The Scent of Cherry Blossoms: A Romance from the Heart of Amish Country by Cindy Woodsmall Page A
Authors: Cindy Woodsmall
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it if no one was still available, but there were a lot of girls at this wedding. Most young women made their preferences clear by either looking up or glancing away when a man came into the room. Aden hoped to avoid the embarrassment of choosing from a group of girls who all looked away when he entered.
Annie saw past his inability to speak smoothly. She always had. And he believed in himself. He hoped that wasn’t prideful, but despite how others saw him, he sensed his value—he had a lot to offer if given the chance. It was there inside him, like a pouch of silver hidden in a rocky field, just waiting for the owner to need it enough to dig it out of the packed earth.
Even Roman, who knew him better than anyone, seemed to see Aden as less worthy. Maybe he always had. And until recently, Aden had accepted and tolerated his brother’s opinion.
He shifted, wishing he could sigh without being noticed. Several young women came in the front door and giggled as they made their way to the Choosing room. Though the coupling was only for the day, Aden had no desire to pretend to be interested in any of them.
A wedding partner didn’t need to do much. Just keep the chosen girl company throughout the day’s activities. If friends planned a wedding prank that required masculine assistance, he usually got roped into that as well. Aden didn’t mind helping with wedding pranks, all harmless fun. Last year some guests barricaded the bride and her friends in her parents’ home. The grin on the bride’s face when she finally escaped from the house and flew into her new husband’s arms was priceless.
“Aden.” The floorboards creaked under Roman’s wheelchair as he entered the room. “What are you doing standing off in a corner?”
He turned to face his brother. “H-hiding.”
He chuckled. “And hoping there won’t be any girls left when your turn comes?”
Aden returned his attention to the window. His brother knew him well.
Roman wheeled up beside him. “See that girl in the blue dress?” He pointed to a large oak in the yard where a petite brunette stood in the shade of the tree trunk, talking to a taller, slender blond.
Aden nodded.
“I want to choose her.”
Aden raised an eyebrow and shrugged, silently asking his brother why he wasn’t out there talking to her right now.
Roman stared at his legs. “I can’t take her anywhere by myself.” He looked up, a hint of hope in his eyes. “But if you chose her friend, we could all be together.”
“N-no way.” Aden peered at the petite girl’s friend. He couldn’t see her very well from this distance, especially in the shadow of the tree. But her appearance made no difference. She could be a troll, and she’d still be better off with anyone other than him. Stuttering aside, it wasn’t right to spend the day with a girl and be thinking about someone else the whole time.
“We can work together like we do at the diner. I’ll help you communicate, and you can help me get around. Come on, what do you say?”
Aden looked into Roman’s pleading eyes.
Mattie’s Daed clapped his hands. “Time for the Choosing.”
“Please,” Roman whispered.
Worse yet, if he agreed to this arrangement, it meant the four of them would take a carriage ride after the day’s events, like a double date. And that would keep them out past ten—the time he’d agreed to meet Annie at the orchard.
But his brother needed this. Desperately. Aden prayed Annie would understand why he couldn’t meet her tonight.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
Annie flung dried corn onto the ground as chickens clucked all around her, pecking in the loose dirt. This small brood was her grandfather’s personal laying hens. All she wanted was to get done with her chores and find a way to check on Aden. He’d never showed last night, and her fears for his safety were mounting by the minute. Rarely did a week pass without her reading about a horse-and-carriage wreck in the newspaper. She hadn’t
Annie saw past his inability to speak smoothly. She always had. And he believed in himself. He hoped that wasn’t prideful, but despite how others saw him, he sensed his value—he had a lot to offer if given the chance. It was there inside him, like a pouch of silver hidden in a rocky field, just waiting for the owner to need it enough to dig it out of the packed earth.
Even Roman, who knew him better than anyone, seemed to see Aden as less worthy. Maybe he always had. And until recently, Aden had accepted and tolerated his brother’s opinion.
He shifted, wishing he could sigh without being noticed. Several young women came in the front door and giggled as they made their way to the Choosing room. Though the coupling was only for the day, Aden had no desire to pretend to be interested in any of them.
A wedding partner didn’t need to do much. Just keep the chosen girl company throughout the day’s activities. If friends planned a wedding prank that required masculine assistance, he usually got roped into that as well. Aden didn’t mind helping with wedding pranks, all harmless fun. Last year some guests barricaded the bride and her friends in her parents’ home. The grin on the bride’s face when she finally escaped from the house and flew into her new husband’s arms was priceless.
“Aden.” The floorboards creaked under Roman’s wheelchair as he entered the room. “What are you doing standing off in a corner?”
He turned to face his brother. “H-hiding.”
He chuckled. “And hoping there won’t be any girls left when your turn comes?”
Aden returned his attention to the window. His brother knew him well.
Roman wheeled up beside him. “See that girl in the blue dress?” He pointed to a large oak in the yard where a petite brunette stood in the shade of the tree trunk, talking to a taller, slender blond.
Aden nodded.
“I want to choose her.”
Aden raised an eyebrow and shrugged, silently asking his brother why he wasn’t out there talking to her right now.
Roman stared at his legs. “I can’t take her anywhere by myself.” He looked up, a hint of hope in his eyes. “But if you chose her friend, we could all be together.”
“N-no way.” Aden peered at the petite girl’s friend. He couldn’t see her very well from this distance, especially in the shadow of the tree. But her appearance made no difference. She could be a troll, and she’d still be better off with anyone other than him. Stuttering aside, it wasn’t right to spend the day with a girl and be thinking about someone else the whole time.
“We can work together like we do at the diner. I’ll help you communicate, and you can help me get around. Come on, what do you say?”
Aden looked into Roman’s pleading eyes.
Mattie’s Daed clapped his hands. “Time for the Choosing.”
“Please,” Roman whispered.
Worse yet, if he agreed to this arrangement, it meant the four of them would take a carriage ride after the day’s events, like a double date. And that would keep them out past ten—the time he’d agreed to meet Annie at the orchard.
But his brother needed this. Desperately. Aden prayed Annie would understand why he couldn’t meet her tonight.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
Annie flung dried corn onto the ground as chickens clucked all around her, pecking in the loose dirt. This small brood was her grandfather’s personal laying hens. All she wanted was to get done with her chores and find a way to check on Aden. He’d never showed last night, and her fears for his safety were mounting by the minute. Rarely did a week pass without her reading about a horse-and-carriage wreck in the newspaper. She hadn’t
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