Their Pretend Amish Courtship

by Patricia Davids

  Make-Believe Beau

  Fannie Erb isn’t looking for a husband—especially if she has to leave her beloved horses to go find one. What she needs is a way to assure her parents she’s not hopeless when it comes to love. Family friend Noah Bowman might just be her solution. A fake relationship will free them both from unwanted matchmaking plans. How could Fannie predict that pretending to date the handsome, teasing boy next door would awaken genuine emotions? By summer’s end they’ll be free to part, but Fannie’s growing feelings are transforming her neighbor into the only man who might ever rein in her adventurous heart.“Tender and gentle, with two delightful characters who truly belong together. A lovely read.”

  —RaeAnne Thayne

  “Tender and gentle, with two delightful characters who truly belong together. A lovely read.”

  —RaeAnne Thayne

  * * *

  “Are you saying you’ll help me?”

  “Are you going to keep throwing things at me?” he asked.

  “That was an accident.”

  “Accidents seem to happen around you often.”

  “I thought you were going to apologize.”

  “Fannie, please accept my apology for calling you crazy.”

  “All right. I forgive you.”

  “Danki. Now it’s your turn.”

  “For what?”

  “For calling me a dummkopf.”

  “Lots of Amish folks have nicknames. That’s mine for you.”

  He threw his hands in the air. “What am I even doing here?”

  She caught hold of his arm. “I’m sorry. Will you help me?”

  “I think a pretend courtship—could be in my best interest as well as yours.”

  She squealed, “Noah, I could hug you right now.”

  He held out both hands. “Drop the pitchfork first.”

  After thirty-five years as a nurse, Patricia Davids hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long-overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her online at patriciadavids.com.

  Books by Patricia Davids

  Love Inspired

  The Amish Bachelors

  An Amish Harvest

  An Amish Noel

  His Amish Teacher

  Their Pretend Amish Courtship

  Lancaster Courtships

  The Amish Midwife

  Brides of Amish Country

  The Christmas Quilt

  A Home for Hannah

  A Hope Springs Christmas

  Plain Admirer

  Amish Christmas Joy

  The Shepherd’s Bride

  The Amish Nanny

  An Amish Family Christmas: A Plain Holiday

  An Amish Christmas Journey

  Amish Redemption

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

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  THEIR PRETEND

  AMISH COURTSHIP

  Patricia Davids

  And God hath set some in the church,

  first apostles, secondarily prophets,

  thirdly teachers, after that miracles,

  then gifts of healings, helps, governments,

  diversities of tongues.

  —1 Corinthians 12:28

  This book is lovingly dedicated to my father,

  Clarence Stroda. He taught me a lot

  about making my way in the world

  and keeping God in my life. Thanks, Dad.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from Lone Star Bachelor by Linda Goodnight

  Chapter One

  “You are going and I don’t want to hear another word about it, Fannie. Nor from you, Betsy. Do you hear me?”

  When Fannie’s mother shook a wooden spoon at one or both of her daughters, the conversation was over.

  “Ja, Mamm.” Betsy beat a quick retreat out of the kitchen.

  Fannie glared after her. The little coward. Without her sister’s help, Fannie had no chance of changing her mother’s mind. Seated at the table in her family’s kitchen, Fannie crossed her arms on the red-checkered tablecloth and laid her head on her forearms. “Ja, Mamm, I hear you.”

  There had to be a way. There just had to be.

  “Now you are being sensible.” Belinda Erb turned back to the stove and continued stirring the strawberry jam she was getting ready to can. “I will write to my mamm and daed tomorrow. They insist on sending the money for your bus ticket. I expect you’ll be able to leave the middle of next week. It will be a relief to know one of us is helping Daed look after Mamm while she recovers from her broken ankle.”

  “A week! That isn’t much time to get ready to go to Florida.” How was she going to come up with a plan to keep from going in a week?

  “Nonsense. It’s plenty of time. You have two work dresses and a good Sunday dress. What else do you need?”

  Fannie sat up and touched her head covering. “I need another kapp or two.”

  Her mother turned around with a scowl on her face. “What happened to the last one I made you?”

  “I lost it.”

  “When you were out riding like some wild child, no doubt. It’s time you gave up your childish ways. Anna Bowman and I were just talking about this yesterday. We have been too lenient with our youngest kinder, and we are living to rue the day. She is putting her foot down with Noah, and I am doing the same with you. When you come back from Pinecraft at Thanksgiving, you will end your rumspringa and make your decision to be Amish or not.”

  Fannie had heard about Anna’s plans to see Noah settled and she felt sorry for him, but she had her own problems.

  Her mother turned back to the stove. “I have given up on seeing you wed, though it breaks my heart to say so.”

  Here came the lecture about becoming an old maid. She wasn’t twenty-two yet, but she had been hearing this message since she turned nineteen. That was how old her mother had been when she married. Why did everyone believe the only thing a woman wanted was a husband? “Betsy isn’t married and she is two years older than I am.”

