Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident) Read online

  Mattie Riehl never expected her life to turn out this way. Raised Mennonite and amongst Amish friends in beautiful Lancaster County, she should be perfectly content, shouldn’t she? But something inside beckons her to another world, another life. Can she leave her roots and her friends behind for a world she knows little about? Will she abandon everything, including the God her parents have taught her to follow?

  Englisch on Purpose is the prequel to J.E.B. Spredemann’s award-winning book, Amish by Accident, and is the story of Elisabeth Schrock’s best friend, Mattie.

  Englisch on Purpose

  (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

  J.E.B. Spredemann

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2015 by J.E.B. Spredemann

  All incidents and characters in this book are completely fictional and derived by the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual incidents and persons living or dead are purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this work/book may be copied, transmitted, or stored in any form or by any means, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior written consent from the authors/publisher.

  Disclaimer: The herbal information in this book was derived by the author’s (J.S.) education and experience as a Nutritional Herbologist, but is written for fictional and informational use only. No herbal information in this book is, in any way, meant as a prescription or medical advice. This information has not been approved by the FDA, AMA, or any other government agency. It is your constitutional right to prescribe for yourself, if you choose to do so. The author assumes no responsibility for the treatments in this book, if you should choose to implement them. Therefore, the government requires the recommendation that you see your health care provider if you have any medical concerns/issues.

  Published in Indiana by Blessed Publishing.

  www.jebspredemann.com

  All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, are not copyrighted in the U.S., and may be freely copied and/or quoted.

  Cover design by J.E.B. Spredemann

  To Samuel and Polly, who remain Englisch on Purpose for all the right reasons…May our gracious God continue to bless your wonderful family

  BOOKS BY J.E.B. SPREDEMANN (*J. 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

  NOVELLAS*

  Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

  Amish by Accident*

  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

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

  A Christmas of Mercy – Amish Girls Holiday

  NOVELETTES*

  Cindy’s Story* – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 1

  Rosabelle’s Story* – Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 2

  COMING SOON! (Lord Willing)

  Christmas in Paradise (An Amish by Accident Holiday Story)

  Authors’ Note

  It should be noted that the Amish 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. We have taken cautious steps to assure the authenticity of Amish practices and customs. Both Old Order Amish and New Order Amish are portrayed in this work of fiction and may be inconsistent with some Amish communities.

  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.

  Characters in Englisch on Purpose

  The Riehl Family

  Mattie (aka Matilda) – protagonist

  Matthew – Mattie’s father

  Maryanna – Mattie’s mother, protagonist of Susanna’s Surprise

  Rebekah – Mattie’s sister

  Ellie – Mattie’s sister

  The Hostettler Family

  Judah – Mattie’s maternal grandfather, bishop of Paradise Amish District

  Lydia – Mattie’s maternal grandmother, Judah’s wife

  Annie (Yoder) Hostettler – Mattie’s aunt, protagonist of Annie’s Decision

  Joshua – Mattie’s uncle, Annie’s husband, protagonist of Annie’s Decision

  The Fisher Family

  Johnny and Judah (aka JJ) – Mattie’s twin cousins, sons of Jonathan and Susie

  Jonathan – Mattie’s uncle, protagonist of Susanna’s Surprise

  Susie – Mattie’s aunt, Jonathan’s wife, protagonist of Susanna’s Surprise

  The Schrock Family

  Elisabeth – Mattie’s best friend, protagonist of Amish by Accident

  Jacob – Elisabeth’s brother

  Martha – Elisabeth’s sister

  Ben and Leah – Elisabeth’s parents, protagonists of Leah’s Legacy

  The Brenneman Family

  Rachel – Elisabeth’s neighbor

  Saul and Chloe – Rachel’s parents, protagonists of Chloe’s Revelation and Saul’s Story

  Others

  Richard Greene – protagonist

  Jackie – Richard’s sister

  Mr. Bonneville – Mattie’s employer

  Luke Beiler – Elisabeth’s beau

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ach – Oh

  Dat, Daed – Dad

  Denki – Thanks

  Der Herr – The Lord

  Dochder – Daughter

  Englischer – A non-Amish person

  Fraa – Woman, Wife

  Gott – God

  Grosseldre - Grandparents

  Gut – Good

  Hullo – Hello

  Jah – Yes

  Kinner – Children

  Kins kinner – Grandchildren

  Lieb (Liebchen) – Love, My Love

  Mamm – Mom

  Mammi – Grandmother

  Nee – No

  Ordnung – Rules of the Amish Community

  Schatzi – Sweetheart

  Vadder – Father

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Glossary

  Characters

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Amish by Accident

  Chapter 1

  Matthew listened closely. Did he hear something? He peeked over at Maryanna in the darkness, who lay by his side, softly snoring.

