Walking into the grocery store, she saw James standing at the cash register helping an elderly lady put her bags in her cart. Grace waved when he looked up and saw her.
James smiled. “What a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Well, I brought you lunch, and I could use your advice.”
“Great, I can go for lunch in about fifteen minutes,” James said, peeking in the basket. “I’m starving too. Did you want to go to the park or just eat in my office?”
“Your office would be fine,” Grace answered. “I’ll go ahead and wait for you.”
James came in finally and whistled when he saw the feast set out on his desk. “You must need lots of advice.”
Grace smiled. “I just need a friend right now,” she said as she broke out in tears.
“Grace, what is it?”
“Ach, James. I found out some terrible things about Josiah.” Grace wiped her eyes. “He was only marrying me so he could get my farm and then he was going to plow out my fields and turn it into a horse farm.”
“What?” James cried. “That farm is your whole life. How could he be so inconsiderate?”
“I don’t know. I thought we would marry and have a wonderful life working together on the farm.” Grace sighed. “I guess that was not Gott’s plan.”
“How did you find this out? Did Josiah tell you himself?”
Grace shook her head. “Ruth told me. She asked me what I thought of his plans. She thought I knew and was a bit surprised when I told her I had no idea of what his plans were.”
“So he wasn’t even going to tell you?” James frowned.
“Nee, apparently not. He was telling folks that he could do this because once we were married, the farm would be his and he could do what he wanted,” Grace said sadly. “I don’t understand how he could be so selfish.”
“Grace, I’m so sorry. What are you going to do now?”
Grace looked up at him. “I have no idea. I guess I’ll just have to try and run the farm by myself.”
“That’s a lot of work. I wish I were in a position to help, but I can’t right now.” James reached over and wiped a single tear that fell down her cheek.
“Ach, James, I certainly don’t expect you to leave the store to help. It’s just nice to have someone to talk to.” Grace smiled at him, handing him a paper plate filled with a couple chicken sandwiches, cheese, fruit and a slice of cherry pie. “You’re the only one who always understood me or knew how important the farm is to me.”
“Have you thought about hiring someone to help you?” James asked. “Your daed always did that especially during harvest time.”
“I’ve thought about it, but I don’t know anyone, plus I’m not comfortable having a stranger there.” Grace frowned. “It would have to be someone who comes recommended. Someone I could trust.”
“Well, I think I might be able to help you,” he said, getting up and going over to his desk. “A few days ago, the brother of an old friend stopped by and asked if I knew if there was any work around.”
“Do you know this man?” Grace asked, perking up.
“Not well, but I do know his family, and they are good people. They’re one of us. He said he was looking for work and would take anything because he was looking for a change and wanted to make some money,” James said, finding the piece of paper he was looking for. “He’s staying at the motel across town for now. I can go and see him if you want. His name is David.”
“I’d like that very much, James. This might be exactly what I need,” Grace said. “Once again, James, you are my hero, helping me with my problems.”
James smiled at her. “Anything for you, Grace.”
Grace packed up the basket with the leftovers. “Well, I better get home. I have half a field left to weed, and it isn’t going to get done by itself.” She gave James a quick hug. “Danke, James. You always have a way of helping me see that things aren’t as bad as I think they are.”
“Don’t give up, Grace. I’ll make sure you don’t lose your farm,” James said, hugging her back.
Driving back home, Grace felt even more determined. James always had a way of making her see the bright side. That’s what she would do; she would get a helper and fill her orders for the coming season. She would show Josiah that she would be successful and she wouldn’t lose the farm. God had given her a new path, and she was going to follow it no matter where it led.
After she had unhitched the horse and settled him in the barn, she went out and began weeding the field. She was not going to let her parents down.
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Bonus Chapter: God’s Unforseen Path (Book 1-Sarah’s Change of Heart)
Chapter 1
It was a cold winter morning and Sarah Schrock pouted as she dragged the broom across the kitchen floor. She was tired of doing chores, tired of never having any fun. She was upset and no one understood her or seemed to care about how she felt. She had just turned 17 and wanted so much more out of life than what she had right now. Her mother stood at the sink humming as she cut up extra potatoes to add to the stew for lunch. How can she always be so happy? Sarah wondered. There had to be more to life than this.
“Why the frown, my dochtah? You should be happy. Life is good,” Anna said as she looked over at her daughter.
Sarah stopped sweeping and looked over at her mother.
“I don’t understand why I have to do all these chores and why I can’t have a job. My Englisch friend Jessica, from the market in town makes money for herself. Why can’t I?”
Anna stopped what she was doing and went over to her daughter, gently laying a hand on her shoulder.
“Ach, my Sarah, Gott has chosen this life for us. You are learning to be a good Amish wife, to run a house and to help your future husband. You will soon be of the age to marry. I think you are listening too much to your Englisch friends.”
“But what if that isn’t what I want? Jessica told me that she’s going to move to a big city and go to college. I want to go with her and get a job,” Sarah cried. “You of all people should understand this. You were an Englischer before you married Daed.”
