Amish Heart (Erotic Romance) (Amish Heart Trilogy) Read Free Page B

real warmth towards each other, they always treated each other with courtesy and respect.  Befuddled, she turned and walked back toward the kitchen.
    Sailing towards her, Rebekah’s mother took her by the elbow, steering her back into the living room and took the coffeepot away. 
    “Why don’t we leave these two alone a bit to get better acquainted?”  Her mother’s voice rang in her ears, summoning In Rebekah something close to panic.  Exactly what she didn’t want!  Don’t leave me alone with him!   Her father chuckled and, picking up his coffee cup, left the room with his wife.
    Reluctantly, Rebekah took the seat her father had occupied.  She stared at her hands, struggling to come up with something, anything to say .  Give him a chance, Leah had said.  
    She squirmed in her chair.  “Nice weather.” 
    She glanced at him.  He was staring at her, reticent.  Had he even heard her?
    Give him a chance.   Rebekah gulped and spoke a bit louder.  “It’s a nice night.”
    He blinked . “Yeah.”
    Quiet again.  Just those eyes boring into her.  What does he want from me?   The oxygen was leaving the room.  The grandfather clock scratched the passing seconds loudly in her ears.
    Finally, she thought of something to say.  “How are your children?”  Has Jakob tortured any animals lately? 
    He nodded slightly, his eyes never wavering, “ Gud.” His Amish Pennsylvania Dutch accent was suddenly getting heavier.
    “That’s good.” 
    The hush fell again.  Rebekah couldn’t think of anything appropriate to say .  Why do you want to marry me?  You don’t even want to talk to me.   Suddenly, her fear was leaving her, being replaced with scorn.  On second thought, I don’t want to talk to you either .  The years of painful silence with him stretched out before her in her mind.  Oh, we are going to have a great marriage!  
    Unable to think of anything else to say, she sat looking past him outside the window, wishing something would happen to deliver her from this moment.  Some miracle to rescue her from this future that loomed in front of her and threatened to choke the very life out of her. Whereas just a moment ago she felt disdain, now anguish threatened to swallow her whole.
    Ezekiel continued to gawk.  The second hand of the clock made scraping noises in dead air.  I wish he would not keep looking at me like this.   It reminded her of the time they went to the zoo and all the people were gaping at the animals.  It’s like I’m an interesting sort of bird or something—anything but a person.   There was, again the feeling of being nothing but an object to be possessed or bartered or traded: ‘my daughter for you looking over us in our old age.’ 
    A war within was beginning.  One side deeply desired to be a dutiful Amish woman, marry as she should and bear as many children as God would bless her with.  The other side desperately wanted to break free, not of being Amish altogether, but of all the dues currently taxing her.  She wanted to be free to choose her own husband, someone she would care for, not someone to be tolerated at the very best.
    After what seemed to be an interminable amount of time, Rebekah looked at the clock.  They had been sitting there for half an hour in the stillness. 
    I’m sorry God.  I can only endure so much .  Her emotions were now as chilly as Ezekiel’s expression.
    Standing up, she met Ezekiel’s eyes.  “Thank you for coming for dinner ,” she said bleakly, then excused herself and left the room.
     

Chapter 4

Dust the shelves.  Wipe off the cans and boxes of food.  Sweep and mop the wood floor.  Rebekah went about her work in silence, the only sound being the brushing of the broom against the floor.  For once, there was no humming, no soft singing, no whistling, nothing. There was only . . . deadness. 
    Outside the windows, the early summer sun shone bright and warm, but nothing of summer existed for her.  And it never