Amish Promise: A Sequel to Amish Dilemma. Sioux Dallas

coming soon:

       The Snowman Murders

      

       Streets of Laredo (a paranormal)

      

      

      Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

      Philippians 4: 6-7

      

      

       Preface

      If you read my novel Amish Dilemma, you learned a lot about the truth of the Amish and their beliefs. You learned how passive and forgiving they are and hard working.

      Of course they are human just like any other people. A few bad ones can be found in the group, but they are generally taken care of, by the church, as soon as they are discovered. They punish their own.

      In Amish Dilemma I wrote of a young couple who married, not for love, but because their families expected it. They quickly became very much in love and adored each other. They worked hard to make a home and to be good church members and good neighbors.

      When the young woman, Charity, was in labor with their first baby, her husband, Adam Kime, was taking her to the hospital in a horse-drawn buggy. An English (one not an Amish) was drinking and hated the Amish. He deliberately ran his car toward the horse, honking his horn and yelling. The horse jumped, out of fright, and the car hit the side of the buggy. The horse, which the young couple loved dearly, was injured so badly she had to be put down. The young husband was killed and the young mother gave birth to a healthy boy on the same night her husband was killed.

      Charity named the little boy Jeremiah.

      Her father, Jacob Startz, and her father-in-law, Joshua Kime bought a building in town to give to Charity because they knew Charity was too proud to accept help. They convinced her to open a store where she became well known for her integrity and industriousness. Even English began to trade with her and loved her. Some of her relatives and friends volunteered to help.

      Charity was successful and, even though she was a nineteen year old widow and mother, she worked hard and planned ahead.

      This story follows Amish Dilemma. I hope you enjoy it as much as you did Amish Dilemma. I am forever grateful for your wonderful comments and encouragement.

      God bless you all.

      

      

       Chapter One

      

      The bare feet of six-year-old Jeremiah Kime slapped happily on the rich, fertile farm land as he ran to tell his mother the good news.

      He hoped his mamm, Charity, was still at the house so he could share his good news. Grossmudder Kime had made a banana pie especially for him. Grossfader Startz had told him he was now big enough to help in the field.

      “Mamm! Mamm!” he yelled, running into the kitchen door. Charity came running thinking something terrible had happened to her beloved son. (Mamm - Mom)

      “What? What’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly.

      “Nuttins wrong. It is all so good.”

      “The word is nothing and what is so good?” she sat down relieved.

      “Grossfader Startz said I am now big enough to ride with him on the cutter behind the mules. I get to work in the fields with him.” He paused to take a breath. “And Grossmudder Kime made a banana pie specially for me.” He strutted around.

      “I hope you remembered to thank Grandfather Startz for being willing to allow you to work for him; and Grandmother Kime for baking your favorite pie.”

      “I did. Yes, I did.” I hope I did. I don’t remember. I was too happy.

      Charity stooped to hug him again. She did love this little son of hers so much. He had Adam’s blood in him, too and she would always love Adam. Jeremiah was a daily reminder of Adam.

      “I am so proud of you. Of course you’re big enough to work now. You’ll have to wear your shoes though because you might step on a snake. You wouldn’t want those big mules to accidentally step on your bare feet either.”

      “No,” he said solemnly, “I don’t want any of that. See you, Mamm. I’m going to tell Oom Matthew.” He ran out the kitchen door when he saw his mother’s brother riding the tractor and working in the field. He loved his uncle Matthew.

      “Don’t slam the door and don’t get in the way of the tractor.” Charity called after him. She smiled and shook her head. Too late. He was too excited to notice what he was doing. She just hoped Matthew would see him before he stepped in front of the tractor. She ran to the door and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Matthew pause to lift Jeremiah on the tractor with him.

      She took advantage of the tractor motor being off. “Matthew, Matthew.” He looked in her direction and waved his hat. “It is almost eight and I have to go open the store. Can you keep an eye on Jeremiah? If you have to do something else, take him to our parents, please.”

      He waved his hat and nodded that he understood. She quickly hitched a horse to a buggy and started off to work. Kyle Snyder would be in later to bring the horse back home so that he wouldn’t have to stand in the heat all day. Christine and Ruth Ann, the Zook twins, were coming in to help quilt. Lisa Kennedy had asked if she could just volunteer to do whatever Charity needed doing.

      The work in the store and the demands were more than her little store could manage now. She was pleasantly surprised because she had never thought she would do this well.

      Jacob and Joshua had been discussing the increase in her business. They had made plans to buy the land beside her and add a couple of rooms. Several English women had been in hoping to find clothing for themselves.

      Charity was lost in thought as she worked. Jeremiah will be in school this fall and I would like to sell clothing to the English. Enough of them come in to shop and visit. I am grateful for their business, but I do need to expand. I have an idea I am going to discuss with daed.

      That night, Jacob came to make his nightly visit and see if she needed anything. She was surprised when he was joined by Joshua. Her mamm, Jenna Mae, and mamm-in-law, Leah, soon came bringing pies and homemade cider.

      Charity was mystified as to why they all came, but she knew it would be bad manners to ask.

      After pie and coffee they all settled around the kitchen table for a second cup of coffee and to talk.

      “Well, dochder, wie geht’s?” (Daughter, how are you?)

      “I’m fine, danki.”

      “Gut. We’d like to discuss something with you. Since you do not have a husband to take care of you, we are happy to do so. Joshua and I went ahead and purchased the acre next to your store. That old building on it will have to come down and we would like to add two or three rooms to your store. Your business is growing more than any of us realized it would. You will have to be hiring some help before long. Your quilting frame is up in the storeroom and is crowded. One of the rooms could be just for sewing. The quilting frame could be set up and left up and people could come in and sew.”

      Charity was so engrossed in hearing her father’s voice, as he rarely talked that much at one time, that she barely took in what he was saying. She loved hearing his deep rumble.

      Jenna Mae, Charity’s mother