Fair Love: Amish and Navy Seal Romance Novel

By Leona Seymour

Rachael Binder is unusual for an Amish woman; She is 22 and unmarried.  It isn't that she does not want marriage and a family, but she is in no hurry. Suiters are looking to give her such a life and her family is concerned with her situation.  Rachael pays them no mind, reading books about travel and other adventures, dreaming of something that is missing, but unidentified.

 

Ed Behrens is a man of the world.  A Navy Seal with the responsibility of being dive manager for his crew and a degree in marine biology, Ed is forward in his thinking and thinks nothing of taking risks that others might avoid.  Ed only planned to attend the wedding of a friend in Lancaster County, PA, when he is introduced to a woman who will change his life forever.  She is Amish and neither can see any way to fit her life and his together without turmoil.

 

Working on the puzzle will prove to test the nettle of both.  Circumstances drive them apart, but love will always find a way; especially if it is fair and good.

 

This is a standalone clean romance novel ending HEA!

• Language: English
• Publisher: PN.Books
• Release date: Jun 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393012085

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Leona Seymour

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Some characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Thank you very much for reading this book.

Title Page

Title: Fair Love

Subtitle: Amish and Navy Seal Romance novel

Author: Leona Seymour

Table of Contents

Copyright

Title Page

Fair Love

Description

Chapter 1: Rachael

Chapter 2: Edward

Chapter 3: Elizabethtown

Chapter 4: Wedding Bells

Chapter 5: A Little Romance

Chapter 6: A Goodbye

Chapter 7: Long Distance

Chapter 8: Capture

Chapter 9: Betrayal

Chapter 10: Continued Containment

Chapter 11: New Beginnings

Chapter 12: The Farm

Chapter 13: Liberation

Chapter 14: Reunion

Chapter 15: Tragedy

Chapter 16: Appearances

Chapter 17: Choices

Chapter 18: Breaking Ice

Chapter 19: Passages

Chapter 20: A New Dawn

Fair Love

Description

Rachael Binder is unusual for an Amish woman; She is 22 and unmarried.  It isn’t that she does not want marriage and a family, but she is in no hurry. Suiters are looking to give her such a life and her family is concerned with her situation.  Rachael pays them no mind, reading books about travel and other adventures, dreaming of something that is missing, but unidentified.

Ed Behrens is a man of the world.  A Navy Seal with the responsibility of being dive manager for his crew and a degree in marine biology, Ed is forward in his thinking and thinks nothing of taking risks that others might avoid.  Ed only planned to attend the wedding of a friend in Lancaster County, PA, when he is introduced to a woman who will change his life forever.  She is Amish and neither can see any way to fit her life and his together without turmoil.

Working on the puzzle will prove to test the nettle of both.  Circumstances drive them apart, but love will always find a way; especially if it is fair and good.

Chapter 1: Rachael

The sun had yet to shine on the farmyard as Rachael made her way to the barn to milk the cows.  Yawning deeply, she nodded to her brother Tobias as he made his way the same direction. The two oldest of the Binder children worked hard to help their parents keep the farm running while assisting with the raising of the rest of the brood; 4 boys and 4 girls. Tobias was only seventeen, while Rachael was considered an old maid by many of her peers at twenty-two.  Most young Amish women were married by sixteen or seventeen.  Rachael had no lack of suiters; she just seemed to find it hard to make a decision as to who would meet her needs, and really didn’t mind being single.  Her parents, Jacob and Hannah, worried about their oldest.  She appeared to like books better than men.  And that had attracted unwanted attention from the elders in their church, who admonished the Binders to get her married and settled before she was another year older.

Rachael trudged into the barn, grasping the handle of a milk pail and her three-legged stool, making her way to the first of ten stalls.  Molly stood in her stall bellowing to Rachael about her need to be milked.

Oh, now, shush. I’m here, Rachael cooed to the disgruntled cow as she sat down to begin. Soon, the soft sound of milk squishing into the bucket was heard over the lowing of the cows. Kittens mewed at her feet as Rachael filled her bucket, eager for a taste of the warm milk. Tobias hollered from the other end of the barn. I’ve gotten two milked already.  Are you still on Molly?  Slow poke! He exclaimed and laughed loudly.  Tobias always seemed to think that a race was in order for any chores that he and Rachael did.  He teased her incessantly about everything. 

