The Beekeeper's Son (The Amish of Bee County Book 1) by Kelly Irvin Page A

tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ll be back. Truth be told, I’m excited at this new road. It’s a lot of responsibility to take care of Aenti Ruth’s farm. One I would not get here, as Daed will not retire to the dawdi haus for many years. And by then I’ll be expected to have made my own way. The farm will go to my youngest brother in the end. I think it will be an adventure, living in a new place up north and meeting new people.
    Deborah wiped at her face. The words wavered in front of her. Her big plan shattered like a pitcher of lemonade and fell to pieces at her feet. What was Aaron trying to tell her? She’d promised him she would be back. He’d said he would wait for her. They would finish what they’d started. Neither had spoken of marriage, but they’d been walking the road that would take them in that direction. They’d been through baptism together. How could he change his mind so quickly? Surely that wasn’t what he meant to say. She forced herself to focus on the words, to find his true meaning.
    Anyway, I wanted you to know. I’m adding Aenti Ruth’s address in Sugarcreek at the bottom in case you get a hankering to write. I will be busy, though, so don’t be surprised if I don’t write much. Ruth has two hundred acres and pigs and chickens and goats and a dozen horses. I’ll be up to my ears.
    I imagine plenty of men there in Bee County already have their gazes on you. It hurts my heart to think of it, but I know it wouldn’t be fair to make you wait. Being apart is too hard. Especially when others might do just as well. I don’t know whatGod’s plan is for us, only that He has one for you and one for me. I don’t know if our paths are intended to cross again. It’s hard for a simple man like me to understand. So I’m going to Ohio, and I figure whatever happens, happens. I know it’s hard. It’s not what we wanted, but I figure it’ll be a bit of adventure too. You’re having your adventure in Texas, I’ll have mine up north.
    Take care.
Aaron
    Take care? Whatever happens, happens? A simple man, indeed. Deborah let the letter drop into her lap. To her surprise a wet spot appeared at the top, a blotch of water. She wiped at her face. No sense in crying over spilled milk. That was what Daed would say. She sniffed, stuffed the letter back into the envelope, and smoothed down the flap.
    Swallowing the hard knot of disappointment in her throat, she stood and marched to the room she shared with her cousins and sisters. Kneeling, she tugged a red plastic Tupperware box from under the bed and tucked the letter in with the three she’d received from Josie, much dog-eared from reading and rereading. She wouldn’t be reading Aaron’s letter again. His decision had been carved on her heart with words sharper than the knife her daed used to dress a deer. Aaron hadn’t said as much, but he didn’t think they had a chance. He made it sound as if he didn’t want to stand in the way of her happiness, when it was his that was first and foremost in his mind.
    She snapped the lid back on with more force than necessary, then shoved the container back under the bed. With a weariness that almost felt like sickness, she leaned her head against the mattress and closed her eyes.
    In the heavy, oppressive heat of the room, the air hung on her like a shroud. She searched for words of supplication but found none. Only a cold, dark void where once had been the little sprig of joy she’d nurtured with hope and the beginnings of love. Something she thought would blossom into love and life with Aaron.
    Not likely.
    So be it.
    She raised her head and got to her feet.
    Time to get to work. This place needed some cleaning, so she might as well use some elbow grease to get it up to her standards. They had vegetables to pick and another canning frolic to plan.
    She had all the time in the world to whip this place into shape.

TEN
    Deborah felt as if she were sixteen all over again, awkward, self-conscious, and