Will marriage save her family?

Christmas with the North Country Amish

Bethany Martin has until Christmas to prove to the Amish community that she can raise her siblings—including her mischievous brother—without a husband. Then handsome newcomer Michael Shetler arrives, winning over Bethany’s siblings. He might be the answer to their prayers, but Michael has a troubled past. Can Bethany love a man with secrets...even if it’s the only thing keeping her family together?

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. Patricia always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her online at patriciadavids.com.

Also By Patricia Davids

North Country Amish

An Amish Wife for Christmas

The Amish Bachelors

An Amish Harvest

An Amish Noel

His Amish Teacher

Their Pretend Amish Courtship

Amish Christmas Twins

An Unexpected Amish Romance

His New Amish Family

Brides of Amish Country

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

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

An Amish Wife for Christmas

Patricia Davids

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08636-3

AN AMISH WIFE FOR CHRISTMAS

© 2018 Patricia MacDonald

Published in Great Britain 2018

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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“Your sister thinks you should marry...”

Bethany’s face grew hot. “Husbands don’t exactly grow on trees in New Covenant.”

“Anyone you chose would be getting a fine wife.”

She looked up to study Michael’s reflection in the glass, but it wasn’t clear enough to let her see what he was thinking. “Are you making me an offer?”

“You would be getting a very poor bargain if I was.”

She turned around so she could look into his eyes. “Why do you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth.”

There was so much pain in his voice and deep in his eyes that she wanted to hold him and promise to make everything better.

She couldn’t. “What’s wrong, Michael?”

“Nothing that you can fix.”

“How do I know that if you can’t tell me what troubles you?”

“Trust me. You don’t want to know.” He turned and walked down the hall and out the back door.

He was so wrong.

Bethany wanted to know everything about Michael Shetler.

Dear Reader,

This is the first book in my new Amish series set in Maine. I hope you have enjoyed the story. In case you haven’t noticed, I am a dog lover. The remarkable Sadie Sue was patterned after my own dog Sadie. Sadly she is no longer with us but we have wonderful memories of her happy personality and relentless drive to fetch the ball, fetch the ball.

PTSD is a disorder that has been in the news a lot in recent years. Many of our soldiers are returning to civilian life crippled by this devastating disorder. More research is needed to combat this problem but therapy dogs have been shown to have a positive effect on the men and women who own them. I have limited knowledge of the disorder and this is not meant to be a tutorial on the subject. Any mistakes or incorrect assumptions are purely my own.

Blessings to all,

Patricia Davids

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

—Ephesians 3:16–19

This book is dedicated with great admiration to my longtime and dare I say long-suffering editor, Emily Rodmell. I’m sure I have tried your endless patience far more often than any other author, but you have never failed to help me get back on track. During the bleak moments of my personal life and in some weird and crazy times you have remained confident in my talent and pushed me to write a better book even when I wasn’t sure I wanted to go there. Thanks for your faith in me. Here’s hoping it isn’t misplaced. Onward and upward.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

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

Chapter Sixteen

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

“Your brother’s behavior reflects badly on you, Bethany, and on our community. Something must be done.”

Bethany Martin sat across from Bishop Elmer Schultz at her kitchen table with her head bowed and her hands clasped tightly together in her lap. Her dear friend Gemma Lapp sat beside her. Bethany was grateful for Gemma’s moral support.

“We Amish are newcomers here,” he continued. “We can’t afford to stir ill will among our Englisch neighbors. Don’t you agree?”

Bethany glanced up and met his intense gaze. She nodded slightly. An imposing man in his midfifties, the bishop had a shaggy gray-and-black beard that reached to the middle of his chest. A potato farmer and owner of a shed building business, he was known for his long and often rambling sermons, but he was a fair man and well liked in their small Amish community. Bethany didn’t take his visit lightly. She prepared to defend her brother.

“Ivan isn’t a bad boy. It’s just that he misses his grandfather. He’s angry that God took Elijah from us and he feels guilty. The two of them were very close.” Her heart ached for her troubled brother.

“Time will heal this,” Gemma added.

The bishop sighed. “Your grandfather Elijah was a fine man, Bethany. I have no doubt that he kept the boy’s high spirits in check, but Ivan has quickly put one foot on the slippery slope that leads to serious trouble. He needs a firm hand to guide him and mold him into an upstanding and righteous man.”

“I can do that,” Bethany assured him. “I’ve raised Ivan from the time he was five and our sister, Jenny, wasn’t much more than a newborn babe.” She might be their sister, but she was also the only mother they had ever known. Both mother and father to them after the man who bore that title left his family for the fourth and final time. Bethany’s anger surged to the surface but she quickly brought it under control. At least her mother had been spared knowing about his final betrayal. She had been positive he would return to care for his children after she was gone. He hadn’t. Bethany brought her attention back to the matter at hand.

Gemma waved one hand. “Ivan is almost fourteen. Boys that age get into mischief.”

It was a weak argument and Bethany knew it. Her brother’s recent behavior was more than mischief, but she didn’t know what to do about it. He seemed to be done listening to her.

The bishop’s expression softened. “Bethany, your grandfather was concerned that you have sacrificed your chance to have a family of your own in order to care for your siblings.”

She drew herself up straight. “I don’t feel that way. Ivan and Jenny are my family.”

The bishop laced his fingers together on the table. “I am the spiritual leader of this community and as such I have a duty to oversee the welfare of all my flock. Normally I would leave the discipline of children to their parents. In this case I feel duty bound to step in. Elijah was my dear friend. It was his vision that founded our new community here. It was his desire to see it grow. For that we need the goodwill of our Englisch neighbors.”

“I’m aware of that. I spent many months helping him search for the best place to settle. New Covenant is as much my dream as it was his.” She didn’t like the direction the bishop seemed to be going.

“Then you agree that we can’t let the reckless actions of one boy ruin what has been created.”

“He isn’t trying to spoil anything.” Bethany was compelled to defend Ivan, but the truth was she didn’t know what was wrong with him. Was he acting out because of his grief or was something else going on?

His schoolwork had suffered in the past weeks. His teacher had complained of behavior issues in class. He had been in several scuffles with non-Amish boys earlier in the year but they weren’t anything serious. It was his recent secrecy and withdrawal that bothered Bethany the most. How could she help him if she didn’t understand what was amiss?

She lifted her chin. “There is no proof that he damaged Greg Janson’s tractor or that he is responsible for letting Robert Morris’s cattle loose.”

Bishop Schultz leveled a stern look at her. “He was seen near both farms at the time and he’d been in fights with both the Janson and Morris boys.”

“That’s not proof,” she insisted.

The bishop pushed back from the table. “I have written to your uncle in Bird-in-Hand.”

She frowned. “To Onkel Harvey? Why?”

“Elijah mentioned that Harvey and his family plan to visit you this Christmas.”

“That’s true. We are expecting them to stay a week as they were unable to come to the funeral.”

The bishop rose to his feet. “I have asked your uncle to take Ivan with him when the family returns to Pennsylvania.”

Bethany’s mouth dropped open. “Nee, you can’t send Ivan away. This isn’t right.”

“It was not an easy decision. I know your intentions are goot but the boy needs the firm guidance of a man. You are too easy on him.”

“Because he’s still a little boy.” The situation was quickly slipping out of her control. They couldn’t take her brother from her. Fear sent her pulse pounding in her temples. “Please, Bishop, you must reconsider.”

“I will not.”

Bethany pressed both hands to her heart. “I promised my mother before she died that I would keep the family together. I promised her. Don’t do this.”

The bishop’s expression didn’t change. Her plea had fallen on deaf ears. Men were the decision makers in her Amish community. The bishop had the last word even in this family matter.

He took his coat and hat from the pegs by the door and put them on. “Bethany, if you were married I wouldn’t have to take this course of action. Your husband would be the one to make such decisions and discipline the boy. With Elijah gone, I see no other choice. I must think of what is best for all, not just for one.”

He nodded to her and left. Bethany wanted to cry, to shout at him, to run after him and beg him to change his mind, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good.

“I’m sorry.” Gemma laid a hand on Bethany’s shoulder.

“What am I going to do? There has to be a way to change the bishop’s mind.”

