The Twin Bargain Read online

  “It would.”

  “How many families do you have so far?”

  “There’s myself, Simon and possibly your dat.”

  Annie covered her mouth with her hands. It took Levi a minute to realize she was laughing. It irritated him, though he couldn’t have said why.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I’m sorry.” She pulled her lips into a straight line, and stared down at her lap, smoothing out her apron with her fingertips. Obviously, she was making a huge effort to rein in her amusement.

  “No, tell me.”

  “It’s only that Dat...”

  “Yes?”

  “I hope he hasn’t raised your hopes. Mamm says he likes to dream, that it’s entertainment for him like some people might read a book. It’s harmless enough. We’ve all learned not to take him too seriously in that regard.”

  Levi stood and pushed his cowboy hat more firmly on his head, but Annie was now on a roll.

  “Once he was going to move us to Canada...there are Amish communities there, you know.”

  “I’m aware.”

  “Another time, it was a pig farm he was going to purchase, in Missouri, and then there was his idea to raise camels. He checked out a lot of books from the library for that one.”

  “I would think you’d show more respect for your dat. It seems that you don’t take what’s important to him very seriously.”

  “You’re an expert on my dat now?”

  “I can tell when a man has a dream.”

  “Like you?”

  “Ya, like me.”

  Annie stood as well and moved a step closer. She gazed up into his face. She looked at him in the same way his mother often had, and it only served to increase his irritation even more. There were always some who were closed-minded, who couldn’t see the possibilities of a fresh start in a new place.

  “I don’t mean to be rude, Levi. However, if you’re counting on my family moving to Texas, you should know that’s not going to happen.”

  Instead of contradicting her, he said, “I’m glad I’ll have plenty of time to speak to your family about this.”

  “Speak to them?”

  “Since I’ll be working here two days a week.”

  “You’re going to be working here?”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Annie. Perhaps we can continue this conversation tomorrow. Your mamm has invited me to stay for dinner.”

  She crossed her arms and scowled at him as he turned and made his way down the porch steps.

  Levi gave her a backward wave, but he didn’t look back.

  He wanted to. Annie Kauffmann made a pretty picture standing on the front porch with fall leaves pooled at her feet and a cat rubbing against her legs. He didn’t allow himself a last glance, though. He knew all about naysayers, people who said it couldn’t or shouldn’t be done. He’d been stopped by them long enough.

  This time, he had a plan.

  If things went well, he’d be in Texas by spring.

  Copyright © 2019 by Vannetta Chapman

  ISBN-13: 9781488043154

  The Twin Bargain

  Copyright © 2019 by Lisa Carter

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