First Experience
Sharon
Desperate Wish
L i i s a
Death in Three Quarter Time
The Perfect Spouse
Montana Madness
Dangerous Hilarity
Amish Dilemma
A Detective’s Heart
Amish Promise
And coming soon:
The Snowman Murders
Streets of Laredo (a paranormal)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6-7
Preface
If you read my novel Amish Dilemma, you learned a lot about the truth of the Amish and their beliefs. You learned how passive and forgiving they are and hard working.
Of course they are human just like any other people. A few bad ones can be found in the group, but they are generally taken care of, by the church, as soon as they are discovered. They punish their own.
In Amish Dilemma I wrote of a young couple who married, not for love, but because their families expected it. They quickly became very much in love and adored each other. They worked hard to make a home and to be good church members and good neighbors.
When the young woman, Charity, was in labor with their first baby, her husband, Adam Kime, was taking her to the hospital in a horse-drawn buggy. An English (one not an Amish) was drinking and hated the Amish. He deliberately ran his car toward the horse, honking his horn and yelling. The horse jumped, out of fright, and the car hit the side of the buggy. The horse, which the young couple loved dearly, was injured so badly she had to be put down. The young husband was killed and the young mother gave birth to a healthy boy on the same night her husband was killed.
Charity named the little boy Jeremiah.
Her father, Jacob Startz, and her father-in-law, Joshua Kime bought a building in town to give to Charity because they knew Charity was too proud to accept help. They convinced her to open a store where she became well known for her integrity and industriousness. Even English began to trade with her and loved her. Some of her relatives and friends volunteered to help.
Charity was successful and, even though she was a nineteen year old widow and mother, she worked hard and planned ahead.
This story follows Amish Dilemma. I hope you enjoy it as much as you did Amish Dilemma. I am forever grateful for your wonderful comments and encouragement.
God bless you all.
Chapter One
The bare feet of six-year-old Jeremiah Kime slapped happily on the rich, fertile farm land as he ran to tell his mother the good news.
He hoped his mamm, Charity, was still at the house so he could share his good news. Grossmudder Kime had made a banana pie especially for him. Grossfader Startz had told him he was now big enough to help in the field.
“Mamm! Mamm!” he yelled, running into the kitchen door. Charity came running thinking something terrible had happened to her beloved son. (Mamm - Mom)
“What? What’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly.
“Nuttins wrong. It is all so good.”
“The word is nothing and what is so good?” she sat down relieved.
“Grossfader Startz said I am now big enough to ride with him on the cutter behind the mules. I get to work in the fields with him.” He paused to take a breath. “And Grossmudder Kime made a banana pie specially for me.” He strutted around.
“I hope you remembered to thank Grandfather Startz for being willing to allow you to work for him; and Grandmother Kime for baking your favorite pie.”
“I did. Yes, I did.” I hope I did. I don’t remember. I was too happy.
Charity stooped to hug him again. She did love this little son of hers so much. He had Adam’s blood in him, too and she would always love Adam. Jeremiah was a daily reminder of Adam.
“I am so proud of you. Of course you’re big enough to work now. You’ll have to wear your shoes though because you might step on a snake. You wouldn’t want those big mules to accidentally step on your bare feet either.”
“No,” he said solemnly, “I don’t want any of that. See you, Mamm. I’m going to tell Oom Matthew.” He ran out the kitchen door when he saw his mother’s brother riding the tractor and working in the field. He loved his uncle Matthew.
“Don’t slam the door and don’t get in the way of the tractor.” Charity called after him. She smiled and shook her head. Too late. He was too excited to notice what he was doing. She just hoped Matthew would see him before he stepped in front of the tractor. She ran to the door and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Matthew pause to lift Jeremiah on the tractor with him.
She took advantage of the tractor motor being off. “Matthew, Matthew.” He looked in her direction and waved his hat. “It is almost eight and I have to go open the store. Can you keep an eye on Jeremiah?
