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  Copyright © 2019 by Jennifer Spredemann (aka 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.

  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: 978-1-940492-50-6

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Table of Contents

  Books by Jennifer Spredemann

  Books by J.E.B. Spredemann

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Author’s Note

  Dedication

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  A Special Thank You

  Recipe: Stella’s Drop Sugar Cookie

  Discussion Questions

  Sneak Peek: The Trespasser

  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 Reward

  An Amish Deception

  An Amish Honor

  An Amish Blessing

  An Amish Betrayal

  NOVELETTES

  Cindy’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 1

  Rosabelle’s Story – An Amish Fairly Tale Novelette 2

  OTHER

  Love Impossible – Amish Dreams

  Unlikely Santa – An Amish Christmas Story

  COMING 2020 (Lord Willing)

  The Trespasser (Amish Country Brides)

  The Heartbreaker (Amish Country Brides)

  The Charmer (Amish Country Brides)

  The Drifter (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

  Unofficial Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words

  Ach – Oh

  Aldi – Girlfriend

  Bann – Shunning

  Boppli/Bopplin – Baby/Babies

  Bu – Boy

  Daed/Dat – Dad

  Grossdawdi – Grandfather

  Denki – Thanks

  Der Herr – The Lord

  Dummkopp – Dummy

  Englisch(er) – A non-Amish person

  Fraa – Wife

  G’may – Members of an Amish fellowship

  Gott – God

  Gross sohn – Grandson

  Gut – Good

  Jah – Yes

  Kapp – Amish head covering

  Kinner – Children

  Kinskind – Grandchild

  Maedel – Girl

  Mamm – Mom

  Nee – No

  Schatzi – Sweetheart

  Wunderbaar – Wonderful

  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 are 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.

  If you’re interested in learning more about the differences in Amish culture, please refer to my blog post That’s Not Amish!

  To my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

  May the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart, and works of my hands bring You glory.

  PROLOGUE

  Shannon Parker beamed as she strolled into the kitchen this beautiful Sunday morning. Life was finally beginning! She’d graduated high school a couple of months ago. She had a decent waitressing job that provided enough money for her to set some aside for the future—a future that seemed very promising at the moment.

  Especially since Aiden had said he’d been thinking about taking their relationship to the next level. Her heart flipped at the thought of what he meant by that. Was he thinking of proposing? They’d been dating for a year, so it was possible.

  Mom and Dad had gone out of town to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary, which left her the one in charge of her three younger siblings. She’d always thought she had a fantastic family. They weren’t well-off and they didn’t live in the fanciest house in town, but they all got along and respected each other. It wasn’t a perfect family, by any means, but pretty good considering the stories she’d heard about some of her friends from school. She was satisfied with her life. Thankful, even.

  Her cell phone buzzed and she pulled it from her pocket. She expected it to be Aiden. Instead it was an unread text from Mom. Had a great time! On our way home now. See you soon. Love you!

  She quickly texted back. K. Love you too!

  She hummed as she pulled the eggs out of the fridge and began preparing breakfast for her charges. She’d wake them up in a little bit. Right now, she’d enjoy the quiet time alone.

  ~

  Several hours later, a knock on the door told her Aiden might be making a surprise visit. He did that once in a while
. She’d always loved his surprises.

  She pulled the front door open.

  “Are you Shannon Parker?” It wasn’t Aiden.

  She stared wide-eyed at the uniformed officer and his partner. They wanted to see her? She hadn’t done anything to warrant a visit from the police. Had she? She combed her mind.

  “Miss?” He repeated.

  She shook her head, just realizing she hadn’t answered the man. “Um, yeah. That’s me. May I…help you?” Her hands slightly trembled. They always seemed to do that whenever a law enforcement officer was near. Not that she’d had all that much experience with the police. But the one time she’d been pulled over because her taillight was out, she’d had the same reaction.

  “Your parents are Marie and Andrew Parker, correct?” he asked.

  “Yes…” Her brow lowered. Why all these questions?

