Free Lancaster Hearts (Out of Darkness - Amish Connections (An Amish of Lancaster County Saga)) by Ruth Price

girl. He'd just wanted to spend time with her. But Rachel had invited herself along, and she kept up a steady stream of chatter that gave no one else room to breathe. Isaac soon found himself falling into silence.
    The class itself had been fascinating. Isaac had been especially impressed with the passion Judith had shown for the work. She'd approached the dummy with deathly seriousness, as though the situation were real, and while she'd made some mistakes in the beginning, her attention to the instructor and to her 'patient' had been remarkable. Her grin upon finishing had also dazzled him. Isaac wondered what it would be like to have that remarkable attention and joy focused on him. Isaac wanted to congratulate Judith, to throw his arms around her in an Englischer style hug, and feel her heat against him.
    It was almost noon when the class ended, and Isaac's stomach growled as they stepped out of the air-conditioned center onto the street.
    “ That was remarkable, ” Isaac said, placing the mouth protector in the pocket of his trousers.
    “ Can you hold mine also, ” Rachel asked, placing hers in his palm. “ I don't have pockets. ”
    Isaac took the package and pushed it into his opposite pocket.
    “ So where shall we have lunch? ” Rachel asked, spinning once so that her skirts swirled around her ankles.
    Isaac looked at Judith, “ What do you recommend? ”
    “ There's a nice cafe up this way, ” Judith gestured ahead of her. “ I often have lunch there when I'm studying. It's not expensive. ”
    Isaac nodded. “ That sounds good. Rachel? ”
    “ It's fine. ” Rachel said. They started walking. The street was wide enough that all three could walk side by side. The buildings, mostly shops, had their doors firmly shut against the heat. Rachel fanned herself with her hand, her gaze flitting from window to window. “ It's so nice to be in town. I admit, I don't often have occasion to go. I've been so busy helping my mamm out with her work in the house. It's important to learn all of the skills to become a good wife, don't you think Judith? ”
    “ Ja, ” Judith said. “ I suppose it is. ”
    “ Well, if you're thinking to get married. Not everyone does. And with your love of learning, you'd make an excellent teacher. ”
    Judith's expression grew darker, her dark brows lowering as she breathed in once through her nose. “ I don't think I want to be a teacher, ” she said in a very even tone. “ What would you do, if you weren't a wife and mamm? ”
    Rachel blinked. “ I--I don't-- ”
    A family of tourists walked towards them: mamm, daed and two kinner all red-headed. One of the kinner, a little boy who looked to be about nine, pointed at Rachel and asked his brother who stood a head taller and looked to be about eleven-years-old, “ Lee, she's Amish, isn't she? ”
    “ Shhh... ” the mamm pulled her son's hand down, and with bright red cheeks said, “ I'm sorry. We didn't mean to be rude. ”
    “ It's fine, ” Rachel said. She knelt at the boy's feet until their eyes were at the same level. “ Yes, I am Amish, and my name is Rachel. ”
    Rachel extended her hand and the boy, with a look up at his mamm for permission, shook it. “ M'name is Jake, ” the boy mumbled. “ Nice t'meet you. ”
    “ You too, ” Rachel said brightly. The older boy, Lee, also shook Rachel's hand. He had a guidebook under left arm. “ Dankee, ” he said, shyly. “ That's right, isn't it? ”
    Rachel laughed. “ Yes, that is. Gutt, gutt. That means good. ”
    Lee nodded. “ I learned from this book, ” he said, holding up his book, a tourist guide to Amish country.
    “ That's very good. ”
    “ And we're not supposed to take pictures of you because that's rude, ” Lee added.
    Rachel nodded. “ Danki. ”
    The family passed, and they kept walking to the corner. Isaac was impressed with how Rachel had handled the children. “ You have a gift, ” he said.
    Rachel grinned, the wideness of it bringing dimples