Amish At Heart: Quilted Hills, #5

By Bev Haynes and Jewel Adams

Carly may have stayed at the Amish Inn to escape the past, but what she found would change her entire life. She took the Amish life into her heart, then met a man that would fill her with love.

But the past won't stay buried, Live through Isaac and Carly's troubles as danger stalks them. They say love conquers all. Carly finds that the love in her new life does so much more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bev Haynes
• Release date: Feb 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201892692

Bev Haynes

Bev Haynes and Jewel Adams, best friends for over 20 years, began co-authoring an Amish Romance series in 2018.  As of 2022, they live only doors apart and can now write together in the wilds of Wyoming! They hope you enjoy reading this series as much as they enjoyed creating it for you. More books in the Quilted Hills Series to come!

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

L evi, you better take it. I can’t do this!

You can and you will, Carly. I will not help you this time. Pull the reins back with a firm hold that is it, you have slowed her down.

What will I do on the road? What if she bolts? I cannot do this!

For an Amish lady, you are being very weak. Amish, all can manage a buggy. Or did you lose your nerve?

She looked over at the man sitting in the buggy beside her and scoffed at him. That is not nice to say for an Amish man.

Then show me you are a strong Amish woman.

She worried her lip and knew if she kept it up, it would be swollen. Managing the buggy did not seem to come easy to her. Mayhap she needed to refigure her method.

Carly took a deep breath, Okay, Mary, we are going to do this. She gently clicked the reins and eased up on her hold of them. The horse’s ears flipped back to listen to her. That is right, Mary, we will do this. I have a big carrot ready for you when we get home.

She heard Levi chuckle, but she ignored him. The mare and she needed to reach an agreement, or she would be in trouble with her life. I cannot allow that to happen.

Since her baptism, everything continued to move ahead for her. She found a girl that worked at the library to rent her apartment at the Farm Stay. Her new apartment above the bakery turned out perfect, holding to Amish customs. She still needed to finish the extra room for Rachel, the Amish girl she hired to help her at the bakery. Carly and Rachel’s parents decided it would be better for her to stay over during the workweek. Things could change once Carly got a grip on driving the buggy.

The new stable for the mare was finished last week along with the new fencing. Mary now lived with her, and she was proud of the room made for the horse and buggy.

Her friend, Levi taught her how to harness the horse and hook her up to the buggy. Of course, she still needed a bit more training.

You are doing very well.

Thank you, I have a good teacher.

She could see him blush over her praise. Did she say something she shouldn’t have? She needed to speak to Ruby about it. Maybe no one told him how good he truly was with the horses and teaching. Jah, she felt it more than anything.

Am I going the right way?

"Jah, stay on this road to the haus and use it to get back to your home. I liked you named the horse Mary. It fits her well. She will need to be brushed down and put her coat on. It is getting chilly at night, and she will like a blanket."

You checked out her barn, so it’s alright for her?

"Jah, it is perfect for her, and the little one Mary carries."

I hope so. I don’t have much more room. I wasn’t sure if I should have built the shelter for the buggy, but I had the room for it on the side of the place.

I think it is a good addition, and your buggy will last much longer for having it.

Good, please let me know if I need to do anything else.

I will, but you are doing fine. Oh, and keep talking to the animal. Mary likes to hear you, and she listens as well. You settled her right down.

I’m glad you said what you did. You’re right. I need to make myself do these things.

You are doing very well. Carly the people are impressed by the effort you have put into your decision. It is right.

She smiled to herself, her heart filled with love for her new life and the people in it. I packed a box full of bake goods for you and your family.

Miriam will be thrilled. She likes your muffins and uh, scores...

Scones. I’m glad she likes them. I also put some cookies in for the twins. They are growing so fast.

They are into everything now that they are walking. The girls keep their mom busy.

I’m sure they do. Carly stopped talking to concentrate on turning into Levi’s drive.

Go ahead and turn the buggy around to head out.

"Jah, I can do it."

You can.

Please tell Miriam hello for me. I want to get home before dark. Oh, and don’t forget the box.

Levi jumped down from the seat and reached in for the box.

