His Pretend Amish Bride

Book 2: Unexpected Amish Blessings

by Rachel J. Good

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

Synopsis

In a small Amish town like picturesque Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one solution to an indiscretion is to make a good marriage. Or perhaps, fake a respectable engagement . . . Priscilla Ebersol has a fulfilling life teaching special needs children—until her boyfriend’s humiliating betrayal ruins her reputation and threatens her job. Ostracized for something she didn’t do, Priscilla throws herself into a project on the benefits of camel’s milk for autism. Her research leads her to a fledgling local camel farm, where she discovers far more than she bargained for . . . When a pushy Englisch company shows interest in shy, handsome Gabriel Kauffman’s camel farm, he struggles to get out of a sticky negotiation. Lovely, well-spoken Priscilla appears at the perfect moment, and defends Gabe’s business so well that she is mistaken for his wife. It’s a ruse the two quietly continue, all the while secretly wishing it could be true. But though their bond deepens, Priscilla’s heart is still wounded, and Gabe battles with a troubling secret. And when a misunderstanding comes between them, it will take faith, honesty, and trust in the future to overcome the past—and allow their partnership to blossom into something more . . . Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

Release date: June 30, 2020

Publisher: Zebra Books

Print pages: 317

Sample

As she did every morning, Priscilla Ebersol finished mopping the kitchen floor, but today she hurried through her Saturday morning chores, because she and Matthew planned to have a picnic at the lake. The crunch of buggy wheels in the driveway stopped her. Matthew hadn’t come so early, had he? She was still wearing her black work apron and a kerchief rather than her prayer kapp. She’d have to run up and change her dress too.

She peeked out the window. Not Matthew. The bishop. Why had Bishop Troyer come calling?

Priscilla hurried to the door to greet him. “Gude mariye, Laban. I’m afraid Mamm and Daed aren’t here. They left for Centerville to get groceries a short while ago.”

The bishop stood on the doorstep a moment. “I would have preferred to have them here, of course. But this can’t wait. I’m sure you know why I’m here.”

Actually, she didn’t. But she couldn’t leave him standing on the doorstep. “Please come in.” Priscilla opened the door wider so he could enter.

Brushing past her, he headed into the living room and plopped down in the rocker. When she followed him into the room, he asked, “Are any of your brothers or sisters around?”

“The girls went to clean Dawdi’s house this morning. Zeke is organizing the basement, and Asher is helping.”

“Perhaps you could ask Zeke to keep Asher downstairs until I’m gone. That would be best, don’t you think?”

“Of course.” Asher’s behavior could be unpredictable. They didn’t always know what would set him off. Noises, smells, and touches often did, but sometimes his meltdowns seemed random.

Priscilla knocked on the basement door. Zeke had hooked it to prevent Asher from wandering off. Her brother clomped up the stairs and unlatched the door. “Jah?”

“Bishop Troyer’s here. Could you keep Asher in the basement until Laban leaves?”

“That won’t be a problem. Emma knocked two puzzle boxes off the shelf before she left. They each have a thousand pieces, and Asher is sorting them into the correct boxes. Good thing one is fall colors and the other is of a green field with purple flowers.”

“That’s a perfect job for him.” Asher loved painstaking, repetitive work.

“I know.” Zeke grinned. “I’m getting a lot done while he’s doing a job that would make me nuts.” Then he raised an eyebrow. “What does the bishop want?”

“I have no idea, but I’d better not keep him waiting.” While Zeke rehooked the basement door, Priscilla scurried back to the living room and sat across from the bishop.

Laban stared at her, his gaze sober and sad, as if she’d done something sinful. She tried to think of anything that might merit such a look. Nothing came to mind. Yet a heavy ball of guilt formed inside, and she lowered her eyes.

“It always pains me,” the bishop said, “when I have to speak with members about their . . . um, failings. Especially in a case where, up until now, you’ve been a teacher the children can look up to.”

Children? Had she done something wrong at school? Priscilla loved working as an assistant at the special needs school under Ada Rupp. Ada was mentoring Priscilla so she could take over as head teacher next year. Had she made a major mistake? If so, why hadn’t Ada mentioned it?

