“So drive around for an hour or two.”
“I’m not wearing out a good horse just to make you happy.”
“You wouldn’t know a good horse if you tripped over one.”
“How can you, of all people, say that?”
She opened her mouth to reply, but his brother Joshua came around the corner of the building. “Here you are. It’s our turn to go in and eat, Noah.”
“Danki, I’m coming.”
Joshua smiled at Fannie. “Would you care to join Mary and Hannah when they go in? I know they would enjoy visiting with you.”
“Danki, Joshua, but I have to find my sister.”
“We are getting up a game of horseshoes after lunch. Noah and I will take on you and your sister, won’t we, bruder?” Joshua seemed intent on getting her together with the rest of Noah’s family. Had Noah’s mother told them all that she and Noah were dating?
She forced a bright smile for Noah. “I’d love the chance to beat Noah at any game of his choosing.”
Joshua laughed. “Well, don’t pick baseball. Did he tell you he pitched a no-hitter yesterday? Against the league champions from last year. Everyone at the fire station thinks this year’s trophy will look awesome on our wall. The boy has an amazing arm.”
Fannie was surprised when Joshua winked at her, too. “I’m glad he’s finally showing some sense in his personal life.”
She wanted to sink into the ground.
Joshua left when he heard the sound of his wife’s voice calling him, but Noah lingered.
Fannie’s temper cooled rapidly. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. We seem to be trapped by our little deception. Do we tell them now or let them down gradually?”
“Gradually, I guess. We started this so we might as well finish it. The next time I have a brilliant idea, don’t listen to me.”
“I won’t.”
She stared at her feet for a long moment. “A no-hitter. Wow, that’s quite an accomplishment.”
“It was due more to great fielding by the team than my pitching. Gott smiled on us.”
She was glad to hear him giving credit to others and to God. The awkward silence grew between them. Finally, she said, “I do need to find my sister.”
“Sure. See you later at the horseshoe pit.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t think I’ll take it easy on you,” he said as he walked away.
“The thought never crossed my mind, but you’d better not.”
A small grin curved his lips. There was a distinct twinkle in his eyes. “You won’t knock me in the head with a horseshoe, will you?”
“I have already promised to stop throwing things at you.”
“Goot. I’ll hold you to that.” His grin turned to a wide smile just before he rounded the corner.
Fannie leaned back against the wall of the house as a funny feeling settled in the center of her stomach. He sure was an attractive fellow when he smiled.
She shook her head at her own foolishness. “I’m not going to fall for him. This was definitely my worst idea yet.”
It would be difficult to guard her emotions if she had to spend much time in his company. If he was being nice to her, she wasn’t sure she could do it.
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