Amish Romance: The Promise (Hollybrook Amish Romance: Greta's Story Book 2)

by Brenda Maxfield

  She knew Isaac didn’t love her. But she had hoped his love would grow as they planned their wedding and married life together. In her foolish imagination, she’d envisioned him hugging her affectionately at the close of the day. She’d envisioned him kissing her with deep tenderness. She’d envisioned the two of them living happily ever after, raising babies of their own.

  Well. She was wrong.

  He didn’t even want a proper wedding. She sat up on the quilt and drew her knees to her chin. She put her arms around her legs and told herself to stop crying. She wasn’t a child. And in all fairness, Isaac had made it clear from the start that he didn’t love her, so he hadn’t been deceptive. He was simply fulfilling their deathbed promise to his first wife. But still… Did that mean he shouldn’t consider her wishes at all? Was he really so crass as to suggest that her first wedding, what Greta hoped would be her only wedding, was to take place in a Hollybrook courtroom?

  Her tears started in again. Her father would come unglued if he found out. He was still grumbling because she’d chosen Isaac over Todd Fisher.

  Greta got up and walked to her window. Todd Fisher. Todd liked her, and she liked him. But when Isaac had returned from Ohio bent on fulfilling their promise to Betty, Greta had turned her back on Todd.

  She had found it easy.

  She moaned. Todd Fisher would never expect her to give up the wedding of her dreams.

  Greta put her hand over her mouth and sucked in her breath. What was she doing? She couldn’t stand there and compare the two of them. It was wrong. Deeply wrong. She blinked back her tears and stared out into the night. The moon shone easily through the near-naked trees, splattering splotches of light onto the ground. Greta opened the window an inch and breathed in the night air. A movement caught her eye.

  She looked more closely and saw that it was Isaac taking his leave. He walked slowly across the yard toward his buggy. His shoulders were slumped, and he looked exhausted. Worn down. She pressed her hand against the window pane and felt the cool glass beneath her fingers. It was her fault. Now, she regretted running from him. He’d gone through so much, and she was adding to his burdens, instead of helping to relieve them. Shame washed through her.

  “I’m sorry, Isaac,” she whispered against the window. “I’m sorry.”

  Her lips quivered as she realized what she had to do. The next day, she had to tell him that she would marry him however he chose. He was to be the head of their family—it was ordained by God. If that meant giving up her dream wedding, then so be it.

  Greta didn’t sleep well that night. She wrestled with herself well into the wee hours of the morning. She had decided what she would do, but she wasn’t happy about it. It tormented her in the darkness. And she dreaded informing her father.

  When she went down in the morning to work on breakfast, she nearly bumped into her dad as he came in from outside.

  “About time you got up,” he said, glowering at her. He handed her a basket with nine eggs. “The leghorn is laying again.”

  “That’s gut news,” Greta responded, taking the basket. She glanced at her father’s stern face. Even on his best days, when he was feeling more mobile, he was still crotchety. Greta had learned to live with his surliness, though she didn’t like it. But what would he say to her wedding news? She cringed at the thought.

  “When did Isaac leave?” he asked.

  “It wasn’t late.”

  “He’s over an awful lot.”

  “Dat, we’re getting married. You know that.”

  He gave a short grunt. She screwed up her courage and put her hand on his arm. He looked at her.

  “I wanted to talk to you about the wedding…”

  He held up his hand. “I know your mamm ain’t here.” He paused. “But your sisters can help you. The gut Lord knows they ain’t hardly around. Not for me, anyway. But they’ll come through for you.”

  She swallowed and blew out her breath. His eyes narrowed.

  “You don’t think they’ll do a gut job?” he asked. “I’ll make sure they do. You don’t got to fret.” He shuffled toward the dining table, and she heard him mumble under his breath, “Still don’t know why you ain’t marrying Todd. He’s the better choice.”

  Greta stared at his back and couldn’t continue. She simply couldn’t tell her father that Isaac didn’t want a proper Amish wedding. Her father already thought she’d made the wrong choice. This would add way too much fuel to his fire.

