Love and Buggy Rides

By Amy Clipston

A romantic fall buggy ride is the perfect setting for love.

Janie Lantz is a cashier at Lancaster Souvenirs and Buggy Rides, where Jonathan Stoltfuz is a buggy driver. A frightening accident brings Janie and Jonathan together in a blossoming friendship, yet daunting obstacles stand between them and something deeper. Can love kindle into flames that burn away fear and regret—and lead them to a life together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Aug 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9780718023621

Amy Clipston

Amy Clipston is an award-winning bestselling author and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She's sold more than one million books, and her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan University and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. Amy works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC, and lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. Visit her online at AmyClipston.com; Facebook: @AmyClipstonBooks; Twitter: @AmyClipston; Instagram: @amy_clipston; BookBub: @AmyClipston.

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GLOSSARY

ach—oh

aenti—aunt

appeditlich—delicious

bedauerlich—sad

boppli—baby

bruder—brother

bu / buwe—boy / boys

daadi—granddad

daadihaus—grandparents’ house

daed—dad

danki—thank you

dat—dad

dochder—daughter

Englisher—a non-Amish person

fraa—wife

freind / freinden—friend(s)

froh—happy

gern gschehne—you’re welcome

gude mariye—good morning

gut—good

gut nacht—good night

haus—house

Ich liebe dich—I love you

kaffi—coffee

kapp—prayer covering or cap

kichli / kichlin—cookie(s)

kind—child

kinner—children

liewe—love, a term of endearment

maed—young women, girls

maedel—young woman, girl

mamm—mom

mammi—grandma

mei—my

naerfich—nervous

onkel—uncle

schee—pretty

schweschder—sister

Was iss letz?—What’s wrong?

Wie geht’s—How do you do? or Good day!

wunderbaar—wonderful

ya—yes

FEATURED AMISH HEIRLOOM SERIES CHARACTERS

Timothy m. Sylvia Lantz

Samuel (m. Mandy)

Marie

Janie

Samuel m. Mandy Lantz

Becky

Martha Mattie m. Leroy Fisher

Veronica

Rachel

Emily

Vera (deceased) m. Raymond Lantz (deceased)

Michael (Mike) (mother—Esther—deceased)

John

Chapter One

Janie Lantz sank down onto a wooden picnic table bench at the far end of the parking lot, next to Old Philadelphia Pike. The fresh, cool September breeze held a hint of the autumn weather on its way to Lancaster County as she opened her lunch bag and unwrapped her turkey sandwich. Before taking a bite, she glanced back at the Lancaster Buggy Rides and Souvenirs shop. Rows of pumpkins lined up in front of the store and orange and brown wreaths hung on the door and windows.

So far her first day as a cashier at the shop had gone well. But though she enjoyed talking with the tourists, her aching feet made her thankful for the opportunity to sit down while she enjoyed her lunch.

The clip-clop of hooves drew her attention to the highway. She recognized the long gray buggy full of tourists as one of the buggies her boss owned. Throughout the day, the buggies took tourists on rides around the Bird-in-Hand area. She hadn’t met the three buggy drivers yet, but she’d seen the Amish men from a distance earlier in the day when they were standing by the stable next to the store.

Janie took a bite of her sandwich and watched the driver start to guide the buggy into the driveway leading to the parking lot.

Suddenly a silver sedan sped up behind the buggy. The car’s driver appeared to be looking down at something in his hand—just before he looked up and hit his brakes.

Then, almost as if in slow motion, the car slammed into the back side of the buggy, shattering the right rear wheel and causing the buggy to teeter. The buggy shifted awkwardly and then fell on the right rear corner, sending the driver and a few passengers on that side tumbling onto the ground. The car behind the buggy had come to a stop.

Janie gasped in horror as she jumped up from the bench, dropping her sandwich and knocking over her bottle of water. She rushed across the parking lot to the store’s main entrance, reaching the door just as two customers were coming out.

Excuse me! Janie yelled. Do you have a cell phone?

One of the women nodded as she stared at Janie with confusion on her face.

Would you please call nine-one-one? There’s been an accident. Janie pointed toward the driveway, and both women turned, taking in the scene.

