Bender Creek Bridge's Troubled Waters

By Fay Risner

The longest year of Joy Petermeyer's life is just about over.
Nurse Hal's stepson, Daniel Lapp, is due back from Tennessee
in August, and they planned to get married. Only according to
his Aunt Ida's letters, Daniel is having a good time in Tennessee
working with his Uncle Marvin's horses and dating an Amish girl
named Arlene. Joy worries that Daniel isn't coming home, and decides
she has to move on. Her only friend is Melinda Esch. One night, they
go on a camping trip which ends up tragically. Joy is determined to
never have anything to do with Melinda after that night. Just when she
considered her life was in bad shape, Daniel's friend, Jimmie Miller
invites Joy to step out with him to the teen singings. Joy is welcomed back
by the Amish teens after months of avoiding the singings. That date with
Jimmie leads to a picnic and horseback riding dates. Summer is fun again,
and Joy realizes she has developed deep feelings for Jimmie. To Joy's surprise,
not even her romance with Jimmie goes well. Samuel Nisely, Jimmie's stepfather,
tells Joy to stay away from Jimmie as long as she is promised to Daniel Lapp.
Even if Daniel doesn't come back to Iowa, Joy might not be able to see Jimmie
ever again as long as Samuel Nisely says Jimmie can't date her. This series of
events turned summer into the worst one of her life again, and it all started with
Bender Creek Bridge's Troubled Water.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fay Risner
• Release date: Jun 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463453384

Fay Risner

Fay Risner lives with her husband on a central Iowa acreage along with their chickens, rabbits, goats and cats. A retired Certified Nurse Aide, she now divides her time between writing books, livestock chores, working in her flower beds, the garden and going fishing with her husband. In the winter, she makes quilts. Fay writes books in various genre and languages. Historical mystery series like Stringbean westerns and Amazing Gracie Mysteries, Nurse Hal's Amish series set in southern Iowa and books for Caregivers about Alzheimer's. She uses 12 font print in her books and 14 font print in her novellas to make them reader friendly. Now her books are in Large Print. Her books have a mid western Iowa and small town flavor. She pulls the readers into her stories, making it hard for them to put a book down until the reader sees how the story ends. Readers say the characters are fun to get to know and often humorous enough to cause the readers to laugh out loud. The books leave readers wanting a sequel or a series so they can read about the characters again. Enjoy Fay Risner's books and please leave a review to make others familiar with her work.

Book preview

Bender Creek Bridge's Troubled Waters

Nurse Hal Among The Amish

Book Eleven

Fay Risner

Published by Fay Risner at Smashwords.com

Copyright (c) 2018

All rights reserved

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Art 2018

Picture Courtesy of Pat Brigode

All Rights Reserved 2018

by author Fay Risner

Bender Creek Swimming Hole

Picture Courtesy of Pat Brigode

All Rights Reserved 2018

Copyright © 2018

All Rights Reserved

Author Fay Risner

This is a work of Amish fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to the actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locations are entirely coincidental. It would be impossible to be completely accurate in Amish details and descriptions since each Amish community differs. Any inaccuracies in the Amish lifestyle portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license. Excerpts from this book cannot be used without written permission from the author.

Booksbyfay Publisher

Publisher Fay Risner

Author Fay Risner

Editor Gail Lavender

A Dove Survival Kit For Bender Creek Camping

Toothpick - To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.

Matthew 7:1

Rubber Band - To remind you to be flexible. Things may not always go the way you wish, but have trust in God's will.

Romans 8:28

Chewing Gum - To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with God's help.

Philippians 4:13

Mint – To remind you that you are worth a mint to God!

John 3:16-17

Candle – To remind you to let your light shine!

Matthew 5:15-16

This book is dedicated to Phyllis Bradford, lovingly known as Polly. I took my last Nurse Hal book, Joyful Wisdom, with me to a party as a birthday gift for Polly's sister. Polly picked up the book and studied the cover with a gleam in her eyes. She couldn't wait to read her sister's birthday book. Polly had read other books in my Amish series. She was excited to get to read her sister's latest book about Nurse Hal's family. I consider her a true fan.

Prologue

The land surrounding Bender Creek was the source of recreation for the Amish community southwest of Wickenburg, Iowa. Although there were occasions after snowmelt and hard spring downpours when the creek resembled a river not safe to be around. With the passing of one season to the next, in hot, dry summers the roaring rapids dissolved quickly into gentle ripples lapping against the bank.

