Read On Her Own for Free Online Page A

harnesses and bridles were looped from ceiling hooks. Enormous sheets of loosely rolled leather, looking like cinnamon sticks, poured out of shelves along one side of the shop. Hundreds of snaps, rings, buckles, and rivets nestled in open boxes linedneatly along one wall. Piled on the cement floor were bits of leather scraps, resembling spaghetti noodles. It was a comfortable feeling to be inside the harness shop. He’d only been gone from his cousin’s place a few days, and already he missed it. But Andy and his part-time helpers were doing okay without him, and Andy didn’t seem to mind if Paul stayed to help Barbara in her hour of need.
    Paul saw no sign of Samuel, so he headed toward the back of the building. Two oversized sewing machines run by an air compressor sat side by side on a heavy table. A row of tools spilled out of round wooden holders on the wide workbench nearby. “Hello,” he called. “Anybody here?”
    Barbara’s father stepped out of the back room, limping slightly as he ambled toward him. When Samuel clasped Paul’s shoulder, Paul took notice of the older man’s red, arthritic fingers.
    Paul cleared his throat. “I. . .uh. . . assume Barbara told you I’d be working here awhile.”
    Samuel smiled through the reddish beard that matched his hair. “It’ll be good to have you helping.” He held up his hands. “These fingers don’t work so good anymore. And to tell you the truth, when Barbara’s not here to show me what to do, I often flounder.”
    Paul nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
    Samuel made a sweeping gesture. “Assembling a harness can be complicated. It involves dozens of snaps, straps, and buckles, all connected in a particular way.” He grinned, and his cheeks flamed. “Guess you already know that, what with working at a harness shop in Pennsylvania and all.”
    “Jah, I’ve been working for my cousin Andy.”
    “You like it better there?”
    Paul shrugged. “It’s okay. But Lancaster County has become awful crowded.”
    Samuel frowned. “I guess some folks don’t mind crowded areas, but I’d never want to live anyplace but here. There’s nothing like the quiet, peaceful life; that’s what I’ve got to say.”
    “So what jobs are needing to be done right now?” Paul asked.
    Samuel motioned toward the desk near the front door. “There’s a folder with all the job orders over there, and I’m way behind.”
    Paul rolled up his cotton shirtsleeves, eager to get busy. “I’ll take a look-see.”

    Alice released a weary sigh as she placed a kettle of water on the stove to heat. Zachary and Joseph were playing in the living room, but ever since the boys had arrived, Aaron had just sat at the kitchen table and doodled on a piece of paper.
    “Aaron, why don’t you take your brothers and go outside for a while,” Alice suggested. “It’s a nice day, and the fresh air and sunshine will do you all some good.”
    “Don’t feel like playing.”
    “What do you feel like doing?”
    Aaron shrugged.
    “Would you like to help me bake some cookies?”
    “Bakin’ is women’s work.”
    Alice sat down beside him. “That’s not true, Aaron. Look atNoah Hertzler; he’s always helping his wife in the kitchen, and he bakes lots of tasty treats that he shares with others.”
    Aaron grunted. “I don’t care about bakin’.”
    “But you enjoy eating the cookies I make.”
    He nodded, and his eyes brightened some. “You got any oatmeal cookies, Grandma?”
    She chuckled and patted his arm. “No, but I can surely make some.”
    “That’d be good.”
    “Are you sure you wouldn’t like to help?”
    “Naw.”
    “Why don’t you go out to the harness shop and see if you can help your grossdaadi and Paul?”
    Aaron’s nose wrinkled like some foul odor had come into the room. “If it was just Grandpa workin’ in the shop, I might, but not with Paul Hilty there.”
    Alice frowned. “What have you got against Paul?”
    Aaron shrugged.
    “You know