A Forbidden Amish Courtship Read online

  A Forbidden Amish Courtship

  JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

  Contents

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  BOOKS by JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

  BOOKS by J.E.B. SPREDEMANN

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Epilogue

  A WIDOWER’S AMISH COURTSHIP

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Paperback Copy Request

  Dear Reader

  A SPECIAL THANK YOU

  Copyright 2021, 2022, 2023 by Jennifer Spredemann, J.E.B. Spredemann

  All rights reserved. No part of this work/book may be copied, transmitted, or stored in any form or by any means, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior written consent from the author/publisher.

  All incidents and characters in this book are completely fictional and derived by the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual incidents and persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

  Published in Indiana by Blessed Publishing.

  www.jenniferspredemann.com

  All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  Cover design by iCreate Designs ©

  ISBN: 978-1-940492-93-3

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Get a FREE Amish story as my thank you gift when you sign up for my newsletter at: www.jenniferspredemann.com

  BOOKS by JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

  AMISH BY ACCIDENT TRILOGY

  Amish by Accident

  Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

  Christmas in Paradise (Sequel to Amish by Accident) (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  AMISH SECRETS SERIES

  An Unforgivable Secret - Amish Secrets 1

  A Secret Encounter - Amish Secrets 2

  A Secret of the Heart - Amish Secrets 3

  An Undeniable Secret - Amish Secrets 4

  A Secret Sacrifice - Amish Secrets 5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  A Secret of the Soul - Amish Secrets 6

  A Secret Christmas – Amish Secrets 2.5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  KING FAMILY SAGA (AMISH ROMANCES)

  An Amish Reward (Isaac)

  An Amish Deception (Jacob)

  An Amish Honor (Joseph)

  An Amish Blessing (Ruth)

  An Amish Betrayal (David)

  AMISH COUNTRY BRIDES

  The Trespasser (Amish Country Brides)

  The Heartbreaker (Amish Country Brides)

  The Charmer (Amish Country Brides)

  The Drifter (Amish Country Brides)

  The Giver (Amish Country Brides Christmas)

  The Teacher (Amish Country Brides)

  The Widower (Amish Country Brides)

  The Keeper (Amish Country Brides)

  The Pretender (Amish Country Brides)

  The Arrangement (featured in the Amish Spring Romance collection)

  The Healer (Amish Country Brides)

  The Newcomer (Amish Country Brides) The Prequel

  UNLIKELY AMISH CHRISTMAS

  Unlikely Santa

  Unlikely Sweethearts

  Unlikely Singing (More Amish Christmas Miracles)

  Unlikely Season

  AMISH COURTSHIP SERIES

  A Forbidden Amish Courtship

  FAIRY TALES

  The Princess and the Prayer Kapp (Cindy’s Story & Rosabelle’s Story)

  OTHER

  Learning to Love – Saul’s Story (Sequel to Chloe’s Revelation)

  Her Amish Identity

  An Unexpected Christmas Gift

  COMING 2023 (Lord Willing)

  A Widower’s Amish Courtship

  A Christmas Amish Courtship

  Special 10 Year Anniversary Edition of Amish by Accident

  The Crimson Dress (previously published under a pen name)

  The Arranger (previously featured in the Amish Spring Romance collection as The Arrangement)

  The Wanderer (Amish Country Brides)

  BOOKS by J.E.B. SPREDEMANN

  AMISH GIRLS SERIES

  Joanna’s Struggle

  Danika’s Journey

  Chloe’s Revelation

  Susanna’s Surprise

  Annie’s Decision

  Abigail’s Triumph

  Brooke’s Quest

  Leah’s Legacy

  A Christmas of Mercy – Amish Girls Holiday

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ach – Oh

  Ach du liebe – Expression similar to “Oh, my goodness!” or “Oh, dear!”

  Bann – Shunning/excommunication

  Boppli/Bopplin – Baby/Babies

  Bruder/Brieder – Brother/Brothers

  Daed/Dat – Dad

  Denki – Thanks

  Der Herr – The Lord

  Der Welt – The world

  Dietsch – Pennsylvania German

  Dochder(n) – Daughter(s)

  Dumm – Dumb

  Dummkopp – Dummy

  Englischer – A non-Amish person

  Ferhoodled – Crazy, scatterbrained, mind is elsewhere

  Fraa – Wife/Missus

  G’may – Members of an Amish fellowship

  Gott – God

  Gross sohn – Grandson

  Gut – Good

  Haus – House

  Herr – Mister/Lord

  Hochmut – Proud

  Jah – Yes

  Kapp – Amish head covering for women

  Kinner – Children

  Kumm – Come

  Lieb – Love

  Maed/Maedel – Girls/Girl

  Mamm – Mom

  Nee – No

  Ordnung – Rules followed by the Amish church (varies according to district)

  Schatzi – Sweetheart

  Schweschder(n) – Sister(s)

  Sohn – Son

  The familye way – Pregnant

  Vatter – Father

  Verboten – Forbidden

  Wunderbaar – Wonderful

  Author’s Note

  The Amish/Mennonite people and their communities differ one from another. There are, in fact, no two Amish communities exactly alike. It is this premise on which this book is written. I have taken cautious steps to assure the authenticity of Amish practices and customs. Old Order Amish and New Order Amish may be portrayed in this work of fiction and may differ from some communities. Although the book may be set in a certain locality, the practices featured in the book may not necessarily reflect that particular district’s beliefs or culture. This book is purely fictional and built around a fictional community, even though you may see similarities to real-life people, practices, and occurrences.

