Lover of Captive: A Collection of Amish and Clean Romance Stories

By Lucy Stanford

Collection of 1 Clean romance novel and 3 Clean contemporary romance short stories or over 80k words of reading!

 

Fair Love: Amish and Navy Seal Romance Novel

A Faith Much-Damned –Clean Christian Romance

Miles Apart - Amish and Military Romance Story

THE UNBETRAYAL- Amish and Carpenter Romance

 

This collection contains standalone romance short stories ending HEA!

• Language: English
• Publisher: PN.Books
• Release date: Jun 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393566984

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Lucy Stanford (Editor)

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: Lover of Captive

Subtitle: A Collection of Amish and Clean Romance Short Stories

Editor: Lucy Stanford

Table of Contents

Copyright

Title Page

Fair Love

A Faith Much-Damned

Miles Apart

THE UNBETRAYAL

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 said. I like to come here to think and imagine myself in an exotic place, the wildlife surrounding me and adventure awaiting. She looked over at Micah.  Don’t you ever wish you were someplace else?  Somewhere new?

Micah pulled a blade of long grass and stuck it in his mouth.  Well I don’t know that I’ve ever really thought about that.  I mean, all I’ve ever known was Elizabethtown and the farm.  I guess I’ve been to Pittsburgh once when my mother was ill, but it was noisy and too many people.  I didn’t care for all the dirty streets and the people who were rude and ill-mannered.  I just like the harmony of the fields and the water.  It makes me happy.

Rachael slipped off her shoes and dipped her feet in the cool water.  I suppose so.  My books take me away, but it is nothing like really being there.  I feel so restless sometimes I just want to burst with all the energy trapped inside me.

Micah came to stand next to Rachael. That may be so but remember where you are. It is not our way to run from what we know.  I would hate to see you shunned, Rachael.  We both know that it would break many hearts if we would lose you. 

Rachael looked up and saw the look in Micah’s eyes.  Does that include you, Micah? she asked quietly.

Micah looked out over the water.  Yes, Rachael, he replied.  That would include me.  Micah took a deep breath and looked down at Rachael, offering her his hand to get up. 

We had better get back before the elders have more to worry about.  He chuckled as he helped her stand. Don’t want those women to get the wrong idea.

Rachael laughed out loud, the sound like tinkling bells to Micah. Surely, I give them enough to chatter over all by myself. The two walked back to the gathering with no more words between them, each lost in what their conversation had implied.

Rachael pondered the walk that night as she readied for bed.  Charity prattled on about how Jeremiah had hit Christian with the ball when they were playing softball after meeting.  Rachael was lost in her thoughts when the room became silent. 

She looked up to find Charity and Grace both looking at her expectantly.  What? she asked.  Charity rolled her eyes.  I asked you if Micah kissed you on your ‘walk’? 

Both girls giggled. 

Rachael sighed and shook her head.  No, nothing happened.  We just went down to the river and talked, that’s all. 

Grace nodded.  Well, he was looking at you with cow eyes just like Bessie when you go to milk her.  The two giggled and rolled over their bed with laughter.

Rachael was across the room in seconds, tickling them both and giggling as well.  You two are horrible! she exclaimed as she wrestled with them.  Cow eyes, indeed!

When all was quiet, Rachael laid in her bed thinking about what her sisters had said. He did look interested.  I felt him trying to tell me more, but he didn’t, so I shouldn’t think more than what was at face value.  I suppose Micah would be a choice if I had to choose. Her eyes closed in sleep.

Chapter 2: Edward

Ed pulled himself onto the ramp to the boat. He jerked off his mask and spun around to the men standing behind him.  What do you idiots think you were doing?  We could have been ambushed by those guerillas! My job is to get us in and out of an extraction without injury, but I can’t do that if I don’t have all the information.  Luckily, we got our target out.

Ed turned to a man sitting dazed on the deck, his clothes dirty and ragged.  A scraggly beard hung from a face with haunted eyes and a lost look. The man looked up at Ed.  You got me and that’s all that matters. Thank you. 

Ed nodded and headed into the captain’s cabin. He didn’t want the person they had saved to know that he was as relieved as he was.  Intel had told them that there were only three to four guards at the compound at any one time in the area they had targeted.  The incursion should have been in and out, no problems. 

It was discovered that the faction had at least twelve guards on site, many with automatic weapons.  The fight to get inside had cost them one man and a lengthy firefight.  They had probably caught the attention of the man who had ordered the capture in the first place.  His commander had given implicit instructions to avoid that, but they had no choice once they were on the ground. 