Rachael just sighed as she thought about the south of France. a travel book she had checked out of the local library had such lovely pictures of rolling hills and green grasses, just as she had here at home.  She wondered if the girls there dreamt of far-away places and longed for adventure. Rachael swiped her brow with one hand, as a strand of her dark brown hair fell across her face. All the Binders had dark hair, except of Sarah, the youngest at one year.  Her hair was a bright sunny yellow, like her great-grandmother’s. Absently, Rachael noted that her bucket was full, and she moved on to the next stall, where big chocolate brown cow eyes seemed to reprove her tardiness. 

It’s ok, Betsy, here you go.  Rachael sat on her stool and began the process all over again.  Soon, milking was done.  Rachael took one bucket to the house with her to prepare for butter-making later on. 

The smell of eggs and bacon cooking assaulted her senses and stomach growled loudly as she walked in the back door. Hannah looked up from her cooking. How is my beautiful girl this morning?  she smiled as she loaded up plates for the younger children.

Apparently, I am hungry. Rachael laughed as she set the bucket down on the counter. She skimmed off the cream with a ladle, placed it in a glass jar, then put the milk in a bottle placing both in the refrigerator. She sat down next to Sarah and cut up eggs for the little one to eat. Soon, breakfast was done, and everyone hurried off to school or chores.

Rachael was scraping dishes when her father stood up from the table.  Rachael, put down the dishes.  Your mother and I have something to talk to you about. Rachael looked at her father with questioning blue eyes. She could see the concern there, but also a touch of anger. 

I know what this is about, she thought to herself as she sat down at the table, hands folded in her lap. Jacob cleared his throat as he looked at Hannah.  She looked back with a worried frown on her face, then lowered her eyes to the floor in deference to her husband. Rachael could not get her mother to look her in the eyes.

Sure enough, as soon as Jacob started speaking, Rachael could feel her hands begin to clench in her lap. The elders have spoken again to your mother and me.  They are deeply concerned that you have not accepted a suitor for marriage.  And, quite frankly, so are your mother and I. 

Rachael opened her mouth to speak but was abruptly quieted by her father’s hand in the air.  "I know you have tried to help us understand your feelings in this matter, but we must insist that you begin to take courtship seriously and pick a man suitable to marry.  At your age most women have been married and have children to raise in the Way. 

It is who you are, Rachael, and this nonsense must stop.  If you do not begin to find someone in the next six months, you will force us to choose for you.  Attraction is better than a forced marriage, and we would rather you make the choice of love, but we will do what is right and good in the end. 

Jacob lifted his daughter’s face gently to look in her eyes. Ah, my dreamer, he spoke quietly, you must come back and face reality.  Tradition and honor demand it. And Gott wills it. No matter what our feeble hearts desire, Gott must come first.

He patted Rachael’s clenched fists and went out the back door. Hannah stood there in the quiet kitchen with tears gently falling.  I know what your desire is, child, but we have no choice.  I was fortunate enough to marry the man of my heart.  I would wish the same for you.  Please consider your actions carefully. The elders are firm in this and will not hesitate should it be perceived that you are disobeying God’s commandments. And, I have seen the way the young men flock around you, yet you push them away.

Rachael stood up and faced her mother.  I cannot stand them, Maemm.  They are shallow and only looking for a brood mare to provide them with food and babies to run their farms.  They care nothing about the art or... or history or books or anything that is interesting besides how to breed a cow for the best milk production.

She sighed. Maemm, I want to travel, see how others live and taste exotic foods.  I want to wake up in castle surrounded by rosebushes as far as the eye can see, I want to see dolphins leap out of the water and feel sand between my toes and the ocean roaring behind me. I want to live! 

Rachael took a deep breath, her blue eyes filled with tears.  One tear slowly rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away angrily, staring at her mother with defiance in her eyes, yet a sadness that words could not express.