“I’ve already spoken to Matthew about this, and he’s very sorry and ashamed.”

Matthew? Now Priscilla was thoroughly confused. She couldn’t imagine Matthew doing something that would require a visit from the bishop. And what did it have to do with her?

“My greatest concern,” Laban said, “is the influence your behavior will have on the children. When you took the teaching job, you agreed to be an example they could follow. It grieves me to know that’s in question.”

With each word the bishop spoke, Priscilla struggled more to figure out what he meant. Her thoughts were as jumbled as the puzzle pieces Asher was sorting. What had she done that the bishop considered grave enough to come here to discipline her?

His shaggy brows pinched together, Bishop Troyer leaned so far forward the tips of the rocker touched the floor. His glasses magnified his piercing gaze, which penetrated deep into her soul. Priscilla shrank back, her mouth dry, and a frisson of fear snaked through her stomach.

Swallowing hard, as if it hurt him to speak, the bishop said, “After Deacon Raber caught you and Matthew in the, um, compromising position last night, Matthew at least had the grace to face the disapproval and apologize. But you fled. Of course, that would be one’s natural reaction, but you need to confess.”

Priscilla pinched her lips shut to hold back the words that longed to burst from her lips. But . . . but . . . I wasn’t out with Matthew last night.

She couldn’t contradict the bishop. Yet this had to be a mistake.

If it was true . . . Priscilla’s chest constricted until she ached to breathe. Matthew wouldn’t have been with someone else. She had to talk to him, straighten out this mix-up.

With nervous fingers, she pleated the fabric of her apron, her throat too tight to speak. She’d been taught never to talk back to her elders, and she certainly couldn’t accuse the deacon of making an error. Keeping her head bowed, she listened quietly to the bishop’s lecture on staying away from all appearances of evil.

“I still need to discuss this with the school board.” For a brief second, compassion warred with sternness in his eyes. Sternness won. “The school board will meet with you, but I’m sure you understand why we can’t keep you on as a teacher.”

But I didn’t do anything wrong, she wanted to say. Instead, she clamped her mouth shut to trap the words.

The bishop rose. “If you haven’t already confessed to your parents, I expect you to do so. Matthew has promised it won’t ever happen again. He’ll kneel and confess before the church. I trust you’ll do the same.”

Confess in front of the church? What did the bishop think she and Matthew had done? Her thoughts whirling, Priscilla pushed on the arms of the chair to stand and let the bishop out, but he laid a hand on her shoulder to keep her in place.

“You don’t need to see me out. Stay there and continue your confession to God.” He strode from the room.

Priscilla sat, stunned and confused. The vague sound of the front door shutting echoed down the hall. The sharp noise reverberated inside her head as one mental door after another slammed shut, cutting off rational thought. Matthew. Teaching. Confession. None of the bishop’s words made sense.

What did he think she’d done? And what had he meant about Matthew?

Gabriel Kauffman opened the doors of his milking barn to turn his camels out into the pasture. He stood in the center of the rural road, watching for cars and buggies as the camels clomped across the street to one of his fields.

A buggy horse flew around a curve in the road, heading straight toward him and the last two baby camels.

“Stop,” Gabriel shouted, waving his arms and jumping up and down to attract attention.

The man holding the reins was leaning forward, urging his horse to gallop at breakneck speed. He hadn’t seen Gabe.

Gabe yelled louder, gesturing wildly.

The driver glanced up, and his mouth opened in a wide O. He yanked on the reins. Dragged the horse to the right.

Gabe threw himself in front of the last camel baby. He’d take the impact. Try to save his newborn camel.

At the last second, the buggy swerved. Almost tipped onto two wheels. With one final wrench on the reins, the man whipped into the store driveway. Gravel sprayed from the wheels, pelting Gabe.

Behind him, the tiny camel let out high-pitched squeaks. Poor little thing must have been hit by flying gravel. Heart pounding, Gabe whirled to check on her as the buggy tore up his long driveway. Then it came to an abrupt and shuddering halt.

