A Sister's Wish Read Free Page B

dark outside, he quietly got up and got dressed, taking care not to disturb Darla. Then he went out to the barn. There, he fed their three horses and two dairy cows, gave Princess some attention and made sure she had fresh water. Then, while the animals were contentedly eating, he would head back to the house just as the sun was peeking over the edge of the horizon.
    While the coffee finished brewing, he would organize his papers and pack his lunch for work. Finally, he would creep upstairs to kiss his wife goodbye just as her alarm clock went off.
    By then, his sister Amelia would have made him a breakfast sandwich. He’d take it with him and eat while he walked the short distance to work.
    By the time he walked through the front door of Kinsinger Lumber every morning, he was more than ready to face the myriad of responsibilities that awaited him as the head of thelumber mill. He worked hard, he solved problems, he kept his cool, and he didn’t stop.
    Several times a week he headed home as close to five o’clock as possible. This was for the sole purpose of helping his little sister, Amelia.
    And that was how he always thought of her: little. She might be twenty-two. She might run their household and be extremely capable in a number of ways, but in his mind, she was still the adorable nine-year-old with white-blond hair, earnest blue eyes, and a heart and soul that was sweeter than most anyone he knew.
    The fact was that he adored Amelia. She was special to him and had always been that way.
    He hated the fact that she currently spent the majority of each day alone at their farm, caring for their animals and garden and home and life without a word of complaint. So, even though Rebecca still stopped by often, and Darla was around a lot, too, he tried to spend time with her each day.
    He didn’t care that she’d never asked him to do that. It didn’t matter that there was usually little to do besides keep Amelia company while she cooked supper.
    No matter what, she would always be his little sister.
    But the moment he strode into the barn, it was obvious something was wrong. Stormy looked agitated and Princess was bleating mournfully. She wasn’t even in the right stall. A lump formed in his throat as panic overtook him—that same feeling of panic that had engulfed him months earlier when he’d realized the back warehouse of the lumber mill was on fire and not everyone had gotten out.
    Now, fearing the worst, he rushed to the house. It was in disarray. Two of the cupboards were open, dishes were in the sink, jars of soup and half an onion rested on the counter.
    And then he saw the note.
    Lukas was so horrified, he had to read it several times for the full meaning to register. Amelia had been both bitten by a snake and kicked by her goat. She’d sat by herself for over an hour, injured and in pain. Helpless.
    Until Simon had arrived.
    Then she’d been rushed by ambulance to the hospital—all while Lukas had been worrying about shipments from Michigan and needy customers in Columbus.
    Simon had found his little sister. Simon had been the person to take care of her and see to her needs. Not Rebecca. Not him.
    Pulling out his work cell phone, he contacted Jeff, one of his English managers at the mill. Luckily, he answered on the first ring.
    â€œHey, Lukas,” Jeff said. “Are you calling about the Emerson account? Because if you are, I gotta—”
    â€œIt’s not that,” he interrupted. “It’s . . .” Gathering himself, he blurted, “Jeff, I need a favor.”
    â€œName it,” Jeff replied immediately, making Lukas realize he probably sounded as panicked as he felt.
    â€œAmelia’s been hurt and is on her way to the hospital. I need you to go tell Rebecca, then drive her here and pick me up, too. We’ve got to get to the hospital as soon as possible.”
    â€œOf course. Is . . . is Amelia okay?”
    â€œI don’t