A Widower's Amish Courtship

By Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann

Glen Kauffman has spent the last few years of his life in the Englisch world. But now that he’s a single dad, all he longs to do is return to his Amish roots and raise his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Grace, in the peaceful Plain community where he grew up.
When Glen reconnects with his schweschder, Roberta, he isn’t expecting to find the beautiful and now grown-up Charlotte Eicher assisting as a mother’s helper. She’s exactly what he and his daughter need.
Charlotte doesn’t remember much about her older brother Sammy’s best friend who’d jumped the fence several years ago. But handsome widower Glen Kauffman desperately needs help with his challenging daughter. Charlotte agrees to tend to young Grace while Glen works during the day, but she has no plans to become attached to the young girl—or fall in love with Grace’s father.
Can Glen convince Charlotte that he and his daughter are worthy of her heart? Or will they prove to be too much of a risk?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann
• Release date: Jun 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215066027

Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann

USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann seeks to pen compelling stories that captivate readers and bring glory to GOD. She has penned over forty Amish fiction titles in her “cant-put-down” writing style. She resides in Indiana Amish Country with her family on a former Amish farm where the documentary Breaking the Silence was filmed. "...Spredemann weaves a thread of love and intrigue into a quilt of faith and values." - reader reviewGrab a FREE story when you join my newsletter! Go here: https://www.jenniferspredemann.com/ABOUT MY BOOKS...It seems like every series I've written has been unique:AMISH GIRLS SERIES: (co-authored with my daughters) is a fun series set in Pennsylvania and is geared for teens (although many of my older readers have said they thoroughly enjoyed it!) (8 books + 2 tie-ins)AMISH BY ACCIDENT TRILOGY: Amish by Accident was originally a stand-alone book (my first book released!) It was SO different (that was my crazy imagination kicking in), I was unsure how readers would respond (or if anyone would even read it, LOL). And then the reviews started coming in! As of today, the book has 700+ Amazon reviews with a 4.5 STAR average! PRAISE THE LORD!!! I ended up writing a sequel and a prequel, thus the trilogy. :) (3 books)AMISH SECRETS SERIES: Oh, boy! This series tackles some pretty intense topics that you likely won't read about in your mainstream Amish fiction books. The first book in this series, An Unforgivable Secret is currently FREE in ebook. This was another one that I was unsure how it would resound with readers. It currently has 1900+ Amazon ratings and reviews with a 4.5 STAR average! GOD IS GOOD! (7 books)AMISH FAIRY TALES: (originally "FAIRLY" TALES, on purpose, but not everybody "gets" my twist on words) Basically, loose retellings of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, Amish-style (2 books, #3 on the backburner)KING FAMILY SAGA : the Bible stories of Isaac & Rebekah; Jacob, Rachel, & Leah; Joseph; Ruth; and David loosely told in an Amish context. (5 books so far)AMISH COUNTRY BRIDES: Sweet faith-filled romances set in Indiana (12 books)STAND-ALONE STORIES: Her Amish Identity (previously known as Love Impossible), An Unexpected Christmas Gift (Unlikely Singing loosely ties into this sweet love story)UNLIKELY SERIES: Unlikely Santa (An Amish Christmas Story), its sequel Unlikely Sweethearts, Unlikely Singing, and Unlikely Season - LOVED writing this series.AMISH COLLABORATIONS: Amish Christmas Miracles Collection (2020), More Amish Christmas Miracles (2021), Amish Spring Romance (2022)Coming 2023 (Lord willing!): AMISH COURTSHIP SERIESA Forbidden Amish CourtshipA Widower's Amish CourtshipTBA

Book preview

BOOKS by JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

AMISH BY ACCIDENT TRILOGY

Amish by Accident

Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

Christmas in Paradise (Sequel to Amish by Accident) (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

AMISH SECRETS SERIES

An Unforgivable Secret - Amish Secrets 1

A Secret Encounter - Amish Secrets 2

A Secret of the Heart - Amish Secrets 3

An Undeniable Secret - Amish Secrets 4

A Secret Sacrifice - Amish Secrets 5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

A Secret of the Soul - Amish Secrets 6

A Secret Christmas – Amish Secrets 2.5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

KING FAMILY SAGA (AMISH ROMANCES)

An Amish Reward (Isaac)

An Amish Deception (Jacob)

An Amish Honor (Joseph)

