A Secret of the Heart (Amish Secrets--Book 3) Read online

  A Secret of the Heart

  Amish Secrets – Book 3

  J.E.B. Spredemann

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright © 2014 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 subject to copyright laws, and may be freely copied and/or quoted

  Cover design by J.E.B. Spredemann.

  Table of Contents

  Books By J.E.B. Spredemann (*J. Spredemann)

  Author’s Note

  Characters in A Secret of the Heart

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  EPILOGUE

  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*

  Amish by Accident*

  An Unforgivable Secret* – Amish Secrets 1

  A Secret Encounter* – Amish Secrets 2

  A Secret of the Heart* – Amish Secrets 3

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

  NOVELETTES*

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

  COMING SOON! (Lord Willing)

  A Christmas of Mercy – Fall 2014

  Rosabelle’s Story* – Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 2

  To Our Readers…

  You are the glue that binds our books together. Thank you for reading!

  Author’s 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 A Secret of the Heart

  Lillianna, Lil (Lilly) Zook – Protagonist

  Judith Zook – Lillianna’s mother

  Amanda (Mandy) Zook – Lillianna’s sister

  Carolanne Beachy – Lillianna’s friend

  Samuel Beachy – Carolanne’s husband

  Thomas, Tommy Girod – Protagonist

  Congressman Clay Stevenson – Lillianna’s employer

  Candace Stevenson – Clay’s wife

  Calvin and Camille – Stevenson children

  Others

  Marcus Yoder – Young man who likes Lillianna

  Tyrone – Thomas’ friend

  Jones – Chauffer for Stevenson family

  Tristan – Chauffer for cancer clinic

  Rhoda – Thomas’ sister

  James – Mandy’s beau

  Jonathan Fisher – Minister

  Judah Hostettler – Bishop of several Amish church districts

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ach – Oh

  Boppli – Baby

  Bopplin – Babies

  Brieder – Brothers

  Bruder – Brother

  Dat, Daed – Dad

  Dawdi – Grandfather

  Denki – Thanks

  Der Herr – The Lord

  Dochder – Daughter

  Dummkopp – Dummy

  Englischer – A non-Amish person

  Ferhoodled – Mixed up, Crazy

  Fraa – Woman, Wife

  Gott – God

  Gut – Good

  Haus – House

  Hiya – Hi

  Hullo – Hello

  Jah – Yes

  Kapp – Prayer Covering

  Lieb – Love

  Mamm – Mom

  Nee – No

  Ordnung – Rules of the Amish Community

  Rumspringa – Running around years

  Schweschder – Sister

  Schweschdern – Sisters

  Vadder – Father

  Wilkom – Welcome

  Wunderbaar – Wonderful

  CHAPTER ONE

  Lillianna’s eyes brightened as Carolanne approached her near the back door of Carolanne’s folks’ home. Carolanne’s blue eyes reflected the cobalt of her newly-sewn cape dress.

  “I can’t believe you’re married now!” Lillianna embraced her friend.

  “I know. Isn’t Samuel the handsomest bu you’ve ever seen?” Carolanne positively glowed.

  Lillianna searched the room full of guests, mostly from their church district, to locate Carolanne’s husband of one hour. Her gaze surveyed his well-defined physique, obvious to anyone, even through his blue button-down and suspenders, and landed on his seemingly happy countenance.

  Was there more to Samuel Beachy than what met the eye? Lillianna was certain of it. Why would this man just show up out of the blue to snatch away her best friend? Of course, she knew that Carolanne had been correspondin
g by letter with him over the last year and that they’d enjoyed a few buggy rides together last fall. But that didn’t explain his sudden reappearance. It was almost as though he were running away from something…or someone?

  Lillianna dismissed her suspicions and brought her attention back to Carolanne. She wouldn’t voice her concerns again. Carolanne was a grown woman capable of making her own intelligent choices.

  Samuel turned and motioned for Carolanne to come near.

  Carolanne squeezed Lillianna’s hand. “Well, I better go. Seems Samuel wants to introduce me to someone.”

