Read Online Like a Bee to Honey by Jennifer Beckstrand - Free Book Online

she had seen a stranger at the window, she had been more concerned for Josiah’s safety than her own. She even cared about the cats over herself. Josiah couldn’t see loving anyone else.
    He pulled one of the paint tubes from the display. It was a pretty petal pink like the dress Rose had worn yesterday, the most beautiful dress Josiah had ever seen. “Do you think she’ll like this color?”
    Luke smirked. “Pink says, ‘I love you,’ for sure and certain.”
    Josiah pressed his lips together and nodded. If Rose suspected he loved her, he’d scare her away. He’d been careful. For four years, she hadn’t suspected that his thoughts were often on her or that she was everything he hoped for. He would never forget her kindness during his mamm ’s funeral and afterward. She had been the one who had gotten him through it all—an unexpected gift from God. “What about brown? She wants to paint a horse.”
    â€œDull,” Luke said. “She’ll think you’re boring. But you are boring, so it’s probably a gute choice.”
    â€œYou’re not funny, Luke.”
    â€œI’m not trying to be funny. A true friend is always honest.”
    â€œA true friend would help me pick out some paint. I should have brought Dan,” Josiah said.
    â€œAnd I should be at Poppy’s instead of wasting a perfectly good afternoon with you.” Luke grinned. “Dan wouldn’t have thought to send you to the Honeybee Farm with a pocketful of catnip, would he?”
    Josiah didn’t even turn his head. “I caught on to what you’d done as soon as the kitten started climbing my leg.” He held out his arm. “You probably don’t even feel guilty for these scratches, do you?”
    Luke chuckled. “Not if Rose was the one who bandaged you up.”
    With his eyes still glued to the paint, Josiah curled one side of his mouth. “I suppose she was.”
    Luke hooted and hollered right in the middle of the paint aisle. “I’m not such a bad friend after all.”
    â€œOnly if you help me pick a paint color. Gray is definitely out. I don’t even need your opinion about that.”
    Luke smiled and slapped Josiah on the back. “You know I’m joking. I’m just trying to help you take this less seriously. The worry lines are piling up on your forehead next to that goose egg.”
    â€œI can’t take it less seriously. I love her, Luke, and I’m fighting for every smile she gives me.”
    Luke grew serious and placed a firm arm on Josiah’s shoulder. “Believe me, I understand. Poppy used to hate me. It was one of the worst times of my life. Regardless of what you may think, I care about you and Rose very much.”
    â€œThen help me pick a color. It might be the one thing that softens Rose up.”
    â€œWhy don’t you buy one of each? Then you’re sure to get at least one she likes.”
    Josiah rubbed the whiskers on his chin as he studied the display. “I don’t want to seem too eager. It’s got to be natural, like I’m not sneaking up on her. What about green? That farm scene needs grass.”
    Luke sniffed loudly. Twice. “Green makes me think of phlegm.”
    Josiah resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
    Luke always made him appreciate a friend like Dan Kanagy.
    * * *
    Rose climbed down from the buggy with the quart of honey in her hand. It was past six o’clock, and Suvie Nelson’s honey was her last errand before home. Her visit to Mammi and Dawdi had taken longer than Rose had anticipated. Her grandparents had wanted to talk about Paul Glick and Poppy, and the possibility of Aunt Bitsy getting shunned. Paul Glick, Lily’s exboyfriend, had been threatening for weeks to have Aunt Bitsy and all the Honeybee schwesters shunned because, he claimed, they’d cheated him out of their honey. Plain and simple, Paul was mad that Lily had