Her Amish Christmas Choice

by Leigh Bale

  Yes, that was exactly how Julia felt. Losing Martin had drained her of all joy.

  “Martin has been acting the same way. He’s not himself anymore,” David said.

  Sharon nodded in understanding. “So, when I went to the grocery store today, I asked Berta if she would deliver another message to Martin. She agreed and drove to his farm for me. She spoke to his mother and asked her to send him here as soon as possible.”

  “Ja, my mamm brought me a letter from your mudder, explaining you were in trouble and needed me and asking if I would komm immediately,” Martin explained.

  “My mom did that?” Julia asked.

  He nodded.

  “And you came?” Julia said.

  Another nod. “As quickly as possible. Of course, we didn’t know yet that Hank was here, hiding in the attic. But we hoped you had found him.”

  Julia gave a quivering laugh. “I guess that was an added bonus for your trip into town. Thankfully, he’s safe.”

  Martin laughed, too, gazing at her with adoration.

  Mom lifted her head and glanced at the bishop. “I’m sure you’ve already heard that I was raised Amish. I hope the good things that have happened today will impact your decision to let Julia be a part of my life after she’s baptized.”

  Julia inhaled a subtle gasp. Everyone in the room stared at Sharon.

  “What are you saying?” David asked.

  “Just this...” Sharon looked at Martin. “I want you to marry my daughter. She has my approval and my blessing to become Amish. But I don’t want to be baptized. I made my choices years ago when I married my husband. I will love him to my dying day. But I want you and Julia to be happy and I know she won’t be unless she’s with you.”

  A shallow laugh escaped Julia’s throat as Martin took her hand in his. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Hank’s angry glare. The boy obviously didn’t like Martin paying her any romantic attention.

  “Julia’s my maedel,” Hank said.

  The bishop stood and opened his mouth to speak but Sharon cut him off with a slight wave of her hand.

  Looking at Hank, Sharon smiled sweetly and leaned forward to cup the boy’s face with her palm. “My dear boy, Julia is going to be baptized into the Amish faith and will marry Martin. Because she’ll be your new sister-in-law, it won’t be possible for her to be your best girl anymore. Instead, Julia will be your new sister. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  Hank hesitated, thinking this over. Then, his eyes widened with delight and he nodded. “Julia will be my sister?”

  Mom nodded, still smiling. “Yes, she will be your sister forever but not your girlfriend. Not anymore. Is that okay?”

  Hank looked down, his forehead crinkled. Then, he nodded and grinned wide.

  “Ja, I think I’ll like having another sister very well. She’ll make me cookies and soap,” he said.

  They all laughed.

  “Gut,” Mom said. She then spoke in perfect Deitsch to Martin, expressing her love for Julia and pleading with him to look after her little girl.

  “Ahem! There’s just one problem,” Julia said. “I won’t be baptized. Not if it means I’ll have to shun my mother. I need to be a part of her life and I need her to be a part of my life, too.”

  A long pause followed this declaration.

  “I believe that, since Sharon was never baptized into the Amish faith, she will not be shunned,” Bishop Yoder said. “I see no reason why Julia cannot be baptized and marry Martin. Nor do I see any reason why she cannot be a part of her mudder’s life.”

  A startled gasp escaped Julia’s throat. “Really? But I thought you would shun my mudder.”

  Martin squeezed her hand and she felt the surprised happiness emanating from him, as well.

  “Ne, she was never officially a member of the Amish faith so how can she be shunned?” the bishop said.

  “Oh, Martin!” Julia turned into his arms and he hugged her tight.

  Julia hugged her mother, too. She was speechless as tears freely washed her face. “Oh, Mom, danke. Danke, my dear mudder.”

  They stood motionless for several moments, overcome by emotion. Then...

  Martin leaned close and whispered something in his father’s ear. David nodded, then cleared his throat.

  “Ahem! I think we should leave these two young people alone for a while, so they can decide what they want to do.” He lifted an arm, directing Hank to leave the apartment with him.