  “I’m sure my sisters will help me just fine,” Greta said, moving past the table and going into the kitchen. But her dad was right; her married sisters, Rebecca and Mary, didn’t come around much. It wasn’t hard to understand why. They knew they’d only face a barrage of criticism from their father if they did. They’d seen the way he had grown more and more sour, and they’d gotten out while they could.

  Which brought up another issue. What was Greta going to do with her father when she moved to Isaac’s house? Raymond Glick couldn’t be left alone, no matter what he thought. He simply wasn’t capable of taking care of himself or the place. Todd Fisher saw to the land and the barn and even many of the animals, but without her there, her dad wouldn’t even eat his meals every day.

  She needed to speak with Isaac about this. She sighed and got out a bowl to make scrambled eggs. She’d go see Isaac after her morning chores. He’d probably be working in the fields, preparing them for winter. She wished he’d brought little James with him when he’d returned, but she understood why he hadn’t. Until they married, he thought the baby was better off staying with his grandparents in Ohio. In truth, Greta would have been glad to see to James in the meantime, but Isaac thought it more proper that she didn’t spend all day at his house before they were wed.

  Greta grimaced. If she and Isaac went through with his wedding plans, they could get married right away. There was no need to delay. No need to prepare the huge amounts of food necessary for a wedding. No need to make a new dress for the occasion.

  Tears sprang to her eyes. She’d always wanted a new deep blue dress for her wedding. And a new black kapp, too. She supposed neither was necessary if all she was going to do was stand in some room before some judge. She cracked another egg into the bowl, but her hand slipped and she ended up dropping the crushed shells right into the bowl.

  “Ach!” she scolded herself. “Now, look what you’ve done.”

  She worked to pick out the pieces of shell, one by one.

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  Greta’s Story #1: Replacement Wife

  Isaac Wagner gapes at his dying wife. Does she really expect him to marry Greta Glick after she dies? How can anyone replace Betty as his wife? How can anyone replace her as the mother to their son? Isaac can’t even begin to think such thoughts. All he wants is for his wife to live. But Isaac’s prayers aren’t answered.

  Rhoda’s Story #1: The Amish Beekeeper!

  People consider Rhoda Hilty an established spinster, which never bothered her—until Aaron Raber comes to town. When he approaches her to rent her beehives for his struggling orchard, Rhoda’s world turns upside down. But how can she be interested in him when she’s so busy caring for her aging senile mother? Besides … Aaron’s interest in her is strictly business. Isn’t it?

  Rhoda’s Story #2: The Accident!

  Rhod
a Hilty struggles to keep her promise to her elderly mother. But when a tragic accident occurs, Rhoda is forced to break her promise. In addition, Rhoda has to care for her sister’s family as well as her mother. When will it be Rhoda’s turn? How will her handsome neighbor Aaron Raber ever see her as more than a spinster daughter and sister?

  Rhoda’s Story #3: Coming Home!

  Rhoda Hilty’s heart cries out as she watches her mother refuse food. Winnie is wasting away, and Rhoda feels helpless. And now Rhoda’s sweetheart, Aaron Raber, is gone. Writing letters to him is better than nothing, but Rhoda yearns for him. Aaron has promised that when he returns, they will court. But will he ever be free to come back to Hollybrook? It doesn’t appear so.

  Faith’s Story #1: The Adoption!

  Faith Baldwin’s birth mother is Amish and lives somewhere in Indiana, and she’s determined to find her. Pretending she’s a tourist, she digs around for clues. While there, she becomes enchanted with the Amish and their way of life. But things don’t go as smoothly as she hopes. Her boyfriend unexpectedly shows up; every lead goes dead; and the one old woman who might have answers for her won’t talk.

  Faith’s Story #2: Changing Her Mind!

  Her birth mother had written. With trembling hands, Faith Baldwin rips open the flap. Her eyes fly over the words until she finds the closing. Your mother, Nancy… Faith and her birth mother begin a correspondence that brings them both blissful joy. However, Nancy’s husband discovers her secret child, and his anger and sense of betrayal build an insurmountable wall between them. And if the truth is made public, how could Nancy explain a grown daughter to her children or her community?

