The Ultimate Amish Romance Boxed Set Collection (1-8)

by Becca Fisher

  ***

  Lucas was more than just the love of Allison's life. He was also of great comfort when she needed him the most. And after Samuel's rant against outsiders, Allison needed Lucas more than ever.

  They took to their secluded spot just beyond the trees as a welcome refuge from the unsympathetic world. But Lucas seemed to have thoughts of his own needing to get out.

  "It feels so nice just to lay here with you, in our own little world," Allison admitted.

  "Ali, there's something I need to tell you," Lucas replied.

  Uh oh. From Allison's experience, happy conversation never started that way. The question became, would Lucas enforce the rule, or be the exception to it?

  "Why do I get the feeling you do not have good news for me?" Allison asked.

  "I was supposed to go back to Philadelphia today," Lucas said.

  "Wait. You're leaving?" Allison replied, in a huff.

  "No. Was supposed to. Past tense. Look, it's really complicated."

  "More so for me. Perhaps you should explain yourself."

  "There was a very specific reason I left Philadelphia in the first place."

  "And I take it falling in love with an Amish woman was not that reason."

  "No. I had just been dumped. I was completely devastated. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of my ex. And I couldn't take it anymore. So my mother suggested that I come here and stay with my aunt for the summer to get back on track."

  "That still doesn't explain why you were supposed to go back to Philadelphia today."

  "The summer is over. And the third graders at my school are expecting to have a teacher come Monday."

  "Wait a minute. You're a teacher?"

  "Was a teacher," Lucas replied. "I tendered my resignation today. But luckily, my aunt has offered to take me on at the hotel full time so I will be a permanent fixture in Lancaster."

  "Please don't tell me you quit because of me," Allison remarked.

  "Of course I did. Allison, I love you. And the thought of leaving you today filled me with nothing but dismay."

  "You...you love me?" Allison stammered.

  "More than anything in the world. And I want nothing but than to spend the rest of my life with you."

  Allison had dreamed of those words coming from Lucas' mouth. But they sounded different all of a sudden. Allison had never thought to question what history Lucas had forged in Philadelphia. What could he be running away from? Who could he be running away from? And although Allison loved Lucas, that did not mean she wanted him to give up his life and burgeoning career.

  "Have you not thought of all you've given up though?" Allison countered.

  "Of course I have. But none of that compares to the thought of losing you."

  "Are you sure?"

  "There's no doubt in my mind."

  "I must say, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me."

  "You deserve as much," Lucas insisted.

  "You deserve quite a lot as well. Unfortunately, all I can offer you is my love," Allison said.

  "I assure you, that is the best gift you can ever give me," Lucas replied with a smile.

  ***

  On the ride back home, Allison still couldn't get Lucas' decision out of her head. It was amazing to think that he was willing to give up his whole career just to be with her in Lancaster. And if he was willing to do all that, the least Allison could do was tell him the truth.

  "I have an admission of my own," Allison remarked.

  "Oh really?" Lucas replied, pulling to the side of the road.

  "You see, Philadelphia has not been kind to my family. My sister found herself in love with an outsider as well. She brought him back to meet my parents with the best of intentions. Then they went hopelessly astray."

  "And you've been worried your father will react the same to me," Lucas replied.

  "It's not your fault. You aren't Amish. And my father could never fully embrace a man that didn't live the plain and simple life."

  "Is that right?"

  "Unfortunately."

  "And how do you feel?" Lucas asked.

  "It doesn't matter how I feel. I love my family. The thought of bringing pain to them gives me no greater discomfort."

  "I think what you feel should matter the most."

  "If you'd seen what my family has been through, you'd think differently."

  "So you're saying in order to make you my wife, I'll have to become Amish?"

  "I don't know that we're quite ready to talk about marriage," Allison downplayed.

  "Allison, I would not have come this far with you if I did not want to marry you one day."

