An Amish Nanny
Caring for her late cousins young kinder is Jessie Millers dutyeven if it means seeing their father again. Years ago, she thought Caleb King might be her husbanduntil he met her cousin and Jessies dream was cut short. Laid up with a broken leg and a demanding dairy farm, Caleb needs her. But Caleb wants no woman around...and no reminder of the wife who abandoned her family before her death. Especially since he fears Jessie will throw a wrench in his plan to remain a single dad. Shes gentle and kind, and if Caleb isnt careful, she may be just what his little Amish family needs.
There was a clatter at the back door as the kinder came in.
Jessie folded the mending. Ill go up and get things ready for bed.
When she came downstairs afterward, Timothy was on the floor, showing his daadi something about his farm animal set, while Becky cuddled on Calebs lap.
He smoothed back the strands of hair that had slipped out of Beckys braids, and the tender look on his face told Jessie everything was all right between them now.
Even as she thought it, Calebs gaze moved to her face with a smiling acknowledgment that her words had helped. Her heart swelled. Perhaps they could be friends one day.
Caleb glanced at the clock. Time you young ones were in bed.
When she bent over to reach for Timothy, Caleb caught her wrist. She raised startled eyes to his, wondering if he could feel her pulse pounding.
Denke, he said.
He let go, looked away, and Jessie hurried after the kinder who were already scrambling up the stairs. She couldnt let Caleb imagine she had any feelings for him. She just couldnt.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for deciding to read my latest story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did creating it!
I have always been touched by the importance with which the Amish view forgiveness. Their firm belief that they will be forgiven in the same measure they forgive others is at the bedrock of faith.
That doesnt mean it is easier for the Amish than it is for any other Christian. All of us must surely struggle with forgiving the wrongs that have been done to us and to our loved ones. Sometimes I think I must forgive the same things over and over again, every day, until at last I realize that the forgiveness sticks!
Caleb and Jessie struggle with this concept of forgiveness in my story, and it doesnt come easy for either of them. I hope you were moved by their struggles, and you feel theyd earned their happy ending when they finally succeeded.
Id love to hear what you think of my story. You can contact me at my website, www.martaperry.com, find me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/MartaPerryBooks, or write to me at marta@martaperry.com or in care of Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Fl, New York, NY 10007. Ill be happy to send you a signed bookmark and my brochure of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.
Blessings,
Marta Perry
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage led MARTA PERRY to write about the Plain People who add so much richness to her home state. Marta has seen nearly sixty of her books published, with over six million books in print. She and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a central Pennsylvania valley. When shes not writing, shes reading, traveling, baking or enjoying her six beautiful grandchildren.
Second Chance Amish Bride
Marta Perry
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 6:37
This story is dedicated to my husband, Brian, with much love.
Contents
Cover
Back Cover Text
Introduction
Dear Reader
About the Author
Title Page
Bible Verse
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Epilogue
Extract
Copyright
Chapter One
The hospital van bounced over a rut in the farm lane, and Caleb King leaned forward to catch the first glimpse of his home. At lastthose four weeks in the rehab hospital after his leg surgery had seemed endless, but finally he was coming back to his central Pennsylvania farm. If only he could jump down from the van, hug his kinder and plunge back into the life of being a dairy farmer.
But he couldnt. His hands tightened on the arms of the wheelchair, and he glared at the cast on his leg. How much longer would he have to count on the kindness of his family and neighbors to keep the farm going?
Caleb glanced toward the Fisher farm across the fields. The spot where the barn had been before the fire was cleared now, and stacks of fresh lumber showed a new barn would soon rise in its place. For an instant he was back in the burning structure with Sam Fisher, struggling to get the last of the stock out before the place was consumed. He heard again Sams shout, saw the fiery timber falling toward him, tried to dive out of the way...
He should have thought himself blessed it had been only his leg that suffered. And doubly blessed that Sam had hauled him out of there at the risk of his own life.
The van stopped at the back porch. Caleb reached for the door handle and then realized he couldnt get it open. Hed have to wait for the driver to lower the wheelchair to the ground. How long until hed be able to do the simplest thing for himself? He gritted his teeth. He was tired of being patient. He had to get back to normal.
By the time Caleb reached the ground, Onkel Zeb was waiting with Calebs two little ones, and his heart leaped at the sight of them. Six-year-old Becky raced toward him, blond braids coming loose from under her kapp, which probably meant Onkel Zeb had fixed her hair.
