The Amish Bride by Emma Miller Page A

earth she expected to hear from him. The warmth of his hand on hers made her shiver...and not unpleasantly. She pulled her hand away. “I...” She was rarely speechless. And had never been so with him, but she was so taken aback that she didn’t know what to say. “Neziah, I...”
    “The past is the past,” he said when she couldn’t finish her thought. “I think it would be fair to say that we were both young then, emotionally if not in years. But we’re older. Wiser. Neither of us is the same headstrong, stubborn young person we once were. I know I’m not.” He kept looking at her, his gaze searching hers. “Ellen, I was in love with you once and I think—” he glanced at his boys “—I think I’m still in love with you.” He looked back at her. “I
know
I am.”
    She glanced away. The boys were seesawing. The birds were chattering in the trees. She could hear a young woman speaking
Deitsch
through an open window in the store. The world around her seemed normal, but hearing a man—an Amish man—speak of his feelings was not something she normally encountered. Even her father, who had always been a sensitive man, avoided talk of his emotions when he could help it. “I... I don’t know what to say, Neziah,” she said finally.
    “Then don’t say anything. Just think about it. Pray about it. It’s important to your parents that they see you married. I don’t mean this unkindly, but they’re aging. As a parent, I understand the desire to see your children happy and cared for.” He leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “As for me, enough time has passed since Betty died. My boys need a mother and I need a wife. Everything my father said is true.” He shrugged. “We live next door to each other. It would be a good match. We would be able to take care of your parents and my father when the time comes that they can’t care for themselves. And I would be a good provider. The lumber mill is doing well, and you’ve sold two pieces of my furniture in your store in the last two weeks.”
    Ellen studied his face for a moment, so confused, so overwhelmed that she couldn’t think straight. Neziah was still in love with her? That made no sense. They had ended their courtship mutually, agreeing they were unsuited as husband and wife. Neziah had never spoken of love before or after the courtship had ended. He had married another woman, had children. He couldn’t possibly have been carrying a flame for her for the last ten years. And yet...he sounded sincere.
    Could she really consider courting Neziah? Would she actually consider marrying him?
    Neziah would be a good catch for any woman. He was hardworking, intelligent and a faithful member of the church community in the prime of his life. While he might not be as strikingly handsome as his younger brother, Neziah’s appearance was pleasant. As a widower, Neziah had kept his beard, but it was close-cropped, and Ellen thought that the few flecks of gray scattered amid his dark whiskers gave him a distinguished appearance.
    It was a good face, serious but honest, with strong features and striking eyes. She’d always liked Neziah’s dark eyes with their varying shades of brown. When Neziah’s gaze locked with hers, she had always known he was giving her his entire attention, that he would listen and give serious thought to what she was telling him. Listen, but not be moved from his own position, she reminded herself.
    “Neziah, I... I wasn’t expecting you to... This isn’t what I was expecting at all.” She gave a little laugh. “I thought you wanted to tell me you weren’t interested in our fathers’ proposal.”
    “I’m not.”
    She blinked. She was beginning to feel like she was going too fast on a merry-go-round at the state fair. “I’m confused.”
    “I’m
not
interested in our fathers’ proposal. I’ve thought this over. I think you and I should begin courting and you should tell my brother to look elsewhere for a wife. The