Free Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman Page A

did, he’d have no one to blame but himself. He’d bribed her, more or less. Come have coffee with me and I’ll tell you about my Amish upbringing. No matter that the real reason for the meeting was his desire to hear about his family.
    He’d missed so much. Samuel, his kid brother—now a father. Noah recalled his and Samuel’s relationship with their own father, long deceased now. He hoped to have that kind of father-son bond someday—the kind he’d had with his father and the kind Samuel seemed to have with David.
    The thought warmed his heart, but then he recalled the harsh words Samuel had used earlier, outside of his car. “You are not my brother.” The sting remained.
    Noah wouldn’t turn back this time without a fight. Somehow he’d make things right.
    “Carley, I hope you won’t use my name in the article. I’m just trying to give you some insight into what shunning is all about.”
    She looked disappointed. “But your name would give the article credibility.”
    “And it would cause even more discord with Samuel and our family if he knew I discussed our situation with you—and you printed it.” He pushed his plate to one side and leaned back in his chair.
    “Well, I don’t want to print anything that might hurt Lillian and her family,” Carley said, chagrined. “But I’m getting mixed signals from you. You’re bitter about the shunning but admit it’s an accepted practice that you understood before you left the community. What are you hoping for—a renewed relationship with your brother?”
    He should have just given her the facts and not gotten so caught up in his own pool of self-pity. He knew God didn’t approve of this attitude.
    He mulled it over for a few seconds and chose his words carefully. “I understand the practice of shunning. And yes—I am bitter about it. But to answer your question, it’s important to me that my family understand my calling and somehow still be a part of my life.”
    Her eyebrows furrowed. “So are you hoping I’ll talk to Lillian and soften the way for you to make peace with Samuel?”
    She was intuitive. “Would you? Soften the way, that is?”
    “I don’t know Samuel at all,” she was quick to say. “Lillian and I were good friends before she moved here. She’s completely changed her life and seems really happy, and I’m glad for her. But honestly, Samuel doesn’t seem to want to talk about you or have you around his family.”
    “Ouch.” She was blunt. And it stung.
    “I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.” She sat up a little straighter, her look challenging him. “And I see the purpose of the coffee date. I’ve been wondering why you were so insistent after you had already told Lillian about David. Now I see. You want me to play go-between for you and Samuel.”
    “Well, I was hoping for that, but it’s not like you haven’t gotten anything out of the deal. I’ve shared a lot of personal details.” Way more than I intended. “Spend the day with me tomorrow. I’ll show you around. I can fill you in more about the Amish lifestyle. And maybe you’ll see that I’m not such a bad guy.”
    “I don’t think you’re a bad guy. But aside from that, I’m just not sure that I can help you smooth things over with Samuel. I’d hate for you to waste your time.”
    “Somehow I don’t think getting to know you would be a waste of my time.” She was beautiful. And interesting. Not to mention a potential key to unlocking Samuel’s heart. Even if the latter didn’t pan out, the thought of spending more time with her appealed to him.

    Lillian won’t like it, Carley thought, although Lillian was the one who’d pushed her into this in the first place.
    It sure seemed that the handsome doctor was only using her to try to get in good with Samuel. But hey—if he was willing to share information about the Amish faith, maybe she would consider it research.
    Although when she thought about it, she wasn’t sure it was