An Amish Second Christmas

by Shelley Shepard Gray, Patricia Johns, Virginia Wise

Genres: Amish & Mennonite; Christian Anthologies & Collections; Clean & Wholesome Romance

Synopsis

For the Amish, the day after Christmas is for family, feasting, and exchanging simple gifts. And for three different couples, it will bring another precious chance for love . . .
 
THEIR SECOND CHANCE
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Shelley Shepard Gray
Amish nanny Hannah Eicher never thought she’d see Rob Prince again. There was no way a relationship between her and the handsome English fireman could overcome her family’s objections—and their personal differences. But when he saves her from a sudden blaze, Hannah longs to see if they can turn holiday hope into a lifetime of happiness . . .
 
HIS AMISH ANGEL * Patricia Johns
She’s too outspoken to be a proper Amish wife. So as advice columnist “Miss Amish,” Maggie Lapp helps Amish and Englishwith their romantic problems. But when her tradition-minded former fiancé accidentally reveals her secret, Maggie will need more than a miracle to make things right—and find a perfect love for all the Christmases to come . . .
 
AN HEIRLOOM CHRISTMAS * Virginia Wise
Rachel Miller won't let her disability keep her from selling heirloom plants and proving she can be independent. She certainly doesn't need reckless Joseph Webber working at her greenhouse to pay off a disastrous Rumspringa stunt. But she and Joseph have more in common than they think—and their surprising holiday partnership might just blossom into forever joy . . .

Release date: September 24, 2019

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 304

Sample

The brush of a very wet, very cold nose against her throat woke her up.

“Nee, Daisy,” Hannah groaned as she pushed away her overgrown boxer. “Go back to sleep. It’s not Christmas morning yet.”

But instead of listening, Daisy whimpered and nudged her again. Then, for good measure, pawed her arm.

Though she’d recently trimmed Daisy’s nails, they still scratched against her cotton nightgown, snagging the delicate fabric. And that nose! Ack, it might as well have been a cold sponge dabbing her skin. “Daisy . . . halt, wouldja?” she grumbled as she attempted to flip over on her side.

Daisy responded by barking, pawing at her again, and then licking her cheek for good measure.

Those three things were enough to wake Hannah up completely. Her sweet rescue dog had never woken her up in the middle of the night before. She was also a gut hund. Rarely did Daisy not mind her new mistress’s directives. Propping herself on her elbows, she reached out and rubbed Daisy’s side. “What’s wrong, girl?”

Daisy barked again.

Persuading Hannah to at last come to her senses, and thank the good Lord, too. So much was very wrong. The air was thick with smoke and she could hear a suspicious, strange crackling sound. A noise that sounded an awful lot like fire.

Bolting into a sitting position, she cried out. The small kitchen alcove of her one-room apartment was on fire. Flames were climbing the walls. She and Daisy needed to get out. That minute.

But for some reason, her body couldn’t seem to move.

Daisy whimpered again.

“I . . . I know,” she murmured. Though it was doubtful that the dog could even hear her, the buzzing in the room was so loud. But maybe that was really the buzzing in her ears?

Feeling as if her head were occupying someone else’s body, Hannah continued to stare in wonder at the flames licking the set of cookbooks on one of her makeshift shelves. Noticed that a new line of fire was inching its way toward her. Was this what Paul had seen in the moments before he died?

All at once, it seemed as if every nightmare she’d ever had about her fiancé’s last moments in the explosion and fire at the Kinsinger lumber mill had come to life. All she could seem to do was stare at the fire and feel the pressure of all the fear and debilitating sadness that had overpowered her in those first few months after his death.

She’d thought her state of mind was so much better. Obviously, she’d only been fooling herself.

Daisy whined, grabbed hold of the fabric of her gown, and pulled. It ripped.

That small thing at last jolted her out of her daze. It was time to stop dwelling on the past and get them both to safety.

As she crawled out of bed, Hannah feared she’d waited far too long. The room had grown hot and that smoke was so thick she could hardly see. Only a thin foot of clear air lingered near the floor.