  Taking his cup of hot chocolate, Hank went along willingly. Mom and the bishop followed, leaving Julia and Martin completely alone.

  Tears flooded Julia’s eyes as she looked up at the man she loved. “I don’t know what to say.”

  He nodded, his eyes crinkled with compassion. “I do. I love you, Julia Rose. I love you more than anything. Please, will you marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”

  “Oh, Martin! Of course I will. I love you so much. I was sick with grief when I thought I’d never see you again. I can’t tell you how happy I am right at this moment.”

  Lowering his head, he kissed her. She clung to the folds of his coat, so happy that she could hardly contain the joy.

  When he released her, he looked down at her, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I guess this means I won’t be building a barn in the spring.”

  She tilted her head in curiosity. “Why not?”

  “Because we’re going to need to build us a house first. The barn will have to wait another year. I need to provide a home for my new bride to live in.”

  She laughed. “Do you think the bishop will coordinate another work frolic for us to build a house?”

  He nodded. “Ja, I know he will. Once we’re married, we’ll need a place to live.”

  “We can stay here with my mudder until the work is completed on our own home,” she suggested.

  He frowned. “Do you think Sharon will mind? After all, you’ll be Amish then and can’t use electricity.”

  She pulled him close, snuggling against his solid chest. “Ne, she won’t mind at all. She’s given us her blessing.”

  He smiled and kissed her again. And after that, no more words were spoken. She had all that she needed and wanted right here in her arms. And her love and faith were the best Christmas gifts of all.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  Julia stepped out onto the back porch of her new home and set the large wicker basket she was carrying onto the wooden bench. Like the spacious house itself, Martin had made the seat and most of the furniture inside with his own two hands.

  A chilling breeze whipped past and she tightened her warm winter coat up high to her chin. Her sensible black tights and shoes weren’t fashionable but they were warm and sturdy. She patted her white organdy prayer kapp, making sure her hair was pulled back into place.

  The clothes of an Amish woman were quite plain but she loved her burgundy dress and its simple beauty. In fact, she found it comfortable and easier to move. As promised, Linda had kindly taught her to sew and Julia had made her dress and white apron herself. Though she was learning that hochmut was not of the Lord, she was secretly proud of her efforts. Between making soap, cooking meals and sewing clothes for her and Martin, she was learning something new every day. And loving every bit of it.

  It wasn’t easy juggling her work here at home with making and selling her soap products at Rose Soapworks, but she found that she enjoyed the challenge and would never begrudge her new life. The Lord had truly blessed her.

  With some of the funds Grandpa Walt had left her, Julia had paid her new sales rep in Denver to schedule some ads on local TV. While Julia did the heavy lifting and soap making, Sharon did a lot of the desk work and was becoming quite computer savvy. She had reported that they’d received lots of raves from fans on social media. While Julia didn’t own a TV or maintain her own website
or social media accounts, she’d received several more wholesale contracts with some commercial vendors. Additionally, numerous online orders were constantly pouring in. Even with Mom’s office help, Julia could barely keep up with the workload. And with the latest development in her life, she knew something would have to change in the coming months. And soon!

  Taking a deep breath of cool, clear air, she gazed at the fallow fields glistening with a sheen of white. This past summer, Martin had fenced off a portion of his land and grown hay and oats. He hoped to save enough money to buy some Percheron mares and a stallion next summer. It had snowed two days earlier but the rainfall last night had cleared most of the white stuff off the county road. They should have no problem driving over to Martin’s parents’ house to celebrate Christmas dinner with them. Speaking of which...

  “Martin! We’re late! We’ve got to leave, my liebchen,” she called toward the large shed in their backyard. Martin had built it to house their milk cow, horse and buggy until they could construct a giant barn in the spring.

  At that moment, Martin came out of the shed, leading the horse. The animal was already harnessed to the buggy. Martin secured the shed door, then drove the buggy across the graveled driveway to park beside the house.

