An Unexpected Amish Proposal by Rachel J. Good

Author:Rachel J. Good [Good, Rachel J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2021-01-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

As Fern packed her containers into the buggy, she couldn’t get Nettie out of her mind. Nettie always acted so helpless and needed Gideon to rescue her. And all day long, she’d done her best to get his attention. She narrowed her eyes if Gideon paid any attention to Fern. Not that his attention meant anything.

Whenever Fern wondered if Gideon’s stares held meaning, she reminded herself of his derisive comment to Caroline. Nettie had no competition.

Instead of fretting over Nettie, Fern needed to concentrate on building her business in this new location and find ways to ease Gideon’s staffing issues. The bakery stayed busy, but maybe she could go in before they opened and help by setting up trays and portioning out side dishes into takeout containers they could store in the refrigerator rather than dipping out each order one by one.

She’d go in early tomorrow and suggest it to Gideon. That would save a lot of time. Even if Gideon found another worker, she doubted anyone would be ready to start the next morning.

Ach! She’d forgotten to give Gideon the letter from Daed. She’d been so preoccupied over Nettie, she’d rushed away instead of talking to Gideon after work. Would he still be there cleaning if she returned?

Only one way to find out. Fern turned her buggy around at the next intersection and headed back to the market. If Gideon hadn’t left, it most likely meant facing Nettie and enduring her glares.

When Fern reached the market, she tied her horse to a hitching post near the employee entrance. She wouldn’t be long.

As she headed through the door, she almost ran into Bo Ridley, who appeared to be in a snit. The minute he spied her, though, his expression transformed into a smile—a wolf-licking-his-lips-over-tasty-prey smile.

“Hey, beautiful, did you come back to see me?” He opened his arms as if he expected her to walk into his embrace.

Englisch men and women might casually hug one another, but Fern had no desire to be anywhere near this overbearing man. She sidestepped his embrace. “Neh. I’m here to see Gideon.” Not that it was any of this man’s business, but letting him think Gideon was expecting her might make him back off.

“Wow, he’s one lucky guy. First, the cute brunette sobbing on his shoulder. Then as soon as she leaves, you show up.”

Cute brunette? Nettie? Bo made it sound like Nettie and Gideon had been doing more than cleaning. Her head on Gideon’s shoulder? The thought made Fern sick. Had they been spending special time together? Or had Bo exaggerated? He seemed to like getting people riled up.

“Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Bo moved closer. “If you and Gid are an item, don’t worry. You’re much prettier than her.”

Fern skirted around him and spoke stiffly. “I’m not worried.”

“Well, if he’s two-timing you, I’m great at comforting jilted ladies. Just saying.”

Gideon couldn’t jilt her, because they’d never had a relationship. But it did hurt to picture him close to Nettie. Now Fern couldn’t erase the image of Gideon and Nettie in an embrace.

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