“Why don’t I make us some toast and a cup of coffee. Then we’ll put our heads together and come up with a plan.”

“We’re out of bread and I don’t want any coffee.”

“What Amish woman runs out of bread?”

“This one. There has been so much to do since Daadi’s passing I haven’t had time to bake. If Ivan straightens up and starts behaving, if he apologizes to the bishop maybe he’ll be allowed to stay. It’s five weeks until Christmas. That’s enough time to prove he has changed.”

“Or you can get married. That will fix everything.”

Bethany gave her friend an exasperated look. Gemma knew Bethany’s feeling about marriage. It wasn’t for her. “It’s unlikely that I could find someone to wed me before Christmas, Gemma.”

“If you weren’t so particular, maybe not. Jesse Crump holds you in high regard.”

Bethany wrinkled her nose. “Having a conversation with Jesse is like pulling teeth. He’s a nice enough fellow, but he never has anything to say.”

“Ack, you’re too fussy by far.”

“You marry him.”

Both Gemma’s eyebrows shot up. “Me? Not a chance. Besides, it isn’t my brother that is being sent away.”

Bethany battled her rising panic. “I wish Daadi were still here. I don’t know what to do.”

Gemma slipped an arm around Bethany’s shoulders and gave her a hug. “If your grandfather was still alive we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“I know.”

Ivan’s troubling behavior had started when their grandfather became ill early in the fall but it had gotten much worse since his death. Her gaze moved to the closed door leading to her grandfather’s workroom. Their grandfather had happily spent hours repairing clocks and antique watches during the long winter months in his tiny shop. With the door open she used to hear him humming or muttering depending on how a particular project was progressing.

The workshop hadn’t been opened since Ivan found Elijah slumped over his desk barely breathing. The boy ran to find help but by the time it arrived Elijah was gone.

She should have mailed his unfinished works back to their owners before now but she couldn’t bear to enter the room. The grief she tried so hard to control would come pouring out when she did.

Tears stung the backs of her eyelids, but she quickly blinked them away. The quiet strength and unquestioning love of her grandfather had seen Bethany through the worst times in her life. It was still hard to accept that she could never turn to him for guidance again.

She drew a deep breath and squared her shoulders. He would tell her prayer and hard work solved problems. Worry and regret never did. There had to be a way to keep her family together and she would find it. Perhaps her uncle would side with her. She would write her own letter to him and plead her case.

She slipped into her coat. “Thank you for coming today, Gemma, but I’d best get the rest of my chores done.”

Gemma followed her to the door. “I don’t know how you’ll manage this farm without Elijah and Ivan.”

“One day at a time and with the help of our neighbors if I need it.”

“I’ve never known you to ask for help.” Gemma moved to put on her black bonnet and coat.

“I asked you to sit with me when the bishop came today, didn’t I?”

Gemma rolled her eyes. “Okay, you have asked for help one time. I wish I knew what to say but I think it is all up to Ivan. I’m surprised he wasn’t here this morning.”

“He’s at school. I didn’t want to take him out of class.”

The New Covenant Amish community was too small yet to have their own school. The five Amish children in their church, including her brother and sister, attended the nearest public school. It was far from ideal but the teachers and school board had taken great pains to accommodate the needs and customs of the new Amish pupils.

The two women walked outside together. Gemma pulled on her gloves. “Do you want me to come over this evening when you talk to him?”

Bethany shook her head. “Danki, but I think it’s best I speak to him alone.”

“All right. I’ll stop by tomorrow and you can tell me all about it.” The two women exchanged a hug. Gemma climbed into her buggy and drove away.

Bethany’s breath rose as puffs of white mist in the chilly mid-November morning as she crossed the snow-covered yard to the newly completed red barn. It was the latest building to be added to the new community. The bulk of the structure had been raised in a single day with the help of an Amish community from upstate New York. Thirty men had traveled all night by bus and worked feverishly to complete the barn before taking the long bus ride home again that night. Someday the people of New Covenant would return the favor.

Her grandfather had had plans for half a dozen additional structures to attract more Amish families to New Covenant. It had been his dream to form a thriving Amish district in Maine, far from the tourist centers in Pennsylvania. To him, fewer tourists meant less money but more time to spend close to God and family without worldly influences. If only he could have lived to see his dream grow and thrive.

Bethany fed and watered the chickens, gathered the eggs and then fed and watered the geese before heading to the barn. Her mind wasn’t on her chores. Her conversation with the bishop replayed in her head as she fed and watered their two horses. Outside the milk cow’s stall, Bethany paused and leaned on her pitchfork. “I’ve got trouble, Clarabelle.”

The cow didn’t answer her. Bethany pitched a forkful of hay to the family’s placid brown-and-white Guernsey and then leaned on the stall door. “The bishop has decided to send Ivan to Bird-in-Hand to live with Onkel Harvey. It’s not right. It’s not fair. I can’t bear the idea of sending my little brother away. It will break his heart and Jenny’s, to say nothing of mine. We belong together.”

Clarabelle munched a mouthful of hay as she regarded Bethany with soulful deep brown eyes. The bell around her neck clanked softly as she tilted her head to allow Bethany to scratch behind her left ear. Bethany complied. As a confidant, Clarabelle was unassuming and easy to talk to, but she was short on advice.

“Advice is what I need, Clarabelle. The bishop said Ivan could stay if I had a husband. Someone to discipline and guide the boy. I don’t believe for a minute that is the solution but I’m getting desperate. Any idea where I can get a husband before Christmas? And please don’t suggest Jesse Crump. Jedidiah Zook might be a possibility if he smiled more. Maybe he just needs a wife to make him happier. What do you think?”

“I doubt your cow has the answers you seek but if she does I have a few questions for her about my own problems,” a man said in an amused drawl.

Bethany spun around. A stranger stood in the open barn door. He wore a black Amish hat pulled low on his forehead and a dark blue woolen coat with the collar turned up against the cold. He carried a duffel bag over one shoulder and he leaned on a black cane.

The mirth sparkling in his eyes sent a flush of heat to her cheeks. How humiliating. To be caught talking to a cow about matrimonial prospects made her look ridiculous.

She struggled to hide her embarrassment. After looking the man up and down, she stabbed the pitchfork into the hay again and dumped it into Clarabelle’s stall. “It’s rude to eavesdrop on a private conversation.”

“I’m not sure talking to a cow qualifies as a private conversation but I am sorry to intrude.” The man put down his duffel bag.

He didn’t look sorry. He looked like he was struggling not to laugh at her. At least he was a stranger. Maybe this mortifying episode wouldn’t become known in the community. She cringed at the thought of Jedidiah Zook hearing the story. “How can I help you?”

“Mind if I sit here for a minute?” He pointed to a stack of straw bales beside the barn door.

She wanted him to go away but her Amish upbringing prevented her from suggesting it. Any stranger in need deserved her help.

He didn’t wait for her reply but limped to the closest bale and sat down with a weary sigh. “The bus driver who dropped me off said New Covenant was a little way along on this road. His idea of a little way does not match mine.”

“It’s less than half a mile to the highway from my lane.”

He rubbed his leg. “That’s the farthest I’ve walked in six months. How much farther do I have to go?”

“You have arrived at the south end of our community.”

He tipped his head slightly. “I thought New Covenant was a town.”

“It’s more a collection of houses strung out on either side of the road right now, but it will be a thriving village one day.” She prayed she spoke the truth.

“Glad to hear it. I’m Michael Shetler, by the way.” He took off his hat and raked his fingers through his thick dark brown hair.

She considered not giving him her name. The less he knew to repeat the better.

He noticed her hesitation and cleared his throat. “It’s rude not to introduce yourself in return.”

She arched one eyebrow. “I’m being rude? That’s the pot calling the kettle black. I am Bethany Martin,” she admitted, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake.

“Nice to meet you, Bethany. Once I’ve had a rest I’ll step outside if you want to finish your private conversation.” He winked. One corner of his mouth twitched, revealing a dimple in his cheek.

Something about the sparkle in his blue eyes invited her to smile back at him but she firmly resisted the urge. She stabbed the pitchfork into the remaining hay and left it standing upright. “I’m glad I could supply you with some amusement today.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had something to smile about.”

