Chapter 18
Jack Parker sat up in the bed suddenly awake; a cold sweat saturating his hair. Had he been dreaming? Ellen had seemed so real to him. He’d touched her hand and pushed back her hair that had fluttered around her cheeks in the soft, autumn breeze. Her smile and gentle laughter had warmed his heart in a way he hadn’t been aware of since before her passing.
Jack swallowed down the lump that formed in his throat where it remained, choking him. He’d missed her more than he could withstand. He had managed to get through the past twenty-five years without her by steeling his heart beyond restoration. Bailey had suffered his callused heart more than she deserved. He’d all but given up to the point of thinking that ridding himself of all the memories of the past would mend the gap in his heart.
If he’d had the strength to face his pain before now, he could have spared himself and his daughter a lifetime of hurt and misunderstandings. He’d made a mess of things for her, and had put her in a position to defy him. If he’d only given her the deed to the orchard sooner, and without the unattainable challenge he’d burdened her with, he could have enjoyed it with her.
Instead, he’d created a mess that he had no way of retracting without making things worse. He called out to God in a moment of weakness and desperation. Was it fair to his only child to be denied her heritage simply because he was unable to deal with his wife’s death? In a way, he’d been blaming Bailey all her life for Ellen’s death without even realizing it. She’d wanted to have a baby more than anything, and when the doctors warned her the pregnancy was high-risk, Ellen had welcomed it all the more, calling it a miracle.
Jack felt bitterness rise up in his throat. That miracle had cost Ellen her life.
Chapter 19
Bailey stumbled sleepily out to the kitchen, the smell of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee beckoning her. She slumped down in the nearest chair at the small, round table that centered the room, trying to remember the last time she was so willing to be up so early. She knew the orchard and those apples were waiting on her, and she aimed to keep her promise to herself if no one else.
As she lifted her weary head, she noticed an envelope resting against the sugar bowl. Her name was hand-written on the front of it, and she grabbed at it instinctively. Her hands shook as she dreaded opening it, knowing it was her father’s handwriting. She’d sworn she’d heard his truck leaving an hour or so earlier, and hadn’t been able to stir herself to being fully awake.
Mostly, she hadn’t cared.
She had expected as much from him. He’d never been one to face his problems head-on, and this situation was no different.
Lifting the flap of the envelope, she dreaded what was inside. A note perhaps, telling her how he hoped she understood why she couldn’t have the deed to the farm.
No regrets.
No apologies.
Bailey unfolded the single sheet of paper the envelope contained, and scanned it with unseeing eyes.
It was the deed, and he’d transferred ownership to her!
She didn’t dare blink for fear the deed would disappear before her eyes. Fully comprehending what she was holding, Bailey gasped, her heart racing.
Hannah turned from the stove where she was busy cooking breakfast. “What is it?”
Bailey looked up from the deed in a stupor, a smile slowly turning her lips upward. “He gave me the deed! The farm is mine.”
Hannah moved the eggs off the flame and wiped her hands on her apron as she crossed the room to take a look at the piece of paper in Bailey’s hands. She read the lines over Bailey’s shoulder, her heart beating overtime.
“Does this mean we can stay?” she asked cautiously.
Bailey jumped up and hugged Hannah. “Of course it does!”
Hannah giggled. “I can’t wait to tell Luke,”
Bailey felt her heartbeat surge. “Let me tell him.”
Hannah nodded. “Jah, he would rather hear that from you. And while you’re at it, tell him that you love him—it’s time!”
Bailey simply nodded, unable to wipe the smile from her face.
Chapter 20
Luke looked up from mucking the stalls to see Bailey standing in front of him wearing a grin so wide he wasn’t certain what to make of it. He paused to admire her, and couldn’t help but smile to himself.
“Are ya going to share with me what has you so happy this morning, or are you going to keep it to yourself?” Luke finally asked.
Bailey held up the deed and twirled around happily, her arms outstretched. “The farm is all mine! My father gave it to me!”
Luke closed the space between them and scooped her up in his arms and twirled her again.
He couldn’t help himself.
Bailey clung to his neck, holding on as he twirled her again and then set her down slowly. Keeping his hands about her waist, he pulled her to him and pressed his lips gently to hers. Leaning into the kiss, Bailey ran her fingers through his hair, lifting the black felt hat from his head. Luke let his hat fall to the straw-bed under their feet and continued to kiss her, fearing if he let go of her too soon, the kiss would be over. He didn’t want this one to end, for this was the real one—the one he didn’t think he’d ever get from her. But here she was, lips locked on his, and he couldn’t have been happier.
****
Hannah cleared her throat to get Luke’s attention. “I hate to break this up, but we have an apple harvest to bring in if we’re going to help Bailey make a profit off the farm this year.”
Luke reluctantly stopped kissing her.
“Hannah’s right.” He pecked her on the lips again. “Can we pick this up where we left off later? I’d like to take you for another buggy ride.”
Bailey smiled and kissed him back. “Sounds like a great plan to me.”
Luke pulled her into him for one last kiss. Right now, he felt like the luckiest a man could ever be.
Chapter 21
Bailey looked at herself in the full-length mirror, trying to imagine how her mother had looked in the white lace dress on her wedding day. Bailey wondered what her mother had thought about just before she’d walked the tiny aisle to meet her father at the altar.
Jack poked his head in the door and looked at his daughter, a lump forming in his throat. “You look just as beautiful as your mother did the day I married her.”
He held his arms out to her and she went to him, hugging him close. “Thank you, Daddy.”
Jack pulled out a small box from his suit jacket pocket, and opened it slowly. “Your mother would have wanted you to have this today on your special day.”
As he lifted the lid of the black, felt jewelry box, Bailey gasped. Jack removed a locket from the box and draped it around her neck and clasped it.
