An Amish Betrayal Read online

  AN AMISH BETRAYAL

  J.E.B. Spredemann

  ©2019

  Copyright 2019 by J.E.B. 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.jebspredemann.com

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

  Cover design by iCreate Designs ©

  ISBN: 978-1-940492-40-7

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  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

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

  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

  A Secret of the Soul - Amish Secrets 6

  A Secret Christmas – Amish Secrets 2.5

  AMISH BY ACCIDENT TRILOGY

  Amish by Accident

  Englisch on Purpose (Prequel to Amish by Accident)

  Christmas in Paradise – (Sequel to Amish by Accident)

  OTHER

  Love Impossible

  An Amish Blessing

  An Amish Honor

  An Amish Betrayal

  NOVELETTES

  Cindy’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 1

  Rosabelle’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 2

  COMING 2019 (Lord Willing)

  An Amish Reward

  An Amish Deception

  Unlikely Santa

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  GLOSSARY

  CHARACTERS

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  FORTY-THREE

  FORTY-FOUR

  FORTY-FIVE

  FORTY-SIX

  FORTY-SEVEN

  FORTY-EIGHT

  EPILOGUE

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ach–Oh

  Aldi–Girlfriend

  Ausbund—Amish Hymn Book

  Boppli/Bopplin–Baby/Babies

  Bruder/Brieder–Brother/Brothers

  Dat, Daed–Dad

  Denki–Thanks

  Der Herr–The Lord

  Dochder(n)–Daughter(s)

  Dummkopp–Dummy

  Englischer–A non-Amish person

  Ferhoodled–Mixed up, Crazy

  Fraa–Woman, Wife

  Geh—Go

  G’may—Amish church members

  Gott–God

  Grossdawdi—Grandfather

  Gut–Good

  Haus—House

  Hochmut—Proud

  Jah–Yes

  Kinner–Children

  Kinskinner–Grandchildren

  Lieb (Liebchen)–Love, My Love

  Maed–Girls

  Mamm–Mom

  Mei—My

  Meidung—Excommunication from the G’may

  Nee–No

  Ordnung–Rules of the Amish Community

  Schatzi–Sweetheart

  Sehr gut—Very Good

  Sohn—Son

  Vatter–Father

  Wunderbaar—Wonderful

  Phrases:

  Guten morgen! Good morning!

  Ich Liebe Dich—I love you

  “Schee, ain’t so?”—“Pretty, isn’t it?”

  “Jah, sehr schee! Ach, du liebe…”—”Yes, very pretty! Oh, you love…(similar to “Oh, my goodness!”)”

  “Geh raus!”—"Get out!”

  “Du bist ab im kopp, mein freund!”—"You are off in the head (crazy), my friend!”

  “Was iss letz?”—“What is wrong?”

  “Fremda glava”—Strange belief

  CHARACTERS IN AN AMISH BETRAYAL

  King Family

  David—protagonist

  Eli—David’s oldest brother

  Kauffman Family

  Saul—the bishop

  Jonathan (Jon)—David’s best friend

  Michaela—Bishop Saul’s daughter, Jon’s sister

  Shetler Family

  Beth—protagonist

  Uriah—Beth’s husband

  Grosssdawdi (Enoch)—Beth’s grandfather

  Miller Family

  Minister Miller

  Docras Miller—Minister Miller’s wife

  Yoder Family

  Deacon Yoder

  Loretta Yoder—Deacon Yoder’s wife

  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.

&nbs
p; Blessings,

  J. Spredemann

  PROLOGUE

  Beth Shetler awoke with a start. Her hand flew to her chest, willing the horses that charged within to cease their galloping. Her gaze fluttered around the quiet bedroom, shrouded in darkness, as her heartbeat slowed to normal. She moved her hand over the quilt and felt the place next to her. Uri slept on his side facing away from her, soft snores escaping as he indulged in peaceful rest.

  Good, it was only a dream.

  She laid back down and snuggled close to her husband, slipping her arm between his side and his strong arm. He instinctively pulled her hand close to his chest, all the while continuing to snore.

