Runaway Amish Bride

by Leigh Bale

  “The only thing I feel guilty about is hurting you. But I didn’t come here because of that. I came because I love you.”

  What? She shook her head, thinking she’d heard him wrong.

  He held out his hands in a pleading gesture. “Just hear me out, Abby. Please.”

  She glanced toward the door, realizing she had only minutes before they would be boarding the bus. But she couldn’t turn her back on him. Not now, not ever.

  “When I learned you were gone, I couldn’t stand to lose you. Last night, Dawdi Zeke helped me understand what I’ve been feeling. I’ve waited all day to tell you. That’s why I planned a special buggy ride, so we could be alone. But then I got home and found out you had left.”

  “Dawdi Zeke?” She felt beyond confused. She hoped Zeke hadn’t talked Jakob into marrying her.

  Jakob quickly told her about Zeke’s two wives. It was a touching story, but Abby didn’t see how it could change anything between them.

  “It wasn’t until I spoke with him that I realized the truth. I love you, Abby. I always have. I just couldn’t see it. My heart was too crowded by fear.”

  Oh, how she wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t. Not without real proof. “Fear of what?”

  He took a deep, settling breath, his expression serene and...happy. “I was afraid that if I let myself love again, I might lose you one day and it would hurt too much. And then I realized I was losing you anyway. I could let you go and avoid the pain, but I also would never know the exquisite joy of loving you. And I couldn’t live without that.”

  “Oh, Jakob. Please don’t say such things.” She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.

  “It’s true, Abby. I really mean it. Love comes with risks. But then I remembered my faith. Gott knows we won’t grow without opposition in our lives. He wants us to live by faith. And how can I do that if I never need Him?”

  “But what about Susan? You still love her.”

  “Ach, I do. And I think you wouldn’t want me if I didn’t. But I remember overhearing you speaking to Reuben the day you found your notes in his drawer. You told him that love can grow inside of you without reaching capacity. That love is eternal. It has no end. It just goes on and on. And right now, it has encompassed my heart. I love you, liebchen. Please, say you’ll be mine forever. Because I can’t go home without you.”

  “Ahem! Excuse me, miss, but the bus is boarding now. If you’re going to Ohio, you better come now.” The conductor stood in the doorway, waving at Abby.

  A look of pure panic filled Jakob’s eyes and the color drained from his face. He glanced between the conductor and Abby, as though his whole world were caving in on him.

  “Please, Abby. Don’t go.” His voice sounded hoarse with emotion as he took her hand in his, looking deep into her eyes. “I understand now why my vadder wrote to you. He knew I needed you to heal my shattered heart. The bus must have broken down for a reason...to keep you here until I could arrive. Gott’s hand is in this, I just know it. Stay and marry me. Please. Make me the happiest man in the world.”

  She hesitated, feeling torn. Wanting to believe him, but not quite daring to do so.

  “If you go, I’ll be forced to follow you to Ohio,” he said.

  She blinked in surprise. “You’d do that?”

  He nodded. “I’ll never give up until you accept my proposal. And believe me, you don’t want me to meet up with Simon again. I believe in living a simple life without violence, but meeting with your bruder might push me to the breaking point. I won’t allow him to hurt you again. And I mean it. I can’t imagine living without you. I love you so much...”

  “You’d really resort to violence if you saw Simon again?” She could hardly believe what he said. It was unthinkable, and yet the thought of Jakob defending her against her cruel brother touched her heart like nothing else could.

  He looked down, his face flushed with shame. He nodded, staring at the floor. “Ja, I’m afraid so. Gott would be disappointed in me and I’d probably be shunned, but I’m afraid I might do Simon bodily harm if you go back to him. If my familye hadn’t moved to Colorado when we were young, I would never have met Susan and would have married you years ago. I loved you even then, and I can’t lose you again.”

  “Oh, Jakob!” Tears streamed from her eyes. She didn’t even try to hold them back. “I... I love you, too. I have ever since I was a girl. That day you took the stick away from Simon and broke it over your knee, you were my knight in shining armor. I thought you were going to hit Simon, but you didn’t. And in my eyes, you could do no wrong.”

  “Um, excuse me, but are you coming or not?” The conductor called to them again, sounding a bit irritated.

  Jakob looked at her and waited, his face creased with hope and despair all at the same time. But she had to give him credit. He didn’t answer for her. He waited, letting her decide for herself.

  Abby shook her head, her heart near to bursting. “Ne, I’m not going. Would you be kind enough to reimburse my ticket instead?”

  The conductor jerked his head toward the ticket office. “Sure. Just see Judith at the front counter and she’ll help you with that.”

  Abby nodded and then she was in Jakob’s arms. He held her close, gazing into her eyes with so much love and adoration that she wasn’t sure she could contain it all. This was her dream come true. All she’d ever hoped for. To be wanted and needed.

  To be loved.

  “Ach, you’ve made me very happy. I love you so much,” Jakob said.

  “And I love you.”