Anna sighed. “Sarah, that’s true, but it wasn’t easy for me. I gave up a lot to marry your daed but I didn’t know true happiness until I finally was accepted into the Amish life. The outside world, although it can be fascinating, is very scary and dangerous. Our lifestyle is so much simpler. It is what we are meant to do.”
Sarah looked up at her mother, tears falling down her pink colored cheeks. “But Jessica—”
“Shhh, no more about your friend, Jessica,” Anna said, wiping Sarah’s tears away. “Jessica is a very nice girl, but she is not one of us. Her life is different. Now go and set the table. Your daed will soon be in for lunch and we still have lots to do.”
Reluctantly, Sarah went over to the counter and took out the utensils to set the table for the mid day meal. Sarah heard her father at the front door and ran over to give him a hug. She might have mixed feelings about her life, but one thing she was sure about, she dearly loved her parents. They did have a good life compared to many other Amish families. Her father was quite a successful farmer and he provided well for his family.
“Ahh, my Sarah, what trouble have you gotten into today?” Eli teased. He gave Sarah a hug and hung his hat on the wall hook.
“I have no time for getting into trouble, Daed. I have too many chores,” Sarah replied. Eli went over, gave Anna a kiss on the cheek, and managed to steal a piece of bread from the basket on the countertop before she could smack his hand away. “Eli, lunch is ready. Be patient,” Anna laughed as she carried the bread basket to the table.
“Chores are necessary to survive. Gott has given us all a place in this life and we all must do our part. Chores teach us to be responsible and to be reliable. That’s all I want for my dochtah, to live a happy, fulfilling Amish life,” Eli said
as he sat down at the table.
Sitting down, Anna and Sarah bowed their heads as Eli proceeded with the mealtime prayer, thanking God for their life and food.
“How has your morning been, Anna?”
Ladling the hearty stew into the bowls, Anna said, “I’ve started to prepare a care package to bring over to Margaret Beiler. It’s such a shame that her husband was taken away so suddenly.”
“Jah, very sad and with such a big farm to run. I’ll go see her too and offer any help I can.”
Finishing their meal, Anna stood up from the table to start to clean up. “I need to go into town for a few supplies this afternoon. Can you harness the buggy for me, Eli, before you go back in the barn?”
“Jah, my dear, I’ll tend to that right away.”
Sarah always loved the way her parents spoke to each other. She could tell there was great love and respect and that they had true affection for one another. She hoped that she would have the same affection and respect with her husband as her parents had for each other. Bringing the dishes over to the sink, Sarah asked, “can I come too, Mamm?”
Anna smiled to herself knowing that her daughter had another reason to go into town, and helping her mother was not one of them. “Jah, you can come and help.
Sarah squealed and ran off to get ready.
Eli looked at his wife curiously. “What is that all about? I have never seen her so excited about going into town.”
Anna smiled. “Our dear dochtah seems to be a bit conflicted with her life. The Englischer friend of hers from the market seems to be filling her head with stories and adventures and she feels she wants to be part of that world.”
Eli scowled. “Are you telling me our dochtah is becoming rebellious? I will not have a child of mine participate in Rumspsringa.”
“Shh, I don’t want her to hear you. I’ll talk more with her. For now, I think she’s just a bit infatuated with the Englisch lifestyle. She’ll come around.”
Eli smiled at his wife. “I have no doubt that you’ll handle it well, just as you did with Emily. I’ll go and hook up the buggy for you so you can be on your way.”
Bundled up against the cold, Sarah sat in the buggy listening to the clip-clop of the horse’s hooves on the pavement. She was always excited to go into town. She loved to see all the things that the Englisch sold inside the stores; televisions, microwaves, all the things that were forbidden to her. But most of all, she was excited to see her friend, Jessica. She yearned to know more about the Englisch way of life, and Jessica always had so many stories to share.
“Mamm, tell me again how you met Daed.”
“Sarah, I have told you the story many times.”
“I know, Mamm, but I love hearing it. Please tell me again?”
“Well, I was 17 and working in my father’s hardware store in town,” she began. “My daed had to go home for something and asked me to watch the store while he was gone. Your daed came in to buy some supplies and I remember looking at him and thinking he was the most handsome boy I had ever seen.”
“Didn’t it bother you that he was Amish?”
“Nee. At that time there weren’t many Amish families living here, and I didn’t really know that much about the lifestyle. Anyway, your daed had just moved to this area and didn’t know anyone.”
“How did your daed feel about Daed always talking to you?”
“He didn’t say much. My daed was a man of few words. It wasn’t until your daed and I started to date seriously a year later that I found out how he felt.” Anna frowned as she remembered that part of her past. “When I told my family I wanted to marry Eli, they told me I had to either choose them or him. I chose him.”
“Wow, that must have been hard,” Sarah said, reaching over and putting her hand on her mother’s arm.
“Jah, very hard, but a decision I have never regretted. Anna smiled at her daughter. “Finding your daed and Gott has made me a better person.”
“Is that why I have never met your family?” Sarah asked.
