“This is simple. Yet brilliant. When I look at this picture, I feel as if I’m seeing an actual human being. His eyes look so real. Trusting.” She pressed her lips together and took Anna’s application in her hand.
“I would trust Jesse with my life.”
Jane turned her attention back to the picture. “Anna, you’re very talented. Until we compile the scores, I can’t promise anything. But I’m extremely impressed with your work.”
Anna beamed. “Thank you. And thank you for considering my entry.”
Jane lifted a brow and locked gazes with Anna until she spoke again. “There are lots of exceptionally talented artists here. Many great entries. But this one is extraordinary. The winner will be whoever accumulates the highest combination of points. And Anna King, I want you to know that so far, this entry is my favorite.”
* * *
Anna was the winner. As the crowd in the Marriott Majestic Ballroom applauded, she made her way forward to accept the coveted scholarship she’d prayed for. But as she reached the front, for some strange reason her glory was replaced with a strange sense of uncertainty.
Don’t try to find your own path. Create it.
The strong message filled her head as she shook Jane’s hand and listened to a statement of congratulations. God had answered her prayer. And she finally knew where she belonged.
* * *
An hour later, inside the Honda CR-V, Anna relaxed into the black leather of the back seat. A mélange of emotions stirred within her as Randy, the driver, who lived three miles from Anna’s house, cruised through another green traffic light.
Anna looked out of the window to take in the surroundings. Because this would likely be her last visit to the city. The Arch was lit up and appeared as tall and as magnificent as it did in magazines.
As they continued in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the constant blaring of horns and occasional screeching of brakes made it impossible for Anna to relax. Tall buildings were everywhere. Billboards advertising hospitals and car dealerships.
When they stopped at a red light, Claire, Randy’s wife, turned back to glance at Anna. “Congratulations, Anna. Winning that contest; it’s a big deal.”
Her words pulled Anna from her reverie. At the same time, they reinforced reality. That she had really won. Even though many entrants had gone through formal classes with professionals mentoring them. She realized she was waiting for her to respond, so she used the most appreciative voice she could. “Thank you.”
She turned to dart a smile at Anna before turning back to face the front. “Like they say, there’s no replacement for natural talent.”
“Thanks for those kind words, Claire.”
Randy flipped on the radio. As Anna listened to the song on the Christian radio channel, she found herself absorbed in the melody. In her household, there was no radio, of course. But as she listened to the words from “Resurrecting,” a sense of calm swept through her until she breathed in and rested her arms over her lap.
Suddenly, tears stung her eyes. But they weren’t tears of worry. Instead, they were tears of love for her Lord and Savior.
Thank you, God, for taking over my life and making clear to me what to do. That I belong with Jesse. That from this day forward, I will create my own future, making following You the most important part of it. I will heed Mamma’s advice.
Claire’s cell phone rang, and she answered. She gave an impatient motion of her hand to her husband to turn down the radio. Not wasting time, Randy lowered the volume. Anna leaned forward in her seat as the tone of Claire’s voice turned serious.
As Anna listened to part of the conversation, she frowned. Apparently, there had been an accident.
Anna put her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, continuing to listen to Claire say, “Who?”
Anna sat very still, and there was not a sound inside the vehicle except for Claire’s emotional voice. “Two dead?”
An uneasy sensation swept through Anna’s chest until it ached. As she listened to Claire, Anna’s tight chest made it difficult to breathe. “There was a fatal accident this morning on County Road 300 East. Two killed.”
Dismay edged Randy’s voice. “Was anyone we know involved?”
Claire offered a silent nod. “There were two drivers from Tuscola, and Jesse Beiler.”
* * *
As soon as she got home, Anna rushed inside her house to her parents. Their faces were filled with sadness and concern.
In tears, Anna blurted out, “Jesse . . . is he alive?”
Her parents turned to each other and then to Anna. Her daed’s low voice cracked with emotion. “Jah. But the doctors aren’t sure he’ll make it.”
She caught a breath that was a combination of relief and pain as she started out the door and to the barn to use the phone to call Randy to drive her to wherever Jesse was. “I’ve got to get to him.”
* * *
That night, Anna looked down at the man she loved with all her heart in a hospital bed in the ICU unit at Carle Clinic in Champaign, Illinois. His eyes were closed. She took in his pale face. The IV that was taped to his arm. Plastic tubes hung behind him. The smell of antiseptics filled the air.
Slowly, Anna bent forward and planted a kiss on his lips, even though she knew it was not permitted between a single man and woman before marriage. The kiss he’d wanted so badly from her and she’d refused to give him. She frowned at the feel of his cold skin against her lips.
Breathing in, she took his fingers in hers and squeezed them affectionately. A voice from behind her made her turn to a man wearing a white coat. “He had a blood transfusion. It’s a miracle he’s alive. The drivers of the two cars weren’t as fortunate.”
A large knot blocked Anna’s throat so she couldn’t respond. All she did was offer a nod of understanding before immediately focusing on Jesse. She squeezed his hands and prayed out loud. “Dear Lord, please let Jesse live. And please . . . help me to be a good wife to him and a loving mother to our children. Amen.”
