Amish Shelter

By Stephanie Swift

A collection of Amish Romance... 
Amber is a successful business woman who visits the local Amish community at her mother's request. Once there, she immediately catches the eye of the handsome Abel who insists that he knows her. The longer Amber stays in the town, the more she realizes all she has been missing in her life and wonders why her mother insisted that she visit..The truth is soon revealed, however, as Amber discovers that her connection to the town is deeper than she even realized. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201986681

Book preview

AMISH SHELTER

STEPHANIE SWIFT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMISH SHELTER

THE AMISH WAY

SAVANNAH’S DILEMMA

NAOMI’S PROMISE

ANNIE’S CHOICE

ANGELA’S ANSWER

A FAMILY FOR RACHEL

A PROPER AMISH MAN

THE CRADLE

Momma, are you sure we’re in the right place?

Andrea looked down at her six-year-old daughter, Lindsey, and attempted a smile. As they held hands and gazed across the expansive corn fields on both sides of the dirt road, Andrea swallowed hard past the lump that formed in her throat.

I’m positive, sweetie. We just need to keep walking.

With a slight tug, she pulled Lindsey along with her. The sun was slowly making its descent on the horizon, and it wouldn’t be long before they didn’t have the light to guide their way. She wasn’t sure how far they would have to walk to find her friend, Claire, in the small Amish community outside of Lancaster, but she knew without a doubt in her mind they were on the right path.

It’s spooky out here, Lindsey commented with a tremor in her voice.

Andrea wanted to be strong and calm her fears, but she had to admit it was kind of creepy being lone travelers on such a remote road. As the tall corn stalks swayed to-and-fro with the breeze, the rustling sound between them sent a chill up her spine.

I tell you what, why don’t we play the I Spy game while we walk? Maybe that will help ease your mind. You can go first.

Lindsey huffed. But there aren’t any colors out here to choose from besides the green field, the blue sky, and the brown dirt.

Andrea chuckled. She had a point.

Do you think Mr. Jeff knows where we are?

Andrea’s laughter ended abruptly as Lindsey’s innocent question gripped her heart. Jeff, her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, was hopefully still at work fifty miles away in Harrisburg and oblivious to their whereabouts.

I doubt it. He probably doesn’t even know the Amish people live here.

The catch in Lindsey’s voice brought tears to her eyes as a wave of guilt washed over her for the millionth time. If she hadn’t been so enamored with Jeff when they first met almost a year ago, she and Lindsey wouldn’t be in such a predicament. She should’ve listened to her close friends, including Claire, when they warned her he was nothing but trouble.

Andrea froze in her tracks when the breeze died down and she heard a noise looming just beyond the curve several yards ahead of them. Before she had the chance to decide whether to stay put or hide somewhere deep in the corn field, a horse and wagon rounded the curve, driven by an Amish gentleman.

Andrea held on tight to Lindsey’s hand as they moved over to the side of the road so he could pass by, but when he came within just a few feet of them, he pulled up on the reins and brought the horse to a stop. He took off his black felt hat and nodded to them, and Andrea was immediately drawn to his kind smile.

"Hallo!" he called.

Lindsey cowered behind her as Andrea waved at him. She felt at a loss for words, and she was also very self-conscious over how tattered and worn her clothes were, compared to his clean and crisp dress slacks and pressed shirt.

Can I help the two of you? he inquired. My name is Levi Troyer, by the way.

He leaned over in his seat and extended a hand to her, and Andrea tentatively shook it. She couldn’t help but notice he was quite handsome, and his eyes were the lightest shade of brown – almost a golden brown – which was a striking comparison to his jet-black hair. His grip was firm, and she trembled involuntarily from the warmth of his touch. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to notice.

I’m Andrea Watson, and this is my daughter, Lindsey. We’re friends with Claire and David. I can’t recall their last name, but they’re from your community. We were on our way to visit them.

He seemed somewhat puzzled by her remark, but his curious expression came and went before she could make much of it.

"Yah...Claire and David Miller. I can take you to them, if you like. It’s getting late, and you shouldn’t be out here alone."

Lindsey clutched her shirt so tightly she could hardly breathe.

Thank you, but I would hate to cause you any trouble.

Levi scooted over and patted the empty seat beside him. I couldn’t in good conscious leave you two here, and it’s really no trouble at all.

Andrea pried Lindsey’s fingers from her shirt and coaxed her into the wagon. She knew her daughter was frightened and, honestly, she was too, but at the moment she was more concerned with finding shelter. Levi turned the wagon around, and as she sat between him and Lindsey, she was suddenly very aware of how close they were. Andrea risked a glance at him, and when their eyes met for a couple of brief seconds, she felt her cheeks flush.

