caught Rufus with one of Bessie’s kittens. I knew if I didn’t get the critter away from him quickly it would soon be dead.”
“You’d better keep that dog tied. At least until the kittens are big enough to fend for themselves.”
“He’s tied up now.”
“That’s good, because Bessie would have a conniption if something happened to one of her cats.” Paul motioned to a tub sitting off to one side. “Better get started cleaning and oiling James Esh’s saddle. He dropped it by on Friday afternoon while you were up at the house getting our lunches.”
The mention of James’s name set Aaron’s teeth on edge. He’d never liked that fellow much. Ever since they were children, James had been a showoff and a bit of a rebel. Aaron hadn’t liked the way James had looked at Allison last night at the young people’s gathering, either. He especially didn’t like seeing the two of them drive away in James’s buggy after the gathering was over. I hope he didn’t try anything funny with Allison. If only I’d had the nerve to ask about giving her a ride myself .
Aaron balled his fingers into tight fists. What am I thinking? I’m not interested in a relationship with Allison. Courting leads to marriage, and I’m not getting married!
“Aaron, did you hear what I said?”
Aaron whirled around. “Huh?”
Paul pointed to the tub. “The saddle needs to be cleaned.”
“Jah, okay. I’ll see that it gets done.” Aaron set to work, but it was hard to concentrate when he kept thinking about Allison.
He shook his head in an attempt to get himself thinking straight. Why was he thinking about a woman who would be leaving in a few months—especially when he was dead set against love and marriage? It’s probably because she took an interest in the harness shop .
Aaron and Paul worked in silence for the rest of the morning, interrupted only by an English customer who dropped off two broken bridles and a worn-out harness that needed to be replaced. By noon, Aaron had James’s saddle finished, and he’d also done some work at the riveting machine on a new harness for Noah Hertzler.
“I think I’ll go up to the house and see if your mamm’s got lunch ready,” Paul said as he headed for the door.
“Did you plan to bring the food back, or should we close the shop and eat in Mom’s kitchen today?” Aaron asked.
“I’ll bring it back.” Paul nodded toward the finished saddle. “James Esh said he’d be here around noon, and I don’t want to miss him.” The door closed behind him, but a few minutes later it opened again.
“Came to get my saddle,” James announced as he stepped into the building. The straw hat he wore was shaped a little different than most Amish men’s in their area, and it had abright red band around the middle.
Anything to let everyone know he’s going through his running-around years , Aaron thought. I wonder if James will decide to jump the fence and go English .
“Your saddle’s ready and waiting,” Aaron said, motioning to the workbench across the room.
James sauntered over to the saddle and leaned close, like he was scrutinizing the work Aaron had done. “Hmm. . . Guess it’ll be good enough.”
Aaron bit back an unkind retort and moved to Paul’s desk. He reached into the metal basket and handed James his bill.
James squinted at the piece of paper. “This is pretty high for just a cleaning and oiling, wouldn’t you say?”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t set the prices. If you’ve got a problem with the price, you’d best take it up with Paul.”
“Paul, is it? Since when did you start callin’ your daed Paul?”
Aaron shrugged. He didn’t think he had to explain himself to James.
James glanced around the room. “Where is Paul, anyway?”
“He went up to the house to get our lunch. You can wait if you want to talk to him about the bill.”
“Naw, I don’t have any time to waste today.” James reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of large
“You’d better keep that dog tied. At least until the kittens are big enough to fend for themselves.”
“He’s tied up now.”
“That’s good, because Bessie would have a conniption if something happened to one of her cats.” Paul motioned to a tub sitting off to one side. “Better get started cleaning and oiling James Esh’s saddle. He dropped it by on Friday afternoon while you were up at the house getting our lunches.”
The mention of James’s name set Aaron’s teeth on edge. He’d never liked that fellow much. Ever since they were children, James had been a showoff and a bit of a rebel. Aaron hadn’t liked the way James had looked at Allison last night at the young people’s gathering, either. He especially didn’t like seeing the two of them drive away in James’s buggy after the gathering was over. I hope he didn’t try anything funny with Allison. If only I’d had the nerve to ask about giving her a ride myself .
Aaron balled his fingers into tight fists. What am I thinking? I’m not interested in a relationship with Allison. Courting leads to marriage, and I’m not getting married!
“Aaron, did you hear what I said?”
Aaron whirled around. “Huh?”
Paul pointed to the tub. “The saddle needs to be cleaned.”
“Jah, okay. I’ll see that it gets done.” Aaron set to work, but it was hard to concentrate when he kept thinking about Allison.
He shook his head in an attempt to get himself thinking straight. Why was he thinking about a woman who would be leaving in a few months—especially when he was dead set against love and marriage? It’s probably because she took an interest in the harness shop .
Aaron and Paul worked in silence for the rest of the morning, interrupted only by an English customer who dropped off two broken bridles and a worn-out harness that needed to be replaced. By noon, Aaron had James’s saddle finished, and he’d also done some work at the riveting machine on a new harness for Noah Hertzler.
“I think I’ll go up to the house and see if your mamm’s got lunch ready,” Paul said as he headed for the door.
“Did you plan to bring the food back, or should we close the shop and eat in Mom’s kitchen today?” Aaron asked.
“I’ll bring it back.” Paul nodded toward the finished saddle. “James Esh said he’d be here around noon, and I don’t want to miss him.” The door closed behind him, but a few minutes later it opened again.
“Came to get my saddle,” James announced as he stepped into the building. The straw hat he wore was shaped a little different than most Amish men’s in their area, and it had abright red band around the middle.
Anything to let everyone know he’s going through his running-around years , Aaron thought. I wonder if James will decide to jump the fence and go English .
“Your saddle’s ready and waiting,” Aaron said, motioning to the workbench across the room.
James sauntered over to the saddle and leaned close, like he was scrutinizing the work Aaron had done. “Hmm. . . Guess it’ll be good enough.”
Aaron bit back an unkind retort and moved to Paul’s desk. He reached into the metal basket and handed James his bill.
James squinted at the piece of paper. “This is pretty high for just a cleaning and oiling, wouldn’t you say?”
Aaron shrugged. “I don’t set the prices. If you’ve got a problem with the price, you’d best take it up with Paul.”
“Paul, is it? Since when did you start callin’ your daed Paul?”
Aaron shrugged. He didn’t think he had to explain himself to James.
James glanced around the room. “Where is Paul, anyway?”
“He went up to the house to get our lunch. You can wait if you want to talk to him about the bill.”
“Naw, I don’t have any time to waste today.” James reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple of large
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