Grabbing the dog’s collar, she started running to the back door. Intent on negotiating the path, she tripped over a piece of singed wood that had fallen from the corner of the ceiling. Awkwardly attempting to right herself, she reached out a hand....

Before she fell, a sharp pain searing through her temple made her cry out. And inhale a thick band of smoke. Her eyes watered; whether from pain, frustration, or the very fact that she was hurting and running out of air she didn’t know.

All she did know was that the door now seemed so very far away.

Daisy barked and nipped at her. Pulling herself to her knees, Hannah forced herself to crawl toward the door. She couldn’t think of anything beyond getting Daisy to safety.

At that moment, nothing else—not even her own fate—seemed to matter.

The dog’s shrill barking confirmed their worst fears. The house was occupied. The four men and one woman surrounding the ladder truck tensed and listened intently for instructions.

“Rob, you with me. Now,” Brendan, his captain, ordered into his microphone, his usual staccato speech ringing loud and clear in Rob Prince’s ear.

Rob didn’t bother to reply, just checked his equipment one last time and followed close behind his captain. Around them, there was a cacophony of sounds and lights. Two fire trucks, an ambulance, and a number of sheriff vehicles had arrived. Each person was moving in sync with the others, illustrating the benefits of their many hours of training.

It was almost as if his body knew what to do before his mind did.

Ahead of the captain, Jerry used the ax to break down the door. They stood back, cautiously making sure the fresh addition of oxygen didn’t create an explosion.

Luckily, though, only a thick band of smoke filtered out, followed by the loud, spooked bark of a dog.

Cap cursed under his breath. “I hate dealing with dogs.”

Rob knew why. Dogs panicked, and the men entering their home in bulky uniforms looked both foreign and threatening. No, their turnout gear didn’t usually create a sense of calm for any of the people or animals they attempted to rescue. Then, too, their captain had shared once that he had a terrible allergy to dogs. He had no experience with them.

But Rob did. He knew dogs, thanks to Rose, his Rottweiler.

When he saw that it was a white boxer and she was both whimpering and growling at both Jerry and Brendan, he pushed his way through.

“Let me help.” As the other men stepped aside, he reached out a glove to the dog’s neck, murmuring nonsense words as he did so. Immediately the dog’s stance softened and she looked up at him with big, brown eyes.

Causing his gaze to lower and see the woman on the ground.

His heart almost stopped. Was that . . .

No, surely it couldn’t be Hannah Eicher . . . could it?

While he continued to stare at her prone form, Jerry moved around his side. “I’ve got her. You get the dog.”

Hardly able to take his eyes off the body in Jerry’s arms, Rob bent down, murmured, “Gut hund,” something his almost girlfriend used to say to Rob’s dog, Rose.

Still in a daze, he picked up the boxer and rushed her out to safety. He was vaguely aware of his captain and two other firemen searching the house for more people or bodies.

But Rob could have told him that they wouldn’t find anyone else. As far as he knew, Hannah Eicher lived alone. By her choice, not his.

As he walked back outside, holding an eighty-pound boxer in his arms, he knew that if he’d had his way nine months ago Hannah wouldn’t have been living alone at all.

She would have been sleeping in his house, in their bed, as his wife.

But that had been his dream. Not hers.

“You are being dikk-keppich, Hannah,” Daed said as he gazed down at her from the side of her hospital bed. “Jah, mighty stubborn. You need care and family right now. You need to come home.”

She loved her parents, but Hannah knew most certainly that of all the things she needed, she did not need to “come home.” Things between them hadn’t been good for a while and she knew their relationship would only get more strained if she moved back into her old bedroom. “I’m sure I am being stubborn, but it canna be helped. I’m stubborn by nature. You’ve told me that time and again. Ain’t so?” She smiled to take the sting out of her words.

But her father’s expression didn’t lighten one bit. Instead, he continued to silently study her. Then, as if he couldn’t look at her another second, he turned to her mother. “Claire, do something.”

“I would if you’d but move, Samuel.”

Hannah closed her eyes and counted to seven while her parents switched places. As if her mamm weren’t about to start saying the exact same thing.

