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W ITH HER HEART POUNDING SO hard she thought it might explode, Rosa hurried down the porch steps and ran to the place where Anthony lay. Ada was at her side, and they dropped to the ground at the same time.

“Are you hurt, Anthony? Did you break anything?” Rosa’s mind skipped ahead to all the possibilities.

“Mostly my pride for showing off.” He touched his ankle and winced. “Got the wind knocked out of me, and I think I may have sprained or even broken my ankle.”

“Oh my!” Ada put one hand against her mouth. “Should I go to the phone shed and call for emergency help?”

Anthony gave a vigorous shake of his head. “The last thing I need is a trip to the hospital in an ambulance. I can only imagine how much that would cost.” He moved his foot slightly and winced.

“You should definitely have it looked at,” Rosa said. “If it is broken, you’ll need to have it tended to, and without an X-ray we won’t know for sure how serious the injury is.”

By now, Ephraim’s grandma and the children who had been on the trampoline with Anthony were off and standing around him with wide eyes and mouths open, like a bunch of baby birds waiting to be fed.

“Young man, you need to be seen by a doctor right away. That’s all there is to it!” Sarah shook her finger at Anthony. “That trick you tried to do on the trampoline was reckless, but if you don’t get your ankle looked at right away, it will be just plain foolishness.”

“Why don’t I call one of my drivers to come and take you to one of the area clinics so you can be seen today?” Ada was quick to say. “I will be happy to pay the driver.”

Rosa shook her head. “That’s okay, Ada. I have enough money to pay the driver, but I would appreciate it if you made the call for us.”

“Sure, no problem.” Ada hurried off in the direction of the phone shed near the front of the Peights’ property.

Rosa hoped it wouldn’t be long before a driver pulled in, because the grimace on Anthony’s face made it clear that he was in a lot of pain.

She hoped the injury wasn’t serious. Anthony had done a lot for Rosa by coming to Mifflin County and pretending to be her husband.

So she would do whatever she could to see that he got the proper care he needed.

It was the least she could do to make up for the sacrifice he’d made.

Belleville

Susan stood with her arms folded and her back firmly against the inside area of the checkout counter, staring at the clock in front of her.

They had seen fewer customers than normal this morning, and she wished she could go home.

Boredom had quickly set in with no one to wait on and no questions to answer.

Susan’s father had let her brother go at noon, since things were slow and Norman had mentioned that Salina had an appointment and he wished to go with her.

I wonder what kind of appointment she’d have that would require Norman to be with her?

Susan blew out a puff of air. Sure wish I had some excuse to leave the store early.

I bet Dad could handle things here by himself for the rest of the day.

But I guess there’s no point in asking, because he would most likely say no, like he usually does whenever I want something.

“What are you doing standing there with your back to the counter?” Dad’s booming voice pushed Susan’s thoughts aside, and she whirled around to face him.

“I was just looking at the clock and thinking what a slow morning we’ve had.”

“Jah, that’s true, but this afternoon, business could pick up.” He moved toward the front window to look out and made his way back to where she stood. “You need to find something to keep yourself busy for the rest of the day. No more standing around with a mopey look on your face.”

“I can’t help the way my face looks.” Susan lifted her hands and touched both cheeks. “I’m bored and wishing I was anywhere but here.”

“Is that so?” His nostrils flared as he planted his legs in a wide stance. “Seems to me that you’re an ungrateful daughter who doesn’t appreciate the job that’s been provided for her.”

Susan jerked her head sharply as a flush of heat converged on her face. “That’s not true, Dad. I do appreciate the chance to earn money. I just don’t enjoy the work I’m expected to do here in the Meat and Cheese Store.”

He eyed her intently. “I think your biggest problem is you don’t socialize enough with other young people your age. It’s been a long time since you went to any of the young people’s gatherings. While others are out having fun, all you do is sit around home with a sour expression and complain.”

Susan was about to respond, but he spoke before she could get one word out.

“So hear me well, Daughter. The next time there is a young people’s singing, you will be attending the gathering. Is that understood?”

The warmth Susan felt on her face increased. “That’s not fair, Dad. I’m not a child anymore, and I shouldn’t have to go to any of the social gatherings if I don’t want to.”

Dad stepped forward and jabbed a finger close to her nose. “Listen here, young lady. As long as you are living under my roof, you will do as I say. End of story.”

Elsie made her way up the stairs to check on Alvin.

For the last two days she’d kept him home from school, and she would continue to do so until he was well enough to return.

Her dear, sweet boy had definitely come down with chicken pox, and he had the irritating, itchy eruptions on his body to prove it.

Elsie entered her son’s room and found him lying on the bed with his eyes closed.

Believing he must be sleeping, she decided it would be best for her to go back downstairs rather than wake him.

Rest was good for the boy, and when Alvin slept he didn’t scratch.

Elsie had warned him about the dangers of scratching, stating that the pox could get infected.

The red skin rash had shown up last night on his stomach, and by this morning they had spread to Alvin’s back and face.

It looked like pimples or insect bites. Elsie knew they would appear in waves over two to four days, after which they’d develop into thin-walled blisters filled with fluid.

The blister walls would break later, leaving open sores, which ended up crusting over to become dry, brown scabs.

Chicken pox was contagious, so Alvin should stay home from school until the rash was gone and all the blisters had dried, which usually took about a week.

She remembered how miserable she had felt when she’d come down with the chicken pox at the age of seven.

She hadn’t heeded her mother’s advice about not scratching and had a few scars to prove it.

Thankfully, they weren’t in obvious places, so at least she didn’t have to offer explanations to anyone who might see them and ask what had happened.

