Amish Refuge

by Debby Giusti

  How much she yearned for the life she had found in the North Georgia mountains. In her mind’s eye, she saw Abram’s handsome face and felt his strong arms surround her as he lifted her into the buggy. She envisioned Emma waving from the porch and heard the clip-clop of Nellie’s hooves. If only she could be with them again.

  Leaving the window, she reached for the blue fabric, recalling how Emma had helped her cut the pattern. Miriam settled onto the bedside chair, threaded her needle and started to sew. The rhythmic in and out of the needle and thread through the cotton cloth brought comfort and soothed her troubled spirit as she labored in the night. With each stitch she remembered the special world she had left behind.

  At last, her work completed, she slipped into the Amish dress and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. Staring back at her was a new woman who was ready to leave the Englisch world behind. Miriam didn’t need or want the things of this life. Instead she yearned for the plain way of the Amish. She longed to embrace their faith in God, their love of family and their appreciation for hard work and simple blessings.

  Abram may have already moved on with his life, but even without him at her side—as heartbreaking as that would be—Miriam wanted his faith.

  She glanced away from the mirror, no longer needing to see her reflection. She knew who she was. She was an Amish woman who was eager to return home.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  Standing on the hillside, Abram looked down at his farm and Isaac’s dairy in the distance. Emma and the dairyman would soon marry. Daniel would have a mother, and Abram’s sister would find the happiness she deserved.

  Abram was happy for her. He turned back to his work and pulled the wire more tightly around the fence post, thankful for physical labor that occupied his hands. If only it could occupy his mind, as well. No matter what he did, his thoughts were always on Miriam and how much he longed to see her again.

  Once the wire was attached, Abram stared up at the sky. The sun peered out from between the clouds and the warm hint of spring filled the air.

  “A young man’s fancy...” He thought of the adage about a man’s heart turning to love and shook his head.

  He was no longer a young man and he had found his love.

  The sound of a car engine caught his attention. He turned, seeing the Amish Taxi driving from town along the fork in the road.

  A friend must be coming to visit Emma. Abagail Keim had stopped by twice since she and her mother had kept Daniel. Perhaps she was visiting again.

  Turning back to his work, Abram ignored the sound of the car door slamming. Then, realizing he needed to be considerate of Abagail’s feelings, he turned to wave a greeting.

  But what he saw made his heart lurch.

  He blinked, unwilling to believe his eyes.

  An Amish woman wearing a blue dress stepped from the taxi. She was slender, with golden-brown hair, and stared at him from a distance. Then she waved and started running, past the house and up the hill.

  “Abram,” she called. “I’ve come home.”

  His heart burst with joy. He dropped his tools and raced to meet her, his arms wide as she ran into his embrace.

  “Oh, Miriam,” he sighed, inhaling the sweet smell of her. “I have missed you so.”

  “I...I had to leave, Abram. I had to try to find Hannah. But she was gone. I thought I would learn to live in the city, yet my heart broke each day there without you.”

  She pulled back and stared into his eyes as if she, too, couldn’t believe they were together again.

  “I kept hearing your voice, Abram. You kept saying, ‘Come home to me.’ I knew you were calling me back to Willkommen.”

  “Miriam, I love you. I have loved you since the first moment I saw you. We will make this work.”

  “Yah,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes and pointing to the blue frock she wore. “Did you see the dress I made? Emma taught me how to cut the fabric, and I finished it in Atlanta. Stitching it together by hand made me realize where my heart really wanted to be. With you, Abram, living the Amish life and being a member of the Amish church.”

  “Oh, Miriam. You are all I have ever wanted.”

  He lowered his lips to hers and then, scooping her into his arms, he twirled her around and around. They kissed until they were dizzy and giddy with laugher.

  Their playfulness turned serious as he drew her even closer and looked deeply into her eyes. “I love you, Miriam Miller, and I always will. You bring joy to my heart and to my home. Plus you were right about voicing my contrition aloud. I talked to the bishop about my past. That weight has been removed from my heart, which is now filled to overflowing with my love for you.”

  Again, they kissed. She molded into his embrace, their hearts entwined, as Abram wrapped her tightly in his arms, never wanting to let her go.

  EPILOGUE

  “I packed cheese and bread and fruit for the journey.” Emma handed the basket to Miriam, who placed it on the floor of the buggy.

  Miriam smiled with gratitude. “You have done too much.”

  Emma waved off the comment. “Promise you will write to us when you arrive in Ethridge and let us know about the wedding plans? Isaac and Daniel and I want to be there to celebrate with you and Abram.”

  “I’ll write and let you know, even before the date is published at church.”

  “It is gut that Abram and our datt have reconciled. That is your doing, Miriam.”

