Grace: A Christmas Sisters of the Heart Novel Read Free Page B

she said again. “I’m fine now.”
    “Are you hurt?” Katie asked.
    “Nee.”
She bit her lip, then shifted to a sitting position. “I guess all the traveling made me dizzy.”
    “And no wonder, you’re going to have a baby!” Anna said as she scrambled to her feet. “That makes everything just a little harder, especially a long day of traveling. And here we are, keeping you out here on the sidewalk.” Reaching out, she clutched the newcomer’s arm. “Here, dear. Let us help you up.”
    Katie reached to help, too, instinctively knowing that the girl would shy away from Henry’s touch. Grabbing the girl’s other arm, they pulled her to her feet. Standing up, it was painfully obvious that Melody was extremely pregnant. “When is your baby due?”
    “Three weeks.”
    “Three weeks? Then why in the world—”
    Anna stilled the rest of Katie’s question with a warning look. “Outside is no place to have a conversation. Let’s get you inside, in front of a fire and warm you up. Would you care for some tea?”
    “Yes,” Melody said softly.
“Danke.”
    They were up the steps and almost at the front door when a blue truck pulled up the long driveway. Seconds later, a man got out and grabbed a suitcase from out of the truck’s back before it pulled away.
    Though their arms were full with Melody, Katie didn’t feel that she and Anna should turn their backs on the man. Henry had already gone into the barn, so there was no one else to greet him.
    “I bet this is another guest,” Katie mumbled. “Mr. Bender?” she called out. “Mr. Levi Bender?”
    The man met her gaze with a fierce glare. “Yes, that is me.”
    Great. Their Christmas guest was a sourpuss.
“Wilkum!
Welcome to the Sugarcreek Inn,” she said dutifully. “Please follow us in.”
    Now that Melody was steadier on her feet, Katie motioned for Anna to get the door. “Let’s go inside now.”
    Alarmed, Melody pointed behind her. “I’m afraid my bag is still out there in the snow.”
    “I’ll go out and fetch it just as soon as we get you inside,” Anna said.
    Mr. Bender must have heard her, because he abruptly turned away, marched back down the steps, stomped out to Melody’s things and picked them up, too. “I’ve got them.”
    “Indeed you do,” Anna said. “That is so very kind of you.
Danke.”
    Mr. Bender scowled in response.
    Katie smiled weakly as they made their way into the house. And what a procession it was! Their sullen hous-guest. Their pregnant stranger. And Anna, dear Anna, who was now acting more hospitable and Amish than she ever.
    And herself. Katie. On the outside, she was doing her best to be welcoming; inside, she was filled with bitterness and resentment toward the newcomers. Without a doubt, these guests were odd. Strange. And they were ruining all the plans that had been made during the past month.
    Once they entered the foyer, Anna pointed to the staircase. “Just set the bags down and follow us, Mr. Bender.”
    To Katie’s amazement, he did just that, following Katie and Melody into the hearth room. Moments later, Melodywas seated on the couch and her face seemed to gain some color.
    Mr. Bender, in contrast, stood as far away from them as possible, arms crossed over his broad chest. His scowl had returned, especially every time he looked toward Melody.
    Her mother’s arrival broke the silence. “Ah, our visitor has arrived.” She beamed. “Welcome. You are Mr. Bender,
jah?”
    “Jah. And danke.”
    “And we have another visitor, Mamm,” Katie interjected quickly. “This is Melody.”
    As usual, her mother was nothing but generous and kind. “Welcome to our home, Melody. We hope you will enjoy your stay.”
    After asking who wanted coffee or tea, Anna retreated to the kitchen.
    Katie knew she should do something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. Levi Bender was still standing, and Melody and her mother were staring at each other warily, almost like dogs on the street … sizing each other