Free A Forbidden Rumspringa (Gay Amish Romance Book 1) by Keira Andrews

hard every day. Stop worrying so much. You’re the best apprentice I could have asked for.”
    Isaac looped Silver’s reins over his wrist, trying not to smile. “Thank you.”
    “You’re always on time, you learn fast, and you have the knack for it. Plus, you have another very important quality.”
    Isaac smiled self-consciously. “What’s that?”
    “You keep little girls’ secrets.”
    He laughed. “Always.”
    “But seriously, Isaac.” David clasped his shoulder. “It’s great working with you.”
    It was as though he could feel the heat of David’s touch through his shirt. Must have been the sun arcing higher in the sky. “I…you too. Thank you for taking me on. I’m learning so much.”
    As David lowered his hand, his fingers brushed Isaac’s arm. “It’s nice to have a friend around too.” He huffed out a laugh. “Anna’s right that I don’t have many these days. Anna’s right about most things, just so you know.”
    “Yeah, I’ve noticed. Does she always say exactly what she’s thinking?”
    David smirked. “Yep. Nine times out of ten.”
    “At least you always know where you stand.” Isaac gave Silver a scratch. “I guess you don’t have much time for friends with all the work you have to do. I can’t imagine being the only man at home.”
    “You get used to it, I guess. Like anything.” David looked off at the horizon. “At first you think you’ll never be able to go on. That just getting out of bed every morning is impossible. But you do, and after a while it just becomes your life.”
    “That’s what it must be like following church and getting married,” Isaac blurted.
    David stopped in his tracks, staring at Isaac. His lips parted as if to say something, but then he snapped his jaw shut.
    “Not that I don’t want to!” Isaac’s heart hammered. “It’s only that it seems so different from my life now. I can’t really imagine what it’ll be like. But I’ll get used to it. It’ll be good. It’ll be great.” He laughed sharply. “I’m just talking nonsense.” He strode forward, leading Silver.
    “It’s not nonsense.”
    Isaac stopped and looked back. David gave him a smile.
    “It makes perfect sense.”
    “Oh.” Isaac tried to think of something else to say.
    David started walking again, and they continued on, taking a dirt road that was a shortcut over to the Schrock farm. They were silent for a few minutes.
    “Do you think it’s stupid?” David asked.
    Isaac’s pulse still hummed. “What?”
    “Not to take back some of the land from Josiah Otto.” David scooped up a stone from the road and tossed it ahead of him. “He paid for half of it up front, but he’s been late on the other payments. Mother thinks we should take it back and try to farm it ourselves, or hire some boys to do it. But I gave him my word that the land was his.”
    Isaac pondered it. “But he hasn’t held up part of the arrangement. No one would blame you for being at the end of your patience.”
    “But I know how hard he’s been working--I see him out there every day. He’ll pay what he owes as soon as he can. If I go back on our deal now, what would he do? He has a new baby, and four others already. I made a commitment, and I should honor it. Give him some more time, at least. He insisted on paying interest. We wrote it out on a piece of paper.”
    “Sounds fair enough. We’re supposed to help each other, after all.”
    “And it’s not that Mother doesn’t want to help them,” David added hastily. “It’s just that money’s tight, and she’s worried.” He blew out a long breath. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t bother you with this.”
    “It’s not a bother.”
    “You’re a good listener.”
    Isaac felt oddly pleased. “Well, we’re friends, right?” He brushed a fly off his cheek. “That’s what friends do.”
    “Right.” David gave him a little smile. “There’s—“ He pointed. “Dirt.”
    Isaac swiped at his face. “Did I get it?”
    Laughing,