  He kissed her and she was almost ashamed to admit that she didn’t care who might see them. Almost. At this point in their relationship, she figured they’d both earned the right to a little show of romantic emotion.

  When he released her, he smiled wide as he kept hold of her hand and picked up her suitcase and basket with his free hand. “Come on. Let’s return your ticket, then stop off at Bishop Yoder’s place on our way home. I want to receive his formal approval and let him know that we’ll be holding a wedding at our place in the next couple of weeks.”

  “But that won’t be enough time to invite Simon.”

  “Gut. I think it’s best if he’s not here. I don’t want to give him the opportunity to interfere in any way.”

  Neither did she. “Do you think Bishop Yoder will agree to our marriage so soon?”

  He nodded. “I do. He understands what is at stake. I believe he’ll agree.”

  She smiled, unable to hide the exquisite joy radiating from her heart. “Ach, Naomi may not like it. We’re not giving her much notice to plan the feast.”

  As they walked toward the ticket counter, he shrugged his unbelievably wide shoulders. “Don’t you worry. She will be thrilled. And we’ll help her.”

  “I doubt Simon will like it very much when the bishop writes to tell him that we have been married.”

  “I don’t care what Simon doesn’t like. He isn’t a part of our lives anymore.”

  Yes, finally. Finally, she was well and truly free of her brother’s abuse. Knowing Jakob was absolutely right, she didn’t argue one bit. She waited patiently as he redeemed her ticket, then took her outside. He tied her suitcase and basket to the back of the horse, then helped her climb up behind him on the saddle.

  As they rode down Main Street and headed out of town, she wondered what Bishop Yoder would say when he saw them riding together like this.

  Wrapping her arms around Jakob, she spoke against the back of his neck. “It’s not very modest of me to ride astride behind a man who isn’t my husband.”

  He patted her arms, which were crossed in front of him. “I’m your betrothed now, which is almost as gut as being your husband. Before anyone can chastise us, we will be married. And Bishop Yoder will be too delighted by the news of our wedding to question our method of travel today. Especially when I e
xplain the urgent reason why it couldn’t be helped. When I’m old and gray, I’ll tell our kinder that you were my runaway bride.”

  She snorted. “You make it sound so dramatic.”

  “It was, until I found you at the train station. I almost lost you. And now, I’ll never let you go.”

  Accepting his word on the topic, Abby laid her cheek against his back and squeezed him tighter. It would do no good to argue the point, especially when she knew he was right. She’d achieved her fondest dream. She had Jakob’s love. At that moment, nothing else mattered in the world except the two of them. The good Lord had brought them through. He’d brought them together. And that was all they needed.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Reunited with the Rancher by Brenda Minton.

  Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!

  Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards

  http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010003

  Dear Reader,

  Have you ever been abused, either verbally or physically? I’m guessing the answer is yes. We each have experienced abuse to some degree. Likewise, I believe we each are guilty of abusing others, whether by a harsh word or unkind treatment. But in this story, Abby’s situation is quite serious. As a child and then a young woman, she didn’t just suffer hurt feelings, but rather, she experienced daily severe abuse that scarred her both mentally and physically.

  When someone has been the victim of long-term abuse, it becomes difficult for them to trust others. It can break their heart and spirit and lead to low self-esteem. I hope if you or someone you know is in this predicament, you will reach out for help, both from the Lord and also someone in a position of authority who can assist you in changing the situation. And if you are an abuser, please recognize that you need help, too.

  God wants us to be happy. He wants us to reach our full potential and serve others with works of goodness. We cannot serve Him if we are in an abusive situation. Remember that you are a child of God. He loves you and you are of infinite worth.

  I hope you enjoyed reading this story, and I invite you to visit my website at www.LeighBale.com to learn more about my books.

  May you find peace in the Lord’s words!

  Leigh Bale

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired story.

  You believe hearts can heal. Love Inspired stories show that faith, forgiveness and hope have the power to lift spirits and change lives—always.

  Enjoy six new stories from Love Inspired every month!

  Connect with us on Harlequin.com for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!

  Harlequin.com/newsletters

  Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks

  Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks

  HarlequinBlog.com

  Join Harlequin My Rewards and reward the book lover in you!

  Earn points for every Harlequin print and ebook you buy, wherever and whenever you shop.

  Turn your points into FREE BOOKS of your choice

  OR

  EXCLUSIVE GIFTS from your favorite authors or series.

  Click here to join for FREE

  Or visit us online to register at

  www.HarlequinMyRewards.com

  Harlequin My Rewards is a free program (no fees) without any commitments or obligations.

  Reunited with the Rancher

  by Brenda Minton

  Chapter One

  Carson West had a plan. He had a plan to walk up to his father, hand him back the letter he’d sent—offering him a job as the physician of a clinic in Hope, Oklahoma—and tell him “Not in this lifetime.” No way would he give up the opportunity he’d been offered in Chicago for a job in a town that had seen better days fifty years ago.

  No way would he settle in the town his mother had fled twenty years ago. She had taken her three children and nothing else. They hadn’t even been allowed to pack a suitcase. They hadn’t told friends they were leaving. They’d just gone in the middle of the night, like thieves fleeing the scene of the crime.

