Sweet as Honey Read Online Free PDF Page A

pull the dandelions.” He turned and tromped away, a certain spring to his step that told Lily he was grinning from ear to ear.
    Aunt B gave him an impressive glare, but his back was turned so its power was lost on him. “That boy is just begging for a hinnerdale full of buckshot.”
    Lily stifled a giggle. “He’s teasing you, Aunt B.”
    â€œOf course he’s teasing. But dandelions are serious business. He shouldn’t tease about my dandelions.”
    â€œLily,” Rose whispered, as if Dan would be able to hear them from a hundred yards away. “You really shouldn’t be so rude. He brought you a present.”
    Lily frowned. “He called me Coke Bottle.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Rose said. “He shouldn’t say that to you.” She sounded as if she were about to cry.
    The last thing Lily wanted was for Rose to feel worse about it than she did. “It’s okay. It really doesn’t hurt as bad as it used to. And maybe when I get to the house, I’ll tell Dan Kanagy to go jump in the lake.”
    Of course, she’d never actually do that. Such boldness was Poppy’s talent, not hers. Lily tended to swallow hurt and not fight back. She only felt worse when she fought back, as if she really had deserved all the unkindness in the first place.
    It took another half hour to finish inspecting the hives. Poppy had changed clothes and left for town in the buggy. Lily had watched out of the corner of her eye as Dan had vigorously weeded the flower bed and then moved on to the climbing roses at the side of the house. His diligence impressed her. He didn’t have to weed, and he certainly didn’t have to do it so enthusiastically.
    Apparently, he wouldn’t give up and go home. Stalling would only delay the inevitable and keep her from other chores she had to get to today. With Aunt Bitsy and Rose, she tromped across the lawn toward the house, removing her veil and her gloves as she went. She was painfully aware of what a sight she must be to someone like Dan Kanagy in her jeans and boots.
    For sure and certain, Paul Glick wouldn’t like seeing Lily in pants. He didn’t even like it when she wore her canary-yellow dress. He said the color hurt his eyes and drew unnecessary attention when she should be seeking to go unnoticed. A humble girl should not wear a peacock dress.
    Paul often lectured her on how to be a proper Amish girl, reminding her that since her aendi practically ignored the Ordnung, Lily’s behavior must be beyond reproach. She hated it when Paul talked about her aunt that way, but she always bit her tongue. In eighth grade, Paul had been the only boy who hadn’t teased her about her hesslich glasses or her homely face. She had always been very grateful to him.
    Paul didn’t come to their farm often because he hated bees and all other creepy, crawly creatures. Lord willing, he would never see her in her bee suit and never be the wiser, because she wasn’t about to try to tend to the hives in a dress. Bees had a way of crawling into very unusual places, underneath stockings, up skirts, into underwear.
    Tenaciously sweeping dirt from the flagstones, Dan glanced at Lily as she followed Aunt B and Rose into the house. Would he make a fuss about her jeans like Paul would have?
    Jah.
    She paused and turned to him. “I need to change my clothes. You really don’t have to wait.”
    His grin seemed to be a permanent part of his face. “I don’t mind waiting, Daddy Long Legs.”
    Daddy Long Legs? She was only five feet six inches tall. Really? Daddy Long Legs?
    Had he forgotten her name?
    Nae. It was just another insult to add to his list. A backhanded way of saying he disapproved of the jeans.
    Her face burned hot as she ducked into the house. She didn’t care if he disapproved or not. She knew she was unappealing. She knew she was awkward and gawky and homely. He didn’t have to keep