Huckleberry Summer by Jennifer Beckstrand Read Free Book Online Page B

imagine that there were no i ’s undotted and no t ’s uncrossed in her behavior.
    It was going to be a very long summer.
    As if reading his thoughts, Tyler said, “I will talk to David. He must know how hard it will be for Lily to work on Huckleberry Hill and stay away from you at the same time.”
    “We agreed on a four feet distance.”
    Tyler cracked a smile at that. “That sounds like something Lily would do. But it’s impractical, just the same. Like as not, David thinks you shot somebody or stole a car. I’ll tell him you were in jail to save the life of a tree. He won’t understand, but I might persuade him to be less rigid when it comes to Lily.”
    “Denki. It is uncomfortable working alongside someone who won’t even talk to me without checking with her fater first.”
    Tyler stood. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I would like to talk to Lily, and since you can’t come within four feet of her, I am leaving you. But you will come to the gathering? The Wednesday night after next?”
    “Jah, I will come.” Aden studied his new friend closely as Tyler sidled next to Lily. Tyler was seemingly content to stand by Lily without saying much. Lily acted friendly but didn’t gush. A girl who gushed was a girl in love. Aden wasn’t sure how Lily felt about Tyler, but she didn’t gush.
    Aden turned away. Lily’s preference in boys was none of his business. But Mammi might want to know if Aden’s intended bride loved somebody else.
    Mammi’s plans for Aden’s wedding weren’t going to work out. There were too many other boys to contend with. Aden didn’t have a chance.
    Why were his palms sweating?

Chapter Seven
    Lily wasn’t particularly comfortable with children.
    Of course, she loved their cherubic faces and their simple faith, but truth be told, children terrified her.
    Children were the heritage of the Amish culture. The Plain people cherished little ones instead of seeing them as a burden. But Lily was the youngest in her family, and Estee was the only other child. Lily had no younger siblings and no nieces or nephews to practice on. She had befriended Treva Schrock, but Treva wasn’t a child. She was simply childlike. There was a huge difference.
    The thought of caring for a child made Lily’s throat dry up and her heart race. She had no idea how to quiet a crying baby or change a diaper. And a job as a schoolteacher was definitely out. What if a scholar were to break his arm or choke on his lunch?
    Today, she thought she might be sick with anxiety.
    “I hope you don’t mind, Lily,” Anna said as she buttoned up her chocolate brown sweater. No matter how hot it was outside, Lily had never seen Anna go on an outing without a sweater—always one she had knitted herself and always a different color than the traditional black. “We might be gone all day.”
    Lily glanced at the five young faces regarding her doubtfully. She hoped they didn’t recognize the panic in her eyes.
    Anna’s daughter Ruth ruffled her oldest son’s hair. “Junior is almost eleven. He will be a gute help.”
    Lily hoped Junior knew how to change diapers. The youngest little girl bouncing on Junior’s hip couldn’t have been much older than two.
    “They’re running tests on Matthias today, and I didn’t want to sit alone in the hospital.”
    Lily swallowed the lump in her throat. “Of course you want to be with your husband.”
    Felty patted his bulging pocket. “I’ve got quarters for the vending machines. We’ll eat like kings while we’re there.” He propped his hands on his knees and bent to look at his grandchildren. “I’ll bring each of you a candy bar if you don’t give Lily no trouble today.”
    The other boy, who looked to be about six or seven, nodded eagerly. “Can I have a Twix, Dawdi?”
    Ruth patted the littlest girl’s cheek. “Keep an eye on Amanda. She is very busy and likes to wander off.”
    Lily tried to catch her breath. “What . . . what do I feed them for