“I know I let you believe I was the bad guy,” Vernon said with sincerity and a glimpse of admiration in his eyes, “and I know I poisoned your relationship with your daed over the factory job, and I’m sorry about that. But you were wasted there. I fired you because I knew you needed to sacrifice the good to get the better, and now you need to sacrifice the better to get the best.”
Zeke blinked. Was that supposed to make sense?
“Everyone needs someone who believes in them more than they believe in themselves,” Vernon continued, glancing down at his feet. “I didn’t explain myself back then. I should’ve, but I didn’t know how until I talked to Daniel Zook today. And jah, I was jealous then, and the last few days brought those feelings back even more. He helped me see that, too. Everyone loves you. Even cows, dogs, and special-needs people. I’m good for nothing but bossing people around. And they resent that.” He gave a short laugh. “The world is chaos. I must be in control.”
Zeke’s mind struggled to process it all. A dull ache began in his temples.
“I’m sorry for acting out toward you. I called your daed to tell the truth about everything I lied about. So many things.” Vernon hung his head. “I’m truly sorry.”
“I’m truly proud of you, son.” Daed rubbed a fist over his eyes. “So when Vernon called after talking to Daniel Zook, I dropped everything and left on that four-hour drive. Vernon is going home tonight, but I’m staying until Monday.”
“So I’m not leaving now?” Zeke pressed against the ache.
Cliff chuckled from his guard post by the stairs. “If things go as I hope in the barn, you aren’t leaving ever. Luke wants to hire you as an apprentice in his furniture-making business.” Cliff glanced toward the open barn doors.
“Really? But I don’t know what I’m doing.” But he’d love the challenge.
“Or, your current boss is talking about expanding into this area,” Daed said.
That was news to Zeke, but he would enjoy that.
“But no dating while you’re here as a mission worker,” Daniel Zook said with a bit of a teasing smirk.
Cliff laughed. “We’ll do that skip-the-dating-and-cut-straight-to-marrying thing.”
Zeke was afraid to hope. But jah, please, Lord.
The three men emerged from the barn wearing matching grim expressions.
And the hope died.
Chapter 29
The cherry pies were prepared and ready to slide into the oven when the shepherd’s pie came out. While Mammi took care of the folded laundry, Grace wiped off the table, washed the baking dishes, then prowled by the porch window, attempting to hear the men’s words.
But other than Daed’s very good news about Jon before Daadi Cliff sent her back inside, she hadn’t heard anything since Timothy joined the men and slammed the door.
If only she had the courage to open the door a crack and eavesdrop. But the hinges creaked and would give her actions away if she did.
Worry growing, she dipped her head and prayed. Jesus, calm the storm. All the storms. The Timothy storm, the Zeke storm…Help me to be still and know you are Gott. Help me to trust.
There was a moment of peace, then she glanced out the window at the Mennonite man’s stern expression and Vernon’s smirk, and she yanked her worries right out of Gott’s hands and started stressing over them again. So she had to give them back. Over and over.
The oven timer buzzed, and since Mammi hadn’t returned downstairs, Gracie removed the shepherd’s pie, covered it with a towel to keep it warm, and adjusted the temperature for the pies.
Voices rose outside, and she peeked out the window. Daed and Bishop Nathan herded a sullen-looking Timothy toward the haus.
She had to know. Were they being forced to marry, after all?
She flung open the door.
Daadi Cliff straightened from his position guarding the stairs and pointed her back inside.
Her stomach churned, but she didn’t dare disobey with Daed and the bishop there. Still, she left the door open a crack.
Low murmurs came from outside. Not loud enough. She moved to stare out the window and attempted to read the bishop’s lips. But no. That was impossible with his beard and the slight angle of his body.
Except, Daadi Cliff grinned and gave Zeke a thumbs-up before turning away to say something.
A thumbs-up. That meant something good, ain’t so? Oh, please, Gott.
Zeke stood, a slight smile on his face.
Timothy stared down at the ground.
Daed met Grace’s gaze through the window, but she couldn’t understand his expression. Sadness, definitely, but…She squinted. The glare from the lanterns and shadows on his face made it hard to see. And her internal worry meter rose a bit again.
The oven chimed that it was heated to the temperature the pies needed.
She swung away from the window, slid the pies in, and reset the timer for twenty minutes. She’d cover the edges with tinfoil at that point.
The door opened with a squeak of the hinges.
“Gracie. You can come out now,” Daed said. There was sorrow in his voice.
She turned and studied his expression for a moment.
Her heart lurched. Had Timothy told them about catching her and Zeke kissing the way they had?
She stumbled toward the door and out.
Zeke reached for her hand. She grasped it as if it were a lifeline.
Please, Gott…
Timothy looked up, his expression broken. “Gracie…” He gulped. “I…I…You don’t love me the way you love him.” He nodded toward Zeke. “I can’t marry you. I don’t love you the way I should, either.”
“I wish you the best and danki,” she murmured because it was polite. She and Timothy used to be friends, and now all she felt for him was pity.
