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The Wedding Quilt Bride
Marta Perry
The single mom’s second chance…To become one of the Brides of Lost Creek!Widow Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community with her son and a dream—to own a quilt shop. Carpenter Daniel King is determined to help Rebecca and revive their childhood friendship. But as he bonds with her son, Rebecca’s afraid the secret she’s been keeping will be revealed. Can Daniel convince Rebecca he’s a man she can trust—and love?
The single mom’s second chance...
To become one of the Brides of Lost Creek!
Widow Rebecca Mast returns to her Amish community with her son and a dream—to own a quilt shop. Carpenter Daniel King is determined to help Rebecca and revive their childhood friendship. But as he bonds with her son, Rebecca’s afraid the secret she’s been keeping will be revealed. Can Daniel convince Rebecca he’s a man she can trust—and love?
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage led MARTA PERRY to write about the Plain People who add so much richness to her home state. Marta has seen nearly sixty of her books published, with over six million books in print. She and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a central Pennsylvania valley. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, traveling, baking, or enjoying her six beautiful grandchildren.
Also By Marta Perry (#u5dae476f-1b79-5e43-b7c2-1ef78e1e9861)
Love Inspired
Brides of Lost Creek
Second Chance Amish Bride
The Wedding Quilt Bride
An Amish Family Christmas:
Heart of Christmas
Amish Christmas Blessings:
The Midwife’s Christmas Surprise
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
The Wedding Quilt Bride
Marta Perry
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08421-5
THE WEDDING QUILT BRIDE
© 2018 Martha Johnson
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.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
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www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
“When I came back, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t lean on anyone else. I would stand on my own two feet.”
“Nothing wrong with that,” Daniel said, “except that it’s not the Amish way. We help one another, as you know very well. You wouldn’t hesitate to help me if I needed it.”
Rebecca’s arguments were being cut from under her, and she struggled to find a solution they both could accept.
Daniel crossed the distance between them and stood smiling at her. “What’s wrong? Can’t find anything else to say?” His voice teased her gently.
“Suppose we do this. You let me help. Surely there are things I can do. And you don’t turn down other jobs to work for me.”
“Deal,” Daniel said. He grinned at her. “See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She’d tell him it was, but he wouldn’t understand. None of them would, because they didn’t know what her life had been like with James.
She had to walk away from the past. She had to accept Daniel’s help to do so. He held the door open to her new life, but she had to pass through, and she would.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
Dear Reader (#u5dae476f-1b79-5e43-b7c2-1ef78e1e9861),
I’m so happy you decided to pick up the second book in my Brides of Lost Creek series. I had such a good time visiting the Lost Creek Amish again for a new love story, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.
The new book captures the story of Daniel King, an Amish carpenter, who is determined to remain a bachelor. Daniel has what he feels are good reasons to stay away from a romantic involvement, but all of his ideas are put to the test when his childhood playmate Rebecca Mast returns to the farm next door after the death of her husband. Sorrow and pain have changed Rebecca drastically from the happy girl he knew, and he feels compelled to help her despite the danger that his childhood friend might become his forever love.
The Amish community of Lost Creek is based on several Amish groups here in central Pennsylvania, most of them daughter settlements to the Lancaster County Amish. They’ve settled here for the less expensive farmland and the welcoming environment. Most of my story ideas begin with a place, and I love it when I can write about my own home area, the place I love most.
Please let me know if you enjoyed my story. You can reach me via my website, www.martaperry.com (http://www.martaperry.com), on my Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/martaperrybooks (http://www.Facebook.com/martaperrybooks), and via email at marta@martaperry.com. I’d be happy to reply and to send you a signed bookmark and my brochure of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.
All the best,
Marta Perry
This story is dedicated to my husband, Brian, with much love.
Contents
Cover (#ucf030dd7-a07d-5cf8-aae3-d77e3e5c5bf2)
Back Cover Text (#ua1bebf82-a92f-5451-a43a-f1d1ba7ceb82)
About the Author (#uf3c725d6-853d-5577-b6f6-1cade08c6a90)
Booklist (#ua9ef9360-db0a-58d2-9f10-8206712173b6)
Title Page (#u341935df-7d0e-53de-9f91-a0d73953872a)
Copyright (#u0d63ff8b-fc97-5fa7-b276-3e37ec187cbc)
Introduction (#u5986a082-6e69-57f1-92b5-2f622525a086)
Bible Verse (#u7c6c6bba-0d6e-5ef3-a80e-8ba9f729baff)
Dear Reader (#ua8d1130e-e0f6-5aa8-b675-11019a6ddec7)
Dedication (#ub72266a5-4a07-5493-b05c-60019fc18c0f)
Chapter One (#u9f7e2017-8d11-570e-82be-6462da3f9013)
Chapter Two (#uf404c21f-67af-5aa3-a5fb-d0905c572fc2)
Chapter Three (#u7a1257d5-016a-5170-aed5-6974f2ba7dc4)
Chapter Four (#ua88f26fd-a517-5d87-b3dd-03c2eb7e7da8)
Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter One (#u5dae476f-1b79-5e43-b7c2-1ef78e1e9861)
Two days after Rebecca Mast’s return to her childhood home in Lost Creek, she walked down the lane of the family farm toward her future. Her black widow’s dress contrasted starkly with the pale greens and bright yellows of a sunny spring day in the Pennsylvania countryside. Her son, six-year-old Elijah, trudged next to her, holding tight to her hand rather than skipping and hopping ahead down the lane like one of his cousins would.
