The Amish Buggy Horse BOXED SET Books 1-3 (Amish Romance Book Bundle: Faith, Hope, Charity) (Boxed Set: The Amish Buggy Horse)

by Ruth Hartzler

  "You did the right thing," Mr. Koble assured her. "It may remove legal complications later."

  Nettie showed Mr. Koble into the living room and he sank into the deep sofa. Nettie handed him the envelope, and he took out an old, gold-rimmed tortoiseshell case and from it removed his glasses. With them safely perched on his nose, he broke open the seal.

  Nettie sat on the adjoining sofa, holding her breath, hoping that the will would not leave everything to Jebediah Sprinkler. She watched Mr. Koble carefully as he read it, looking for a change of expression. There was none, although his bushy, white, eyebrows did go up and down at intervals.

  "Interesting," he finally said.

  Nettie wanted to scream with impatience. "What does it say? Does it leave everything to Jebediah Sprinkler?"

  "Indeed it does," said Mr. Koble.

  "The haus, the land?"

  "Everything," Mr. Koble said. "There are no cats as beneficiaries in this will."

  Nettie bit her lip.

  "Just one thing," Mr. Koble said, with a twinkle in his eye. "Do you have any intention of marrying this Jebediah Sprinkler?"

  "Nee!" Nettie all but shouted. "Absolutely not, Mr. Koble, I can assure you of that." She wondered why Mr. Koble had asked such a question.

  Mr. Koble smiled. "Nettie, there is a condition on this will. Jebediah Sprinkler only has claim to your mother's entire property should you marry him within one year of her death."

  Nettie could scarcely believe her ears. "Could you please repeat that, Mr. Koble?" After Mr. Koble repeated it, Nettie asked, "So Jebediah Sprinkler doesn't get anything?"

  "Nothing at all, unless you marry him."

  "There's no chance of that," Nettie said, "Although I did see him at the plant nursery recently and he asked me to marry him."

  The lawyer's eyebrows shot up. "Did he indeed!"

  "So what happens now, Mr. Koble; do I inform Jebediah that I've found the will?"

  Mr. Koble shook his head. "I suspect that Mr. Sprinkler has his own copy of the will, which is why he asked you to marry him. Leave it to me; do you know his address?"

  Nettie shook her head. "I only know he's staying at the B&B that's down by the stream."

  "I shall send that young man a stern legal letter," Mr. Koble said. "I doubt that he will ever contact you again, but should he do so, please call me at once and I will see to him."

  Nettie beamed. "Thank you, Mr. Koble, thank you so much."

  Romans 10:8-11.

  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

  Chapter 18.

  Nettie walked outside and watched Mr. Koble drive away in his expensive looking car. She remembered the last time that Mr. Koble had been here, that Blessing had appeared soon after Mr. Koble had left.

  And now were her eyes deceiving her, or was this Blessing trotting down the road toward her?

  I hope this isn’t all a dream, Nettie thought, and then shook her head to clear it. She looked again, and sure enough, it was Blessing coming, only he was being driven by Daniel Glick.

  "I just don't understand it," she said by way of greeting when Daniel approached. "I only drove Blessing to the phone shanty just a few hours ago. I didn’t know he'd escaped again."

  "Hullo to you too," Daniel said. "What a fine greeting that is." His manner was teasing, but Nettie still blushed.

  "I'm sorry," she said. "Hiya, Daniel."

  "Hiya, Nettie." Daniel laughed.

  "I'm so sorry that Blessing escaped again."

  "My fault entirely," Daniel said. "I never did come to fix the gates. I suppose you’re wondering why I'm driving him."

  "Yes, now that you mention it," Nettie said. I hope Daniel isn’t going to take Blessing back, she thought. He's my only means of independence.

  "I was going to come and see you today, and when Blessing turned up this morning, I thought I should drive him here and invite you for a buggy ride."

  Nettie gasped and her hand flew to her mouth, then she chided herself for being so obvious. She stared at Daniel with her mouth open. Buggy rides mean courting, thought Nettie, her heart all at once going ninety to the dozen. Nettie did not know what to say, until she saw disappointment register on Daniel's face, so she thought she should hurry to reassure him.