  She shook her head. “No, Emma, the credit goes to Abram. He had to forgive himself. Once he did, he was able to ask forgiveness from his father. Their relationship, at least through the mail, seems strong, although I have to admit that I’m worried about meeting him.”

  “Our datt has a gruff exterior but a heart of gold.”

  Miriam rolled her eyes and laughed. “Now I’m even more concerned.”

  “I promise, our parents will love you.”

  “You’re sure?” Miriam asked.

  “Yah. As Daniel says, ‘Cross my heart.’”

  Both women laughed for a long moment and then the smile on Emma’s face waned. “I am glad you will stay in Ethridge until the investigation is over and all those involved in the trafficking ring are brought to justice. Isaac saw more reporters in town, asking questions. He fears the stories they write in their newspapers will draw attention to Willkommen.”

  “Abram says I will be safer in Tennessee. We wouldn’t be able to go if you and Isaac hadn’t offered to take care of the farm.”

  “It is good we live close.” Isaac approached the buggy. “Abagail’s twin brothers will help, as well.”

  Daniel left the workshop and skipped toward them, with Abram and Bear following close behind. The boy blew into the wooden train whistle Abram had made. The deep, soulful sound filled the air.

  “Daniel, you must not blow the whistle around Nellie,” Emma cautioned lovingly. “You will spook her for sure.”

  The boy hurried to Emma’s side, his eyes wide with excitement. “Abram said he will teach me woodworking when he and Miriam return.”

  Emma touched his cheek lovingly. “That is something to look forward to, yah.”

  The boy nodded then turned to Miriam and smiled slyly as if he had a secret to share. “Mamm baked cookies for your basket.”

  “Your new mamm is very thoughtful.” Miriam loved the way Daniel had accepted Emma into his life.

  “How many of the cookies did you eat, Daniel?” Abram asked as he neared.

  “More than Datt thought I should.”

  The adults laughed and watched as Daniel chased Bear around the yard.

  Abram’s face grew serious. He turned to Isaac. “Be careful, my friend. There is talk that this hijacking operation is large. More could happen. Ned told me.”

  “I have heard the sam
e. I will take care of Emma and be on guard lest anything else occurs. And do not worry. We will not divulge where you and Miriam have gone. Your secret will be safe with us.”

  “But we will eagerly await your return.” Emma squeezed Miriam’s hand. “The talk at the market is that Samuel will have a long recovery, although Ned Quigley is doing a good job as acting sheriff.”

  “If he can do enough,” Abram mused. “At least he is searching for Sarah.”

  “The Petersville police chief is helping him,” Isaac added. “It appears he was not involved in the corruption.”

  “Ned promised to write me if he learns anything new,” Miriam said as she hugged her soon-to-be sister-in-law and then Isaac. “Abram and I continue to pray.”

  “Gott will answer us with good news, I am sure,” Abram said before he hugged his sister and helped Miriam into the buggy. “We must go, if we are to catch the bus to Ethridge.”

  Isaac shook Abram’s hand and then slapped his back. “The twins will drive your buggy back this afternoon when they come to work on the farm.”

  “They will be good farmers by the time we return.”

  Abram climbed in beside Miriam and lifted the reins.

  Daniel ran to stand between Isaac and Emma and raised his hand in farewell as the buggy turned onto the roadway, heading to Willkommen.

  “Take care of Bear and Gus,” Abram said as he glanced back over his shoulder. Ezra Jacobs’s beagle ambled out of the barn, wagging his tail. The well-being of the old dog had tugged at Abram’s heart until he had found Gus wandering aimlessly in the woods.

  Daniel waved. “Yah, we will.”

  When the farm and Isaac’s sweet family were out of sight, Miriam shrugged out of her cape, enjoying the warmth of the day.

  “The flowers will be in bloom soon,” she said, eyeing the countryside as they passed by.

  “The letter from my mother said she is painting the house and watching her celery grow,” Abram shared.

  Miriam laughed, remembering the celery served at Isaac and Emma’s wedding. “There are many customs I must get used to, Abram.”

  “I will help you learn them all.”

  “What if your parents don’t like the woman you have chosen to marry?”

  “Ah, but they will love you. After the wedding, we will move into the house next door that belonged to my grossdaadi, my grandfather, and my mammi, my grandmother. It will be a time to reconcile with the family I left behind.” He gently elbowed her, his eyes twinkling. “And a time to get to know my new wife.”

  “A honeymoon,” she said, smiling. “As the Englisch say.”

  He laughed and took her hand. “Hopefully, Gott will bless us soon with children. Lots of children who will help their mother in the kitchen and their father in the fields.”

  “And in the workshop,” she added. “Your business is growing, Abram. So many people at the market love your work. I knew they would.”

