An Amish Wedding Read Online Free PDF Page B

Rose,” he said, reaching down to brush the curve of her cheek.
    She sat still, mesmerized by his warm fingers and that mysterious side of him that teased at her consciousness.
    He dropped his hand and cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking of late . . . our engagement . . . perhaps we set the wedding too soon. Maybe you’d prefer another year in which to plan?”
    “What?” she squeaked in dismay. Is this why he’s so quiet? Does he want to break our engagement? Surprisingly, the thought made her sick at heart, even as she considered how she might feel if she thought he’d been kissing someone else in the dark.
    He turned his back to her and ran a hand over the damp board of the press, shrugging his broad shoulders. “You’re much younger than I, Rose.”
    “I’ve always been younger than you—it’s never mattered before.”
    “ Nee , but now . . . with all of the responsibilities of the house . . . perhaps you desire still a continued bit of freedom.”
    Her eyes widened in a rush of feverish thought. What had she said to him last night about freedom? Did he suspect that she knew?
    She rose and touched his arm, and he turned to face her. “I want to marry, Luke. I do.”
    He nodded, but she felt him search her face, and she lifted her chin.
    “All right, Rose.”
    She longed for him to touch her, but he was back to the apple press. The moment was gone, and the day seemed to lose some of its color as she shifted on her feet and tried to sort through her emotions.

    W HEN ROSE STOOD BEHIND HIM , L UKE TRIED TO CONCENTRATE on the gush of juice from the press and put aside the thought of touching his future bride—kissing her as the “thief” had last night. But he’d meant what he said—perhaps she needed a bit more time. Maybe that’s why she spoke of freedom in the dark and yielded to— nee , returned a heated kiss with such passion. Yet he didn’t want to complicate matters by bringing more physicality into the moment . . .
    He looked up in relief at the diversion when his brother Mark emerged from the woodworking shop nearby. Mark was two years older than Luke, still single, and was the family’s tease. But today he appeared frustrated.
    Mark dropped onto the stool Rose had abandoned and sank a dipper into the bucket of cloudy cider. He slurped loudly as Luke ran the last of the apples through.
    “What’s wrong?” Luke asked.
    “What’s wrong with you two?”
    Luke started to take the apple press apart to prepare it for drying and ignored his brother’s question.
    “You leaving already, Rose?” Mark prodded. “Seems like Luke could do something to persuade you to stick around more often.”
    “She has her own chores to be about,” Luke observed in a warning tone.
    “I’d imagine that a girl would want to spend every second possible with her betrothed.”
    “Ya.” Luke smiled then. “You’d have to imagine it—since it seems no one’s standing in line to be your bride.”
    Rose giggled.
    “Watch your mouth, baby bruder . Or I may have to watch it for you.”
    Luke laid the crank down with care. “All right. You are in a fine temper and in front of my future bride. Why is that?”
    Mark sighed. “ Ach , I messed up the piece of burled elm Daed had me redoing for that piano front. You know how rare that wood grain is.”
    Luke turned from the press. “How bad is it?”
    Mark shrugged. “I don’t know. I was off somehow in the scrolling design, and now the whole thing’s lopsided. Daed ’s gonna have a fit when he and Josh get back from their delivery.”
    “Let me take a look.”
    Mark shrugged. “Go ahead. It’s on the second workbench.”

Chapter Nine
    R OSE FOLLOWED L UKE’S PURPOSEFUL STRIDES INTO THE shop. A generator powered several overhead bulbs and cast light onto the worktable that was laden with tools, wood curls, and a beautiful piece of wood. But the design clearly had a flaw. She watched as Luke picked up the foot-long panel and ran his large hands down