult, but she had been given no choice. While the three of them spent their days however they wanted to, Amelia was stuck at home alone. He’d told Lukas more than once that he worried something would happen to Amelia and she would be alone and helpless.
    He wasn’t exactly happy to have been proven right.
    But none of that mattered now. All that mattered was taking care of Amelia and getting her help as soon as possible.
    â€œChange of plans,” he said as he pulled out his work cell phone. “We need to get you to the hospital.”
    The skin