“What was that like?”
“I loved it, but apparently...according to my daddi, I was spoiled and it’s time for me to grow up and become a man.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah. Hence my exile here in Goshen for six months.”
“When you say it that way, it sounds like a long time.”
“It is a long time—a lifetime practically.” Micah leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Not sure I’m going to make it if every day is like today.”
“Why’s that?”
“It’s all so...grim.”
The sun was setting in a beautiful splash of color, the horses were pastured in the field, Sharon and Shiloh played happily a few feet from her, and dinner was nearly done. “I don’t understand.”
“What?”
“Grim. How can you call this...” She took an exaggerated gaze around them. “How can you call it grim?”
“The work is endless.”
“You didn’t enjoy helping Dat?”
“Actually, that part was rather interesting.”
“But...”
“But I’d already spent five hours in the field. I’ve done nothing but work all day. And tomorrow will be the same. It’s just so...boring.”
She fought the urge to defend their lifestyle, even their farm. So what if he didn’t like it? Why should she care what Micah Fisher did and didn’t like?
“If excitement is what you want, then ya, I agree that Goshen isn’t the place for you.”
“I knew you’d understand.”
“And the work is endless because it’s a farm. That’s pretty much the definition of farmwork.”
“I do not see the point.”
Susannah didn’t know what to say to that, so she asked, “How did it go working with the horses?”
“Better than I thought it would be. I only got kicked once.”
“Once usually does the trick.”
“You’ve helped your dat shoe horses?”
“Of course.”
“Not exactly girl’s work.”
“So now you’re a traditionalist?” She reached into her apron pocket, retrieved his phone and dropped it into his hand. “Except for that...”
“Have you ever owned a phone?”
“Nein.”
“Did you play around on mine?”
“Of course not.”
“It’s not going to burn your fingers, you know.”
“And yet it’s forbidden.”
“It’s discouraged. There’s a difference.” He winked at her.
She refused to let his charm muddle her thoughts. “Does that usually work?”
“What?”
“Winking at girls.”
“Not sure I wanted it to work. I was just being...friendly.”
“Ah.”
He stuffed the phone in his pocket and said, “Ah, what?”
“That’s what people who flirt say...that they were just being friendly.”
“So you think I was flirting with you?”
Susannah almost laughed, but she didn’t want to encourage his silliness. The twins continued to jump on the trampoline, giggling and calling out to one another.
“Watch me, Susannah. I can flip.” Sharon jumped and then fell onto her back. “Did I do it?”
“You didn’t do it,” Shiloh said.
“I did, too. Tell her, Susannah. Tell her I did.”
“Almost. Keep practicing.”
Micah flopped onto his back, staring up at the sky. “Your dat isn’t what I expected.”
“How so?”
“Well, he’s a bishop.”
“Ya.”
“I thought he’d be more conservative.”
“Don’t tell me he was watching TV again while shoeing the horses.”
Micah propped himself up on his elbows, then smiled at the twins, who were trying to get his attention. “I mean he seems rather open-minded. He asked all about our community in Maine, which many of the old folks don’t even want to know about. They think it’s much too progressive.”
“Is it?”
“I don’t think so. Plus, look at this place.” He waved at the backyard. “Trampoline for the kids.”
“They need somewhere to play.”
“A new little modular house.”
“That’s my sewing shop, where I quilt.”
“I wondered what all those pieces of material were for.”
“They’re scraps and they’re for sewing.”
“Do you have an electric sewing machine in there?”
“I do not.” Her cheeks warmed, not because he was teasing her but because of the way he was looking at her. She stood and picked up her laundry basket. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. I assume you’re staying.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
Sharon jumped closer to the edge of the trampoline and held onto the netting, which prevented her from falling out. “Come and jump with us, Susannah.”
“Yeah, come and jump.” Shiloh was actually sitting on the trampoline, not jumping. She was careful even there, as if the thing might throw her onto the ground.
“It’s time to help with dinner. Come on inside.”
“Just five more minutes...please.”
It always made her smile how their voices could become one when they wanted something. Usually Sharon and Shiloh seemed like complete opposites, but when they joined together, they reminded her of two halves of the same whole.
“I have to go in, and you know Mamm doesn’t like you out here alone.”
“I’ll stay with them,” Micah said. “Unless you need me to help cook.”
“Have you ever cooked before?”
“Nein.”
“Then no—we don’t need your help.”
“I’ll just stay here, then. I promise to keep an eye on them.”
Actually, he did better than that. By the time she’d climbed the porch steps and looked back, Micah had removed his shoes and was pulling himself up onto the trampoline.
Not that he could ingratiate himself to her by playing with the girls. His comments had bordered on rude—first calling them progressive and then boring. Or, had it been the other way around? Regardless, he obviously didn’t like it here and she didn’t think he’d last even a week.
Which was absolutely fine with her.
The longer he stayed, the higher the