Hannah sighed. Oh, child, you are living. This is our life.  Gott has seen that the Englishers have forsaken him, have turned away from all that is good; providing a good table and having little ones around for you to love is a joy that all these worldly things cannot provide.  Rachael, you must come back to reality.  I only want your happiness and that can be found right where you are standing.

Hannah enveloped Rachael in her arms.  Releasing her, she said, Now go and make that butter before the day gets too long and the work is not done, my wanderer.  Hannah turned to begin readying lunch for the men.

Rachael stood there briefly, wanting to just run and never come back.  I will travel and I will find a different life. I just must be patient.

Days came and went.  Rachael still checked out travel books and poured over the pages, her dreams taking her to those lands she had read about and she imagined herself on adventures that kept her busy during the regular days on the farm.

It was the Binders turn to host the Sunday meeting for their parish.  Hannah, Rachael and her two younger sisters, Grace and Charity, readied the house for the meeting.  Curtains were washed and ironed. floors were scrubbed until they gleamed.  All the extra chairs were brought out by Jonah and Samuel and polished for the meeting. 

Sunday came with everyone gathering to commune in the way of the Amish.  Rachael brushed her thick dark brown hair and braided its long strands, wrapping them around her head in a bun. 

She placed her white cap on her head and smoothed out the folds of her green dress before placing her black apron over the top covering it with a black cape which she pinned to her waist.  Her sturdy black shoes and stockings came next.  She exhaled noisily and prepared herself for the day ahead.

Every family brought food for after the meeting and soon tables were laden with all sorts of salads, and desserts.  The Binders provided the pork for the main meal.  Women chattered quietly and caught up on the latest news in the community, while the men gathered in the front room, talking about the crops, weather and other important news related to their trades. 

Meeting began with the elders reading scriptures and commenting on the meanings.  There was singing and the air was one of calm and peaceful communing between the congregation and their God.  The women sat in the kitchen, the men in the front room.  Rachael caught herself looking at one of the young men. He had light brown hair and a rugged chin with soft brown eyes that were gentle and kind.  His broad chest fit nicely into the bright blue shirt under his suspenders. 

Rachael had never really looked at Micah with any interest in the past, but she kept hearing her father’s words from that morning telling her that she needed to start looking or one of the elders and her father would.  She did want to find someone of her choosing, not get stuck with someone like Josiah Berry, who was older, widowed and gruff in his manner; rumored to have been mean to his wife and hard to deal with in trade.  A younger man would be preferable, one who would at least treat her with some respect, not just a slave to his every need. 

She was looking at Micah intently, when he looked up at her.  His brown eyes were smiling over at her.  Rachael caught her breath quickly and looked down.  Micah had talked to Rachael in the past, had even taken her for a walk after meetings, but Rachael had never expressed much excitement around him. 

Micah was wise beyond his years, however, and knew that if he waited patiently, Rachael would come around eventually.  He wanted her for his wife and wouldn’t stop trying until he got her.  His father’s farm would be his as the oldest, so he knew that he could provide a nice life for Rachael and give her all she would need or want.  Micah chuckled to himself when Rachael dropped her eyes. 

She sees, she is just playing hard to get.  I will win her over yet.

The meeting ended and the women set about laying the food on the tables for the men.  After the men had gotten their plates filled, the women fed the children and then themselves.  The chatter continued in earnest at that point. 

Rachael sat at the end of one table absently picking at her food and wishing she were anywhere other than surrounded by fussing women and children.

Hello, Rachel, a voice interrupted her musings.  She looked up into the smiling brown eyes of Micah who stood next to her chair.  Would you be interested in taking a walk with me?

Oh, of course, Micah, Rachael replied.  That would be nice.  She stood and followed him away from the table.  She knew that all those gossiping women would have plenty of comments about her leaving with Micah.  Let them think whatever they like.  I am not marrying Micah, just taking a walk with him to escape the boredom.

Micah lead Rachael down to the river that ran through the property. They sat on an old log facing the river.  The water flowed lazily along, birds chirping and an occasional butterfly winding by on its way to another flower. 

It’s peaceful here by the water, Rachael