The clatter of hooves outside caught her attention as a horse and wagon pulled up beside the barn and stopped. She caught a glimpse of the driver through the open door. He stood and faced the barn. “Ivan Martin, are you in there? It’s Jedidiah Zook. I want to speak to you!”

Her gaze shot to Michael. His grin widened. Her heart sank as he chuckled. “I may not have given Clarabelle enough credit. It seems your preferred beau has arrived. It was Jedidiah Zook you hoped would come courting, right?”

She glared and shook a finger at him. “Don’t you dare repeat one word of what you heard in here.”

* * *

Michael couldn’t help teasing her. The high color in her cheeks and the fire in her eyes told him she was no meek Amish maid. He wagged his eyebrows. “Do you need a go-between? Shall I speak on your behalf? I’ll be happy to help any way I can.”

“If you say anything, I’ll...I’ll...” She clamped her lips closed. The sheen of unshed tears gathered in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them back and raised her chin.

Teasing was one thing. Upsetting her was another. He held up one hand. “Relax. Your secret is safe with me. If the cow spills the beans, that is not my fault.”

“Stay here.” Bethany rushed past him out the wide double doors. “Guder mariye, Jedidiah. Ivan isn’t in here. He’s at school. Can I be of any help?”

“Your brother has gone too far this time.”

The man’s angry voice brought Michael closer to the open door to watch. Bethany faced Jedidiah defiantly with her head up and her hands on her hips. “What has he done?”

“Two thirty-pound bags of potatoes and a ten-pound bag of dried beans are missing from my cellar.”

“What makes you think Ivan took them?”

“Because he sold a bag of potatoes to the general store owner just this morning.”

She folded her arms in front of her. “That’s not proof he took them. Maybe it was one of our sacks that he sold.”

“Was it?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You tell him I came by and that I’m on my way to report this theft to the bishop. This has gone beyond what can be ignored. It must stop. If you can’t control the boy someone else will have to.” He lifted the reins, turned the wagon around and headed down the lane.

Michael limped out to stand beside her. “Not a very jolly fellow. Are you sure he’s the one?”

She shot him a sour look. “In spite of what you think you heard earlier, I am not in the market for a husband.”

Why wasn’t she married already? She was certainly attractive enough. Not that he was in the market for a relationship. He wasn’t. He might never be. He sobered at the thought. The men who shot him and robbed the store he had worked may have robbed him of a family, too. He had no idea if his PTSD would get better living in the isolation of northern Maine, but it was his last option.

Bethany brushed past him into the barn, a fierce scowl marring her pretty features. “I need to speak to my brother and get to the bottom of this. You are welcome to rest here.”

He was glad he wasn’t the brother in question. She went down the aisle and opened the stall door of a black mare with a white blaze. She led the mare out, tied the horse to a hitching post and began to harness her.

“Let me do that for you.” He took a step closer.

“I can manage,” she snapped.

He took a step back and held one hand up. She didn’t need or want his help. In short order she had the harness on and then led the animal outside, where she backed the mare in between the shafts of the buggy parked in a lean-to at the side of the building.

“May I?” he asked, pointing to the buggy. She nodded. He finished securing the traces on one side while she did the other. He buckled the crupper, the loop that went around the mare’s tail to keep the harness from sliding forward on the animal, as Bethany finished her side and came to check his work.

“Danki.”

She thanked him like it was a chore. Bethany Martin was clearly used to doing things by herself.

Michael realized that he hadn’t looked over his shoulder once since hearing Bethany’s voice. That had to be some kind of record. He glanced around out of habit but there was nothing sinister in the farmstead and empty snow-covered fields that backed up to wooded hills on either side of the wide valley. All throughout his trip to New Covenant he’d been on edge, expecting danger from every stranger that came close to him. He’d spent most of the bus ride from Philadelphia with sweating palms and tense muscles, expecting another attack or a flashback to overtake him at any second. They never came when he was expecting them.

He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. For the first time in weeks the knots in his neck and shoulders were missing. Maybe he was getting better. Maybe this move was the right thing, after all. He prayed it was. Nothing here reminded him of the Philadelphia street or the shop where his life had changed so drastically.

Here the air was fresh and clean. The next house was several hundred yards up the road. Nothing crowded him. He could start over here. No one would look at him with pity or worse. He had a job waiting for him in New Covenant and a place to live all thanks to the generosity of a man he’d never met. He needed to get going, but he was reluctant to leave Bethany’s company for some reason. Her no-nonsense attitude was comforting. He pushed the thought aside. “I should be on my way. Can you give me directions to Elijah Troyer’s farm?”

She shot him a startled look and then glanced away. “This was his farm,” she said softly with a quiver in her voice.

“Was? He sold it?” Michael waited impatiently for her to speak.

She kept her gaze averted. “I’m sorry but Elijah Troyer passed away three weeks ago.”

Michael drew back with a sharp intake of breath. “He’s dead? That can’t be.”

He fought against the onrush of panic. What about the job? What about the place to live? Were his hopes for a new life dead, too?

Chapter Two

Bethany watched as Michael limped away and sat down on the hay bale inside the barn door. He rubbed his face with both hands. She could see he was deeply affected by the news of her grandfather’s death. Sympathy made her soften her tone. “I’m sorry to give you the sad news. Did you know my grandfather well?”

Michael shook his head. “I never met him.”

If he didn’t know her grandfather, why was he so shaken by his passing? As much as she wanted to stay and find out Michael’s connection to Elijah, she had to speak to Ivan as soon as possible. If he had stolen the potatoes and beans as Jedidiah claimed, the items would have to be returned at once, but there had to be some mistake. Her brother wasn’t a thief.

Please let it be a mistake, Lord.

The bishop would never reconsider sending Ivan to live with Onkel Harvey if Jedidiah’s claim was true.

She slipped the reins through the slot under the winter windshield of the buggy. “I’m sorry you didn’t have a chance to meet my grandfather. He was a wonderful man.”

“He offered me a job working for him. Is that job still available?”

“I know nothing about such an offer. Are you sure it was my grandfather who promised you work?”

“Elijah Troyer, in New Covenant, Maine. That’s what the letter said. Is there another Elijah Troyer in the community?”

“There is not. I don’t know what my grandfather had in mind, but I can’t afford to hire someone right now.”

“I was also told I would have a place to stay. I reckon if there’s no job there’s no lodging, either?”

Was he talking about the small cabin that sat at the back of her property? Her grandfather had mentioned readying it for a tenant before he became ill, but she didn’t know if he had finished the repairs. Besides, she wasn’t ready to host a lodger. Nor did she want to leave Michael Shetler like this. He appeared dazed and lost. Her heart went out to him.

“You should speak to our bishop, Elmer Schultz. I’m sure he can help. He won’t be at home this time of day, but I can give you a ride to his place of business.”

“It seems I don’t have much choice. Danki.”

Michael slowly climbed into the passenger seat. Bethany walked around the back and got in on the driver’s side. She picked up the reins. “The school is about three miles from here.”

“I thought we were going to the bishop’s place of business.”

“We are but I must stop at the school first. I hope you don’t mind.”

“As long as I don’t have to walk three miles I don’t mind.”

From the corner of her eye Bethany noticed him rubbing his leg frequently. It must pain him a great deal. This close to him she noticed the dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept well. He was pale, too. She sat silent for the first half mile of their trip but her curiosity about Michael got the better of her. “Where are you from?”

“My family lives in Holmes County, Ohio. My father and brother have a construction business in Sugarcreek.”

“Did you work in construction with them?”

“Nee.” He didn’t elaborate.

“I’ve heard that’s a large Amish community. Do you have a lot of tourists who visit there?”

“We do.”

“Like where I am from. Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. My grandfather wanted to start a community that wasn’t dependent on tourism. Don’t get me wrong, he knew how important the industry is to many Amish who can’t make a living farming, but it wasn’t the lifestyle he wanted to live.”

Michael pulled his coat tighter. “There had to be warmer places to settle.”

She chuckled as she looked out over the snow-covered fields that flanked the road. “The coldest part of the winter has yet to come.”

“So why here?”

