“It was you!” Katie’s gaze shot immediately to Amos. “And you knew! That’s why you kept telling me not to worry about her.”
“I’m sorry. They all were just convinced you were the one spreading that awful rumor, and things got out of hand. I should have said something when I saw you were so scared. I understand if you don’t want to be with me anymore.”
Katie’s heart seemed to stutter in her chest. “You don’t want to be with me anymore.”
“Nee! I didn’t say that!”
“Gut. I know I’m going to need lots of help, but...I love you, Amos. You stuck by me even when everyone else thought I was bad all the way through.”
“I was supposed to be keeping an eye on you,” Amos said, “But I also wanted to. Not because I thought you were bad, but because I loved you. I love you. I was so scared when I thought you had—.” Amos sucked in a sharp breath. “Don’t ever do that to me again. No matter what. You can’t hurt yourself or...you just can’t.”
“I won’t,” Katie promised.
Amos took both of her hands in his. Katie knew the path in front of them both was going to be difficult and at points painful, but at that moment, she couldn’t remember being any happier or more hopeful in her life.
Epilogue
Six months later, John and Lovina Lapp sat together on their porch, wrapped together in a thick quilt and watched the sun rise over the snowy fields. They each had a mug of hot coffee, a Columbian mix that had been given to them for Christmas from Mayor Winter.
Lovina said, “Katie and Amos are both set to begin their baptismal instruction. I don’t think I’ve seen a couple so sweet on each other since...well, since our daughter Hanna and her Abram.”
“It’s a gut thing. And Katie is doing well in her therapy too. I think it helps that Goshen cast Levi out and now he’s with the English authorities.”
“Ja. And Libby’s looking like she might be sweet on Mark.”
“I think he might need a bit more guidance before we let him take his kneeling vows. Imagine almost setting fire to your family barn!”
“It was an accident, and I think it put the fear of Gott into him. He’s got a gut heart, and now that he’s back on the right path, I think he will turn out to be a very fine man.”
“Bishop Lapp! Bishop Lapp!” Ben, the level-headed boy who had called the police and ambulance to save Katie’s life, came bounding across the snow, his breath streaming in white puffs.
“Slow down son!” Clutching the quilt with one hand and the coffee mug in the other, Bishop Lapp stood up. “Is something on fire?”
“Nee! It’s good news. You know the Miller’s daughter, the one who ran off? She’s come back! Eli said to get here as quickly as possible! We want to have a welcome for her on Sunday at church meeting!”
Bishop Lapp couldn’t help but grin. “I’d been praying for that young woman and her family.” And he’d taken out some ads in the local Amish papers in Lancaster and Indiana, hoping the young woman might see them and decide it was time to come home. It had been a long shot, but with faith, Bishop Lapp knew, anything was possible. “How is she doing?”
“Annie says she’s skinny as a rail and looks like a stiff breeze could knock her over, but she’s happy to be home.”
“Gut,” Bishop Lapp said, taking another sip of the coffee. “Very gut. Why don’t you come inside and have some breakfast? There’s eggs on the stove. I’ll finish up this coffee and get the horses ready. I want to see this young lady and welcome her to our community myself.”
“Me too,” Lovina said. “She’s one of ours now. Let’s be sure to make her feel at home.”
The End.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I loved writing it! If so, you can also more about my books at familychristianbookstore.net and start reading my Free Five Book Starter Set when you sign up for my reader club here: http://familychristianbookstore.net/Rachel-Starter.
Also, if you get a chance to leave a review on this book, I would appreciate it so much! Reviews are the most powerful tools in my arsenal when it comes to getting attention for my books. As much as I'd love to, I don't have the financial muscle of a New York publisher. I can't take out full page ads in the newspaper or put up billboards on the highway.
(Not yet, anyway.)
But I have a blessing that is much more powerful and effective than that, and it's something those publishers would do anything to get their hands on.
A loyal and committed group of wonderful readers.
Honest reviews of my books from readers like you help bring them to the attention of other readers.
If you've enjoyed this book, I would be very grateful if you could spend just 3 minutes leaving a review (it can be as short as you like) on this book's review page.
And if, *YIKES* you find an issue in the book that makes you think it deserves less than 5-stars, send me an email at [email protected] and I'll do everything I can to fix it.
Thank you so much!
Rachel
PS: In the next chapter, you can learn more about reading my free 5-Book Starter set.
5-BOOK STARTER SET
Building a relationship with my readers and sharing my love of Amish books is the very best thing about writing. For those who choose to hear from me via email, I send out alerts with details on new releases from myself and occasional alerts from Christian authors like my sister-in-law, Ruth Price, who also writes Amish fiction.
