An Amish Deception Read online

  An Amish Deception

  An Amish Romance Inspired by a Beloved Bible Story

  Book 2

  J.E.B. Spredemann

  Jennifer Spredemann

  Copyright 2019 by J.E.B. Spredemann, Jennifer Spredemann

  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.

  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.

  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.jenniferspredemann.com

  All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

  Cover design by iCreate Designs ©

  ISBN: 978-1-940492-48-3

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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  Table Of Contents

  BOOKS by JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

  BOOKS by J.E.B. SPREDEMANN

  BOOKS by BRANDI GABRIEL

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Dear Reader

  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

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  EPILOGUE

  Dear Reader

  Thanks for reading!

  Discussion Questions

  A SPECIAL THANK YOU

  Excerpt: An Amish Honor

  BOOKS by JENNIFER SPREDEMANN

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

  AMISH BY ACCIDENT TRILOGY

  Amish by Accident

  Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

  Christmas in Paradise (Sequel to Amish by Accident) (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  AMISH SECRETS SERIES

  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

  A Secret Sacrifice - Amish Secrets 5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  A Secret of the Soul - Amish Secrets 6

  A Secret Christmas – Amish Secrets 2.5 (co-authored with Brandi Gabriel)

  AMISH BIBLE ROMANCES

  An Amish Blessing

  An Amish Honor

  An Amish Betrayal

  An Amish Reward

  An Amish Deception

  NOVELETTES

  Cindy’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 1

  Rosabelle’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 2

  OTHER

  Love Impossible

  COMING 2019 (Lord Willing)

  Unlikely Santa (Nov. 1)

  COMING 2020 (Lord Willing)

  Amish Country Brides

  BOOKS by J.E.B. 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

  A Christmas of Mercy – Amish Girls Holiday

  BOOKS by BRANDI GABRIEL

  The Orphan Bride

  The Cowhand’s Bride

  If He Only Knew (co-authored with Michelynn Christy)

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ab im kopp – Off in the head, crazy

  Ach – Oh

  Aldi – Girlfriend

  Bann – Shunning

  Boppli/Bopplin – Baby/Babies

  Bruder – Brother

  Daed/Dat – Dad

  Dawdi – Grandfather

  Dawdi Haus – A small house intended to house parents or grandparents

  Denki – Thanks

  Der Herr – The Lord

  Dochder – Daughter

  Dokter – Doctor

  Dummkopp – Dummy

  Mann – Husband

  Englischer – A non-Amish person

  Fraa – Wife

  G’may – Members of an Amish fellowship

  Gott – God

  Grossdochder – Granddaughter

  Gut – Good

  Jah – Yes

  Kapp – Amish head covering

  Kinner – Children

  Mamm – Mom

  (Gross)Mammi – Grandmother

  Mei fraa – My wife

  Narrisch – Crazy

  Ordnung – Rules of the Amish community

  Rumspringa – Running around period for Amish youth

  Schatzi – Sweetheart

  Schweschder(n) – Sister(s)

  Sehr gut – Very good

  Wunderbaar – Wonderful

  Dear Reader,

  This series is loosely based on stories of actual people who are mentioned in the Bible. These books are not necessarily retellings, although you will find quite a few similarities between the books and their Bible counterparts. I am, in no way, attempting to rewrite the Bible (God has done a fine job with it and He certainly doesn’t need my help!) nor am I depicting the true Biblical characters. The characters in my books are portrayed as Amish and there are some things contained in the actual Biblical accounts that simply cannot be included, due to Amish culture and customs. With that said, I hope that you will enjoy this series as it is, but I also hope that it will encourage you to go back and read the actual Bible stories themselves. There are so many truths contained in God’s Word that we can never even really scratch the surface of its depth. His mercy and grace are beyond measure.

  Blessings,

  J. Spredemann

  ONE

  Jacob shoveled a forkful of supper into his mouth and glanced up at his father who sat at the head of the table.
Was he humming? How Dat loved his venison. And the son who’d hunted for it. A pang of jealousy cinched Jacob’s heart.

  One thing he’d always longed for was his father’s approval—something he’d never had.

  “Ach, this must be some of the best venison I’ve ever tasted!” Dat boasted. Jacob had heard this speech so many times he predicted Dat’s next words. “Ephraim, you are one of the best hunters I’ve ever known.”