“The price of land and the ability to purchase farms large enough to support big families were more of a consideration than the weather. Plus, we were warmly welcomed by the people here. Many local families have been here for generations. They like the idea that we want to be here and farm for generations, too. A lot of the elders in the community remember farming with horses when they were children. Folks are very independent minded in Maine. They know what hard work is. When someone has to sell farmland they would rather sell it to the Amish because we will live on it and farm it as their grandparents did. They consider it preferable to selling to a large farming corporation intent on grabbing up as much land as possible.”

“What do you grow here besides snowdrifts?”

She smiled. “Potatoes. Maine is the third-largest producer of potatoes in the United States. Broccoli grows well in the cool climate as do many other vegetables.”

“As long as you don’t get an early freeze.”

“That’s true of farming in Ohio or almost anywhere.”

“I guess you’re right about that.”

The main highway followed the curve of the river and after another mile Fort Craig came into view. Bethany turned off the highway into a residential area at the outskirts of town. The elementary school was located in a cul-de-sac at the end of the street.

As she drew the horse to a stop in front of the school she noticed several of the classes were out at recess. She stepped down from the buggy and caught sight of her sister, Jenny, playing with several other girls on the swings. Jenny spotted her and ran over. “Sister, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to speak to Ivan. Did he get on the bus with you this morning?”

Jenny shook her head. “Nee, he said Jeffrey’s mom was going to bring him to school.”

“And did she?”

“I don’t know. Sister, I have wunderbar goot news.”

Bethany crouched to meet Jenny’s gaze. “Have you seen Ivan today?”

Jenny screwed up her face as she concentrated. “I don’t think so. You should ask his teacher.”

Bethany stood upright. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

“Don’t you want to hear my news?”

“In a minute.”

Jenny’s happy expression faded. Michael got out of the buggy. He took several stiff steps. “I just need to stretch my legs a little.”

“Who is that?” Jenny asked in a loud whisper.

Bethany was inpatient to find Ivan but she made the introduction. “This is Michael Shetler. He’s a newcomer. This is my sister, Jenny.”

He nodded toward her. “I’m pleased to meet you, Jenny. I’d love to hear your news.”

“You would?” Jenny asked hopefully.

“Sure. It must be important. You look ready to burst.”

Jenny smiled from ear to ear. “I got picked to be in the community Christmas play. I’m going to be the aerator.”

Bethany looked at Michael. He returned her questioning gaze and shook his head slightly. Jenny was bouncing up and down with happiness.

Bethany smiled at her. “That is wunderbar. What does the aerator do?”

“I get to tell everyone the Christmas story in English and in Pennsylvania Dutch while the other kids act out the scenes. Ivan is going to sing a song by himself.”

From the corner of her eye, Bethany saw Michael rub a hand across his mouth to hide a grin. Bethany was afraid she’d start laughing if she looked at him again. Learning English as a second language was difficult for many Amish children who spoke only Pennsylvania Dutch until they started school. “I’m sure you will make a goot narrator if you practice hard.”

“I’ll practice lots and lots if you help me.”

“You know I will.”

“I need to have an angel costume, too. I’m going to be an angel aerator.”

“Angel narrator,” Michael corrected her in a gentle tone.

“Narrator,” Jenny replied slowly. He nodded and she grinned at him.

Bethany patted her sister’s head. “We’ll talk about it when you come home from school this evening.”

“Okay.” Jenny took off to rejoin her friends.

“Cute kid,” Michael said, still grinning. “How many siblings do you have?”

“Just Jenny and Ivan. Excuse me while I check on him.” Bethany headed through the front doors of the school. She found the eighth-grade room and looked in through the open door. Ivan wasn’t in his seat. His best friend, Jeffrey, was missing, too.

A bell sounded in the empty hall, startling her. The boys and girls in the room filed to the back to gather their coats, mittens and hats from hooks before rushing past her to get outside. After the last child exited the room Bethany stepped inside. “Ms. Kenworthy, may I have a word with you?”

The teacher looked up from her desk. “Miss Martin, of course. Do come in. I was just getting ready to write a note to you.”

“About Ivan?”

“Yes. I hope he is feeling better. He’s missed almost an entire week of school. I have a list of homework assignments for him to complete and hand in when he returns.”

Bethany’s heart sank. “My brother is not sick at home.”

“I see.” Ms. Kenworthy opened a desk drawer and pulled out a sheet of notebook paper. “Then I assume you did not write this note?”

Bethany removed her gloves, took the note and quickly scanned it. It informed Ms. Kenworthy that Ivan would be out of school for a week due to his illness. It was signed with her name. Bethany sighed heavily and handed the letter back. “I did not write this. It is not my signature.”

Ms. Kenworthy took the letter and replaced it in the drawer. “I thought it was odd that Jeffrey was the one who delivered it to me and not your sister. Do you know what Ivan has been doing instead of coming to school?”

“I wish I did. He doesn’t confide in me these days.”

“He was close to his grandfather, wasn’t he?”

The understanding in the teacher’s eyes allowed Bethany to unburden herself. “They were very close. Since Elijah’s death Ivan has refused to talk to me about what’s troubling him. He’s changed so much. I was hoping he might have confided in you.”

“I am deeply sorry for your loss. Elijah was well liked in this community.”

“Thank you.”

“Your brother’s grades were not the best before your grandfather passed away. Since that time, he has earned nothing but Fs for incomplete work. Even when he is here he seems withdrawn until someone speaks to him. Then he’s ready to start a fight over nothing. Unless he does extra-credit work and turns in his missing assignments, I’m afraid he is going to flunk the semester. I know that according to your religion this is his last year of education, but I still have to follow state guidelines. That puts me between a rock and a hard place. If he flunks the semester, he’ll have to attend summer school.”

Bethany shook her head. “Ivan will be needed on the farm this summer. I don’t see how we could spare him even a few hours a day.”

“In that case he will have to repeat this grade next year. Talk to him. Try to make him see what’s at stake.” She removed a folder from another drawer. “Give these assignments to him. Hopefully he can finish most of them over the weekend.”

“I will. Thank you.” Bethany was angry with Ivan for his deceit, but she was more disappointed in herself. Where had she gone wrong? How had she failed him? She tried to be a parent to her siblings but without her grandfather’s help she didn’t know how to reach Ivan. Maybe letting him return to Pennsylvania would be for the best.

Except that it didn’t feel like the right solution. She loved her brother. She couldn’t imagine life without his annoying habits, constant teasing and his hearty laugh. She had to make him see that his actions were tearing the family apart.

But she needed to find him first. Clearly Jeffrey was in on whatever Ivan was up to. His parents lived a mile farther up into the woods from her home.

Bethany left the school building and saw Michael sitting on the buggy step. She’d forgotten him. A thin yellow hound lay a few feet away from him. The dog wagged its tail tentatively as it watched him. Michael pulled his gloves off and took something from his pocket. He held it toward the dog. The animal crept a few inches closer.

“Good girl,” Michael said, tossing the item at the dog’s feet. She snapped it up. At the sound of Bethany approaching, the dog darted for cover between two nearby parked cars.

Bethany stopped beside Michael. The dog grew bold enough to peek out from between the cars but didn’t approach. “I see you made a new friend.”

He rose to his feet. “She was sniffing at the trash cans and trying to get them open. I could see she was looking for a meal. I had a little leftover jerky I picked up on the bus ride here. She appears to need it more than I do. Is your brother at school?”

“Nee, but that doesn’t prove he stole provisions from Jedidiah.”

“You’re still giving him the benefit of the doubt?”

“Of course. He’s my brother.”

“I hope your confidence isn’t misplaced.”

“I pray it’s not but I will admit I’m at my wit’s end. His teacher says he hasn’t been to school all week. His friend gave the teacher a note that was signed with my name that said he was sick at home. I have to find out what’s going on. He’s left each morning to catch the school bus with his sister and he’s walked home with her each evening, yet he hasn’t been in school.”

“Don’t think too badly of him. Boys his age are sometimes impatient to grow up and live their own adventures. Then they make foolish mistakes because they aren’t as smart as they think they are.”

“Are you speaking from experience?”

“I am. My own.”

“How many forged notes did you send to your teacher?”

A wry grin curved his lips. “My teacher happened to be my mother’s youngest sister, so none.”

“I’m afraid of what the bishop will say when Jedidiah tells his side of the story.”