  As he hopped out, Julia thought he looked more than handsome in his fine black frock coat and white shirt. Grasping her basket, Julia walked out to meet him. He took the basket from her hand and set it on the ground, then clasped her arm and pulled her close against his chest.

  “Guder mariye, Mrs. Hostetler,” he breathed against her lips before kissing her.

  She swatted playfully at his shoulder and pretended to pull away. “Guder mariye, Martin. You know, someone might see us. It isn’t seemly for you to kiss me out in the open like this.”

  She spoke entirely in Deitsch, having learned the language quite well over the past year.

  He glanced around, as if looking for someone hiding nearby. “Who will see us on our own place? There’s no one out here and we are most certainly alone.”

  To prove his point, he kissed her again and she didn’t fight him at all. Not when she loved him so much. When he finally released her, she rested the palms of her hands against his chest and gazed lovingly into his eyes.

  “Do you regret not being able to build your barn first?” she asked.

  “Ne, of course not. We couldn’t live with your mudder forever.”

  She arched her eyebrows in a playful glance. “Oh, I don’t know. She didn’t mind. Not really.”

  He snorted. “I don’t think Sharon would like living with me the rest of her life. Besides, we will build the barn this next spring. I’ll always choose you over worldly possessions. As long as I have you, I don’t care about an old barn.”

  “But we won’t always be alone, you know,” she said.

  He arched one of his eyebrows. “Ach, why not? Do you fear your mudder will need to come live with us soon?”

  Lowering one hand, she rested it over her abdomen. “Ne, but our boppli will be here and you won’t be able to take such liberties with me anymore. Nor will we ever be alone again.”

  He tilted his head to one side, his eyes crinkled in confusion. “Our boppli? Jules, are you...are you telling me that...?”

  She nodded. “Uh-huh. We’re going to have a new little one to join our familye soon.”

  Dawning flooded his eyes and a look of absolute joy covered his face. “A boppli? Truly?”

  “Ja, we’re going to have a boppli of our very own.” She could hardly contain her own happiness as she shared this special news with him.

  “Woo-hoo!” He picked her up and swung her around.

  She laughed with abandonment, letting the dizzying joy fill her up. All her life, she’d longed for a home and family of her own. People to love and care for. And somehow, the Lord had blessed her with her heart’s desire.

  “You bensel. Now we are well and truly late for dinner at your mudder’s house,” she teased him, trying to sound stern but unable to contain the laughter fizzing inside of her.

  “Ach, so now I am a silly child, am I?” He opened the door to the buggy as she picked up her basket. He waggled his eyebrows and reached to lift a corner of the white cloth she had laid over top of the basket.

  “What is inside?” he asked with a wicked smile.

  Again, she gently swatted his hand. “Some pumpkin muffins, a fruit salad and an apple pie. Your mudder is preparing most of the meal, although I’m sure my mamm will bring something, too. Perhaps next year, we can hold the familye dinner here at our home.”

  He smiled with approval and held her arm as she lifted her foot onto the step and climbed inside. “You are becoming a very gut cook. At this rate, I’ll become quite fat very soon.”

  He patted his lean abdomen for emphasis. Since he worked such long, hard hours, she doubted he would ever gain much weight but didn’t say so.

  “I’m afraid I’m the one who is about to gain some weight.” Sitting in the buggy, she rested both her hands on her lower stomach and lovingly caressed the slight swelling there.

  Glancing down, he flashed a wide smile. “I can’t wait. The bishop has told me he will schedule another work frolic for us to have a barn raising in April or May. We’ll have a new boppli to love and I’ll get another field cleared and fenced off.”

  “Ja, it’ll be a busy summer,” she said. “We’re getting so many orders at the soapworks that I’ll need to hire some employees. I can ask the Gmay. I’ll bet a couple of the girls or boys who are graduating from school might like a part-time job.”

  He tugged lightly on one of the ribbons on her prayer kapp before kissing the tip of her nose. “Ja, I’m sure they would. Is your mamm meeting us at my folks’ house today?”