  Faith’s Story #3: Home at Last!

  Faith Baldwin has her wish. She is sitting face-to-face with her Amish birth mother. As Faith struggles to fit in with her new Amish family, the hole in her heart begins to heal. But she yearns to truly belong, to truly be Amish. But that would mean closing down everything about her former life. It would mean starting over.

  Mellie’s Story #1: Mellie’s Sweet Shop!

  Mellie Fisher is in love with her sister’s beau. Striving to keep it a secret, she suffers in silence. When her sister makes a rash decision, Mellie prays that her chance with the handsome, kind Caleb Glick has finally come. But with her brother’s family moving into their already crowded house, and her mother’s illness creating chaos, Mellie worries that she will never have her chance at love. Will she forever be known as the single Amish girl who bakes sweets? Or is there something more for her?

  Mellie’s Story #2: Leaving Hollybrook!

  Beth Fisher spurns her steady beau to follow her dream of teaching. Leaving her family, she travels to Meadow Lark to become their new teacher. When school begins, it’s as wonderful as she expected. What she doesn’t expect, however, is to meet Timothy Plank, a widower with three children. She refuses to hear her heart where Timothy is concerned, and she rejects his love for her. But is teaching truly enough to fulfill her forever? Is she willing to give it up to find love?

  Mellie’s Story #3: The Fire!

  Mellie Fisher is weary of pining over her sister’s former beau. How long must she wait for his affection? Despairing, she agrees to be courted by Obadiah Westman. But things don’t go as planned, and she quickly regrets her decision. Her mother’s catastrophic fall, a disaster at her Sweet Shop, and her sister-in-law’s accident all conspire to derail Mellie’s happiness and plans for the future. How can it ever be good again? And will she ever gain Caleb’s love?

  Naomi’s Story #1: Byler’s Bed and Breakfast!

  Still reeling from her husband’s death, Naomi Byler struggles to support herself and her two children. A chance meeting with a handsome Englischer gives her the opportunity to open a Bed and Breakfast. Naomi meets resistance from Zachariah King, the young Amish farmer who leases her land. Is Zachariah interested in her? And if he is, why doesn’t he say anything? And is the handsome Englischer wanting more than room and board? Are the two men now in competition?

  Naomi’s Story #2: The Englischer Stayed Twice!

  The widow Naomi Byler struggles to forget the handsome Englischer who stayed at her Bed and Breakfast. With time, his effect on her fades, and life resumes. Naomi’s relationship with Zach King grows as Naomi’s grief over her husband’s death heals. But when the Englischer suddenly returns with a gift, disruption reigns. Naomi is thrown into a tailspin, and Zach is at first angry then grows distant. Is Naomi about to lose her hard-won peace? Is she about to enter a place where there’s no hope of forgiveness?

  Naomi’s Story #3: Naomi’s Choice!

  The Englischer is gone. While Naomi mourns his leaving, she hopes that Zach King will now declare his feelings for her. But Zach remains painfully quiet. When Naomi’s brother comes to Hollybrook and insists that she and her children move back to Pennsylvania, she panics. Not wanting to leave her Bed and Breakfast, her friends, or Zach, she makes one final last-ditch effort. But will it have any effect at all? Or will she have to leave everything she’s worked so hard to build?

  Annie’s Story #1: The Forbidden Baby!

  Not wanting to burden others, Annie Braus works to maintain a pleasant attitude. But lurking beneath, she harbors deep sorrow. Wondering if things will ever change, she fights against feelings of anger toward God. When her sister dives off the deep end during rumspringa and ends up in serious trouble, Annie wonders whether this might be God’s answer for her. But how can her sister’s mistake become Annie’s blessing? And will Annie’s husband go along with her father’s daring plan?

  Annie’s Story #2: Escaping Acre’s Corner!

