An Amish Proposal for Christmas by Vannetta Chapman

Author:Vannetta Chapman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-07-12T19:55:16+00:00

Chapter Nine

The next two weeks passed in a blur. The market, if anything, was busier than in previous years. The fact that Becca split the assistant-manager duties evenly with Gideon meant that she had a few hours’ time on her hands—something she wasn’t used to at all. It also meant that she didn’t see him much.

If he was handling the auction barns, she was with the vendors.

If he took the blue parking area, she took the red.

As early June slipped toward the middle of summer, it seemed that wherever she was working, Gideon was working on the opposite side of the market.

Becca told herself that was how things should be.

There was no way she missed someone that she’d known such a short amount of time and had held hands with once.

She needed to put that memory out of her mind.

What was the point in dwelling on it? The thought that they might have a romantic relationship was foolish. Plainly, he had arrived at the same conclusion, as he’d barely spoken to her since that Sunday. Either she’d be leaving Shipshewana or he would be. What would be the point in starting a relationship now?

At least, that was what she told herself as she tossed and turned at night.

The summer days were longer, and she fell into the habit of taking meandering walks around their farm—through the garden, which was flourishing; past the hayfields, and around the pond. She was restless, and the walks helped. She’d never been a particularly moody person, but she found herself alternately flushed with irritation or tearing up because she felt tender toward people, places, even animals.

What was wrong with her?

Why was she so out of sorts?

It was late on Thursday afternoon when she looked up and saw Gideon walking across the field toward her. Her first thought was that something was wrong at the market, but he didn’t look upset. Plus, the market was operating more smoothly than ever. That was why she’d begun taking off at three in the afternoon.

She stayed where she was, leaning against a tree; one eye on the pond, the other on Gideon. When he raised a hand in greeting, she did the same. And then he was there, standing in front of her, looking all tall and handsome and content. When had he become so content?

She pushed down the irritation that was becoming so familiar and plastered on what she hoped was a friendly smile. Unfortunately, he didn’t fall for it.

“Still put out with me, I see.”

Instead of denying it, she crossed her arms and waited for him to explain why he was there.

“Haven’t seen you around the market much.”

“You’re doing such a great job, I barely need to be there.”

“That’s a gut thing, right?”

“Yeah, Gideon. That’s a gut thing.” She sighed heavily, then turned back toward the pond.

“Any fish in there?”

“Of course there’s fish.”

“Can you eat them?”

Becca tried to hold on to her irritation but failed miserably. Instead of answering him, she flopped on the ground, pulled her knees up and encircled them with her arms, then rested her head on top.

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