An Amish Man of Ice Mountain (The Amish of Ice Mountain Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Joseph stepped aside and put a restraining hand on the wiry man’s shoulder, holding him easily at bay.
    “You know, Edmunds, we Aim-ish are a strange lot. We’ve got certain customs that they won’t tell you about in books.”
    Edmunds gave an ineffective swing and grunted. “Shut up and fight!”
    “ Nee , not until I tell you what you’re up against.” Joseph smiled.
    “I’ve laid low bigger men than you, Aim-ish.”
    “That may be”—Joseph pulled Edmunds close, holding the other man’s arms to his sides—“but I want to tell you that you can’t stay awake all the time . . . not for long anyway. And when you sleep, I’ll be there, with a knife, and a neat Amisch trick that’ll make sure you don’t . . . bother another woman ever again.”
    Edmunds froze. “What are you sayin’?”
    “I think you understand.”
    “I’ll have you fired,” Edmunds blustered.
    “I’ll still be there—sometime—when you sleep.”
    Edmunds struggled to step back and Joseph let him go easily.
    “You’re sick, you Aim-ish freak.”
    Joseph almost laughed at the gullible man but managed to keep his expression serious as Edmunds staggered off to his truck.
    “I’m going back to the man camps, and I’m going to sleep,” Edmunds roared out the window as he drove by.
    Joseph lifted a hand and hollered back, “Pleasant dreams.”
    Then he did laugh and made his way back inside.
     
     
    Priscilla turned in amazement as Joseph walked calmly back in. He appeared completely unruffled, and none of the men bothered with him much except one of the big Texans, who called out, “Hey, Joe, should we be lookin’ to scrape that cowpoke up outta the mud out there? He is the boss, after all.”
    Joseph merely smiled and took his seat, glancing up at Priscilla. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes, but what did he mean, ‘the boss’? I didn’t cause you to beat up the boss, did I?”
    “Nope.” He raised both his hands. “See, no blood. No nothing. Edmunds simply chose to go back to the man camps for tonight. And I think you’ll find in the future that he won’t be a problem here.”
    “He better not be,” Mama Malizza boomed, making Priscilla jump. “You all right, honey? I warned you some of these men could get feisty, but that wiry fella rubs me the wrong way. You’re lucky you had Joseph here to watch over you.”
    “Yes, I know,” Priscilla said, wetting her lips, grateful there was to be no repercussion from her own boss; the older woman might be loud, but she was kind.
    “Well, if you’re up to it, let’s get back to work. These Amisch boys are partial to our T-bones, I think.”
    Priscilla watched Joseph give Mama Malizza a quick smile, then he turned his gaze back to the menu. “I’m also partial to trout, fried over an open fire,” he said, apropos of nothing.
    But Priscilla couldn’t contain the flush of happiness she felt for a second and ignored the considering look Edward gave her. Instead, she took their orders and went on with her work, the unfamiliar feeling of contentment in her heart.
    “Well, what did you do to him, for heaven’s sake?” Edward hissed when Priscilla was out of earshot.
    Joseph looked at him and shrugged.
    Edward flopped back in his chair in disgust. “The only time the perfect Amisch man does something not Amisch , and you won’t share the details? Kumme on. And since when is it your style to rescue a beautiful girl?”
    “She doesn’t need rescuing. And you think I pretend to be the perfect Amisch man? Maybe you don’t even know me, little bruder .”
    “ Ach , I know you, and you are as near to perfect an Amischeras I’ve ever met. You think it’s been easy growing up in your shadow?”
    Joseph shook his head with a faint smile. “Remind me to enlighten you sometime, but right now, I want to eat.”

Chapter Five
    “I wish we could see the stars,” Hollie whispered sleepily.
    Priscilla stared up at the underside of the roof of the car as she and Hollie cuddled