“If the bishop is a reasonable man he’ll listen to your side of the story, as well.”

She was grateful for his reassurance, but he didn’t know how serious the situation was becoming. She held on to the hope that her uncle could be persuaded to let Ivan remain with her. “I will take you to see the bishop now.”

“I appreciate that.” He moved to open the buggy door for her and took her hand to help her in.

His grip was firm but his hand was soft. His skin lacked the calloused roughness of a man who made his living farming the land or woodworking. It wasn’t the hand of a laborer, yet she found his gentle strength oddly comforting.

Perhaps he was a shopkeeper. Her grandfather had had plans to open a small grocery in New Covenant. Maybe that was the job he had promised Michael. It didn’t matter. Her grandfather was gone, and she wasn’t in a position to continue his work. At least not yet.

She looked up and met Michael’s gaze as he continued to hold her hand longer than necessary. There was a profound sadness in the depth of his eyes that she didn’t understand. What troubled him? What was he thinking?

* * *

Michael stared into Bethany’s light blue eyes as the warmth of her touch went all the way to the center of his chest and warmed a place that had been cold for a long time. He studied her face, trying to find out why she triggered such a strong reaction in him.

Her pale blond hair was parted in the middle and worn under a white prayer covering. Her skin was fair with a scattering of freckles across her dainty nose. She was an attractive woman, too attractive for his peace of mind.

He let go of her hand, stepped away and limped around the back of the buggy, letting the pain in his leg remind him of why he had no business thinking about how perfectly her small hand had nestled in his. If things had been different, if he wasn’t so damaged he would have enjoyed getting to know her better, but things weren’t different. He had to accept that.

He also had more serious things to think about. He needed a job and he needed somewhere to live. Preferably a good distance away from other people in this remote community. His neighbors wouldn’t appreciate being awakened in the middle of the night by the screams that sometimes accompanied his nightmares.

Thoughts of his dreams filled him with apprehension as his pulse shot up. He quickly scanned his surroundings. A car drove past the school, the tires crunching on the snow. Children were playing on the playground. He could hear their laughter and shouting. Someone stood at the corner of the school building. He thought it was a woman but he couldn’t be sure. The person was bundled in a parka with the hood up. Perhaps a teacher watching the children. He struggled to convince himself that there was nothing sinister here but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad would happen at any second. His heart began to pound as tightness gripped his chest.

The dog ventured out and came to stand in front of him. He focused on her unusual golden eyes. She looked to be part yellow Labrador retriever and part pointer. Her white-tipped tail wagged slowly. He held out his hand and she sniffed it. It was a shame he didn’t have more to feed her. She retreated again and he got in Bethany’s buggy.

Inside the small space he started to relax. No one could get behind him now. He glanced at Bethany. She was watching him intently. Could she see how anxious he was? He needed to divert her attention. “Are you waiting for something?”

“Nee.” She turned the horse and headed back up the street. The clip-clop of the mare’s hooves was muffled by the snow that covered the road. It was the only sound other than the creaking of the buggy. He discovered he would rather hear Bethany’s voice.

“What kind of business does the bishop own?”

“Our bishop builds and sells storage sheds as well as farming, but he’s thinking of branching out into tiny homes.”

“Then he is a progressive fellow?”

“In his business, but our church is a conservative one.”

“I noticed a propane tank at your home.”

“Our Ordnung allows us to use propane to power business machinery, our refrigerators, washing machines and hot water heaters. We also have running water and indoor bathrooms. We aren’t that conservative but our cookstoves and furnaces must use wood or coal.”

He glanced out over the dense tree-covered hillsides and the snowcapped mountains in the distance. “It doesn’t look like you’ll run out of fuel anytime soon as long as you have a strong fellow to chop and haul it.”

“My brother does that for me.” Her voice was strained. Worry marked her brow with frown lines.

“How old is he?”

“Almost fourteen. Our mother died when Jenny was born. Our father was gone soon afterward.” The undertone of bitterness in her voice surprised him.

“So you were raised by your grandparents.”

“My grandfather took us in. He was a widower.”

“It must’ve been hard to be both mother and sister to your younger siblings.” He found it easier to talk to Bethany than anyone he’d spoken to since the attack. Maybe it was because she talked to cows. He smiled at the memory.

“I never saw caring for my siblings as a burden.” She turned the horse off the street into the parking lot surrounded by various sizes of storage sheds.

A tall, muscular Amish fellow stepped away from a half-finished shed and slipped his hammer into a tool belt that hung on his hips. He didn’t sport a beard, so Michael knew he wasn’t married. His clothes were tattered and sweat-stained, but his smile was friendly as he greeted them. “Guder mariye, Bethany. Need a new shed, do you?”

Bethany opened her door but didn’t step out. “Good morning, Jesse. Is Bishop Schultz about?”

“Nee, he isn’t. He’s gone to Unity. Their bishop is laid up with pneumonia, and Elmer has gone to do the preaching for their service this Sunday and perform a wedding on Tuesday. He won’t be back until Wednesday night.”

“Have you seen Ivan today?”

“Nee, I’ve not. Who is that with you?”

“Jesse, this is Michael Shetler. He is a newcomer. He came expecting to work for my grandfather. He hadn’t heard about Elijah’s passing. I thought perhaps the bishop would know of some work and could find a place for him to stay.”

Jesse hooked his thumbs under his suspenders. “There is work aplenty here. You’re welcome to bunk on my couch until you can find a place, but you’ll have to suffer through my cooking. I’m no hand with a skillet.”

Michael got out of the buggy and grabbed his duffel bag. He would rather stay somewhere alone, but he didn’t have much choice. He forced a smile and a lighthearted reply. “Your cooking can’t be worse than mine. You have yourself a boarder until I can find a place of my own. We can work out the rent later.”

“No need for that.” Jesse moved to take Michael’s bag. “Let me get this for you.”

Michael handed it over. Jesse nodded toward the building he had been working on. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to finish this shed before taking you out to my place.”

“I don’t mind. I’ll give you a hand with it.”

Looking at Michael’s cane, Jesse raised one eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“I can still swing a hammer.”

“Then your help will be welcome. I’ll see you get paid for the work you do.”

“Danki.”

Michael turned to Bethany. “Looks like your brother has been granted a reprieve if Jedidiah wasn’t able to speak to the bishop.”

Bethany’s eyes brightened. “That’s right.”

“Oh, Jedidiah was here and spoke to Elmer before he left,” Jesse said cheerfully.

Michael watched the hope fade in her eyes and wished there was something he could do to console her.

Chapter Three

Michael watched Bethany drive away with a sharp unexpected sense of loss. She was a lovely woman, but he sensed she was much more than a pretty face. It was obvious that she cared about her family. Anyone who asked a cow for advice had to have a good sense of humor.

He smiled then quickly pushed thoughts of her out of his head. As much as she intrigued him, he was better off not seeing her.

Forming a relationship with Bethany would mean letting her get close. He couldn’t risk that. He had jumped at the chance to come to this part of Maine because it was remote and thinly populated but it held an Amish community. He had left his Amish upbringing once with devastating consequences. After the attack he had returned home hopeful that rejoining his faith and family would repair his shattered life. It hadn’t worked out that way. He didn’t know what more God needed from him.

Michael’s plan for his new life was simple. Live and work alone while coming into contact with as few people as possible. He wasn’t a loner by nature. He had become a recluse out of necessity. Avoiding people was the only way he felt safe. The only way he could keep his affliction hidden. Staying with Jesse was risky, but he had nowhere else to go. He could only pray he didn’t have an episode in front of him.

A doctor in Philadelphia had called it PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder, the result of a robbery gone wrong at the jewelry store where he had worked. What it meant was that his life was no longer his own. He lived in near constant fear. When a full-blown flashback hit he relived every detail as his coworkers, his friends, were killed in front of his eyes. The gunshots, the screams, the sirens—he saw it, heard it, felt it all again just as if it were happening to him the first time.

He never knew when a flashback would happen, making it impossible for him to return to work. Even a walk down a city street left him hearing the footsteps of someone following him, waiting to feel the cold, hard barrel of a gun jammed in his back.