  “Miss Parker, we have some bad news, I’m afraid.” The officer fidgeted a moment and briefly glanced at the other officer before training his eyes back on her. “Your parents were in a head-on collision early this afternoon. I’m really sorry to tell you this, but neither of them survived. They both died at the scene of the accident…” The officer had continued speaking, but Shannon hadn’t heard another word.

  Mom and Dad were…dead? She shook her head. No, that couldn’t be right. It wasn’t. She was just dreaming. It had to be some sort of nightmare. Surely she’d awaken at any moment.

  A warm but calloused hand rested on her forearm and she looked up. Into the eyes of an officer. It wasn’t a dream. It’s not a dream. God? No. Please.

  “Are you all right, miss?”

  All right? She wanted to scream at this man, “No, I’m not all right! You just told me my parents are dead! I’ll never be all right again!” But she didn’t scream. Instead, she remained silent, keeping her words bottled up inside.

  Moisture gathered in her eyes and inevitably spilled over onto her cheeks as reality finally set in. She quickly glanced back to see if any of the other children were present. They must’ve all been cleaning their rooms like she’d suggested in preparation for Mom and Dad’s arrival. But now that wouldn’t happen. Mom and Dad would never again drive up to their home. They’d never again walk through the front door. They’d never again gather her and her siblings in their arms and tell them they loved them.

  Dad wouldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle.

  Mom wouldn’t be present to help her find the perfect wedding gown. To give her advice for marriage and raising her own babies.

  What on earth was she going to do now? She couldn’t do this alone.

  An officer led her to the couch, where she collapsed in tears. She no longer possessed the strength to stand. Her two younger siblings rushed out of their rooms when they heard the commotion. Little Melanie would be too young to understand, but Brighton and Jaycee surely would. She repeated the officer’s words, then opened her arms to her brothers. The threesome bawled, and sobbed, and comforted each other until well into the evening. And the next day. And the next. Each day, they slowly came to grips with their grave reality.

  Mom and Dad were never coming back.

  ONE

  Late November, the same year…

  “Judy, I got the buggy all hitched up! You ready to go yet?” Bishop Christopher Stoltz called from the back door of their home.

  “In a minute, schatzi. I chust need to double check my list.” Her melodic voice wafted from the kitchen window.

  “Ah…so you’re making a list and checking it twice.” He chuckled, stroking his white beard. Jolliness bubbled up in his soul this morning, for some reason. Perhaps it was the fact that they just had Thanksgiving and Christmas was approaching. That always put him in a chipper mood.

  Judy finally appeared and met him at the carriage. “I think I’m ready now.”

  “Have you figured out who’s been naughty or nice?” He assisted his wife as she stepped up into the buggy, then rounded Prancer and hopped in himself.

  “What foolishness are you speaking, husband?” She frowned.

  “Ach, nothing.” He set the buggy in motion with a slight flick of his wrist, gently holding the reins, amusement sparkling in his eyes.

  ~

  Shannon Parker pushed the shopping cart down the Walmart aisle, making sure her three siblings were still within sight. The youngest, twenty-two-month-old Melanie, sat fastened in the cart’s seat while the other two walked alongside and sometimes ahead of the cart.

  She dug into her purse and counted her money once again. She grimaced. There was no way she’d be able to purchase all the items she’d planned for. She’d just have to figure out a way to stretch their meals—again.

  She picked up a bag of dry beans—they’d last for at least two meals, and some rice. Rice was great for stretching the budget and filling bellies, she’d learned. It could also be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. She grabbed another bag.

  “Do we have to eat beans and rice again?” Five-year-old Jaycee complained, like he often did.

  “Just be thankful we have food to eat. My cooking isn’t that bad, is it?” Her brow shot up.

  “Well, it sure ain’t as good as Mom’s was.”

  “Isn’t as good as Mom’s was.” She planted a hand on her hip. “Well, I’m sure that by the time I’m the age Mom was, I’ll be a better cook. But for now, too bad. You’ll just have to suffer through it.”

