An Amish Country Christmas by Naomi Charlotte; King Hubbard Read Free Book Online Page A

won’t be shunned for goin’ against the Old Ways.”
    Mary’s mouth dropped open. It was way too soon for Bram to be suggesting—
    He seized the opportunity to kiss her again, more urgently. “I don’t want to do it
     by myself, though, honey-girl,” he pleaded. He leaned up on his elbow so he was gazing
     down at her, holding her close. “I knew you were different from anybody I’ve ever
     met, soon as I saw you, Mary. And now that we’re talkin’ this way, cuddlin’ and kissin’,
     I want it to go on and on—”
    “ Off might be the better word for you, nephew. It’s one thing for you to be having such
     thoughts of breaking away from our faith, but another thing altogether to lead Mary
     down the path to perdition with you.”
    With a little cry, Mary struggled to sit up as Preacher Abe raised his lantern above
     them, lighting the entire stall. Her face was on fire. Abe had obviously heard the
     secret dreams Bram had poured out, but would he tell Bram’s parents? Or worse yet,
     tell hers? Oh, but Mamma would give her and Martha an earful for inviting such wayward
     boys to stay with them—and then Dat would have his say, too. No doubt in her mind
     that their parents would send the Kanagy brothers packing, first thing after they
     heard from Abe. “We—we’d best be getting home, Bram,” she rasped as she struggled
     to her feet.
    “Best idea I’ve heard since I came in to check on my lame mare,” the preacher agreed.
     “Mighty disappointing, to hear a nephew turning his talents—his ambitions—toward worldly
     ways. You’d do well to follow in your brother’s footsteps instead, Bram.” Abe watched
     them brush the hay from their clothing and escorted them to the door. He was still
     holding the lantern, watching them as Felix trotted down the lane toward the county
     blacktop.
    Mary hugged herself, saying nothing. Her fears were running amok, her thoughts racing
     ahead to what she would say if her parents challenged them about this incident. Preacher
     Abe and the bishop had been known to stop at folks’ houses at all hours of the night
     when they learned a soul might be in danger of straying from the fold. This matter
     was much too serious for Preacher Abe to leave a message on the phone, where it might
     not be discovered for a day or two. Her pulse pounded dully in her ears as she hunkered
     down against the brutal midnight wind.
    “Mary, I—” Bram exhaled, sending out a cloud of vapor. “It wasn’t my intent to get
     us—to get you —in hot water. I just wanted you to know how special you are—”
    “Um, we’ll soon find out how special your uncle thinks we are,” she remarked in a
     thin voice. “If he goes over home to tell Mamma and Dat—”
    “Then I’ll sign on for my instruction, soon as I get back to Willow Ridge,” Bram insisted.
     “I don’t want to lose you over this, Mary. I meant every word I said. And . . . and
     I want more of your kisses, too. Soon as I can get them.”
    Mary was too scared to answer that. When the courting buggy rolled up the lane and
     stopped a short ways from the front porch, she didn’t take the chance that Bram would
     go after more kisses in the barn. Mary hopped down into the snow, took off her shoes
     on the porch, and then entered the dark house in her stocking feet. What a relief
     that no one had waited up. Oh, the things she had to talk about when her twin came
     in . . .
     
     
    I sure hope Mary’s having a better time than I am , Martha mused as she looked away from her driver. Wasn’t Nate cold enough to at least
     sit against her? Why hadn’t she thought to grab some blankets on their way out? And
     after this frosty, disappointing ride, Clyde’s sleigh bells would alert everyone that
     they were home, too. Jacob and Joanna would get out of bed to pester them. Dat would
     probably be waiting up, reading the latest issue of The Budget so he could meet the Kanagy brothers. After the fun the four of them had