It was early yet, she assured herself. Surely soon he’d forget the darkness of the past few years and be like any other Amish child his age. That was the heartfelt prayer of her heart for her son. As for her...well, the return to normal would take longer, if it ever happened.
But at least she was home, with her family around her, and today she would take the first step toward a new life for her son and herself. That alone was something to make her heart thankful.
The two-story frame house came into view ahead of them, standing at the point where the farm lane met the country road. When her mammi had written that old Mr. Evans had gone to live with his daughter and put the house up for sale, she’d known exactly what she wanted to do with the money she’d receive for selling the farm she and James had owned in Ohio.
The down payment James’s brother, John, had given her had been enough to cover the cost of the house. John’s continuing monthly payments would pay to remodel the old place into a secure, peaceful home for her and Elijah, and the quilt shop she’d have in the downstairs rooms would support them. That was the extent of her dreams for the future, and it was enough.
Daniel King stood, waiting by the back porch, leaning against one of the posts as if he could wait there all day for her, if need be. As they came closer, her stomach tightened as she searched the tall, broad figure for a glimpse of the neighbor boy who’d been her childhood playmate. She didn’t find him, nor did she see the gangly teenager who’d told her all about his crushes on the girls in their rumspringa group.
Daniel had grown into a strong, sturdy-looking man. It was her own uncertainty that made her long to find something in him that was familiar. The rich, glossy brown of his hair was a bit darker now, and the fact that he didn’t have the traditional Amish beard allowed her to see his stubborn jaw.
He’d always had that stubbornness. His golden-brown eyes had a glint of kindness that she felt sure reflected his kind heart, and his lips curled in a familiar grin. Her tension evaporated, and she smiled.
“Rebecca!” He came forward now to greet them, taking her hands in both of his for a momentary squeeze. “It’s wonderful gut to see you again.” His face sobered. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
She nodded. She had a stock of reasonable comments to use when someone commented on her widowhood, but they didn’t seem appropriate for Daniel, who’d known her so well.
Daniel didn’t seem to notice. He’d focused on Lige, who was hiding behind her skirt, and he squatted down to eye level.
“You must be Elijah. I’ve heard about you from your grossmammi. She told me you just turned six. Is that right?”
Lige, clutching the fold of Rebecca’s skirt, gave the smallest of nods. Fortunately, Daniel didn’t seem to expect more.
“I’m Daniel,” he said. “I live over there.” He pointed across the field to the neighboring farm. “When your mammi and I were your age, we used to play together every day.”
Still no response. She tried to think of something to say to pull his attention from Lige, but Daniel was already rising, his smile intact. “Ach, it’s hard to get to know a lot of new folks at once, ain’t so?”
“Yah, it is,” she said, grateful for his understanding. “Sam tells me that your carpentry business is a wonderful success these days.” Sam, Rebecca’s older brother, had been best friends with Daniel’s older brother, Caleb. It had seemed natural for her and Daniel to pair up, as well.
“Ach, I wouldn’t say great, but it’s doing okay. It doesn’t give me much time to help Caleb with the dairy farm, but I do what I can. And he’s got Onkel Zeb and young Thomas Stoltz to work with him, too.”
“I’m sure he needs it, running such a big dairy operation.” Daad had told her how Caleb had increased his herd until it was one of the larger ones in the valley. “I’d be most happy if you have time to take on this job for me.”
She glanced at the house, trying to picture it the way it was in her dreams. With Daniel’s help, that dream could be a reality.
“Let’s go in and have a look at what you want done,” Daniel suggested. He held out a hand as she reached the three steps up to the back porch. “Mind the treads, now. There’s a loose board there I’ll fix right off.”
She nodded, turning to help Lige up to the porch. “It’s a little bit run-down now,” she told him. “But Daniel will help us turn it into a gut home for us.”
Lige darted a cautious sideways glance at Daniel, but he still didn’t speak. She tried to suppress a sigh. If she’d realized earlier the harm James’s behavior was doing to Elijah...but what choice did she have? James had been his father, and there was no getting away from that.
The back door opened into the kitchen, and they stepped inside.
