“Then right before we came here, Molly showed up. She claimed she was pregnant. Claimed Kiah was the father—”
Kiah sucked in air. Shot to his feet. Steadied himself.
Bishop Nathan raised his hand. “Sit down, Kiah.”
“But—”
“Sit!” the bishop bellowed. “Let your daed finish.”
The hammering on the other side of the roof stopped.
Kiah pressed his lips together. Sat.
“I knew it wasn’t Kiah’s child,” Daed continued. “And I told her so. But then she pulled out pictures of me in the Red Light District and hugging my niece, who didn’t look even remotely like the sweet Amish girl our community knew. No one would ever believe that she was my niece and that I was there for a good cause. And Molly blackmailed me. She marries Kiah and names him as the father or she goes to the bishop and other ministers with the photos. As well as a few well-known gossips. A preacher could never be seen hugging a woman like that and still hold his calling. And I could never hurt my brother by revealing publicly what his daughter has become.”
Daed was crying openly now. Kiah struggled for air. This would ruin Daed, but why did Kiah have to sacrifice everything?
Bishop Nathan tugged at his beard. “You realize she’ll use that tactic to control you and get her way for the rest of your life. You’ll never be free from her lies and you would have trapped your son as well. No. Tell your ministers the whole story. Tell your brother why you told. Contact your niece, if you can, for her statement. Stand firm and do not let this girl bully you and Kiah.” He handed Daed a handkerchief.
Daed blew his nose. Loudly.
Kiah’s stomach churned. Daed’s situation was far worse than he could’ve imagined, but it seemed as if Bishop Nathan was a wise man and had a good solution.
“The truth will set you free,” the bishop declared. “The ministers here and I will support your story. I know the truth when I see and hear it. Kiah is free to marry Hallie—”
Thoughts stalled. The conversation replayed. Jah, Hallie was his—if she agreed. Kiah stood up and cheered. Danki, Lord.
Ted and Aaron looked over.
Daadi appeared in the opening of the barn.
Bishop Nathan held up his hand. “After courting a reasonable amount of time.”
Daed looked up with a teary smile, love in his eyes. “And I’ll move my horse farm to Hidden Springs—or expand the business to include a location here, so Kiah can keep his job once he marries. And I’ll still be near to my son.”
Tears burned Kiah’s eyes. “Danki.” That was directed to both of them. His voice broke. “May I take Hallie out for a buggy ride tonight?”
He glanced across the roof to the eavesdropping, also-teary Ted, who simply nodded.
* * *
After that loud cheer from above that could only have come from Kiah, Hallie’s afternoon dragged by in even slower motion. If only she could have listened to Bishop Nathan’s conversation herself, but no. She was trapped inside with the other women while time crawled and the overhead hammering continued.
The bishop left. Daed appeared with a watery smile and a tender look. He didn’t say anything, though.
And maybe the strong pain pills were still in Hallie’s system because she dozed off. She woke later, a crick in her neck, a half-darned sock in her hands, to find Joy setting a chicken salad sandwich and raw vegetables on a tray beside Hallie.
“The men are picnicking on the roof. Mamm and Anna just left. They got called to a birth. Mammi and Daadi are having alone time in the dawdihaus.” Joy rolled her eyes.
Ruth carried in a glass of lemonade and set it next to the plate. She gave Hallie a tender smile. “And Kiah said to tell you he’ll take you on a buggy ride later…as soon as they finish the roof—which should be soon—and tell you everything. So eat your supper, and get ready to go.”
Hallie’s stomach ached and she pressed her hand against it. Was she ready to hear what he had cheered about? Was she really ready to start living again if Kiah’s cheer meant what she hoped?
Ruth apparently noticed. She patted Hallie’s shoulder. “I think it’ll turn out okay. My husband says he feels positive about it. He’ll fill me in tonight. And from the little I’ve seen of him since noon, Kiah can’t stop smiling.”
Saturday morning Gott had given her a verse. Psalm 30:5: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
And it did. With Kiah.
Both Joy and Ruth returned to the kitchen, and soon brought their meals into the living room so Hallie wouldn’t be alone.
Hallie forced herself to eat. If Kiah was smiling and wanted to take her on a buggy ride, it had to be good news. In fact, maybe even the answer to her prayers. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it or speculate because as they ate, Ruth peppered her with a buggy-load of questions. Questions all meant to get to know Hallie as Kiah’s future wife? She could only hope.
Thirty minutes later, the men came in. They smelled ripe from working all day in the sun. Kiah gave her a smile but kept his distance. “I’m going to take a shower and then would you like to go on a buggy ride?”
“Full disclosure, Esh?” She tried to hide her grin.
He chuckled. “I’ll be right back.”
Fifteen minutes later, he was hitching the horse to the buggy as Hallie hobbled out to get in. A cloud of dust rose as another buggy raced into the driveway.
