An Amish Schoolroom

by Amy Clipston

  On another day, at another time, Lewis knew it would feel incredible to be sitting in a sleigh with his arm around Wendy. However, at the moment, all he felt was relief that they’d made it through the day and night.

  “Wendy, isn’t it pretty out?”

  It was a shame she was already asleep.

  Smiling to himself, he realized Wendy had been wrong. It wasn’t just the bad moments that were memorable. Sometimes, it was a perfect instant like this.

  Chapter 13

  Wendy couldn’t recall if she’d ever felt so motivated to go to church. After their return home on Thursday, she’d eaten a hot breakfast, taken a long bath, then fallen into bed. She’d slept most of the day. Bonnie had even delivered some soup and a grilled cheese sandwich to her room on Thursday evening. After Wendy ate, she again fell into an exhausted slumber.

  On Friday, she’d finally walked down to the phone shanty to tell her whole family about her week. Then she’d hung around the main house with Lewis and his family. They seemed content to play cards and games with her and Lewis. Mervin and Fern even spent time with them. Fern, especially, loved hearing all of their middle-of-the-night stories.

  By Saturday, Wendy felt a lot more like herself and was ready to put her classroom back to rights. All of Lewis’s family—and Mervin and Fern—came to the schoolhouse and helped. The men shoveled, Fern and Judith Rose cleaned the bathroom and swept the floor, and Bonnie and Lewis helped Wendy wash the blackboard, rearrange the desks, and generally put everything back into place. Frank even made sure the heater was filled with kerosene and working properly.

  By the time they left, feeling worn out but exhilarated, Wendy was ready to face another week.

  Sunday, however, was a day to be spent giving thanks, and Wendy didn’t know if she’d ever feel as thankful as she did that day. By the time the service was over, she’d expressed her gratitude to the Lord and also praised Him for the blessings He’d bestowed.

  They stayed quite a while at the hosts’ house for the luncheon. It was midafternoon when they finally headed back home.

  But when the buggy arrived at the Weavers’ property, Wendy was shocked to see a big group there. All her students—and all their parents. When Frank parked his buggy, the crowd cheered.

  “What is going on?” she asked Bonnie. When Bonnie just smiled, Wendy realized she was the only person who’d been in the dark. “You knew about this?”

  “Well, of course! Why do you think we stayed at the luncheon so long?”

  Judith Rose nodded. “We all kept whispering to each other to make up more excuses to stay.”

  “Miss Schwartz!” several children called out to her.

  Turning to them, Wendy felt her heart fill. She’d actually missed them!

  After she’d greeted all the children—each of whom seemed determined to tell her how they’d been—five parents approached. Wendy knew they were the school board. Mrs. Petersheim was in the middle, and Emma Beachy stood right by her side.

  Sounding rather imperious, Beth said, “Wendy, we came over not only to thank you for the care of our children but to tell you how impressed we were with how you handled the whole day’s and evening’s events during the snowstorm. It couldn’t have been easy, but from everything we’ve heard, you made the children feel secure, safe, and even happy.”

  “Danke. I canna take all the credit, though. Lewis was there with blankets and food. He also helped in many ways.” Looking out at the twenty faces she knew she was going to miss so much, Wendy added, “Plus, your children are wonderful. They were helpful and kind to each other. Anyone would have done well with them.”

  Beth cleared her throat. “Actually, we don’t think that is true. Marti made a point to inform me she didn’t think any teacher but you could have taken care of the class as well. She—and most every other one of the students—can’t praise you enough. Marti has even shared that she thinks I’ve been far too judgmental and hard on you.” After taking a breath, Mrs. Petersheim nodded. “I think she is probably correct. I am sorry that I doubted you so much, Miss Schwartz.”

  “I . . . danke, Mrs. Petersheim.”

  “I hope you will forgive my initial lack of support.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. I promise.” Not knowing what else to say, Wendy turned to Lewis for help.

  He moved closer to her side. Smiling down at her, he said, “Well, now. It seems our Wendy is at a loss for words. Maybe you should tell her the other reason you came, Beth.”

  With a happy smile, Mrs. Petersheim continued. “I’ll be glad to do that.” She took a deep breath. “Wendy, we took a vote, and it’s unanimous. We’d like you to return next year.”

  Wendy froze. “I’m sorry?”

  One of the gentlemen came forward. “We can discuss this later, but we’re also giving you a raise. This week’s adventure made us all realize—especially after speaking with Lewis here—that we expect a great deal from you. You should be compensated.”

  Wendy turned to Lewis in shock. “What did you say?”

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  Emma Beachy reached out and clasped Wendy’s hand. “Please say you’ll think about it. We want you to be our children’s teacher next year and maybe even longer. Why, even if you marry, we’d like you to stay at the school.”

  Frank Weaver laughed. “It sounds like you had quite a talk with the school board, Lewis.”

  He inclined his head. “I did have quite a bit to say.”

  “Now, let’s have cake!” Becca said. “Mei mamm made a big one!”

  Realizing there would be plenty of time to contemplate everything the school board members had said, Wendy laughed and smiled at Becca. “Yes, by all means. Let’s have cake. It seems we have much to celebrate.”

  * * *

  Later that night, long after they’d eaten lots of cake and a light supper, and after everyone else had gone to bed, Lewis held Wendy close on the sofa in the living room. Two vanilla-scented candles burned nearby, and the fireplace still glowed with the last of the embers.

  Soon, there wouldn’t be any more surprise bursts of snow, and they’d only be looking forward to warm sunny days and maybe the chance of rain.

  Wendy couldn’t remember when she’d ever been so happy. She’d loved seeing the children earlier and had been so touched by all of the parents’ compliments and gratitude.