Daadi, Daadi, youre home! She threw herself at him, and he bent forward to catch her and pull her onto his lap, loving the feel of her small arms around him.
Home to stay, he said, and it was a promise. He hugged her tight. His young ones had lost too much with their mothers desertion and death. They had to know that he was always here for them.
Reminding himself that whatever Alices sins, he must forgive her, he held out his hand to Timothy, who clung to Onkel Zebs pant leg. Komm, Timothy. You know Daadi, aint so?
Little Timothy was almost four, and his blue eyes had grown huge at the sight of the lift and the wheelchair. But at the sound of Calebs voice, he seemed to overcome his shyness. He scrambled into Calebs lap, managing to kick the heavy cast in the process.
Onkel Zeb winced at the sight. Careful, Timmy. Daadis leg...
Caleb stopped him with a shake of his head. Its worth it for a big hug from my boy.
Nodding, Onkel Zeb grasped Calebs shoulder, his faded blue eyes misting over. His lean, weathered face seemed older than it had been before the accident, most likely from worry. Ach, its wonderful gut to have you home again.
The driver slammed the van door, smiling at the kinder. Dont forget, Ill be back to pick you up for your therapy appointment next week. He waved as he rounded the van to go back to the drivers seat.
Caleb grimaced as the van pulled out. I wish I could forget it. Id like to be done with hospitals.
Never mind. Youre getting well, aint so? Thats whats important. Zeb started pushing the wheelchair toward the back door, where a new wooden ramp slanted down from the porch. Sam Fisher and Daniel put the ramp in last week so itd be all ready when you came home.
Nice work. Of course it was. His brother Daniel was a skilled carpenter. Caleb tried to look appreciative, but it was hard when he kept seeing reminders of his helplessness everywhere he looked. Is Sam still helping with the milking?
I told him not to come in the morning anymore. With Thomas Schutz working every day, were getting along all right. Zeb paused. I was thinking it might be gut to have Thomas stay on full-time even after youre back on your feet. We could use the extra pair of hands.
Caleb shrugged, not willing to make that decision so quickly. Still, Thomas seemed eager to earn the money for his widowed mother, and he was a bright lad. They could do worse than take the boy on until Timothy was of an age to help.
At least for now well keep him full-time, he said. And well have Edith Berger continue with the house and the young ones.
Onkel Zeb stopped pushing when they reached the door. Caleb glanced up and was surprised at the look of discomfort on Zebs face.
About Edith...her daughter has been having some health troubles and needs her mamm. So Edith had to go to her. She isnt coming anymore.
Calebs hands clenched again as the chair bumped over the doorstep into the house. He could hardly care for the kinder when he couldnt even go up the stairs. Well have to find someone...
His words trailed off as they entered the kitchen. A woman in Plain dress stood at the stove, taking a pie from the oven.
Heres a blessing arrived this morning that we didnt expect. Onkel Zeb sounded as if he forced a note of cheerfulness into his voice. Look who has komm to help us out.
The woman turned as he spoke. Her soft brown hair was drawn back into a knot under a snowy kapp. She had on a dark green dress with an apron to match that made her hazel eyes look green. The woman wasnt one of the neighbors or someone from the church. It was Jessie Miller, cousin of the wife whod left him, and the last person he wanted to find in his kitchen.
For a long moment they stared at each other. Jessies oval face might have been a bit paler than normal, but if she was uncomfortable, she was trying not to show it. Calebs jaw hardened until it felt it might break. Jessie had offered her assistance once before, just after Alice left, and hed turned her down in no uncertain terms. What made her think she could expect a wilkom now?
Caleb. Jessie nodded gravely. Im sehr glad to see you home again.
He could hardly say that he was happy to see her, but a warning look from Onkel Zeb reminded him that the kinder were looking on. Yah, its wonderful gut to be here. Becky pressed close to the chair, and he put his arm around her. What are you...how did you get here? And why have you komm?
Jessie took the bus and got a ride out from town. Zeb sounded determined to fill up the silence with words, probably because he was afraid of what Caleb might say. Itll be wonderful nice for the kinder to get to know Cousin Jessie, aint so?
Caleb frowned at his uncle, unable to agree. He supposed, if he were being fair, that Alices family deserved some chance to get to know her children, but not now, not like this.
Before he could speak, Zeb had seized the handles of the chair. Ill show you the room we fixed up for you so you could be on this floor. Becky, you and Timothy give Cousin Jessie a hand with setting the table for supper. Daadi must be hungry, and Onkel Daniel will be in soon.