She told him about the contest, even though there was no indication from him that he could hear what she was saying. “You know what I figured out while I was there?” Not expecting a reply, she went on. “I’ m Amish, all the way through. What I would have been if my birth mamma had raised me doesn’t matter. I believe the way I’ve been raised by my eltern, who love me unconditionally. Who I am doesn’t have anything to do with how I could have been raised. It has everything to do with how I was molded.”
She swallowed. “You know what I’ve wanted all along more than anything?” She touched her finger to his lips. “You. That was what Mamma tried to tell me in her letter. But I had to go away to come home. And all the while, you unselfishly supported me.”
She paused to keep her composure from slipping. “I can’t believe I almost lost you, Jesse. I took your love for me for granted. I love you so much.”
She stopped a moment to check his reaction, hoping desperately for some sign that he could hear her. Nothing.
Still, she went on as if he was listening to her. “You’re going to make it. And I’ll be your wife. Jesse, I love your farm. The house we’ll live in.”
Excitement edged her voice as she squeezed his hands. “I can’t wait to start drawing in our home. With Pebble Creek in the background. But please, Jesse. Be there with me.”
She sniffed back a tear. “I don’t ever want to be without you again. The sketch that won the contest was a drawing of you. I want it to hang in our bedroom. You won the contest, Jesse. You won it for me. You are my inspiration.”
She closed her eyes and prayed silently. And when she opened her lids, he squeezed her hand back.
* * *
Two Months Later
Hand in hand, Anna and Jesse walked alongside Pebble Creek. Anna steadied him with her arm as he limped. This was the very place she’d sketched his picture. Where he’d asked her to be his wife. And where she’d accepted his second proposal. Today.
At the same ti
me, they stopped, and he planted a long kiss on her lips. This time, she allowed it.
“I know this isn’t proper, Anna, but now I’m more aware than ever of just how fragile we are. How we can be gone in a snap of the fingers. And every moment is precious.” He breathed in and looked up at the cloudless sky before lowering his gaze to hers. “I must be the luckiest guy in the world.”
She ran an affectionate hand over the wicked scar on his forehead. “Jesse, I praise God that you made it through that accident. You’re right about every moment being precious. I regret that it took me the time it did to figure out what I really wanted. I don’t know what . . .”
“Shhh.” He pressed his finger gently on her lips. “I’m here to stay.” His lips curved in amusement. He winked, and that all-too-familiar, mischievous twinkle in his eyes made her smile. “Now we both have scars on our foreheads.”
She grinned.
“And my parents are relieved I’m staying here. To be honest, I feel like I’m getting a second chance at life. Thanks to the doctors. Most of all, thanks to Him.” He looked up at the sky.
“And I’m getting a second chance, too.”
“You know what I was thinking before the car hit me?”
She lifted a curious brow. “What?”
“It was something I heard a long time ago. I was told that it came from Old Sam. That letting go of earthly possessions lets us take hold of heavenly treasures.”
She swallowed an emotional knot. “He let you live.”
Jesse nodded. “God’s hand protected me.”
He stopped and caught an emotional breath. “I’ll never forget what unfolded right in front of me. Serene got us both over to the side of the road so the oncoming car would have room to get by. But the driver of a car I couldn’t see suddenly passed him, hit me, and knocked me out of the buggy. I learned that the other driver couldn’t stop and hit him, and their lives were taken.”
She squeezed her eyes closed to maintain her composure. When she opened them, she blinked at the sting of salty tears. “But God let you live.” She smiled a little. “And, miraculously, your horse.”
“There’s something you should know.”
“What?”
“When I lost consciousness, I could feel God’s presence. I can’t really explain it. But it was there, Anna. And it was so powerful, I’ll never forget it.”
Tears of joy streamed down Anna’s cheeks.
Jesse ran a gentle finger to stop one. “Hey, it’s okay. God gave us a happy ending.” He hesitated before lowering the pitch of his voice. “But Anna, not everyone is so fortunate.”
Several heartbeats later, he held her hands and looked into her eyes. “The drivers are dead. And Reuben’s mother is about to go to the Lord. He’ll need a home.”
The corners of Anna’s mouth began to curve upward in a hopeful smile. “Could we adopt him?”
Jesse’s response was a firm nod. He bent to kiss her. Afterward, he looked into her eyes and pushed back a loose strand of hair that had escaped her kapp. “Anna, I would like nothing better than to have a house full of children. And I’ve always wanted a son. In fact, I can already see Reuben and me fishing together. Working together in the barn. He needs us.”
She expelled a sigh of amazement. “It’s wonderful how things work out. When I was in St. Louis, I saw an interesting wall plaque that put my priorities into perspective.”
“What did it say?”
“Not to try to find your path. To create your own. And when we have children, I want to raise them to be independent thinkers. That it’s okay to question things.”
Jesse offered a wry smile.
“God has blessed us. And I’m so happy we won’t have to wait long to marry. In the next three months, we’ll be married church members. And you know what?”
“What?”
“Sometimes, when I’m at Pebble Creek, I imagine Old Sam looking down on me. I know he had a saying about the real secret to happiness. I can’t believe I’d forgotten.”
