An Amish Deception

by J. E. B. Spredemann

  “Sehr schee, ain’t so?”

  “Wonderful schee. Ach, Jacob. Thank you for bringing me here.” She closed her eyes and listened to the rushing water, letting the mist caress her face. “Ach, this place makes my heart feel better. It’s like medicine for my soul.”

  “This is where Mamm and Dat shared their very first real kiss.”

  “How romantic.”

  “We sometimes would come and swim in the pool. Maybe you and I can come out here alone again and…”

  Her heart sped up. Ach, it would be wonderful and dangerous to come out here and swim with Jacob. She’d never swam with buwe present growing up. But, of course, she and Jacob were married so…

  “Jah.” She tucked her bottom lip under her teeth. “It sounds romantic.”

  “Well, my Dat is definitely the king when it comes to romance.”

  She giggled. “What do you mean?”

  “He bought Mamm a ring before they married. Before they even met, actually.”

  “But she didn’t wear it?”

  “Maybe when no one was watching.” He winked. “I’ll have to show it to you sometime.”

  “I’d like that.” She went and sat down on a fallen log. “But for now, I just want to sit here and enjoy Gott’s beauty.”

  “And maybe a few kisses?” His tone was pleading.

  She couldn’t mask her smile. Ach, she loved being married to Jacob King! “And maybe a few kisses.”

  EPILOGUE

  Five years later…

  “It’s a boy!” the midwife exclaimed. “Congratulations, you two.”

  Jacob waited patiently while the midwife completed her duties. He bent down and kissed Rachel’s forehead. “We have a son, lieb.”

  He stretched his arms out and the midwife placed his brand-new boppli in them. Ach, he was tiny. Precious.

  He brought the boppli close for his fraa to see.

  “A son?” Tears flowed down Rachel’s cheeks. “I have a boppli, Jacob. Der Herr gave me a boppli.”

  “Us. He gave us a boppli.” He reminded her. “You had help making him, remember? Don’t you go taking all the credit.” He teased.

  “Jah, our boppli.” Her eyes shown with love.

  “He looks right gut too.” Jacob knew he must be beaming from ear to ear. Had he ever been this happy when the other kinner were born? “To share a child with the woman I love more than anything is nearly too much for my heart to handle.”

  “May we call him Joseph?”

  “Joseph sounds like a wonderful gut name. There’s something special about this bu, I can feel it.” Jacob couldn’t tamper his excitement.

  “You think Der Herr might call him to His service?”

  Jacob shrugged. “Don’t know. I just know he’s extra special. We’ve waited a long time for him, jah?”

  “Too long. But I will cherish him anyhow. He was worth the wait.”

  “We will be thankful for Der Herr’s provision. He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. Joseph was born now, at this moment in time, for a purpose that only Der Herr knows.”

  “You are right, Jacob, my beloved.”

  “Would you like to hold him now?”

  “Jah, please.” She stretched her arms out to receive the bundle of joy. She gazed down at the wonderful gut blessing they’d created together with Gott’s help. “He’s precious. So small.”

  “What do you think his brieder and schweschder will say?” Jacob frowned. Hopefully the kinner wouldn’t be jealous of their new little bruder. Especially since he was a half-brother to them. He’d have to be extra cautious.

  “They will love him just as well as we do, I suppose. Do you think we should call them in now?”

  “Nee. Let’s enjoy this sweet one to ourselves just a few moments longer.” Jacob stroked the boppli’s head. “He is a fine bu. A fine bu.”

  “Jah, he is.” Happy tears ran down his fraa’s cheeks. “He is our son, Jacob.”

  He bent down and kissed her lips. “That’s right, our son.”

  THE END

  Dear Reader,

  I hope you’ve enjoyed each book in this series!

  This particular book was a little more challenging to write because, as you know, in the Biblical story, Jacob was married to both Rachel and Leah at the same time. And then there were their handmaids too!

  Ach, could you imagine being in a situation like the one in this story? Jacob and Rachel and Leah’s story? Rachel, having the man she loved ripped from her arms. Leah, being pressured to marry a man she knew didn’t love her, and really didn’t even know, practically a stranger. And poor Jacob, stuck in the middle of two sisters and an overbearing father-in-law, just trying to do the right thing and please everyone at the same time. Yet, not wanting to lose his beloved to someone else.

  What a mess! But in the end, God worked everything out for His good.

  And isn’t that what He does with our lives? Sometimes we get ourselves into messes. And some of our messes can be really ugly! But God…

  God is so good.

  No matter where you are in your life right now, whether things are wonderful or you’re in the middle of one of those messes, you can know that if you are a child of God, He’s got you in His hands. If you need help, just ask Him. If all is well, thank Him. If all is not well, still thank Him. Because He will see you through.

  If you’re not a child of God, you can change that today. Right now. How, you ask? Just call out to Him. Pray. Tell God you need Him and you want Him in your life. He honors the prayer that’s been spoken from the heart. He wants to be your Heavenly Father. He wants to bless you with good things. But the most wonderful part about being His child is knowing that a forever home awaits you in Heaven—a home with your Heavenly Father.