"Remember, this road will take you right to your haus, and make sure to talk to Mary. Tell her where you are going so she will get used to the words and what they mean. Horses are intelligent."

"Jah, I believe they are. Thanks so much, Levi."

He touched his hat and smiled. Take it slow, and you will do fine.

Carly held her breath and released one rein to wave to him, quickly picking it back up. Come on, Mary, let us go home.

CHAPTER 2

Carly ran the brush down Mary’s back then onto the animal's sides. She cleaned the horse’s hooves. Next came the blanket, Levi is right, Mary, you are an even mannered horse and gentle with me, thank you. She pulled the forelock out from under the halter and rubbed her face with her hand. I have not forgotten your treat. Just let me get your grain box filled and some nice fresh hay to eat.

Once done, she reached into her pocket as Mary watched her. Here you go, pretty lady. Carly broke the carrot in two and held out her hand palm up with the first piece. Mary took the carrot gently from her. "Oh Jah, you enjoy this veggie. We’ll try others like apples. Mary placed her head against Carly’s chest and snorted softly. She figured that meant the horse wanted the other half of the carrot. Here you go, sweet lady. I need to put the buggy away. Stay safe and have a good night." Mary nodded her head up and down as if in answer.

Carly smiled and waved from the door. She slid the lock into place and headed around the corner of the building. When they arrived, she parked the buggy in front of the shed before she unhitched Mary. Carly eased the buggy back into the shed. It worked, good, soon it will be routine.

Sliding the door in place, she then put the padlock on and clicked it shut. She felt it was better to lock it and the tack up at night. Carly looked up and waved her hand in front of the motion detector, pleased to see the light come on. She installed the lights at each corner, knowing she no longer lived in the country.

Ruby told her to get the lights and locks. It surprised Carly, but she did as her friend asked and felt glad she listened.

Once inside, she relocked the doors and headed to the kitchen. She wanted to heat the soup she made yesterday. As it was heating, Carly raced up the stairs to lay out her nightgown. Her fingers rolled over the tiny buttons, I did a decent job sewing this.

Now, she had a dress for each workday, a worship dress, and one more regular one just in case. It most likely was more than she would typically need, but with the bakery, she would be covered in flour and other kinds of things by the end of the day. Being able to wear one another day would be a rare occurrence.

Carly heard about sleeve covers. In the past, printing press workers used them. She was going to try making them. With the aprons, it may give her more than one day’s wear.

Carly discovered she really liked to sew. It took a few tries and lots of help from Ruby, but once she perfected her stitches and learned how to make the style, she kept on going. She sewed all the time when she settled down at night in her rocker.

Smelling the soup, she headed downstairs.

Her hands worked faster than she did, shutting off the stove and pulling dishes from the cupboard

Napkin and hot soup in hand, she sat down at the table in a small room beside the kitchen. As she ate, she thought of all the things that still needed to be completed before Monday. I think I’ll set up the room for Rachel tomorrow. I want her to feel at home here. Carly thought of the extra dresses and aprons she made for Rachel. I know she will like them, and we will match for work.

Rachael’s father would drive the girl here early Monday morning, and Carly felt anxious to start the week.

As she finished clearing up from dinner and headed upstairs, Carly stopped and listened to a new sound coming from outside. She stood on the landing and looked out the small window, but she didn’t see anything.

She reached her room and went over to the window that looked out over Mary's stable. She finally let out her breath when she failed to find anything amiss. I will need to walk about tomorrow to be sure all is fine. She left the window partially open, so she would be sure to hear Mary if she were disturbed.

CHAPTER 3

The morning sun started to make its presence known. Carly stretched out under the covers, glad that spring finally started to come forward. She liked the chilly mornings, and her heart filled with new life when it warmed up.

She already made the growing stands for her veggies and hoped to get the seeds planted today. Once they started to grow, she would need to lower the screening to keep the animals and Mary away from the seedlings. The flower boxes out on the store's front porch would hold carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes. Carly would add a few marigolds for color to help fight the bugs.

The pounding again. She threw back the covers and went to the window. "Nothing,