Do you mind me asking how you know the Miller’s? he asked.

Andrea kept a protective arm around Lindsey’s waist and her eyes focused on the road, so she wouldn’t become distracted again.

I used to visit her quilt shop at least once a week when I lived close by, and we became good friends.

From the corner of her eye she caught him nodding his head.

So, you’re from the area then?

Andrea and Lindsey looked at each other at the same time, and she pondered for a moment how she should answer. She didn’t want to tell this complete stranger her life’s story, but she also didn’t want to send up any red flags that would make him suspicious.

I moved to Harrisburg when I married Lindsey’s father.

They rounded a couple of curves before the houses came into view, and Andrea was instantly struck by how quaint the little community was. It appeared as if everyone lived within walking distance of each other, and she saw several of the men working in fields and a couple of women relaxing on their front porch swings. All of them waved as they rode by.

What kind of work does your husband do?

She felt Lindsey’s muscles tense again, and when she looked up at Andrea with her big blue eyes, she saw they were tinged with sadness.

He was a Marine. He died a couple of years ago while serving in Afghanistan.

They stopped in front of a small wood framed house with two beautiful rose bushes hugging the front porch steps, and when Levi turned in his seat to face her, she had no other choice but to look at him.

I’m so sorry for your loss, he said, softly.

She thanked him and immediately looked away when the front door opened and Claire appeared. She was busy wiping her hands on an apron tied around her waist, and when she spotted Andrea and Lindsey in the wagon, she furrowed a brow.

Andrea? What brings you here? Is everything alright?

They scurried down from the wagon and, before Andrea could answer, Lindsey took the steps two at a time and went running into Claire’s open arms. She expected Levi to leave, but instead he stepped down from the wagon and hitched the reins to one of the front porch railings.

Let’s all go inside, Claire suggested. I just made a fresh pot of coffee.

Andrea frowned as she followed Claire and Lindsey in the house, with Levi in tow. She needed to talk to Claire alone, so she could explain her unexpected arrival, but she couldn’t do that with other people listening – especially not the handsome stranger by her side.

* * *

Levi was intrigued.

It wasn’t every day he came upon two English people walking the main road to his little town, and something in his gut told him Andrea and Lindsey Watson weren’t just visiting. First of all, where was her vehicle? The road from Lancaster was quite long, and most outsiders traveled there by car or hailed a taxi.

As they entered Claire’s house, he kept a close eye on Andrea, as inconspicuously as he could. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her. There was just something about her that tugged at his heartstrings, and even more so now that he knew what happened to her late husband. She was a stunning young woman, but there was an emptiness in her eyes that shook him to his core and one he’d never witnessed with another human being. 

David was sitting at the dining room table drinking a cup of coffee when they entered the kitchen, and as he stood to greet them, Claire whispered something in his ear. He raised a brow before mouthing a quick hello to Claire and Lindsey and ushering Levi down the hallway to the living room.

Let’s give the women a little privacy, he said. How have you been, Levi? Was your father able to get the help he needed to build that new addition onto his barn?

Levi cast a wayward glance toward the kitchen as they entered the living room and sat down on the sofa. Even though he and David had been close friends since childhood, he didn’t feel like making chit-chat with him at the moment but, unfortunately, he had no other choice.

"Yah, he did. My uncle William and cousin Michael helped us put it up last weekend."

If Levi had his way, he would be in the kitchen with Andrea, finding out more about her and what brought her to town. David took a sip of coffee from his mug, and while he was preoccupied, Levi looked in the direction of the kitchen again. He could see the women’s shadows illuminated in the hallway by the glow of the lantern, but their voices were low and inaudible.

That’s good, David replied. Levi?

Startled, Levi refocused his attention to the conversation at hand and, even though he knew it was none of his business, he decided to throw caution to the wind and find out from David if he knew what was going on. Before he could say a word, however, he heard the women’s voices in the hallway. When they joined them in the living room, Levi could tell Andrea had been crying.

Levi, doesn’t your mother have an empty bedroom she could spare for a couple of days? Claire asked.

He nodded as the women sat down on the loveseat across from them and Lindsey curled up on Andrea’s lap. Claire remained on the edge of the seat with her back straight and gave Andrea’s knee an affectionate pat.

We don’t have a spare room, and Andrea and Lindsey need a place to stay until they’re able to gather their belongings from Harrisburg.

Levi glimpsed beside her at Andrea, who looked so small and fragile in her little corner of the loveseat, and he fought the urge to go to her and take her in his arms. The thought made his pulse race and also surprised him, since they’d just met and he still knew very little about her.

