by Ruth Price
When Miss Maisie had finished her treat, Hannah said, “Good girl,” and vigorously rubbed the horse about the head and upper neck before continuing towards the driveway to Geizhals’ stable.
In deference to her work, Hannah wore trousers instead of the long dress and apron that Amish women favored. She also wore an Englischer style ski-coat, heavy work boots, and thick leather gloves to protect her hands from the unrelenting cold. It was cold enough outside that Hannah didn’t need to leave her lunch in the farmhouse refrigerator, but Geizhals required that she stop in at the house before starting her work every day.
As always, the hinges of the large, heavy door to Geizhals’ home squealed as Hannah pushed it open.
“Yoder! You’re late!” echoed his voice down the dim, dusty hallway.
A finger of damp sent chills over Hannah’s skin as she walked down the hall towards Geizhals’ office. Framed paintings hung on the walls, though as the hallway lacked windows and Geizhals wouldn’t be troubled to purchase lantern or electric light, the colors—rich and dark—had only managed a vague impression of ominous shadow in her gaze.
Geizhals sat behind a large, heavy desk, the wood so dark as to be almost black. The window behind him was curtained firmly shut, the only light in the room coming from a lamp on the right side of his desk that made the light blue of his irises glitter in sharp contrast to the shadowed hallows around his eyes. He leaned forward, leaning on his elbows, the papers on his desk crinkling under his weight as his fingers met in a steeple at his chin.
“Miss Yoder,” he said. “There’s no need to be feeding or tending to Miss Maisie today. She’ll be picked up at one this afternoon for auction at New Dutchland.”
With those words, the ground came loose from beneath Hannah’s world. New Dutchland was an auction, though most of the buyers weren’t interested in horseflesh beyond its value as meat.
“Ne...New Dutchland?”
“That is what I said,” Geizhals said, without the slightest hint of kindness towards the mare who had served him well, birthing eleven foals—three award winning—over fifteen years. “Miss Maisie’s gone barren, and there’s no room in my stable for a horse that eats my food and produces only manure. The truck will be along, as I said, at one so make sure she’s ready” And then the steady clip-clop of hooves sounded from the driveway outside.
“Uncle!” It was a man’s voice, young, exuberant and full of cheer.
“Humbug,” Geizhals muttered under his breath. “Another of my sister’s brats with a basket of his Christmas cheer. If I believed in God, I’d beg him to hide me from idiot relatives bent on saving my soul.” His chill blue gaze settled on Hannah. “Yoder, tell that fool I’m not receiving guests.”
Hannah nodded once, still stunned at the thought of losing her precious Maisie. And the conditions at New Dutchland! She’d heard rumors: horses packed into tiny pens without hay or water for hours and hours waiting for auction, then packed into tiny trucks for Canada where they might be so lucky as to expire on their own before suffering a far more brutal death at their destination. Hannah backed away from Geizhals’ office, her mind spinning. She reached the door just as the vigorous knock sounded against the hard wood.
“Coming!” Hannah shouted, but the door creaked open before Hannah could touch the knob.
Ezekial Stoltzfus
The young man on the other side was a dual shock. He was stocky with a wide grin and sparkling green eyes that made Hannah’s face feel as warm as standing in front of a Christmas fire. He was also dressed in Amish style: black trousers, suspenders, hat, and a plain blue shirt that was neatly pressed showed his frame quite fetchingly. If he was Amish though, and local, why had she never met him?
THANK YOU FOR READING!
I hope you enjoyed reading this sample as much as I loved writing it! If so, you can read the rest of An Amish Country Christmas Carol and TWO MORE BOOKS as well as a bonus short story in the Lancaster County Christmas Collection.
INCLUDED IN THIS COLLECTION is:
Book 1: An Amish Country Christmas Carol by Ruth Price: Can a man, when confronted with the failures of his past, rise above his mistakes and return to a life of caring, community and love? When a young woman is faced with the difficult choice to either become a thief or send a dear friend to certain death, is the right decision a good one?
Book 2: A Child’s Wish by Rebecca Price: When Amish teen, Emma Lapp, on a day trip to New York City, gets lost on the subway and enlists the aid of an Englischer child, will this chance meeting spell the start of a perfect day or utter disaster?
Book 3: Before An Amish Country Calamity by Ruth Price: If you're looking for a laugh out loud funny book about the adventures of an Amish tomboy and surprise Christmas delivery, this one's for you.
And a BONUS short story from Ruth Price – Papa Abram’s Special Christmas!
Get the whole THREE BOOK collection here (and save yourself a few bucks from grabbing each individually)!
Also, if you get a chance to give me a review, I would really appreciate it! Also, if you find something in the book you want to talk to me about (or YIKES—something that makes you think it deserves less than 5-stars), please drop me a line at [email protected]. I’ll try to fix any problems if I can, and I love hearing from my readers in any case.
You can also join my updates list if you want to hear more from me and other great Christian authors about new releases, free and discount books!
All the best,
Ruth
ENJOY THIS BOOK? You can make a big difference
Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. As much as I'd love to, I don't have the financial muscle of a New York publisher. I can't take out full page ads in the newspaper or put up billboards on the highway.
(Not yet, anyway.)
But I have a blessing that is much more powerful and effective than that, and it's something those publishers would do anything to get their hands on.
A loyal and committed group of wonderful readers.
Honest reviews of my books from readers like you help bring them to the attention of other readers.
If you've enjoyed this book, I would be so very grateful if you could spend just 3 minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like) on this book's review page. Just click here and select which platform you read ebooks on.
And if, *YIKES* you find an issue in the book that makes you think it deserves less than 5-stars, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll do everything I can to fix it.
Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Ruth
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All Praise first to the Almighty God who has given me this wonderful opportunity to share my words and stories with the world. Next, I have to thank my family, especially my husband Harold who supports me even when I am being extremely crabby. Further, I have to thank my wonderful friends and associates with Global Grafx Press who support me in every way as a writer. Lastly, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without you, my readers. I hold you in my heart and prayers and hope that you enjoy my books.
All the best and Blessings,
Ruth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RUTH PRICE IS A PENNSYLVANIA native and devoted mother of four. After her youngest set off for college, she decided it was time to pursue her childhood dream to become a fiction writer. Drawing inspiration from her faith, her husband and love of her life Harold, and deep interest in Amish culture that stemmed from a childhood summer spent with her family on a Lancaster farm, Ruth began to pen the stories that had always jabbered away in her mind. Ruth believes that art at its best channels a higher good, and while she doesn’t always reach that ideal, she hopes that her readers are entertained and inspired by her stories.
If you enjoy Ruth’s books, feel free to sign up for her mailing list to be updated about new releases, discount books, and FREE books from her and other great authors
from Global Grafx Press.
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Lancaster County Second Chances 4
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Out of Darkness (An Amish of Lancaster County Saga)
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Out of Darkness Book 1
Out of Darkness Book 2
Out of Darkness Book 3
Out of Darkness Book 4
Out of Darkness Book 5
Out of Darkness Book 6
Out of Darkness Book 7
Out of Darkness Book 8
Out of Darkness Book 9
Out of Darkness Book 10
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Out of Darkness - Book 2
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