  Refusing to give in to her father’s plan, Sarah Clapper plots her escape carefully. Her Englisch boyfriend joins her, whisking her away from her cousin’s Amish home. Sarah thought marriage would solve her problem, but it only makes things worse. She is stunned to find herself yearning for home. Her Amish home. But certain things in life that cannot be reversed. Has Sarah trapped herself? Is there any way for her to get out of the mess she’s made?

  Annie’s Story #3: Sarah’s Return!

  Annie Braus goes numb with relief when her pregnant runaway sister returns. But when Sarah reveals that she secretly married an Englisch boy, Annie fears the worst.

  Now how can she and Amos claim Sarah’s baby as their own? And if Sarah is married, where is her husband? Annie struggles to take care of her sister, through a harrowing late-night scare, an unwelcome visitor, and a shocking revelation of her own.

  Josie’s Story #1: The Schoolteacher’s Baby

  All John Beiler wants is to escape his grief. He bundles up his baby daughter and flees to Hollybrook. With a numb heart, he engages Josie Bontrager to care for his baby. When he starts to fall for Josie, he resists. How can he risk loving again? And wouldn’t it dishonor his deceased wife to have feelings for another?

  Josie’s Story #2: A Desperate Act!

  Secret meetings behind closed doors. Furtive looks. Strange, unexplained behavior. What is John Beiler involved in? Josie is desperate to find out, but her beau remains stubbornly silent. Does it have anything to do with Amanda Crabill and her son?

  Sally’s Story #1: The Decision

  For Sally, leaving the Amish would mean leaving Zeke. Can she ignore her feelings for him and turn her back on her dreams? And all for a brother who doesn’t want her around?

  Sally’s Story #2: Second Thoughts

  “It wouldn’t work. It couldn’t work. We are from two different worlds, you and me.” Zeke gazed at her, his eyes filled with infinite sadness.

  Sally won’t give up. But will she burn all the bridges she’s worked so hard to build?

  Sally’s Story #3: The Stranger

  Who is this stranger? And does he have the legal right to take her away as he claims? How can Sally convince the stranger to let her go? And how will she ever get back to Zeke?

  Amish Days 1: Missing Abram

  Are Hope’s dreams of Abram only a fantasy? Will his cousin Josiah try to step i
n?

  Amish Days 2: Abram’s Plan

  Mysterious relatives force Hope to leave her Amish home. While gone, her fiancé Abram is hurt. Will he heal? Can she ever go back?

  Amish Days 3: Abram’s Bride

  Why is Abram refusing to marry Hope? Hadn’t he promised her a November wedding? Was she to be a jilted bride?

  Amish Days: The Runaway!

  Caught in a cocoon of cold and desperation, will Mary admit her feelings for Josiah? Will Josiah confirm Mary’s suspicions that it’s really her sister that he loves?

  Amish Days: A Loving Stranger

  After a full year of professing his love, Ezra Ebersol dumps Sadie and becomes engaged to another girl. Sadie reels with her pain and confusion for weeks. Hiding out, she encounters a stranger. She tries to evade him, but newcomer Joshua Graber isn’t so easily dissuaded. When Sadie discovers the reason for her broken relationship with Ezra, her eyes are opened. Was Joshua sent to help her heal? Or is he just another person who can’t be trusted?

  Marian’s Story #1: The Amish Blogger

  Marian Yoder befriends an Englisch girl—never dreaming it will lead her to a blog of her own. Nor that it would catch the eye of the handsome Englisch guy, Roger Young. Marian gets sucked into their exciting world. But her mother’s frightening behavior brings turmoil and danger. When Thomas Groft turns his eye toward Marian, she’s caught in the middle.

  Marian’s Story #2: Missing Mama

  Marian Yoder can’t wait to marry Thomas Groft. But when her mother is admitted to a sanitarium, Marian is forced to become caretaker to her baby sister. Marian can’t leave her father or baby sister to marry Thomas. When she learns her mother has run away, her faith is tested to the near breaking point. Will there ever be a way for Marian to marry Thomas?