Free Cousin's Challenge by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page A

had been discussed too many times, and Mama wouldn’t budge. Loraine’s mother had come by a few days ago and almost insisted that Mama see the doctor, but it was to no avail. Ella wondered what it would take for Mama to realize that she needed to have some tests run in order to find out why she was tired and shaky so much of the time. Mama had also begun to put on some weight, and she seemed to be thirsty a lot.
    â€œShould I start supper now, or do you want me to wait awhile?” Ella asked, turning her focus to their immediate need.
    â€œGuess you’d better wait until Charlene and your daed are ready to quit work for the day. When your daed came in for lunch, he said they’d probably be working late since they’re getting behind and didn’t have Lonnie’s help again today.”
    Ella’s eyebrows squeezed together. “I wish we’d get some word on how Lonnie’s doing.”
    â€œHave you been out to the phone shed lately to check the answering machine?” Mama asked. “Maybe someone from his family has called and left a message.”
    Ella nodded. “I checked for messages before I came into the house, and there was no word from the Hershbergers.”
    The back door opened and banged shut. A few seconds later, Larry raced into the room.
    â€œDid ya hear the news?”
    â€œWhat news?” Ella and Mama asked at the same time.
    Larry’s eyes were wide, and his face was flushed. “Joe Beechy fell off the roof of his house and was rushed to the hospital this afternoon!”
    â€œOh, dear Lord,” Mama moaned. “Not another tragedy in our community.”
    ***
    â€œJake, there’s a phone call for you!”
    Jake turned toward his boss’s wife, wondering who’d be calling him in the middle of the day. “Can you take a message for me, Peggy?” he called in return.
    She leaned over the porch railing and waved the dishrag in her hand. “I think you’d better take the call!”
    Jake grunted as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He’d been working in the corral with a difficult horse and didn’t want to let up until he’d made some progress. But he figured if he didn’t take the phone call, Peggy would keep hollering and waving that piece of cloth.
    Maybe it’s someone from home, Jake thought as he made his way up to the house. When he’d left Indiana and returned to Montana after Wayne and Loraine had told him they were in love and wanted to get married, he’d given his boss’s phone number to Mom and Dad so they could keep in touch.
    â€œWho is it, do you know?” Jake asked, stepping onto the porch. Peggy nodded. “It’s your mother. She said it was important and that she needs to speak to you right away.” Peggy opened the back door and motioned to the kitchen. “You can take the call in there.”
    Jake hurried into the kitchen and picked up the phone. “Hi, Mom, it’s Jake.”
    â€œOh, Jake, I-I’m so glad you’re there.” Mom’s voice trembled when she spoke. “There’s been an accident. You need to come home!”

CHAPTER 11
    As Jake’s truck approached Middlebury, anxious thoughts filled his mind. When he’d talked to Mom on the phone, she’d said Dad’s injuries weren’t critical, but that he had two broken legs, some broken ribs, and lots of bumps and bruises. Dad would be laid up for several months, unable to work. As much as Jake hated the idea of taking over Dad’s horseshoeing business, he felt obligated to do it. He didn’t really mind shoeing horses; he just didn’t want to do it full-time. Someday when the time was right, he hoped to have his own business—raising and training horses. He knew he wouldn’t make the kind of money shoeing horses for Dad that he made back on the ranch in Montana, but he’d only be here a few months, and then he could head back to