On Bender Creek banks, Amish fishermen loved to spend quiet times away from their hard work, catching bony carp for their wives to pickle. The large catfish they hooked, they thanked God for at the next worship service. On family outings, the children were just as happy to catch smaller fish, bullheads, and bluegills. That is, when they weren't wading and splashing in the swimming hole.

Surrounding the creek was a large area of timber filled with a bounty of wild game. During hunting seasons, hunters trekked through the wilderness after squirrels, rabbit, deer, pheasant, turkeys, and quail. At night, the hunters followed their baying coonhounds, chasing after raccoons and opossums.

For those who weren't lucky enough to have a walnut grove-picnic area and pond in their pasture like John Lapp's family had, a cleared area across from the favored fishing spot served for picnics during the day. On warm summer evenings, a mixture of teenage English and Amish partied late into the night. Music thudded against the trees, coming from the volume set to the max on the boomboxes. Refreshments were furnished from beer kegs and various coolers filled with pop.

Bender Creek's dirt road was horseshoe-shaped which ribboned between the creek and timber. It had been long known as Lover's Lane. Noted by that title with smiles when worshipers gathered for Sunday services. In a hushed voice, someone who traveled behind a courting buggy was bound to divulge to the other worshipers the names of the couple who turned onto Lover's Lane. Those in the know stated they wouldn't be surprised when the couple's wedding date was published at a fall worship service.

In the summer, the shallow, warm water of Bender Creek had one spot made for a good swimming hole for Amish children to cool off in. Deep enough to get them wet, but shallow enough parents didn't worry about the children drowning. Whooping and laughter could be heard for over a mile away as young voices joined in the splashing fun.

On summer evenings after dark, men tramped along Bender Creek's banks and waded the shallow water jigging frogs. What a feast was held at someone's house when frogs' legs were fried.

For all of Bender Creek timber's assets, Amish grownups would worry less if eggs spawn by frogs in the gooey slime along the creek's banks were the only tadpoles to be born. With shaking of their heads and frowning faces, adults referred to the swimming hole as the Tadpole Hole for a more ominous reason.

In late summer or early fall, Amish women, attending the worship services, were bound to spot at least one girl putting on weight in her midsection. After several pregnancies of their own, these women knew exactly why the weight gain. They whispered about the girl being second-hand goods, and predicted a human tadpole would be born in a few months. This was due to the girl hanging out with the wrong boy by Bender Creek.

Recalling memories of their own youth, these righteous women had a right to worry about Lover's Lane and Tadpole Hole when their own girls were old enough to frequent the spots. However, those same women didn't have a clue just how troubled the waters of Bender Creek were going to get that spring.

Bender Creek Swimming Hole

Chapter 1

I am going to have a bobbeli. After a time of silence while Joy Petermeyer and Melinda Esch practiced their fancy work, Melinda burst out with that startling statement. Her hands shook slightly after making the revelation. She bit her quivering lower lip as she laid the dish towel, snugged in a metal embroidery hoop, in her lap.

The pillowcase in Joy's embroidery hoop slipped from her fingers to her lap as her mouth flew open. For once she was speechless as she leaned back against one of two large limestone boulders wedged together. A gentle breeze blew a sprig of her bright red hair down over Joy's eyes. She moved the hair until it stayed behind her ear while she collected her thoughts.

On the bank of Buggy Creek, Joy's special place consisted of those two rocks shaded by a stand of plum trees. Joy used them as backrests. This was the spot in her uncle and aunt's pasture where she chose to go when she wanted to be alone. As well, it was the spot she shared with her friends.

Please run that statement by me one more time? Joy had been hypnotized by the ripples slapping against the creek bank. She worried about how high the creek was going to rise, knowing water could soon flood the pasture. With that worry on her mind, she hoped maybe she hadn't heard Melinda correctly.

Melinda focused her attention across the creek at the timber to avoid looking at Joy. Her voice flattened to just above a whisper. I am going to have a bobbeli.

Joy gave a disbelieving gasp. A baby! No way!

Melinda slowly nodded a yes. She nervously pushed her gold-rimmed glasses back to the bridge of her nose as she leaned against the other boulder.