  “Denki, Dat!” His brother beamed at their father’s praise. It seemed Ephraim could do no wrong. “I tried a new recipe this time.”

  Of course he did. Jacob sighed, clenching his hand in a fist.

  His mother squeezed his other hand under the table.

  “Jacob grew the vegetables,” Mamm said.

  Dat grunted. He couldn’t care less about vegetables. The only reason he forced vegetables down his throat is because Mamm insisted he eat them to stay healthy.

  “He should learn to hunt like his bruder. Ain’t nothin’ like venison stew.”

  Did Ephraim just sneer? He already knew what his brother thought of his gardening skills—it was women’s work. Anyone could do it, he’d claimed. A real man hunted for his food, he’d insisted.

  Jacob had always had a heart for animals, which is why he preferred not to kill them if he could help it. He’d much rather help Dat care for the horses on their ranch and assist Mamm with the gardening.

  Dat had always favored Ephraim, although he’d never been intentionally cruel to Jacob. He supposed Dat still loved him in his own way. But not as much as Ephraim. Never as much as Ephraim.

  And Dat’s favoritism seemed to worsen the older he got.

  “He also grew the lilacs. Don’t they smell wunderbaar?” Mamm pointed to the vase on the table.

  Dat shrugged. “Jah, the flowers are nice. Lilacs were my mamm’s favorite.” He offered an obligatory smile.

  Well, that was something. Probably as closed to a compliment as Jacob would get.

  He lifted his eyes to see his brother shaking his head and holding in a chuckle. His brother had an uncanny way of making him feel two inches tall. Well, he was sick and tired of his brother’s condescending superiority complex. Pride was not their way. He wished Ephraim would be called out on it, but it was not Jacob’s place.

  Ephraim was literally one minute older than him, but he acted as though he were a decade his senior.

  They’d have it out for sure. Eventually. He’d best his brother yet. He just had to be patient and wait for the perfect time. And patient was something he’d learned to be while tending to his garden. He could be patient.

  Just wait and see, Ephraim.

  ~

  Jacob ran a brush through the mane of one of their horses and thought back to his school days. He’d tried everything to gain his folks’ approval. He knew that he’d always had Mamm’s. She supported him in everything. But when it came to Dat, he always wanted to hear about what Ephraim had done during recess. It was as though Jacob’s getting a high score on a test paled in comparison to Ephraim’s home run.

  His parents must’ve decided from early on that Jacob was Mamm’s favorite and Ephraim was Dat’s. As far back as he could remember, it had always been that way. Didn’t they realize that children needed both a mother’s and a father’s attention?

  He surveyed his folks as they walked hand-in-hand in the cool evening. Although they seemed to play favorites with their sons, it was clear to Jacob that his mamm and dat were deeply in love, even after being married all these years. Aside from Der Herr, no one on this earth was more important.

  Jacob longed for that kind of relationship with a woman. What would it be like to find someone who looked at him the way Mamm looked at Dat—as though he were the most handsome, most important person in the whole world.

  Ach, perhaps that was how he would gain his father’s approval. Jacob knew good and well that neither Mamm nor Dat approved of Ephraim’s choice of maed. Would he marry the Englisch maedel he’d been dating the last several months? She didn’t share their views on hardly anything. Jacob figured his brother likely dated her because she allowed him to drive her fancy car. She was worldly. Not a woman Jacob would ever consider dating.

  Jacob thought of the maed in their district. There seemed to be more buwe than maed his age. That was one of the reasons Grossdawdi and Onkel Ezekiel brought Mamm and Aenti Lucy here some years ago. There hadn’t been enough maed to go around. Jah, he still had a chance. There were single maed available who would probably have him if he desired, but none of them had caught his eye. He wanted someone like Mamm.

  TWO

  “Hey, Jacob.” Ephraim pulled up in a fancy sportscar that likely belonged to his Englisch girlfriend. He would stop at nothing to fulfill his lustful desires, it seemed.

  Oh, no. What did his brother want now? “Jah?”

  “I need to borrow some money. Badly.”

  “What for?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Nee. You still haven’t paid me back for the last couple of times you borrowed from me. Why don’t you go ask Dat?”