Gabe herded the baby into the field and closed the gate behind her. Arms crossed, he turned. He expected Englisch cars to speed on these back roads, but most buggy drivers plodded along. This one had acted like a late-night, buggy-racing teen. Gabe winced. That comparison made him ache inside.

The man circled in the driveway and headed toward Gabe at a sedate pace. With a sheepish look on his face, the driver pulled up next to Gabe.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was in a hurry and didn’t expect to find anyone on the road.”

“I see,” Gabe said, but he wasn’t quite sure why any Amish man would travel at that pace. It had to be hard on the horse. And it had been equally hard on Gabe. His pulse still drummed in his temples, his chest ached from the rapid staccato of his heart, and he struggled to erase horrific pictures from his mind.

The man glanced toward the field, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. “Camels? I thought that’s what I saw. I’ve never seen camels here before.”

“That’s because I just bought the farm. I needed more farmland for my animals, so I moved to the Lancaster area.”

“Why camels? Why not cows or goats?” The man shook his head. “I’d love to stay and ask more questions, but I’m in a hurry.”

“You surely were.” Gabe hoped his words didn’t sound overly critical.

“I apologize again.” Thrusting out his hand, the man said, “Welcome to the neighborhood. I’m Matthew King.”

“Pleased to meet you, Matthew. I’m Gabriel Kauffman.” He shook hands. “I won’t keep you, but stop back any time.”

“I’ll do that.” Matthew settled his straw hat more securely on his head and flicked the reins.

Gabe waited until Matthew had galloped out of sight before walking along the shoulder of the road to the building that housed his store.

His eight-year-old nephew, Timothy, gave him a gap-toothed smile. “I don’t need help.”

Gabe ruffled Timothy’s hair as he passed. “I know. I’m headed into the office. I trust you to handle the business out here.”

So far, few local people were aware he’d opened the store, but many of his out-of-state regulars headed here on weekends. They all swore by the benefits of camel’s milk and were willing to make the long drive and pay the high prices.

Gabe sank into his wooden desk chair and took several deep breaths. He was still a bit shaky after the near-accident. Pulling out the account book, he forced himself to record yesterday’s sales. Concentrating on a mundane task should help. But visions of another accident haunted him.

He’d thought moving here would erase the past. Instead, another out-of-control buggy flashed through his mind. Gabe buried his head in his hands. Would he ever be free of that nightmare?

When Matthew’s horse galloped into the driveway a short while after Bishop Troyer had left, Priscilla hurried to the door and flung it open. Now she’d find out what the bishop had meant.

Matthew tied his horse and hurried up the sidewalk to the house, glancing over his shoulder several times. His face and shoulders were set into such tense lines, Priscilla’s stomach roiled. The worries she’d tried to push from her mind flooded over her.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

“It’s been a rough morning. First the bishop confronted me. Then I nearly collided with a camel.”

Surely she’d misheard him. “A camel?”

“Jah, some man just bought that large farm for sale in Bird-in-Hand. He’s raising camels.”

“A camel farm?” Priscilla practically shrieked. “Are you serious?” She tried to calm herself, but if Matthew was right, this might be the answer to her prayers.

“Do you know if he’ll be selling camel’s milk?”

Matthew stared at her like she was crazy. “Who’d want that?”

“Lots of people.” Not wanting to face his skeptical look, she kept her real answer to herself. She wanted to buy some.

“Look, we can talk about that later.” He waved a hand dismissively. “I need to tell you something before the bishop gets here.”

“You’re too late. He’s already been and gone.” And Priscilla wanted an explanation for the bishop’s lecture. She hoped Matthew could clear up her niggling doubts.

“Laban said he had some errands to run. I thought I’d beat him here.” Matthew’s face drained of color. “Wh-what did you tell him?”

His pallor and shaky voice set off alarm bells in Priscilla’s mind. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong.

“What could I tell him?” she asked. “I had no idea what he was talking about. I just listened to his lecture about sin.”

Matthew blew out a long, slow breath. “Oh, good. That was perfect.” Fear flashed across his face. “You didn’t deny it was you?”

