His Amish Romance
Seven Amish Bachelors Book 2
Samantha Price
Amish Romance
Copyright © 2017 by Samantha Price
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Contact Samantha Price
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About the Author
Chapter 1
Levi Fuller woke up and looked around the room. For a moment, he had no idea where he was. It took a few seconds to remember he was at his older brother's haus. Isaac was getting married today and the wedding was to be held at Levi and Isaac’s parents’ home. Isaac was nervous about the wedding and had asked Levi if he would spend the night with him. They'd stayed up talking into the early hours of the morning. It was a little shocking to Levi that Isaac was marrying a woman after knowing her for only a short length of time. Before Hazel had come along, everyone thought Isaac would marry Mary Lou since they had been courting for two years.
Last night, Isaac had confessed to Levi that he’d never felt right about Mary Lou. He'd had nagging doubts that she wasn’t the one for him; he'd thought he loved her, but there was a certain feeling that had been missing.
A sudden knock on the bedroom door jolted Levi. Without thinking, he blurted out, “Who is it?”
“Me. Who else would it be? You’d better hurry up or we’ll be late, and I can’t be late for my own wedding.”
“You should’ve woken me sooner,” Levi yelled back.
A shaft of light beamed through an opening in the bedroom curtains. Lucy opened her eyes and then turned over and looked at Hazel who was still sleeping.
Weeks ago, Mrs. Fuller had suggested to Hazel in front of Lucy to have Lucy as her wedding attendant/bridesmaid. Lucy had accepted the invitation since Hazel, an only child and a newcomer here, barely knew any girls in the community.
Both Lucy and Hazel had stayed overnight in the same bedroom in the Fuller household. Isaac's parents had generously offered to host the wedding when they learned that Hazel and her mother were unable to do so. It was sad, Lucy thought, that Hazel didn’t have a sister, or any good friends who could be with her at such an important time in her life.
Hazel had been staying at the bishop’s house while she was living in Lancaster County. When the wedding day approached, Hazel’s mother, aunt and uncle had traveled from Allentown and the three of them were staying at the bishop’s house until after the wedding. Hazel had still been living there during the wedding preparations, but it had made sense for Hazel to stay at the Fullers' for the night before she was to be married.
Lucy had been determined not to like Hazel. In her opinion, her good friend, Mary Lou, should’ve been the one marrying Isaac, not a near stranger that hardly anyone knew. She'd kept her opinion to herself and had done her best to keep Hazel company the night before her wedding.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement. It was Hazel, stirring as she began to awaken. When she looked over, Hazel was opening her eyes and Lucy smiled at her.
“Gut mayrie, Hazel. It’s your wedding day.”
Hazel’s green eyes sparkled. “I never thought this day would come.”
“Well, it’s here.”
She giggled. “Denke for staying here with me last night. I still don’t know that many people in the community, not really well.”
“It was nice to get to know you a little better.”
“I know what you mean. It’s been nice getting to know you as well. And one day, you and Levi might be the ones getting married.”
“Maybe.”
“And then we’ll be schweschders-in-law.”
Although Lucy was smiling for Hazel’s sake, she was a little sad for Mary Lou, believing her friend had been badly treated by Isaac.
“I guess there’ll be a lot of people here for the wedding.”
“I think so. The Fullers know so many people.”
Lucy asked, “What about your family and your community?”
“There’ll just be my Onkel Luke and Aunt Bee, and my mudder. The bishop at my old community couldn’t make it.” Hazel sat up. “My family isn’t very popular in our community.”
She propped herself up on her elbow. “Why not?” Levi had already told her some things about Hazel’s family, but Lucy didn’t want to let on that she knew. She’d feel much warmer toward Hazel if she told her something so personal.
“It’s a long story, but my vadder was in and out of the community and he was shunned twice over the period of a few years. He eventually left altogether. He’s living with an Englisch woman now, and he’ll never come back. After everything he put everyone through, no one would want him back.”
“And that’s why you and your mudder weren’t popular?”
“Jah. People kept their distance from us.”
Lucy saw the deep sadness in Hazel’s eyes. “I know how that feels,” Lucy said.
Hazel’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”
“Jah. I have an onkel—my mudder’s bruder—and he disgraced the whole family.” She lowered her voice. “And now I think some people don’t think my sisters and I are good people just because we’re related to him. We’re looked down upon.”
“It shouldn’t matter, should it?”
“Nee, I don’t think so. How can we be responsible for others? Just because we’re related doesn’t mean we’re the same, or we’d make the same decisions.” Lucy breathed out heavily.
“I guess they don’t think we’re responsible for what that person did, but you’re right, they still think we’re the same as them.”
Lucy could now see how Hazel was very similar to her, but that was not enough for Lucy to forgive her for what happened to Mary Lou. “Let’s just talk about happy things today.”
