AMISH ROMANCE: Amish Dreams Box Set: Books 1-3

by Rebekah Fisher

  “Mamm!” Melissa shouted.

  The term of endearment caught Samantha off-guard, and she opened up her watering eyes to see Melissa hovering over her.“Go get your Daed,” she said. Her breath came short and weak.

  Melissa rushed out the front door, and Samantha tried to push herself up. But not only was she feeling weak, the cramping around her midsection became worse. She was terrified for the baby. Something was wrong. She could feel it, and she needed to get to the hospital immediately.

  Gott, nee, Samantha prayed. Please, spare the life of our bobli. Please.

  * * *

  Joshua was pleased with his progress. Despite only having one hand, he’d managed to keep up at almost half of his usual pace. And this afternoon he tested his left hand by finishing the rocking crib for his and Samantha’s baby.

  There was a bit of an uncomfortable sensation when he moved the muscles around the incision, but it wasn’t bad. Joshua knew God was watching out for him – he could have easily permanently disabled his left hand with how careless he’d been.

  Danke, Gott, for Your provision, Joshua prayed. He smiled down at the new rocking crib and gave it a little push. It rocked smoothly, gleaming by the lanterns in his workshop. Joshua couldn’t wait to show Samantha.

  “Daed!” Melissa shouted. Her tone was frantic.

  Joshua shot to his feet and ran to the workshop doors to see Melissa running his way. “Melissa?” he called.

  Melissa’s face was pale, and she pointed at the house. “Mamm fell down the stairs!”

  A moment of confusion passed through Joshua, and then terror. The first was that it took him a second to realize that Melissa had called Samantha Mamm. It wasn’t Jessica.

  And then, in the next second, he processed that Samantha had fallen. Down the stairs. Ach, nee!

  Joshua ran past Melissa into the house. Samantha was on the floor, moaning, her hands around her belly. He hurried to her side. I need to go to the hospital,” Samantha whispered. “Something’s wrong.”

  Joshua had been anxious for most of Samantha’s pregnancy. That she’d been diagnosed with low blood pressure had weighed on his mind heavily. And when she’d fallen ill, Joshua had been scared. But the paleness of Samantha’s face and the tears running down the sides of her head sent a tremor through Joshua. Now? He was terrified, both for Samantha and the baby.

  “Melissa, stay with Samantha,” Joshua ordered. “I need to get the horse and buggy hooked up.” As he ran outside to the stable, Joshua cringed – he’d said the same thing to Andrew when Jessica had fallen ill, just before dying. It was like some terrible replay, and Joshua almost lost his focus as he went into the barn.

  Gott, nee, not again! Please, nee. Please help Samantha! He didn’t know what else to pray. After getting the horse and buggy hooked up, Joshua rushed back inside. Melissa was dabbing Samantha's face gently with a cool washcloth.

  “Melissa, can you get the door for me?” Joshua asked.

  “Jah,” Melissa said, rushing over to the door.

  Kneeling beside Samantha, who hadn’t moved at all, Joshua put his hands under her and lifted. Samantha wasn’t heavy herself, but as pregnant as she was Joshua had to strain. He could feel the incision line in his left hand stretching, but he didn’t care.

  “Joshua,” Samantha whispered.

  “Let's get you to the hospital,” Joshua said. He walked out the front door, asking Melissa to grab the money pouch, and headed to the buggy. Setting Samantha inside the buggy, Joshua took a breath and turned to see Melissa running towards them, carrying a blanket with her.

  Smart girl, Joshua thought. “Danke,” he said to Melissa. He hoisted Melissa up into the buggy and quickly ran around to the other side and jumped in. After making sure that Samantha was securely at his side, Joshua sent Bob off into a fast trot with a hard flick of the reins.

  Samantha said nothing but kept her eyes shut, still holding her stomach. Her breath became more and more ragged with each one. By the time they pulled up to the school, Samantha was panting, almost gasping for air, and she’d started to moan a little again, although she seemed to be fighting it as hard as she could.

  Joshua jumped down and picked Melissa up out of the buggy and carried her over. The children were outside playing, and they paused as Joshua walked over.

  “Daed?” Andrew called from amongst the children.