The woman who had nodded pulled out her phone and started punching in the numbers.

Janie burst through the front door and spotted her boss, Craig Warner, talking to her coworker, Eva, near the cash register in the center of the large store.

Janie ran to them, beckoning for Craig to follow her. Craig! Craig! You need to come quickly! A car hit one of our buggies while it was turning into the driveway. It just happened. I’m sure people are hurt.

Eva, call nine-one-one, Craig instructed as he started walking. Tell Bianca to find the first-aid kit and get the ice packs from the freezer.

Okay. Eva’s brown eyes widened as she nodded and grabbed the store phone to make the call.

Craig hustled toward the door and Janie trailed behind him. I asked a customer to call nine-one-one too.

That was a good idea.

In his midforties, Craig was tall and fit. Janie was nearly jogging to keep up with his long strides. She knew his brown eyes, which matched his hair and goatee, had to be filled with worry for his driver and customers.

Once outside, Craig groaned as the accident came into view. Oh no. This is much worse than I hoped.

A shiver raced up Janie’s spine as she took in the scene playing out in the driveway and parking lot. A crowd had gathered around the broken buggy and car, which had a smashed front bumper and headlights. Sirens already blared in the distance, announcing the approach of first responders.

Craig rushed over to the buggy and joined someone helping an older woman sitting on the ground with a bloody gash on her forehead. A middle-aged man and woman sat on the ground as well, looking bewildered as the customer who had called nine-one-one for Janie knelt beside them. One young man was already helping some of the passengers to nearby benches. The horse looked spooked, but not injured, and two men were doing their best to soothe it.

The driver of the car still sat behind the wheel, looking stunned as a man leaned in, no doubt asking if he was all right. She guessed the driver was around nineteen.

At first glance, Janie thought most of the passengers’ injuries seemed to be minor, but no one could be sure until EMTs arrived. As Janie wrung her hands, wondering what else she could do to help until then, she turned and nearly walked right into a man who towered over her by several inches. She immediately recognized him as one of the buggy drivers she’d seen that morning.

He was helping the remaining two passengers climb out of the buggy, but Janie could see he was favoring his left arm. Blood seeped from a cut on his head as well, streaming down the side of his face, a stark contrast to his paled face and dark brown hair.

Take your time, he told a woman as she climbed down to the ground. He grasped her arm with his right hand and grimaced as she leaned on him.

Once the woman was safely out, he swayed slightly, closing his eyes for a moment as if trying to regain his balance.

Janie came closer. Are you all right?

He gave her a brief sideways glance. "Ya, I’ll be fine."

Your head is really bleeding, Janie warned. I think you need to sit down.

I’m okay, he insisted before turning toward the last passenger. Give me your hand, and I’ll help you down.

When the woman hesitated, he offered her a shaky smile. He was clearly trying to ignore his injuries. He swayed again, and Janie held up her hand to grab him. But then she stopped, not wanting to appear forward.

I won’t let you fall, he promised his passenger. We need to get you out of this buggy before the other back wheel collapses.

The woman took his hand, and again he grimaced as he helped her down. He let a young man who had been leading the passengers to the benches take over, then placed a shaky hand on the side of the buggy for support as the blood continued to trickle down his cheek and drip onto his gray shirt.

Please listen to me, Janie pleaded, her voice thick with worry. You need medical attention. Look. She pointed at the red spots dotting his shirt.

He glanced down at his chest and then met her gaze. His eyes were honey brown. I’ll be okay. I need to take care of my passengers.

I don’t think you should— Before Janie could finish, the man took a step and then staggered. Janie grabbed his arm, steadying him. Lean on me, and I’ll get you to that picnic table over there, she instructed, nodding toward the table where she’d been eating lunch. I’m Janie Lantz. This is my first day working here.

Jonathan Stoltzfus.

The man followed her instructions, and she slowly led him to the picnic table. He sank down onto the bench and slouched back against the table.

Danki, he muttered, squeezing the bridge of his nose. I don’t know what happened.

You need medical attention, she repeated, taking a clean handkerchief from her apron pocket. Now, sit here before you fall and hurt yourself worse, and press this against that cut to stop the bleeding.

Before Jonathan could take the handkerchief, Craig rushed over.