  “You encouraged me, Miriam. For that I am thankful.”

  He pulled back on the reins and the buggy came to a stop. Turning to face her, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Most of all, I am thankful for you, Miriam. That you came into my life and set me free from the past.”

  He kissed her for a very long time. Her heart leaped for joy and was filled with hope for the future. A future with Abram.

  She raised her face to the sun, peering through the clouds. Spring, a wedding, children in the future and her Amish protector who had saved her life and saved her heart.

  As Nellie started moving again, Abram wrapped his arm around Miriam’s waist and pulled her close. “Soon we will be one, Miriam. An Amish man and an Englisch woman—”

  “An Englischer turned Amish,” she added with a smile.

  “What could be better?” he asked.

  “Nothing,” she sighed.

  Nothing could be better than living the rest of her life with Abram at her side.

  “Thank You, God,” she whispered. “Thank you, Abram.”

  He raised his brow and leaned closer. “Did you say something?”

  “I said thank you for saving me, for loving me and for asking me to be your wife.”

  “Our life will be gut,” he said with a flick of the reins.

  “Yah.” Miriam smiled. “Our life will be very, very gut.”

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed AMISH REFUGE, look for these other titles by Debby Giusti.

  THE AGENT’S SECRET PAST

  PLAIN TRUTH

  PLAIN DANGER

  Keep reading for an excerpt from CALCULATED VENDETTA by Jodie Bailey.

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  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed Amish Refuge, the first book in my AMISH PROTECTORS series. Amish widower Abram Zook never expected a battered woman to appear on his front porch in the middle of the night. Especially not an Englisch woman. But Miriam Miller’s car has been hijacked, her mother’s been murdered and her younger sister carted off to who knows where. Miriam needs to hole up and stay safe, and what better place than on an Amish farm.

  This story is about forgiveness. If you struggle to let go of a painful past, I hope Abram and Miriam’s journey will touch your heart and bring you to a place of new beginnings. I’m praying for you!

  I love to hear from readers. Email me at debby@debbygiusti.com or write me c/o Love Inspired, 195 Broadway, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Visit me at www.DebbyGiusti.com and at www.Facebook.com/debby.giusti.9.

  As always, I thank God for bringing us together through this story.

  Wishing you abundant blessings,

  Debby

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  Calculated Vendetta

  by Jodie Bailey

  ONE

  The conversations of the late dinner crowd in the Mexican restaurant hummed around Staff Sergeant Casey Jordan as she loaded one more chip with salsa and promised herself this one—like the eight before it—would be the real “last one.” Probably not, but still... Didn’t she deserve to indulge a little after her dinner companion had excused himself to take his fourth phone call in twenty minutes? Finally, she’d given up and told John Winslow they could reschedule, and he’d taken off for the door after a quick thanks and a wave.

  Sure, it wasn’t technically a date, rather an interview for the story she was working on for the Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office, but the diners around them had no idea of th
at. To them, she’d been royally disrespected.

  Reaching for the chip basket, Casey chose a perfect triangle. One more, then she’d throw in the napkin and go home to the cliché of pajamas, ice cream and the hardest sudoku puzzle she could lay her hands on. After her last relationship had spectacularly flamed out, she deserved all the comfort food she could get.

  “Casey?” The sound of her name rose above the other noises in the small restaurant. For a second, her hopes rose, but they crashed to the floor just as quickly. The voice was definitely not John’s.

  It was her own thoughts come to life in flesh and blood.

  She did her best to ignore the call as her stomach tightened around the chips she’d downed. Not now. This was the last thing she needed on a night when it looked as though a date had abandoned her. Way to drive the knife in, making him appear.

  Grabbing the backpack that held her laptop, Casey slung it over her shoulder, pretending she hadn’t heard Travis Heath hailing her. It had been three months, and he hadn’t called her once. Let him enjoy the burn of being ignored. She’d rather go home and dig into a pint of Mackinac Island Fudge than make small talk with the guy who’d gotten her hopes up before he ground them into mush under the heel of his combat boot.

  Then again, knowing Travis, ignoring him would only make him more persistent. Better to face the past than have it chase her out of the restaurant and become the dinner show for an audience chowing on tacos and chips.

  When she stopped near the counter and turned, Travis ran right into her. He grabbed her upper arms to steady both of them, forcing Casey to look at him fully for the first time.

  Yep. He was everything she remembered. Tall. Lean but muscular. Blue-eyed under slightly longer-than-regulation dark blond hair. If she glanced around the restaurant now, half the women there would be staring at him. Casey inhaled and tried not to notice he still smelled like outdoors and ocean, even though the coast was nearly two hours away.