  “Betsy is betrothed to Hiram. They will marry next fall.”

  Fannie sat up straight. “When did this happen?”

  Why hadn’t her sister mentioned it? Betsy and Hiram had been walking out together for ages. Fannie thought Hiram would never get up the courage to propose.

  “Hiram came to tell your father and me last night.”

  “Then why does Betsy want to go to Florida?”

  Fannie’s mother took her time before answering. “She loves her grandparents and wishes to spend time with them while she can. As you should.”

>   After pulling the jam off the stove, Fannie’s mother came and sat beside her at the table. “Why are you so dead set against going?”

  Fannie knew her mother wouldn’t approve of the promise she’d made. “I have made plans with my riding club for this summer.”

  “Your horses and your club won’t take care of you when you are old. Mamm writes that there are plenty of young people in Pinecraft during the fall and winter. You may want to stay longer.”

  “Young people but no horses.”

  “Enough about horses!” Fannie’s mother rose to her feet. “You have chores to finish and I must get these jars of jam done. It’s a wedding gift for Timothy Bowman and his bride. Timothy’s mother told me they plan to leave on their wedding trip after the school frolic.”

  Fannie clamped her lips together. Her mother wanted to change the subject. It wouldn’t do any good to argue; Fannie knew she’d only be wasting her breath. She left the room and found her sister gathering clothes off the line in the backyard. Fannie joined her, pulling down stiff wind-dried pants and dresses. “Mamm said you went and got engaged to Hiram.”

  “It was time. I’m not getting any younger.”

  “That’s a poor reason to marry.”

  “It’s reason enough for us. We are content with each other. You are blessed to have this opportunity.” Betsy clutched a pillowcase to her chest. “I have always dreamed of seeing the ocean. I can’t imagine how big it must be. Hiram has no desire to see the sea.”

  “Doesn’t he have a desire to please you?” That, in a nutshell, was what was wrong with getting married.

  “It would be an expense we couldn’t afford. Perhaps someday.”

  “I would gladly send you in my place, but I don’t imagine Hiram would be happy about...that...” Fannie’s words trailed away as an idea took shape in her mind. “That’s it. I need a Hiram.”

  “What are you babbling about now?”

  It was so simple. “Betsy, would you go to Florida if I couldn’t? What if Mamm decided you should go instead of me? Would Hiram understand?”

  “He knows we must honor our elders. I would gladly take your place, but Mamm has her mind made up.”

  “If she knew I was being courted, she would bend over backward to keep me here. She is desperate to see me wed.”

  “She’s desperate to see you interested in any young man instead of your horses. Who is courting you? Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

  “I have to go.” Fannie shoved the clothes in her arms at her sister. There was only one fellow who might help her.

  * * *

  “Noah, where are you? I need to speak to you.”

  Working near the back of his father’s barn, Noah Bowman dropped the hoof of his buggy horse, Willy, took the last nail out of his mouth and stood upright to stare over his horse’s back. Fannie Erb, his neighbor’s youngest daughter, came hurrying down the wide center aisle, checking each stall as she passed. Her white kapp hung off the back of her head, dangling by a single bobby pin. Her curly red hair was still in a bun, but it was windblown and lopsided. No doubt it would be completely undone before she got home. Fannie was always in a rush.

  “What’s up, karotte oben?” He picked up his horse’s hoof again, positioned it between his knees and drove in the last nail of the new shoe.

  Fannie stopped outside the stall gate and fisted her hands on her hips. “You know I hate being called a carrottop.”

  “Sorry.” Noah grinned as he caught the glare she leveled at him.

  He wasn’t sorry a bit. He liked the way her unusual violet eyes darkened and flashed when she was annoyed. Annoying Fannie had been one of his favorite pastimes when they were schoolchildren.

  She lived on the farm across the road where her family raised and trained Standardbred buggy horses. Noah had known her from the cradle, as their parents were good friends and often visited back and forth. Fannie had grown from the gangly girl he liked to tease at school into a comely woman, but her temper hadn’t cooled.

  Framed in a rectangle of light cast by the early-morning sun shining through the open top of a Dutch door, dust motes danced around Fannie’s head like fireflies drawn to the fire in her hair. The summer sun had expanded the freckles on her upturned nose and given her skin a healthy glow, but Fannie didn’t tan the way most women did. Her skin always looked cool and creamy. As usual, she was wearing blue jeans and riding boots under her plain green dress and black apron.

  He preferred wearing Englisch jeans himself. He liked having hip pockets to keep his cell phone in, something his homemade Amish pants didn’t have. His parents tolerated his use of a phone because he was still in his rumspringa. He knew Fannie used a cell phone, too. She had a solar-powered charger and allowed other Amish youth to use it if they didn’t have access to electricity.

