Mistaken for His Amish Bride by Patricia Davids

Author:Patricia Davids
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-14T21:25:21+00:00

Chapter Eight

Ash sent Mary up to rest as soon as they reached home. For once she didn’t protest, and he was grateful. He put a pot of coffee on to perk and sat at the table waiting for his family to get home.

When they filed in the door, he had worked out what he wanted to say. “I need to speak to all of you. I made coffee.” He signed as he spoke for Esther’s benefit.

“What’s going on?” his father asked.

“I need to clarify some things about Mary and me.”

His family took their places around the table and waited for him to speak. No one bothered to get coffee. Ash cleared his throat. “Mary and I had a long talk on the way home. Gabe, Seth and Moses, earlier today you suggested I try courting Mary. That’s not going to happen.” They were hard words to speak, but they needed to be said.

His mother leaned forward in her chair. “Ash, the two of you seem so right for each other.”

“Let him finish, Mamm,” Pamela said, keeping her eyes lowered. She had to suspect what he was about to say.

Ash needed everyone to understand. “We know Mary has had a difficult time. I don’t want to make things harder for her. The point is, she’s not comfortable walking out with me. She doesn’t feel that way about me. She likes me as a friend. There’s never going to be more between us. She’s made that clear.”

He would do his best to keep his newfound feelings hidden. From his family and from Mary most of all.

“She may feel that way now, but things can change,” Gabe said.

Ash gave his brother a sad smile. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. What I need from all of you is to accept that Mary’s feelings for me are not romantic. Don’t hint that we belong together or try getting her to change her mind.”

He looked directly at his mother. “Or scheme to put us together. I know you have the best intentions. I love you for it, but please don’t. It makes her uncomfortable.”

“What about your feelings?” his mother asked.

“Mary’s happiness is important to me. I want her to feel welcome in our home for as long as she wishes to stay. She likes all of us and doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

“We like her,” Esther said.

“But we don’t want to see you miserable,” Seth said.

“You deserve happiness, too,” Gabe insisted.

Ash loved his brothers more than ever at that moment. “Am I disappointed that Mary isn’t attracted to me? I am. What man wouldn’t be. I had an idea of how I expected my life to go. I wanted the same kind of relationship I see Gabe and Seth have with Esther and Pamela. I thought I was ready to start my own family. I didn’t want to feel left out. Someday those things will happen for me if Gott wills it. Just not with Mary. For now, I’m going to concentrate on helping her recover.

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