around for six months and not go on a single date. Surely you can see that.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because it’s not natural.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being alone, Micah.”
“Maybe not for you, but I haven’t decided I want to be single the rest of my life—apparently you have.”
“This discussion isn’t about me.”
Now her chin rose as if she needed to defend herself—oh, the many faces of Susannah Beiler. If she ever came down from her high horse, she might be an interesting person to get to know.
“Look, I’m sorry.” He yanked off his hat and stared at it—a straw Amish hat. Why couldn’t he wear his ball cap? Glancing up, he realized Susannah was waiting. He forced himself to refocus on the problem at hand. “I didn’t mean to offend you, but you’re so...”
“What?”
“Serious. You’re so serious, and life is just waiting for us to enjoy it.” In three long strides, he was at her side. Grasping her by the shoulders, he marched her toward the open barn door. “See that? The clouds and the rain and the turbulence?”
“I see it.”
“But behind all of that are more things that we can’t begin to imagine—sunshine and new experiences and memories waiting to be made. Life is out there, Susannah. We’re supposed to be living it.”
“And you can’t do that without dragging some poor girl along with you?”
“Why should I?”
Susannah rubbed at her forehead as if she’d quite suddenly been slapped with the worst headache imaginable. Finally, she pulled in a deep breath and turned to stare up into his face.
“Then take me.”
“Huh?”
“If you must take someone on these jaunts around our little town, take me.”
“But...you don’t even like me.”
“That’s beside the point.”
“No, I think that is the point.”
“You’re not looking for love, Micah. We both know that. You’re looking for a buddy to pal around with, and there are plenty of men your age in our district.”
“All paired up. I’ve already tried that route.”
“Then take me, like I said.”
“You’re going to pal around with me? Miss Susannah Beiler, who does everything by the book? That should be a load of fun.”
“I do not do everything by the book.”
“You cleaned the horse brush before putting it on the shelf. Who does that?”
“You’re changing the subject. Is it a deal or not?”
“A deal?”
“I go with you to enjoy life, and you leave the girls in my district alone.”
“Wow. There’s a proposal that is hard to turn down.”
“So it’s a deal.”
She held out her hand, which reminded him of meeting her out on the lane, offering his hand and her refusing it. He couldn’t help laughing as he clasped her small hand in his large one.
“Fine. It’s a deal, but you’re going to regret it.”
“I have no doubt that is true.” And then she turned and strode toward the house.
“I thought you needed to be here when Mr. Hochstettler came by,” he called out to her.
Rather than bothering to answer, she simply gave him a backward wave.
So, he was going to date the bishop’s daughter.
Or rather, not date her.
It would be like having a chaperone along every time he went to town. He kicked the door of the barn, startling the mare.
“Easy, Smokey. It’s just me, doing a stupid thing to top off another stupid thing.”
One hundred and seventy days.
Somehow, that seemed like an even longer stretch of time than it had an hour ago.
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