An Amish Blessing (Ruth)

An Amish Betrayal (David)

AMISH COUNTRY BRIDES

The Trespasser (Amish Country Brides)

The Heartbreaker (Amish Country Brides)

The Charmer (Amish Country Brides)

The Drifter (Amish Country Brides)

The Giver (Amish Country Brides Christmas)

The Teacher (Amish Country Brides)

The Widower (Amish Country Brides)

The Keeper (Amish Country Brides)

The Pretender (Amish Country Brides)

The Arranger (condensed version previously featured in the Amish Spring Romance collection)

The Healer (Amish Country Brides)

The Newcomer (Amish Country Brides) The Prequel

UNLIKELY AMISH CHRISTMAS

Unlikely Santa

Unlikely Sweethearts

Unlikely Singing (More Amish Christmas Miracles)

Unlikely Season

AMISH COURTSHIP SERIES

A Forbidden Amish Courtship

A Widower’s Amish Courtship

FAIRY TALES

The Princess and the Prayer Kapp (Cindy’s Story & Rosabelle’s Story)

OTHER

Learning to Love – Saul’s Story (Sequel to Chloe’s Revelation)

Her Amish Identity

An Unexpected Christmas Gift

COMING 2023 (Lord Willing)

A Christmas Amish Courtship

Special 10 Year Anniversary Edition of Amish by Accident

The Crimson Dress (previously published under a pen name)

The Wanderer (Amish Country Brides) story extra

BOOKS by J.E.B. SPREDEMANN

AMISH GIRLS SERIES

Joanna’s Struggle

Danika’s Journey

Chloe’s Revelation

Susanna’s Surprise

Annie’s Decision

Abigail’s Triumph

Brooke’s Quest

Leah’s Legacy

A Christmas of Mercy – Amish Girls Holiday

Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

Ach – Oh

Ach du liebe – Expression similar to Oh, my goodness! or Oh, dear!

Bann – Shunning/excommunication

Boppli/Bopplin – Baby/Babies

Bruder/Brieder – Brother/Brothers

Daed/Dat – Dad

Denki – Thanks

Der Herr – The Lord

Der Welt – The world

Dietsch – Pennsylvania German

Dochder(n) – Daughter(s)

Dumm – Dumb

Dummkopp – Dummy

Englischer – A non-Amish person

Ferhoodled – Crazy, scatterbrained, mind is elsewhere

Fraa – Wife/Missus

G’may – Members of an Amish fellowship

Gott – God

Gross sohn – Grandson

Gut – Good

Haus – House

Herr – Mister/Lord

Hochmut – Proud

Jah – Yes

Kapp – Amish head covering for women

Kinner – Children

Kumm – Come

Lieb – Love

Maed/Maedel – Girls/Girl

Mamm – Mom

Nee – No

Ordnung – Rules followed by the Amish church (varies according to district)

Schatzi – Sweetheart

Schweschder(n) – Sister(s)

Sohn – Son

The familye way – Pregnant

Vatter – Father

Verboten – Forbidden

Wunderbaar – Wonderful

Author’s Note

The Amish/Mennonite people and their communities differ one from another. There are, in fact, no two Amish communities exactly alike. It is this premise on which this book is written. I have taken cautious steps to assure the authenticity of Amish practices and customs. Old Order Amish and New Order Amish may be portrayed in this work of fiction and may differ from some communities. Although the book may be set in a certain locality, the practices featured in the book may not necessarily reflect that particular district’s beliefs or culture. This book is purely fictional and built around a fictional community, even though you may see similarities to real-life people, practices, and occurrences.

We, as Englischers, can learn a lot from the Plain People and their simple way of life. Their hard work, close-knit family life, and concern for others are to be applauded. As the Lord wills, may this special culture continue to be respected and remain so for many centuries to come, and may the light of God’s salvation reach their hearts.

PROLOGUE

Although Sammy Eicher had long since forgiven his best friend for stealing his former Englisch girlfriend, he still couldn’t say he fully trusted Glen Kauffman. Because someone who didn’t think twice about stabbing their best friend in the back shouldn’t be trusted unless they’d proven themselves loyal.

That was why Sammy had mixed feelings about Glen returning to their Amish community. He was happy to hear Glen had decided to come home, because he knew being in the Bann wasn’t something any Amish person desired. Glen would have a long road ahead of him as he went through his proving time and reuniting with his folks.

