Luke cocked one brow at her.
She smiled and rolled her eyes playfully. “I’m getting more used to it,” she said, picking up the phone. “It doesn’t scare me like it used to. I mean, not that it scared me, it was just new.”
“I know,” he said, leaning against his desk, looking as handsome as the first day she’d seen him again after ten years. “You’re doing a great job helping me here, but I know filling out paperwork and making appointments isn’t what you really want to do.”
I want to be wherever you are, my dear love, she could have said, though she knew that hadn’t been what her husband had meant.
“Sarah and Amos are coming over to the house later.”
“To work on the addition? Tell your father I’ll help finish it tonight.”
“I will.” Esther sighed. “Sarah came over earlier this morning, as well. Right after you’d left. I think she’d actually been waiting behind the barn until you walked across the yard and shut the door of your office.”
“Oh boy. She still having problems with the other in-laws?”
This made Esther giggle, him knowing her family so well. “She chose to move in with them instead of her and Amos living at home. Pa would’ve added on a room for them, too, but she wanted to live on the horse farm. I don’t blame her—the Zooks have gorgeous animals, and Grace can train them better than anyone in the county.”
“Still strange, though,” Luke said while flipping through the pages of the desk calendar. “Even I am not used to the idea of a woman working with horses. It’s a man’s job.”
“Oh, really now.” Esther put her hands on her hips. “And you’re the one who’s supposed to be enlightened.” She clicked her tongue at him.
“Okay, okay. I guess I can be stuck in the old ways as much as anyone. Thank you for keeping me modern,” he added with a wink; then he dragged a finger across her cheek, making her heart jump at the tender touch.
Instead of kissing him like her body craved to do, Esther said a small, grateful inner prayer, thanking Gott for His hand in her life. For bringing her such a wonderful husband, partner, and friend. Someone she could be completely herself with, whom she could confide in, pray for, laugh with, and sometimes even cry with when her back hurt or her feet swelled or Sarah was being a pain.
Back during that first November, after only a few weeks of counseling with the bishop, Luke had been welcomed into the church with full fellowship. Though he’d had permission to continue working at the clinic until someone could take his place, Luke had longed to have a simple office at home, a place where all the plain folk could come for medical help, questions, and even medicine. It had taken a while, but in late October, his desire had become a reality. Then a month later, they were married.
Esther rested both hands on her belly, feeling the miracle they’d made move inside her, feeling more loved, blessed, and content than she ever dreamed possible. Soon, their precious bobbeil would be surrounded by cousins and friends and neighbors and so much unconditional love.
“We’ll be needing two new farm horses in a few months,” Luke said, interrupting her blissful thoughts. “Your pa and I have big plans for the back forty.”
“Like…?” Esther asked, feeling a big smile spread across her face as her husband smiled even bigger. “What?” she asked, giving his shoulder a playful shove.
“Well, first of all,” he said, “we must start with a lot of kids.”
“Kids?” she echoed, confused, pointing at her stomach.
Luke grinned and shook his head. “Kid goats.”
Esther felt her eyes go wide, her throat nearly too tight to speak.
“I think we’ll start with four.” He reached out and took her hand. “And they’ll all be named Bubbles.”
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Acknowledgments
Thank you, Stacy Abrams, my brave and wonderful editor. Back at its inception, we both agreed this project came together by fate. I still believe that. Thanks for taking on such a fun challenge with me! Thank you to Entangled Publishing for your faith in me, allowing me this uniquely awesome opportunity. As always, thanks to my writing partner, Sue, for walking me through sticky plot points, and for introducing me to chia tea latte. Thanks to my amazing group of girlfriends who listened to me babble on and on about this book for nearly a year. A heartfelt thanks to David Whitson for sharing your story with me. You are a true inspiration! Most of all, I couldn’t have done this without the support of my husband, who kept me focused and positive, and who gave me remarkably creative ideas when I was stuck. You mean the world to me!
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas, and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. She enjoys cupcakes, treadmills, reruns of Dawson’s Creek, and obsessing over her Italian greyhound, Peanut. Ophelia is the author of Never an Amish Bride, first in the Honey Brook series, as wells as the Sugar City series, the Perfect Kisses series, the Abby Road series, and other adult, new adult, and young adult sweet romances.
Visit her online at ophelialondon.com
From New York Times bestselling author Victoria James comes comes a poignant and heartfelt romance.
Eight years ago, Tyler Donnelly left Wishing River, Montana, after a terrible fight with his father and swore he’d never return. But when his father has a stroke, guilt and duty drive him home, and nothing is as he remembers––from the run-down ranch to Lainey Sullivan, who is all grown up now. And darn if he can’t seem to stay away.
Lainey’s late grandma left her two things: the family diner and a deep-seated mistrust of cowboys. So when Tyler quietly rides back into town looking better than hot apple pie, she knows she’s in trouble. But she owes his dad everything, and she’s determined to show Ty what it means to be part of a small town...and part of a family.
Lainey’s courage pushes Ty to want to make Wishing River into a home again—together. But one of them is harboring a secret that could change everything.
Discover another sweet romance from Ophelia London
Playing at Love
Show choir teacher Tess Johansson loves three things: music, her job, and sharing that passion with her students. But when a school budget crisis forces funding to be pulled from either the sports or music programs, she finds herself going head to head with Jack, the gorgeous new football coach who broke her heart fifteen years ago. Jack Marshall wants two things: to be closer to his young daughter and to make his mark as a football coach. Being pitted against Tess, the summer love he never forgot, is like being fourth and long with only seconds on the clock.
Speaking of Love
Successful matchmaker Mackenzie Simms decides to find a woman for her friend, handsome newspaper tycoon Rick Duffy. Though they’ve been each other’s go-to dates for the past month, Mac and Rick couldn’t be more different. But on the double-date getaway to Rick’s family cabin, neither expect the new feelings that develop. Can Mac ‘fess up to what’s really in her heart when speaking her mind puts everything at risk?
Falling for Her Soldier
Ellie Bell is done falling for the wrong kind of guy. Why can’t she find someone sweet like Charlie Johansson, her soldier pen pal? She can’t stop thinking about him…until she meets Hunter.
After connecting on a real, emotional level via letters with his best friend’s sister, Charlie’s ready for a relationship—with Ellie. But then her brother introduces him as Hunter. And before long, the harder Charlie falls for Ellie, the more he risks losing her.
Kissing Her Crush
Natalie Holden wants three things: To be the best chocolate chemist in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to prove her chocolate recipe can help teenage depression, and to get ov
er her childhood crush. Work is Luke Elliott’s passion, and landing a huge promotion is just what he needs. What he doesn’t need is a crackpot trying to prove that chocolate cures depression. But Natalie Holden is his “what if” girl from high school, and there’s no denying the explosive chemistry that jeopardizes their jobs and their futures.
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