Always so brave and self-sufficient, Bess thought with a surge of pride and a pang of sorrow. She should have known that Tobias wouldn’t admit he needed help even if he did. He was not nearly as easy to read as he had been as a child, and she could not tell whether he wanted her to come around more or not. He was young for so much responsibility, but she would be useless doing farm work. She had been away from it too long. What she could do was tend their father, allowing Amy to do other things.

Yet perhaps it would be best to do as Tobias suggested and wait until he got worse. In some ways, her youngest brother was wiser than she was. “Very well, I will take some time off when he needs more care.”

She managed a smile, though it was a bit weak. “And there will be a Mrs. Appleton soon.” Taking care of their father during his final weeks would make Sally’s life easier too. She would need to adjust to her new role as wife and lady of the house, though being a farmer’s daughter herself, it wouldn’t be too difficult. Bess envied Sally a bit. She was younger than Bess and was able to marry the man she loved. One didn’t have that luxury when in love with a married man.

The trap approached the gate and Bess’ smile brightened a bit when she saw the house she had grown up in. Adam Cook opened the gate and greeted her. “Thank you, Adam. I’m glad to be home.”

She looked over at her brother. “You are doing a great job with the farm, Tobias. I think it looks better every time I see it.”