“What?”
“The real secret to happiness is not what you give or receive; it’s what you share.” After a slight pause, she went on. “And when our children are grown, I pray that they’ll be as blessed as us. That they’ll find love at Pebble Creek.”
RETURN TO THE BEGINNING
THE HOPE CHEST OF DREAMS SERIES
Book 1: Rebecca’s Bouquet
The last thing Rebecca Sommer dreamed her plan to marry would bring is a heart-wrenching choice. She thought she and her betrothed, William, would spend the rest of their lives in Illinois’s heartland, raising a family in their close-knit Amish hometown. But when he must travel far out of state to save his ailing father’s business, Rebecca braves her relatives’ disapproval—and her own fears—to work by his side. And though she finds herself ever more in love with the dedicated, resourceful man he proves to be, William’s growing interest in English ways may be the one challenge even her steadfast faith can’t meet . . .
Book 2: Annie’s Recipe
Annie Mast and Levi Miller were best friends until his father was shunned by the church. Now, ten years later, Levi has returned to Arthur, Illinois, for a brief visit, and he and Annie discover their bond is as strong as ever. Spending as much time together as possible, Annie finds herself dreaming of a future with Levi. And Levi is soon dreaming of building a home on a beautiful local hillside—to live in with Annie. Yet their longings are unlikely to become reality . . .
Book 3: Rachel’s Dream
Rachel Kauffman and Jared Zimmerman seem to have nothing in common. She’s the outgoing youngest of a large, close-knit Amish clan, and longs to raise a brood of her own near those she loves. Estranged from his family by tragedy, Jared is a young veterinarian who trusts the animals he heals far more than he trusts people. However, when Rachel’s beloved horse falls ill, Jared’s struggles to save him show Rachel he’s a man who cares deeply. And the respect he feels for her gentle, warmhearted ways soon becomes an irresistible bond . . .
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Turn the page for an excerpt from
Rebecca’s Bouquet . . .
His announcement took her by surprise. Rebecca Sommer met William’s serious gaze and swallowed. The shadow from his hat made his expression impossible to read.
“You’re really leaving?”
He fingered the black felt on the brim. “I know what a shock this is. Believe me, I never expected to hear that Dad had a heart attack.”
“Do they expect a full recovery?”
William nodded. “But the docs say it will be a while before he works again. Right now, they can’t even guess at a time line. In the meantime, Beth’s struggling to take care of him.”
While Rebecca considered the news, the warm June breeze rustled the large, ear-shaped leaves on the catalpa tree. The sun peeked from behind a large marshmallow cloud, as if deciding whether or not to appear. In the distance, a sleek black gelding clomped its hooves against the earth.
Pools of dust stirred, swirling and quickly disappearing. Lambs frolicked across the parcel of pasture separating the Sommer home from Old Sam Beachy’s bright red barn. From where they stood, Rebecca could barely glimpse the orange YIELD sign on the back of the empty buggy parked next to the house.
“I’m the only person Dad trusts with his business.” William paused and lowered his voice. “Beth wants me to come to Indiana and run his cabinet shop, Rebecca.”
The news caused a wave of anxiety to roll through Rebecca’s chest. She wrung her hands together in a nervous gesture. A long silence ensued as she thought of William leaving, and her shoulders grew tense. Not even the light, sweet fragrance floating from her mother’s rose garden could take away Rebecca’s anxiety.
When she finally started to respond, William held up a defensive hand. “It’s just until he’s back on his feet. This may not be such a bad thing. The experience might actually benefit us.”
Rebecca raised a curious b
row. The breeze blew a chestnut-brown hair out of place, and she quickly tucked it back under her kapp. Her gaze drifted from his face to his rolled-up sleeves.
Tiny freckles decorated his nose, giving him a youthful appearance. But there was nothing boyish about his square jaw or broad shoulders that tried to push their way out of his shirt. Her heart skipped a beat. She lifted her chin, and their eyes locked in understanding.
William smiled a little. “One of these days, we’ll run our own company.” He winked. “Don’t worry.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. For one blissful, hopeful moment, she trusted everything would be okay. It wasn’t those simple two words that reassured her, but the tender, persuasive way William said them. The low, steady tone in which he spoke could convince Rebecca of almost anything.
The warm pink glow on his cheeks made Rebecca’s pulse pick up speed. As he looked at her for a reaction, her lips lifted into a wide smile. At the same time, it was impossible to stop the nervous rising and falling of her chest.
She’d never dreamed of being without William. Even temporarily. At the young age of eighteen, she hadn’t confronted such a difficult issue.
But her church teachers and parents had raised her to deal with obstacles. Fortunately, they had prepared her to be strong and to pray for guidance. As she stared at her beloved flower garden, her thoughts became more chaotic.
The clothes on the line rose and fell with the warm summer breeze. Their fresh, soapy scent floated through the air. She surely had greater control over her destiny than the wet garments, whose fate was dependent on the wind. She and William could get through this. They loved each other. God would take care of them, wouldn’t He?
She glanced up at William. The way the sun hit him at an angle made him look even taller than his six feet and two inches. He’d always been bigger and stronger than other kids his age.
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