A Place of His Own Read Online Free Page A

corner. Flipping open the lid, he bent over, his head disappearing inside the box as he searched for his toys.
    â€œJosiah didn’t say. We didn’t talk very much. He seemed pretty tired. I thought I might take some lunch over to him, if we don’t see him before then.”
    â€œI’m sure he would appreciate it. Now, if you could start the wash for me, Amanda . . . It’s such a nice, breezy day. The clothes should dry quickly on the line. Get Rachel to help you.”
    Amanda nodded and searched for Rachel. She found her sister swinging outside while Andrew and Thomas chased each other into the woods. As she breathed in the fresh spring air and let the warmth of the sun seep into her skin, she agreed with her mamm . The Lord had blessed them with a beautiful day. Before long autumn would end and winter would set in, and days like this would be a memory.
    An hour later she and Rachel were putting the second load of laundry on the line that stretched between the house and the barn, when she saw Josiah emerge from his house. He stood on the back stoop and leaned backward, stretching. She couldn’t help but stare at him. Even though he stood some distance away, she could see him clearly enough, more clearly than she had in the dim light of the barn last night. He didn’t have his hat on, and she took in his hair—thick, brown, and wavy, with coppery, sun-streaked highlights. A little long for the traditional Amish hairstyle, but she didn’t mind. In fact, she liked it that way, noticing how the ends brushed a little past the top of his shirt collar.
    A light breeze rustled the colorful leaves of the oak trees surrounding Josiah’s property, causing a few to release and flutter to the ground. The movement lifted a couple of locks of his hair. Amanda squeezed the light blue dress she held in her hands.
    â€œMandy, are you gonna hang up that dress or what?”
    Amanda looked at her sister, who held up a damp pair of Christopher’s small trousers. Quickly she clipped the dress to the line and took the trousers, all the while unable to keep her gaze off Josiah. They had been the best of friends, and now he’d come back into her life after all this time. No wonder she couldn’t get enough of looking at him.
    As she finished hanging the wash, she peered over the line of clothes and watched Josiah heading for the barn. Disappointment threaded through her when he didn’t even look in the direction of their house. Hadn’t he heard Rachel and her talking? If he had, he must be purposely ignoring them, and she didn’t know what to make of that. He had never ignored her before.
    Josiah disappeared into the barn and emerged with his horse a few moments later. He led the horse to the buggy parked next to the barn and hitched it up. As Amanda hung the last item of clothing, he jumped into the buggy and steered it down the dirt driveway.
    â€œIs that Josiah?” Rachel asked, turning around to see the buggy turn onto the road and disappear in the distance.
    Amanda ducked underneath the line. “ Ya , that’s Josiah.”
    â€œWere you two friends?”
    â€œWe were sehr gut friends,” Amanda said, remembering that her sister was just days old when Josiah left.
    â€œAre you still?”
    She looked at Rachel. Doubt pressed at her, but she shoved it away. Their encounter in the barn had been awkward. Maybe it would take time for Josiah to pick up where their friendship had left off. While she had several good friends and many acquaintances, no one had ever taken Josiah’s place.
    â€œ Ya ,” she said, grabbing the laundry basket and motioning for Rachel to follow her. “We’re still friends.”

Chapter Three
    â€œAS I LIVE AND BREATHE,” JOSIAH’S AUNT VERA SAID, slowly rising from her kneeling position at the back edge of her almost completely harvested garden. She wiped her hands on her apron and walked toward him, then