  "The question is, are you willing to become Amish?" Allison asked.

  ***

  "How was church group?" Samuel asked, reading his Bible in the living room.

  "Fine," Allison remarked.

  "Oh really? Because Thomas Lapp asked me why you haven't been to your group in the last month," Samuel replied.

  Uh oh. Allison had been found out. She knew it was only a matter of time, but Allison was hoping to last longer on the sly.

  "So I guess the question is, where have you been, and who have you been with?" Samuel asked.

  "I've met a man that has brought great joy to my life," Allison replied.

  "And yet he's not in your church group. That can only mean one thing--"

  "Father, assumptions do none of us any good," Allison insisted.

  "Just answer me one question. Tell me he's not an Englisher and I will leave you be."

  "I cannot answer that question--"

  "You just choose not to answer the question." Samuel barked. "How can you do this to our family? After what we went through with Abigail--"

  "You mean after you've ignored me all this time since Abigail left?" Allison fired back. "You have been so preoccupied with what you lost that you haven't even paid attention to the two daughters that are still here. I am devout in my faith. Loyal to the Amish way. And have no intention of leaving for Philadelphia."

  "It's hardly you I'm worried about," Samuel insisted.

  "Of course not. I'm not Abigail. And I never will be. But I'm still your daughter. I still matter."

  "Again, I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about the Englisher. What are his intentions? Does he know how important the Amish way is? Or will your faith be betrayed for your lust?"

  "He knows that to marry me he needs to convert," Allison insisted.

  "And is he willing?" Samuel asked.

  Allison wished she had an answer. Lucas sure didn't. The decision to become Amish was one not to be taken lightly though. It was a lifelong commitment. One not easily made by a man that had spent his whole life in the big city. The prospect of giving everything up but faith and family would be daunting to most.

  To most city dwellers, the Amish way was far too plain and simple of a life. Allison hoped Lucas was different though. As usual, Allison's father was of no comfort. Still, Allison hoped against hope that everything would work out. But what if her hope betrayed her?

  ***

  Allison couldn't wait to see Lucas again. Not just because she was desperate for an answer, but because she wanted the comfort that he always provided. Allison couldn't stand that her simple life had been taken over by so much drama. But as Allison went to the hotel to meet Lucas, a terrible surprise awaited her.

  Lucas wasn't alone. A pretty woman was at Lucas' hotel room door, talking very intensely with him. Allison's heart immediately sunk. She just stood at the end of the hall, trying to compose herself as the woman finished her conversation. While Allison was rocked to the core, the woman then walked towards the lobby, paying Allison no mind.

  Allison had no idea who the woman was or what she wanted with Lucas, but Allison was determined to find out.

  "Who was that woman?" Allison asked, in no mood for pleasantries as Lucas opened his door.

  Lucas was taken aback by Allison's bluntness, but knew he couldn't hide the truth.

>   "That was my ex girlfriend," he admitted.

  "The one that broke your heart a few months ago?" Allison asked.

  "That very one."

  "What was she doing here then?"

  "She came to tell me that she'd made a big mistake. That she wanted me back. And that she would do anything it took to make that happen."

  Allison started hyperventilating. "Oh my Lord. This is a nightmare. I can't believe this is happening."

  "It doesn't matter what my ex girlfriend wants. There's a reason she's my ex."

  "Lucas, I saw her walk away. There were no tears in her eyes. Clearly she believes she can be more than just your ex."

  "Allison, my feelings for you have not changed."

  "But have they changed for your ex? Do you not find her proposition the least bit appetizing? Am I still the only one commanding attention in your heart?"

  "Ali, this is a lot to process. There are a lot of feelings I need to sort through. Everything has just been thrown at me all at once."

  "I understand," Allison said. "But you have to understand how hard it's been to put my heart on the line for you. To let myself fall for an outsider despite my families desperate urgings to the contrary. To lose you now would be a blow I would not soon recover from."

