The Shunning Read Online Free Page A

to get all twisted. She wanted to be with Samuel and learn all about him, and the fact he was here seemed to tell her he felt the same way.
    Sadie put ice into a glass and then filled it with water before returning to Samuel's table. She placed the glass in front of him and then asked, "Have you decided what you would like to order, Samuel?"
    "Sadie, are you feeling well?" he asked of her, his blue eyes looking at her in concern. "You look flushed."
    "It is warm in here," she answered. "Your order...?" she asked. She could see that another table was trying to get her attention.
    Samuel told her what he wanted and she promised she would have his meal out to him soon. He thanked her politely, and then watched while she went to the other table to see what they required. Sadie had a pretty smile and he grinned as she made the children at the table giggle. Samuel felt a sense of frustration as his blue eyes followed her across the dining room until she disappeared into the kitchen. He was more interested in Sadie than he should be. For one thing, she was very young, and for another, he didn't know her well. Another reason he should not be finding reasons to be around her is that her Dat and Mamm would not approve... at least not until he made clear his intention to join the Baptism classes and take his kneeling vows. Even then, if he were Sadie's Dat, Samuel knew he would insist that he prove himself for at least a year before he permitted a relationship to flourish. In the meantime, Sadie could very well fall in love with another man. That thought made Samuel frown.
    Sadie returned quickly, carrying his lunch on a tray. "Be careful, Samuel; the plate is very hot," she warned.
    "This looks goot, Sadie."
    "Ja, it is," she answered with a smile. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
    He wanted to ask her to join him; instead, he said, "No, not right now, Sadie. Thank you."
    "You are welcome, Samuel." Sadie found him pleasant to look upon, but since it would not be considered polite to stand there and stare at him while he ate, she went to the kitchen to get the desserts the other table ordered. As she carried the tray to the eagerly waiting children and indulgent parents, Sadie glanced over at Samuel, wondering again why she was so drawn to him. The man gave her a spanking while on the side of the road! It was sheer good fortune that no one witnessed her humiliation. Still, there was a small part of her that responded to Samuel's firmness. The spanking hurt when it was happening, and well into the evening, but there was no soreness today to remind her of the incident. And, she was more relieved than she cared to admit that Samuel did not find it necessary to tell her Dat that he gave her a bletching!
    Samuel glanced across the room in time to see Sadie serving the children their ice cream. She brought some sprinkles to the table and helped each little one put some over their ice cream. Sadie was giggling along with them, and it was obvious the parents were delighted to see their children so happy. Yes, Sadie was special, and he wanted to spend time with her.
    Sadie met his eyes and then smiled, easing away from the family's table and coming over to check on him. "Would you like more water, Samuel?" she asked, and he said 'yes', just to have an excuse for her to return.
    Sadie smiled as she returned with a pitcher of ice water. She refilled his glass and asked, "Was your lunch goot?"
    "Ja, it was," he agreed, and then asked, "How much longer do you have to work?" She answered, and he noted that her voice sounded strained. "Sadie, are you feeling ill?" Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. She appeared to have a temperature.
    "It is nothing, just a scratchy throat. Mama will know what to do for me when I get home this afternoon."
    Samuel got to his feet and put the back of his hand to Sadie's forehead, just as his Mamm used to do when he was little and didn't feel well. To his surprise, Sadie was burning up. "You are