“I didn’t deny or confirm anything. But I want to know what’s going on.”

A dull red crept up Matthew’s face, and he lowered his head. “Pris, I’m really sorry. I owe you an apology. I, um, did something terrible.”

The small windmill blades churning in Priscilla’s stomach whirled faster, scraping and scratching her insides. She longed to flee. She didn’t want to hear words that might tear her world apart.

“I don’t want you to think I didn’t love you. I did.”

Did? That meant he loved her in the past, but no longer?

“I don’t know how to explain this, but I—I, well, I met Mara Bontrager in the apple orchard one day. She came out to give me some instructions from her daed. She stayed to talk to me. I, um, thought she was . . .” His voice trailed off.

Priscilla didn’t want to hear any more. She could sense where this was going. His boss’s daughter, a pretty, petite blonde, was a bit of a flirt. But would she flirt with a man who was courting someone else? Evidently, she had.

“It started out innocent,” Matthew insisted. “She’d come and sit with me while I ate lunch.” He hung his head. “Soon we started sharing lunches she’d fixed. I didn’t mean for it to progress.”

And all this time, he’d still been courting her? Priscilla balled her hands into fists.

“One day she asked if I’d meet her in the orchard after dark.” He swallowed hard. “I shouldn’t have gone. But I did.”

Those whirling blades scraped Priscilla’s insides raw. She wanted to hold up a hand, beg Matthew to stop. It took all her willpower to choke back a cry of anguish.

“We met again last night and . . .”

Priscilla averted her gaze from his scrunched-up face, the guilt in his eyes. Don’t finish. Please don’t say any more.

“We got a little carried away.” Matthew extended his hands as if begging for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

But he had. How could she deal with this betrayal? Did she still want to court him?

“When Leroy saw us, we’d been kissing—”

Kissing? She and Matthew had never kissed. Not yet.

And Matthew and Mara had done more than kiss. At least according to the bishop. Priscilla squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could block out the image of Mara in Matthew’s arms. Her insides felt as if he’d twisted her heart in his bare hands, squeezing out all the joy and love, leaving her drained and depleted.

Priscilla couldn’t meet his eyes, so she concentrated on Matthew’s shirtfront, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. All she wanted him to do was finish and leave.

When he spoke again, his voice was thick and uncertain. “We, um, did a little more than kiss. That’s when Leroy Raber spied us.”

Priscilla willed herself to sit still. She forced her hands into a serene position in her lap. Her insides might be in shreds, but she’d keep her outer composure.

“I, um, shielded Mara until she could turn and run. Leroy assumed it was you.”

An understandable mistake. She and Mara were about the same size, and Leroy would expect Priscilla and Matthew to be together.

“You didn’t correct him?” Her words came out shaky and desperate.

Matthew pursed his lips and stared at the floor. “You know how strict her daed is. I didn’t want her to get in trouble.”

But what about my reputation? We’re the ones who are courting. We’ve even been talking about marriage.

“Anyway,” Matthew continued, “I came over to ask you a favor. Would you be willing to—”

Forgive you? It wouldn’t be easy, but she’d get down on her knees tonight and pray for the right attitude, for God to give her His heart, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness. And for Him to heal her hurt.

Matthew hesitated. “I know this is a lot to ask, but could you let everyone think it was you in the orchard?”

She’d been expecting him to ask for forgiveness and beg to stay together. Instead, she sat there stunned. “You’re asking me to lie?” Not only lie, but cover up his wrongdoing? With another woman?

“Not lie exactly,” Matthew said. “Just not contradict Leroy.”

He expected her to stay silent as gossips repeated the falsehood? Not to defend herself when parents objected to her teaching their children? Or when the school board decided she wasn’t a fit teacher? Allowing people to believe an untruth was lying by omission, so he was asking her to lie for him.

“You have such a good reputation, I’m sure the rumors will die down quickly.” Matthew held out imploring hands. “If people knew the truth, Mara’s reputation would be ruined.”

“I see,” Priscilla said stiffly. But she didn’t. Not at all.