  “Can I get a candy bar?” He whined.

  “May I get a candy bar? And no, you may not. We’re on a limited budget. Besides, all that sugar isn’t good for you.”

  “You sound like Mom.”

  “Good. Maybe you’ll start listening to me then.”

  He reached for a candy bar and slyly placed it into the cart.

  “I said no. We don’t have the money right now, Jaycee.” She removed the candy bar and put in back on the shelf.

  “We never have the money.” Tears filled his eyes.

  She crouched down next to him and brushed away his tears. “I know it’s hard right now, but we’ll get through this, okay? I’m going to ask my boss if he’ll give me a raise next week.”

  “And then we’ll have money for a candy bar?”

  “Maybe once in a while.” She handed him a tissue. “Here, wipe your nose.”

  He did as told, then handed the tissue back to Shannon.

  “Keep it in your pocket in case you need it again.”

  “Do you think Santa will get me a candy bar?” He perked up a little.

  “Honey, Santa…” No, she wouldn’t tell him the truth about Santa Claus. At least, not yet. They’d still been reeling from the death of their parents three months ago. She wasn’t sure if Jaycee would be able to handle hearing the truth at this moment in time. He’d likely be devastated. “You can ask Santa when we go see him, okay?”

  “We’re going to see Santa Claus?” His mouth stood agape and his eyes sparkled with pure excitement. It was the happiest face she’d seen on her youngest brother since their parents died. They needed more happy times.

  “That’s right.”

  “When? When? Today?” He jumped up and down.

  “I don’t think Santa’s in his house yet. We’ll have to wait until December.”

  “When is that?”

  “Next week.” She frowned. She hadn’t even contemplated what it would cost to get her siblings a gift for Christmas this year. It would be their most meager holiday celebration ever.

  They’d gone out for a special meal on Thanksgiving Day at the local restaurant where she’d worked most of her senior year. Her boss had provided a free meal for them, knowing her circumstances. That had been something to be thankful for.

  She’d thought about preparing a fancy meal like Mom always had, but there was no way she wanted to put the effort in to create a gigantic meal with all the fixings. She could bake chicken, open a can of corn, and prepare macaroni and cheese out of the box, but she was not a skilled cook by any stretch of the word. Sh
e fixed meals so they could fill their bellies. At least they’d celebrated Thanksgiving, though. She’d managed to keep her tears at bay while the younger children were present, but she couldn’t help remembering Thanksgivings of previous years. She never thought she’d have to do it on her own. Oh, how she’d taken Mom and Dad for granted!

  “Are we almost done?” Jaycee moaned, shaking her out of her melancholy mood.

  “Yes.” She glanced around. “Where’s your brother?” The eleven-year-old was nowhere in sight.

  “I don’t know. He said something about looking at fish. I want to look at fish too.”

  “Brighton,” Shannon called. She maneuvered the cart around the corner but her brother wasn’t there. Great, she’d lost Brighton! “Okay, we’ll go see the fish, but let’s look down every aisle so we can try to find your brother.”

  As they headed in that direction, Shannon made sure Jaycee stayed close to the cart so she didn’t lose him too.

  “There he is!” Jaycee proclaimed as they turned into the pet aisle. He raced toward his brother. “Shan was worried about you.”

  “Brighton, you know better than to go off by yourself like that. Don’t you know there are bad people who are out there just waiting for children to wander off so they can snatch them away?”

  He rolled his eyes. “You sound like Mom.”

  “I’m serious, Brighton. Next time, stay with me.” She looked at him pointedly, communicating to him that she meant business.

  “My fish need food.” He reached for a can of flakes.

  Shannon frowned at the price. “We can’t buy that right now.”

  “But my fish will die. They ran out yesterday.”

  Shannon studied the cart and tried to determine which items to put back. “Only the small can.”

  “But the bigger one is a better deal.”

  “We don’t have money for it.” She shook her head. “Come on. Let’s go now.”