  Joshua walked over to where Ruth was, the teacher that had replaced Samantha. Beside her stood Kristen, the teacher’s aide, an older woman of their community that Joshua had known for a several years.

  “Joshua?” Kristen said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Samantha had a bad fall,” Joshua said. “Would one of you take my kinner to my shveshtah, Mary?”

  “Jah, of course,” Kristen said. Joshua handed Melissa to her, and Melissa began to cry. “It’ll be alright, little one,” Kristen said.

  “Do you need anything?” Ruth asked Joshua.

  “I, I don’t know,” Joshua said. “Prayers.”

  “We will,” Ruth said. “We’ll get the word out too.”

  “Danke,” Joshua said.

  Andrew had rushed over at this point. “Daed? Why are you here?” he asked. He looked at the buggy, where Samantha was resting. “What’s wrong with Samantha?”

  “I need you to watch over Melissa for me,” Joshua said. He patted his children on their heads, knowing he didn’t have much time. “Be gut for Kristen, and for Mary.”

  “Daed!” Andrew called.

  It hurt Joshua, and he knew that both of his children would be upset by such a frantic departure. But the schoolhouse was on the way to the hospital, and it was the fastest way to get his children to Mary and John’s. And there wasn’t time to stop and assure the children that everything was okay. Because, truth be told, it wasn’t.

  Jumping back into the buggy, Joshua flicked the reins and continued on down the road. He looked over to see Samantha was very still.

  Joshua felt himself start to go cold. “Samantha?”

  “Hm?”

  Joshua exhaled in relief. “Stay with me.”

  Samantha murmured something almost indistinguishable, but she squinted her eyes open. She still had tears running down her face, and Joshua continued to pray for her and the baby the entire way to the hospital.

  When they arrived at the hospital, Joshua pulled right up to the ER doors, and jumped out as two ER workers approached. “My wife’s pregnant, and she had a bad fall down the stairs,” Joshua said. “She’s in a lot of pain.”

  A stretcher was brought, and Samantha was lifted out of the buggy and onto the stretcher. Joshua followed them into lobby, holding Samantha’s hand. However, he was stopped in front of the double doors by a nurse.

  “I’m sorry, sir, you need to stay here,” the nurse said.

  Joshua took a breath. He was ready to simply push past the woman, and given his strength he knew it wouldn’t be hard. But that wouldn’t help Samantha. That would only distract the doctors and nurses from saving Samantha and the baby.

  Instead, Joshua took a deep breath and followed the nurse to the desk to fill out the paperwork. He felt numb and his thoughts strayed far away as he answered the questions, but he remember to make sure he mentioned the hypotension diagnosis midway through Samantha’s pregnancy.

  When Joshua finished, one of the staff members brought him kaffe in a foam cup and informed him they had taken his horse and buggy to a the small stables area they had on the premise. Joshua took a seat in the waiting room.

  The intensity of the moments prior had his heart racing, and as the adrenaline rush died down Joshua felt nothing but anxiousness and fear. He didn’t want to be alone again. He didn’t want to lose his beloved wife and another baby. Again.

  Gott, Joshua prayed with as much intensity as he could muster. Please, please let Samantha and the bobli live. Please. I don’t think I can bear to lose them both. Not again. Please, spare them. Gott. Please.

  Eventually Joshua felt a gentle p
eace envelope him. He rubbed his face against his sleeve as a couple of tears escaped down his cheeks.

  Gott, I trust You, Joshua continued praying. No matter what happens, I will trust You. Your ways are not my ways. And Your will is always best. But I need You. I need Your peace to see me through.

  Though he continued to pray, and though he was still terrified, Joshua felt as if God was assuring him that no matter what, He was still in control. It gave Joshua the strength and peace he needed to remain as calm as possible.

  Joshua’s mamm and Samantha’s parents showed up at the hospital, as did Mary, John, and their baby, and Andrew and Melissa, whom they brought along. Bishop Miller showed up some time later, and Joshua thanked them all for their support and encouragement as they waited for news about Samantha.

  Melissa and Andrew were weepy, and Joshua kept them on his lap, clinging to them. He wondered many things, like why Jessica and her baby had died, and why it seemed the same thing could happen to Samantha. Or, why he hadn’t taken the time to add an extra railing to the stairs, despite noticing Samantha struggling with them. Or why Samantha had been trying to work so hard this close to the end of the pregnancy, especially with her hypotension diagnosis.