Matthew was willing to smear her reputation to save Mara’s. And he expected Priscilla to protect a cheater. Mara wasn’t the only one to blame. Matthew had willingly participated in the betrayal.

She squeezed her eyes shut to ease their stinging. And prayed no tears would fall.

“I’m sorry.” Matthew reached out and touched her arm.

His fingers burned her flesh. Her eyes flew open, and she jerked her arm away. Did he think they could go back to their old relationship?

“Will you forgive me?”

“It’s what God wants us to do.” Priscilla managed to push the words past her tear-clogged throat. But her heart protested. She’d wrestle with this later when she was alone in her room.

Matthew heaved a loud sigh. “I knew you’d understand.” He rose. “Oh, Bishop Troyer recommended we stay away from each other for a while to reduce the temptation.”

The only temptation Priscilla fought was to throw one of the couch pillows at him. “I don’t think the bishop was referring to me.” She hoped the sarcastic edge to her voice would stab his conscience.

His flushed face revealed her barb had reached its target. “I suggested we could break up.”

So you’ll be free to court Mara? A worm of bitterness wriggled through her heart.

When she didn’t answer, he shuffled his feet. “I thought maybe you could tell everyone you broke up with me.”

Matthew was offering to let her save face after he’d destroyed her hopes, dreams, and reputation? She pivoted, keeping her back to him. “Consider it done.” Then she forced herself to walk from the room slowly and demurely.

Matthew followed her into the hallway. Until the front door closed behind him, Priscilla maintained her facade of politeness. Then she leaned her forehead against the door, and her calmness cracked into a million pieces.

“Priscilla, are you all right?” Zeke asked anxiously, peeking out from behind the basement door. “I thought I heard crying.”

She kept her tear-streaked face turned away from her brother and said brokenly, “I’ll be fine.” Maybe someday. “I just broke up with Matthew.”

“Ach, no wonder you’re upset. I’m sorry.”

So am I. “It was for the best.” Everything that happened was God’s will, and He promised all would turn out for the good. But right now, clouds of gloom blocked even the smallest rays of sunshine.

“It will get better,” her brother promised. “But if you broke up with him, why are you crying?”

Swiping at her face, Priscilla turned to face him. “Ending a relationship is difficult.”

“Jah, that’s so.” Zeke nodded as sagely as if he’d been through it himself.

At twelve, he hadn’t, of course. But his grown-up manner made Priscilla smile despite her tears.

She needed to do something to get her mind off things. Doing chores wouldn’t prove enough of a distraction. Camels. Matthew had mentioned a camel farm. She seized on the idea.

“Zeke, I’m going out for a while. Tell Mamm and Daed I’ll be back later to finish my chores.”

His eyes widened. She’d never run out of the house before, leaving her work undone. But she’d also never felt so blindsided.

After changing into a clean dress and her black half apron and donning her kapp, Priscilla fled to the barn. Hitching her horse to the buggy, usually a mindless task, took all her concentration.

Once she climbed in, she sat for a moment to still the whirling thoughts. Then she clucked to her horse and started off. As Butterscotch trotted down the backcountry roads, the wind blowing past stung Priscilla’s aching eyes.

When she turned onto the road where the camel farm was located, she slowed. In a distant field, large brownish blobs wandered the fields. As she drew closer, the blobs appeared more like humped cows.

Priscilla managed a watery half smile. She’d found the camels. Now she prayed they had a store where they sold camel’s milk.

A small wooden sign by the side of the road said Kauffman’s Organic Farm. With a tug on the reins, she steered into the steep gravel driveway. A large metal building stood at the top of the hill. On the door, a hand-printed sign listed the hours.

Priscilla scanned it. Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Good. It was open.

She pulled past the building to park her buggy. As she got out to tie up her horse, the metal door banged open.

A petite woman struggled out, her hands filled with two gigantic insulated bags. She set them down and went inside for two more. Then she clicked open the tailgate of an expensive SUV with dark-tinted windows.

Were those bags filled with camel’s milk? If so, maybe this woman in her embroidered jacket with an elegant scarf wound around her neck had bought out the store. The woman slammed her trunk shut as a small boy emerged from the house next door carrying a small stack of bills.

