Free A Sister's Test by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page A

He thumped his stomach. “Don’t want to get fat, or pretty women like you may not find me attractive.”
    Ruth clenched her teeth, placed a maple bar on a square of waxed paper, and handed it to him. “That will be fifty cents.”
    He paid her, then bit into the maple bar and smacked his lips. “This tastes almost as sweet as your big sister’s lips.” He gave her a flirty wink. “How about you? Have you ever been kissed by an English man?”
    Ruth heard the echo of her heartbeat in her head.
    An English couple entered the bakeshop. Gary grunted and stepped aside as they approached the counter.
    “May I help you?” Ruth asked.
    The man nodded. “We’d like a dozen chocolate doughnuts and an angel food cake.”
    As Ruth reached into the bakery case to remove the items, she looked up and saw Gary heading for the door. “I’ll come back when you’re not so busy,” he called over his shoulder.
    Ruth cringed. The last thing she wanted was to see that man again!

W hen Martha pulled her buggy up to the hitching rail near the back of the bakeshop, she pointed to Gary Walker as he came around the corner of the building. “There he is. Are you sure you want to speak with him, sister?”
    Grace nodded despite her sweaty hands and rapidly beating heart.
    “I’ll park the buggy and go with you.”
    “I think it would be better if I speak with Gary alone. Why don’t you wait for me inside the bakeshop?”
    Martha’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t think—”
    “I’ll be fine.”
    Martha shrugged and stepped down from the buggy.
    As her sister headed for the bakeshop, Grace hurried toward Gary, who was almost to his car.
    He whirled around to face her. “You following me, Gracie?”
    When she opened her mouth to reply, the only thing that came out was a little squeak.
    “I wouldn’t think a married woman who’s expecting a baby would be running down the street chasing after other men.”
    “I’m not. I mean, I just wanted to ask you a question.”
    He leaned on the hood of his car and folded his arms. “About what?”
    “I was wondering how long you plan to stay in Holmes County.”
    “As long as it takes.”
    “For what?”
    “For me to write the stories I’m after.” He leveled her a penetratinglook that sent shivers up her spine. “Are you feeling the need to check up on me, Gracie?”
    She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond.
    “I didn’t come back to Holmes County to make your life miserable, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    The urge to ask if he had toilet-papered their buildings and thrown the stink bomb into the barn was strong, but Grace figured he might take satisfaction in knowing she was afraid. “I would think you could find other things to write about than the Holmes County Amish,” she said as a horse and buggy rumbled by and turned into the cheese store parking lot across the street.
    Gary leaned away from his car and moved closer to her. “None quite as interesting as you.”
    Before she could comment, he snickered and said, “I think your sister who works at the bakeshop is pretty interesting, too.”
    Grace’s fingers pressed into her palms until the nails dug into her flesh. “Stay away from Ruth.”
    “If I don’t?”
    “I’ll tell the sheriff what I think you’re up to.”
    Gary snorted and slapped his knee. “It’s a free country, Gracie. I have every right to visit the bakeshop whenever I get the urge for something sweet. Besides, it’s not like the sheriff’s going to arrest me for buying a few doughnuts.”
    “The sheriff’s aware of the break-ins and vandalism that went on at our place several months ago. He told my dad that he plans to keep an eye on things.”
    “I told you before that I had nothing to do with any of those occurrences.” Gary flung open the car door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got work to do.”
    “That man makes me so angry,” Grace fumed as Gary pulled away from the curb. “I’m sure he’s the one