The only thing that saved them was Grunder staying back to place cover fire for their exit or they wouldn’t have extracted their target; a reporter who had gotten too close to the insurgents and had been captured and tortured for five months.

Ed didn’t mind the task, he just liked to know all the details, complete details before an operation.  He liked to see everyone come out alive. 

That didn’t happen. Not only did Grunder get killed, they were unable to retrieve his body.  That rankled Ed more than anything.  He knew those rats would not bury him or give him a proper send-off. 

His distinctive green eyes squinted in the bright light as he looked out over the water.  The tall man’s aspiration for perfection had led to massive shoulders and thickly muscled arms and legs. 

He was lean and sculpted, a brown-haired picture of the perfect Navy seal.  But he was also entertaining and a pleasure to be around in his off-hours.  His men trusted him and enjoyed his company.

The cruiser landed at the base docks.  Ed looked out as they coasted into their mooring.  Commander Briggs stood there with family members of the reporter.  Ed groaned internally as he watched the bystanders waiting patiently.  He knew that he had a report to give and paperwork to file.

He also knew that he would be given the difficult task of telling Grunder’s family that his mate had been killed. That would be the worst part.  He pushed all that aside as they docked and watched the reporter greeted by his family with tears and hugs.  He was glad that the mission was successful, and he could watch the family re-united.

He was also grateful that he wasn’t married and had to worry about making it back for a family.  That would be unimaginable and so terribly painful.  Ed had seen and felt enough pain in his life without that added burden.  Ed ordered his men to clean-up and store the equipment while he went to give his mission report to the commander

Well, at least the retrieval was successful, Behrens.  I am truly sorry that the information we got wasn’t accurate, but that is your job, anyway; to make sure the situation is wrapped up with the least amount of difficulty. The loss of a team member is also tragic, and I am sure the whole team will miss Grunder and his unique skills.  We will deal with the task of a replacement later.  Give the team a week of time off with pay to take a chance to re-coup and we’ll move on to the next project.  Now, remind me again when your research project begins?

Ed had pushed all that aside for this mission, His mind re-wound down to mundane thoughts.  Sir, I begin in two weeks. We will be studying the impact of fishing on the tuna population off the coast of Florida, and how it affects the eco-system.

Yes, well, that sounds exceedingly boring and uneventful.  Should be a good time to recover your energies for the next mission. Enjoy your time away, Lieutenant. That is all. Commander Briggs dismissed Ed by pushing papers around on his desk.

The house was a nice bi-level in a neighborhood full of kids.  Ed had a hard time seeing Grunder living there, but who knew what helped him relax after work? Ed parked his Jeep on the curb and walked up a sidewalk lined with petunias on both sides.  He knocked on the door and was met by a neatly dressed, petite black woman in her mid-thirties.

She smiled broadly. Hello, Ed. How did you beat my husband home? She looked around Ed to see if Tim was standing there hiding from her.

When her eyes returned to Ed’s face, she knew why he was there. Her face crumbled into sadness. No, Ed.  Tell me it isn’t so.  Tim’s just running late, right?  Her eyes said what she was afraid to verbalize. 

Ed could only look down and shake his head no. Peg slumped against Ed’s chest and trembled.  Ed could hear her quiet sobs as he held her there until she could stop.  He led her into the living room and sat her down on the couch. 

In a quiet voice he told her what had happened and just stayed with her for a while. Ed offered to call someone to come over, but Peg told him she would be alright, and he could leave. He eventually left the house.

Darkness had crept onto the beachfront by the time Ed’s thoughts had settled.  He took another swig of the beer he held and threw the can in the trash.  He walked down the boardwalk toward the bar the team always visited after each trip to wind down and relax.

The crew sat around the table staring at their glasses.  Finally, Tubbs lifted his drink and stood. The whole bar, most of them Navy, ceased all conversation as they knew what was coming. 

Here’s to Grunder, the toughest and strongest of us all. Tubbs declared loudly.  May he rest in peace.  Everyone lifted their glasses to the toast, some nodding in respect, others looking at their glasses in memory of others who had passed before.  The conversations picked up and the general din resumed. Ed took a sip of his beer and said, Grunder saved us all.  He was the best of us. 

Ed’s thoughts that night were restless and troubled as he lay there waiting for sleep to finally claim him.  He had only lost two men in the ten years he had been a seal,