“I have some change,” he called, waving some bills in the air.

“Excellent,” she said, heading toward the passenger door. “I’ll be right in. I just need a few insulated bags.” She waited until he’d gone inside, then she walked over to the side of the building where large cooler chests sat, stacked one on top of the other. Each chest had a name printed neatly in black marker on the front.

Curiosity kept Priscilla standing there, semi-hidden behind the buggy.

Grunting, the woman lifted one of the heavy chests and lugged it to her SUV. The chest said Graber. An Amish name—but the woman definitely wasn’t Amish. She transferred two more chests. Allgyer and Hess. Maybe she was an Englisch driver who delivered orders to the Amish and Mennonites.

She didn’t look like any driver Priscilla had ever seen. Her expensive leather shoes, her silky blonde hair swishing around her shoulders, and her haughty air spelled money. Lots of it.

Before Priscilla could be caught gawking, the woman entered the store again. Priscilla stepped from behind the carriage and crossed the parking lot. She reached for the knob, but the door opened abruptly, almost hitting her.

The petite woman rushed out, calling over her shoulder, “I forgot my insulated bags. I’ll be right back.”

She breezed past, letting the door slam. Priscilla opened it and walked into a wide, spacious warehouse. Shelves full of facial products and lotions lined each wall. A few shelves farther down held raw honey, natural peanut butter, and jars of vitamins.

Across the room, the young boy sat at a desk, with a money box and stacks of invoices close at hand. As in many Amish businesses, the children often ran the stores.

She didn’t see any refrigerators. “Do you sell any camel’s milk?”

“Yes, we do.” The boy stood and headed toward her. “Did you want a certain size?”

“What sizes do you have?”

“From pints to gallons.”

“Where would I find them?”

The woman entered the building and swept past Priscilla. She pushed open heavy hanging plastic behind them, and freezing air rushed over Priscilla’s back. The boy motioned for Priscilla to follow the woman into a huge refrigerated room lined with shelves filled with glass jars and bottles.

Arctic temperatures chilled Priscilla’s nose and hands, and she shivered. Now she understood why the woman wore a coat and scarf. If she made another trip here, she’d dress properly.

Beside her, the woman slid gallon jugs of milk into her insulated tote bags. The bottles clinked as she lifted the bags. “I’m ready to check out,” she said as she flung open the door, pushed aside the plastic, and exited the refrigerated room.

Priscilla had to get out of the cold. She’d grab the smallest container of camel’s milk they had. She hoped Asher would try it. She wouldn’t buy a large bottle, in case he refused to drink it.

A handsome man entered through another door at the far end of the refrigerated space. “Are you finding everything you need?”

“I’m looking for camel’s milk.” Priscilla’s teeth chattered.

“You’re standing by the gallons. If you want a smaller size, they’re down here.”

“A-a p-pint, p-please.”

“You’re shivering.” He lifted a pint from the nearest shelf. “Why don’t you come in here and warm up?” He led her through the far door and into a small office.

Blessed heat enveloped her as she stepped through the plastic. She stood over a small kerosene heater and rubbed her hands together.

“I can tell you’re a first-timer. Our regulars all wear coats. If you want to go back in to look around, feel free to borrow my jacket and gloves.” He pointed to a nearby peg.

“Danke, but I just wanted a sample today. I’m not sure if I can convince my brother to try it. Can you tell me how much this is?”

“That size is fifteen dollars.”

Fifteen dollars? For one pint? She’d read camel’s milk was costly, but she hadn’t expected it to be this expensive.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. Not only had she not been prepared for the price, but in her hurry to get out of the house and away from thoughts of Matthew, she’d forgotten to bring money.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t have my wallet.” Her face and neck burning, she turned toward the freezer door and lifted the plastic sheeting. “I’ll just put this back.” It seemed everywhere she went today, she faced shame.

“No need to do that.” His deep voice stopped her. “Could you wait here? I have a question for you.” His dazzling smile made her blink. “But first, I should help that lady with her bags. My nephew’s a . . .