“She bought this when she was pregnant for you with the intention of putting a picture of the two of you inside so you would have it on your wedding day.”
Bailey opened it, tears surfacing when she caught sight of her mother wearing the very dress she was wearing. All that was visible was the lace at the neckline, but Bailey could see it was the dress.
Jack picked up his camera. “The other side needs a picture of you in the dress. Give me your biggest smile.”
Bailey flashed him a teary-eyed smile. It was her wedding day, and she was happy. Still, she couldn’t help but feel a little bit of sadness over missing her mother.
Jack tipped Bailey’s chin up with his finger.
“Don’t be sad today. This is your day.”
Bailey nodded, pushing her feet into her western boots. From the corner of her eye, she couldn’t help but notice the confused look on her father’s face.
“Are you really going to wear those cowboy boots on your wedding day?” he asked.
Bailey smiled. “Luke wouldn’t have me wear anything else today. If not for these boots, I doubt I would have been able to appreciate Luke’s weird sense of humor. And I might never have fallen in love with him. So yes, Daddy, I’m wearing the boots on my wedding day!”
<
br /> Bailey reflected briefly on her first day in the orchard, and how Luke was able to get Murphy to step off of her boots. It made her giggle.
Jack kissed is daughter on her cheek. “Your mother would have loved seeing you walk down the aisle in those boots. She would have gotten a kick out of it—no pun intended.”
Bailey wiped her tears and let out a giggle. She was truly content, despite missing her mother on such an important day. She was, however, very grateful that her father was there. She knew it was tough for him to be in the tiny white church that stood at the base of the orchard. He had married her mother in this same church, and she knew her father struggled with his memories of it. But he was doing this for her, and that was what made it so special to Bailey.
Jack held out his arm, and Bailey tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. She took a deep breath and smiled, eager to see Luke waiting for her at the altar.
****
Luke stood at the altar of the little white church he’d wanted to go inside of for the past five years since he’d been on the farm. It seemed perfectly natural for him to be here on his wedding day; he couldn’t have thought of a more perfect day to attend a service.
He looked out at the family and friends that had come to celebrate their day with them. Hannah sat snuggled up to Jeremy, while his daed sat with the Widow Yoder.
The Wedding March resounded on the pipe organ, and Luke looked toward the back of the small church for his bride. When she began her descent toward him, the click of her heels made him chuckle. She’d worn the boots after all, and he thought she’d never looked lovelier.
THE END
Please enjoy the recipes on the following pages for:
AMISH APPLE FRITTERS
Presented by: Diana Montgomery
Diana Montgomery
Amish Apple Fritters
8 medium firm cooking apples
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup lemon juice
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
2 eggs, separated
Grated rind of 1 lemon
½ cup milk
confectioner sugar
Peel and slice the apples into ¼ inch slices
Combine the brown sugar and lemon juice in a 10- inch Shallow dish. Add the apple slices, spooning the sauce aver both sides of the fruit. Allow to stand 1 hour, turning occasionally. Heat 3 inches of oil in a heavy skillet. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl beat the egg yolks thoroughly and add the Rind and milk. Combine with the dry ingredients. In mixing bowl beat the egg whites until stiff, then gently fold them into the batter. The batter will be puffy and there will be some white patches showing. Dip the apples slices into the Batter, firmly pushing the slices into the batter until both sides are covered. With tongs, drop the apple into the hot oil and Cook until golden on one side- about 2 minutes. Turn and fry on the other side 1 minute. Sprinkle with confectioner sugar.
AMISH APPLE CRISP
Presented by: Diana Montgomery
Diana Montgomery
Amish Apple Crisp
Ingredients
5 to 6 apples peeled and sliced 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Topping
1 cup flour ½ cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 unbeaten egg ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1/3 cup butter, melted
Directions
In small bowl mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Now mix it with your apple slices and put in a deep dish pie pan.
Mix topping ingredients. Except butter and cinnamon. Then add the mixture of butter and cinnamon. It will be like crumbles. Now sprinkle it over the apples in the pie pan as a topping. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Servings around 6 people.
AMISH APPLE BUTTER
Presented by: Diana Montgomery
Diana Montgomery
Amish crock pot Apple Butter
Ingredients 6 lbs. apples peeled and finely sliced 3 cups sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon salt
Directions
Place apples in slow cooker in thirds. Layering sugar between each layer. Add rest of ingredients on top and pack down as well as you can. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low. Open and give a stir. Keep covered and cook 8 Hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally. (you can do this overnight and can in the morning) Uncover and cook for the last hour on low. Place in sterile jars with lids and process for ten minutes in hot water Bath or you can freeze.
AMISH CARAMEL APPLE CAKE
Presented by: Diana Montgomery
Diana Montgomery
Amish Caramel Apple Cake
Ingredients ½ cup chopped pecans (optional) 2 ½ cups finely chopped apples ½ cup butter, softened 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour
Hot Carmel Sauce ½ cup butter 1 cup brown sugar ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup evaporated milk
Directions Large bowl, cream the butter, then add sugar beat it until fluffy. Add egg and beat until well blended. . Mix soda , salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Now add flour and stir just until blended. Stir in the apples and nuts (optional) Pour into an oiled round cake pan and bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes until the top springs back when touched lightly with your finger. Serve with hot Carmel sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter, brown sugar and salt. Bring this to a boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and the milk. Serve warm sauce over the cake. A scope of ice cream on the side is great.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
All rights reserved.
Other Titles by Samantha Bayarr
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VOLUME ONE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
VOLUME TWO
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
VOLUME THREE
CHAPTER 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
VOLUME FOUR
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Please enjoy the recipes
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Amish Harvest, COMPLETE SERIES: Amish Novella Page 5