  But mostly Joshua wondered what God had planned. He had decided to trust God no matter what, but right now he felt like he was being tested, and Joshua didn’t know why.

  Is there an answer to the “why's?” Joshua thought.

  Regardless of Joshua’s inner questions and doubts, he was grateful for his family and friends, who stuck close to him as the minutes passed agonizingly slow.

  At last, the doctor came out of the double-doors, looking over the people in the waiting room. “Joshua Woods?”

  Joshua stood up, setting Melissa and Andrew down on the floor. “That’s me,” he said.

  The doctor walked up to him. And then a grin split across the older man’s face and he held out his hand. “Samantha is going to be just fine. And so is your new daughter.”

  Joshua felt himself lose his breath and his vision spun a little. “I…I have a new daughter?” he said, making sure he spoke English for the sake of the doctor.

  “You sure do!” the doctor replied. “She came out at five pounds, seven ounces, so a little on the small side, but all of her vital signs are good and strong. She’s going to be just fine.”

  “And Samantha’s okay?” Joshua asked, his voice a whisper.

  “Yes, she’s recovering but doing well,” the doctor said. “You’ll be able to visit in just a few moments.”

  Joshua reached out and shook the doctor’s hand heartily, tears welling in his eyes. “Thank you so much,” Joshua whispered.

  “You’re quite welcome!” the doctor said. “One of the nurses will come and get you momentarily.”

  Joshua nodded.

  The doctor gave Joshua a warm smile and headed back through the double-doors.

  Joshua walked back to his chair and collapsed back into it, smiling as Samantha’s daed and Bishop Miller gave him a hearty pat on his back.

  Andrew and Melissa climbed back into his lap. “So…Samantha’s okay?” Andrew asked.

  “Jah,” Joshua said. “And so is your new little shveshtah.”

  Andrew and Melissa’s faces lit up and they glanced towards the double-doors. “When do we get to see her?” Andrew asked.

  “Soon,” Joshua said.

  It wasn’t soon enough for the children, but Joshua and his family and friends did what they could to keep Andrew and Melissa busy until the nurse came and called Joshua and his children to follow her; the others would have to wait.

  With his children following him closely, Joshua walked with the nurse down the hallway, still feeling anxious. It didn’t matter how many times they told him that Samantha and the baby was okay, Joshua wanted to see it with his own eyes.

  The nurse led them to a room and knocked on the outside before walking in. “Samantha?” the nurse said. “Your husband and children are here.”

  “Thank you,” Samantha’s voice came from the room.

  Joshua thanked the nurse and stepped past her into the room. His eyes fell onto Samantha, sitting in the hospital bed, hooked up to a couple of lines and covered with blankets. She looked exhausted, her blonde hair loose and frazzled, but she was smiling. Her face absolutely glowed, and Joshua felt like he could breathe again as he smiled back at her.

  Then his eyes took in the small bundle in Samantha’s arms. Losing his breath again, Joshua stepped up beside Samantha, peering down. A small, ruddy face was visible from the wrap of blankets, the baby's eyes closed.

  “She’s beautiful,” Joshua whispered. He looked up at Samantha. “How are you feeling?”

  Samantha smiled and nodded. “I’m feeling great, now.” she said.

  Exhaling, Joshua leaned over and kissed Samantha, and then turned to his children. “Do you want to see your new little shveshtah?” he asked.

  Andrew and Melissa, who had been standing back a little, approached cautiously. They came around Joshua and looked up at Samantha first, than down into the baby's face.

  “She’s so tiny!” Melissa said. She looked up at Samantha. “Are you going to be okay?”

  “Jah,” Samantha said. “Danke, Melissa, for your help.”

  Andrew reached out and touched the baby's face gently. When the baby slowly turned her head at the touch, Andrew and Melissa smiled at each other.

  “She’s so small!” Andrew said quietly.

  Joshua leaned over. “May I?” he asked Samantha.

