A Reluctant Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

flashed an excited grin before walking toward Joel, who held out a cup of cider to her.
    With Abigail content, at least for the moment, Sadie scanned the room again, on the lookout for Sol. Fortunately he was keeping his distance, like he did at church services. Maybe being under his father’s roof was keeping him at bay. Whatever it was, she was glad for it.
    She spied Joanna, off to the side and talking to Andrew Beiler. In contrast to Joel Zook’s towering height and slight frame, Andrew was on the short, stocky side. He leaned closer to Joanna and spoke. Joanna pulled back, a delighted smile on her face, a rosy blush on her cheeks.
    Good. Sol wouldn’t be able to get to her with Andrew in the way.
    Sadie turned away, an odd emptiness coming over her. As Abigail had predicted, everyone had paired off, with the exception of her and Aden, who’d had the good sense to leave. It shouldn’t have bothered her to be standing apart from everyone else. That was what she wanted.
    Wasn’t it?
    She was about to take a sip of her drink, but froze as she saw Sol enter the basement. He’d grown broader over the past six years, his muscular biceps straining against the short sleeves of his yellow shirt. If he’d been that size when he’d restrained her in the cornfield, she might not have gotten away. A shiver coursed through her.
    She watched as he threaded through the small crowd of young people, pausing to talk to Irene Beiler, Andrew’s older sister. Then he looked up, and his gaze met Sadie’s—and held.
    The cup slipped from her hand. She barely caught it before it hit the floor. Her throat constricted, her heart hammering in her chest. Despite Sol keeping his distance, she felt invaded as he continued to look at her. The memory of his forceful, sweaty kiss came slamming back, and it took everything she had not to grab her sisters and go home. But they were having a good time, and she didn’t want to spoil it for them.
    That didn’t mean she had to stay in the same room as Sol.
    Sadie hurried out the back door of the basement, then up the four steps that led to the backyard. She paused at the edge of the simple concrete slab that served as the Troyers’ patio and drew a sharp breath into her panicked lungs. Dusk had descended, cloaking everything in dim light. Wanting to put as much distance between her and Sol as she possibly could, she blindly hurried from the house, not caring where she ended up. She’d spend the rest of the evening in her buggy if she had to. Anything to get away from Sol and the desperate fear his presence ignited.
    By the time her pulse slowed, she found herself behind the Troyers’ barn and realized she had made a foolish choice by coming outside alone. What if Sol had followed her out here? If he did, she’d scream herself hoarse this time. She wasn’t a naïve sixteen-year-old girl anymore.
    A buzzing noise appeared near her ear, briefly distracting her. She turned and saw four stacks of beehives a few yards away. In the fading light of dusk she could barely make out a few bees hovering above the hives. Great. On top of everything she would probably get stung. She took a few steps back, ready to bolt again if the bees came near her.
    â€œThey won’t sting you.”
    She whirled around to see Aden standing inches away. Closer than he’d been in years.
    â€œThey’re coming home for the night,” he said, his voice soft, low, and deeper than she remembered. “As long as we don’t bother them, they won’t bother us.”
    She didn’t care about his stupid bees. She glared at him. His russet hair almost brushed the collar of his shirt, and she thought for a bizarre moment that he needed a haircut.
    â€œSadie, I . . .” He clamped his mouth shut.
    She stepped back, desperate to put space between them. Another step. When she took the third, her ankle twisted.
    â€œCareful!” He grabbed her