  It seemed like a lifetime ago, but today he was back and he planned on letting Jack West know how it had felt to lose a father, even one who had randomly yelled, drank until he passed out, or woke them up at night with nightmares no one could sleep through. Because of his two tours in Vietnam, those behaviors hadn’t been in Jack’s control. But letting his family go without ever trying to contact them? Carson did blame him for that.

  As he eased his SUV up the drive of the once rundown farm, he noticed several obvious differences. The white farmhouse with faded paint had been remodeled. The garage appeared to now be apartments. A short distance away stood a log home with stone trim and an attached three-car garage.

  He’d been thirteen when they left, and it hadn’t been easy leaving this place. His father had been tough, sometimes angry, never predictable, but he’d still been their father. After a while Carson had buried the best of his memories and tried to push this place from his mind.

  But after all of these years, had he expected to find it unchanged? Had he expected the old dog Pete to still be sleeping on the front porch? Did he think there would still be the same overgrown lawn, broken-down tractors and aging farm trucks?

  Instead of finding the farm he remembered, he saw a place that had become something completely different. Most significantly, there had been a sign at the front of the property welcoming him to Mercy Ranch.

  Carson slowed as he drove past the house but kept going, in the direction of the supersized and modern stable that stood where the old barn used to be. He could see people milling about and guessed it would be the best place to find Jack.

  He parked, ignoring the curious glances of the men who were pulling sacks of grain from the back of a truck and carrying them inside. He got out and opened the passenger door of the Escalade. His daughter, Maggie, grinned up at him, her blond ringlets sticking to her face where she’d gotten sticky with juice. Almost three years old, she giggled often and jabbered nonstop. Her brown eyes were warm and her nose pert. She looked just like Anna, and each time he realized that, it hurt. Not as much as it had at first, but the pain was definitely still there.

  He unbuckled her from the car seat and she held out her arms to him. As he settled her on his left side, she patted his arm and reminded him to get her brother, Andy.

  His son Andy would be five in six months and he was Maggie’s complete opposite. With Carson’s dark hair and gray eyes, he was the serious one, quiet, always watching, always thinking. Even now his gaze focused on the window, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed this new place.

  Carson pocketed the letter from his father and helped his son out of the SUV. In the arena a couple of horses and riders worked cattle with the late afternoon sun beating down on them. He could hear calves calling for their mamas and a horse whinnying somewhere in the distance. It was the sounds of Carson’s youth, and yet nothing appeared to be the same since when his mom had taken them away.

  Carson beat back his anger. He guessed that sentiment had been on low heat since he’d left Dallas that morning, heading north to Hope. What a ridiculous name for a washed-out resort town with tumbledown buildings, no stoplights and bad memories. Hope. There was no hope here.

  The only thing here was the past. And he’d come home to confront it, to confront his father.

  Carson, his brother Colt and little sister Daisy were all jacked up because of this place, the man who lived here and the past.

  “Hello?” He heard a soft voice from behind him.

  “Hi,” Maggie said as she peeked over his shoulder. She patted his arm to get his attention. “Daddy. Look.”

  Andy, ever unsure of strangers, had climbed out of the SUV and was holding tight to his leg. Carson did an awkward turn, holding
one child in his arms while the other clung to his jeans like they were a lifeline. His gaze dropped to the woman who barely reached his shoulder. Light brown hair lifted in the breeze and drifted across her face.

  A Labrador puppy tumbled around her feet, nipping her ankles and pulling at the laces on her shoes.

  She was country pretty, with freckles sprinkled across her nose, no makeup, wide hazel eyes and a heart-deep smile.

  “Can I help you?” she said in a way that made him want to tell her everything. His secrets. Fears. Dreams. It unsettled him and made him a little angry. With her. That wasn’t logical and he liked logic.

  Besides, she belonged here. That automatically put her on the wrong side.

  “I’m here to see Jack.”

  “He’s in the barn. I can take you.” She started to turn away from him.

  “I think I can find him on my own.”

  “Of course you can.” She bit down on her lip as she studied him, then turned her attention to his children. A smile tugged the corners of her mouth. “Perhaps I should take them inside while you go find him.”

  He looked from the woman to his children. She was a stranger to them. It didn’t matter that she had sun-kissed highlights in her brown hair, and golden hazel eyes that danced with laughter. It didn’t matter that her expression changed as she studied Andy, who was now staring off at the horizon, tapping his fingers against his leg in time to music that couldn’t be heard.

  “Thank you for the offer but we’re only here for a few minutes. Long enough to talk to my...to Jack.” As he said it, he caught Andy’s expression as he focused on the puppy.

  It had been a long day, and the last few weeks had been difficult with the house selling so quickly and then packing all of their belongings. No, not everything. Packing had been a time of letting go. It hadn’t been easy to give Anna’s stuff to her sisters, to watch as they went through things, smiling and sharing memories. Thirty-two months had passed since her death. It had been time to let go. More than time.