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  LITTLE WILD FLOWER

  Book Two

  REVISED EDITION

  WRITTEN BY

  Samantha Jillian Bayarr

  Copyright © 2001 by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

  REVISED EDITION © 2012 by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

  Cover illustration © John Sloane

  Cover illustration (A Perfect Pair) is © John Sloane, and is used with permission of the artist. For more information about the artist, or to order full color prints, visit the artist's website at www.johnsloaneart.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form either written or electronically without the express permission of the author or publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and are therefore used fictitiously. Any similarity or resemblance to actual persons; living or dead, places or events is purely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  All brand names, product names, or TV programs mentioned in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names, and are the sole ownership of their respective holders. Livingston Hall Publishers is not associated with any products or brands named in this book.

  All scripture references in this book used from New International Version of the Bible

  Also by Samantha Jillian Bayarr

  LWF Amish Series

  Little Wild Flower Book I

  Little Wild Flower Book II

  The Taming of a Wild Flower

  Little Wild Flower in Bloom

  Little Wild Flower’s Journey

  Christian Romance

  Milk Maid in Heaven

  The Anniversary

  Christian Historical Romance

  A Sheriff’s Legacy: Book One

  Preacher Outlaw: Book Two

  Cattle Rustler in Petticoats: Book Three

  Jacob’s Daughter Amish Collection

  Jacob’s Daughter

  Amish Winter Wonderland

  Under the Mulberry Tree

  Amish Winter of Promises

  Amish Summer of Courage

  An Amish Harvest

  An Amish Christmas Wish

  Companion Series

  An Amish Courtship

  The Quilter’s Son

  An Amish Widower

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  ONE — As Time Goes By

  TWO — Growing Up

  THREE — Till Death Do Us Part

  FOUR — Mourning

  FIVE — Goodbye City Life

  SIX — Starting Over

  THE TAMING OF A WILD FLOWER

  BOOK THREE

  Sneak Peek

  ONE — A Bird in Hand

  ONE

  AS TIME GOES BY

  The first few weeks of marriage were filled with fun and adjustments. Even though I had been a big help at home for my mother with cooking and the taking care of Sammy, I hadn’t had to do any of it full time for a few years. After previously being the total caregiver when my mother had been so sick from the alcohol she couldn’t care for my younger siblings, I sometimes found it to be habit to want to take over. But before I moved away from home, I had settled into a good routine with her. We had begun to work well together.

  Nadine, for the most part, had handled all the laundry at home until she married Benjamin. My mother took over that chore once Nadine moved out, and I had merely assisted her up until then. Though she’d been well enough to handle the daily routine on her own for some time, it was still difficult for me to let go and accept that my mother had healed from the scars of the past. Truth be told, though I loved my new role as a wife to Elijah, it was hard for me to break free from the role as caregiver to my mother, even if I was just down the lane from her, I felt the separation from her stronger than I ever thought I would. I’d begun to depend on her as a mother and a friend—a friend I would now need as I grew apart from her to settle into my own new routine as the wife of an Amish farmer.

  Now, it seemed, while Elijah tended to our new herd of cattle, I was very busy cooking and cleaning. Doing the laundry and chores at my own house; including feeding the chickens and gathering eggs, proved to be full time work for me. I never imagined just how rewarding it could feel to accomplish these things until it was for the sake of my own home and my own husband.

  Just when I began to get myself into a routine; my body, it would seem, decided to rebel. I began to get sick every morning, throwing my schedule into a whirlwind. One crisp morning at the end of November, Mitchell and Benjamin showed up at the house to assist Elijah with adding more fencing around our property to accommodate the increasing herd. Nadine and Rebekah tagged along, with little Bethany in tow, hoping we could share the afternoon meal together once the men’s work was done.

  Nadine had brought some sausage to cook potato soup, and the very sight of the raw meat was making me feel nauseated. The smells of food cooking in the kitchen had recently become too much for me to handle. My husband had eaten oatmeal and cornmeal for the last several mornings so I could cut down on cooking smells. I hadn’t planned on having my queasy stomach interrupt any more of my time, but it seemed very determined to hang around a little longer. I had hoped it would pass before Rebekah brought the baby over because I feared passing the flu to her.

  “You look a little green around the gills, Jane,” Nadine joked.

  She placed the sausage in the hot skillet, sending a sizzling burst of smell straight to my nostrils.

  “I think I may have the flu or something. I’ve been awful sick for the last four days, except I don’t have a fever, and I haven’t thrown up yet,” I said.

  I held a hand over my nose to keep from inhaling too much of the aroma from the sizzling sausage.

  “Are you sick all day, or just in the morning?” Rebekah asked.

