Finding Her Amish Home Read online

  “I don’t have a single person I can call for help...”

  “You could just say yes.”

  Maddie hesitated. Her youngie did not.

  Clapping, her son popped his head through the window. “Yes, please!”

  Smiling past her frustration, Maddie graciously gave in. “Okay. You’ve talked me into it. I appreciate the offer.” Pride shattering, relief lightened her worry.

  “Then it’s settled.”

  Abram returned her flashlight. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t think twice about his face. Maddie had neither asked about his scars nor even acknowledged their presence. That alone gave him hope. Like a seed awakening after a long winter’s slumber, he felt a sense of renewal deep in his spirit. Was it possible Gott was guiding him in a new direction?

  He didn’t yet have that answer.

  But I want to find out...

  Like the Amish, Pamela Desmond Wright is a fan of the simple life. Her childhood includes memories of the olden days: old-fashioned oil lamps, cooking over an authentic wood-burning stove and making popcorn over a fire at her grandparents’ cabin. The authentic log cabin Pamela grew up playing in can be viewed at the Muleshoe Heritage Center in Muleshoe, Texas, which was donated to the city after the death of her grandparents.

  Books by Pamela Desmond Wright

  Love Inspired

  The Cowboy’s Amish Haven

  Finding Her Amish Home

  Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com.

  FINDING HER AMISH HOME

  Pamela Desmond Wright

  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

  —Luke 1:37

  This book is dedicated to all the people who said “you can’t.”

  Yes, I can.

  And I did.

  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

  Special thanks to my editor, Melissa Endlich,

  and my agent, Tamela Murray.

  They lift me up when I am down.

  They make me look a lot smarter than I really am.

  And they had enough faith in my abilities

  to give me a chance.

  Contents

  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

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Excerpt from An Unlikely Alliance by Toni Shiloh

  Chapter One

  Inhaling the scent of freshly baked bread, Maddie Baum pressed a hand to her middle. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her lunchtime had come and gone. She’d been so busy unpacking that she’d forgotten to eat breakfast.

  “Would you like to try this brot?”

  Maddie glanced at the girl working behind the counter. Perhaps seventeen, the young lady was clad in a plain but crisply ironed dress. A clean white apron was tied around her waist, her long hair was neatly plaited and tucked beneath a prim white kapp, and a few bobby pins held everything in place.

  “Oh, it looks fabulous.”

  “Ja,” the girl agreed in a softly accented voice. “Please, try.” Knife in hand, she cut a generous slice off an unwrapped loaf. Adding a smear of strawberry preserves, she offered the sample. “You will enjoy.”

  Biting into the treat, Maddie savored the crispness of the crust and the sweet-tart fruit.

  Swallowing, she smiled with approval. “Delicious.”

  The clerk beamed. “Delivered to the market this morning. And the bewahrt is also homemade.”

  She cocked her head, inwardly translating the foreign words. Unlike many Englischers, she had a familiarity with the language the girl spoke, having learned at the knee of her grandfather. Opa always spoke to his enkelkinder in the Deitsch language, taking care to make sure they understood and respected their unique heritage.

  Finishing the bite, Maddie brushed the crumbs off her fingertips. “Tell them both it is gut, the best I’ve ever tasted.”

  Cheeks reddening, the teenager shyly dropped her gaze. “May I wrap one for you?” she asked, slipping a large round loaf into a paper wrapper. She also added a jar of preserves.

  “You talked me into it.” Maddie accepted her offerings, adding them to the selection in her basket. Mentally totaling what she’d spent, she glanced down. Panic immediately stopped her cold. Her seven-year-old nephew, at her side just a moment ago, had vanished.

  Anxiety shredded her. Even though she’d told Josh to stay nearby, he was nowhere to be seen. A thousand what-ifs invaded her mind. She immediately gave herself a mental kick. How could she have lost sight of him? She’d only taken her eyes off him for a few seconds.

  This wasn’t the first time Josh hadn’t minded. He had a willful streak. It didn’t help that he was probably restless. Days of packing and driving hundreds of miles to an unfamiliar destination was enough to make any kid eager to run and explore a strange new place.

  The clerk noticed her distress. “Are you unwell?”

  “The boy who was with me,” she explained. “He’s wandered away.”

  “The little braunhaarig child?”

  “Yes. The brown-haired boy.”

  The clerk pointed. “I saw him walking that way.”

  Given a direction, Maddie nodded gratefully. “Danke.”

  Lips pulled into a thin line, she wove her way around other shoppers milling through the aisles. Adding haste to her steps, she doubled back to the dessert aisle. Earlier, Josh had made a fuss when she’d said no to a cake with fudge icing. Looking into his eager face, she’d gently reminded him sugar was not allowed except as a special treat. Of course, he didn’t understand. Already a hyperactive youngster, Josh was prone to tantrums when he didn’t get his way. His reaction was typical—sticking out his bottom lip in a pout and dragging his feet.

  Sure enough, she located him.

