The Beekeeper's Son (The Amish of Bee County Book 1) Read Online Free

fraa.
    Praise Gott , he’d muttered over and over again. Mordecai would not have been praising Gott had he known about the last few seconds of his fraa’s life. Phineas shoved aside the thought that accompanied him every waking minute like an unwanted visitor who refused to leave. “A better plan would’ve been to save Mudder and take me.”
    “You think you know Gott’s plan?” Daed’s voice dropped to a whisper as if he feared the wrath of God would rain down on his stubborn, belligerent son. “His will, not yours.”
    The same answer, always the same answer. “I’ll bring some squash and cucumbers over later. Eve will want to fry up a batch for her company.”
    “It’s about what’s inside you, not on the outside. A woman worth her salt will know that.”
    Daed didn’t see the look on the girls’ faces. As if they were petrified Phineas would ask one of them out for a walk home after the singing. They were good girls with true hearts, but they couldn’t see past his ugly face. Nor had Daed seen the look on the new girl’s face as she tried to blame her horror on a silly armadillo. No matter what anyone said about appearances when itcame to man-woman things, they mattered. What woman would want hands like his touching her?
    “We’re fine just the way we are.”
    “You have a birthday coming up.” Daed reminded Phineas of a barnyard dog worrying a big stick. “You’ll be twenty-one.”
    “I’m aware.”
    “It’s time to start thinking about having your own family.” He threw a glance in Phineas’s direction. “Abigail Lantz has three daughters close to the age.”
    “You want me to marry so the district doesn’t die out?”
    “Nee . I want you to marry and be what Gott intends you to be. A mann and a daed.” His father cleared his throat. “I want you to be content.”
    Content. Everything Phineas wanted was encompassed in his father’s words, but he’d learned long ago not to hope—or even to think—about such things. To do so was to invite disappointment. “I am content.”
    At the house, Daed did another about-face.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To John’s. Don’t bother yourself about the buggy. I’ll take it. We’re invited to supper. I reckon it wouldn’t serve to be disrespectful of their hospitality.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “No need.”
    “I’ll be fine.” He wanted to do something to make up his failings to Daed. “Like you said, Gott has a plan.”
    “The Bible makes it clear. Gott intended for a man to marry.” Daed threw the words over his shoulder as he strode away. “No man wants to be alone forever.”
    Phineas didn’t bother to point out Daed should take his ownadvice. They were both alone. The fact stood out like poison ivy in a field of clover.
    Phineas didn’t mind being alone. They had the bees and the horses and the goats and a couple of cows for fresh milk and a litter of new kittens. The chickens he could’ve done without if it weren’t for the money fresh eggs brought in at the store. They had the rest of the family. Abram had married and soon there would be a grandchild, although not a word had been said of the impending birth. Esther was courting, even if she didn’t want them to know. Samuel and Jacob were hard workers, and their love of a good practical joke kept them all on their toes and laughing around the supper table. Aenti Susan made good okra gumbo and better pie. All kinds of pie.
    Pie alone made life worth living on a good day.
    All this foolishness over fraas was overrated.
    The Lantz girls weren’t livestock brought to Bee County to grow the herd and ensure the district’s future. Deborah Lantz’s face, pink with exertion and embarrassment, danced in his mind. Her pretty blue eyes had filled with horror upon seeing his ugly face.
    That look said it all.

FOUR
    Aware of Stephen’s gaze watching her every move—along with her daughters’ disapproving glances—Abigail leaned past him and picked up his dirty plate. She