New Beginnings at Promise Lodge
Page 1
FRANCES CLASPED HER HANDS, AMAZED AT THE VIEW
“There’s the orchard, and Rainbow Lake, and Preacher Eli’s smithy, and Christine’s dairy cows—and Rosetta’s goats are grazing along the fence behind the Kuhns’ cheese factory!” she whispered, pointing as she noticed each detail. “And look at the way our homes shine in the afternoon sunlight!”
Frances shaded her eyes with her hand, enthralled with what she saw. “I had no idea how much land Mattie’s planted for her produce stand,” she remarked, gazing at the evenly spaced rows of vegetables emerging from the dark soil. “It doesn’t seem you and I have walked such a long distance, yet from here, the lodge and the entryway sign at the road look like part of a toy village.”
“We’ve come a long way,” Marlin remarked softly. “I’m glad you’ve walked with me, Frances. Our community has taken on even more of a glow because I’m seeing it through your eyes.”
Frances focused on Ruby’s stacked white beehives in the orchard, not daring to look at Marlin. The tone of his voice made her pulse thrum with an unusual sense of energy, as though the preacher had something on his mind besides the view.
We’ve come a long way.
Don’t miss any of Charlotte Hubbard’s other Amish romances
A Mother’s Gift
A Mother’s Love
Seasons of the Heart series
Summer of Secrets
Autumn Winds
Winter of Wishes
An Amish Country Christmas
Breath of Spring
Harvest of Blessings
The Christmas Cradle
An Amish Christmas Quilt
Promise Lodge series
Promise Lodge
Christmas at Promise Lodge
Weddings at Promise Lodge
Simple Gifts series
A Simple Vow
A Simple Wish
A Simple Christmas
New Beginnings at PROMISE LODGE
Charlotte Hubbard
ZEBRA BOOKS
KENSINGTON PUBLISHING CORP.
www.kensingtonbooks.com
All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.
Table of Contents
FRANCES CLASPED HER HANDS, AMAZED AT THE VIEW
Also by
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
1 John 4:7–8 (KJV)
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
From the Promise Lodge Kitchen
Teaser chapter
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ZEBRA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2019 by Charlotte Hubbard
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
To the extent that the image or images on the cover of this book depict a person or persons, such person or persons are merely models, and are not intended to portray any character or characters featured in the book.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the Publisher and neither the Author nor the Publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
Zebra and the Z logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off. BOUQUET Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-4201-4510-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-4201-4513-7 (eBook)
ISBN-10: 1-4201-4513-4 (eBook)
For Paula and Kevin,
inspiring second-timers at this love and marriage thing
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks, Lord, for bringing me back to Promise Lodge with characters and story ideas that make so many of us wish we lived there for real!
Many thanks to my editor, Alicia Condon, for your ideas and enthusiasm, and to my agent, Evan Marshall, for your continuing friendship and publishing savvy. My books benefit so much from your insights and guidance!
Special thanks to Vicki Harding, innkeeper of Poosey’s Edge B&B in Jamesport, Missouri, and to all the Amish neighbors you consult for me. What a gift, that your research assistance is only an email away! Thanks and blessings, as well, to Joe Burkholder and his family, proprietors of Oak Ridge Furniture and Sherwood’s Christian Books in Jamesport.
1 John 4:7–8 (KJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Chapter One
Dressed in her Sunday-best black dress, Frances Lehman strode along the road to the lodge building. It was a picture-perfect April day, complete with sunshine that shimmered on Rainbow Lake, a sky the color of morning glories, and the sweet scent of lilacs filling the air—exactly the kind of day Rosetta Bender and Truman Wickey deserved for their long-awaited wedding. Every marriage ceremony was a joyful event, but this wedding marked a turning point: because Bishop Monroe Burkholder and the preachers had agreed that Amish and Mennonites could intermarry, Promise Lodge would be considered far more progressive than most Old Order church districts.
Frances was pleased to belong to this community. It had been settled only a year ago when Rosetta and her two older sisters had purchased an abandoned church camp and transformed it into a new Plain settlement. Even though she’d lost her husband, Floyd, a month ago, Frances felt hopeful and at peace in this place, where spousal abuse wasn’t tolerated and women had unusual freedom to run businesses—to determine how they’d live their lives. Maybe it was the warmth in the springtime air, but Frances couldn’t help walking with more spring in her step. Living among women who had such positive, can-do attitudes was a balm to her lonely soul.
“Frances, wait up!” a familiar voice called out behind her. “I thought we were attending the wedding together.”
