The Amish Midwife (The Amish Bachelors 2; Lancaster Courtships 3)

by Patricia Davids

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The buggies began arriving at ten o’clock in the morning on Thanksgiving. By noon Joseph’s house was overflowing with laughing, chattering couples and their babies. Ten families in all had accepted Anne’s invitation. The kitchen was awash in mouthwatering aromas. Hingleflesh, the roasting chicken, grumbatta mush, or mashed potatoes and gravy. There was creamed celery, fried sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and peas. On the counter were pumpkin and lemon sponge pies and trays of cookies. Occasionally, one or two of the older children attempted to sample some, but they were quickly herded out of the kitchen.

  Joseph found himself surrounded by young men who were happy to tease him about his recent nuptials. He smiled at their jokes and tolerated their ribbing, never letting on that he and Anne still had separate bedrooms.

  Anne was in her element. Several times during the day, he caught her eye and she gave him a bright smile, the first one in days. These women were her friends and she enjoyed being the hostess. At one point in the late afternoon, he noticed she was missing from the group. Some of the families were getting ready to leave and he knew she would want to say goodbye. He cornered Rhonda. “Have you seen Anne?”

  “She took the baby into the other room to change him for me.”

  “Danki,” he said, going in search of his missing wife. Joseph opened the door to her bedroom and saw her seated in the rocker, holding Rhonda’s infant snuggled against her chest. Her cheek lay on the top of the baby’s head. A single tear rolled from the corner of her eye.

  She looked up. “I miss her so much. My arms are empty without her.”

  He came and knelt in front of her. He laid his hand on the baby’s head. “I miss her, too. I can’t stop thinking about her. Is she okay? Is Fannie taking good care of her? I’m afraid I will wonder what has become of her for my whole life.”

  “I’m sorry that you married me in haste and are stuck with me now.” Another tear slipped down her face.

  His heart ached for her. He moved his hand to cup her cheek. “Oh, Anne, please don’t say that. I am not sorry that I married you.”

  “Do you mean that?” Her eyes begged him for the truth.

  He struggled to find the words that would convince her. “I mean it with all my heart. Perhaps this was God’s plan for Leah all along. She was our matchmaker. I would not have gone looking for a wife otherwise.”

  Anne nodded. “I would’ve never considered you husband material if not for her.”

  A glow of hope centered itself in his chest. “Husband material? Do you think you can mold me into a man who will make you happy?”

  “Nay, I cannot do that. I would not change a single thing about you. You already make me happy.”

  He wanted that to be true, but he knew he was no prize. “I am not as handsome as Micah. Nor as witty or charming.”

  “But you have something he doesn’t have.”

  “One hundred goats?” he asked, trying to coax a smile from her. It worked.

  “Even if he acquired two hundred goats, he would still not possess what you already hold.”

  “And what is that?”

  “My heart and my love.”

  Happiness exploded in his heart and sent a lump into his throat. He didn’t deserve her love.

  She looked down. “I didn’t mean to burden you with this so soon. I know you don’t love me and that’s okay. I was going to wait until you came to care for me, too, before I spoke.”

  Her gaze rose to his face. “But then I thought what if I lost you as I lost Leah and I never told you that I loved you. I couldn’t stand that.”

  Anne stroked the baby’s head and let the infant curl his fingers around her pinkie. It helped to hold another baby. At first she didn’t think it would, but Leah had taught her that she could love more than one child. Joseph had shown her she could love more than one man, even if he didn’t love her in return.

  Joseph cleared his throat. “Anne, if I possessed nothing else in the world but your heart and your love, I would be the richest man on earth. I love you, too.”

  Her eyes widened in wonder. “You do?”

  He bent toward her and kissed her forehead. “I think I’ve loved you since the day you hit me with a tomato.”

  She gave him a wavery smile as joy unfurled in her heart. What had she done to deserve such a wonderful man? “If that is what it takes to get your attention, I’m going to plant a lot of tomatoes in the spring.”

  He grinned, but then his smile faded and his eyes grew serious.

  Joseph knew he had to make a complete confession. This would the start of their true marriage. From now on, there could only be honesty between them. “Darling, I tricked you into marrying me.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The bishop said he would take Leah away if I didn’t find a wife. He said he would give her to a childless couple to raise. I couldn’t bear to lose her. I knew how much you loved her, and I used that love to convince you to marry me. Can you forgive me for that?”

  “There is nothing to forgive. We both loved her.”

  The bedroom door opened and Rhonda came in. Joseph rose to his feet and curbed his need to show Anne just how much he cared. He would bide his time for now, but when they were alone he would pour out his heart to her.

  Rhonda said, “Silas is getting ready to go home. I thought I should collect my baby before we leave.”

  “I reckon I have to give him back.” Anne kissed the top of the baby’s head and handed him to her mother. She and Joseph followed the young mother outside, where her husband had their buggy hitched and waiting for her.