“Jah, you’re right.” Hazel yawned and stretched her arms over her head. “I suppose I should get up,” Hazel said, yawning once more.
“What time is it?”
Hazel turned around and looked at her clock on the nightstand. “It’s six thirty.”
“Jah, we should start getting ready. There’s a lot to do. Well, not for you. I’ll bring breakfast up to you if you want to stay in bed a little longer.”
“Nee, denke. I don’t think I could eat a thing.”
“There’ll be plenty to eat after the wedding, I guess. You should try to eat something, though. If you don’t eat at all, you might feel sick to your stomach with all the excitement.”
“I’m already sick to my stomach from nervousness.”
“That’s no good. Let’s go downstairs before all the boys wake up.”
Hazel giggled. “Good idea.”
There were seven boys in the Fuller family, and with Isaac having his own home and Levi having stayed at his house last ni
ght, that left five of the Fuller boys in the house, plus their parents, Ivy and Obadiah Fuller.
Instead of changing into the clothes they were wearing for the wedding, the girls changed into plain day dresses and prayer kapps before they headed off. They walked slowly and carefully down the wooden staircase and past the two living rooms before they reached the paved stone floor of the kitchen.
“You sit down,” Lucy ordered Hazel.
When Hazel was seated, Lucy started heating the water for coffee. “I’ll make pancakes while the water’s heating.”
“Can’t I help?” whispered Hazel.
“Nee. You sit and talk to me while I cook. You can get some plates out of the cupboard if you want.”
The wedding was to be held at midday, and soon people would arrive to set up the house for the wedding service. All the furniture would be removed from the Fullers' large living area to be replaced with the wooden benches that were used for the Sunday services. The ladies would begin preparing the food for the meal that was to follow the service.
Hazel took the plates out of the cupboard, but as she swung around to place them on the table, they slipped from her hands. They hit the floor and broke, and then fragments clinked and clattered along the floor. It made a dreadful racket. Lucy jumped and turned around, just in time to see white pieces of plates scattering across the entire length of the stone floor.
Hazel swooped down and started scooping up the broken pieces. Lucy watched, and wasn’t happy about the noise. Now Levi’s mother would come downstairs to find out why they were up so early. She wouldn’t appreciate them having breakfast first, before the rest of the family, Lucy knew that, but the dinner last night with Ivy Fuller looking down her nose at her had been enough and she didn’t want it repeated at breakfast.
“Give me a moment and I’ll help.” Lucy poured the pancake batter into the heated fry pan and then crouched down with Hazel to help her collect the scattered fragments.
“What’s going on here?"
Both girls looked up to see Mrs. Fuller standing in the doorway of the kitchen with her hands on her hips.
“I’m dreadfully sorry, Mrs. Fuller. It was all my fault. I think I’m just nervous,” Hazel said.
Lucy could see that Mrs. Fuller had just woken up. She was wearing a housecoat and had a long, thick gray braid hanging over one shoulder rather than pinned on her head, and her prayer kapp was askew.
“That’s quite all right. Accidents can’t be helped. I have plenty of plates.” Mrs. Fuller looked over at the stove and her mood appeared to darken. “You girls couldn’t wait to have a family breakfast? I thought we would all eat together on such an important morning.”
Lucy had been right; Mrs. Fuller didn’t appreciate them eating first. “I thought we would be too busy. If Hazel and I have breakfast now then that’ll keep us out of the way when the men come with the benches and the women come to prepare the food.”
“Suit yourselves. I was going to make a nice family breakfast. I’m guessing this was your idea, Lucy?”
“Jah, it was. I’m sorry, Mrs. Fuller. I should’ve thought about it more.” The girls were still crouched down and Lucy put her head down and arranged the larger pieces into a pile.
“I agreed to it,” Hazel said.
“It’s not your fault, Hazel. You don’t know how the household works yet. Lucy knows better.”
Lucy looked up. “I didn’t think it would hurt. I've never been here for breakfast before. And you’ve never had a wedding at your haus, Mrs. Fuller, so there’s no routine set down for one.” She badly wanted to point out to Mrs. Fuller that Hazel’s wedding could be the first and only wedding she’d have at her house since she had no daughters. The reasons she was hosting this one was that Hazel’s mother wasn’t well, the family came from Allentown, and Hazel and her mother didn’t even have a house. Hazel’s mother had been living at Hazel’s aunt and uncle’s place while she recovered from some kind of nervous breakdown after Hazel’s father walked out on them. When Lucy married Levi, she would have the wedding at her parents’ house.
“You should think things through before acting, Lucy. It’s not good for a young lady to be as impulsive as you are.”
