Plain Proposal by Beth Wiseman Read Free Book Online Page A

just arrived yesterday, and I will not have you leaving her just yet.”
    So I have to babysit her? “But, Mamm . . .”
    “No, Miriam. You take Shelby with you, or don’t go at all.” Mamm held up her first finger. “And no arguing.” She turned to leave, and for the first time, Miriam considered how having Shelby here would alter her own choices.

    It was a half hour later when Miriam told Shelby about the fishing trip. They were upstairs in Miriam’s room because Shelby said she wanted to change blouses. Shelby emerged from the bathroom wearing a brown T-shirt with a slogan for Texas barbeque on it. Miriam agreed that Shelby’s choice would be better for fishing than her pretty yellow blouse.
    “Aren’t you going to change clothes?” Shelby seemed in a better mood since Miriam had mentioned the fishing adventure, so Miriam tried to be happy that her cousin was going with her to meet Saul.
    “I already did.”
    “But you’re still in a dress. Aren’t you allowed to wear anything else?”
    “I changed from my nice Sunday dress to this older, worn one.”
    Miriam couldn’t help but notice the way Shelby’s jeans and T-shirt showed off her curves, and for the first time in her life, Miriam wished she had her own blue jeans and T-shirt to wear.
    “I love to go fishing. I used to go all the time with my dad, but. . .” Shelby sighed. “Anyway, thank you for inviting me.”
    “Sure. We’ll have a gut time.” Miriam felt a tad guilty for not wanting Shelby to go, but she’d try to make up for it by making sure her cousin had fun.

    Saul maneuvered his buggy down the dirt road that led to the abandoned Zook farm. Brown and green weeds flanked the path, and in the distance stood the white clapboard house, its paint chipped from neglect. Part of the white picket fence surrounding the front yard was down, and several cows meandered through the yard as if it was a pasture. It was a sad sight, and Saul recalled the times he’d played with the Zook kids in that yard. But when Amos, the youngest of the Zook children, got cancer six years ago, the family had relocated to a place where there was a fancy medical center that could take better care of him. The property had sold right away to a local Englisch man who didn’t care anything about restoring the farmhouse. He’d purchased the land just to run cattle on, but at least he’d given permission for them to fish in the pond whenever they wanted. Saul rarely saw the owner of the property and figured he must just come to check on the cows from time to time. It was hard on the eyes to see the house in such disrepair. Saul wondered whatever happened to Amos Zook, if he had been cured of the cancer.
    He did a double take when he edged closer and saw two buggies near the pond. Saul was pretty sure one of them was Miriam’s. He strained to see, and his chest tightened when he saw Jesse Dienner standing next to Miriam. And who was the other woman? As he got closer, he recognized the other woman to be Miriam’s cousin whom he’d met at church.
    Saul tensed even more when he thought about the way Jesse had lingered around Miriam earlier in the day. It was the only reason he stayed around after the service and gathered with the men in the barn—where Jesse should have been. Twice he’d poked his head out and saw Jesse in the yard with Miriam while she picked up glasses from the tables outside. He knew plenty well that jealousy was a sin, but seeing the two of them laughing and talking had sent his heart to racing. Saul knew that once he left, it was just a matter of time before Miriam settled on one of the many interested fellows in their district. Probably Jesse. He was a fine man, and he would make a good husband for Miriam. But, right or wrong, Saul wanted one summer with Miriam. And he knew she wanted it too, even if she didn’t know that he would be leaving her in late August or early September. He cringed for a moment about the betrayal, but then he got a