  A soft click told him all he needed to know. He hastily rose from the bed and pulled his suspendered pants on quietly. He nearly tumbled over his work boots as he tiptoed tow
ard the living room. He flipped the lights on.

  “Dad?” His daughter’s surprised expression was wrought with anguish.

  His muscled forearms crossed his chest. “What are you doing out at this hour? Your curfew was an hour ago, young lady.” He pointed to the clock on the wall.

  “I…I…uh, Johnny and Judah wanted to stay out longer. I told them I had to be home.”

  “That’s not good enough. Try again.” He raised a brow.

  “What’s going on?” Matthew turned at Maryanna’s voice.

  “Our daughter is just now returning home.”

  “Matthew, can’t we discuss this in the morning? I’m sure Mattie’s tired.”

  Matthew didn’t miss the ‘thanks, Mom’ look Mattie tossed Maryanna. “I think it needs to be discussed now,” he insisted.

  “Why?” Maryanna challenged him.

  “Why? Because this is important, that’s why. And by the time she awakens in the morning, I’ll have been working a couple of hours. At least.”

  Their daughter, Rebekah, walked into the kitchen, yawning. “What’s going on, Mom?”

  “Your sister, here, is late. Once again.” Matthew frowned. “You may go back to bed, Rebekah.”

  Mattie’s hands flew up. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Dad. I’ve told you the truth.” She yawned. “I’m tired. Can I go to bed now?”

  “No.” He held out his hand. “Give me your keys.”

  “But, Dad–”

  “Now.” Matthew tempered his frustration as best as he could.

  Tears welled in his daughter’s eyes and she yanked her car keys from her purse.

  Matthew clenched his fingers around them. “You’re grounded for two weeks.”

  “But how will I get to school and work without my car?”

  “Perhaps you should have thought about that before you decided to return home late.”

  “Matthew, isn’t this a little harsh?” Maryanna’s hand caressed his back.

  Matthew frowned. “No, this is not harsh. We’ve been over this before. She’s had fair warning. She needs to realize there are consequences for her actions.” He turned back to their daughter. “Go to bed, Mattie.”

  “You’re just like Dawdi Sabastian!”

  He grimaced as his daughter flew up the stairs in tears. Being compared to his ultra-strict Amish father was not a compliment by any stretch of the word.

  “Are you sure that was the best thing to do?”

  Matthew stared at his wife in disbelief. “Listen, Maryanna. I need you to support me. We need to be in agreement.”

  “I just don’t think that was the best thing to do.”

  “And what would you have done?”

  “I probably would have waited until tomorrow, then I would have reasoned with her.”

  “We’ve tried that already, remember?” Matthew sighed. “Maryanna, do you think it’s easy for me to put restrictions on our children? Well, it’s not. She knows better. And Mattie staying out late is asking for trouble. Especially if she’s with Jonathan’s boys.”

  Maryanna exhaled. “You have a point.”

  <><><>

  “Okay, Lis, I’ve had it! My parents are driving me crazy,” Mattie ranted. “If they keep this up, I think I’m going to scream.”

  Elisabeth eyed her best friend. “I can’t believe they took your car away.”

  “Not the car, just the keys. Which is essentially the same thing, I guess.” Mattie paced from Elisabeth’s bedroom window to her desk, then plopped down in her chair. “I’m thinking of leaving.”

  “Mattie, don’t leave. What am I going to do if you’re gone?”

  “Come with me then.”

  “I don’t know. It’s kind of scary.” Elisabeth shook her head. “Where will you go? Who will you stay with?”

  “I’m sure I’ll find a place. I’ve been saving up money from my job.” Mattie tapped her chin. “I think I’ll look up ‘Help Wanted’ ads in New York.”

  Elisabeth’s eyes widened. “New York?”

  “I’ve always wanted to go there. Why not?”

  “But it’s so big. And there are ferhoodled people there.”

  Mattie smiled at her Amish best friend. “There are ferhoodled people everywhere, Lis. Just look at my cousins.” She laughed, thinking of Johnny and Judah and all the mischief the twins had gotten into over the years.

  “I can’t believe they still have their motorcycles. You’d think Bishop Hostettler would have made them sell them.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he will when they finally join the church.”

