The Caregiver - By Shelley Shepard Gray Page 0,51

attitude stilled. “Calvin? Are you all right? Did something happen?”

For a moment, Calvin ached to tell his brother about what he’d discovered about Lucy. And about what he’d done. But it was too embarrassing to have to admit that he’d done something as juvenile as reading a woman’s private diary. Something so wrong.

And, well, Lucy’s past was hers to tell, not his.

“Something happened, but it’s a long story.”

“I have time.” He pointed to one of the kitchen chairs. “Why don’t we talk?”

“Thank you for the offer, but I can’t talk about her. Our conversation was private, anyway. I can’t betray a confidence.”

Whether it was his words, or the serious way he said them, Loyal backed down. “All right, then. I understand.”

Now that his brother wasn’t ribbing him so much, Calvin finally took the time to truly look at what his brother was doing—reading the Budget, the Amish newspaper. Beside the newspaper were a bankbook and several legal-looking documents. “What are you doing?”

Now it was Loyal’s turn to be secretive. “Oh, nothing much. Just doing some research.”

“Research for what?” Taking a seat beside him, Calvin edged the paper closer. Scanning the open page, he saw nothing of interest . . . besides an ad for a land auction. Slowly, Calvin met his brother’s gaze.

After a pause, Loyal cleared his throat. “I’ve heard some rumors about the Hostetler land going up for auction. This ad proves the rumors are true.”

Calvin knew the family his brother spoke of. “Did Ella’s mother finally pass?”

Loyal nodded. “She did, soon after you and Katie left. Then I heard rumors that she’s not going to wait long to put her land up for sale. I suppose she’s ready to move on.”

Calvin felt sorry for Ella. He wasn’t particularly close to either Ella Hostetler or her mother, but he’d known Mrs. Hostetler had been suffering from some kind of kidney disease for some time. “I’m sorry I missed the service.”

“It was a quiet funeral, as you might expect.”

“I imagine Ella would have preferred it that way, her being an only child and all.”

A line formed between Loyal’s brows. “I think she did. Both she and her mother have already suffered so much, you know.”

“I heard she’s been bedridden for the last six months, with only Ella to care for her.”

“That’s a heavy burden. A terribly heavy burden.” Loyal frowned. “From the looks of things, her mother’s illness took its toll on Ella—and on their finances.”

Directing his attention back to the paper, Calvin pointed. “She’s already putting the farm up for sale?”

“Uh-huh. Word is that Ella is suffering both from her mother’s loss . . . and from financial worries. He heard that Ella was interviewing for a job at the library. And that she was looking at apartments in town.”

Calvin whistled low. “That’s a shame for her. Their land is wonderful-gut. It has both woods and a creek.”

“It does, indeed.” His brother cleared his throat. “Though I feel sorry for Ella, I am enough of a realist to know that someone is going to get that land.” He paused, looking squarely at Calvin, his jaw set. “I want it.”

“But I’m not sure if we have a need for more farmland, Loyal.”

“Not for ‘we,’ for me.”

Stunned, Calvin stared at his brother. “Why do you need your own bit of land? It seems to me that we have more than our fair share between the three of us.”

“I’m just looking ahead. One day you’re going to marry—and, eventually, you’ll want the property to pass on to your sons.”

Marry? Sons? Loyal always had been the type to look ten steps ahead instead of just one. “Don’tcha think you’re rushin’ things a bit? I’m not courting Gwen anymore, you know. I don’t think we’ll be needin’ to worry about the future of our farmland for quite some time.”

“I know we’ve got some time,” Loyal retorted. “And, Calvin, I’m sorry to be blunt, but the truth is, I’m glad Gwen is out of your life. She was no good for you.”

“I realize that now. Going away to Uncle John’s was the right decision.”

“Maybe it was in more ways than one? You being there brought John back to us. And then, of course, you met Lucy.”

Before Calvin could comment, Loyal stacked the papers spread out in front of him into a nice neat pile. “I need to move on with my life, too, brother. One day you will marry. Graham, too. And I have no desire to all live together in this house.”

“Well, of