Page 79 - The Last Gift

would handle banquets, musical performances, or
dancing. Her mind wandered back to the first
formal dance Jacob had taken her to. That was
the first time he told her that he loved her. Since
their families’ farms adjoined and their mothers
were friends, it had been natural that they’d
become playmates at an early age.

Jacob, almost two years her senior, always
sought her out at recess even though he was
teased for playing with her. He was her best
friend, and she was his.

She could remember him standing up for her
against a whole group of much older boys who
had been bullying her. He fought them all, and
though he was outnumbered and severely beaten,
he stood his ground, and the other boys
eventually backed down and left her alone.

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