Now she had upset the woman who would likely be her mother-in-law someday. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Fuller. I should’ve checked with you last night. I just had it in my head that Hazel and I would have a quick breakfast in the morning, then we could get ready and be out of your way.”
“The wedding isn’t until noon. The sun has only just risen.” Mrs. Fuller got a bucket out of a cupboard and placed it down near the girls. “Put the broken pieces in this and then there’s the waste basket under the sink for the smaller pieces. I’ll have a shower before all the boys wake.”
“I’m sorry we woke you, Mrs. Fuller,” Hazel said.
“Jah, we’re sorry,” Lucy added.
“Too late for sorries. It’s always best to think ahead. Then things like this will be avoided. I’m awake early now and you’ve no doubt woken the boys.” She gave a sharp nod and then walked out of the room.
Lucy looked at Hazel to see whether she might have thought the same about Mrs. Fuller—that she was difficult to get along with. Hazel was busily focused on cleaning up the last remnants of the broken plates.
Lucy continued with fixing the breakfast. Knowing she was going against Mrs. Fuller’s wishes, however, when they eventually ate their pancakes, they didn’t taste good to her.
Chapter 2
At the wedding, Lucy sat in the Fullers' living room with her eyes fixed on the bishop as he talked about the importance of marriage. He likened the union of woman and man in marriage to the church’s relationship to Jesus Christ. Each must make sacrifices as they become one with each other and with Gott. Lucy had heard the talk many times before and knew the associated Scriptures by heart. Next time she heard that same talk, would she be standing in front of Bishop John and getting married to Levi? They had been dating for nearly a year and Lucy was in no rush to be married, but she certainly didn't want to end up like Mary Lou—cast aside for another woman after two years of dating.
She looked across at Levi who caught her eye and smiled. After giving him a quick smile, she turned her eyes back to the front. As far as Lucy could see, the only thing wrong with Levi was his mother. Mrs. Fuller didn't like her, but that was outside of her control. It seemed Levi’s mother was keeping her opinion of Lucy to herself because Levi had never given her any indication that his mother had said anything to him about her.
Even though the Fullers' living room had been packed full of benches to accommodate the wedding guests, there were still people standing around the sides of the room, and outside on the porch were yet more people who couldn't fit in the house.
As far as she could, Lucy kept her mind off Mary Lou but it was hard to see Isaac marrying someone else. For a long time, it had been Isaac and Mary Lou. It was weird that he had shifted his attention to Hazel so quickly. Every time she thought about Mary Lou, she pushed the image of her friend's sad face out of her mind.
When Lucy saw Hazel and Isaac walk away from the bishop, she realized that they’d been pronounced married. She was such a daydreamer! She had missed the whole thing, or at least the important part.
It was time for everyone to leave the house and enjoy the wedding feast set up in the Fullers’ yard. There was nothing like the food at an Amish wedding. There were all kinds of roasted meats, roasted vegetables, salads, plenty of mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, bologna and sausages, and one of her favorites, creamed celery. The desserts were mostly cakes. There wasn’t a main wedding cake; there were many of different flavors. The tables for the wedding meal had been set up in the yard, and the bride and groom's table was positioned at one end.
"Shall we?" a deep male voice said.
She looked up to see Joshua and then realized that everybody behind her was moving out of the house. She sprang to her feet. "Jah, of course."
Joshua was the we
dding attendant for Isaac. Isaac had said he didn't want to have Levi, the closest brother to him in age, perform that duty, as he figured there’d be pressure on him as the second eldest to marry, especially because he'd have been paired with Lucy. Levi had told Lucy that Isaac had always disliked people telling him that he should be married just because he was a certain age.
Levi walked out of the house behind Lucy and Joshua. "Lucy, when you can slip away, come and talk to me. I'll be sitting up in the back somewhere."
She turned around and said, "I will." Turning back around, Lucy continued walking with Joshua. He went to the other side of the table to sit next to Isaac while she took her seat next to Hazel.
"That was a beautiful ceremony, Hazel," Lucy said.
"It was special. It was a little longer than I had expected." She giggled.
"Bishop John likes to get his point across."
Hazel nodded politely. The guests at the wedding served themselves buffet style, while the people at the bride and groom’s table had their meals brought to them.
When most of the people had taken their seats, the ladies placed food in front of the four people at the wedding table.
"Your mudder looks very happy, Hazel," Lucy said, noticing a rare smile on Judy's tired and withered face.
Hazel looked over at her mother. She, along with Hazel’s aunt and uncle, was sitting with the bishop and his wife. "She is. She’s so pleased I found a good man like Isaac. She keeps telling me that good men are hard to find."
Lucy didn't believe that. She saw good men everywhere. "How long is your mudder staying here?"
"Only a couple more days."
His Amish Romance: Amish Romance (Seven Amish Bachelors Book 2) Page 1