  “Mostly in the morning. How did you know that?”

  I sat in one of the kitchen chairs, hoping to keep from toppling over from the wave of nausea that was trying very hard to overcome me.

  She hesitated, watching as I fought the urge to run from the room to empty my stomach.

  “You might be pregnant.”

  “Come to think of it, I haven’t had my cycle since two weeks before the wedding.”

  The reality of what she said had time enough to sink in.

  “I’ll bet it happened on your wedding night, then. How romantic that is,” Rebekah said.

  “Do you think I could be pregnant, really?”

  I felt excitement and fear at the same time.

  “Maybe we should get mamma to take you into town to see Doctor Beiler,” Nadine suggested.

  “Should I say something to Elijah about it?”

  “You can if you want to, but maybe you ought to wait until you see the doctor. It’s always best if you see the doctor for your first pregnancy, especially since you don’t know for sure,” Rebekah said.

  Bethany began to fuss, so Rebekah went to change her.

  “Gosh, Jane. I’m gonna be jealous if you have a baby before me,” Nadine said.

  “I’m not so sure there’s anything to be jealous about. This whole thing is making me nervous.”

  “You're right, Jane. We should wait until you hear it from Doc Beiler anyway.”

  ****

  Two days later, my mother drove me into town to see the doctor. He confirmed that I was indeed six weeks pregnant after doing a thorough exam.

  Thoroughly embarrassing was more like it.

  I was excited but scared, but I also couldn’t wait to share the news with my husband.

  After our stop at the d
octor’s office, my mother and I did a little shopping for yard goods for making baby clothes and maternity dresses. I knew I had my work cut out for me, but I also knew that I could count on my sister and Hannah to help.

  That evening after dinner, Elijah and I sat by the fire discussing our plans for our first Christmas together as husband and wife.

  “I thought you might like to have the family get-together at our house, since it will be our first Christmas in our new home. I’m sure both our sisters and our mothers would be very helpful to you if you wanted the help,” he offered.

  “It sounds like a wonderful idea,” I said with excitement at the idea of entertaining in my new house.

  The non-stop smile on my face was due more to the news that I had for my husband, and I was afraid I was going to give it away before I could tell him.

  “What are you so happy about?” he asked me.

  “We are having a baby,” I blurted out.

  He flashed me a look of uncertainty.

  Not the reaction I’d hoped for.

  “I went to see the doctor today,” I tried again. “He said I am pregnant,”

  Elijah jumped up from the floor and let out a whoop. I stood up and laughed at his excitement. Before I could gain my composure, he picked me up and swung me around the room. Tears filled his eyes and we both laughed and cried for several minutes.

  “I love you so much,” he declared.

  That’s more like it.

  “I love you too. But would you put me down—I’m getting a little queasy,” I begged good-naturedly.

  He set me down and we sat by the fire holding each other until we fell asleep.

  ****

  The Christmas season swept in around the town-folk like a magical force; causing winter merriment to spread like the snowflakes that collected on the roof-tops and tree branches. The snow; thankfully, was not too deep yet to keep our family from celebrating together as we always had. Elijah and I decided we would wait to tell the rest of the family the news of my pregnancy until our family dinner together at our house.

  I prepared dinner with a nervous excitement, wondering about the reactions of my in-laws to our news. I wanted more than anything to see a look of acceptance on the face of Elijah’s mam. Not even since the wedding had I felt she truly accepted me as the right one for her first-born son. She’d always been pleasant, and I knew she loved me in some sort of sense, but I strongly needed her approval for my own peace of mind. Elijah and I had had many a discussion over his mother’s guarded nature where I was concerned. I was, however, very grateful that, even if she didn’t fully accept me, she never interfered.

  As the announcement was made over dinner, Elijah’s voice was steady, unlike my own would have been. I was proud to be by his side, my hand clenching his for support and reassurance.

  The reaction was almost overwhelming. Everyone was happy for us and cheered loudly. I looked over at Naomi, wondering what she was thinking. As we made eye contact, her eyes were brimming with tears that threatened to spill from her smiling eyes.

  God, please let those be happy tears falling from my new mam’s eyes.

  Before I could think another thought, David stood up and began to clear his throat to get everyone’s attention.

  “If it’s announcements we’re making, Hannah and I are expecting our first child too,” he said proudly.

  Everyone cheered until Mitchell stood up.

  “Now that’s not fair. Rebekah and I didn’t get this much attention when we announced her pregnancy at Thanksgiving. Just because this is our second baby, doesn’t mean you can’t all cheer for us too. C’mon now, I’m waiting,” he joked.

