[Kentucky Brothers 01] - The Journey Read Online Free Page B

the end of your naas.”
     
    Suzanne groaned and swiped her finger over her nose. “So that’s what it was. Before you came, I was working in the garden. Guess I must have touched my naas with my dirty finger.”
     
    They sat on the porch swing, and Esther glanced at the woodshop. “I hope Titus likes it here enough to stay. We could use more available young men in our area.”
     
    “How do you know he’s available?”
     
    “You didn’t see a beard on his face, did you?”
     
    “No, but that only proves he’s not married. It doesn’t mean he’s not courting someone in Pennsylvania. He could even have plans to be married.”
     
    “Are you going to ask?”
     
    Suzanne pushed her feet against the porch to get the swing moving. “No way! If you want to know, you should ask.”
     
    Esther grinned, revealing the two deep dimples in her cheeks. “I might, if the opportunity comes up.”
     
    “How about now? Why don’t you go to the woodshop and see what you can find out?”
     
    Esther halted the swing.
“Ach
, I couldn’t do that.”
     
    “Why not?”
     
    “He’d think I was too bold. Besides, he and Allen are talking business with your grandpa and Nelson right now.”
     
    “So how are you going to find out what you want to know?”
     
    “I’ll ask, but just not in front of anyone.” Esther’s elbow bumped Suzanne’s arm. “Are you interested in him at all?”
     
    “Of course not. I don’t even know him.”
     
    “Then you wouldn’t mind if I took an interest in him?”
     
    “Not at all. I’m sure he’d be more interested in you than he would me, anyway.”
     
    “What makes you say that?”
     
    Suzanne held up her index finger. “For one thing, you can cook and I can’t.”
     
    Esther lifted her gaze toward the porch ceiling. “That’s nobody’s fault but your own. You’re twenty-two years old, and you should have learned to cook by now. If you don’t learn soon, you may never find a man.”
     
    “I’ve tried cooking a few things, but Mom has no patience with me in the kitchen. Whenever I mess up she gets frustrated and ends up doing it herself. Why, just last week I tried making some bread.” Suzanne groaned. “The crust was so hard, I thought I might have to cut it with a saw.”
     
    Esther snickered. “I know you’re exaggerating, but if you want to learn how to cook, I’d be happy to teach you.”
     
    “Thanks anyway, but there are lots of other things I’d rather be doing. Besides, I’m not interested in finding a man right now.”
     
    “Do you think you ever will be?”
     
    Suzanne shrugged. “Maybe someday … if I can find one who cooks.”
     

C HAPTER 4
     

 
     
    W hat did you think of the Yoders?” Allen asked Titus as they headed down the road in his truck again.
     
    “They seem nice enough. I think Nelson and I will get along fine, and hopefully Isaac will be pleased with my work and hire me full-time.”
     
    “What’d you think of Nelson’s sister Suzanne?”
     
    “I … uh … can’t really say. Didn’t talk to her long enough to form an opinion.” Titus turned toward the window and spotted several horses grazing in the pasture of an Amish farm.
I came here to forget about Phoebe and start a new life, and what did I find? A woman who looks so much like Phoebe she could be her sister!
     
    Since Isaac’s woodshop was on the same piece of property as the Yoders’ home, he’d probably see a lot of Suzanne. Every time he saw her, he’d think of Phoebe, who’d be sitting on some sandy beach in California with nothing on her mind but sunning herself and having lots of fun.
     
    Sure wish I hadn’t wasted all those years waiting for her
, he thought with regret.
Should have listened to Mom and Dad when they said Phoebe was too young and immature for me. I can’t believe I was dumb enough to believe she’d be ready to join the church and marry me when she turned eighteen. She was probably leading me on so I wouldn’t court