  She nodded. “Now that she has bought a car, she is getting around the community quite well on her own. Lately, my mother is so happy that I can hardly tell she is ill. In fact, I think she’s getting better every day.”

  Once she gave her blessing for Julia and Martin to wed, Sharon no longer took issue with the Amish people. Though she still missed her husband and adamantly did not wish to convert to the Amish faith, she attended many of their frolics and joined them for every family dinner.

  “I can’t believe the difference in her. It’s like nacht and day,” Martin said.

  “I know what you mean. I think it’s because she’s so happy,” Julia replied.

  “Ja, contentment can change who we are inside. It can make us a totally different person,” he said.

  He closed the door and Julia sat quietly as she waited for him to hurry around the buggy and climb into the driver’s seat. Though she was bursting with energy today, she also felt calm and tranquil inside. It was an amazing contradiction but she felt joyful and completely at peace.

  Martin took the leather lead lines into his hand but paused, looking at her with a soft expression creasing his expressive eyes. “Tell me, when is our boppli due to arrive?”

  Our baby! Oh, how Julia loved the sound of that.

  “I’ll need to visit the doctor in town, but I believe it will be the end of July,” she said, unable to contain a smile.

  He nodded, his eyes gleaming with delight. “In the summer. Just in time for all the other new beginnings here on our farm.”

  Our farm! Again, Julia felt a flood of happiness flowing through her veins. This was her home. Their home! They had the soap studio in town, as well, but her mom was living there. Their farm was only two miles away and Julia went to work in town during the weekdays, to make soap and other merchandise and to package and ship her products all over the nation. But this farm and Martin were her home now. Forevermore.

  “Ja, it seems like we’re celebrating many firsts,” she said.

  He slapped the leads lightly against the horse’s back. The buggy lurched forward. “Won’t our eldre be pleased
when we announce that we’re expecting our first child this summer? Our midder will be so happy. It’ll be their first grandchild.”

  “Ja, I know it will mean a great deal to my mamm,” she said. “You know, one day she may be too ill to live at Rose Soapworks by herself. She is doing well right now but that could change.”

  Martin pulled the buggy onto the main road and the horse settled into a steady trot. Though it was cold outside, the sky was a clear azure blue with not a single cloud to mar this lovely Christmas Day.

  “And when that time comes, she will move here to the farm so we can look after her,” he said. “We will deal with it together, one day at a time. But I promise she will be cared for and you will always have Rose Soapworks for as long as you like.”

  Pleased by his words, she scooted over and hugged his arm. “Danke, Martin. You are so gut to me. I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas gift.”

  He lowered his head and kissed her forehead ever so gently. “Nor could I. You have gifted me with so many treasures. The Lord has blessed us with so much abundance. This truly is the best Christmas ever.”

  As they sped along toward his parents’ home, Julia could think of no better words to speak. She had her heart’s desire. A large familye and friends to love and a husband who doted upon her. She breathed a happy sigh and enjoyed the ride. Her heart was so full and she couldn’t ask for more.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed this

  Colorado Amish Courtships novel,

  be sure to pick up these previous titles in

  Leigh Bale’s miniseries:

  Runaway Amish Bride

  His Amish Choice

  And don’t miss the next

  Colorado Amish Courtships novel,

  coming in early 2020 from Love Inspired!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from His Christmas Family Book 1 of Western Christmas Wishes by Brenda Minton.

  Dear Reader,

  Have you ever wanted something so badly and it seemed you could never have it no matter what you did? In this book, Julia Rose has dreamed of having a large family all her own. She’s been alone and willingly carried the burden of caring for both her ill parents for so long. Yet, when it appears she has finally found Martin, the man of her heart, she can’t have him because he’s Amish. Julia believes she is faced with the choice of abandoning her mother or turning her back on her love. Only when the people in her life make concessions that will allow Julia and Martin to be together does she discover that life is full of surprises and God can bless us when we least expect it.