Bethy's Heart's Hideout (Amish Circle Series Book 4) Read Online Free

angry sort of way.
    Elizabeth had felt herself staring even more as she took in his clothing as well as his face. Here he was, someone who was likely an outsider dressed in a plain suit like the men in her community wore. It was obviously new and he obviously was not comfortable at all wearing it. He seemed angry. His face had been stormy as he had looked up and down the street. Elizabeth had seen similar looks on many of the tourists’ kinder when they realized that there was nothing very exciting to do in the town.
    She hadn’t been able to hear what he was saying but it was obvious that he was saying something to the people inside the car. He shut the door and then looked up at the store sign. He pulled off the hat he wore and scratched his forehead, then strode into the store. His walk was confident, like he was in charge of the entire town. Elizabeth was used to dealing with confident people but in the Ordnung , someone who was overly proud was looked down on. It was humility that was a virtue and it was more what Elizabeth was used to.
    The door swung open and the young man stood in the doorway, his eyes adjusting to the light. The store had large, beautiful windows but it was still a bit dimmer than it was outside. Elizabeth took the opportunity to stare at the strange newcomer, trying to decide what she thought of him. At first glance, he was easy on the eyes but she knew that it was a man’s soul and his character that was far more important than a pretty face and smooth tongue.
    Mark looked around the store and tried to figure out who was working there. The sunlight had dazzled him and the inside of the building had seemed quite dark and shadowy. As his eyes adjusted, however, he took in many of the room’s details. It was clearly a general store and was well-stocked with all kinds of Amish handicrafts and items. He paid close attention to the various housewares and furniture that were available. He knew that his maemm would be asking what they had for sale when he went back out to the car.
    As he was completing his mental inventory, he saw a young woman standing beside what looked like an antique cash register. She was dressed very plainly and her hair was tied up under a kapp . Unlike the young women he knew from school, she wore no makeup and no jewelry but, he realized, she didn’t need it to look beautiful. Her skin was soft and pale and her eyes were large and luminous. She had high cheekbones and a delicate face. Her neck was slender and her hands were graceful and slender as well. He saw her moving towards him and was smitten by the way she looked.
    He felt bad for staring and dropped his eyes. He felt a slight bit of heat rising on his face and hoped that she wouldn’t see him blushing. What he didn’t realize was that she was hoping the same thing herself. She had felt a fluttery feeling when she took in his tall frame. It was true that he didn’t have the same muscles as some of the Amish men she knew but when she got a better look at him she saw that he had a certain look that suggested wiry strength.
    Mark tried to summon up a level of cockiness he certainly didn’t feel. He sauntered up to where the Amish girl was standing and leaned against the counter. He ran a hand through his hair. His mouth felt dry and he tried to figure out what to say. He knew that you only got one chance to make a first impression and strangely, he knew he did not want to blow this one. He smiled at the girl and was pleased when she grinned back at him although her smile was smaller and much shyer than his.
    “Hey, I’m Mark. My familye is new around here and I wanted to know what there is to do in the area. Where’s the fun happen?” He tried to smile charmingly and hoped that he was coming off much more confidently than he felt.
    “ Ach ! Umm, it’s nice to meet you Mark. I’m Elizabeth. Is it your parents that are taking over the vacant Strauber farm?” Mark nodded and Elizabeth felt a small flutter. That