  “So, what do you want to do? Have you given it some thought?”

  “I have.” She smiled. “What do you think I should do?”

  “You know what I think. I want you to marry me, be my wife, and teach children to your heart’s content.”

  She raised her eyebrows. “Do you really think I can do all that?”

  “Of course I do. After all, I think you already have. And if you have any doubts, I can name twenty reasons why you need to stay. No, make that twenty-one,” he said as he kissed her.

  Wendy kissed him back, loving the way he held her so close and whispered promises every time they paused for breath. Lewis was right, she realized.

  Twenty-one reasons—twenty bright young students and one cherished man—were more than enough justification to say yes.

  Especially because all she’d really needed was one reason: Lewis’s love.

  Acknowledgments

  Once again, I’m honored for the opportunity to work with the team at HarperCollins Christian Publishing. I’m so grateful to the many people who work so hard to make these collections come to life. I’m in awe of your hard work, expertise, and dedication.

  Discussion Questions

  Wendy is close to her family and both enjoys and dreads their attempts to offer advice. Who in your family dispenses the most advice? What is some of the best advice you’ve been given?

  Wendy’s first “real” teaching job is filled with a lot of mistakes and rewards. How does that compare to your first “real” job?

  What did you think about Lewis? Why was he such a good match for Wendy?

  How woul
d you have handled the storm? Have you ever been forced to change your plans or make sacrifices because of bad weather? What did you learn from that experience?

  The following verse from Proverbs guided the writing of this story. What does it mean to you? “Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

  I thought the following Amish proverb fit Wendy’s story well. How might it apply to something that’s happened in your life? “We make our decisions, and then our decisions turn around and make us.”

  Glossary

  ach/ack: oh

  appeditlich: delicious

  Ausbund: Amish hymnal

  bedauerlich: sad

  bobbli/boppli: baby

  bruder: brother

  bruders: brothers

  bruderskinner: nieces/nephews

  bu: boy

  Budget, The: Amish newspaper

  buwe: boys

  daadi: grandfather

  daadihaus: small house provided for retired parents

  daed/dat: dad

  danke/danki: thank you

  dawdi: grandfather

  dochder: daughter

  dochdern: daughters

  doktah: doctor

  dumm: dumb

  Dummle!: Hurry!

  Englisher/Englisch: non-Amish person

  familye: family

  frau: woman/wife

  freind: friend

  freinden: friends

  froh: happy

  gegisch: silly

  geh: go

  gern gschehne: you’re welcome

  grosskinner: grandchildren

  Gude mariye: Good morning

  gut: good

  Gut nacht/naut: Good night

  haus: house

  Ich liebe dich: I love you

  ja/jah: yes

  kaffee/kaffi: coffee

  kapp: prayer covering or cap

  kinn: child

  kinner: children

  kocha: cook

  kumm: come

  liewe: love, a term of endearment

  maed: young women, girls

  maedel: young woman

  mamm/mutter: mom

  mammi: grandmother

  mann: man/husband

  matin: morning

  mei: my

  naerfich: nervous

  naut: night

  nee: no

  nix: nothing

  onkel: uncle

  Ordnung, The: the written and unwritten rules of the Amish; the understood behavior by which the Amish are expected to live, passed down from generation to generation. Most Amish know the rules by heart.

  schee: pretty

  schmaert: smart

  schoolhaus: schoolhouse

  schtupp: family room

  schweschder/schwester: sister

  schweschdere: sisters

  sehr: very

  sohn: son

  Was iss letz?: What’s wrong?

  Wie geht’s: How do you do? or Good day!

  wunderbaar: wonderful

  ya: yes

  yer: your

  yung: young

  zwillingbopplin: twins

  About the Authors

  Amy Clipston

  Photo by Dan Davis Photography

  Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series. Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA. Amy holds a degree in communication from Virginia Wesleyan University and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and five spoiled rotten cats.

  Visit her online at AmyClipston.com

  Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks

  Twitter: @AmyClipston

  Instagram: @amy_clipston

  Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/amy-clipston

  Kathleen Fuller

  With over a million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield.

  Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com

  Facebook: @WriterKathleenFuller

  Twitter: @TheKatJam

  Instagram: @kf_booksandhooks

  Shelley Shepard Gray

  Photo by: The New Studio

  Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

  Website: ShelleyShepardGray.com

  Facebook: @ShelleyShepardGray

  Twitter: @ShelleySGray

  Copyright

  ZONDERVAN

  An Amish Schoolroom

  A Class for Laurel Copyright © 2021 by Amy Clipston

  A Lesson on Love Copyright © 2021 by Kathleen Fuller

  Wendy’s Twenty Reasons Copyright © 2021 by Shelley Shepard Gray

  Requests for information should be addressed to:

  Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

  ISBN 978-0-310-36584-6 (downloadable audio)

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Clipston, Amy. Class for Laurel. | Fuller, Kathleen. Lesson on love. | Gray, Shelley Shepard. Wendy's twenty reasons.

  Title: An Amish schoolroom : three stories / Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray.

  Description: Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zondervan, [2021] | Summary: "From three bestselling authors of Amish fiction come three charming stories of new school years and new romance"-- Provided by publisher.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2021011899 (print) | LCCN 2021011900 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310365822 (paperback) | ISBN 9780310365839 (epub) | ISBN 9780310365846

  Subjects: LCSH: Amish--Fiction. | Christian fiction, American. | Romance fiction, American.

  Classification: LCC PS648.A45 A55 2021 (print) | LCC PS648.A45 (ebook) | DDC 813/.01083823--dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021011899

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021011900

  Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

  Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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  Printed in the United States of America

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