  Ephraim sneered. “Do you really expect Dat to give me more money?”

  More money? Ach, Dat had never given Jacob any money. At least, he never gave him money he hadn’t earned. Of course, he’d never asked for any either, so there was that.

  “Come on. I’m serious. I need money. Now.” Ephraim demanded.

  “You don’t have to be so pushy. What if I don’t have any?”

  “Oh, you have it alright. You’re a tightwad, remember?”

  “You know, you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

  “Why on earth would I want to attract flies? You’ve got to be the dummest bu that ever lived.”

  Case in point.

  Jacob frowned. “I’m not giving you money.”

  “C’mon, Jake. I’m desperate. It’s a matter of life and death.” His brother had always been overdramatic. Wasn’t that what he’d said last time?

  “What do you need it for?”

  “I told you I couldn’t say.”

  Frankly, Jacob was tired of being the nice guy. Especially since his bruder never appreciated his sacrifices. But he didn’t have time to stand there and quarrel with his brother all day. “Fine. How much do you need?”

  “Five hundred.”

  “Five hundred dollars?” He practically shouted the words.

  “I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

  “When?”

  “Our next birthday. Two weeks.”

  “You can’t wait two weeks?” That was hard to believe.

  “Nee. I told you I need it now.”

  “You’re really going to pay me back? Is that a deal? A promise?”

  “Jah, jah. Sure, whatever.”

  Jah, he’d heard that before. “What are you going to give me as collateral?”

  “Collateral? What’s that mean?”

  “You know, you really should have paid more attention to your studies in school, instead of focusing on girls and sports.”

  “I don’t need a lecture right now. I just need money.”

  “Fine. Where’s the deed to Dat’s property?”

  “The deed? You mean the will?”

  The one he was conveniently left out of? “Jah, that one.”

  “I’m not giving you that!”

  “It’s only until our birthday, remember? When you pay me back.” Not that he actually would.

  Ephraim shrugged. “I guess it’s not going to do me any gut if I’m dead anyhow. It’s in my room, in the top drawer of my dresser.”

  Jacob turned serious. Maybe his brother wasn’t joking. Maybe he was in grave trouble. “Ephraim, what’s going on? You don’t owe anybody drug money or anything, do you?”

  Ephraim laughed, but it wasn’t genuine.

  Ach, he must be in some kind of trouble. Gott, please help my bruder with whatever trouble he’s gotten himself into this time.

  “You’r
e lucky I just came from the bank.” Jacob fished in his wallet and handed his twin brother the money he so desperately pled for. “Okay. You’re paying me back. Don’t forget.”

  Ephraim rolled his eyes, while tucking the money into his pocket. He jumped back into the fancy car and peeled out of their driveway, leaving Jacob in a plume of dust.

  “Thanks a lot, bruder.” Jacob coughed.

  Ephraim wouldn’t be paying him back, that much he knew. He’d be holding Ephraim to his promise, for sure and for certain.

  ~

  “Mamm, I need your advice on something.” Jacob yanked up another weed by the roots and tossed it into the wheelbarrow with the others he’d uprooted within the last hour.

  “Does this have to do with your bruder?”

  Jacob nodded and pulled the paper from his pocket. He handed it to his mother.

  Her brow furrowed as she stared down at it. “Your vatter’s will?”

  “Jah. I took it from Ephraim’s room.”

  “I don’t understand. Why?”

  “We had an agreement, you see. I loaned him quite a bit of money and he promised to pay it back. He never did. It’s been several months now and every time I ask him, he shrugs me off.” He grunted. “I don’t think he has any intention of paying me back. I’ve already given him time.”

  “And the will?”

  Jah, he still hadn’t explained that part.

  “We made a deal. If he didn’t pay me back by our last birthday, he would forfeit his inheritance.”

  “He gave this to you then?”

  “Nee, he wouldn’t give it up. I had to take it from his room. But he promised me.” Jacob’s brow lowered. “What do you think?”

  She shrugged. “A promise is a promise. What good is it if it isn’t kept?”

  “You think it is okay that I took it then?”

  Mamm smiled. “It wonders me if my mother’s intuition saw this coming. I made sure your father used an erasable pen to write the name on his will. You know that he was planning to leave most of everything to your bruder. It will all be his on his next birthday. But I will not stand for it.