  “Do you think they will? Because I can see them becoming Englisch.”

  “They said they plan to join the church. I just don’t think they’re ready to settle down just yet.”

  <><><>

  “Jonathan,” Matthew began, after taking a sip of his root beer.

  Jonathan raised his hands in protest, a definitive smirk on his face. “I already know what you’re going to say. My boys, right?”

  “You’ve got to give them some restrictions. They’ve been getting Mattie into trouble. She was late again.”

  Jonathan’s brow shot up. “That’s it?”

  “It’s a big deal when my daughter disobeys me.”

  “Maybe you should lift her curfew.”

  “Lift her curfew?” Matthew shook his head. “She’s got work and school. She needs sleep at night.”

  “She’s an adult, Matt. She needs to figure out for herself what’s important and what’s not. Her work and school might suffer a bit, but she could learn a valuable lesson. You and Maryanna won’t always be there to tell her what time to be home. She needs to learn responsibility. That could be the best way.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “What’s the worst-case scenario? She misses a class or loses her job, right?”

  Matthew shook his head. “Or she falls asleep driving and kills herself or someone else.”

  “Our time is in Der Herr’s hands; you know that.”

  “I know, I know. But shouldn’t I do something?”

  Jonathan nodded. “Yes. Pray for her. Then leave her in God’s hands.”

  “That’s so hard to do.”

  “Our kinner do not belong to us; they belong to Der Herr.”

  Matthew attempted to tamper his frustration. “I realize that, but I still feel that I should be a parent to her.”

  “There’s another option.”

  “What’s that?”

  Jonathan rubbed his beard. “You could give her an ultimatum.”

  Matthew frowned. “A what?”

  “Give her a choice: follow the rules of the house or move out.”

  “That’s a tough one. Maryanna’d kill me if I told Mattie that. Besides, where would she stay?”

  “She’d figure it out pretty quickly.”

  Matthew chuckled. “She’d probably move in with you.”

  Jonathan shrugged. “Her cousins wouldn’t mind.”

  “That would be like a reward for her, I think.” He shook his head.

  Maryanna stepped into the shop. “Ooh, rewards? I like rewards.” She eyed both men. “What are you two up to?”

  “We’re discussing our daughter,” Matthew said.

  “Oh.” Maryanna nodded. “Susie and I were discussing a get-together. We want to go on a camping trip. What do you think? We can invite Josh and Annie too.”

  Jonathan smiled at Matthew. “Sounds good to me. Matt?”

  “How long did you have in mind? We’ve got work.” Matthew looked at his wife.

  “Could you take off a Friday? We can leave early and spend all day there, then spend the night and come home in the evening,” Maryanna said.

  “The kinner would love it,” Jonathan added.

  Maryanna smirked. “The kinner, huh?”

  “I wouldn’t mind taking my fishing pole.” Matthew smiled.

  “Then it’s all set. I’ll tell Susie and Annie, and we can figure out a date that works around
everybody’s schedule.” Maryanna marched back into the Fisher residence to share the news with her sister.

  Chapter 2

  “So, what do you think of Luke Beiler?” Mattie’s brow rose.

  Elisabeth frowned and turned off the path to pick a few wildflowers. “What do you mean?”

  “Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t noticed!”

  “Noticed what?” She brought an unknown orange blossom to her nostrils.

  “Are you serious? You really haven’t?”

  “Mattie, I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  “Luke Beiler likes you.”

  She threw a red clover blossom at her friend. “He does not!”

  “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed.”

  “Why would you think that? Don’t you dare tease me like that! You know I’ve always thought he was handsome.”

  Mattie bent down and plucked a few to add to Elisabeth’s growing bouquet. “The last singing I went to with you, I saw him looking our way. Or, more specifically, at you.”

  “You haven’t been to one of our singings in over two months.”

  “And when we stopped and bought that watermelon from their stand the other day, he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

  “Really?” Elisabeth shook her head. “No way. I don’t think he does.”

  “Lis! Yes, he most definitely does.” Mattie nodded. “I’m surprised he hasn’t asked you for a ride home yet.”

  “I think you’re ferhoodled.”

  “You just wait and see; he’ll ask you.” Mattie loved teasing her friend and watching the color rush to her cheeks. Even she agreed that Luke Beiler was a pretty nice-looking Amish guy, and he seemed kind. “Oh, no! Now you’re going to start courting Luke Beiler and you’ll never come to New York!”