  Two men—one elderly and bearded and the other younger and clean shaven—had the boy bracketed between them. Both were clad in white shirts, plain pants and work boots, which clearly identified them both as Amish. Other shoppers eyed the trio, pretending not to notice the commotion in their midst.

  The look on the older man’s face warned all onlookers that he wasn’t pleased. Leaning heavily against his cane, he waggled an angry finger in the air. “The boi is a dieb, a thief,” he spat, speaking loud enough for all to hear. “I want him arrested.”

  Rubbing his fingers against his temples, the younger fellow gave the old man an indulgent nod. “I hear what you’re saying, Gran’pa,” he returned, speaking in a softer, calmer voice. “But I can’t very well go calling the police on a youngie. Maybe we need to find his parents first.”

  Walking on numb legs, she interrupted the duo. “Excuse me. I’m Maddie Baum, and you seem to be holding my runaway child.”

  The younger man greeted her with a serious expression. “Glad you’re here, ma’am,” he said, adjusting the frames of black-rimmed glasses. “I’m Abram Mueller, and this is my groossdaadi Amos.”

  Gaze pinging from the old man’s frown to Josh’s puffy face, Maddie struggled to keep her composure. “What’s happened?”

  The old man thumped his cane on the ground. “The boi has stolen from me,” he said. “Have ye not taught the child thou shalt not steal
?”

  Tears rolled down Josh’s cheeks. “I’m sorry. Please, don’t let them call the cops to take me to jail!” His voice, wobbly and panicked, revealed his fear.

  Reaching out, she pulled her nephew into a tight embrace. Josh trembled, terrified at what he imagined jail might be.

  “Entschuldigen Sie, mein Herr,” she said, stroking his hair to soothe his anxiety. “I am truly sorry for what he’s done.”

  Both men looked surprised.

  “Du sprichst Deitsch?” Abram asked.

  Dipping back her head, Maddie gazed into brown eyes dotted with flecks of gold. Her breath caught. The clerk was a handsome fellow, and it was hard not to look twice. Black curls ruled over his strong brow and straight nose. Slim and trim, he wore his clothes well. One side of his face was scarred, but that didn’t detract from his looks.

  Tamping down the rise of attraction, she cleared her throat. “Ja,” she answered. “I mean, yes. Some of my familie were born in Pennsylvania.”

  Abram smiled. “I’m impressed.”

  A huff of exasperation slipped past her lips. “I’m not impressed you caught Josh stealing.” She turned to the old man. “What did he take? Whatever it is, I will pay for it.”

  Shaking his head, Amos Mueller grunted. “Bäckerschokolade,” he answered, pointing to a shelf of neatly wrapped bars. “Put them down the front of his trousers.”

  Maddie eyed the unsweetened squares of baker’s chocolate. Josh had obviously mistaken them for regular candy bars.

  Kneeling, she took him by the shoulders. “Didn’t I tell you no sugar?”

  Sniffing, Josh rubbed his runny nose with the back of one hand. “Yes.”

  Maddie put on her sternest look. “When I say no, I mean it.” Standing up, she guided him around to face his accusers. “You will apologize to your elder for taking something that did not belong to you.”

  Gulping down a mouthful of air, Josh drew back thin shoulders. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.”

  Refusing to budge an inch, Amos’s nostrils flared. “Ach, a boi your age should know better,” he scolded. “’Tis a sin to steal.”

  Abram stepped in. “And to forgive others their trespasses is divine.”

  “That’s not in the good book,” the cranky old man grumbled.

  “Then I’ll go by what is,” Abram countered. “Something about judge not lest ye be judged.”

  “I suppose the good Lord knows what He is talking about,” the old man conceded.

  Shaking his head, Abram clucked his tongue. “Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone deserves a second chance. We’re all only human.” He gave Josh a stern frown. “As for you, young man, I’ll let your mother school you in Gott’s commandments.”

  Maddie breathed a sigh. Relief lessened the grip of anxiety. “Danke. I’ll certainly do that. Let me pay for our things, and we will be leaving.”

  “Sounds fair.” Abram tipped his head. “Good day, ma’am.” He strode away, returning to his work in the busy market.

  Amos huffed but said nothing more. Cane in hand, he hobbled away, muttering under his breath about the tongues of snakes.

  Grateful for the reprieve, Maddie took a firm hold on Josh’s hand. “I think we need to go.”

  Josh kept his gaze down as they walked. “Are you mad?”

  “No. Not mad. Just disappointed. Why would you do that?”

  He looked up, face pinched. “I was hoping you would say we could go home,” he explained. “I miss my friends.”

  Emotion moistened Maddie’s eyes. She blinked hard. No, no. Keep it together.

  “I know you do,” she said gently, giving his small hand a squeeze. “But give it time. You’ll make new friends.”

  His grip went slack. “I just don’t like it here. It’s boring.”

  “We haven’t been here very long. Give it time and we’ll have a lot of things to do after we get settled in and I get a job.”

  Josh shifted from regret to recalcitrance. “I don’t like it!” Clenching his fists, he stamped his feet.