He was the one who had let them in. He was the only one who came out alive. Sometimes he felt he should have died with the others, but he couldn’t dwell on that thought. God had other plans for him. He just didn’t know what they were.

The heavy thudding of his heart and the sweat on his brow warned him that thinking about it was the last thing he should be doing. He took a deep breath. Concentrate on something else. Think about Bethany asking her cow for advice and the shocked look on her face when she realized he’d heard her conversation. He visualized her in detail as his pulse slowed to a more normal speed.

From the corner of his eye he caught sight of the yellow dog trotting along the edge of the highway in his direction. Did she belong to someone or was she a stray surviving as best she could? Her thin ribs proved she wasn’t being cared for if someone did own her. Her chances of surviving the rest of the winter on her own didn’t look good. She approached as close as the drive leading into the parking lot. After pacing back and forth a few times she sat down and stared at him.

He turned to Jesse. “Do you know who that dog belongs to?”

Jesse glanced at her and shook his head. “I’ve seen her around. I think she’s a stray.”

“Would you happen to have anything I can feed her?”

Jesse laughed. “Are you a softhearted fellow?”

“Is there anything wrong with that if I am?”

“Nee, I like animals, too. Maybe more than most people, but I think I’m going to like you, Michael Shetler.” Jesse clapped him on the back with his massive hand, almost knocking Michael over. “There’s a couple of ham sandwiches in the refrigerator inside the office. You are welcome to them. For you or for the dog. Your choice.”

“Danki.” Michael walked into a small building with Office in a hand-lettered sign over the door. Inside he found a small refrigerator with a coffeepot sitting on top of it. He took out two of the sandwiches, happy to see they contained thick slices of ham and cheese. After taking a couple of bites from one, he walked out with the rest in his hand. The dog was still sitting in the driveway.

He walked to within a few feet of her and laid the sandwich on the ground. As soon as he moved away she jumped up and gulped down the food. Looking up, she wagged her tail, clearly wanting more.

“Sorry, that’s all there is. We are two of a kind, it seems. You needed a handout and so did I. We have Jesse over there to thank for sharing his lunch.” Michael chuckled. He had teased Bethany about talking to her cow but here he was talking to a dog. It was too bad Bethany wasn’t here to share the joke.

What surprised him was how much he wanted to see her again.

* * *

Jeffrey Morgan’s home was a little more than a mile farther up the road from Bethany’s house. As she pulled in she saw Jeffrey’s mother getting out of her car. When she caught sight of Bethany she approached the buggy hesitantly.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Morgan.” Bethany stepped down from the buggy unsure of what to say.

“You are Ivan’s mother, aren’t you?” The woman remained a few feet away.

“I’m his older sister. Our mother passed away some years ago.”

“That’s right. Jeffrey told me that. I’m sorry about your grandfather. Jeffrey was fond of him.”

“Thank you. Is Jeffrey here?”

“No. He’s at school.”

“I’m afraid he isn’t. I just came from the school. Neither he nor my brother showed up for class today.”

Mrs. Morgan looked around fearfully and moved closer to Bethany. “Are you saying that the boys played hooky today?”

“I don’t know that word.”

“Hooky? It means they skipped school without permission.”

“Then ja, they played hooky.”

Mrs. Morgan looked toward the house at the sound of the front door opening. Mr. Morgan stepped out. Jeffrey’s mother leaned closer. “Don’t tell my husband about this. I will speak to Jeffrey.”

Puzzled by her fearful reaction, Bethany nodded. “Please send Ivan home if you see him.”

“I will.”

Bethany waved to Mr. Morgan. He didn’t return the gesture. She got in her buggy and left. Where were those boys and what were they up to?

Bethany arrived home just after noon. She parked the buggy by the barn and stabled her horse. She wasn’t any closer to finding her brother or figuring out what he was up to. As she came out of the barn, a car horn sounded. She glanced toward the county road that ran past her lane. Frank Pearson’s long white passenger van turned off the blacktop and into her drive. Frank was the pastor of a Mennonite congregation a few miles away. He and her grandfather had become good friends. Frank used to visit weekly for a game of chess and to swap fishing stories.

Frank pulled up beside her and rolled down his window. “Good day, Bethany.”

“Hello, Frank. Would you like to come in for some coffee?”

“I’m afraid I don’t have time today. I have my bereavement support group meeting in twenty minutes. I just stopped in to see how you’re getting along and to invite you and your family to attend one of our meetings when you are ready. It doesn’t matter what faith you belong to or even if you are a nonbeliever. We all grieve when we lose loved ones.”

“Danki, Frank. I don’t think it’s for me.”

“If you change your mind, you’re always welcome to join us. Please let me know if you need help with anything. I miss Elijah, but I know my grief is nothing compared to yours. I promised him I’d check in on you.”

“Our congregation here is small, but we have been well looked after.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ll stop by again in a few days and stay awhile.”

Maybe Frank could reach Ivan. “Why don’t you come to dinner on Sunday? I know Ivan and Jenny would enjoy seeing you again. Maybe you can interest Ivan in learning to play chess.”

“You know, I believe I will. Your cooking is too good to resist. Thanks for the invite.”

“You are always welcome here.”

After Frank drove away, Bethany headed for her front door. The smell of warm yeasty dough rising greeted her as she entered the house. Gemma was busy kneading dough at the table. Bethany pulled off her coat and straightened her prayer kapp. “What are you doing here again so soon? I thought you said tomorrow?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“It looks like you are making a mess in my kitchen.”

Gemma giggled as she surveyed the stack of bowls, pans and the flour-covered table. “It does, doesn’t it?” She punched down the dough in a second bowl and dumped it onto a floured tabletop.

“Why are you baking bread in my kitchen?”

“Because you didn’t have any. I realized on my way home this morning that the least I could do for a friend was to remedy that.”

“I appreciate the gesture but why not bake it at your home and bring the loaves here.”

“I didn’t want to mess up my kitchen. I just finished washing the floor.” Gemma looked at her and winked. “Where have you been, anyway?”

Should she confide in Gemma about Ivan’s recent actions and Jedidiah’s accusations? Once more Bethany wished her grandfather were still alive. He would know what to do with the boy. She hung her coat on one of the pegs by the kitchen door. “It’s a long story.”

Gemma looked up. “Oh?”

Bethany went to the far cabinet and pulled out a cup and saucer. She felt the need of some bracing hot tea. “Jedidiah came by earlier. He accused Ivan of stealing two bags of potatoes and a bag of beans from his cellar.”

Gemma spun around, outrage written across her face. “He did what?”

“He said Ivan stole those items and he had proof because Ivan sold some of the potatoes to the grocer this morning.”

“I don’t believe it. I know Ivan has been difficult at times, but he is not a thief.”

Bethany filled her cup with hot water from the teakettle on the back of the stove. “That’s what I said. I went to the school to hear Ivan’s side of the story.”

“And?”

“And he wasn’t at school. He hasn’t been to school all week. He forged a letter from me telling the teacher that he is out sick.” Bethany opened a tea bag, added it to her cup and carried it to the kitchen table, where she sat down.

After a long moment of stunned silence, Gemma came to sit across from her. “You poor thing. Still, that doesn’t mean he stole from Jedidiah.”

“It doesn’t prove he didn’t. And it certainly doesn’t speak well of his character. Jedidiah went straight to Bishop Schultz with the story. I had hoped to speak with the bishop, too, but he is gone to Unity until Wednesday. I don’t know how I’ll ever convince him to let Ivan remain with us now. What is wrong with my brother? How have I failed him?”

Had Ivan inherited his father’s restlessness and his refusal to shoulder his responsibilities? She prayed that wasn’t the case.

Gemma reached across the table and laid a comforting hand on Bethany’s arm. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea things had progressed to this degree of seriousness. He’s always been a little willful, but this is unacceptable behavior and it is his own doing. Bethany, you did not fail him.”

“Danki.” Bethany appreciated Gemma’s attempt to comfort her.

Gemma returned to the other end of the table and began dividing the dough into bread pans. “You’ll simply have to talk to the boy and tell him what the bishop has planned. Perhaps that will convince him to mend his ways.”

“I hope you are right. Christmas is only five weeks away. I don’t know if a change in Ivan’s behavior now will be enough to convince Onkel Harvey and the bishop that he should stay with us. Stealing is a serious offense.”

