Free Seasons of Sugarcreek 03. Autumn's Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray Page B

describing.
    Like a man even cared about what exact color his eyes were.
    Especially when he was about to kiss a girl. Robert brushed his lips against hers, carefully, as if she would break if he wasn’t careful. His beard grazed her cheek and jaw, bringing a tingle.
    She was startled for a moment.
    But then she kissed him back. His lips were firm and cool and tender. She tilted her head and relaxed against him. Enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. Enjoying the feel of his arms around her. Of being held.
    A squeal in the distance broke them apart. Stumbling backward, Lilly pressed a hand to her lips. But that hand did nothing but remind her of the way he’d made her feel. Like she was desirable.
    No, that wasn’t it, exactly. That one kiss, so chaste in many ways, had made her feel like she was special.
    Worthwhile. A trembling sigh escaped her. Lowering her hand, she met his eyes.
    He was staring at her in shock and breathing deeply. His hat had gotten displaced. He rearranged it without a word. Lilly reached down and picked up the basket. Miraculously, the kitten was still sleeping.
    “I…I think the right way to go is left,” he finally said. “We’re near the outside now. Most likely, minutes away.”
    “I…I hope so. We’ve been in here too long.” She averted his eyes, afraid to look at him now. “If all else fails, we can just cut through a row of corn.”
    “Jah.”
    Feeling off center, she started chattering. “I bet, before we know it, we’ll be out of here. I don’t know about you, but I am glad about that. All of a sudden, I’m feeling kid of warm.”
    Ahead of her Robert kept walking, saying nothing. Nerves took over and she chattered again like a magpie. “It is so warm in here, I bet it will be twenty degrees cooler as soon as we get out. I bet that breeze is going to feel so good, too.”
    He pointed. “I think we go through this opening, and then turn right. We’re almost out.”
    “Great. I mean, that’s good. I mean, it’s about time.” He looked at her before disappearing through the stalks. “Yes. It is.”
    She felt stunned and embarrassed and her heart felt like it was going a mile a minute. Regrets poured through her like water. She shouldn’t have gotten so scared of a bird. She shouldn’t have clung to him.
    She shouldn’t have even agreed to go to the market. She shouldn’t have accepted the kitten.
    She shouldn’t have kissed him back.
    This date of theirs was such a mistake. A mistake of huge proportions, and she was probably going to regret it forever.
    Walking behind him, she finally saw the exit. Robert was already standing outside, his head tilted slightly up in the breeze, his face as solemn as if they were at a funeral.
    When she joined him, she did the same thing. Closed her eyes and enjoyed the fresh breeze that floated around her—cooled her off. But though her skin felt relief, her insides didn’t.
    Because…
    She knew if he turned and pulled her close, she’d kiss him right back. Already, she was eager for his touch again.
    The thought shamed her.
    This was not a good thing. Not good at all.

Chapter 7
     
    “What in the world is going on with you, Caleb?” his mother asked as soon as he came in from gathering eggs. “Nowadays, it seems I must ask you something twice or even three times.” One eyebrow rose. “Sometimes even more than that. And still you do not listen.”
    Stunned by his mother’s harsh words, Caleb halted in the doorway of the kitchen. If his mother’s glare had been full of fire, he would have been charred in his steps for sure.
    Most of the time when she fussed, he knew exactly what she was upset about. But not in this instance. Today, for the life of him, he couldn’t imagine what he’d done wrong.
    Caleb was sick and tired of being yelled at. Carefully, he set the metal pail of eggs on the countertop. He used to gather eggs before school. Now it should be Anson or Carrie’s turn. He was too old for the chore.
    But his