  We, as Englischers, can learn a lot from the Plain People and their simple way of life. Their hard work, close-knit family life, and concern for others are to be applauded. As the Lord wills, may this special culture continue to be respected and remain so for many centuries to come, and may the light of God’s salvation reach their hearts.

  Prologue

  Sammy Eicher glanced at the spectators lined up along the side of the rural road, a mixture of Amish and Englischers, before revving his engine. Some of the group che
ered while others booed. He turned his gaze to his racing opponent, who lifted one eyebrow then nodded as they waited for the countdown.

  “Sammy, you don’t have to do this.” Miranda, his Englisch girlfriend, placed her hand on his forearm with a firm squeeze.

  “I can take him. Easy.” Probably not the truest words he’d ever spoken, but he didn’t want Miranda to worry. “You’ve always supported me. What gives?”

  “It’s not a good idea. You’ve been drinking.” She crossed her arms over her chest and frowned.

  Sammy shrugged. “Jah, with you.”

  “I’m not the one racing.”

  His best friend Glen Kauffman leaned into the car. “You never should have agreed to race Anderson.”

  Sammy glanced at his opponent, who sneered this time. “He challenged me.”

  “You should have said no.” Miranda chimed in.

  “Why?” He stared at them and shrugged. What was the big deal, anyway? It’s not like he’d never done this before. As a matter of fact, it had practically become a Saturday night ritual since he and Glen attended an Englisch party with some friends several months ago.

  At that moment, the people on the sidelines began chanting, “Three. Two…”

  Both engines roared.

  “One.”

  Sammy’d never tire of the adrenaline rush he felt at hearing that final number. The excitement knowing everyone was watching him, cheering him on.

  The last thing he saw before he let off the brake and stepped on the gas was Glen and Miranda as they took a step back.

  It seemed only a moment later that red and blue lights flashed all around them. As one officer was opening his vehicle’s door, another one was slapping handcuffs on Anderson.

  Sammy grunted. Not again.

  Tears pricked Roberta Kauffman’s eyes as she watched the police car drive away with her older brother’s best friend in the backseat. If only Sammy would come back to their people, give up his foolish ways, and decide to live right.

  Maybe then, she might actually have a chance with him. Maybe then, he’d actually notice her.

  She didn’t plan on holding her breath, but there was something deep inside that told her Sammy Eicher was worth waiting for. Nee, he wasn’t the perfectly devout young man every Amish father wishes for his dochder to marry. Not even close.

  But there was something special about Sammy Eicher that Roberta had noticed when they were just kinner—something that set him apart from the other boys in her Amish community. And no matter how long it took, Roberta would bide her time.

  It didn’t matter if Sammy was a rebel. It didn’t matter if he was a few years older than her. It didn’t even matter that he’d never even taken notice of her.

  Someday, she’d be the one Sammy adored—if she could just get him to forget his beautiful Englisch girlfriend and turn his head her way.

  Ach, it might take a miracle.

  Chapter 1

  As much as Sammy Eicher hated this place, one would think he’d go to great lengths to avoid it. One would think. Not something he’d been doing much of lately, evident by his circumstances.

  Endless moments ticked by in silence as Sammy’s frustration mounted and he stared at the three white walls surrounding him. The small cot beneath him groaned in protest when he leaned forward to get comfortable. Comfortable? Not probable in this wretched cell, he mused.

  The clanking of metal compelled him to glance up to identify who stood behind the barred iron door, now sliding open. Sammy swallowed hard. Dat.

  Although seeing Dat in this place was difficult, gratitude filled him. He could always count on his vatter.

  Dat’s eyes didn’t lift to meet his. If they had, Sammy was certain he would have read the disappointment and shame in their depths. Again.

  Unlike Sammy’s father, the jailor’s scornful gaze didn’t hesitate to meet Sammy’s. “I don’t know why you keep bailing this boy out, Eicher.”

  Dat’s brow puckered as he studied the jailor momentarily. “He’s my sohn.”

  “Yeah, well, if it was my son, you bet I’d have his hide the minute we got home.”

  Sammy scowled at the jailor, who smirked in return.

  “Kumm, Samuel.” Dat still hadn’t looked his way.

  The jailor stood to the side as Sammy stepped out of the cell and followed Dat down the long corridor. Dat’s heavy footfalls drowned out every other sound.