Bethany had lost so many people in her family. She couldn’t bear the thought of sending her brother away. She had promised to look after her brother and sister and to keep the family together. It felt like she was breaking that promise and it was tearing her heart to pieces.

“You still have the option to marry. I think Jesse would jump at the chance if you gave him any encouragement.”

“I saw him this morning and he didn’t appear love-struck to me.”

Gemma laughed. “Did you honestly go see him with marriage in mind?”

“Of course not. I took a stranger to see the bishop at his workplace. The bishop wasn’t there but Jesse was.”

“What stranger?” Gemma looked intrigued.

“His name is Michael Shetler. He claims my grandfather offered him a job and a place to stay.”

“Did he?”

Bethany shrugged. “I never heard Grandfather mention it.”

“What’s he like? Is he single?”

“He’s rude.”

“What does that mean? What did he say to you?” Gemma left the bread dough to rise again and returned to her seat, her eyes alight with eagerness. “Tell me.”

Bethany blushed at the memory of Michael listening to her conversation with Clarabelle. That was the last time she would speak to any of the farm animals. “He wasn’t actually rude. He simply caught me off guard.”

“And?”

“When I told him about Elijah’s passing he was very upset. I thought the bishop would be the best person to help him find work, so I gave him a ride to the shed factory. Jesse said he would put him to work.”

“You took a stranger up in your buggy? Is he old? Is he cute?”

“He walks with a cane.”

“So he’s old.”

“Nee. I’d guess he’s twenty-five or so. I had the impression it was a recent injury to his leg.”

“So he’s young. That’s goot, but is he nice looking?”

Bethany considered the question. “Michael isn’t bad looking. He has a rugged attractiveness.”

“Michael?” Gemma tipped her head to the side. “He must be single. Is he someone you’d like to know better?”

“I have too much on my mind to spend time thinking about finding a man.”

“That’s not much of an answer.”

“It’s the only answer you are going to get. You’ll have the chance to see Mr. Shetler for yourself at the church service next Sunday.”

“All right. I won’t tease you.”

Gemma walked over and put on her coat. “Ivan is a good boy at heart. You know that.”

Bethany nodded. “I do. Something is wrong, but I don’t know what.”

“You’ll figure it out. You always do. I’m leaving you with a bit of a mess but all you have to do is put the bread in the oven when it’s done rising.”

“Danki, Gemma. I’m blessed to have you as a friend.”

“You would do the same for me. Mamm is planning a big Thanksgiving dinner next Thursday. You and the children are invited of course.”

“Tell your mother we’d love to come.”

“Invite Michael when you see him again.”

“I doubt I’ll see him before Sunday next and by then it will be too late.”

“My daed mentioned the other day he needs a bigger garden shed. Maybe I’ll go with him to look at the ones the bishop makes. You aren’t going to claim you saw Michael first if I decide I like him, are you?”

Bethany shook her head as she smiled at her friend. “He’s all yours.”

* * *

Bethany was waiting at the kitchen table when both children came home. Ivan sniffed the air appreciatively. “Smells good. Can I have a piece of bread with peanut butter? I’m starved.”

Bethany clutched her hands together and laid them on the table. “After I have finished speaking to you.”

“Told you,” Jenny said as she took off her coat and boots.

“Talk about what?” Ivan tried to look innocent. Bethany knew him too well. She wasn’t fooled.

“Why don’t you start by telling me what you did wrong and why.” Bethany was pleased that she sounded calm and in control.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He couldn’t meet her gaze.

“You do so,” Jenny muttered.

“Stay out of this,” Ivan snapped.

“I went to school today. I’m not in trouble,” Jenny shot back.

“I’m waiting for an explanation, Ivan.” Bethany hoped he would own up to his behavior.

“Okay, I skipped school today. It’s no big deal. I can make up the work.” His defiant tone made her bristle.

“You will make up the work for today, and Thursday and Wednesday and Tuesday. You will also write a letter of apology to your teacher for your deliberate deception. Is there something else you want to tell me?”

He stared at his shoes. “Like what?”

Bethany shook her head. “Ivan, how could you? Skipping school is bad enough. Forging a letter to your teacher is worse yet, but stealing from our neighbors is terrible. I can’t believe you would do such a thing. What has gotten into you?”

“Nothing.”

“That is not an answer. Why did you steal beans and potatoes from Jedidiah?”

Ivan shrugged. “He has plenty. The Amish are supposed to share what they have with the less fortunate.”

“What makes you less fortunate?”

When he didn’t answer Bethany drew a deep breath. “Your behavior has shamed us. Worse than that, your actions have been reported to the bishop.”

“So? What does the bishop have to do with this?”

“The bishop is responsible for this community,” Bethany said. “Because you have behaved in ways contrary to our teachings, the bishop has decided you need more discipline and guidance than I can give you.”

“What does that mean?”

“When Onkel Harvey and his family come to visit for Christmas, you will return to Bird-in-Hand with them.”

“What? I don’t want to live with Onkel Harvey.”

“You should’ve thought about the consequences before getting into so much trouble.”

Jenny, who had been standing quietly beside Ivan, suddenly spoke up. “You’re sending him away? Sister, you promised we would all stay together.” She looked ready to cry. “You promised.”

“This is out of my hands. The bishop and your uncle have decided what Ivan needs. They feel I have insufficient control over you, Ivan. I’m afraid they are right. Bishop Schultz believes you need the firm guidance of a man. If your grandfather was still alive or if I was married, things would be different.”

“That’s stupid,” Ivan said, glaring at Bethany. “I didn’t do anything bad enough to be sent away. It isn’t fair.”

“None of us wants this. You have time before Christmas to change your behavior and convince them to let you stay. You will return the items you’ve taken from Jedidiah. He knows that you sold one of the bags of potatoes you took. You must give the money you received for them to Jedidiah. You will have to catch up on all your missed schoolwork and behave politely to Jedidiah and to the bishop. We will pray that your improvement is enough to convince Bishop and Onkel Harvey to let you remain with us.”

Ivan glared at her. “Jedidiah Zook is a creep. He’s never nice to me, so why should I be nice to him?”

Bethany planted her hands on her hips. “That attitude is exactly what got you into this mess.”

Jenny wrapped her arms around her brother’s waist. “I don’t want you to go away. I’ll tell the bishop you’ll be good.”

“They don’t care what we think because we’re just kids and we don’t count.”

“That’s enough, Ivan. You and I will go now to speak to Jedidiah and return his belongings this evening.”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean that you can’t?”

He shrugged. “I don’t have the stuff or the money anymore. I gave it away.”

“Who did you give it to?” Bethany asked.

“I don’t have to tell you.” He pushed Jenny away and rushed through the house and out the back door. Bethany followed, shouting after him, but he ran into the woods at the back of the property and disappeared from her view.

Jenny began crying. Bethany picked her up to console her. Jenny buried her face in the curve of Bethany’s neck. “You can’t send him away. You can’t. Do something, sister.”

“I will try, Jenny. I promise I will try.”

Ivan returned an hour later. Not knowing what else to do, Bethany sent him to bed without supper. Jenny barely touched her meal. Bethany didn’t have an appetite, either. She wrote out a check to Jedidiah for the value of the stolen items and put it in an envelope with a brief letter of apology. She couldn’t face him in person.

After both children were in bed, Bethany stood in front of the door to her grandfather’s workshop. He wouldn’t be in there but she hoped that she could draw comfort from the things he loved. She pushed open the door.

Moonlight reflecting off the snow outside cast a large rectangle of light through the window. It fell across his desk and empty chair. She walked to the chair and laid her hands on the back of it. The wood was cold beneath her fingers. She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. The smell of the oils he used, the old leather chair and the cleaning rag that was still lying on the desk brought his beloved face into sharp focus. Tears slipped from beneath her closed eyelids and ran down her cheeks. She wiped them away with both hands.

“I miss you, Daadi. We all miss you. I know you are happy with our Lord in heaven and with Mammi and Mamm. That gives me comfort, but I still miss you.” Her voice sounded odd in the empty room.

