Plain Admirer Read Online Free PDF Page B

understand.”
    “She’s much younger than her brothers. When her parents died, her brothers decided she would spend four months with each of them so as not to burden one family over the other. I honestly believe they think they are being fair and kind. I’m sure they thought she would marry when she was of age, but she hasn’t. She’s very plain compared to most of our young women.”
    “She’s not that plain.” She had remarkable eyes and a pert nose that matched her tart comments earlier that day. Why hadn’t he noticed her before? Perhaps because she seldom looked up.
    His mother patted his arm. “She’s not as pretty as Esta.”
    “ Nee, she’s not.” He rose from the table determined to put Joann Yoder out of his mind. He had much more important things to think about.
    * * *
    “Joann, we’re going fishing. Come with us.”
    Looking up from her book, Joann saw her nieces come sailing through the doorway of the bedroom they shared. Ten-year-old Salome was followed closely by six-year-old Louise.
    Joann didn’t feel like going out. Truth be told, all she wanted was to sit in her room and pout. Tomorrow they would all travel to Sunday services at the home of Eli Imhoff, and she was sure to see Roman Weaver there. She had no intention of speaking to him.
    On Monday, she would learn if she still had her job or if she had lost her chance to buy a home of her own. Last night she prayed to follow God’s will, but she really hoped the Lord didn’t want Roman to take the job any more than she did. She had tried to find pity in her heart, but the more she thought about him, the less pity entered into the picture. He seemed so strong, so sure of himself. She’d made a fool of herself trying to talk him out of working for Otis.
    Why couldn’t she stop thinking about him?
    Because he was infuriating, that was why. And when he turned his fierce scowl on her, she wanted to sink through the floor.
    “Come on, Papa is waiting for us.” Louise pulled at Joann’s hand.
    She shook her head and said, “I don’t think I’ll come fishing today, girls.”
    “You love fishing, Aenti Joann. Please come with us,” Salome begged.
    Louise leaned on the arm of the chair. “What are you reading?”
    Joann turned her attention back to her book. She’d read the same page three times now. “It’s a wonderful story about an Amish girl who falls in love with the Amish boy next door.”
    “Does she marry him?” Louise asked.
    Joann patted the child’s head. “I don’t know. I haven’t finished the book. I hope she does.”
    Louise looked up with solemn eyes. “Because you don’t want her to be an old maedel like you are?”
    Joann winced. Out of the mouths of babes.
    “That’s not nice, Louise,” Salome scolded. “You shouldn’t call Aenti Joann an old maid.”
    Louise stuck out her bottom lip. “But Papa says she was born to be a maedel. ”
    Joann was well aware of her brother’s views on the subject of her single status. Perhaps it was time to admit that he was right. A few months ago, she had cherished a secret hope that Levi Beachy would one day notice her. However, Levi only had eyes for Sarah Wyse. The two had wed last Christmas. Joann was happy for them. Clearly, God had chosen them for each other.
    Only, it left her without even the faintest prospect for romance. There was no one in Hope Springs that made her heart beat faster.
    She closed her book and laid it aside. “Salome, do not scold your sister for speaking the truth.”
    Joann wanted to know love, to marry and to have children, but if it wasn’t to be, she would try hard to accept her lot in life. When did a woman know it was time to give up that dream?
    Salome scowled at Louise. Louise stuck her tongue out at her sister and then ran from the room.
    Salome turned back to Joann. “It was still a rude thing to say. Never mind that baby. Come fishing with us.”
    Joann shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
    “But your new fishing pole came.