  At times like this she didn’t mind living in one of the smaller houses in their Amish district. It was still a two-story home but it only had three bedrooms – the master bedroom in the upper loft and two smaller bedrooms below. The home was lovely as far as rentals go, for sure and for certain, but if she and Uri were to ever have a large family with a lot of kinner, they’d need more room. But that hadn’t happened yet. And only Der Herr knew if it ever would.

  Ach, but she longed for a boppli.

  They’d eventually need to purchase a place of their own. With Uri’s current salary, that wasn’t likely to happen any time soon. Not that he didn’t get paid a decent wage, he did. It just seemed to be taking forever to meet their goals.

  But that was okay. She hadn’t married for money, she’d married for love.

  She pressed her lips against his back and inhaled the familiar scent that exclusively belonged to her beloved. Indeed she’d been blessed with one of the strongest men of the community. And he wasn’t too bad to look at either. Strong in body and spirit with unmatched integrity.

  Except for maybe the bishop, David King. David possessed all those qualities and more, and he was the leader of their people. The perfect leader, some would say. He always knew how to guide the community. He led with authority and grace and he obviously had God’s blessings on his life. His large ranch and house evidenced that. He owned the finest horses – the finest of everything, actually. He was kind and compassionate. He was truly God’s man.

  But she wouldn’t think of him right now, even though that proved difficult in light of her dream. Why was he in it? And what could it possibly have meant? And what of her husband, Uriah?

  Thank you, Lord. Thank you that Uri is still here by my side. I don’t know what I’d do without him.

  She gently loosened her hand from Uri’s grip and turned over on her side. She took a deep breath, her eyelids finally draping shut. Hopefully, her sleep would remain uninterrupted until morning.

  And their handsome bishop would stay out of her dreams.

  ONE

  Eight Years Prior…

  “Come on, guys. Let’s go over into the next pasture and find some fresh grass for you to eat.” David admired the young lambs under his charge. How blessed he’d been to be given the responsibility of caring for his father’s sheep. It was an important task indeed, bestowed upon him when he’d been just ten, and not one he’d ever taken lightly in the last eight years.

  “Maa,” the sheep answered in unison, as though in agreement with his proposal.

  “No, Fluffy, you can’t go off on your own. There could be wild animals out there. How will I be able to protect you if you go off by yourself?” David took the walking stick he’d carved out of a fallen tree branch and gently guided the little fellow back into the fold. “There you go. Now, you’ll stay safe.”

  David turned when he heard a sound coming from the bushes. Two of his older brothers appeared.

  “Are you talking to the sheep again? It’s not like they can understand what you’re saying.” His brother laughed.

  “I think they can.” David stood tall.

  “Hey, Curly,” his brother Eli teased, “go fetch that walnut!” His brother hurled a walnut across the field.

  The sheep stayed within the fold.

  “See! They’re just stupid sheep.”

  “They are not stupid. They’re kind and gentle and loving.” David protested. One of the younger sheep moved close and rubbed his leg, as though to prove David’s point. David reached down and patted the lamb’s head.

  His other brother scoffed. “Just don’t go getting too attached to them. They’ll be sitting in the middle of Mamm’s supper table next year.”

  His two brothers shared a laugh.

  “Leave us alone. Doesn’t Dat have chores for you to do?” He’d thought his oldest brothers should be married with families of their own by now.

  “What’s that concern you, Davy? Don’t you worry about us. You just go sing and dance for your woolen buddies, or whatever it is you do when you’re out here.”

  David ignored his brothers’ taunting, and turned back to his sheep. Oh, no. Where did Fluffy go? He shouldn’t have allowed his brothers to distract him.

  “Come on, let’s go.” One of his brothers said to the other.

  David continued toward the wooded area. The pasture was just beyond it. Hopefully, Fluffy only meandered just up ahead.

  He glanced back over at his brothers, who were well on their way descending the hill. They’d be no help finding Fluffy anyway. Likely, they’d scatter the flock even more. Nee, he’d find his lost lamb on his own.

  He hurried toward the pasture, making sure the sheep followed close behind him. All except Fluffy. If he didn’t find her on the trail, he’d look once the others were securely confined inside the pasture fence. He couldn’t afford to lose any of his father’s sheep—not one of them.