This was a familiar dance, and one she’d once thought rather amusing. But as she’d gotten older, her patience with their attempts to lovingly manipulate her ebbed. Now, on her best days? She was mildly exasperated. On her worst, such as today? More than a little irritated by their performance.

Though she loved them, she no longer wanted much to do with their bossy, interfering ways. She especially did not want to be bullied while sitting in a hospital bed.

“Hannah,” Mamm began in a sweet, lilting voice, “you must realize that you ain’t thinking straight. No doubt the smoke you inhaled has made you addled.”

“I am not addled.” She was in pain, had a fierce headache, and was worried about her dog and how many—if any—of her belongings had survived the fire. But she was most definitely not addled. “I do not want to go to your haus.”

“It’s not our haus; it’s your home, Daughter.”

“Nee, my home burned down last night.”

Mamm’s eyes filled with heavy tears. Ever so slowly, she raised a hand and wiped one away.

The motion was filled with no small bit of drama, and when Hannah was a young teenager it had worked like a charm. All it took were two or three tears and she’d be besieged by guilt.

But now? Now Hannah knew that the tears were all for show.

She sighed.

Mamm blinked. Two seconds later, her bottom lip trembled. “I canna believe you are acting so cold and uncaring. It’s like we hardly know you anymore.”

Her father stepped closer. Wearing a heavy frown, he loomed over her mother’s shoulder. After a pause, he folded his arms over his chest. With his graying hair and long beard, he looked much like an irritated barn owl. “You should be more respectful of your mother’s needs, child.”

Oh! Oh, for heaven’s sake! She was in the hospital recovering from a fire! Yet, once again, her parents had neatly turned the tables so they could focus on their own pain and suffering.

At least Hannah knew now that it did no good to ask them to concentrate on her needs instead of their own wants. They’d simply stare at her in confusion, protesting that they actually were thinking only of her.

If she tried to explain her point of view, they’d accuse her of being disrespectful and things would become even more strained among the three of them.

It was far better to simply send them on their way. “Danke for visiting, but I am verra tired. I think I need to rest.”

“Don’t be like this, Hannah,” Mamm chided.

“I’m afraid I canna be ‘like’ any other way. You are leaving me no choice. Please, can’t we talk later?” She hated to sound so difficult and rude, but experience had taught her that giving in to them meant losing so much more than just a minor disagreement.

Her mother’s tears multiplied. “Oh, Hannah. How could you?”

It was self-preservation, through and through. Her mother had perfected the art of crying a long time ago and had used it to her benefit often. And like a trigger, it forced the same reaction that it usually did. Shame and regret.

But then Hannah remembered what those tears had encouraged her to do. Nine months ago, not ten minutes after Rob Prince had driven away from their home, her parents had gone on the attack. For weeks, they’d pressured her to stop seeing him. They’d used every tactic in their arsenal, too. Threats about how they would disown her. Tales of the dangers that beset Amish folks who lived among the English. When neither of those things worked?

Her mother softly insinuated that a wealthy, successful man like Rob would never be happy with a sheltered Amish girl.

Oh, that had hurt.

Then, when she began to doubt herself, they’d added a healthy dose of guilt.

As she recalled that time, her resentment sprouted—at both the things they’d done and the way she’d allowed herself to believe them. She wished she’d been braver and not let her fears overrule her heart.

“I really need to sleep, Mamm. I’m exhausted and I think the nurse is going to come in soon to change my bandages.”

“Let’s go, Claire,” Daed said. “We can return tonight.”

Her mother took one step back before turning to Hannah again. “Are you sure you don’t want us to stay? The hospital is a lonely, scary place,” Mamm said.

“I’m sure. I’ll try to handle being here for a few hours by myself.”

“We’ll be back soon,” he replied, not catching a bit of the sarcasm in her comment, which was really a good thing.

After they turned and walked out, she closed her eyes and leaned back against her hard pillow. Wishing for the peace she used to take for granted.

Before Paul had died in the Kinsinger Mill disaster. Before she’d met Rob and felt something new and fierce. An attraction that had made what she’d felt for Paul seem bland in comparison.