  A car drove in and stopped beyond the buggy. The driver-side door opened and an Englisch woman stepped out.

  “Roxann,” Anne cried and rushed toward her. The two women embraced. “Joseph, come and meet my friend Roxann Shield. She is the nurse-midwife I have been telling you about.”

  Roxann nodded to him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Our Thanksgiving meal is over, but there is plenty left to eat. Come in.” He tipped his head toward the house, realizing that he had enjoyed the day visiting with people he knew and even those he didn’t. There would be more get-togethers in their future. His future. One with Anne by his side and God willing, children of their own around them.

  “Actually, I’ve just come to deliver a package,” Roxann said.

  “A package?” Anne gave her a puzzled look.

  “It’s really two packages.” She leaned down and spoke to someone in the car. “I brought you this far. The next step is up to you.”

  The passenger-side door opened and a woman stepped out. Joseph realized it was Fannie. And she held Leah in her arms. She glanced at Joseph and then looked down. “Hallo, brooder.”

  He took a step back, too stunned to speak.

  * * *

  Anne could barely believe her eyes. Leah was here. God had given her the chance to see her beautiful baby again. Anne glanced at Fannie. Why was she here? And why was she with Roxann? Anne turned to Joseph. She could not invite Fannie in without his consent. He had declared that his sister was dead to him and he was the head of the house.

  “Why are you here?” he demanded.

  Fannie turned to Roxann. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

  “No, I think this was the best idea you have had in a long time. Give him a chance,” Roxann said.

  Anne looked to her friend. “Roxann, what’s going on?”

  “Fannie can tell you. Go ahead.”

  Staring at the ground, Fannie began speaking. “After Johnny dumped me, I was desperate. He took all our money. I stole some stuff and got caught. That’s when I wrote the second letter to Joseph. The judge gave me probation instead of jail time. I met Brian there. He was on probation, too. We h
it it off, or so I thought.”

  Roxann looked to Joseph. “Brian was on probation for domestic abuse. He hit his previous girlfriend.”

  “I didn’t like the way he talked to you,” Joseph said.

  Anne struggled to quell her mounting excitement. At least he was speaking to his sister. “How did you meet Roxann?”

  “You gave me her name. I thought I was pregnant again, so I got an appointment with her. You said she would see me for free. I had just left Brian. I was worried he’d hurt Leah. I think I finally wised up about guys like him. I don’t know why I always find them.”

  Roxann smiled at Anne. “By the way, you owe me one hundred and seventy-five dollars for an office visit.”

  “I’ll write you a check.” Anne lowered her voice. “Fannie, are you pregnant?”

  She nodded. “Johnny is the father. It’s dumb, I know, but I just want someone to love me. Someone to hold.”

  Anne held out her arms. “We love you and your babies.”

  “You don’t even know me.”

  “I know you,” Joseph said. “And I have always loved you. Willkomm home, little sister. Promise me you will stay as long as you need.”

  Tears rolled down Fannie’s face. “That might be a really long time.” She flew to her brother’s arms and Anne gave thanks to God for His kindness.

  “Can I have my old room?” Fannie asked when she stopped crying.

  “I have a few things of mine in there, but ja,” Anne answered. “Roxann, please come in and I’ll fix you something to eat.”

  “I don’t mind if I do. It was a long ride.” Roxann followed Fannie inside.

  Joseph put his arm around Anne. “That leaves us with just one problem.”

  “I know.”

  “We only have one bedroom left.”

  “I realize that.” Her cheeks grew hot.

  “I’m willing to share my space with my wife. Are you ready to come home?”

  She threw her arms around his neck. “I’ve never been so ready in my life. Gott has granted us a great gift.”

  “He has, but there is one more thing I need.”

  “What?”

  “A kiss, Mrs. Lapp. I need to find out if my wife is a good kisser.”

  Anne glanced toward the house. They were still alone if she didn’t count the dozens of goats watching them over the fences. “I have no idea if I’m a good kisser, but I’m willing to practice until I get it right.”

  “Goot girl.” He proceeded to pull her close and kiss her tenderly.

  Joy flooded every fiber of her being. She put her arms around his neck and drew him closer. “I can see I’m going to need a lot of practice.”

  “Tonight. But right now I want to go hold my baby girl.”

  “Me, too.” They linked arms and entered the house with joyful hearts.

  Epilogue

  Early March

  “We’ve got twins!” Anne shouted to Joseph.

  “Twins? I’m coming.” He jogged across the pasture to her side. A young doe was nursing two brown-and-black kids with white stars on their foreheads and long floppy ears.

  “Goot girl, Jenny. Two nice little bubbels.” He patted her head as she nuzzled her newborns.

  “Is this the last of them?” Anne wiped her hands on a towel and gazed out over the greening pasture dotted with does and wobbly kids. A hedge of honeysuckle was blooming on an old rock fence nearby and the air was sweet with the scent.

  “Jenny was the last one. We have fifty-two new goats. Your own milk herd in another two years.”