  Thank you once again for reading. I pray the story touched your heart.

  To GOD be the glory!

  Blessings,

  Jennifer Spredemann

  Heart-Touching Amish Fiction

  P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this book (or any of my books, for that matter) please tell your Amish fiction-reading friends. Also, it would be a great blessing to me if you’d consider leaving a review. <3

  Thanks for reading!

  To find out more about Jennifer Spredemann, join my email list, or purchase other books, please visit me at www.jenniferspredemann.com. My books are available in Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook formats. You may also follow Author Jennifer Spredemann on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, BookBub, and Goodreads.

  Questions and comments are always welcome. Feel free to email the author at jebspredemann@gmail.com.

  Discussion Questions

  1. Isaac and Rebekah had unwittingly pitted their sons against each other by choosing favorites. Can you relate to this in your own life?

  2. Jacob and Ephraim’s childhood had been filled with insecurity and strife, even though they grew up with loving, well-intentioned parents. Have you experienced sibling rivalry?

  3. We see in the Bible that sin can easily take a hold of our hearts. It can turn us against others and quickly get out of hand, even to the point of murder, as in the stories of Cain and Abel, and Jacob and Esau. This is why it is important to confess and forsake our sin. Have you ever harbored bitterness, jealousy, or hatred in your heart? Did you act on those emotions? What did you do (or could you have done) to prevent those feelings from getting out of hand?

  4. Jacob had to move away to keep himself safe. Have you ever had to flee for your life? How did it work out in the end?

  5. Have you read the Old Testament Bible story of Esau, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah? What are your thoughts on it?

  6. One thing I enjoy about Biblical fiction is that it helps the true Biblical characters seem more real to me, even though I know a fictional story isn’t real. Do you find that true for yourself as well?

  7. In the story, each person seems to have their own reasons for doing what they do. (i.e. Marlin looking out for his daughters’ welfare) Does underst
anding where they are coming from help you sympathize with them?

  8. What would you have done if you were in Jacob’s shoes? Leah’s? Rachel’s?

  9. Jacob had been taught in his church that being a ‘gut Amish man’ would influence his eternal home. Larry showed him that being Amish (or any other religion) had nothing to do with salvation. It is Christ alone whom our salvation rests upon. Are you sure of your eternal destination?

  10. Rachel questioned her church’s belief that death was Gott’s will. Do you believe that death is God’s will? Why or why not?

  11. What was your favorite part of An Amish Deception, and why?

  12. What lessons can you take from Jacob’s story? How can you apply it to your own life?

  A SPECIAL THANK YOU

  I’d like to take this time to thank everyone that had any involvement in this book and its production, including my Mom and Dad, who have always been supportive of my writing, my longsuffering Family—especially my handsome, encouraging Hubby, my Amish and former-Amish friends who have helped immensely in my understanding of the Amish ways, my supportive Pastor and Church family, my Proofreaders, my Editor, my CIA Facebook author friends who have been a tremendous help, my wonderful Readers who buy, read, offer great input, and leave encouraging reviews and emails, my awesome Street Team who, I’m confident, will ‘Sprede the Word’ about my books! And last, but certainly not least, I’d like to thank my Precious LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST, for without Him, none of this would have been possible!

  Have you had a chance to read the other books in this series? Here’s a peek at An Amish Honor:

  PROLOGUE

  Judah King listened through the door of the room where Aentie Rachel—nee, now his father’s fraa—had just given birth. A new boppli would be a welcome blessing for all of them. He peeked through a crack in the door, thanks to the midwife leaving it slightly ajar, to see if he could catch a glimpse of the little one.

  Dat smiled at his beautiful wife, her brow still wet with perspiration from the labor she’d just endured. “We did it! We have a son, Lieb.”

  Judah frowned. He couldn’t remember Dat ever looking at his and his brothers’ mamm that way. It was plain to see that Dat’s present fraa occupied more of his heart than his former wife had.

  The rumor flying around the community was that Dat had always cared for Rachel, planned to marry her even, until Grossdawdi had stepped in and insisted he marry his eldest dochder first. Why Dat, or anyone, would ever agree to a proposition like that, Judah had no idea. But Judah had never believed those rumors—until now. Perhaps there was an ounce of truth to them.

  “A son?” Tears pricked Aentie Rachel’s eyes.

  “Jah. He looks right gut too.” Dat was beaming from ear to ear and Judah wondered if that’s how Dat had been when he was born. “To share a child with the woman I love more than anything is nearly too much for my heart to handle. How about if we call him Joseph?”

  “Joseph sounds like a wonderful gut name.”

  “There’s something special about this bu, I can feel it.” Judah heard the excitement in Dat’s voice.

  “You think Der Herr will call him to His service?”

  Dat shrugged. “Don’t know. I just know he’s extra special. We’ve waited a long time for him, jah?”

  “Too long.”