Opening her eyes, she sat in his chair and lit the lamp. The pieces of a watch lay on the white felt-covered board he worked on. His tiny screwdrivers and tools were lined up neatly in their case. Everything was just as it had been the last time he sat in this chair. The cleaning rag was the only thing out of place. She picked it up to return it to the proper drawer and saw an envelope lying beneath it. It was unopened. The name on the return address caught her attention. It was from Michael Shetler of Sugarcreek, Ohio.

Chapter Four

“Why didn’t you tell me that you repair watches?”

Michael looked up from Jesse’s table saw. Bethany stood in the workshop’s doorway he had left open to take advantage of the unusually warm afternoon. She stood with her hands on her hips and a scowl on her pretty face.

The mutt, lying in the rectangle of sunlight, had already alerted him that someone was coming with a soft woof. She shot outside and around the corner of the building. The sight of Bethany made Michael want to smile. She was every bit as appealing as he remembered, even with a slight frown marring her face.

He pushed away his interest. Jesse had filled in a lot of details about the family last night. Bethany was trying to keep her family together. Jesse said without her grandfather and her brother to work the farm she could lose it. A handsome woman in need of help was trouble and Michael had enough trouble. He positioned the two-by-four length of pine board and made the cut. As the saw blade quit spinning he took the board and added it to the stack on his right. He kept his face carefully blank when he met her gaze. “I didn’t think it would make a difference.”

“It certainly would have.”

“How so? Your grandfather is gone. You said you couldn’t afford to hire help.”

“You neglected to tell me you had sent the first and last months’ rent on the cabin.”

He picked up another board and settled it in the slot he had created for the correct length so he didn’t have to measure and mark each piece of wood. Bishop Schultz used a diesel generator to supply electricity inside his carpentry shop. The smell of fresh sawdust mixed with diesel fumes that drifted through the open door. Michael squeezed the trigger on the saw and lowered the blade. It sliced through the pine board in two seconds, spewing more sawdust on the growing pile beneath the table.

He tossed the cut wood on the stack and reached for another two-by-four. Bethany crossed the room and took hold of the board before he could position it. “Why didn’t you tell me you had already paid the rent?”

“I figured you would mention it if you knew about it. Since you didn’t say anything and you already had a crisis to deal with, I thought it could wait for a better time.”

“That was very considerate of you. A better time is right now. My grandfather never deposited your check. In fact, he never read your last letter. I only found it yesterday evening.”

She let go of his board and reached into a small bag she carried over her arm. “I have the check here. I’ve been unable to bring myself to clean out his workshop. For that reason, his agreement with you went undiscovered.” She held out the check. He didn’t take it.

“Do you know the rest of your grandfather’s offer?” He kept his gaze averted.

“Your letter said you agreed to work with him for six months. Was there more?”

“If he considered me skillful enough after that time he would make me a fifty-fifty partner in the business.” He looked at her. “I can show you his offer in writing if you want to see it.”

“There’s no need. I believe you. Are you still willing to do that?”

“How can I be a partner now that he is gone?”

“The business belongs to me but I can’t repair watches, so it is worthless except for his tools. I had planned to sell them unless Ivan showed an interest in learning the trade.”

“Has he?”

“Not yet.”

“How is the boy?” he asked softly.

A wry smile lifted the corner of her mouth. “I wish I knew. Right now he seems mad at the world.”

“Boys grow up. He’ll come around.”

“I pray you are right. I have a proposition for you, Mr. Shetler.”

“Call me Michael.”

She smiled and nodded once. “Michael. It’s similar to the one my grandfather offered you. Work for me for six months. You keep two-thirds of everything you earn during that time. I will keep one-third as rent on the shop, for the use of Grandfather’s client list and his tools. If at the end of that time I am satisfied with your skill I will sell you the business or we can continue as partners.”

“Who is to decide if my skills are adequate?”

“My grandfather did the majority of his work for a man named George Meyers in Philadelphia. He owns a jewelry shop and watch repair business. If Mr. Meyers is satisfied with the quality of work you do, then that is all the assurance I need.”

Michael smiled inwardly. One part of the puzzle had finally been solved. George had started this whole thing. It was certainly like George, to go out of his way for someone who didn’t deserve the kindness. Michael wondered how much, if anything, George had shared about his condition with Bethany’s grandfather. “I wondered how your grandfather got my name. Now I know.”

“I’m afraid I don’t follow you.”

“I used to work for George Meyers.” Up until the night he had let two armed criminals into the business George owned.

“Why did you quit? Is that when you got hurt?”

His heart started pounding like a hammer inside his chest as the onset of a panic attack began. In another minute he would be on the ground gasping for air. He wasn’t about to recount the horrors he saw that night to Bethany. He had to get outside. “I don’t like to talk about it.”

He grabbed an armful of cut wood and pushed past Bethany. “Jesse is going to wonder what’s keeping me.”

She followed him outside. “I’m sorry if it seemed that I was prying. If you don’t want to work for me, I understand, but the cabin is still yours for two months.”

“I’ll think about the job, but I’ll take the cabin.” He kept walking. It wasn’t that he wanted to be rude but he needed her to leave. His anxiety was rising rapidly.

“The cabin is yours whenever you want.”

The yellow dog came around the side of the building and launched herself at him. He sidestepped to keep from being hit with her muddy paws. One of the boards slid out of his arms. “Down.”

She dropped to her belly and barked once, then rolled over, inviting him to scratch her muddy stomach.

“I see you still have your friend,” Bethany said, humor bubbling beneath her words.

He looked from her to the dog. “I don’t have anything to feed you, mutt, unless you eat two-by-fours.”

The dog jumped to her feet, picked up the board he had dropped and took off with it in her mouth.

“Hey, bring that back!”

The dog made a sweeping turn and raced back, splashing through puddles of melted snow. She came to a stop and sat in front of him, holding the four-foot length of wood like a prized bone.

“Goot hund.” He reached for the board but the dog took off before he touched it. She made a wild run between the sheds lined up at the edge of the property where the snow was still deep.

Bethany burst out laughing. “Good dog, indeed.”

He liked the sound of her laughter. The heaviness in his chest dissipated and he grinned. “It seems her previous owner didn’t spend much time training her.”

“I can see that. She is friendlier since she’s had a few meals. She seems to have a lot of puppy in her yet. In a way she reminds me of my brother.”

“How so?”

“A lot of potential, but very little focus.”

“I’d like to meet this kid.”

“I’m sure you will since you’ll be living just out our back door.”

He frowned. “The cabin is close to your house?”

“Fifty yards, maybe less.”

“I assumed it was more secluded.”

“It is set back in the woods. We won’t bother you if that’s what you are worried about.”

“I like my privacy.” He couldn’t very well explain he was worried she’d hear him yelling in the middle of the night.

The dog came trotting back and sat down between them, still holding her trophy. Michael bent to grab the board as Bethany did the same. They smacked heads. His hat flipped off and landed in the snow. The dog dropped the wood, snatched up the hat and took off with it.

Michael held his head and glanced at Bethany. “Are you okay?”

* * *

Bethany rubbed her smarting forehead. Maybe it was a sign that she needed some sense knocked into her. She had come to give Michael his money back and had ended up offering him a job instead. The thump on her skull had come too late. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? Do you want some ice?”

“Nee, it won’t leave a mark. Will it?” She pulled her hand away.

He bent closer. “I think you’re going to have a bump.”

“Great.”

“I am sorry.” He looked down at the dog, now standing a few feet away, still holding his hat. “See what you did to Bethany.”

The dog whined and lay down, the picture of dejection. Bethany crouched and offered her hand to the animal. “Don’t scold the poor thing. It wasn’t her fault. Are you going to keep her?”

“I can’t walk away and leave her to fend for herself. Besides, her goofy behavior leaves me smiling more often than not. Ja, I will keep her. She seems to have decided she belongs with me.”

Bethany knew she should leave but found herself reluctant to go. There was something intriguing about the man. One minute they were discussing his job and the next second he went pale as a sheet and couldn’t get away from her fast enough. A few minutes later they were both laughing at the antics of a stray dog. The truth was she liked him. A lot. But she had to find a way to keep her family together. She couldn’t allow a distraction to interfere with that.

She took the hat from the dog and handed it to Michael. “I should get going.”

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