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difficult.”
    I tossed my head back. “I’m twenty-six years old. Old enough to make my own decisions. My father doesn’t need to know every single thing I do.”
    He looked up at the sun beating down on us. “Let’s talk about this later. Right now we need to get you home.”
    I nodded. “All right. Thank you, Jonathon.”
    First he got my packages out of the storage box and put them in his truck. Then he led Daisy over to me. He stood next to her, putting his fingers together like a stirrup. I hoisted my skirt up, put my left foot in his hands, and jumped up onto Daisy’s back.
    â€œYou sure you can ride her without a saddle?” he asked once I was seated.
    â€œI grew up on horses. Riding bareback is second nature to me.” I didn’t tell him that riding bareback was something I’d done as a child, not as a grown woman.
    Daisy was still skittish from our narrow escape, and I could feel her tremble beneath me. I reached down and ran my hand along her neck trying to calm her.
    â€œIt’s okay, girl,” I said softly. “Everything’s all right. We’re going home now.” As I talked, she became quieter. When she was ready, I sat up straight, my skirt pulled up and tucked under me. It wasn’t very dignified, but unless I wanted to ride sidesaddle, something I wasn’t used to, it was my only choice. I couldn’t imagine what I looked like, dirty and scraped up, my hair undone, sitting on top of a horse.
    â€œAre you ready?” Jonathon asked, his tone hesitant.
    â€œI’m fine. It might be a good idea to keep some distance between us though. I don’t want the sound of your engine to frighten Daisy. She’s never minded it before, but I’m not sure how she’ll react now.”
    Instead of going straight to his truck, he stood there a moment as if he wanted to say something else. Finally, he just shook his head and smiled. “You’re quite a woman, Hope. I’ve never known anyone like you. You seem so quiet and meek, but you have such great inner strength. I wish . . .”
    I quickly looked away, fearing we might be headed to a place we shouldn’t go. “We . . . we’d better get going.”
    After hesitating a few more seconds, he turned and walked to his truck while I began to urge Daisy forward. She faltered some and then began to walk slowly. Before long, her stride became more confident, her gait steady.
    Jonathon’s words echoed through my mind. “You’re quitea woman, Hope. I’ve never known anyone like you.” What did that mean? Could he have feelings for me? All along, I believed there was nothing between us except a silly schoolgirl crush I’d tried hard to ignore. Was I wrong? And what was he going to say after “I wish . . .” ?
    My heart was beating so hard in my chest, I felt slightly faint.

C HAPTER  / 2
    As I rode, I took several deep breaths, trying to calm myself. I had no business even thinking about Jonathon’s Wiese’s intentions, and he had no business stating them. I was engaged to Ebbie Miller, and I loved him with all my heart. In two months, we would be married. It still seemed a little unreal. I’d never been that interested in marriage, unlike some other girls in Kingdom. I loved working in the quilt shop and spending time with my best friend, Lizzie Housler. Getting married had always been . . . unimportant. But in the last couple of years, my feelings for Ebbie, who had been a close friend since we were children, had started to grow into something more. Something stronger. We were both slow to admit our feelings, so our fathers, pleased by our potential union, made wedding plans for us. Ebbie and I didn’t try to dissuade them. We were both excited and looking forward to our upcoming marriage. That’s why these odd feelings for Jonathon confused me.
    True to his word,