Suppressing a sigh, Frances slowed her pace—but only a little. Her brother-in-law, Lester Lehman, had lost his wife and son the week before Floyd had passed, so he deserved her patience and sympathy. But he was such a wet blanket. His presence—and his constant hangdog expression—never failed to bring her down.
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately,” Lester was saying as he caught up to her. “As the male of the Lehman family, it’s only right that I take care of you and Gloria. It’s just plain silly for you and me to roll around like BBs in boxcars, living in two separate houses—”
Frances closed her eyes, half afraid of what he’d say next.
“—so why don’t I move into that back bedroom at your place?” Lester continued earnestly. “The siding and window business Floyd and I started here is going great guns, so you’ll want for nothing,
Frances.”
Her eyes flew open in dismay. What was Lester thinking, suggesting that they live together without being married? It was one thing for him to come over for meals with her and her daughter, Gloria, several times a week—and she’d washed his clothes and cleaned his house a couple of times, too. Any decent woman would do such basic housekeeping tasks for a brother-in-law who’d lost his wife.
No matter how progressive we’ve become at Promise Lodge, however, I can’t believe our leaders will allow unmarried men and women to live together—thank goodness, Frances mused. What chance would I ever have at happiness with Lester living in my home, casting a constant shadow over me?
An uneasy silence stretched between them as Frances tried desperately to come up with a no that didn’t sound harsh and heartless. As they passed Preacher Amos and Mattie Troyer’s house, the lodge came into view ahead of them. Several folks were entering the rustic, timbered building, talking excitedly as they anticipated a day of celebration, but none of them could rescue her from this difficult situation. The men would encourage Lester to marry her—a man needed a wife to run his household, after all. The women would probably sympathize with her, but their opinions wouldn’t dissuade Lester from trying to court her and tie the knot.
“I thought you’d show a little more enthusiasm, Frances,” Lester muttered. “It’s time to talk about being practical by—”
“You’re doing the talking, Lester,” she blurted out.
Lester frowned. He was a handsome man with a full head of dark hair, and for most of the years she’d known him, he’d been pleasant and cheerful. But his wife’s passing had beaten him down. He needed time to grieve, because he’d also lost his son—not to mention Floyd, his brother and business partner—which had taken a huge emotional toll, as well. The downward lines on Lester’s face were etched so deeply that Frances wondered if he’d completely lost his ability to smile.
“I’m only doing what Floyd would’ve wanted,” he protested. “You can’t tell me you enjoy being alone, now that he’s gone.”
“With Gloria around, I never lack for company or entertainment,” Frances pointed out, hoping to change the subject. “If she’s not baking something to impress Allen Troyer—and probably burning it, bless her heart—she’s dreaming up other ways to get his attention. Are you sure you want to deal with her romantic fantasies, and her fear of ending up a maidel?” she teased.
“I raised a couple of girls, you know,” Lester reminded her gruffly. “Gloria needs a father figure to tell her what a husband is really interested in—and to see that she spends her time preparing to be a wife instead of flitting around and flirting.”
Frances looked away, her heart sinking further. At twenty-three, with a mind of her own, Gloria wouldn’t take kindly to Lester’s advice. In January Frances’s younger daughter, Mary Kate, had married Roman Schwartz, whom Gloria had already set her heart upon, so Gloria was determined to marry Allen despite his protests that he wasn’t interested in her. Life with her older daughter was an emotional roller-coaster ride, and Frances doubted that Lester’s presence would improve that situation.
“I know you mean well, Lester,” she began, “but maybe it would be best to reconsider—or to wait awhile before you—”
“Wait for what?” Lester cut in. “You need a man to tend your stable chores and pay your bills and fix things around the house. It doesn’t make sense for both of us to maintain homes—”
“Gut morning, folks!” a cheerful voice called out behind them. “Can’t stop to visit—sorry! I’m running late for the preachers’ meeting before church.”
Frances turned to see Preacher Marlin Kurtz approaching at a jog. As he caught up to them, he waved and kept going. “Gut morning, Marlin,” she said. “It’s a beautiful day for a wedding!”
“It’s a blessed day for all of us!” he called back over his shoulder.
Frances smiled at the preacher’s enthusiastic response. When Marlin had arrived at Promise Lodge with his family for a fresh start after losing his wife, he’d agreed to serve as the deacon—and to preach occasionally—because their church district already had two preachers, Amos Troyer and Eli Peterscheim. Marlin manufactured barrels in a small factory he’d built beside the home he shared with his son and daughter-in-law. The Kurtz family had been a welcome addition to the Promise Lodge community.