Joy studied the dark-haired girl's fine features to see if she was serious. When her eyes lit on Melinda's swelling middle, Joy noted the dress fit way too snugly. A new life was taking form in her friend. What popped into Joy's head was that at seventeen Melinda was way too young to have and care for a baby. As for herself, in a couple of weeks, Joy would be sixteen. Her thought about her age was she was still too young to be responsible for a baby and so was Melinda. You have knocked the wind out of my sails. I must admit I noticed you were putting on weight, but I never dreamed the cause was pregnancy. How long have you known about your situation?

Melinda wrapped her denim jacket around the front of herself to stop Joy from staring at her stomach. A few months now.

Like how many? Joy demanded as she looked straight at Melinda.

Her friend shrugged. Maybe close to four months.

Joy huffed, Is this Ben Beiler's doing?

Jah, but I share the blame, Melinda took a deep breath through her open mouth, showing her crooked teeth. We spent too many nights alone in Bender Creek timber.

When are you and Ben getting married? Time is ticking away toward your due date, Joy pointed out.

I am not getting married, and I am kronk about it. Melinda's trembling mouth fine lined as she tried not to cry.

You have the right to feel sick. Why forever not aren't you getting married? Joy pushed, looking astonished. That's what happens next when an Amish girl is expecting, isn't it? An English girl too for that matter.

Melinda's shoulders sagged. When I told Ben about the baby, he said this was my problem. He has no intention of marrying me. I have not seen him since I told him, so I reckon his mind has not changed.

Joy slapped her leg. Daniel was right about that guy. Before he left, he warned me Ben Beiler was bad news.

When Ben started taking me out my mutter told me Ben is full of the deibel and I should stay away from him, Melinda muttered.

I hate to judge a person I don't know, but I believe Daniel was right when he said Ben was no good, and your mother is right to say he is a devil. So what are you going to do? Joy quizzed.

I do not know yet. Melinda's dark brown eyes filled with the tears she had tried so hard to prevent.

Joy scooted closer and put her arm around Melinda's shoulders. Do your folks know about your --- uh --condition?

Melinda laid a hand on her belly. "That I am pregnant? You might as well say it. I have gotten used to the idea. I had to. My mutter does know because I told her. I had no other choice because I have no idea what I should do. I needed her help.

Mamm says we are not going to tell my father unless we have to. She does not know how he will take the idea of me being second-hand goods. She fears he might be harder on me than either one of us would like. He is a very strict man."

It seems to me, he's going to be able to see for himself before much longer. Don't you think? Joy pointed out.

Jah, but Mamm says ferleicht she will come up with a plan before he figures it out. I will leave the solution up to Mamm. She usually knows what is best. Melinda picked up her embroidery hoop and circled the rim with a finger. Sadness crept across her face.

Joy grimaced. "Doesn't sound like your mother is too sure what she can do to help you if perhaps is her best answer. I'm so sorry you're going through this difficult time. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Melinda shook her head. Nah, not right now anyway. Just do not tell your family or anyone about my secret. I would rather no one else knew. It's just that I have been so upset I had to share my trouble with you, my friend.

If that is what you want, I won't say a word. Cross my heart and hope to die. Joy went through the motion on her chest.

Melinda's problem wasn't hers to talk about. Sure, she'd keep the girl's revelation to herself, but Joy worried about what was going to happen to her friend. The girl wouldn't be looked on in a favorable light from now on when her secret was revealed. Behind Melinda's back, the Amish community would always call her second-hand goods.

That term still popped up when Plain people spoke about Bobby Keim's wife Priscilla. Bobby married her, knowing her baby was the result of rape by a no-good Englisher. Even though the incident wasn't her fault Plain people looked down on her. Now she had been married to Bobby Keim for some time and was expecting his baby soon. You would think that would make a difference in their opinions, but some people didn't seem to want to forget Priscilla's past.

A week later in early May, Melinda went to the phone shed at the intersection near the Esch farm and called Joy. She invited Joy to go horseback riding with her on that warm afternoon. Joy agreed and offered to meet her at Bender Creek Road turnoff on the Lapp-Bontrager Road.

Joy let her shiny, black horse, Raven, trot, enjoying the slight breeze that bounced her bright red braid back and forth. Ever since Daniel Lapp left, she had let her hair grow. Just before Daniel went away, she told him when he came home this August, after a year in Tennessee, she'd be ready to marry him. Hal Lapp had given her lessons in Pennsylvania Dutch and instructions on how to pass the catechism classes. When the time came, she'd pass the classes expected of her by Bishop Bontrager so she could join the church and become Amish. After that, Daniel Lapp and she would