“Jah. Once I converted to the Amish faith, they told me they wanted nothing to do with me or the lifestyle. They sold the hardware store and moved away and I haven’t spoken to them since. That was 20 years ago,” Anna said sadly, as they arrived into town. She found a place to park the buggy and tethered the horse. Getting out, they headed toward the market. Sarah’s excitement grew at the thought of seeing her friend again.
* * *
Chapter 2
Sarah ran ahead of her mother as they entered the market and was very disappointed that her friend was not at the cash register and even more disappointed when she found out Jessica was not working today.
Anna noticed that Margaret Beiler was in the store and walked over to greet her. “Hello, Margaret, how are you?” Anna said as she approached the woman, giving her a hug.
“Ach, Anna, Sarah, so nice to see you again. I am fine despite everything. The good Lord is seeing to my needs.”
“I’m preparing a care package for you, and Eli said he was going to come by one night this week to see if there was anything he could do on the farm to help out. I’ll send your care package along with him.”
“Ach, danke, Anna!” Margaret turned to the young man standing behind her. “Samuel, I would like you to meet Anna Schrock and her dochtah, Sarah. They live just up the road from us.”
Anna, Sarah, “this is my nephew, Samuel Liebl. My bruder was kind enough to allow Samuel to come live with me and run the farm, at least until I can figure out what I want to do. I am sure Samuel will have some questions about the milking, if Eli wouldn’t mind helping him out with that.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Samuel said, not taking his eyes off of Sarah. “I have heard many nice things about your family.” He had just turned 19 and was looking to settle down and marry but he had not met any girls that interested him. There was something about Sarah, though, that left him in awe. She looked so sweet standing there with wisps of her dark curly hair sticking out from under her kapp and her big brown eyes looking at him. He definitely wanted to get to know her better.
“I’m happy you are able to help out your aenti, Samuel. Will you be staying here long?” Anna asked.
Sarah stayed behind her mother, not entirely sure she liked the fact that Samuel was smiling at her. She did have to admit he was nice looking with curly blond hair, and piercing blue eyes, but it unnerved her a bit that he kept staring at her.
“I’ll stay as long as Gott requires me to and also until my aenti gets tired of me,” he said, teasing Margaret.
Margaret chuckled. “Never you mind, Samuel, I love having you at the farm and you’re good company in the evenings too.”
“We must have you over soon for a meal and perhaps invite some of the neighbors,” Anna said.
“I would like that,” Samuel said as he tipped his hat. “Now if you will excuse me, I should get the buggy loaded up so we can head back home. Nice to meet you, Sarah. Perhaps we will have a chance to talk more again.”
Sarah nodded and said goodbye and proceeded to follow Anna as she walked down the aisle looking for items on her list.
“Samuel seems like a nice fellow. Wouldn’t you agree, Sarah?” Anna said nonchalantly.
“I suppose so,” Sarah replied. “But I’m not at all interested in a man right now. I’m definitely not ready to settle down.”
Anna smiled at her daughter and shook her head. “You have such a long life ahead of you, Sarah. Gott will show you the way.”
Anna finished her shopping and they headed back to the buggy. When they arrived home, Sarah helped her mother put the groceries away and they began preparing for the evening meal. She listened as her mother hummed as she worked and wondered again what made her so content.
“Mamm, how did you know that this life was the one for you?”
“I love my life because I love my husband and I love my kinner. You, Emily and your daed and Gott are my life. The only thing that would have made me even
happier is if Gott had wanted me to have more kinner, but that was not to be.”
“But there is a whole other world out there. Haven’t you ever felt like you should have stayed and explored it? I mean you grew up with electricity and cars and things like that,” Sarah questioned.
“If Gott had wanted me to explore the world He would not have had me meet your daed. Marrying Eli and having you and Emily was what Gott wanted for me.”
Sarah heard Eli come through the back door and went running to greet him. No matter how old she was, she always loved running to greet her father when he came home.
“Aww, my Sarah, I always know I can rely on your greeting, even on the roughest day,” Eli said, giving Sarah a hug.
Entering the kitchen, Eli asked, “how is my wife today? Did you have a successful trip into town?”
“Jah we did, and we met Margaret Beiler and her nephew, Samuel. He’s staying with her to help run the farm. He seems like a very nice young man. I thought perhaps on Saturday we could have some of the neighbors over for a meal and introduce him. I’m sure he doesn’t know many of the folks here yet.
“Excellent idea, I’ll spread the word tomorrow. It’s been a while since we’ve had folks over. I think it will do us all some good,” Eli agreed.
Sarah frowned and hoped her parents wouldn’t try to push her into a relationship with Samuel. He might be a nice boy but she wasn’t ready to even think about settling down yet.
* * *
Saturday came, and with the help of Sarah and Emily, Anna had prepared a feast. Emily was Anna and Eli’s first daughter. She had married Isaac Miller two years ago and lived across town so they didn’t see each other very often. Emily had been a schoolteacher but now was kept quite busy helping her husband run the farm. Today was a welcome break for her to spend the evening in pleasant conversation with others.
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