“Well, we might be blessed but that doesn’t mean we’re happy,” Lester remarked sourly as he followed Marlin’s progress toward the lodge. “You and I aren’t finished discussing my idea, Frances. It’s my earnest prayer that you’ll come to see reason sooner rather than later, so we can both get on with our lives.”
With that, Lester strode off toward a group of men who’d gathered on the lodge’s front porch, leaving Frances to gape after him.
I’m getting on with my life pretty well, all things considered, she thought. The last thing Gloria and I need is a storm cloud taking up residence in our home, spoiling our springtime.
* * *
Marlin smiled at the congregation, gathering the thoughts that would conclude his sermon and the church service that preceded the wedding ceremony. Several families from the Mennonite church the Wickeys attended in Cloverdale had joined them, along with folks from Coldstream, where Rosetta and her sisters had lived previously, so the twelve new pew benches he and Preacher Amos had built for the occasion had come in handy.
“It’s a joy to see so many of you here to celebrate Rosetta and Truman’s marriage—and it’s a momentous occasion for Promise Lodge,” Marlin said as folks nodded their agreement. “Because Bishop Monroe has been willing to consider that God’s love for us is bigger than any rules established by our forefathers in the Old Order, we’re progressing into a new era—a new understanding of what it means to be people of faith in today’s world, even as we honor our traditional beliefs.”
Marlin gazed at the bride, who beamed at him from the front row of the women’s side, gripping the hands of her sisters, Christine and Mattie. “Rosetta, one of the first things I admired about you when I came here was your way of planning for happiness,” he continued. “You understand that happiness doesn’t just happen—it’s a conscious choice we make dozens of times each day. Your marriage to Truman is a shining example of what’s possible when we plan for the best rather than accepting the limitations of the past or shying away from a future that rocks the boat.”
Rosetta’s smile rivaled the sun as she nodded—and then gazed at Truman, who sat directly across from her on the men’s side. He appeared so happy and so deeply in love that Marlin envied him. He’d felt the same way when he’d married his Essie nearly twenty-five years ago.
“I wish you two all the best as you become one,” Marlin concluded. “May God’s grace bless you all the days of your life together.”
As Marlin returned to the preachers’ bench, Bishop Monroe rose to address the congregation. “It’s my special pleasure to welcome Zachary Miller from the Mennonite Fellowship in Cloverdale to share his message before Truman and Rosetta exchange their vows,” he said, gesturing toward the guest preacher. “We’re pleased to welcome all of you folks to our celebration today.”
Marlin settled on the wooden bench beside Amos Troyer and Eli Peterscheim, who nodded at him to acknowledge his sermon. He was always pleased to take a turn at preaching, because the two men beside him—as well as Monroe—could have insisted that he stick to minding the district’s money and reading the Scriptures. Weddings were a special treat, a time when people came together for an entire day to celebrate a couple’s love as a reflection of God’s love. This was the first wedding sermon he’d given since Essie’s passing, and the flow of God’s inspiration as he spoke had lifted him above missing her so badly, like the wings of a snow-white dove.
In the past few months, Noah Schwartz had married Deborah Peterscheim, and Mary Kate Lehman had married Roman Schwartz—a positive sign for the future because these young couples had new homes and were starting familie
s at Promise Lodge. In addition, Preacher Amos had married Mattie Schwartz—his childhood sweetheart—and Bishop Monroe had married her sister Christine after falling in love at first sight. Marlin saw these second marriages as an indication that midlife could bring a chance for new happiness these folks hadn’t foreseen when they’d come to the tiny town of Promise, Missouri, to start fresh.
As Zachary delivered his message about the ups and downs of marriage with occasional twists of humor, Marlin noted the happy expressions on the faces in the congregation. Despite how hard they’d worked to turn an abandoned church camp into a new Plain community and reestablish their businesses, the people of Promise Lodge exuded such a positive energy—
But Frances Lehman looked like she’d cut into an onion. Was she on the verge of tears because the wedding was making her miss her deceased husband, Floyd?
Or is she upset because Lester was lecturing her about how she needs a man—presumably him—in her life?
Marlin considered this. Overall, Frances had been handling her grief quite well during the past month. She’d helped prepare the food for Rosetta and Truman’s wedding dinner. She crocheted with other ladies at the lodge, and she hadn’t missed any church services—even though she’d sometimes appeared subdued and caught up in her own thoughts. That was only natural as she became the head of the household and took on tasks Floyd had always handled.
Marlin thought some more. What had Lester been saying as he’d jogged past, on his way to the preachers’ meeting? Something about doing the stable chores and fixing things around Frances’s house.
What would need fixing in a house that’s only a few months old? Marlin wondered. And Frances only has a couple of buggy horses, which her son-in-law, Roman, has been tending.