Read Online The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall - Free Book Online
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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through this orchard with Aden that much different? “Will you meet me here as often as we can until the trees blossom?”
“Definitely,” he whispered.
She’d always cared for Aden—sometimes just as a friend, sometimes more like a crush—but right then she knew that she cared about more than his determination to communicate with her. Was she falling in love with who he was, whether speaking or silent?
Roman lay in bed, hoping the pain reliever would do its job. Trying to get into a buggy with the help of someone who wasn’t his brother had resulted in a pulled back muscle.
The date had been worth it. Still, frustration stirred.
His one date in five years, and for it to go off without physical injury, he’d needed Aden to help him get around. There’d been a time when Aden relied on him—Roman had been his voice—but Roman hadn’t needed his brother. Now he required Aden’s help much more than his brother needed his. The whole situation was more wearisome than Roman could stand.
He’d gone to Marian’s house, but he’d dealt with some physical discomfort at times throughout the evening—not that he’d told her. She should have agreed to his suggestion to come to his uncle’s place. Butno, she balked, and he’d caved like a man desperate to go out with a woman.
She’d been fascinating the whole evening. If he were a whole man, he’d be a match for her, a good one. More resentment stirred. He once could’ve moved mountains with an act of his will.
Now he couldn’t move his own big toe.
Hoping the medicine would ease his pain and bring sleep, he tried to think about the good parts of tonight. Like her sassy sense of humor. And when he’d arrived in the rig, Marian had come out and climbed into it, so he didn’t have to get out again until he returned to his uncle’s place. But all they could do was ride and talk.
Even though they’d shared a few good laughs, he had no illusions. She’d dated him because there was no one else to go out with tonight, but she’d probably prefer being alone to going on another buggy-bound date with him.
He shouldn’t have been excited about tonight. All he’d done was set himself up for more disappointment. After five years one would think he’d have learned by now.
Suddenly he missed home and working beside Aden. He ached to talk to his brother. Aden always lifted heaviness off Roman’s back, and even when his brother said nothing, which was often, Roman found solace in their closeness.
His back pain eased, but no pill could relieve the ache inside him. He’d had a fleeting hope that God had a hand in Ernie’s generator woes, putting him in Marian’s path again. Clearly, God just wanted his uncle’s generator running again so the cows could be properly milked.
A den turned off the grill. All cooking was done for the day, but the kitchen was stacked with dirty dishes, and he looked forward to a quiet afternoon of working beside Annie.
He wiped off the work station, putting items in the pantry or refrigerator as he went. When she’d arrived around four that morning, he was tempted to give her the sketch he’d made of her and the cherry orchard. But that seemed forward. Maybe inappropriate. Would it reveal too much of his heart to her?
After their time alone, walking and talking two nights ago, his mind would not let him rest, so he’d done as he always had when trying to cope with feelings about Annie—he’d pulled out his sketch pad. He’d spent every free minute drawing with lead and colored pencils. Annie’s delicate features filled half the page, and cherry trees in full bloom covered the other half. He hadn’t planned the drawing to turn out that way, but the image had taken on a life of its own as he worked, making Annie appear as if the orchard were a part of her soul.
It was the best work he’d ever done—subtle yet vibrant with colorand detail—but it was folded and shoved into his pants pocket like an unwanted sales
“Definitely,” he whispered.
She’d always cared for Aden—sometimes just as a friend, sometimes more like a crush—but right then she knew that she cared about more than his determination to communicate with her. Was she falling in love with who he was, whether speaking or silent?
Roman lay in bed, hoping the pain reliever would do its job. Trying to get into a buggy with the help of someone who wasn’t his brother had resulted in a pulled back muscle.
The date had been worth it. Still, frustration stirred.
His one date in five years, and for it to go off without physical injury, he’d needed Aden to help him get around. There’d been a time when Aden relied on him—Roman had been his voice—but Roman hadn’t needed his brother. Now he required Aden’s help much more than his brother needed his. The whole situation was more wearisome than Roman could stand.
He’d gone to Marian’s house, but he’d dealt with some physical discomfort at times throughout the evening—not that he’d told her. She should have agreed to his suggestion to come to his uncle’s place. Butno, she balked, and he’d caved like a man desperate to go out with a woman.
She’d been fascinating the whole evening. If he were a whole man, he’d be a match for her, a good one. More resentment stirred. He once could’ve moved mountains with an act of his will.
Now he couldn’t move his own big toe.
Hoping the medicine would ease his pain and bring sleep, he tried to think about the good parts of tonight. Like her sassy sense of humor. And when he’d arrived in the rig, Marian had come out and climbed into it, so he didn’t have to get out again until he returned to his uncle’s place. But all they could do was ride and talk.
Even though they’d shared a few good laughs, he had no illusions. She’d dated him because there was no one else to go out with tonight, but she’d probably prefer being alone to going on another buggy-bound date with him.
He shouldn’t have been excited about tonight. All he’d done was set himself up for more disappointment. After five years one would think he’d have learned by now.
Suddenly he missed home and working beside Aden. He ached to talk to his brother. Aden always lifted heaviness off Roman’s back, and even when his brother said nothing, which was often, Roman found solace in their closeness.
His back pain eased, but no pill could relieve the ache inside him. He’d had a fleeting hope that God had a hand in Ernie’s generator woes, putting him in Marian’s path again. Clearly, God just wanted his uncle’s generator running again so the cows could be properly milked.
A den turned off the grill. All cooking was done for the day, but the kitchen was stacked with dirty dishes, and he looked forward to a quiet afternoon of working beside Annie.
He wiped off the work station, putting items in the pantry or refrigerator as he went. When she’d arrived around four that morning, he was tempted to give her the sketch he’d made of her and the cherry orchard. But that seemed forward. Maybe inappropriate. Would it reveal too much of his heart to her?
After their time alone, walking and talking two nights ago, his mind would not let him rest, so he’d done as he always had when trying to cope with feelings about Annie—he’d pulled out his sketch pad. He’d spent every free minute drawing with lead and colored pencils. Annie’s delicate features filled half the page, and cherry trees in full bloom covered the other half. He hadn’t planned the drawing to turn out that way, but the image had taken on a life of its own as he worked, making Annie appear as if the orchard were a part of her soul.
It was the best work he’d ever done—subtle yet vibrant with colorand detail—but it was folded and shoved into his pants pocket like an unwanted sales
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