Amish Joy (The Amish Bonnet Sisters Book 4)

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Amish Joy (The Amish Bonnet Sisters Book 4) Page 12

by Samantha Price


  She stared at him not being able to say the same. Their lives were so different. It wasn’t that they had differing opinions of things. It wasn’t that simple. Summoning all her strength, she withdrew her hand and stood up. “I’ll have to think about everything you’ve just told me. It’s a lot to take in at once.”

  He stood up and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Don’t leave me, Florence. I don’t want to spend another day wondering what’s in our future. I want us to be together, and that’s why I asked you to marry me.”

  She was relieved he was serious about her. If only he were an Amish man. Why was life so challenging? “I’ve got lots to consider.”

  “Like what?”

  “There’s the orchard. If I’m with you, my family might turn their backs on me if I leave the community.”

  “I’ll buy you ten more orchards. We can start our own family. All we need is each other.”

  She bit her lip wondering what her life would be like if she turned her back on everyone. How would Wilma cope with the girls, and everything else? They all relied on her. “I need time. I’m sorry.” She walked away and grabbed the front door handle.

  “Florence, if you walk away from me now, I’m going to sell out and move away.”

  She spun around to face him. “No! Just give me time. That’s all I’m asking. Time to think on how this will work.”

  He stepped closer. “This is ripping me apart. Every day without you is an eternity. I’m not going to let more years pass, hoping.”

  “I can’t think that quickly. Just give me—”

  “No! Days will turn into weeks, weeks into months and then before we know it, years would’ve gone by.”

  “But you said you want to live here to be near family.”

  “It’s too hard for me. Come with me, Florence. Choose me! Choose me now—today!”

  He walked toward her and she desperately wanted to run into his arms and tell him yes.

  She had Wilma, she had responsibilities. If she left, she might never be welcome at home—never see Mercy’s baby or any of her step-sisters’ or her brothers’ future children. “I can’t.” She turned and ran from him. Somehow, she got through the wire fence without the usual trouble, and then she kept running until she got to the first row of trees.

  With her heart racing and sweat beading on her forehead, she leaned against a tree. Her mind swirled with choices while she became filled with the fear of making the wrong one.

  With Carter, she could have her own family and a future. They could start their own orchard, their very own.

  Back at the house, she was nothing more than a caretaker of others—the extended family of her father.

  Her mother’s letter jumped into her mind. Choose with your heart, sometimes. This was one of those times, but she was Amish. How could she choose to marry an outsider? It was against everything she’d been raised to believe.

  Looking at her beautiful trees, she didn’t want to leave them behind, but neither could she live with herself if she lost the only man she’d ever loved. It was a huge thing to leave the community but she’d never been baptized; technically, she wasn’t a full member yet. She’d become one of the people she’d looked down upon—the people who’d left the community for love. Her heart opened to them. Now she knew how harsh her judgment of them had been.

  Leading with her heart, she hurried back to Carter longing to be in his arms. Now she’d made her decision, it felt good.

  She was surprised to see him at the fence line between their two properties. He had his head down looking at something.

  He looked up at her. “I’m stuck,” he called out.

  She walked over, smiling. “What were you doing?”

  “Coming to get you.”

  “You were?” She giggled at him while her heart bubbled over with joy. She’d made the right choice.

  “Yes. I’m not taking no for an answer, just as soon as I get unstuck from here.” He raised his hands in the air.

  She covered her mouth with her fingertips and giggled again. “I can’t believe you were coming to get me.”

  While she walked closer, he managed to set himself free, and then he stepped through to her side of the fence. “Wait. You’ve come back, does that mean …”

  She nodded.

  “You’ll marry me?” he asked.

  “I will, Carter Braithwaite, son of Iris, my step-aunt, and son of Gerald Braithwaite.”

  He laughed, picked her up and spun her around in a circle with her long dress flying in the breeze. In that moment, she closed her eyes and knew she’d have happiness always.

  He set her down on her feet and held both of her hands. “You’ve made a sacrifice and I know it was a hard decision. I’ll make it up to you in every possible way I can.”

  She was too overwhelmed to speak. There were so many questions about how they’d work everything out and what would happen. Now that they’d made that full commitment to one another she’d stick to it with no turning back, no matter what. All she had to do now was break the news to her family.

  They’d be shocked—really shocked. And Ada would be horrified. Ezekiel would be justified. Her step-sisters might be secretly pleased for her. Wilma would be overwhelmed with taking over so many tasks.

  But, this was her life to live and this time she was going to put herself and Carter first.

  “I love you, Florence Baker.”

  She opened her mouth in shock. “You do?”

  For his answer, he lowered his mouth to hers and they shared their first proper kiss.

  * * *

  * * *

  Thank you for reading Amish Joy.

  I do hope you are enjoying the series.

  Samantha Price

  * * *

  Book 5

  Amish Family Secrets

  Lies have been told.

  Secrets have been kept.

  What will Florence do when she learns the truth that her stepmother has been keeping from her for many years?

