Naomi’s Christmas by Marta Perry Page B

mamm?”
    “I told Naomi she could go.” Jessie ignored his question, intent on her own plans,
     whatever they might be. “But she won’t. You tell her, Nathan.”
    His heart sank. Jessie could be unreasonable when she set her mind to it. “Why would
     I tell Naomi to leave?” He kept his voice calm, as if he spoke to a shying horse.
     “She is here to help with the kinder while your mamm is away.”
    “You don’t need her.” Jessie sent a flashing look at Naomi, and he realized that even
     Naomi’s serenity seemed a bit disturbed. “I can take care of my own niece and nephew
     without anybody else around.”
    Warning lights flashed in his thoughts. Ada had never allowed Jessie to watch the
     children alone, and Ada had certain-sure known her own sister.
    “Is that what your mamm said?” he asked, knowing full well it wasn’t.
    Jessie pouted. “Mamm thinks I can’t do anything, but I can. I can!” Her voice rose
     on the words.
    Harassed, he looked at Naomi, wishing he could tell her to take the children out without
     saying the words and upsetting Jessie even more.
    Naomi took Joshua and Sadie by the hand. “The kinder were just going to show me their
     pony,” she said quietly. “We’ll leave you to talk.”
    It seemed he didn’t need words for Naomi to understand. Jessie reached out a detaining
     hand, but Naomi had already led the children past her.
    “Gut idea.” He ushered the little ones into the mud room where their jackets hung.
     “Jessie, I see there is some coffee still in the pot. Would you like a cup to warm
     you before you drive back home?”
    “I told you. I’m not going home. I’m staying here to watch Joshua and Sadie. In fact,
     I should move in while Mamm is away. I’m your own sister-in-law, not like Naomi. She
     isn’t anything to you.”
    The door closed, and he could only hope Naomi hadn’t heard that last comment. “Komm,
     now, Jessie. You know that wouldn’t be fitting, for you to stay here. Besides, I already
     made arrangements with Naomi.”
    “I don’t care—”
    “Soon you’ll have a new niece or nephew.” He kept talking, hoping to distract her.
     “I’m sure you’ll be going out to Ohio to visit your sister and the new little one,
     won’t you?”
    “I guess.” The topic of a trip to Ohio seemed to distract her. “I don’t know why Mamm
     didn’t take me this time. I could help.”
    “I’m sure you could.” He kept his tone soothing, relieved that the storm seemed to
     be passing. Ada had always said that Jessie’s tempers would come less frequently as
     she grew older. He hoped she’d been right. “But right now, your mamm trusts you to
     take care of things at home, ain’t so?”
    “There’s nothing to take care of but the horses and chickens, and anyone can do that.”
    “But not as well as you can,” he said, praying for calm. “Your mamm is counting on
     you, ain’t so?”
    “I guess so.” She began to button her coat.
    “I’ll walk out to the buggy with you,” he said. “Maybe when you get home, your mamm
     will have sent a message about the new boppli.”
    “Maybe so.” Jessie’s steps quickened, and they crossed the porch and approached her
     buggy.
    Relieved, he began to think about getting back to his work. But Jessie grabbed his
     arm, her fingers digging in. She was looking past him, to the paddock where Naomi
     stood with the children, admiring the black pony nuzzling Joshua’s hand.
    “You have to be careful,” Jessie said, lowering her voice as if afraid someone would
     hear.
    Nathan’s patience was waning. “I’m always careful of the kinder.”
    “Not the kinder. It’s Naomi you have to be careful of. She wants to take Ada’s place.”
    The idea was so ludicrous he nearly laughed, but he caught himself in time. Nothing
     offended Jessie more than thinking someone was laughing at her.
    “I’m sure Naomi has no such idea,” he said. “But I promise, I’ll be careful.”
    That seemed to soothe