The door opened again. Trudy, her nurse—and her onetime classmate—entered. All smiles.

“You, my dear, have two choices.”

“Let me guess—I get to have either my blood pressure taken or my bandages checked?”

“You make me sound so evil!” One of Trudy’s dimples appeared. “I actually have two much better options for you.”

“And they are?”

“You get to either rest until it’s time to check your vitals again . . . or let the person who’s been sitting outside your room for the last hour come inside to visit.”

“Someone’s been waiting out in the hall for me?” It didn’t make any sense. Her parents would have told her about Dr. and Mrs. Ross. She’d been their children’s nanny for years. Or perhaps it was Joanne, another longtime friend.

Actually, they would have ushered any of her friends in the door.

Unless . . .

With both a sense of foreboding and excitement, she whispered, “Trudy, who has been sitting out there?”

“A very handsome firefighter named Rob.”

“Rob is here?”

Trudy’s smile turned into a wide grin. “Aha! I knew there was something between the two of you! Are you two close friends?”

Once, they were. Once, they were so much more than that. “I don’t know.”

Some of the excitement that had been shining in Trudy’s eyes dimmed. “Well, he came to see you. Do you wish to see him? You don’t have to, you know.”

Nine months ago, she’d broken his heart. Nine months ago, she’d told him they didn’t have a future. And after he’d turned around and walked away, she’d realized she’d made the biggest mistake of her life.

“Jah, I do,” she said softly, looking at the door. “Please, send Rob on in.”

The petite firecracker who was Hannah’s nurse ushered Rob into the room with a far more subdued air than five minutes before. “If you’ll come this way?” she said very properly.

Walking behind her, Rob wondered what Hannah had told the nurse about him. Obviously, it wasn’t anything good. Was she still determined never to speak to him again? But if that was the case, why had she agreed to let him visit?

Maybe it was so she could tell him to leave her alone.

Just the idea of listening to those words brought forth a fresh wave of confusion and pain. Just as it usually did. No, just as it had from the time she’d broken up with him.

Unfortunately, he feared that had become their new normal. Around Hannah Eicher, he never knew the right way to act. It was crazy, really. Most people considered him to be an okay guy. Maybe even a catch. He was well-off, made a pretty good living writing mysteries, and now spent thirty hours a week as a fireman. That job had transformed his body. Made him stronger, bigger. The job had also changed his whole perspective on life. Risks were always involved, but even in the worst circumstances, it was possible to see blessings.

Yep, for pretty much everyone else, he was someone to be respected or at least to be friends with.

With Hannah? He was reduced to being completely unsuitable. He’d tried to avoid her at all costs because of that—up until last night, he hadn’t even known where she lived.

The moment he caught sight of her, he simply stopped and stared. How could a woman who’d just survived a fire still look so beautiful?

“You may stay ten minutes,” Trudy announced in a stern tone before casting a meaningful look in Hannah’s direction. Then, with her chin held high, she left, leaving the door open about six inches.

Presumably so Hannah could call for help.

Looking back at Hannah, he smiled tentatively. Her eyes were as wide and innocent looking as he remembered. And, just like always, he found himself marveling at how very blue they were. “Hey.”

“Hello, Rob.” She seemed to focus on him for a few more long moments before looking down at her bandaged hands.

Okay, then. She felt that awkwardness, too. But at least she wasn’t yelling at him. Walking to her side, he pointed to the chair. “May I sit down?”

“Of course.” Sounding shy, she continued. “You don’t have to ask something like that.”

“I didn’t want to impose.”

To his surprise, she didn’t look all that pleased about his hesitancy. No, she looked almost pained. What was going on?

“You . . . you aren’t imposing.” She waved a hand. “Sit down now.”

He finally did, leaning forward and resting his hands on the metal bars on the side of the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“I don’t know. Stunned? Frightened?” More faintly, she murmured, “Pained.”

“I imagine all of those things are normal.” He’d seen many survivors of devastating fires who were so shaken up, they were hardly coherent.

She pursed her lips.

He placed two fingers on his temple. “How is your head doing?”