  She smiled at the love of her life. He still liked goats better than most people, but that didn’t include herself, Leah or Fannie. They were truly his family now. “We’re going to need fifty new goats if we expand into cheese making. Are you sure you want to do that?”

  “Fannie knows what she’s doing. You have to admit she’s made some fine cheeses. If she thinks we can find an organic market, I’m willing to give it a shot.”

  “She’s worried she’ll disappoint you.”

  “I’ll make sure she knows my love isn’t tied to any success or failure. It’s always there.”

  Anne kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”

  “So you’ve told me.”

  “I haven’t told you today.”

  “You did. Before breakfast, during milking, after milking and after lunch. Four times today, five counting right now.”

  “You’re counting how many times I tell you that I love you?”

  He pulled her close to him. “Every one. I want to remember them all.”

  Cupping his face between her hands, she gave him a quick peck on the lips. “I only count your kisses.”

  He chuckled. “How many are we up to?”

  “Two thousand and seventy-one.”

  “No wonder my lips are tired.” She swatted his shoulder and stepped away, but inside, she was smiling.

  He looked over the pasture. “I’m glad we are done birthing for the year.”

  Was this the right time? Maybe it was the best time. “Actually, we aren’t done.”

  “Ja, Fannie will have her new baby in June and then we will be done.”

  “There will be one more. On about October 22, by my calculations.”

  She watched his face. Understanding suddenly dawned on him. “You? We? Us? We’re pregnant?”

  She nodded. “We are. Are you happy?”

  He pulled her close. “You have no idea how happy you have made me. Gott es goot.”

  “Ja, He is.” She closed her eyes and collected kisses number two thousand and seventy-two, seventy-three and seventy-four.

  After that, she lost count as his love swept her away to gorgeous bliss surrounded by the fragrance of honeysuckle on a green hillside of Pennsylvania overlooking her home.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE CHRISTMAS FAMILY by Linda Goodnight.

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you have enjoyed the Lancaster Courtships series. It isn’t always fun to work with other writers on a project. However, I have to say that Emma Miller and Rebecca Kertz were true professionals and a joy to work with. Our editor, Melissa Endlich, did a great job of keeping us on the straight and narrow to produce a true trilogy that tied up all the stories without shortchanging any of them. No small feat.

  I had to do a lot of research for this book. I’d already done quite a bit on midwives for another book, but pumpkins and goats were not something I was familiar with. For this I turned to my family. My oldest brother, Greg, and his wife, Theresa, were a wealth of information about running a small business and growing pumpkins. I love their white ones and enjoy decorating my home for fall with their produce.

  For information on goats, my brother Bob hooked me up with his girlfriend, Te’Coa, a woman who runs a goat dairy and is a well-known dairy goat judge. She answered my every question and even let me watch her milk a goat. It’s a pretty amazing business. Thanks to all of them, I managed to write a story I hope is mostly accurate. Any mistakes made are completely my own and not due to my resources. (Love you guys.)

  I’d like to wish everyone a blessed holiday season. May your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations hold true to Amish values by bringing you closer to God, family and friends.

  Happy Holidays,

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

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  The Christmas Family

  by Linda Goodnight

  Chapter One

  Brady Buchanon had planned his escape well. Three more minutes and he was out of here for the day.

  He hurriedly tossed his tools into the back of the work truck, eager to be gone. Man, he loved this time of year! Cool, crisp and clear weather, and Christmas practically dripped from the trees.

  He clicked the locks on his royal blue F-350, waited for Dawg, his faithful mutt to leap into the seat and was about to climb inside himself when his father, owner of Buchanon Built Construction Company and, by all rights, Brady’s boss, stepped out into the late November day.

  “Brady, hold up.”

  Not fast enough. Brady blew out a resigned breath. He leaned a hand on the truck top and waited, though not at all patiently.

  “Been meaning to talk to you about something.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “This makeover thing you do every Christmas, better cancel this year.”

  The request sailed right over Brady’s head. “Too late. I already have the recipient lined up.”

  Dan Buchanon, his salt-and-pepper hair hidden under a Buchanon Built ball cap, scratched at the side of his neck. “You’ve made the announcement?”

  “On my way there now. Dad, you should see this house. It’s bad, but Buchanon Built can make it shine.” Donating a home makeover for one needy family each Christmas was Brady’s favorite event of the year, and the publicity was great for business, an important consideration to his father.

  “I appreciate the sentiment, son, and in years past didn’t mind the lost time and expense but not this year. We need all hands on deck.”

  “I can work it out. Don’t worry. Buchanon projects won’t suffer. The guys who volunteer can work on the makeover on their downtime or when things are slow.”

  But Dan was shaking his head. “With all the work on the schedule and the slowdowns we’ve encountered, you don’t have time for charity. We don’t have time for charity. Jaylee just told me you still don’t have a plumber lined up for the Edwards project.”