  "I'd love to," she said, in all too animated a fashion, and then remembered that her mudder always said, "Menner will never respect you if they know that you like them," and, "You must never let a mann know you like him."

  Daniel's face lit up and Nettie's heart skipped a beat. "Is now a gut time for you?"

  Nettie hesitated, only for a second, as she thought of her mudder's advice and words, but then decided to put it all behind her. She would not look to the sadness of the past, but would press onwards to the future that Gott had for her. "Yes, it's a gut time," she said.

  Nettie climbed into the buggy, next to Daniel, and Blessing trotted happily down the roads that wound their way between farms, with their pretty, white barns and old, white, stone buildings that stood in contrast to the lush green of the fields. The gentle breeze blew in her face, and she stole a look at Daniel.

  Daniel caught her eye and smiled. "I passed a car on my way to your haus."

  "Jah, that was my lawyer. Oh Daniel, I forgot to tell you; I found the will."

  Daniel sucked in a breath. "The will leaving everything to Jebediah Sprinkler?"

  Nettie laughed. "Jah, but that's just it; it doesn't."

  "It doesn't?" Daniel echoed.

  "Nee," Nettie said. "Not exactly. He gets everything only if I marry him within twelve months of Mamm going to be with Gott."

  Daniel slowed Blessing to a walk and looked over at Nettie. "And you don't intend to marry Jebediah Sprinkler?"

  Nettie thought he was still teasing, but said, "Nee, of course not." She shuddered involuntarily.

  "Gut," Daniel said, still looking at her. "I would be very upset if you married another mann."

  Nettie's face burned and her ears grew hot. She smiled shyly and then looked away. Her stomach was churning. Did he say what I think he just said? she asked herself, and then, as if knowing her shyness, Daniel reached out and took her hand.

  Nettie smiled as his strong hand wrapped around hers. She loved the feeling, even if it did make her feel slightly sick to the stomach and have the same effect as the time she had touched the neighbor's electric fence.

  "Jebediah Sprinkler told me that the two of you were betrothed," Daniel said. "Well, he didn’t actually mention your name," he added, "but the implication was quite clear."

  Nettie wasn't surprised; she wouldn’t put anything past the unscrupulous Jebediah Sprinkler. "He did? When?"

  "Yesterday, after the church meeting."

  "And you didn’t believe him?"

  "Nee." Daniel squeezed Nettie's hand. "Do you believe that Gott has the right mann for every woman and the right woman for every mann?"

  "Why, yes, I do believe that," Nettie said, comfortable with the fact that such was the belief of all Amish.

  "Nettie, the second I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the woman that Gott had for me."

  Nettie blushed again. She could not believe that such great happiness was hers. Yet there was something niggling away at her. "Daniel, I must tell you that when I was sixteen, my mudder arranged me for to be betrothed to Jebediah Sprinkler."

  Daniel looked shocked, but merely asked, "What happened?"

  "I refused of course, and that was the end of it, although my mudder was very angry at the time. Well, I think she was always angry; she never forgave me for it, and she always used to mention him to me."

  Daniel turned to
smile at her again. "You did very well to stand up to your mudder."

  Nettie sent up a silent prayer of thanks to Gott for Daniel being so understanding. Yet there was one more thing she had to tell him. "Daniel, I must tell you that I'm not a gut person. When Jebediah told me about the will, I thought I would destroy it."

  Daniel simply chuckled.

  "Seriously, Daniel, I really did consider burning it."

  Daniel did not appear to be concerned. "When did you change your mind?"

  "Yesterday, at the church meeting, although up until then, I really did think about destroying it." Nettie looked at Daniel to see how he was taking the news.

  "Nettie, it doesn't matter that you thought that you might; the point is, that you didn't; that's all that counts. Everyone has struggles; we all have fallen short of the glory of Gott. Yet, after your struggle, did you find greater faith?"