“They told me I received ten stitches.”

“Ouch.”

A faint light of humor entered her eyes. “I’m thankful that it’s nothing worse.”

“Your wound looked bad. I asked the staff when I arrived if you had a concussion. They said no.”

She blinked. “What do you mean it looked bad?”

Did she not realize he’d been on the scene? “Well, I . . . ” He swallowed. “I was one of the firefighters who was called to your apartment.”

“You were there, Rob? At my apartment? Truly?”

It was becoming impossible to figure out how she was feeling. He’d come to visit even though he’d realized there was a real good chance that she’d refuse to see him. He’d entered the room prepared to be either ignored or firmly put in his place.

But neither of those things had happened. In contrast, it seemed as if she was feeling uncomfortable around him. As if she was the one who was harboring regrets.

How could that be?

“Well, yes,” he finally replied. “I was on shift when the alarm came through. Then, when we got there, your dog was barking like crazy. My captain is a little skittish around dogs, so I volunteered to go in first.” Already hating to recall the scene that he was sure would stay with him the rest of his days, he continued. “When we broke down the door, your dog was standing guard over you, looking scared but determined to protect you no matter what.”

The first hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Jah. That sounds like Daisy.”

“She seemed like a good dog, Hannah. Daisy is very loyal.”

“Is she all right? I assumed my parents had her.” Pressing a hand to her forehead, she grimaced. “Oh my word. I was so irritated with my parents, I forgot to ask. I didn’t even think.” Her bottom lip trembled; then she tried to catch herself. “Rob, did my Daisy die in the fire?”

“What? No. Oh no.” He leaned forward. Reached out a hand before he remembered that she wasn’t his to touch anymore. “I took her home.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Well, she had to go somewhere, and Rose is old now. I figured she wouldn’t mind the company.” Hoping to alleviate her stress, he decided to give Hannah a sunnier version of what had really happened. “After we doctored Daisy up and wiped her down with a warm rag, we gave her some food and water at the firehouse.” He smiled. “She ate everything without a problem. Then, when I got off shift, I took her home and introduced her to Rose. They did a little bit of circling and sniffing but seemed to get along well enough.”

“Daisy is a friendly sort. I’m glad she isn’t in a kennel or shelter.”

“I wouldn’t have done that.”

“Danke.”

“You’re welcome, but I was glad to do it. It . . . well, it was the least I could do for an old friend.” He almost bit his tongue for saying something so . . . so meaningless. Hannah Eicher wasn’t simply an old friend to him.

She would always be something more. From the first time he’d met her on the street and escorted her to the Rosses’ house, he’d been smitten.

And “smitten” had been the operative word. She’d been adorable and so fresh. He’d been sure she was naïve and innocent and guileless—but she’d set him straight about that in short order.

He’d soon realized that she was as strong as any woman working in the center of New York City. Only far more attractive than any other woman he’d met in a long, long time.

She sighed. “I don’t know what we are anymore.”

“We don’t have to talk about that now. You need to get better.” He sat down again. Gripped the edge of the wooden chair so he wouldn’t do anything stupid, like reaching for her hand or smoothing a lock of hair from her face.

“Rob?”

“Hmm?”

“May I ask you something?”

“Of course. You may ask me anything you want.”

“Would you please take care of Daisy for a few days? I know it’s an imposition, but the doctors seem to think I might be here one more day.”

“Of course I will, and it’s not an imposition. She’ll be fine.” Wondering why Hannah didn’t want her parents to watch the dog, he said carefully, “When you’re ready for her, you can send word to the firehouse and I’ll bring her to your parents’ house.”

“Nee.”

“Okay.” So, she didn’t want him anywhere near her family. Hurt coursed through him again before he firmly pushed it aside. “How about this, then? You can pick Daisy up from my house as soon as you are ready. Maybe the Rosses can let you know when I’m around?”

“Jah. I can do that. Would you be able to leave me your phone number? I’ll call you when I know what I’m doing. I need to find a place to live . . .”

As each word registered, a dozen questions filled his head. Why? Why wasn’t she going home to her parents? W. . .