  The entire crowd of family and friends roared with laughter and cheers to the point of embarrassment for poor Rebekah. I guess she hadn’t realized until that moment what a ham my brother could be. I did wonder, though, how Rebekah would handle being pregnant again so soon after having Bethany. After all, Bethany would only be eleven months old when the new one came along.

  We continued to laugh heartily until an unfamiliar sound swept through the air. I strained my ears to figure out the sound, looking for Elijah for an explanation, but he had managed to slip away unnoticed. I followed the jingling sound that was ringing in my ears, while looking around corners for my husband. The magnificent sound was coming from the front of the house, so I opened the front door. Much to my surprise, I saw Elijah in a sleigh with Eli and Banjo hitched to it.

  “Merry Christmas,” Elijah hollered cheerfully.

  He held out his arms toward the sleigh, motioning me to come to him. My mother handed me my heavy coat and assisted me in pulling on my boots, then, urged me to join my husband. I walked carefully onto the porch so I wouldn’t slip on the fresh layer of snow that had blown onto it. Elijah walked up the steps to help me down to where the sleigh was waiting for us. The impatient horses blew rolling puffs of icy air from their nostrils that glistened against the blue light of the moon.

  “Is this for me?” I asked excitedly.

  “It is for you, my little wild flower,” he said lovingly as he bowed slightly.

  A boyish grin spread wide across his face. “May I have the pleasure of my beautiful wife’s company for a moonlit sleigh ride?”

  I played along and offered him my hand. “You may.”

  He took my hand and assisted me into the sleigh, then sat down close beside me. Then he placed heavy woolen blankets around our laps, and clicked a command to the horses. I looked to the front porch where my family eagerly waved us off. They appeared to be just as excited as I was by the surprise gift.

  As we pulled away from the house, the horses started out walking slowly, while the bells provided a gentle chiming, but when they began a slow trot, the bells jingled a steady, romantic rhythm. I looked into Elijah’s eyes excitedly, allowing the love that he had for me to keep me warm.

  ****

  As the ice began to melt from the creek bank, crocuses pushed their way through the light layer of snow that remained in patches along the warming soil. The smell of fresh soil made me eager to make plans for the oversized patch of earth that was to become my own garden. My mind skipped ahead to canning season, wondering which vegetables I would like to have and which ones might be easier to grow. Having very little luck with my first garden at my mother’s house, I was already aware of what I was capable of growing without much effort. But this was different. This would provide food for my husband; and for that reason alone, I made up my mind to challenge myself.

  I went to my father, knowing he would have plenty of seeds from the previous season. Even if he lacked some seeds, Abraham’s collection would be there to fill in the gaps. Just as I’d suspected, my father’s assortment of seeds in the barn was overwhelming. All carefully labeled, the small paper sacks that housed the seeds invited me to explore so many possibilities in my mind’s eye.

  My father watched as I pored over the selection of seeds with excitement.

  “You don’t need to have an entire field your first season.”

  “I know, Papa. But Elijah will be counting on me to help feed the family.”

  I patted my swelling abdomen lovingly.

  “Elijah will provide for you, Jane. Did you forget you married an experienced farmer?”

  “How could I forget a thing like that? Why do you think I’m so determined to have the best garden I can?”

  He smiled knowingly, then, helped me sift through my increasing mixture of vegetable and flower seeds. There was no changing my mind once it was made it up, and he knew me well enough to allow my stubbornness to rule me.

  ****

  The heat of July swept across Indiana with full force, making the last four weeks of my pregnancy nearly unbearable. Lucy had come to stay with me so Elijah could keep up with the chores around the farm without having to tend to my every need as well. Lucy and I sat on the porch swing sipping lemonade, allowing the subtle breeze to dry the perspiration from our foreheads. The fragrant blossoms from th
e lilac bushes that surrounded the porch perfumed the air as the breeze drifted along lazily.

  We had fed the chickens earlier and had intended on weeding a bit in the garden, but it quickly became too hot and humid. We decided to tend to the garden after the dinner hour, just before the mosquitoes would become a nuisance. For now, we shelled some of the early peas from my garden into the new colander Elijah purchased from Forks General Store when he had gone into town the day before. My own trips to town had been curtailed about a month prior, due to my increasing girth. The heaviness of the child within me rested too heavily upon my bladder, making the jostling from the buggy too painful for me to bear.

  I took off my shoes and long knit stockings to relieve myself somewhat of the heat. The increasing girth of my pregnancy made it a difficult task, but I was determined to get free from the sweltering heat that my stockings held in. The wind floated up the skirting of my dress, giving me some relief, but I decided I wanted to wade in the creek. As Lucy helped me to my feet, we both laughed at the difficulty I had in getting up from the swing.