Hallie stopped, just beside the buggy, her mouth gaped. Zeke and Gracie. Zeke had the reins, which was surprising because he was a much more cautious driver than Gracie.
“Where’s the fire?” Kiah quipped.
“We need the midwife.” Zeke ignored his friend and stared at Hallie. “We were grocery shopping, and well…The baby is coming.”
On cue, Gracie moaned, clutching her stomach.
“Mamm left about an hour ago.” Actually, that was a guess. Hallie didn’t know exactly when they left. But an hour was probably close. “Someone went into labor, but I don’t know who.”
“We. Need. Her,” Gracie ground out.
Hallie stepped closer and rested her hand on Gracie’s arm. Her friend was prone to overreacting. “First babies usually take a while. Go home and I’ll leave her a message.”
Gracie groaned, arching back. “I. Need. To. Push.”
Could labor really progress that fast? Or was something wrong? Hallie jerked away from the buggy. She stumbled but caught herself. She took a step toward the house. “I’ll borrow a phone and call Mamm.”
Zeke gave his wife a look, his eyes wide. “You can’t push yet. We haven’t found the midwife.”
Gracie ground down with a moaning sound that Hallie had heard before. She really was pushing.
A choking sound from Kiah’s direction. It was definitely not proper for him to be there hearing this. What would his reaction be?
Hallie gulped. There was no time for phone calls. This baby was coming in the buggy unless they could move Gracie now.
Really, Gott? You had to dump a laboring mamm on me?
At least it was Gracie. Hallie wanted to be there for her delivery anyway.
“Kiah, run inside and tell Joy to take down the shower curtain and spread it across the bed your parents are sleeping in and get the extra birthing supplies. Zeke, carefully get Gracie out of the buggy and into that bedroom. Gracie—”
“We have groceries in the buggy,” Zeke said.
Kiah ran for the house, slamming the door open. “Joy! Mamm!”
“I’ll send Joy to take care of them. In the meantime—”
Gracie ground down again.
“Right.” Zeke jumped out of the buggy, pulled Gracie into his arms.
She screamed.
Zeke followed Kiah at a jog…which probably really hurt Gracie because she yelled.
Hallie took a breath. Then turned and hobbled as fast as she could toward the house and her friend.
* * *
It had been less than an hour but fe
lt like an eternity. Joy and Mamm were still gone, Ted and Daed were drinking coffee and playing checkers. And all Kiah could do was pace alongside Zeke. A click and a shuffling sound and he turned. A very disheveled Hallie emerged from the bedroom. Zeke rushed toward her. “Any news?”
Kiah followed.
“The baby had the cord wrapped around his neck and was blue. I had Gracie rub him and he’s a nice, healthy red now. Gracie is fine.” Hallie offered a wobbly smile as if realizing she should’ve started with this information. “You can go to her. Them. I’ll be back in a minute to weigh him.”
Zeke took off at a run.
“Daed, I need your fish scales to weigh the baby.”
Ted nodded, stood, and headed upstairs since his fishing gear was in the attic. Kiah remembered seeing it the day of the woodpecker attack.
Daed stood. “I’ll get the new mamm a glass of juice.” He went into the kitchen.
Kiah pulled Hallie into his arms. He was proud of this amazing woman.
She sagged against him. “What did Bishop Nathan want?”
He chuckled. Of course his girl would want to get to the important stuff before they were interrupted again. “Long story short, Molly was blackmailing Daed. I do not have to marry her. I’ll tell you the long version later.”
She nodded.
“Bottom line, I’m allowed to court you, if you’ll have me. Hallie, I love you. Will you allow me to court you? Maybe marry in the fall?” He held his breath. Stroked a finger down her cheek and imagined a lifetime of this. Please, Gott?
“Marrying my pen pal was my secret wish.” She raised her head for his kiss.
Mine too. He drew her near and lowered his lips to hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning author of more than twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs and writes devotionals for the Seriously Write blog.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. Laura enjoys reading and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, and her favorite holiday is Christmas.
You can learn more at:
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook.com/AuthorLauraVHilton
Also by Laura V. Hilton
The Hidden Springs Series
The Amish Wedding Promise
The Amish Christmas Gift
PRAISE FOR THE
HIDDEN SPRINGS SERIES
The Amish Wedding Promise
“In Laura’s signature style, you’ll find a swoon-worthy hero battling his own insecurities, a daring heroine longing for the one who fulfills her heart’s desire, and an ever-loving God who can calm the raging storms of life. Once you begin reading this author’s books, you’ll want to read them all.”
—Jennifer Spredemann, author of An Amish Deception
“When Laura V. Hilton tells a story, expect the unexpected!”
—Charlotte Hubbard, author of
New Beginnings at Promise Lodge
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The Amish Secret Wish Page 24
