A Touch of Faith (The Amish of Elkhart County #2)

By Daisy Fields

(Part Two of the Amish of Elkhart County serial.)

Amish farmer Abram Schrock has reluctantly taken in the boy he found nearly frozen to death in his barn, Owen, and things have gone from bad to worse. He can’t seem to get along with either the boy or Owen’s fellow guardian, teacher Katherine, and Owen needs more love and support than Abram is ready to give. But until they can locate the boy’s father, it will be up to Abram to find a way to find peace—and perhaps more—with Owen and Katherine both.

Meanwhile, his former betrothed, Mary, has fled to Indianapolis for a taste of independence and a place to belong. But her life isn’t quite what she expected: she works at a fast-food restaurant and has no friends. Desperate, she finds a flyer for a library book talk and decides to go. There she befriends a kind couple and later meets a former Mennonite man who lives in the Englischer world as a carpenter, Daniel. It seems like a sign from God until they attend her new friends’ fancy dinner party—and Daniel’s ex-girlfriend shows up.

Can Abram and Katherine find a way to soothe the abandoned boy’s heart—and his own? Has Mary found love, or will she learn she’s made a huge mistake? Find out in this exciting tale of Amish fiction!

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Daisy Fields
• Release date: Jan 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310324833

Daisy Fields

Daisy Fields is a former accountant whose life changed after she took a trip through Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The simple pace of life and the Amish devotion to God made her question her own current breakneck lifestyle, and Daisy decided she wanted something more. She quit her job, threw away her cell phone, and began to pray.Now she pens stories about the people she admires so deeply and hopes you'll enjoy reading them as much as she did writing them. Please check her Amazon author page for new releases.

Book preview

A Touch of Faith

(The Amish of Elkhart County #2)

By Daisy Fields

Copyright 2013 Daisy Fields

All Rights Reserved

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Mary stared at herself in the mirror and brushed her hair yet again. It was ridiculous to be this vain—sinful, even—and she knew that, yet she couldn’t help caring how she appeared, at least for this single evening. Daniel was coming to pick her up in half an hour, and she wanted to do her very best to look as fetching as possible. Cosmetics and other artifice were simply out of the question, but there was no reason not to let tendrils of hair frame each side of her face. She twirled the yellow locks around her finger until they curled into ringlets and smiled, satisfied.

The phone rang, shattering her reverie, and with her heart leaping around like a frog in her chest, Mary answered. Was it Daniel to cancel? Had he realized how handsome and worldly he was—and how simple and plain she was? Hello?

Mary, girl, where have you been? Her mamm’s voice fluttered through the receiver, simultaneously eliciting homesickness and guilt. She did miss her family, she did. But she hadn’t thought to call them lately, either. I’m phoning from the good bishop’s house. Where have you been? Are you all right?

Mary could hear that her mamm was truly concerned, but also that she wanted to know Mary hadn’t forgotten her. "Ya, Mamm, I’m just fine. In fact, I’ve been making friends!"

Is that right? her mamm said. Mary knew that voice; her mamm liked to be pleasant when she was reserving judgment. Tell me about these friends. I need to know they’re good enough for my daughter. This last was said in a teasing voice, and Mary couldn’t help smiling.

She gazed around at the pretty yellow walls of her sitting room, with their small framed flowers done in needlepoint. Oh, I don’t know. You think no one’s good enough for me.

"Well, what kind of mamm would I be if I didn’t think my girl deserved only the best, hmm?"

A poor one, Mary agreed, leaning on the arm of her sofa. All right, I’ll tell you. The other night, I went for a walk—she was careful not to let slip that she’d gone to the library, that she might forestall any lectures—and met the loveliest couple. They treated me so kindly and invited me to a small dinner party at their home tonight. It’s the first time anyone has been so kind to me here.

That’s a joy to hear! I was getting worried about you, being out there without anyone to show you some love. At those words, Mary grinned to herself, imagining Daniel’s handsome face. But what are you taking? You know it’s just plain bad manners to show up without something to offer the table.

"I baked up a pan of your lemon bar recipe, Mamm." Mary knew there was no better way to charm her mamm. And I’ll be boasting to everyone that the credit belongs to you.

Don’t boast, my child! But her mamm was laughing.

I think, said Mary, daring to push the boundary of the conversation even further, Daniel, who is accompanying me tonight, will quite enjoy them.

In the hush that followed, she knew she’d made a mistake. But it was too late.

When her mamm spoke again, her voice was tight. My daughter, are you courting? Is that what you are telling me? Speak truly.

"Ya, that’s what I’m saying. I would never hide the truth from you." At least Mary knew no one could argue with that. She had always been truthful with everyone but herself.

A sigh came through the telephone. Mary couldn’t help but think of the long distance it had traveled. So much disapproval and disappointment it carried on its back just to reach her. Mary, there is something you should know. Abram, your Abram—

He’s not my Abram, Mary whispered.

—your Abram is having a bit of trouble right now. Someone left a small boy in his barn with a note.

Mary couldn’t believe what she’d heard. All thoughts of protesting her claim on Abram flew right out of her head. "What?! Someone did what?!"

That was exactly how we all felt when we heard, her mamm said, anguish coloring her words. Only by the grace of God did Abram find the boy in time, and even then, it wasn’t certain he would survive.

But did he? Mary’s mouth had gone dry.

"Ya, but the note gave no way to find his mamm, so Abram is tasked with caring for him until the community decides what to do next." Mary’s mamm softened her tone. "Listen, my girl, it might be a good time for you to come home. Abram’s been pouting since you left, but right