  Judah frowned. Did Dat and Rachel mean they’d waited too long since they’d been married or had they meant since they’d met? If it was the latter, then it was almost as if his mother and his siblings hadn’t occupied Dat’s heart much at all. Nee, he refused to believe that. Dat loved them all. Equally.

  “We will be thankful for Der Herr’s provision. He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. Joseph was born now, at this moment in time, for a purpose that only Der Herr knows.”

  “You are right, husband.”

  “Would you like to hold him?”

  “Jah, please.” She stretched her arms out to receive the bundle of joy. She gazed down at the wonderful gut blessing they’d created together with Gott’s help. “He’s precious. So small.”

  “What do you think his brieder and schweschder will say?” His father frowned.

  “They will love him just as well as we do, I suppose. Do you think we should call them in now?”

  “Nee. Let’s enjoy this sweet one to ourselves just a few moments longer.” Dat stroked the boppli’s head. “He is a fine bu. A fine bu.”

  “Jah, he is.”

  Judah moved away from the door before the midwife came back and shooed him away. He’d allow his father and Rachel some time alone to dote on their new little one.

  He and his brothers had already felt somewhat forgotten since their father had married his new wife. Hopefully, little Joseph wouldn’t cause too much disruption to this family.

  He frowned. Was there something extra special about his brand-new baby brother, like his father hinted at? Not that he could tell. He’d have to wait and see.

  ONE

  Seventeen years later…

  Joseph shot up from his bed, beads of perspiration trickling down his temples. His heart still raced as though he were being chased by his vatter’s unruly steer. The shadows from his dream danced in his head, threatening to attack him once again.

  He forced his eyelids open, and the sun’s rays cleared away the panic that had attempted to overtake him. He looked around his room. His blessed bedroom had never looked so welcoming. He waited a few moments for his heartbeat to return to its normal rhythm.

  “Joseph, get out of bed!” His older brother Ash’s chiding voice called from the door. “Are you going to sleep all day while the rest of us are chorin’?”

  He heard the derision in Ash’s tone, something he should be used to by now. “What time is it?”

  “Get up and check for yourself, lazy.”

  Joseph bit back the uncharitable retort that begged to escape his lips. “I’m coming.”

  He quickly threw on his trousers and work shirt then pulled his suspenders over his chest. He headed downstairs and stopped on the bottom step. His eyes widened as he saw each member of his family already seated at the breakfast table. They wouldn’t be happy.

  “It’s about time,” Simeon groused.

  Gad shook his head and grunted, not hiding his disdain.

  “That’s enough!” His father’s stern voice held a warning. The boys’ untoward behavior would not be tolerated.

  His father bowed his head for the silent prayer and the others at the table followed suit. He cleared his throat and picked up his silverware, signaling to the others that his silent prayer had finished and they could now dig in.

  “I’ve got big plans for all of us today.”

  A collective moan emerged from his brothers.

  His father held up his hand to silence them once again. “You will go over to Minister Schwartz’s field and harvest tobacco.”

  Each of his brothers conveyed their disapproval. “All day?”

  His father nodded. “If that’s how long it takes. With the seven of you working—”

  “Seven?” His second oldest brother Simeon frowned, then his head snapped back and met Joseph’s eyes with a glare. “What about him?”

  “I have other plans for Joseph,” his father nodded toward him with a half-smile.

  “Figures,” Levi grumbled.

  Dan and Zeb shared a look. “Why does he always get out of the hard work?” Dan said.

  His father frowned. “He doesn’t get out of anything. He works just as hard as you do.”

  Dan shook his head. “Whatever.”

  “You will not take that tone with me, Sohn,” his father answered roughly. “You will show respect if you wish to continue to live in this home.”

  “Sorry, Dat.” Dan’s head hung.

  His father turned to him. “Joseph, I have something in the barn for you.”

  He glanced at his brothers then turned back to Dat. “What? What is it?”

  “I bou
ght a new mare. A paint. She’s yours to take out to the fields. I want you to train her. She will be the driver for your new courting buggy.”

  Joseph stopped chewing and his mouth dropped open along with each of the brothers’. “A horse? And a courting buggy? For me? Thanks, Dat!”

  He jumped from his chair and gave his father a hug—something his older siblings never did. “I’m going to see her right now.”

  “Not now, Sohn. Finish your breakfast then help your sister with the dishes. They’ll be plenty of time to see your new horse and buggy later.”

  “Yes, Dat.”

  His brothers all sat dumbstruck until Judah managed to speak. “Dat, we all had to work for our buggies and paid for them out of our own money. It’s not fair that Joseph—”

  “It is nobody’s business but mine what I choose to give or not. Joseph has worked hard. He has earned it.”

  Gad snickered, and each one of them shook their heads.

  Joseph would never hear the end of this. He was sure of it.

  “Now I will hear no more complaints. Do you understand?” Their father eyed each of Joseph’s older brothers sternly.

  They grumbled, but nobody said another word.

  “Boys, hurry along now. Minister Schwartz is expecting you.”

  “Can’t we even finish our breakfast?” Zeb protested.