Free Brightest and Best by Olivia Newport Page B

cream.”
    “Well, I believe that would be quite delicious and convenient.”
    She watched him saunter back out to his truck, already savoring what his kiss would taste like later that evening.

    Ella stroked the nose of Gideon’s new horse, hoping he had not paid too dearly for her. It was a buggy horse, though, not the workhorse she had expected him to purchase.
    “I’ll make sure she’s well broken in before you need to use her,” Gideon said.
    Ella raised her face, confused.
    “I have an extra cart I’ll sand down,” he said. “You’ll always have a horse and cart available for visiting or shopping or whatever you need it for.”
    His eyes met hers, and she fell into them. “Gideon …”
    “It’s time, isn’t it?” he said. “If you’ll have me, I would like to be your loving husband.”
    “Of course I’ll have you!” Ella’s heart raced. The crowd around them lost its color, the vibrancy of the day fading in the illumined moment.
    “I’ll care for you, provide for you, and do my best to bring happiness into each of your days.”
    “Gideon …” She wanted him to kiss her.
    He cupped her elbow and nudged her around the back side of the makeshift stable behind the auction ring, and she waited while he glanced in both directions before removing his hat and dipping his head to oblige her wish—which he evidently shared. Ella hoped Gideon’s kiss would always draw her to him as it did now.
    “Your father will have no objection, will he?” Gideon whispered when he broke the kiss.
    “None whatsoever.”
    “I could speak to him today, if you like.”
    “As soon as possible, please.”
    “Wedding season is only two months off.”
    “We can be one of the first couples to publish our banns.” What a relief it would be to talk openly about their relationship. They could speak to the bishop and set the date for the first Thursday in November, as soon as the harvest season was finished. Rachel would gladly take on the role of mother of the bride, and Ella’s siblings would come from their scattered farms for a joyful day.
    Gideon kissed her again, this time lingering in a delectable recognition of the decision Ella had waited so long for. He was hers.

CHAPTER 9
    W hat sort of small gift of friendship might she take to Amish families as she visited? Sampling at the auction had convinced Margaret she could not compete with their jams or jellies, and their baked goods tempted her to beg for recipes that had never been written down. She wandered through the mercantile on Monday morning considering whether packets of stationery might be appropriate for the mothers, or perhaps flower seeds to put away for next spring.
    I should have asked Lindy. She used to be one of them.
    Margaret picked up two packets of stationery with matching envelopes bundled together in wide ribbons. She would start with two families today. If the gift seemed to cause offense, tomorrow she would try something else.
    At the counter, as she counted out the necessary coins, she was startled to see Mr. Brownley enter the store.
    Their eyes met.
    “Good morning,” Margaret said.
    “Good morning.” Brownley’s eyes shifted to look down the long center aisle. “Have you seen the deputy sheriff? I was told he came in here.”
    The clerk pushed a button and the cash register opened. “He’s in the back. Saw him looking at the hammers. Said he’d be right up.”
    “I told him I would just be a minute and he disappeared,” Brownley muttered.
    “Is everything all right, Mr. Brownley?” Margaret asked.
    “Everything is in hand, Miss Simpson. The sheriff and I decided to pay a few calls on the farms, that’s all.”
    “I’m about to do the same thing,” Margaret said. “I thought perhaps a gentle, personal approach—”
    “School starts two weeks from today,” Brownley said. “I’ve decided we need a firm approach, one that makes the law clear.”
    Margaret’s jaw dropped. She clenched it closed immediately. “Did I