Free Patchwork Dreams by Laura Hilton

didn’t seem to appreciate his efforts.
    Jacob tried to read The Budget as he sat in the living room with Daniel and Leah, but Daniel must have caught on to his restlessness, or maybe his frequent glances toward the stairs, because he cleared his throat. “Her buggy horse is gone.”
    Leah let out a noncommittal hum when Daniel spoke, not even looking up from her book. Jacob didn’t know how many horses they kept. He glanced at Daniel over the top edge of the paper.
    “Probably went to McDonald’s.” Daniel caught his eye and winked.
    Jacob scratched his ear. Was Daniel telling him to go after Becky?
    She’d told him she wanted to be alone. McDonald’s seemed a funny place to seek solitude.
    And why would she want to go there, anyway? Unless she planned to meet someone. Maybe she had a date, though that would be odd in the middle of the afternoon. Dating was usually done under the cover of darkness. In Pennsylvania, at least. Missouri might have different rules.
    Jacob shrugged and returned to The Budget . He started a new article and read two paragraphs.
    “A cappuccino sounds mighty fine, jah?” Daniel spoke again.
    A cappuccino? Jacob wrinkled his brow. He didn’t think he’d ever had one and wasn’t even sure what it would be. But since Leah ignored that comment, too, he figured it had to have been directed at him.
    For some reason, Daniel wanted him to follow Becky to McDonald’s.
    Jacob set his jaw and stood. He didn’t look forward to another run-in with that hard wall. How much would it take before the blockade around her began to crumble?
    Jacob refolded the newspaper and placed it back on the end table. As he did, he caught Daniel’s self-satisfied smirk.
    His distant cousin played matchmaker, for sure and for certain. Probably was in on Daed’s decision to separate him and Susie for good. Or maybe he thought Jacob liked Becky some.
    He did. More than some.
    Or maybe he just liked the challenge.

Chapter 11
    Becky sat in a corner booth with her steaming cappuccino in front of her, waiting for it to cool enough to drink. She’d already inhaled one Hershey’s candy bar that she’d bought at a convenience store she’d passed, but a second one waited beside the coffee cup, just in case she needed it.
    At least she’d finally stopped crying.
    Actually, she’d quit before she’d reached town. She hadn’t wanted to be seen with red eyes and a runny nose, although with flu season in full swing, perhaps people would assume she was sick and keep their distance. Might be a good idea after all.
    She took a tentative sip of her coffee, watching the cars on the highway zoom along. What would it be like to have the freedom to go anywhere? Maybe even to Springfield? She’d been there once, when her older sister, Naomi Joy, had gone into labor prematurely and had to be rushed to the hospital. Little Regina had been kept at the hospital for months, and Naomi Joy had practically lived there with her.
    Becky had considered asking Naomi Joy to raise Emma, too, but Daed had put his foot down and said Emma would be Becky’s responsibility.
    She was glad he had.
    A shadow passed over her, and someone paused beside her booth. She silently willed the person to move on. Maybe if she ignored him, he would.
    “Mind if I join you?”
    He wouldn’t be moving on. Becky closed her eyes. “Jacob.” Couldn’t he just leave her alone? Fear that he’d followed her to see if she really was “loose” warred with hope that he might really be interested in her as a person.
    Of course, he might have come to dispense with some unwanted and unwelcome advice.
    He slid into the booth across from her, his knees brushing against hers. “Daniel said you’d be here.”
    “Jah. I needed….” To get away from you . “I needed some quiet time.” She opened her eyes and dared a glance at him. If he looked even the tiniest bit cocky, she’d get up and walk out.
    He gave a lopsided smile. “And I had to go interrupt