C Is for Courting (Amish ABCs #3)

Chapter 1

Walden, Ohio

The weather was miserable, especially for the middle of October.

Wrapping her grandmother’s thick black cloak around her more tightly, Beth Schrock carefully made her way over to Patti Coblentz’s house.

The first time she’d visited, the weather had been warm, the well-worn path leading from the Schrocks’ old barn to the neatly tended path in front of Patti’s door was easy to find, and Beth had nothing but time on her hands.

Today, with the wind blowing specks of sleet onto her face, was another story. She couldn’t wait to get to her destination and then return to her grandparents’ farm next door.

That wasn’t going to happen very quickly, however. Her arms were filled with loaves of bread, and her body felt heavy and sluggish.

She was uncomfortable, cold, and worried about her future.

She was also feeling guilty because her grandmother was getting over a cold and still felt a little under the weather and she hadn’t done half the things she’d promised she would.

Which was why she was walking to Patti’s house in the rain and sleet instead of watching it from the other side of the living room window.

As another blast of wind threatened to turn her eyelashes into mini-icicles, she grimaced. “Are you happy now, Beth?” she chided herself. “Was this what you dreamed about when you imagined leaving your ‘real’ life behind?”

Of course, her subconscious didn’t have an answer for that, and thank goodness.

Of course, that wasn’t a surprise, either. She didn’t seem to ever have a clue about how to live her life. Not anymore.

Almost two years ago, when she’d imagined living Amish on her grandparents’ farm, she had thought all her troubles would miraculously fade away. She’d been such a fool.

Today, it felt like every one of her troubles had doubled in size, but she had less of an idea about how she was ever going to solve them. What had happened to her? How could she have gone from being the most levelheaded of her family to being pregnant, unwed, and unsettled?

Patti’s door opened just as Beth reached the front steps.

“Beth, what in the world are you doing here?” Patti asked as she stepped out to lend a hand.

She held up two mittened hands. “Obviously, I’m delivering Mommi’s bread.”

But instead of looking pleased, Patti’s scowl deepened. “I canna believe you!” she scolded as she reached for her arm. “You should not be outside. It’s sleeting.”

“I know. I didn’t melt, though.” She smirked, hoping to make Patti smile.

She did not.

After allowing Patti to pull the loaves of bread out of her arms, she attempted to defend herself. “I didn’t think it was that bad out when I started.”

“Did you also not think to look out the window?” Patti asked as they climbed the three steps.

Since she’d already realized that much of her life didn’t make sense, she responded with a barb of her own. “Ouch. That’s kind of harsh.”

Immediately, Patti looked shamefaced as they entered her warm house. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Closing the door behind them, she continued. “I just hate the thought of you slipping and falling.”

She would hate that, too. “I was careful,” she said, as she toed off her boots and pulled off her mittens.

Patti collected all of it and set them on the welcome mat. “Come into the living room. I’ve got a fire going. We’ll take off your cloak in there. It needs to dry before you put it on again. Then you can stand in front of the flames and warm up while I get you some tea.”

Hot tea sounded wonderful, but making Patti fuss over her like that was not. “I came over to give you bread, not make more work for you.”

“Making tea isn’t work.”

“Okay, but I can just turn around. You don’t have to go to the trouble.”

“You are not going to do anything but come in here. Now, don’t worry about the tea. I know some of it is loaded with caffeine, but not this one. I made sure to buy some decaf last time I went shopping.”

Beth knew Patti well enough to realize that continuing to argue wouldn’t make either of them happy. Patti would simply dig in her heels. “Danke.”

“Of course, dear.” She clapped her hands together. “Now, you get warm, then take a seat. Put your feet up and rest a bit, okay.”

“Okay.”

“Gut. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”

And with that, Patti hurried to the kitchen.

Realizing that she had no choice but to take her new neighbor’s advice, she stood directly in front of the fireplace and held out her hands.

And then, before she could stop herself, she moaned in contentment.

The heat coming off the grate felt heavenly.

Continuing to face the fire, she called out over her shoulder, “I’m so glad you had a fire going. It feels heavenly.”

“I thought the same thing when I sat down in front of it with my devotional early this morning. Stormy days are for inside reflection, ain’t so?”

“Yes.” Much better than giving herself a hard time while walking through the sleet.

