On Her Own Read Online Free

must mean the one she bought with her birthday money when we visited Bass Pro Shop in Springfield,” Faith said.
    “That’s the one.” Melinda smiled, revealing two large dimples in her cheeks. “Can we go to that place again soon, Papa Noah? I sure liked it there.”
    Noah patted the top of Melinda’s blond head. “We’ll see, daughter.”

    Paul left the confines of his folks’ house, full of people who hadcome to the meal following Dan’s funeral and graveside service. Some milled about the living room, while others stood outside on the lawn, visiting and offering their condolences.
    Paul felt as out of place as a bullfrog in a chicken coop. Mom, his sisters Rebekah and Susan, and his brothers Monroe and Elam had been friendly enough. Pop was a different story. He’d been as cold as a block of ice, and Paul knew why. Pop still resented the fact that Paul had given up farming and had moved back to Pennsylvania to learn a new trade. Since Pop had raised all four of his sons to be farmers, he seemed to think they should farm for the rest of their lives—even if they had other ideas about the kind of work that would make them happy. It wasn’t fair. Shouldn’t Paul have the right to work at the trade of his choice? Why should Pop expect all of his sons to be farmers just because he had chosen to be one?
    Paul hurried past the tables that had been set up on the lawn, where many of the older people sat visiting, and headed straight for the barn. He had to be by himself for a while. He needed time to think. Time to breathe.
    As soon as Paul opened the barn door, the familiar aroma of sweaty horses, sweet-smelling hay, and fresh manure assaulted his senses. His ears perked up at the gentle sound of a horse’s whinny, and his eyes feasted on the place where he and his siblings used to play.
    He glanced at the wooden rafters overhead. The rope swing still hung from one of the beams. So many times his brothers and sisters had argued over who would get the first turn on the swing that transported them from the hayloft to the pile of straw where they would drop at will. Not Paul. He had no desire todangle from any rope suspended so high.
    Paul moved away from the old swing and was about to enter one of the horses’ stalls when he heard the barn door squeak open and click shut. He whirled around.
    “Hope I didn’t startle you,” Noah Hertzler said, holding his black felt hat in one hand. “I saw you come into the barn and wanted to offer my condolences on the loss of your brother. Dan will surely be missed. I’m real sorry about his passing.”
    Paul reached out to clasp Noah’s hand. “ Danki . I appreciate your kind words.”
    “How have you been?” Noah asked.
    “I was doing okay until I got the news that my brother had died.”
    Noah nodded. “I understand. My mamm passed on a year ago. I still miss her a lot.”
    Paul swallowed hard. “It’s never easy to lose a loved one.”
    “No, it’s not.”
    A few minutes of silence passed between them; then Noah changed the subject. “Do you like Pennsylvania? Has it changed much since you were a boy?”
    “I like it well enough. But the Lancaster area is a lot more crowded than it was when I was growing up.” Paul shrugged. “I put up with all the tourists so I can do what I like best.”
    “You mean harness making and repair?”
    Paul nodded. “Andy also sells and fixes leather shoes and boots.”
    “I’m sure you must’ve heard about David Zook passing on,” Noah said.
    “Jah. Such a shame. How’s his wife faring? Does she haveanyone to help her in the harness shop?”
    Noah shook his head. “Just her daed, and his fingers don’t work so good, what with his arthritis and all.”
    “So it’s just Barbara and Samuel?”
    “Right now it’s only him. Barbara won’t be back to work until her strength returns and the new boppli’s a bit bigger.”
    Paul’s mouth dropped open. “She’s got another child? Mom never mentioned that in any of her