Elsie set the glass of water she’d brought for her son on the small table beside his bed and quietly left the room. She would check on Alvin again in an hour or so, unless she heard him hollering for her sooner.

Back downstairs, Elsie went to the kitchen to fix herself a glass of apple cider.

She had just taken a seat at the table when she heard the front door open and close.

A strange rhythmic tapping accompanied by a slight scuffing sound traveled into the kitchen.

Curious, Elsie rose from her chair and left the room to see who had come in and what the odd noise was all about.

Upon entering the front hallway, she was surprised to see Anthony hobbling on a pair of crutches while Rosa walked beside him.

Elsie’s eyes widened as she stared at him in disbelief. “Forevermore, what happened to you?”

Anthony grimaced. “I sprained my ankle pretty good.”

“Pretty good? Don’t you mean, pretty bad? At least that’s what the doctor said, Anthony.” Rosa led the way to the living room and gestured to her father’s recliner. “Better sit down and put up your feet like the doctor said you should.”

Anthony hobbled over, and with a groan, he lowered himself into the chair and then leaned the crutches against it.

Rosa stood on one side of him, and her mother on the other, both wearing anxious expressions.

“How did it happen?” Elsie questioned.

Anthony explained how he’d been jumping on the trampoline in the Peights’ yard and bounced a little too exuberantly while trying to show Ephraim’s grandmother and a few children how to do a backflip.

Elsie’s eyes opened wide again. “Sarah was on the trampoline?”

“That’s right, Mom,” Rosa said before Anthony could respond. “She wasn’t just on the tramp either. That brave woman was actually jumping when we pulled into the yard.”

Elsie gasped and put a hand to her mouth. “Oh my! Sarah’s lucky she didn’t fall and break a bone or suffer a bad sprain too.”

“Tell me about it,” Anthony said as he raised the foot end of the recliner. “That woman is quite a character. I don’t know her personally, but she seems to have twice the energy of someone half her age.”

Elsie nodded. “That’s for sure. I hope when I’m as old as Sarah, I’ll have even half the get-up-and-go she has.” She motioned to Anthony’s swollen ankle. “Would you like me to get an ice pack for you?”

“That would be much appreciated. I also have some pain meds I need to take, but it’s supposed to be with food.”

“No problem, Anthony. I’ll get the medication from my purse and then go to the kitchen to get you a glass of water,” Rosa said. “And then I’ll make you a sandwich. Would you like bologna and cheese or tuna fish?”

“My first choice would be bologna and cheese.” He wrinkled his nose. “Never did care much for smelly tuna fish.”

“I’ll take care of it right away.” Rosa hurried from the room.

Elsie looked at Anthony and smiled. “I’ve never seen my daughter so eager to please.

She obviously loves you very much, and I’m so glad that the two of you found each other.

Some people are just meant to be together, and I believe you and Rosa are one of those fortunate married couples.

” Elsie pulled a throw pillow off the couch and placed it gently under Anthony’s swollen ankle.

“It pleases me to see how happy you’ve made my eldest daughter. ”

Anthony lowered his gaze, unable to look at Elsie’s tender expression.

He felt like a heel leading her and the rest of Rosa’s family on and making them believe that he and Rosa were married.

It had also surprised him when Elsie said that she’d never seen Rosa so eager to please and that he and Rosa were meant to be together.

Guess we’re both good actors , Anthony thought.

I’m quite sure that Rosa doesn’t have deep feelings for me.

She’s only putting on an act for the sake of fooling her family into believing that she and I are happily married.

Then another thought popped into Anthony’s head.

What if Rosa does have strong feelings for me?

He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to remove the crazy notion.

No, that’s not possible. If Rosa ever loved anyone, it may have been the man who fathered her child.

But when the idiot broke things off with her and made it clear that he wanted Rosa out of his life, refusing to acknowledge the baby, any feelings she had for him should have died.

Anthony clenched his hands together until his nails dug into the flesh.

Selfish so-and-so, who not only cheated on his wife but led Rosa on until he got what he wanted and then dumped her flat when he found out she was carrying his child.

A guy like him deserves a good punch in the nose.

Maybe it would knock some sense into his thick head.

If I knew where he lived, I might knock his block off or at the very least let the guy know exactly what I think of him.

“I suspect that you’re trying to sleep,” Elsie said after Anthony opened his eyes. “I’ll let you rest while I go upstairs to check on Alvin. He’s definitely got the chicken pox and has many skin eruptions to prove it.” She shook her head slowly. “Poor boy is absolutely miserable.”

“Sorry to hear that. I hope he feels better soon.” Anthony cringed inwardly.

It was bad enough that his ankle was throbbing like crazy and his vehicle still wasn’t drivable.

The last thing he needed was to come down with the chicken pox, which would keep him here in the Big Valley that much longer.

Anthony hoped his mother was wrong and that he’d already had the pox when he was a young child.

But if that were so, then why didn’t he or Mom have any memory of it?

If Anthony hadn’t come down with the pox before, then he’d gone all these years without contracting the disease, which he supposed could mean that his body was immune to the illness.

He hoped it was the case and that he wouldn’t get sick, but right now he had other things to be concerned about.

More than anything, Anthony wanted his ankle to heal and his car part to come in, so he could get back on the road and return to New York, which would make his parents happy.

Above all else, Anthony needed to get as far from Rosa Petersheim as he could, before he ended up getting sucked into the vortex of a permanent relationship with someone he couldn’t see himself spending the rest of his life with.

He also realized he was beginning to care about some of Rosa’s family members, like Elsie and Alvin.

No, I can’t stay here , Anthony told himself. The best thing for me and Rosa, as well as her family, is for me to take myself out of the picture and move on with my life without any emotional attachments or complications.