"Yah, I’m sure that would be fine, he said. I can take them to her house."

Claire held up a hand. You don’t have to do that, Levi, but thank you for volunteering. We’ll walk over there together.

They talked for several more minutes before walking outside together, and when the ladies parted ways with them, Levi felt his heart sink as he watched the three of them take off in the direction of his parents’ home. Claire had her arm draped across Andrea’s shoulders while Lindsey skipped beside them, kicking rocks in her path.

It looked like Claire was doing most of the talking and Andrea was keeping her eyes focused on the ground. He wished he could follow them, but he still had errands to run in Lancaster before the stores closed. As he waved goodbye to David and took his place behind the reins, Levi glanced behind him one last time at the women before steering the horse and wagon toward the main road.

Hopefully, he would have the opportunity to talk to Andrea when he showed up for work the next morning at his father’s dairy farm. It was times like these he wished he still lived at home instead of own his own, but somehow or other, he would find a way to get close to her.

* * *

The sound of someone clanging pots and pans in the kitchen woke Andrea bright and early the next morning, and she groaned as she rolled over in bed and put the pillow on top of her head to drown out the noise. As much as she appreciated Mr. and Mrs. Troyer giving her and Lindsey a place to stay, she wished she could just ignore everyone and stay in bed all day.

She didn’t want to think about Jeff or worry over how she would get their clothes and other items from his home without causing a major meltdown. She could just imagine how angry he must have been when he arrived home from work the previous evening and discovered they were long gone. It wouldn’t surprise her at all if he stormed out of the house and went searching for them, and she hoped and prayed he would never find them. If she had to, she would go to the police department and file a restraining order against him.

Andrea flinched when someone knocked on the bedroom door.

Andrea? Would you and Lindsey like some scrambled eggs? Mrs. Troyer asked.

She wasn’t hungry, but wasn’t about to be rude either. Claire, David, Levi, and his parents had shown her more kindness than she’d received from anyone in a very long time.

Yes, ma’am. Thank you. We’ll be right out. 

She heard the soft pitter-patter of the tiny woman’s steps in the hallway as she walked back to the kitchen, and Andrea nudged Lindsey, who was sleeping soundly beside her.

Lindsey, sweetheart, you need to wake up. Mrs. Troyer is cooking breakfast for us.

Lindsey opened her eyes briefly before drifting back to sleep again, and when Andrea nudged her a second time, she grunted and pouted.

I don’t want to get up either, but she’s cooking your favorite – scrambled eggs.

That brought her to life, and when she jumped out of bed and changed clothes, Andrea regretfully followed suit. Mrs. Troyer had loaned them a couple of long nightgowns to sleep in, and it was so comfortable and warm she hated to take it off.

A loud bang outside the bedroom window caught her attention, and when she went to see what the commotion was about, she saw Levi stacking some boards beside his father’s barn. His clothes were dusty, and his hair was disheveled, but it only added to his rugged handsomeness instead of detracting from it and the sight of him made her heart flutter.

Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Andrea quickly changed clothes and followed Lindsey to the kitchen, where they found Mrs. Troyer filling two plates with a heaping pile of scrambled eggs. As they sat down to eat, she expected Mrs. Troyer to leave as soon as they started eating, but she was happy when she chose to stay and talk to them.

It was nice having a conversation with someone that didn’t end up in a screaming match, and the discussion continued long after she and Lindsey finished eating. Andrea wished it could go on forever, and she sighed at the realization they would be leaving soon.

Lindsey, would you like to help me feed the chickens and gather some tomatoes in the garden? Mrs. Troyer asked.

She didn’t need to ask twice and when Lindsey bounded from the table with an enormous grin on her face, it made Andrea’s heart swell. Mrs. Troyer went to pick up the plates from the table, but Andrea stopped her.

You two go ahead, and I’ll take care of the dishes, she said.

As soon as Lindsey and Mrs. Troyer made their way out the back door, Andrea carried the empty plates and cups to the kitchen sink and began filling it with water. A couple of minutes later, she heard the back door open and close again. She assumed Lindsey must have left something behind, but instead it was Levi, and that excited more than she cared to admit.

"Guder mariye," he called.

Andrea gave him a quizzical look, which made him laugh.

I’m sorry, he continued. That means ‘good morning’.

Oh...good morning, she replied with a smile.

He held a cup in his left hand, and when he walked over to the stove and poured himself some coffee from the kettle on top of it, Andrea made a futile attempt not to stare at him. She had only one dish left to wash, but