  "Why yes, I did," Nettie said, thinking how wise Daniel was and glad that he did not think less of her for her struggle.

  Daniel drew Blessing to a stop by the stream, and helped Nettie down from the buggy. "It's so beautiful here," he said, gesturing around him. "The fullness of Gott's creation."

  Nettie had to agree, as they walked alongside the stream under a canopy of tulip poplars which were in bloom, giving off a subtle yet sweet fragrance.

  Daniel turned to her. "Nettie, I can't tell you how happy I am that we're courting now."

  Nettie's face flushed with happiness at his words.

  "And one day," Daniel continued, "when we know each other better, I will ask you a very important question, and I'm hoping you will say yes."

  Of course I will, Nettie thought, elated, but she simply smiled up at him.

  The two of them walked, hand in hand, down along the stream, beginning the first day of the rest of their lives together.

  The End

  Book 2. Hope.

  Chapter 1.

  Melissa fidgeted with her bonnet. It was all quite a shock.

  "And so," Melissa's boss, Irene Blackwell, continued, "you can see why I have to leave you in charge of the difficult clients. There's just no time to look for someone to replace me, and I don't know how long I’ll be away."

  "I don’t feel confident speaking to clients," Melissa said. "Ever since I started working here at the Marriage Minded Agency, all I've done is filing."

  Irene waved her concerns aside. "Nonsense. We don’t have many difficult clients, and Milly will do all the other face-to-face work. The clients will be more respectful of you because you're Amish; they won't give you a hard time. Now you'll have to watch what you say; try not to be as forthright as usual."

  Melissa sighed. "I'll do my best." She knew there was no use arguing with Irene, and besides, with Irene's son suffering a badly broken leg in a motorcycle accident in Barcelona, and Irene having to leave so suddenly, it would be selfish of her not to help out.

  "Why can’t Milly handle the difficult clients?" Melissa knew that Irene's mind made was made up, but it was worth one more try.

  Irene frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Melissa, Milly handles all the face-to-face work with the clients; she's overwhelmed as it is. More to the point, if a client progresses to the place where they need more input, they need to see someone different, and it's always been me. Now it will have to be you, at least until I get back."

  Melissa nodded. I don't have any choice, she thought, but perhaps it won’t be as hard as I think.

  "And Melissa," Irene continued, "can you work five days a week while I'm away?"

  Melissa thought for a moment. "Sure, I suppose that will be okay with my mother."

  Irene shoved some papers into her briefcase. "Great, I'm so thankful, Melissa. Now I've got to run; take the rest of the day off, but be here for an early start tomorrow. I’ll call you when I get to Barcelona; well, I’ll call you tomorrow some time. You'll be fine." With that, Irene snatched up her briefcase and rushed out the door.

  Melissa sighed. She thought of the Scripture, Proverbs chapter twenty seven, verse one: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

  That's for sure, Melissa thought. I never really thought about that verse before. I do hope this is all in Gott's plan; I had no time to pray and think before agreeing to what Irene wanted. All I can do is hope.

  The afternoon off was a small consolation to the thought of working five days a week and dealing with the agency's difficult clients, but at least the afternoon off would give Melissa a chance to catch up with her gut friend, Isobel.

  Melissa hurried the few blocks to where Isobel worked, hoping to catch her in time for lunch. The Old Candle Store was always dimly lit, a fact Melissa always found amusing; after all, one would expect that a candle store would be bright. The brick walls and small, front windows added to the atmosphere, and the fragrance was delightfully overwhelming. Aged, wooden tables were crammed with every manner of candle, as were the old, wooden dressers which lined the walls.

  Isobel looked up from behind the counter. "Melissa!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here? It's not our day for lunch."

  "Do you have time for lunch today? I've lots to tell you."

  Isobel scrunched up her face. "Oh, sounds exciting. I was about to go to lunch soon; I’ll just ask my boss if I can go now. Won’t be a minute."

  Isobel disappeared into the back room, and soon returned. "Jah, Mr. Harrison says I can go right now."