  "I realize that," Lucas replied. "It is not my intention to make your heart break."

  "I believe that. But intentions are not nearly as important as reality. And I'm afraid reality may not be kind to me in this case."

  Lucas looked deep into Allison's eyes.

  "I just want you to know that I love you so much," Lucas insisted. "But I really just need to sort things out in my mind."

  ***

  Both Lucas and Allison had a lot of thinking to do. Only Allison's thoughts were plagued with nothing but anxiety and doubt. Allison was a ball of nerves. A complete mess. She couldn't get over the very real possibility that she could give her heart to a man only to have it broken.

  Allison's father had warned her about Englishers. About pursuing more than a plain and simple life. About temptation derailing her Amish upbringing. About Abigail's painful history repeating itself. Allison had paid no attention though. She wanted to prove her father wrong. She let her heart get the best of her. She felt that her cravings controlled her actions.

  Things were dangerously close to falling apart. But Allison tried to beat back the doubt. She was a born worrier. Yet Lucas hadn't made his decision. Everything could still work out. Their love could still flourish. Even if Lucas chose Allison though, there was still the issue of him being not of an Amish upbringing.

  It was no wonder Allison couldn't sleep through the night. But her anxiety held strong all the way to the quilt shop the next day. And that's when Allison's life changed forever.

  ***

  Allison was usually a diligent worker. But with the cloud in her mind, it was a wonder she managed to complete one stitch on her quilt. Just as Allison had nearly driven herself crazy with worry, Lucas made a surprise appearance at the quilt shop.

  Allison was shocked. Not just because Lucas had shown up unexpectedly, but also what he was wearing. Gone were his usual Englisher clothes. Instead he was wearing a straw hat and suspenders, just like the Amish men in town did. And if the clothing change wasn't enough of a surprise, the words Lucas had to share sure were.

  "I've been doing a lot of thinking," Lucas remarked.

  "Lucas, maybe we should have this conversation in the back where my family can't see," Allison replied.

  "No. I want them to hear this," Lucas insisted. "Allison, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before. I love you enough to give up my life in Philadelphia. To stay here in Lancaster. To give up my past to forge a future with you. To become Amish for you."

  "You'd really do that for me?" Allison asked.

  "Of course. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And I don't want to wait a minute longer to make you mine forever. And that is why I have something to ask you."

  Lucas then pulled a small box out of his pocket and got down on one knee.

  Allison's eyes opened wide.

  "Allison Kaufman, will you marry me?" Lucas asked.

  Allison couldn't believe it. The moment she'd waited for her entire life was finally happening. It was like a dream. Only it was real. And Allison immediately knew her answer.

  "Yes," Allison replied, with tears of joy steaming down her face.

  It was the greatest moment of Allison's life. And only the first of many blessings to come.

  The End.

  Heaven Sent

  One

  The Lord seemed to have plans for my heart. Why else would I have grown up next to Jed Tuttle my whole life? Why else was he the man I'd been dreaming about at night? Why else would my heart be so aflutter every time I laid eyes on him? If God wanted me to fall in love with anyone but Jed, he had his work cut out for him. But the true revelation was having love sneak up on me over time, only to bloom like daisies in the field.

  Such grand emotional gestures had not just popped up out of nowhere. I was of marrying age, so it was natural to want to take a husband. A man devout in both his faith and his love for me. A man that craved a simple life. A family man. Of course it didn't hurt if that man was delicious eye candy. That's where Jed came in.

  Jed was a vision to look at, with abs to spare. He had a body carved through years in the field. Jed was a true hunk with a dynamite smile. Not to mention he had the deepest blue eyes I'd ever seen.

  Those eyes were fixed on me all of a sudden. Jed tore himself away from the farm work to pay me an impromptu visit. My heart started skipping a beat with every step he took towards my parents farm.

  "Miriam, you don't know how happy I am to see you," Jed said.