Free! Oh, glory. She was free! Free, and no longer bound to the promise she’d made to Mamm. She wasn’t promised to anyone now and was free to choose the man beside her…
But why the frowns? Her stomach clenched.
Timothy jerked, tears appearing in his eyes. He glanced at the bishop, made a sound as if he were in pain, then bolted for his bike. The next instant he was pedaling away.
“He’s being excommunicated tomorrow during church,” the bishop said with a slow head shake and a twist of his lips.
Oh. Oh. Pain shot through Grace, and her eyes burned. Timothy was shunned until he came to repentance. He’d been mean at times to her and to Patience, but a shunning? Ouch. Compassion for his family filled her. Their son was alive…and yet “dead” to them for a season.
“He’ll be a special project of mine while I’m here.” The Mennonite missionary gazed after him.
“Supper is ready,” Mammi said behind them.
“I need to hit the road,” Vernon said as he glanced at the missionary. “It was nice meeting everyone. It’s been a real…eye-opener.” He slapped Zeke’s shoulder in a friendly way.
Zeke released her hand and returned the gesture.
What had she missed?
“They are my ride, so I guess I’ll go, too,” his daed said. “I’ll be seeing you, Zeke, before I leave.” His daed hugged him.
“Since you’ll be in the area, stay for dinner,” Daadi Cliff said. “And if you haven’t found a place for the night, you can stay here.”
Mammi counted the number of people staying for supper and then went back inside.
Daed nodded. “You’ll be welcome.”
“Danki. Let me grab my bag.” He went out to the van and removed a black bag.
The missionary shook everyone’s hands, except Mammi’s, since she was inside, and he and Vernon left.
Daadi Cliff headed for the door. He showed the bishop inside, then stopped and pointed at Zeke. “Now, you get to proposing, boy, so we can celebrate.”
Grace’s face heated. But inside she was a flurry of emotion. She was free from Timothy, and was it truly possible she might get her first true proposal instead of an “I’m telling you
”?
Zeke’s hand closed around hers, and he chuckled nervously.
Daed winked at Grace as he followed Daadi Cliff and the bishop inside.
Zeke’s daed stepped forward. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Gracie.” The door shut behind him.
Leaving Grace and Zeke alone.
Except for the four male faces pressed against the window.
Zeke glanced at them, then tugged Grace down the steps and around the corner of the haus where there weren’t any windows.
She dipped her head to avoid looking at him. “Daadi Cliff is a tease. You can ignore him.” But oh, she hoped he wouldn’t.
His fingers gently raised her chin. “Gracie…Ich liebe dich. I know I’ve only known you for a few days, but I love your kindness, your humor, even your temper. I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know everything about you.” He shifted nervously. His gaze dipped to her lips and then back to stare heatedly into her eyes in a way that made her hot from head to toe and all the parts tingling in between. “Grace Lynn Lantz, how do you feel about marrying me this Thursday?”
That would be a dream come true beyond her wildest imagination. Like the glorious rainbow after a storm. Tears beaded, clustered, overflowed. “Are you serious?”
He looked a little worried. “I kind of like the whole skip-the-dating-and-cut-straight-to-marrying idea. If…if you do, too. Will you marry me?”
“Jah! Ich liebe dich, Ezekiel Bontrager.”
He grinned and pulled her into his embrace. Her face was tucked under his chin with his warm arms around her back. She held on tight and swayed, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
This wedding she wouldn’t dread.
Gott had let the tornado stop her wedding to Timothy and brought Zeke here as a rescue worker. Gott had saved Jon’s life in a miraculous way. Gott had used the storm to catch Timothy’s attention and bring him low, to reveal his sins so he could confess. Gott had saved her from a disastrous, loveless marriage and gave her Zeke instead—a man who could be a valuable member of the community.
The inner storms were calmed, and Gott’s hand was clearly seen and exalted. “Danki, Lord.”
“Amen.”
She glanced up at Zeke.
“Gracie, I promise to always love and honor and take care of you.”
Jah, she promised the same. She opened her mouth to say it, but Zeke lowered his head and kissed her.
And kissed her.
And kissed her.
Until Daadi Cliff clapped his hands from an upstairs window. “Enough of that. Now, let’s celebrate!”
Zeke chuckled as he pulled away. “Your family,” he murmured.
“Soon to be yours as well,” Grace said.
“I can’t wait. I hope your bishop agrees to a wedding right away. It just feels right.” He grasped her hand.
It did. Grace didn’t suffer a bit from cold feet. Instead, she couldn’t wait.
Together they strolled around to the back door as Slush came running from the barn. With a big grin, he jumped up on Zeke and wrapped his front legs around Zeke in a big dog hug, as only Siberian huskies can do.
Grace giggled. “He’s welcoming you to the family.”
Zeke released Grace’s hand and returned the dog’s hug.
The door opened, and Patience came out. “Reuben walk me home from next door to get clean dress. Mammi say stay supper, we celebrate. What we celebrate?”
Zeke stepped forward and grasped Patience’s hands in his. “I’m going to marry Gracie as soon as the bishop allows me to.”
Patience frowned. “I knowed that. I told you marry Gracie day you came.”
“I want you to be a sidesitter,” Grace said.