And if you sign up for my reader club, you'll get to read all of these books on me:
A digital copy of Amish Country Tours, retailing at $2.99. This is the first of the Amish Country Tours series. About the book, one reader, Angel exclaims: " Loved it, loved it, loved it!!! Another sweet story from Rachel Stoltzfus."
A digital copy of Winter Storms, retailing at $2.99. This is the first of the Winter of Faith series. About the book, Deborah Spencer raves: " I LOVED this book! Though there were central characters (and a love story), the book focuses more on the community and how it comes together to deal with the difficulties of a truly horrible winter."
A digital copy of Amish Cinderella 1-2. This is the first full book of the Amish Fairy Tales series and retails at 99c. About the book, one reader, Jianna Sandoval, explains: " Knowing well the classic "Cinderella" or rather, "Ashputtle", story by the Grimm brothers, I've do far enjoyed the creativity the author has come up with to match up the original. The details are excruciating and heart wrenching, yet I love this book all the more."
A digital copy of A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob, the first of the bestselling Amish Home for Jacob series. This is the story of a city orphan, who after getting into a heap of trouble, is given one last chance to reform his life by living on an Amish farm. Reader Willa Hayes loved the book, explaining: " The story is an excellent and heartfelt description of a boy who is trying to find his place in the community - either city or country - by surmounting incredible odds."
False Worship 1-2. This is the first complete arc of the False Worship series, retailing at 99c. Reader Willa Haynes recommends the book highly, explaining: " I gave this book a five star rating. It was very well written and an interesting story. Father and daughter both find happiness in their own way. I highly recommend this book."
You can get all five of these books for free by signing up at http://familychristianbookstore.net/Rachel-Starter.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Being a neighbor of the Mennonite community, she started writing Amish romance fiction as a way of looking at the Amish community. She wanted to present a fair and honest representation of a love that is both romantic and sweet. She hopes her readers enjoy her efforts.
Also by Rachel Stoltzfus
A Home for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Prayer for Jacob
A New Life for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish
School for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Vacation for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Love Story for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Memory for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Miracle for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Treasure for Jacob
A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob 9-Book Boxed Set
A Lancaster Amish Home for Jacob 9-Book Collection
A Lancaster County Amish Quarrel Series
An Amish Country Quarrel
Simple Truths
Neighboring Faiths
Courageous Faith
An Amish Country Quarrel 4-Book Boxed Set
An Amish Country Quarrel 4-Book Boxed Set Bundle
A Lancaster Home for Jacob Boxed Sets
A Lancaster Home for Jacob 5-Book Boxed Set Bundle
Amish Country Tours, Amish Romance Series (An Amish of Lancaster County Saga)
Amish Country Tours
Amish Country Tours 2
Amish Country Tours 3
Amish Country Tours 3-Book Boxed Set
Amish Fairy Tales (A Lancaster County Christmas) series
Amish Cinderella #1
Amish Cinderella Book 1
Amish Cinderella Book 2
Amish Sleeping Beauty
Amish Snow White
Amish Fairy Tales 4-Book Boxed Set Bundle
Amish Faith (False Worship) Series
Amish Home: False Worship - Book 1
Amish Home: False Worship - Book 2
Amish Home: False Worship - Book 3
Amish Home: False Worship - Book 4
Amish Home: False Worship Complete 4-Book Boxed Set Bundle
Amish Seeds of Change
Amish Seeds of Change
Amish Seeds of Change 3-Book Boxed Set
Amish Sickness and Health
Amish Heart
Amish Faith
Amish Heart, Faith and Soul
Amish Soul
Big Valley Amish
Amish Secrets And Lies
Amish Trust and Betrayal
Amish Love and Healing
Big Valley Amish Series Collections
Amish Secrets and Lies 3-Book Collection
Lancaster County Seasons (An Amish of Lancaster County Saga)
A Lancaster Amish Summer to Remember
Peace Valley Amish Series
Amish Truth Be Told
Amish Heart and Soul
Amish Love Saves All
Amish Peace Valley 3-Book Collection
Amish Love Be Kind
Amish Love Be Patient
Amish Love Be True
Amish Love Be Kind 3-Book Boxed Set
Second Chance Amish Romance
A New Amish Love
A New Amish Courtship
Simple Love Series
Simple Amish Love
Simple Amish Pleasures
Simple Amish Harmony
Simple Amish Love 3-Book Boxed Set
Simple Amish Love 3-Book Collection
Winter of Faith
Winter Storms
Test of Faith
The Wedding Season
Winter of Faith Collection
Standalone
Amish Country Tours 3-Book Boxed Set Bundle
Amish Love and Healing Page 9
