The Amish Innkeeper's Secret by Patricia Davids

Author:Patricia Davids
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Adam turned the buggy into the Yoders’ lane. They’d arrived in plenty of time to bid on the items Naomi wanted. Since the quilts wouldn’t be auctioned off until after lunch, they were free to wander the grounds and seek out other bargains.

Within an hour, Emma got the ice cream maker, but the pressure cooker went for more than she was willing to pay. He bought her a hot pretzel at midmorning as they watched the horses being sold, and was rewarded with a genuine smile. Why had he ever thought she was plain?

Everywhere around them were the sounds of voices raised in greeting and laughter. He and Emma both ran into relatives and friends. What he had at first assumed was standoffishness on her part proved to be shyness. It seemed Emma had many layers. He wanted to explore them all.

“Having a good time?” he asked as she retreated from a group of her mother’s friends.

“I am,” she admitted with a touch of surprise and that tiny smile that so intrigued him.

“I am, too.” He stood close beside her, not touching her, but wishing he could hold her hand or caress her cheek.

She said, “If you want to stay, I can go home alone and take care of the kittens. They are my responsibility and I’m sure they’re getting hungry.”

“I said I would help and I meant it.” They rounded the corner of the toolshed on the way to the buggy and came face-to-face with his father.

It took a second for Adam to find his voice. When he did, he nodded. “Guder mariye, Papa.”

He looked for any sign of softening in his father’s eyes and thought he detected it when his father’s gaze lit on Emma. They were saved from the awkward silence by the arrival of three of Adam’s cousins. David, Lydia and Susan all carried plates with hot pretzels on them.

After greeting everyone, Adam said, “I’m sorry but I must go. I have promised to take Emma home, but we will be back later. Perhaps we can meet up then?”

His cousins exchanged pointed glances, but it was David who replied, “Sure. We’ll be here all afternoon. The cattle aren’t going on sale until three o’clock.”

“Great. We’ll see you there.” As Adam walked away, he thought he heard the girls snicker behind him, but when he glanced back, they had turned away.

Emma was quieter than usual on the ride back to town. As he pulled up in front of her house, she turned to face him. “I’m sorry to be a wet blanket, but I don’t think I’ll go back with you.”

Instantly concerned, he asked, “Are you ill?”

“Just a headache. Anyway, you will have more fun without me.”

He tried not to let his disappointment show. “I won’t, but I will feed the kittens for you while you go lie down.”

She stepped out of the buggy. “That’s not necessary. I like the quiet time with them.”

“As you wish,” he answered.

Turning away, she paused and looked over her shoulder. “I had a very nice morning.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.