Patience’s lips turned up. “I be bridesmaid?” She threw her arms around Zeke and hugged him. “You be brother.”
“Yes. Brother-in-law.” Zeke returned her hug. “Now, let’s go celebrate.”
Celebrate they did, with cherry pie and homemade root beer.
And Grace felt absolutely surrounded by love…and eager to be loved by Zeke for the rest of her life.
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Acknowledgments
Even though Hidden Springs is a fictional community, thanks to Marilyn Ridgway for information about the Amish in Arthur, Illinois, where the story is set, buggy snapshots taken with her cell phone, and answering questions. I’ve been there a zillion times, but you are an excellent resource and so patient answering my questions. Also thanks for the prayer support.
Thanks to Jenna, Candee, Lynne, Linda, Heidi, Marie, Christy, Kathy, Julie, and Marilyn for your parts in critiques, advice, and/or brainstorming. Also to my street team for promoting and brainstorming. Candee, this story would not be what it is without you.
Thanks to author Loree Lough for the picture of a cow stuck in a shed.
Thanks to Jenna for taking on the bulk of the cooking while I’m on deadline.
Thanks to Hachette Book Group (Forever) for taking a chance on me, and to Tamela Hancock Murray for representing me.
About the Author
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning author of more than twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs and writes devotionals for the Seriously Write blog.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. Laura enjoys reading and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, and her favorite holiday is Christmas.
You can learn more at:
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook.com/AuthorLauraVHilton
Are you loving the Hidden Springs series? Don’t miss Kiah and Hallie’s story in
The Amish Secret Wish.
Available in summer 2020.
Please keep reading for a preview.
Chapter 1
Gott, I don’t know what to do. I wake every morning hoping the darkness will be less oppressive, but each day is as bleak as the one before.
Hallie Brunstetter bent over the lined white paper in front of her on the table, penning her innermost thoughts by the dim flickering light of the candle. She should write the article due for The Budget, and she would, but first, she needed to talk to Gott in a physical way. Maybe then He would answer. Besides, she used to love keeping a prayer journal and seeing how and when Gott answered.
The darkness permeated the kitchen, and she squinted. She didn’t dare light the lantern or the gaslight. The brighter beam might wake someone. And she wanted to be alone. Needed to be alone. Mamm and Daed slept right through the open doorway on the full-size bed pushed up against the wall in the living room. A visiting preacher and his wife from someplace in Indiana were staying in their bedroom for the weekend. They were supposed to have arrived late last nacht, long after Hallie had gone to bed. She’d heard the low murmur of voices but rolled over and went back to sleep.
She glanced at the clock, faintly backlit by a battery. Since she’d need to head into work in about an hour, she probably wouldn’t meet them until this afternoon.
She should have time to finish her prayer, though. She turned her attention back to her letter to Gott and reread the words she’d written. Would it be selfish of her to pray for a special male friend so her loneliness and depression would ease? Maybe one like her secret pen pal…but no. Love equaled hurt and eventual loss. She didn’t want to live through that pain again.
Gott, please comfort us. Me. Toby’s family. Send the light.
Light flickered across the page.
She caught her breath and lifted her head. A thin beam from the rising sun filtered through the sheer lace curtain hanging over the window.
Outside, the darkness of night receded, and soon the world would brighten.
Perhaps the same woul
d be true of her life.
Or not.
But for right now, she would cling to hope.
Because if she didn’t, she might not make it through another day.
Creaks came from the bed in the living room, and Hallie quickly slid the paper she’d written on under a few other pages filled with notes for her article, gathered them up, and stashed them in the drawer in the hutch where she kept her writing supplies.
A few minutes later, Mamm shuffled into the kitchen wearing fuzzy bunny slippers. The long, fluffy, pink ears wiggled with movement. Those slippers used to make Hallie giggle. Now…when was the last time she’d smiled at something, other than in a polite, forced way?
It had to have been sometime in November, when life was good. Before the off-season tornado destroyed everything, slaying her dreams along with her beau, Toby. Six long, painful months ago.
Hallie blinked back the sting in her eyes as Mamm lit the lantern. Daed smiled at her as he went past on the way to the barn, but concern filled his eyes. It always seemed to be there these days. In fact, it was there every time he’d looked at her since that horrible day when he’d been the only one home with her when she got the news.
“Were you writing the post for The Budget?” Mamm asked as Daed shut the door behind him. She extinguished the candle and pushed in the chair Hallie had abandoned.
Hallie grabbed her purple pen and put it away in the mug with the other writing utensils. “Gathering my notes and my thoughts for it.” It was a truth-stained lie. Her notes now waited in the stack of papers she’d put away, and she always prayed before she wrote her weekly article. She tried to think of a way to change the subject. The guests would distract Mamm from discussing what she thought Hallie should write. “Did the visiting preacher arrive?”
“Very late, around midnight. He brought his son along as well,” Mamm said as the door off the newly built, attached dawdihaus opened and Hallie’s grandparents came in. They’d lost their home during the tornado and opted to move in with Hallie’s family rather than rebuild.
The Amish Wedding Promise Page 25