Read Online The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher - Free Book Online Page A

under the weather this winter.”
    “So I heard.”
    Julia lifted her palms. “But of course. The Bee Man knows all.”
    The silence between them lengthened. Rome braced himself. Here it was . . . he was in the eye of the storm and he hadn’t even realized it. “Julia, I didn’t set out to talk Paul out of the wedding.”
    She took her time answering. “Again. You forgot to add the word ‘again.’ You didn’t mean to try to talk Paul out of the wedding again .”
    “It just happened. One minute we were talking about how well his hens were laying eggs this spring, the next minute we were talking about—”
    “About thinking of marriage as a ball and chain. About a man taking time to enjoy his freedom. About seeing the ocean. And traveling. ”
    Rome winced and rubbed his chin. “That’s . . . about right.”
    “Well, once again, you have influenced Paul to postpone the wedding.”
    “Julia,” he started tentatively, “it wasn’t like that—”
    She put up a hand to stop him. “Rome, I think I understand something about this situation. Something about you. It suddenly became so clear. Two springtimes in a row, you arrive in Stoney Ridge, you hear whispers about my engagement to Paul—and you convince him to postpone the wedding.”
    “That’s what I’m trying to explain.” He pushed his hat off of his forehead, uncovering a hank of thick salt and pepper hair. “I didn’t set out to change his mind—”
    “I realized why you’re so intent on making sure I don’t marry Paul.” She looked away, a faint blush on her cheeks. “I hope you don’t mind if I speak plain.”
    Rome nodded, curious. “Please do.”
    She glanced down at her hands and paused for several long moments, as if collecting her thoughts or her wits or both. When she finally looked up, her eyes were simmering with emotion, but he could not tell if she was deeply embarrassed by what she was about to say or if she simply found it uncomfortable to share it. What could be so hard to say?
    Her dark-fringed eyes were cast down modestly. “I realized that you might be . . . sweet . . . on me yourself.”
    Rome choked on the piece of peppermint gum that had been lurking in the corner of his mouth. Julia ended up pounding him on the back. Unfortunately, she pounded like she was hammering a stubborn nail, and he was sure he felt a rib crack. Maybe two. When he got his breath back, he coughed out a weak, “Pardon?”
    Emboldened, she looked him straight in the eyes. “It makes perfect sense. After all, I’m the only girl in this town who is immune to your charms. Maybe the only girl in Pennsylvania. I certainly understand why that would be . . . a . . . challenge . . . to you.” Her cheeks flamed a deeper pink, reminding him of the blush on the yellow apples just before harvesting.
    “But—” He felt dizzy. Part of it might have been his busted ribs, but most of it was trying to get his mind to make the connection between Julia Lapp—Amos’s eldest girl—and this bold young woman who stood before him.
    “I should have realized it sooner. I mean . . . I’m aware that you’ve always been attracted to me.”
    “Wait. What?”
    “But my heart is set on Paul. I suppose if I were in your shoes, I’d be feeling a little . . . threatened myself.”
    “Attraction?” Was that his voice? It sounded squeaky. He cleared his throat. “Threatened?”
    “Thank you, Rome, for letting me clear the air on this sticky situation.”
    Rome was speechless. “Julia, there might be some kind of misunderstanding . . .”
    She gave him a pitiful smile. “Trust me, I know it can hurt to be rebuffed. But I felt I had to be truthful with you.” She patted him on the arm like a child. “You’ll be fine. Really.” She brushed past him, cap strings dancing as she jumped a row to reach the spiky asparagus.
    Rome stood there for a moment, thoroughly flummoxed. What just happened? Although the words coming out of her mouth seemed