  She reminded herself to stay calm. Josh just had to keep pushing back. His behavior wasn’t acceptable and other shoppers were, again, beginning to stare.

  “That’s it. I’ve had enough.” Hand on his shoulder, she guided him toward the counter.

  Head dropping, he dragged his feet. “I hate this place! I want to go home!”

  Maddie mentally shook her head. Josh didn’t know it, but they could never go back to Pennsylvania. Not now. It was too dangerous.

  Lord, help me. Give me wisdom and strength.

  The quick prayer buoyed her spirit.

  “We’re going. Now.” She reached for her purse as they approached the counter. Bread, strawberry preserves, peanut butter, a whole baked chicken and a glass jar of milk brimming with real cream. For a healthy treat, she’d picked out several fat red apples.

  Dipping inside her bag, she groped for her wallet.

  Her hand found nothing.

  A fresh rush of ice filled her veins.

  Her wallet had her entire life inside—license, insurance cards and all the cash she had in the world.

  But it wasn’t there.

  * * *

  Abram Mueller wasn’t the sort to take a second look at a woman. Still, something about Maddie Baum made him pause. Her image hovered at the forefront of his mind, refusing to be banished.

  Intuition tapped him on the shoulder.

  Turn around.

  The fine hairs at the nape of his neck rose. The first thing he’d been taught as a child was to never ignore the still, small voice. As a man firmly committed to his faith, the one thing he never doubted was that Gott moved in mysterious ways.

  His servants were obligated to obey.

  “What are You telling me, Lord?”

  Pivoting on his heel, he searched for and found Maddie and her son as they headed to the checkout stand.

  With her blonde hair neatly plaited and pinned, her simple gray dress, light sweater and black flats weren’t anything a fashionable Englisch woman would wear. Add a white kapp and apron and she would look like any proper Amish woman.

  Knowing she was from Pennsylvania and that she spoke the Deitsch language led him to guess she was formerly a member of the community or at least closely associated through familie ties. Hard to tell if she was married or not. Amish women didn’t wear wedding rings.

  Abram watched as she casually dipped a hand into her purse and then stopped dead. Her head dropped as she dug frantically, obviously seeking something she couldn’t locate. A moment later, she abandoned her basket and headed for the exit.

  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to interpret the scene.

  Empty purse. No money.

  One of his brothers claimed the basket abandoned on the check stand. Like most Amish, Abram was the product of a large family, with many siblings.

  “Ach, the way people are,” Samuel muttered under his breath.

  Abram stepped up. “Hold up.”

  “What’s going on?”

  “The lady who left her groceries seems to have lost her wallet.”

  “The woman with the little boi?” Samuel asked.

  Abram made a quick decision. He couldn’t go home and sit down to a hot meal while others would go without. “I’ll pay for her items,” he said and reached into his pocket, fishing out a few bills. “This should cover what she got.”

  Handing over the money, he glanced toward the parking lot, hoping he had enough time to catch the pair before they departed.

  Samuel visually totaled the items. Shaking his head, he refused the offering. “You know our policy,” he chided gently, filling a recyclable bag with the groceries. “We will always feed the hungry.”

  “I know, but Gran’pa is on a tear today.”

&nb
sp; Samuel laughed. “He will get over it. He always does.”

  “Danke.” Grabbing the bag, Abram hurried into the parking lot. Craning his neck, he caught sight of Maddie.

  Belting her son into the back seat of a beat-up blue station wagon, she yanked open the driver’s-side door. Bending, she slid her hands into every nook and cranny between the seat and floor of the vehicle. The car she drove was an older model and had obviously seen better days.

  Relieved she hadn’t driven away, Abram doubled his steps. As the distance closed, he caught a few words of her worry.

  “I know I had it. I know it.”

  Josh, trying to comfort her, reached out and touched her shoulder. “It’s okay, Mom.”

  At the end of her tether, Maddie Baum snapped. “It’s not okay!”

  Her youngie immediately burst into tears.

  Maddie burst into tears, too. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot.” Unable to find the lost item, she lowered her head. Her slender shoulders trembled.

  Abram walked up. “Excuse me. May I have a moment of your time?”

  She immediately straightened. Her face paled. “Josh didn’t steal anything else, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “That’s not why I’m here.” He held up the grocery bag. “I believe you forgot this.”

  Irritation gave way to a sad sigh. “I didn’t forget.” Her bravado seeped away. Hands lifting, she wiped under red-rimmed eyes. Uncertainty clouded her expression. “I seem to have misplaced my wallet. I haven’t got a cent to pay you.”

  Abram shook his head. “That’s not necessary.” He held out the bag a second time. “Please.”

  Her jaw tightened. By the glint in her eyes, pride had bestowed upon her the stubbornness of a barnyard mule. “It wouldn’t be right to take advantage.”

  “I don’t expect to be paid. This is for you and your sohn. I couldn’t let a mother and child go away hungry.”

  Her gaze drifted from the groceries to his face and back again. “You may not know it, but it’s a blessing right now.”

  “The Lord says we shouldn’t neglect to share what we have.”