And Sammy need not worry about Glen stealing his fraa. Perhaps marrying Glen’s younger schweschder had been a gut idea in more ways than he’d considered.

Sammy’s heart surged when he thought of the blessing sweet Bertie had been in his life. And now that they’d been married two years, the testament of their love—a boppli—would be arriving on the scene at any moment.

Part of Sammy had been frustrated by Glen’s sudden phone call. He didn’t want to be distracted from his precious growing family. What if Bertie went into labor while he was down at the phone shanty? He wanted to be next to her when she needed him most.

But Bertie had urged him to take the call. One never knew when there might be a true emergency. He almost regretted adding the alert system to their home. Maybe his bruder had been right when he’d mentioned that they might as well have the telephone in their house. But, of course, that wasn’t allowed. Nobody had said anything about not having an alert, though. And Sammy guessed that unless he forgot to turn the thing off during meeting, all would be well.

At the thought, he hastened his steps toward the house. Perhaps he was just a bit overprotective of his fraa, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t know what he’d do if he lost her. She’d been the best thing that had ever happened to him, finding a relationship with Jesus notwithstanding.

His thoughts veered to his phone conversation with Glen.

His heart had gone out to his best friend after the death of Glen’s fraa. It was still difficult to fathom that Miranda was no longer with them. Sammy’s chest ached at the thought of it. After all, Sammy had once fancied himself in love with the Englisch woman.

But Gott, in His amazing providence, had something better planned for him. Since he’d noticed Bertie as a woman and not just as Glen’s little schweschder, he hadn’t so much as thought on another woman. He had no need to. Bertie had been exactly what Sammy needed and Gott saw fit to place them together.

But now that Miranda was gone, Sammy realized how fleeting life could be. How many years did he and Bertie have together? Surely, Glen hadn’t been expecting to lose his fraa at such a young age. Surely, he hadn’t imagined himself a single dat at the age of twenty-five.

Although he wasn’t completely sold on his friend rejoining the Amish, one thing about Glen’s return comforted him. It would put a smile on Bertie’s face. Sammy knew his fraa fervently prayed for her bruder. This would be yet another prayer his wife would see come to fruition. Sometimes, he thought his fraa and Gott shared a special connection.

There was no doubt in Sammy’s mind that Bertie’s prayers had an influence in his staying Amish three years ago, when he’d thought his world had been falling apart. In actuality, by the grace of God, it had just been coming together.

ONE

Glen sighed as he hung up the phone with his best friend, regret weighing on his heart. By the hesitation in Sammy’s voice, he perceived that their relationship still wasn’t where it had been before Sammy found out that Glen and Miranda had betrayed him. And honestly, Glen couldn’t blame him.

He’d been the worst kind of friend. Glen was determined to somehow make it up to Sammy. He needed a friend now more than ever.

Since Sammy had married Glen’s sister, Roberta, that was pretty much a guarantee that they’d be seeing each other a lot once he returned to the Amish.

Returning hadn’t been more than a dream over the past couple of years. Being married to an Englischer, and not agreeing with divorce, Glen had pretty much resigned himself to living out his days as an Englisch man. As long as his wife agreed to stay married, he’d been bound to her. But now that his Englisch fraa was gone, Gott rest her soul, there was nothing tying him to the Englisch world.

His two-and-a-half-year-old dochder, Grace, had already suffered the consequences of living as an Englischer. She’d become spoiled, thanks to her mamm and maternal grandparents. Even though he was Grace’s father, his voice basically went unheard when it came to his wishes for his daughter.

And that was one of the main reasons he wanted to return to his Amish roots as soon as possible.

Growing up, he’d never liked corporal punishment—at least not the way his father had applied it. Dat had gone overboard in the discipline department, and that was something Glen had vowed to never repeat with his children.

However, he did see where occasional correction—when applied properly—could be beneficial. He knew what the Bible said about it. He that spareth the rod hateth his son. By no means did he hate his dochder. On the contrary, he’d vowed to do what it took to make sure she turned into a young woman of character. He desired for Grace to embrace her name in every sense of the word.

She needed to know that certain behavior was not acceptable, and now that her mother was gone, the sole responsibility of Grace’s upbringing rested on Glen’s shoulders. Something that both pleased him and scared him to death.

What if he became like his overbearing father? What if he