  The happiness was mutual. My raging hormones meant Jed was on my mind constantly throughout the day. And Jed gave me plenty of eye candy to chew on. "Likewise Jed. So what brings you over to my parents farm?"

  Jed was timid all of a sudden. A nervous smile crept across his face as he fumbled for the right words. He never found them, but made do with the words that came to him. "I think you know how I feel about you--"

  That was news to me. To the best of my knowledge, Jed's feelings for me were platonic in nature at best. Clarification was certainly in order. "Do I? Would you care to refresh my memory?"

  Judging by Jed's hesitation, perhaps not. But Jed certainly cared enough to wager an effort. "If I haven't said it before, I think the world of you," Jed explained.

  "It's a shame that this is the first I've heard of it." On the outside I was pleasantly shocked. But on the inside I was swooning without reproach. Such news stirred magnificent feelings within me.

  "Forgive me if I'm intimidated by my feelings for you."

  "Oh, I assure you Jed. There's no reason to apologize."

  Jed smiled. "You really are endlessly captivating."

  Such sweet words my ears had never heard. But Jed seemed to be in want of nothing less than my heart becoming putty in his hands.

  "I believe this is the most pleasantly surprising conversation I've ever had," I admitted.

  "It's not quite over yet. I have something very important I have to ask you."

  "What could possibly be more important than what you've just revealed to me?"

  Jed tensed up again, his nerves getting the better of him. "I think this is better suited for private conversation. Perhaps I could interest you in a buggy ride later?"

  "That would be splendid."

  ***

  My quilting was no match for the anticipation running hotly through my mind. What question was about to be posed to me? I knew the question I was yearning for Jed to ask. If he could make me his bride. And to that, I would most certainly say yes. Jed had the makings of an honorable husband. He came from good stock. A solid upbringing. He would be devoted to me. When I thought of our future, I imagined a great many number of children in our future together and happiness abound.

  "Are
you going to say yes?" Ruth asked, stopping her quilting to speculate.

  I pulled myself from my daydreaming to respond to my oldest friend. "I didn't hear a question."

  Ruth and I were close enough to be sisters. We shared the same interests, devotion, and sometimes even finished our own sentences. We'd spoke often of living side by side one day, raising our future families together. And Ruth seemed to think those families would be coming sooner rather than later.

  "Don't be silly, Miriam. It's clear Jed is going to ask for your hand in marriage. The question is, are you going to give it to him?"

  I preferred to let life unfold before me rather than resort to wild speculation. But I must say, the thought of becoming Jed's bride was not foreign to me.

  "That is exactly the sort of question that should not be approached with haste," I replied.

  "I agree. Which is why by the time Jed asks it, I want you to have the answer square in your mind."

  "I would prefer Jed pose the question first. Imagine the foolishness in my heart if Jed had another question for me."

  "Miriam, your head is always so full of worry. Why don't you let the Lord bless you with the abundance you deserve?"

  "How do you stop a mind from worrying when it comes so natural? And of all the sacred things in the world, isn't who you're going to spend the rest of your life with worthy of such attention?"

  "I didn't hear an answer in there," Ruth probed.

  "That's because Jed still hasn't popped the question."

  "Well I think you'd be a fool not to make an honest man out of him. If he's half as devoted to you as he is to God, you'd have yourself a little piece of heaven right here on Earth," Ruth explained.

  "Oh, I believe devotion comes naturally to Jed," I replied with a smile. "As does a great many other things."

  "Miriam, I'm starting to detect a hint of passion in your voice. Could it be that your heart has already made up it's mind?"

  I couldn't hide back my smile any longer. But I did not make public the excitement that bloomed in my heart. "I think Jed should be the first to find out."

  ***

  The Lord provided quite a tapestry for the question at hand. The sunset was immaculate. The fields reflected an amber perfection as a slight breeze made me want to huddle close to Jed in the buggy. The stage was truly set for the most memorable of evenings.