“Now, don’t even think about leaving until you have a rest and warm up.”

“I’ll stay for a few, but please don’t worry. I’ll be fine. It’s a short walk.” Unhooking the cloak, she shook the few drops of precipitation that clung to the fine wool before tossing it on the magazine holder on the ground. She’d hang the garment up properly as soon as she could feel her hands.

“Would you like some strudel with your tea? It’s cherry.”

“Thanks, but I better not. The doctor already told me that I shouldn’t be gaining so much weight so fast.” Looking down, she rubbed a protective hand across her belly.

Within the last two weeks, she’d gone from looking a little chubby to definitely having a baby bump.

“Honestly, it’s probably good that I’m walking every day, even in bad weather. ”

“You aren’t walking back,” Patti called out from the kitchen. “Junior can drive you. Right, Junior?”

Wait. What? They weren’t alone?

“Of course,” a deep, masculine voice replied from the hallway. “I don’t mind at all. Besides, we finished our work quickly today. I’ve got more than a little bit of extra time.”

“Danke, Junior. Please, go into the living room and join my friend Beth.”

Feeling her cheeks heat, this time having nothing to do with the temperature of the fireplace and everything to do with pure embarrassment, Beth turned to face the newcomer. Junior-whoever-he-was.

The man walking into the room was a complete surprise.

Looking at least five years older than her own age, Junior looked to be in his midthirties.

That wasn’t the shock. It was his looks.

The man was so handsome: clean-shaven, clear hazel eyes, and thick blond hair.

He also had muscles on top of muscles. Honestly, he was massive.

He kind of looked like a Viking in one of her favorite television series.

What he didn’t look like was a “Junior.”

She also couldn’t figure out why he was sitting with a contented expression in Patti’s kitchen. She’d thought Patti and her brother Martin had something special between them.

When she realized he was taking in everything about her as well, she found her cheeks heating. Nothing like being a twenty-eight-year-old, unwed, un-Amish mother dressed almost-Amishy to give off a first impression.

A bad first impression.

Just as quickly, Beth shook off those feelings of discomfort.

First of all, her personal life was none of his concern.

Secondly, she might be contemplating a life in Walden, but that didn’t mean she still wasn’t the same woman she’d always been.

A little too assertive, and tough enough to stand on her own two feet.

“Hi,” she said.

He got to his feet. “Hiya. You must be Beth Schrock. I’m John Lambright, but everyone calls me Junior.”

If she’d been at work, she’d step forward and hold out her hand. Since she was in Patti’s kitchen, she stuffed her hands in her dress’s pockets. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Junior is one of my bookkeeping clients,” Patti said as she carefully slid a healthy portion of strudel on a plate. “Beth here is living with her grandparents next door.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” he said with a slight nod. “I’ve heard a lot about you and your family.”

“Oh?” She glanced at Patti.

“Don’t worry, Beth. It weren’t nothing bad. Just normal news.”

“I see.” Though, she kind of didn’t.

“Pretty much everyone in the area has been following the adventures of you and your siblings,” Junior said with a smile. “What with your sister marrying a preacher and your brother marrying Treva Kramer soon after.”

“Yes, I can imagine there would be talk.”

“Please sit down, Beth,” Patti said with a kind look. “You need to get off your feet for a spell.”

And . . . there was the reminder of her pregnancy. Out there in the open. “I’m all right.” Suddenly noticing the ledgers and pair of manila folders open on the other end of the dining room table, she mentally groaned.

Once again, Beth realized she had a lot to learn about living Amish—and disregarding stereotypes. Just because Patti was Amish didn’t mean she did nothing but cook, clean, quilt, and wait for visitors to come knocking on her door. She was a busy woman with her own business.

“Patti, this pastry looks so good. I’ll enjoy it while you two finish your meeting.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind? I don’t want to be rude, but Junior and I do have a few more things to discuss.”

“Would you like me to go into the kitchen? It might give you some more privacy.”

Patti turned to Junior. “What would make you feel most comfortable?”

“There’s nothing too secretive about taxes or savings plans. Beth can stay put. I don’t mind finishing our work here.”

“Very well.” After shooting a quick look at Beth, Patti sat down at the head of the table, put on reading glasses, and picked up a pencil. “Here’s where I think we could make some changes.”

After reading her notes, he asked, “What about when the quarterlies are due?”