A Place of His Own by Kathleen Fuller Page B

clawed up his throat as the image of Amanda’s stricken expression rewound itself in his mind. He had finally gotten through to her, although it had nearly killed him to do it.
    â€œMr. Josiah, wait up!”
    He continued to walk toward the barn. He had hurt her once again. Not physically, as he had yesterday, but deeply nevertheless. He had seen it on her face, heard it in the tone of her voice. Seen it in the tears she tried to keep from him.
    For a split second he had thought to put his arms around her, to apologize for being so harsh. But he stopped himself. She said she’d leave him alone, and that was what he had wanted all along.
    â€œMr. Josiah!”
    He spun around in front of the barn entrance. “What do you want?”
    Both Andrew and Thomas shrank back. “We just wanted to know how we could help you today.”
    â€œYou can help by going home.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œ Geh! Get out of here!”
    Andrew turned around and ran back to the house like he had flames licking at his heels. But Thomas didn’t move. His lower lip quivered, and his hazel eyes, the same color as Amanda’s, filled with tears.
    Perfect. He’d made two innocent people cry today.
    Thomas looked at him for a long moment, his shoulders slumped. He turned around, but unlike his brother, he didn’t run. Instead he walked slowly, each trudging step driving a knife deeper into Josiah’s heart.
    â€œHow dare you treat them that way!”
    He looked up to see Amanda storming toward him. The sorrow he’d seen in her expression had been replaced with anger. Her fists pressed against her sides, she stopped short a few feet in front of him.
    â€œAll they wanted to do was help, Josiah. They look up to you, especially Thomas.”
    â€œThey shouldn’t.”
    â€œYou’re right. Not if you’re going to treat him like that.” She pressed her fingertips to her brow. “If you’re mad at me, fine, but they don’t deserve your taking it out on them.”
    The sound of a horse’s hooves reached his ears. He looked down the length of his driveway to see a buggy approaching Amanda’s house. A superbly constructed buggy, outfitted with as much reflective tape as the Ordnung would allow. He knew whose it was.
    Josiah had thought this day couldn’t get any worse. He had thought wrong.

Chapter Eight
    â€œYOU GOT COMPANY,” JOSIAH SAID.
    Amanda glared at him, then turned around to glance at the buggy pulling into her driveway. “I’m not expecting anyone. Maybe one of Mamm ’s friends is dropping by.” She faced Josiah, looking as if she wanted to lay into him again. Instead, she frowned. “You look like you know who that is.”
    â€œDon’t you?”
    She turned again. A tall, slender man exited the buggy and tied his horse to the hitching post at the top of the Grabers’ driveway. Cousin Peter.
    â€œOh no,” Amanda groaned.
    Well, he hadn’t expected that reaction from her. “What’s wrong?”
    Her angry expression had been replaced by one of irritation. “He’s been trying to court me for the past year. I’ve tried to be nice about it and let him know I’m not interested, but he’s not getting the message.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I wonder what he wants now.”
    Their argument apparently over, or at least postponed, Josiah moved to stand next to Amanda. “He shouldn’t be bothering you like this.”
    â€œMaybe he’s just dropping off something at the house.”
    â€œHas he ever done that before?”
    She shook her head. “ Nee . He’s never even visited before.”
    Josiah wasn’t in any hurry for her to leave now, not with Peter walking inside her house. He had a small measure of satisfaction knowing Amanda wasn’t interested in his cousin. She’d always had good taste.
    Within minutes Peter walked out the door,