  “Fluffy!” he called out. “Come on, Fluffy, we’re moving on.”

  He stopped momentarily to listen. Nothing.

  “Dear Gott, please keep little Fluffy safe until I can get back to her. And keep her out of mischief.”

  “Okay, I’ll have to come back to get Fluffy. Now, don’t any of you wander off too.” David led his charges through their property’s wooded area. It was about a quarter mile to the other pasture his father owned.

  Several moments later, every ewe, with the exception of Fluffy, was safe in the fold. David closed the gate then wandered back along the path he’d come from, and pulled out his mouth harp. He played, hoping it would attract Fluffy’s curiosity.

  He’d often keep his harmonica in his pocket and play for the sheep. They seemed to enjoy it.

  “Baa…aaa.” A weak cry told David that something must be dreadfully wrong.

  “Oh, no. Fluffy, what did you get yourself into?” He mumbled. His heart pounded wildly as he listened for the lamb’s cry. “Fluffy? Where are you?”

  No response.

  He’d search this entire woodland if he had to. He played the soft tune again.

  Again, Fluffy’s frail cry echoed.

  “Gott, please help me find Fluffy. Show me where she’s at.”

  Three more steps and there Fluffy was, lying in the bramble. Her doleful eyes stared at him.

  “What’s wrong, girl? Why are you just—” That was when he saw it. He knew by looking at the snake it was some kind of rattler. The snake turned his attention from the lamb to David.

  “Go on! Get out of here!” He commanded the snake.

  The creature stared at him defiantly and rattled his tail end.

  Fluffy’s weak cry met David’s ears, causing the snake to turn its attention back to Fluffy.

  He didn’t wait another second. He raised his walking stick above his head and pounded the rattler with all his might. Again and again he struck the creature until he was sure and certain it wouldn’t be able to hurt Fluffy or any of his other sheep.

  He flung it out of the way so he could approach Fluffy. The crows or vultures would enjoy a good meal.

  He looked to Fluffy, who seemed unable to lift her head. “Are you okay, girl?”

  That was when he noticed the trickle of blood on her hind leg. “Oh, no! You’ve been bit.”

  Remembering something he’d read in a thrift-store s
cout book, he quickly put his lips to the wound and drew out the poison, being careful not to swallow any. That book had been one of his favorites. He’d learned so much about surviving in the wilderness.

  Once he thought his ministration was sufficient, he spit onto the ground, then swished water from his canteen around in his mouth and spit that out too.

  He surveyed the foliage surrounding him and Fluffy, searching for a specific plant. There it was. Plantago Major, also known as Plantain, easily identifiable by its well-defined veins and rich green leaves. He pulled off several leaves. Since he didn’t have access to Mamm’s mortar and pestle, he popped them into his mouth, then chewed them until he tasted the juice. He took that mass of herbs and placed them over Fluffy’s wound, then wrapped a few strips of another plant around it to secure it in place.

  “There you go, Fluffy. That should draw out any other poison that might be inside your leg.” He gently rubbed the lamb’s head and back. “Is that better?”

  Fluffy’s response seemed a little stronger than earlier, but he was unsure if she possessed the strength to walk on her own. He opened Fluffy’s mouth and poured some of the water from his canteen into it.

  “Come on.” He lifted Fluffy and put her over his shoulders. “Your brothers and sisters are lying down for the night, but you’re coming with me.”

  TWO

  David forked a bite of food into his mouth as his mother set the last of supper on the table.

  “David Bo King! What did your daed say about waiting until all the food was on the table?” Mamm’s hand planted firmly on her hip.

  “And until after the prayer,” his father added, eyeing him from the head of the table.

  “Just trying it to make sure it’s okay. Wouldn’t want anyone to get sick.” He grinned.

  His brother rolled his eyes. “Oh, how kind of you to think of our health.”

  David usually grabbed a snack after his tasks for the day were completed, but not today. He’d come in starving after taking care of Fluffy’s needs.

  His parents both shook their heads.

  “Patience is a virtue,” his mother reminded.

  “Ma-a-a…” Fluffy’s voice floated down the stairs and David’s gaze shot to his mother’s face. Oh no.