  Will this change Florence's plans?

  * * *

  Other books in the series:

  Book 1.

  Amish Mercy

  Book 2.

  Amish Honor

  Book 3.

  A Simple Kiss

  For more Samantha Price books, visit:

  www.SamanthaPrice Author.com

  Other books by Samantha Price:

  AMISH MAIDS TRILOGY

  Book 1 His Amish Nanny

  Book 2 The Amish Maid’s Sweetheart

  Book 3 The Amish Deacon’s Daughter

  ETTIE SMITH AMISH MYSTERIES

  Book 1 Secrets Come Home

  Book 2 Amish Murder

  Book 3 Murder in the Amish Bakery

  Book 4 Amish Murder Too Close

  Book 5 Amish Quilt Shop Mystery

  Book 6 Amish Baby Mystery

  Book 7 Betrayed

  Book 8: Amish False Witness

  Book 9: Amish Barn Murders

  Book 10 Amish Christmas Mystery

  Book 11 Who Killed Uncle Alfie?

  Book 12 Lost: Amish Mystery

  Book 13 Amish Cover-Up

  Book 14 Amish Crossword Murder

  Book 15 Old Promises

  Book 16 Amish Mystery at Rose Cottage

  Book 17 Amish Mystery: Plain Secrets

  Book 18 Amish Mystery: Fear Thy Neighbor

  AMISH MISFTIS

  Book 1 The Amish Girl Who Never Belonged

  Book 2 The Amish Spinster

  Book 3 The Amish Bishop’s Daughter

  Book 4 The Amish Single Mother

  Book 5 The Temporary Amish Nanny

  Book 6 Jeremiah’s Daughter

  Book 7 My Brother’s Keeper

  AMISH LOVE BLOOMS

  Book 1 Amish Rose

  Book 2 Amish Tulip

  Book 3 Amish Daisy

  Book 4 Amish Lily

  Book 5 Amish Violet

  Book 6 Amish Willow

  S
EVEN AMISH BACHELORS

  Book 1 The Amish Bachelor

  Book 2 His Amish Romance

  Book 3 Joshua’s Choice

  Book 4 Forbidden Amish Romance

  Book 5 The Quiet Amish Bachelor

  Book 6 The Determined Amish Bachelor

  Book 7 Amish Bachelor’s Secret

  EXPECTANT AMISH WIDOWS

  Book 1 Amish Widow's Hope

  Book 2 The Pregnant Amish Widow

  Book 3 Amish Widow's Faith

  Book 4 Their Son's Amish Baby

  Book 5 Amish Widow's Proposal

  Book 6 The Pregnant Amish Nanny

  Book 7 A Pregnant Widow's Amish Vacation

  Book 8 The Amish Firefighter's Widow

  Book 9 Amish Widow's Secret

  Book 10 The Middle-Aged Amish Widow

  Book 11 Amish Widow's Escape

  Book 12 Amish Widow's Christmas

  Book 13 Amish Widow’s New Hope

  Book 14 Amish Widow’s Story

  Book 15 Amish Widow’s Decision

  Book 16 Amish Widow’s Trust

  Book 17 The Amish Potato Farmer’s Widow

  AMISH ROMANCE SECRETS

  Book 1 A Simple Choice

  Book 2 Annie’s Faith

  Book 3 A Small Secret

  Book 4 Ephraim’s Chance

  Book 5 A Second Chance

  Book 6 Choosing Amish

  AMISH WEDDING SEASON

  Book 1 Impossible Love

  Book 2 Love at First

  Book 3 Faith’s Love

  Book 4 The Trials of Mrs. Fisher

  Book 5 A Simple Change

  AMISH BABY COLLECTION

  Book 1 The Gambler’s Amish Baby

  Book 2 The Promise

  Book 3 Abandoned

  Book 4 Amish Baby Surprise

  Book 5 Amish Baby Gift

  Book 6 Amish Christmas Baby Gone

  AMISH TWIN HEARTS

  Book 1 Amish Trading Places

  Book 2 Amish Truth Be Told

  Book 3 The Big Beautiful Amish Woman

  Book 4 The Amish Widow and The Millionaire

  For more books by Samantha Price, check her website:

  www.samanthapriceauthor.com

  About Samantha Price

  A prolific author of Amish fiction, Samantha Price wrote stories from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she took up writing full time. Formally an artist, she exchanged her paintbrush for the computer and, many best-selling book series later, has never looked back.

  Samantha is happiest on her computer lost in the world of her characters.

  To date, Samantha has received several All Stars Awards; Harlequin has published her Amish Love Blooms series, and Amazon Studios have produced several of her books in audio.

  Samantha is best known for the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series and the Expectant Amish Widows series.

  To learn more about Samantha Price and her books visit:

  www.samanthapriceauthor.com

  * * *

  Samantha loves to hear from her readers. Connect with her at:

  [email protected]

  www.facebook.com/SamanthaPriceAuthor

  Follow Samantha Price on BookBub

  Twitter @ AmishRomance

 

 

 


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