  Samantha smiled and nodded. Joshua gently took the baby into his hands. She was incredibly tiny – so much smaller than Andrew or Melissa had been as newborns' – but this little girl otherwise looked perfectly fine. More than fine. She looked lovely with her little tuft of dark hair on the top of her head. Joshua held her up to his face and kissed her on the forehead.

  “My dochtah,” he whispered. Then Joshua began to weep. He bowed his head as he was completely overwhelmed with joy and relief. Danke, Gott, Joshua prayed. He was beyond words or thought, and he prayed this over and over again as he held his little daughter. Danke.

  * * *

  Chapter 4

  As Samantha strained the water out of the pot of noodles, she heard little Bethany crying. “Mamm?” Melissa called at the same time. “Bethany’s crying.”

  “I’m coming,” Samantha called.

  Ever since the accident, Melissa had continued to call Samantha Mamm. She was glad about that and hoped Andrew would do the same eventually.

  Setting aside the pot of noodles until it was time to heat up the marinara sauce brought to them by a neighbor, Samantha dried her hands on her apron and went outside. Under the shade of a canopy that Joshua had built over the porch, Bethany was in Melissa’s arms, Melissa sitting on the swing. For as small as Bethany was, she looked huge in Melissa’s arms. Bethany was fussing a little, her beautiful blue eyes squinted up at them. Samantha suspected the little one was exhausted but too uncomfortable to sleep.

  “I’m sorry,” Melissa said. She looked downcast as Samantha picked the baby up. “I don’t know why she's upset.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Samantha said. “Boblis can fuss and cry about a lot of different things.” Samantha rocked the baby in her arms, kissing Bethany on the forehead. Just as Bethany settled again, Samantha leaned over and placed Bethany in the rocking crib that they’d put outside. Melissa jumped down from the swing and began to dutifully rock the crib, and Bethany fell asleep in no time.

  Melissa giggled and pointed. “She fell asleep!” she whispered.

  Smiling, Samantha sat down into the swing. “Jah, she was just tired and needed to lie down,” Samantha whispered. She picked up Melissa into her lap, and Samantha used her foot to rock the rocking crib while she and Melissa swung at the same time, snuggling together as they stared out across the fields. It was a gorgeous summer day; sunny but cool, and a delightful breeze flowed almost constantly across their faces.
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br />   “I see Andrew!” Melissa said.

  Samantha looked over to see Andrew bounding along the road towards them. Instead of heading into the workshop, which was what Andrew normally did, he ran towards them with paper in his hands. Melissa jumped down, waiting on the porch for her brother.

  “Hi!” Andrew said. He slowed a little as he saw that Samantha was rocking the crib, and he and Melissa hugged quietly. Then Andrew smiled down at Bethany, now fast asleep.

  “Hi Andrew,” Samantha whispered.

  “Look what I made today!” Andrew said, keeping his voice down. He set the papers in Samantha’s lap, and she looked over to see a picture of what she guessed was supposed to be Andrew, Melissa, and Bethany running along a field. “We had to draw about what we were going to do this summer, and then talk about it in class! I talked about how I have two little shveshtahs now and we were going to play together, and maybe I’ll help Daed build stuff!”

  “That’s great, Andrew!” Samantha exclaimed.

  “What’s for dinner today?” Andrew asked.

  “Noodles and sauce,” Samantha replied, “and green beans.”

  “Mmm,” Andrew said. The children nestled against Samantha, and she went back to swinging, keeping her foot on Bethany’s rocking crib.

  Samantha was overwhelming with the joy that was swelling inside of her. For years she’d dreamt of being a teacher. She’d had the opportunity to teach for one year, and then God had her step down to give the job to someone else. But in the place of teaching, Samantha had been gifted with a family and baby of her own to care for. And Samantha couldn’t have been happier as she realized this new dream that she thought would never be hers.

  Danke, Gott, for Your goodness, Samantha prayed.

  * * *

  Joshua stepped back, surveying the edits he’d made to the diaper changing table. He’d added in another shelf for more storage components as well as a few hooks to hang things off the side. After two children, Joshua had had some thoughts on how to improve the table. He smiled at his work, glad he was able to finish it before the end of today.

  Hearing a knock at the workshop door, Joshua glanced back to see Bishop Miller at the entry way. “Hello! Come in,” Joshua said.