  If there was one thing Sammy detested, it was disappointing his father. Especially since Mamm passed on. Mamm had been a rock for Dat—his helper and the one who encouraged him to seek Gott. Her loss had left a gaping hole in each of their lives and in their family unit. He couldn’t have asked for a better mother.

  “You’ll need to pay to get your car out of impound.” The jailor gestured to the female clerk. “Peggy here will get you squared away and make sure you get your belongings.”

  An hour later, surrounded by his vatter and five siblings, Sammy sat down to supper. It felt so gut to be home.

  Dat must’ve asked the kinner not to say anything about his stint in jail, because not one of his siblings mentioned it. He suspected he and Dat would have a talk later. Dat had never been one to deal with the kinner while an audience was present, it had always been one on one, for which Sammy was grateful.

  “I forgot to mention, there was a maedel that stopped by earlier.” Dat’s frown deepened.

  Sammy glanced at his siblings, then back to his vatter. “Amish?” He was quite certain he already knew the answer, which was why Dat’s mouth tugged downward.

  Dat shook his head ever so slightly, probably in hopes the kinner wouldn’t know Sammy had been dating an Englisch girl. Dat had been aware of it for some time now. He’d briefly expressed his disappointment once.

  Sammy had never been one to toe the line, although he did respect his vatter’s opinion on such matters. This time, however, Sammy was too involved to just give Miranda up. He knew he’d eventually need to make some hard decisions about the future, but he wasn’t ready to fully commit yet. Not to Miranda and the Englisch world, and not to the Amish Ordnung.

  To tell the truth, he was a little afraid of making the wrong decision. He knew that if he committed wholly to the Amish lifestyle, he’d have to give up many of his favorite things. Namely, his car and his girl. It would be quite handy to be able to look into the future and see what it held if he followed each path.

  But that wasn’t how life worked. There was no easy road.

  “She left an envelope for you,” Dat set his fork down and stared at him. Although Dat had never outright told him not to date an Englisch girl, his disapproval was clear.

  “Where is it?” Sammy’s chair slid back with a push of his feet on the wood floor. He nearly sprung upward, then thought better of it when he noticed Dat’s frown deepen even more. Ach, he hadn’t been accustomed to waiting on a prayer after his meals in jail. None of his stints in jail were terribly long, but this one had been the longest. No thanks to the judge and his recommendation because Sammy “hadn’t learned his lesson.” He tapped his foot, as he attempted patience he wasn’t feeling.

  Dat’s gaze flickered toward the kinner, then came to rest on him. “It can wait. Why don’t you finish your meal, sohn? Your schweschdern worked hard to prepare your favorite. It’s gut, ain’t not?”

  His father’s calming tone must’ve held some special power, because it always had a way of soothing Sammy’s nerves. Dat was a man of principal who didn’t allow much to slide by, but he’d never been cruel. Dat had always been level-headed and fair and tried to see the best in others.

  Sammy suddenly recognized what was in front of him and a pang of regret clenched his heart. Sure enough, he’d failed to thank his sisters for the potpie, that was probably delicious. Thus far, he’d only nibbled on the generous portion he’d been served. His thoughts had been so preoccupied with everything else, that he hadn’t even noticed what had been set before him.

  When he lifted his eyes
, neither schweschder dared glance his way. He cleared his throat. “Anne, Charlotte, denki for the meal.”

  They briefly looked his way and nodded.

  He shoveled in another bite. “It’s very gut.”

  A sad smile lifted the corner of Anne’s mouth. What was his schweschder thinking? Did she believe he was about to jump the fence? Were she and her beau struggling? He’d never been gut at figuring out women.

  Which made his thoughts veer back to the letter from Miranda that Dat mentioned. He couldn’t recall her ever writing him a letter. She hadn’t visited him in jail this time. Not that the fact should alarm him. She’d said as much last time he’d been incarcerated. Still, concern prickled his skin.

  Although she was Englisch, she didn’t like his rebellious side. She claimed he took too many risks. But that hadn’t stopped her from joining in on some of his risky behaviors. He’d first met her at an Englisch party, after all. He’d thought her attractive from the get-go, but it was his Englisch friend’s commendation that she was an easy yes that gave him the confidence to ask her out. His friend had been right.

  They’d been dating about six months, but he had no idea where they were headed. Every time he thought about a future with Miranda, doubts filled his mind. While there were many things he enjoyed in the Englisch world, he couldn’t quite see himself fitting in entirely.

  He had friends who had jumped the Amish fence and they often spoke of missing home and how foreign the Englisch world was. They said Englischers spoke about things that they had no clue about, which made them feel unlearned. Sammy understood that from just hanging out with Miranda and her brother. They’d talk about television stars and events and places they’d learned about in school and whatnot. Sammy would listen politely, but the conversation always went straight over his head. But he didn’t mind being ignorant about stuff that didn’t matter. He’d rather be smart in practical things.