Read Like a Bee to Honey for Free Online Page A

her because he thought she looked helpless.
    She was helpless.
    And Josiah had made her his project.
    She wished with all her might that she could square her shoulders and announce that she could walk herself to the house—thank you very much—without help from anyone—but she couldn’t. She was terrified of things lurking in broad daylight. No matter how humiliating, she needed Josiah to walk her to the house. Josiah placed his hand over hers. Jah. He thought he needed to take care of her. “Rose? Are you okay?”
    She pulled her hand from his and folded her arms. His eyes flashed with uncertainty. She didn’t like that look, as if she’d spoiled all his hopes and dreams. It didn’t matter what she did. She always made things worse. “I’m sorry I got so scared over nothing.” Oh sis yuscht. Tears were again dangerously close to the surface.
    â€œIt wasn’t nothing . Someone tried to burn down the honey house last week. I would have been frightened too. You never have to apologize. I am more than glad to do what I can for you.”
    Jah, he felt sorry for her. “Denki,” was all she could say.
    His gaze lit on the honey super on the table. “Is this a new hive you’re painting?”
    She looked down at her hands. “It’s still rough. My first sketch on the super.”
    â€œThe super?”
    She patted the white box that held the nine frames that the bees would one day fill with honey. “Each box is called a super. We stack three or four supers on top of each other to make a hive.”
    â€œYou’re doing something different than flowers on this one.”
    â€œA farm scene.”
    â€œI love it,” he said. He picked up one of her paintbrushes and eyed the tubes of paint sitting in a bin next to the super. “I’ve never seen so many different colors.”
    â€œI’ve probably spent too much money on paints, but I love all the different shades.”
    â€œMy favorite hive is the one with the tiny pink roses. It makes me think of you.” He stared at her in silence before clearing his throat. “I hope it doesn’t offend you that I have a favorite. It doesn’t mean I like the others less.”
    His blue eyes were earnest and attractive on his face framed by his dark auburn hair. The effect looked like orange-red maple leaves against a deep blue sky. She found his look unnerving and breathtaking at the same time. “The roses are my favorite too.”
    He ran his hand along the lines of her drawing. “This farm scene will be wonderful- gute. People will want to come to the farm just to see your paintings.”
    â€œ Nae. I don’t think they will.”
    He smiled. “I drive by your farm just to see the Honeybee sign out front. I like the butterflies.”
    Rose’s heart beat double time at the sight of that smile. “I love monarchs.”
    Josiah seemed to get unreasonably excited. “Really? My sister has a butterfly garden. There are monarchs everywhere in her yard.” He lowered his eyes. “Would you let me show you sometime?”
    Rose’s stomach could have been a butterfly garden. The thought of Josiah showing her around Suvie’s yard made her giddy with anticipation and sick with anxiety. Josiah was handsome and kind and eager to please. But she dreaded being alone with him. He’d expect her to keep up a conversation and say clever things and make him laugh. She’d fail miserably, and Josiah would feel sorry for her, and she’d be humiliated yet again.
    Perhaps Josiah wanted to show her the butterfly garden because he pitied the poor, painfully anxious girl who seemed to need rescuing. Josiah wanted to do his duty as a Christian.
    She couldn’t bear either possibility.
    Maybe she’d just pretend he hadn’t asked. “It wonders me if you will walk me back to the house?”
    The light in his eyes dimmed but didn’t go