Read Missing with Bonus Material: The Secrets of Crittenden County, Book One for Free Online Page A

uncomfortable, he shrugged. “Once Perry was gone, it didn’t seem like such a bad place. Plus, they were hiring. I just had to promise Mr. Schrock that I wouldn’t take off again before giving notice.”
    “Ah.”
    It was awkward, looking up at him. When she started to stand up, he stepped forward. “Hey, I just wanted to talk to you for a few minutes. Your sister Becky said you were out here and that you could probably talk. That is, if you have time.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “Do you have time?”
    “I have time, sure.” It wasn’t like she could say she didn’t. After all, only a lazy girl with time on her hands would pass the afternoon dozing in a garden.
    “Thanks.”
    His voice was deep and a little hoarse sounding. She wondered if the tone was new, or if he was feeling just as awkward as she.
    “Perhaps you’d like to sit? I think there’s room for two on this bench. It would seem kind of odd for us to talk this way, with me down here and you up there.” She attempted to smile, though her stomach was turning into knots.
    He would have stopped by for one reason, only: to talk about Perry.
    But still he hesitated.
    She didn’t blame him. There wasn’t much room for two, not really. But even if their legs brushed against each other, it would be less disturbing than if he remained standing in front of her, looming over her like an overgrown bush.
    “Come sit down, Englischer, ” she said, putting in the Englischer title to make him grin.
    It worked. “ Englischer, huh?” he asked, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “And here I thought you were the type of girl who treated everyone so politely.”
    “I am being polite. Mighty polite. After all, an Englischer is what you are.”
    “And here I thought I was so much more than that,” he murmured.
    As soon as she scooted over, he sat down next to her. His presence sent little bursts of tension through her spine. Up close, Walker was even more handsome. He was wearing faded jeans, scuffed cowboy boots, and a snug-fitting T-shirt. She remembered someone saying that he’d been the star pitcher for the high school baseball team.
    And now that the hint of tension was gone, she wanted to avoid the reason for his visit for as long as possible. Struggling to remember much about him, she tilted her head to one side. “It’s been a while since we saw each other. Are you still taking college courses?”
    “Yeah. Well, I mean, I’m at the community college over in Paducah. I thought I’d go a couple of years there before transferring to somewhere bigger. It’s easier to pay for.” He shifted the cap. Now he stared at her directly. His eyes, so brown, the color of melted chocolate, met her gaze, making her blush.
    “Ah.” Of course, his plans were foreign to her. No Amish boy she knew had plans to go to college.
    “And you? What are you doing now?”
    With dismay, Lydia realized that in a lot of ways nothing had changed. “Nothing new. I’m still working at our family’s greenhouse. I just sat down after working all day.”
    “And here you are, still outside? Around roses, no less.”
    His voice didn’t sound condescending. No, it sounded a little amused. Maybe more than a little amused. “I guess I can’t stay away from plants,” she quipped. As soon as she heard her words, she ached to yank them back. It probably wasn’t possible to speak more childishly!
    But instead of making a face, Walker merely nodded. “It’s good you like plants. I remember Perry talking about your family owning this big greenhouse. It’s a popular one, isn’t it?” Before she could answer, he continued. “One day, maybe you could show me around. I mean, it looks like a real nice place.”
    “I’m surprised Perry told you anything about the greenhouse. He didn’t care for it.”
    “Well, of course he didn’t. I mean, it was Perry, right? He didn’t like much.”
    That was so true. While they’d been courting, he’d become harder and harder