  “What do you need, Fannie? Did your hot temper spark a fire and you want me to put it out?” He chuckled at his own wit. He and his four brothers were volunteer members of the local fire department. Patting Willy’s sleek black neck, Noah reached to untie the horse’s halter.

  “This isn’t a joke, Noah. I need to get engaged, and quickly. Will you help me?”

  He spun around to stare at her in shocked disbelief. A marriage proposal was the last thing he’d expected from Fannie. “You had better explain that remark.”

  “Mamm and Daed are sending me to live with my grandparents in Pinecraft, Florida, until Thanksgiving. I can’t go. I’ve told my folks that, but they insist. Having a steady beau is the only way to get them to send Betsy instead.”

  At least Fannie wasn’t suffering from some unrequited love for him. He should have been relieved, but he was mildly annoyed instead.

  He opened the bottom half of the Dutch door leading to the corral and let his horse out. Willy quickly trotted to where Fannie’s Haflinger mare stood on the other side of the fence. The black gelding put his head over the top rail to sniff noses with the golden-chestnut beauty.

  Noah began picking up his tools. “I hear Florida is nice.”

  Fannie grabbed the top of the gate. “Are you serious? My grandparents get around on three-wheeled bicycles down there. They don’t have horses. Can you imagine staying in a place with no horses?”

  He couldn’t, but he didn’t think much of her crazy idea, either. “I’m not going to get hitched to you because you don’t want to go to Florida.”

  Indignation sparked in her eyes. “What’s wrong with getting hitched to me? I’d make you a goot wife.”

  She stepped back as he opened the stall gate. “Fannie, you would knock me on the head with a skillet the first chance you got. You have a bad temper.”

  “Oh!” She stomped her foot, and then sighed heavily. “I do have a temper, but I wouldn’t do you physical harm.”

  “Small consolation considering how sharp your tongue is. Ouch! Ow!” He jumped away from several imaginary jabs.

  Her eyes narrowed. “Stop teasing. I don’t want to actually marry you, dummkopf. I said engaged, not married, but I guess it doesn’t have to be that serious. Walking out with me might do. If not, we can get engaged later. Anyway, we will call it off long before the banns are announced and go our merry ways.”

  He didn’t like being called a dumbhead, but he overlooked her comment to point out the biggest flaw in her plan. “You and I have never acted like a loving couple. Your parents would smell a rat.”

  “Maybe, but maybe not. Mamm has been telling me for ages that it’s time I started looking around for a husband.”

  He closed the stall gate and latched it. “Better go farther afield for that search. The boys around here all know you too well.”

  She wasn’t the kind of woman he’d marry. He might enjoy teasing that quick temper, but he wouldn’t want to live with it.

  Her defiant expression crumple
d. She hurried to keep up with him as he went outside. “Don’t be mean, Noah. I need help. I can’t go to Florida. My daed has two mares due to foal this month.”

  “They will foal without you, and your father can certainly handle it.”

  She walked to her mare standing patiently beside the corral. “Trinket will miss me. I can’t go months without seeing her.”

  Fannie loved horses, he knew that, but he sensed she wasn’t telling him the whole story behind this scheme. “Trinket will survive without you. What’s the real reason you don’t want to go?”

  She sighed heavily and folded her arms tightly across her chest. “You may have heard I took a job working for Connie Stroud on her horse farm.”

  “Mamm mentioned it.” His mother kept up on all the local news. How she was able to learn so much about the community without the use of a forbidden telephone was a mystery to him.

  “Connie raises and trains Haflingers. Trinket was one of her foals. Connie’s father passed away two years ago and she is having a hard time making a go of the place. She gives riding lessons and boards horses, but she needs to sell more of her Haflingers for a better price than she can get around here if she is going to make ends meet.”

  “If she can’t sell a horse without you in the state, she’s a poor businesswoman.”

  He walked over to two more horses tied to the fence. One was his niece Hannah’s black pony, Hank. The other was Ginger, a bay mare that belonged to his mother. Speaking softly to Hank, Noah ran his hand down the pony’s neck and lifted his front foot. He found the shoe was loose and too worn to save. He checked the pony’s back foot, expecting to find it in the same condition.

  Fannie walked over to Hank and began to rub him behind his ears. The pony closed his eyes in bliss and leaned into her fingers. “I’m deeply beholden to Connie. I need to help her save her stable.”

  Noah glanced at Fannie’s face and was surprised by the determination in her eyes. Fannie might be hotheaded and stubbornly independent, but she was clearly loyal to this friend. “How does pretending to be engaged help her?”

  “It keeps me here. Not a lot of people know what amazing horses Haflingers are. I came up with the great idea of an equine drill team using Connie’s Haflingers plus my Trinket. We are going to give exhibitions at some of the county fairs and then at the Ohio State Equine Expo. I have seven Amish girls from my riding club who have already joined us.”