  The two friends walked arm in arm to the nearby café where they met for lunch once a week. Unlike the candle store, the café had bright lighting and was modern, all sleek and sophisticated. The girls sat at their usual table, which was right by the floor to ceiling glass windows which overlooked the street.

  "What's all this about?" Isobel asked, as soon as they sat down.

  "We'd better order first, and then I’ll tell you everything. You know how they don’t like to wait for anyone to decide."

  Isobel chuckled, and nodded at the waitress who was already making her way over. "I'm going to have the same as I always have," she said to Melissa, and then to the waitress whose pen was already hovering over her notepad, "The smoked ham, cold sandwich on multi-grain, sunflower bread please, and a chai tea latte."

  "And I’ll have the smoked salmon bagel, and a sugar and spice latte, please."

  When the waitress left, Isobel laughed. "We're creatures of habit. Always ordering the same thing."

  Melissa shrugged. "Well, we know it's good." Taking in her friend's impatient expression, Melissa hurried to tell her the whole morning's events, an explanation that lasted half way through their meal.

  "Are you sure you'll be all right with the difficult clients?" Isobel asked through sips of her latte.

  "Nee, nee, that's what I'm worried about. Milly and Irene are always talking about the difficult clients, how they're never satisfied. The difficult clients all have deep issues but don’t know it, and Irene is always telling them straight."

  "But you're good at setting people straight," Isobel said. "You're quite blunt and say what you think."

  Melissa cringed. "That’s just it. Everyone's always telling me that I'm not tactful, yet I don't think I’ll be able to say anything blunt to these Englischers."

  "I'm sure you'll be fine," Isobel said, but her tone was not convincing in the slightest.

  Proverbs 24: 14.

  Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

  Chapter 2.

  The following morning, Melissa and Milly stood over by the Nespresso coffee machine in the tiny, office kitchen. "I'll have to order more coffee soon," Milly said, throwing an empty packet of Livanto capsules into the trash. "Hey, Melissa, you're a million miles away."

  Melissa bit her lip. "I'm worried about the difficult clients."

  "I would be too, if I were you." When Melissa raised her eyes, Milly laughed. "Sorry, but there's no point sugar coating it, as you'll find out soon enough wh
at you've gotten yourself into." Milly chuckled to herself.

  "I didn't volunteer, that's for sure; Irene said I had to do it. I've always been happy just doing the filing," Melissa said, "especially after all the stories you've told me about some of the clients. Seriously, that's why I don't want to get married - ever."

  Milly shrugged. "They're not all that bad. It's just that some of them - oh well, you'll see."

  Melissa took a mouthful of coffee and looked at the clock on the side wall. It was nearly nine, almost time for her first appointment. She made her way to Irene's office and turned on the computer. "I really don’t want to do this," she said aloud to herself.

  The notes on the computer screen in front of her told her that her first appointment was Brian Adams. He was thirty two years old and, according to the notes, the agency had sent him on many dates and he had found none of the women suitable in the slightest.

  Milly had attached a note to the file stating that Brian Adams was one of the most difficult clients that the agency had ever had. The note stated that Brian Adams was unhappy with the agency and was looking to go elsewhere. Melissa had to keep him happy by finding the perfect woman for him, or at least, a woman close enough to perfect to keep him at the agency. Irene did not like to lose a single client and took such matters personally.

  While Melissa was pondering the pressure under which her boss had placed her, there was a knock on the office door. She looked up to see Milly, with a man standing behind her. “Brian Adams is here to see you, Melissa.”

  “Denki.” Melissa coughed to cover up the fact that, in her nervousness, she had just spoken in Pennsylvania Dutch. No one else at the agency was Amish, so they would have no idea what she was saying. She amended her words to, “Thank you, Milly.”

  Melissa stood up and smiled at Brian. “Hello, Brian. Take a seat, please.”

  Brian sat heavily in the chair in front of Melissa’s desk.

  “Mrs. Blackwell has been called away on a family emergency. I hope you don’t mind me helping you while she’s away.”