  Lillianna returned her friend’s smile and watched as Carolanne flittered off to be by her husband’s side.

  Lillianna stepped outside the building for a breath of fresh air.

  “Hey, Lillianna.”

  Lillianna turned and offered a brief smile to Marcus Yoder.

  “You comin’ to the gatherin’ tonight after supper?”

  Lillianna shook her head. “I don’t think so, Marcus.”

  Marcus didn’t mask his disappointment well. “Oh. Why not?”

  It seemed like he’d been interested in Lillianna for a few months now. This wasn’t the first time he’d shown his interest. “I’m feeling a little tired.”

  “I could give you a ride home,” Marcus offered.

  “Uh, no.” Lillianna scanned the area, desperate for an acceptable excuse. She spotted the buggies parked out in the field. “I appreciate the offer, but I need to drive my own buggy home.”

  Marcus scratched his head as though thinking of a way he could spend more time with her.

  “I’ll see you later, Marcus.” Lillianna abruptly walked away before he suggested something else. If she allowed him to, Marcus would jabber on for who knows how long. Lillianna glanced back to be certain her wannabe suitor hadn’t followed, and released a relieved sigh when Marcus was sighted walking back into the house.

  How am I going to get him to realize I’m not interested? She thought after two rejections that Marcus would get the hint, but no. He persisted. Lillianna couldn’t find a good reason to not like him. He was nice enough and not too bad for looking.

  He just wasn’t…well, he wasn’t Tommy.

  Thomas Girod. Lillianna hadn’t seen him in a long time, not since her family had moved away from Pennsylvania seven years ago. In their Amish district, the boys and girls were discouraged from playing together, but it hadn’t stopped Thomas and Lillianna.

  Lillianna closed her eyes, recalling the many Saturday afternoons they’d spent fishing at the stream just beyond her childhood home. Fishing was a good excuse to see her neighbor, Thomas, who had quickly become her best friend, in spite of the fact that he was a boy and three years her senior.

  “Don’t forget me, Lil,” Tommy said as he placed a kiss smack dab on her lips.

  Lillianna’s cheeks flushed furiously. “Thomas Girod, you…you kissed me?” Lillianna always thought Tommy would give her her first kiss someday. But now? At twelve years old? This was totally unexpected.

  “I mean it, Lil. Don’t forget me.” Thomas reached up and moved a strand of hair that had fallen onto her forehead. “Ever.”

  She’d never seen Tommy this serious. He really would miss her when her family moved away. “I won’t,” she promised.

  Thomas settled back onto the rock he’d been fishing from and picked up his pole again. They continued fishing as though the kiss had never happened, as though their lives weren’t forever changed from that moment on.

  That was the last time they’d ever gone to the stream together, and Lillianna had never forgotten Thomas or his kiss. She’d give anything to see or hear from Tommy now. The last two letters she’d written to him, nearly three years ago, had been returned to her marked ‘Return to Sender’. She often wondered where he was, and what he was doing. Did he still live in Pennsylvania? Had he gotten married? Was he still alive? Lillianna hated to consider the antithesis to that last possibility.

  When Lillianna opened her eyes, she realized the horse had already pulled into her driveway. Had she really been daydreaming that long? She chided herself for not paying better attention to the road. It was a good thing Sunshine was well-trained. Dat would have scolded her for certain, if he knew.

  I miss you, Tommy, wherever you are.

  <><><>

  “Lilly, aren’t you going back over to Carolanne’s for the gathering?” Judith Zook called to her daughter from the kitchen.

  Lillianna frowned. “Nee, Mamm. I’m working on my quilt.” She leaned over the quilting frame and weaved a few more stitches into the colorful fabric.

  “Would you like some help? My fingers are just aching to do some quilting.”

  Lillianna smiled. “Be my guest.”

  “It wonders me why you’re not joining the young folks. Seems to me like it would be a gut opportunity to meet some new friends.”

  “I know. It’s just that…Mamm, have you heard any news lately from our friends in Pennsylvania?” Lillianna attempted not to sound too obvious. “I often wonder how everyone is doing over in Bishop Mast’s district.”

  Judith shook her head. “Haven’t heard much since that accident the Girods had a few years back.”

  Lillianna’s pulse quickened. “Accident? I never heard about an accident. What happened?”

  “I was almost certain I’d told all of you.” Judith stuck the thimble on her finger. “Noah and Keturah were driving home from meeting and were caught in a flash flood. They both drowned.” She frowned. “Fortunately, the kinner weren’t feeling well and had stayed home with the oldest. It wonders me if sickness isn’t a blessing sometimes.”

  “Ach, no, that’s terrible! What happened to the kinner? Did they move to a relative’s house?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d heard that one of the older children was planning to get married.” She tapped her chin. “Thomas, I think. Maybe he and his wife took the kinner in.”

  Lillianna’s heart sank. Thomas is married? That must be why he’d stopped writing. I wish he would have at least told me. She felt a tear forming and abruptly stood up from her chair. “I-I need to go to the bathroom.” Lillianna quickly rushed out of the room.

  No. God, please don’t let Thomas be married.

  It seemed the older she became, the more aware of her age she was. Carolanne’s sudden wedding had thrown her for a loop. Now that her best friend was married, they wouldn’t have as much time together. Lillianna felt lost, and a little lonely, she admitted. If only there was a way she could see Thomas again, then she’d know for sure whether he was married or not. Carolanne had been a great friend since her family moved to Ohio, but their friendship never rivaled the close companionship she and Thomas had once shared.

  Where are you, Tommy?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Lillianna hastily gathered the laundry off the clothesline and glanced heavenward. The dreary clouds would be giving way any second now. A low rumble and warm droplets on her arms confirmed her prediction. She picked up the laundry basket and skittered to the house. The moment she stepped onto the porch, the clouds unleashed their fury.

  “Mandy, come help your sister with the laundry,” Mamm called from the kitchen.

  Lillianna frowned. “I can manage.” Her sister’s idea of help was anything but.

  “She needs the practice,” Mamm insisted.

  Mandy entered the kitchen and headed straight for the oven. “Mm…it smells gut, Mamm. What are you making?”

  “Close that right now. You’re going to let all the heat out,” Mamm said. “I’m making supper. You were supposed to help, remember?”

  “You know I don’t like helping in the kitchen,” Amanda protested. “And I don’t like doing laundry, neither.” She frowned at Lillianna. “Can’t Lilly do it herself? She don’t need me.”

  “Yes, you are going to help. You need to learn these things. You’ll be doing them all yourself someday.”

  “I don’t think I want to get married. It’s too much work.
I think I’m just gonna become Englisch. They’re lucky, they get to do whatever they want.”

  “You best not let your father hear you talking like that. Now go help your sister before I send you out to the woodshed,” Mamm’s exasperated voice creaked.

  “But Mamm–”

  “Now!”

  “Fine.”

  Lillianna shook her head. There’s no way she would have gotten away with that kind of behavior. It seems her folks had become lackadaisical in their parenting with the last few kinner. “Let’s take these up to my bedroom,” she said to her twelve-year-old sister.

  Amanda helped lay each item out on the bed without complaint. “I don’t get you, Lilly.”

  “What do you mean, you don’t ‘get’ me?” Lillianna raised her eyebrows.

  “Well, you’re nineteen, ain’t so?”

  Oh no, where is this conversation going? She nodded.

  “Why are ya here? Why don’t you go off and see what the Englisch world is like?”

  Lillianna laughed. “Where would I go? I don’t know anybody out there.”

  “You could go look for your beau.”

  “I don’t have a beau.” She took a dress and slipped it onto a hanger.

  “How about Thomas?”

  Lillianna could feel heat rising to her cheeks. Nobody knew about me and Tommy. “Thomas who?”

  “You know. Thomas. The one you was kissin’ at the creek a long time ago.”

  “Where did you hear that?”

  “I seen you. I was hiding behind the tree.” A sly grin crept over her face.

  “You shouldn’t have been. It’s not right to spy on other people.”

  “But Mamm and Dat do. I sometimes see them creep to the top of the stairs to listen when Rosemary’s beau comes over.”