Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #1 (37 page)

EPILOGUE

Sixteen months later...

“W
hy didn't
Mem
go ice-skating with us?” Katie asked as she held out her arms and did a shaky twirl.

Jake skated over to her, ready to catch her if she hit a rough patch on the frozen pond. “I suppose she had other things to do.”

Grace skated toward them with short choppy steps. Jake had been working with the girls for an hour each day, ever since the pond had safely frozen over two weeks ago.

“Maybe
Mem
'll have hot chocolate waiting for us,” Grace said, her words came out on an icy puff of air. She clapped her blue mittens and said, “I'm cold.”

“How about you, Katie? Ready to go in?” Jake squinted against the flurries. The sun low in the sky reflected off an ominous, gunmetal cloud in the distance. “Looks like more snow is on the way.”

“No school!” Katie said as she glided to the edge of the pond.

Jake smiled. Some things were universal.

It took a few minutes for the three of them to change from their skates into their boots. Jake had set up a little wooden bench by the edge of the water for just this purpose. He had grown to love the simplicity of life since quitting his job at the university and becoming Amish. He worked the land and built things, and he finally had time to work on a book about the Amish he had long been planning. He wasn't sure how the church elders would feel about that, but he figured he'd present it to them before he published it.

He vowed to show the Amish in the best possible light while also sharing some of their struggles. Struggles that were real. The Yoder brothers were currently both in prison for their involvement in aiding Tommy in his drug venture. Tommy was in prison, too, but his sentence was much longer. Maybe there would be a role for someone like Jake to work with young Amish men who wrestled with the decisions facing them as they moved into adulthood, bridging the gap between the Amish world and the one outside.

“Last one to the house is a rotten egg,” Grace hollered as soon as she had slipped on her second boot. She was off like a shot over the fields to the tiny dot that was his home now.

Katie rolled her eyes as she tied the laces of her skates together and hiked them up on her shoulder. “Let her run ahead. I don't really care if I'm a rotten egg.” She smiled, and it reminded him of his Rebecca.

The two walked across the field, their boots crunching the snow underneath. “We might have to put snowshoes on next time we come out here. It's really starting to snow.”

When they reached the steps, Katie slowed down and looked up at him. She had yet to hit her teenage years, but every so often, in her mannerisms, he detected a hint of the woman she was becoming.

“
Denki
for being nice to me and my little sister.”

Jake's chest tightened. “Of course.” How could he be anything but to these two precious girls?

“My
dat
was very strict and made my sister and me afraid. It's just...” She seemed to be struggling with the words. “It's nice to have peace in the home.”

“Yes, it is.” He held out his hand, encouraging her to go ahead of him, but she paused.

“Is it okay if Grace and I call you
Dat
?” Katie glanced down and drew circles in the freshly fallen snow with her boot. “Grace and I have talked about it, but we wanted to ask first. You and
Mem are
married and everything.”

A knot formed in Jake's throat. “Of course, I'd like that.”

“Okay, then.” Katie slipped the ties of her skates off her shoulder and hustled inside.

Jake turned and canvased the land. God's land. He was truly home.

* * *

The door swung open and Grace ran in, leaving a trail of wet puddles from the snow in her wake.

“Slow down there,” Rebecca admonished.

Grace stopped and smiled, panting. “Katie's a rotten egg.”

“Oh, stop that. No one's a rotten egg.” Rebecca couldn't help but smile. This past year had brought much happiness to her little family. Jake had followed through and had been baptized this past summer. They were married in October, as soon as the harvest season was over. Now a few months later they had settled into a nice routine.

The only time Rebecca went to the diner now was to meet her friend Hannah for lunch. It was also nice to catch up with Flo. Jake had saved up some money, allowing Rebecca to stay home with the girls on the farm, and allowing them to plan for the future. Meanwhile, Jake had thrown himself into working the farm the summer before their marriage and truly seemed satisfied with it. Now in the dead of winter, he spent his time with the family and his writing.

Rebecca had feared he'd regret becoming Amish, but he truly seemed at peace.

The door opened again and Katie stepped in, followed by Jake. He smiled at her and her heart fluttered, a reaction only his smile inspired. They all took off their winter gear and settled around the heating stove.

“
Mem
, you should come skating with us tomorrow. I want to show you how I can skate,” Grace said, rubbing her hands together near the stove. “Can you come with us?”

Rebecca looked up, meeting Jake's eyes. “I don't know if that's such a good idea.” She placed her hand on her belly. She had felt sick this past week, but after a quick visit to the doctor today, she knew for certain.

Over the heads of their two daughters, Jake raised his eyebrows.
Really?
he mouthed.

Love expanding in her chest, Rebecca nodded. Jake closed the distance between them and pulled her into a tight embrace.

She closed her eyes and breathed in his scent, the fresh smell of soap mixed with the great outdoors. When she opened her eyes, Katie and Grace were staring up at them with curiosity.

With his arm still wrapped around his wife, Jake placed his other hand on her belly, an intimate gesture reserved for husband and wife. He met her gaze, getting her unspoken approval.

“Katie, Grace,” he said, “how would you like to have a baby brother or sister?”

They both scrambled to their feet and came to their mother's side. “Is it true?” Katie asked, always the more conservative of the two.

Rebecca reached out and cupped her eldest daughter's cheek. “Yes, honey. Are you happy?”

Katie nodded, but her lower lip quivered.

“What's wrong?” Rebecca whispered.

Jake put a hand on Katie's shoulder.

“I'm happy.”

“Then why are you crying?” Grace asked in the way only little sisters can.

Rebecca brushed away the tears with her thumb. “Those are happy tears.”

Katie nodded. “I can't wait to tell Samuel. When will we see him? He gets to be a big brother again.”

“He and Marian are coming for a visit next week if the weather's good.”

After all the drug charges had been dropped, Samuel had remained near Rochester in an Amish district in communion with Apple Creek. He'd been baptized around the same time as Jake and had married a pleasant Amish girl from a big family there.

“I hope the weather's good,” Grace said.

Rebecca gently tapped her daughters' bonnets. “You girls warm up and I'll make you hot chocolate.”

Katie and Grace held up their palms to the heating stove.

Jake wrapped his arms around Rebecca and whispered into her neck. “You make me the happiest man alive.” A warm tingle ran down her spine.

Her face flushed. She'd never get used to Jake's warm affection. Some of his outsider ways were welcomed. She held her hand to his chest. “I need to make hot chocolate.”

Slowly he shook his head. “
Neh
, sit.” His hand brushed her stomach. “I'll make some for everyone.”

Reluctantly, Rebecca relaxed and picked up her knitting. She watched as Jake walked into the kitchen. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at her.

A warm feeling swirled around her heart. Love. Happiness. Contentment.

And peace.

Most definitely peace.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
DESPERATE ESCAPE
by Lisa Harris

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Apple Creek, New York. I hope you enjoyed Rebecca's story. If you read my previous Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense,
Plain Peril
, you'll recognize Rebecca. She played a secondary role and when she first walked onto the page, I never anticipated making her the heroine of her own story. When it came time to plot a new Amish story, Rebecca wouldn't leave me alone. I guess she decided she needed her own happily-ever-after. I hope you agree. (Rest assured, you can read and enjoy
Plain Threats
without having read
Plain Peril
, but if you want to know more about Rebecca's backstory, check out
Plain Peril
.)

When I started writing, I never envisioned I'd produce so many Amish stories. However, I've grown to love my Amish friends in Apple Creek. Crafting an inspirational romantic suspense has a set of expectations and constraints. Tossing Amish into the mix creates even more challenges. Fun challenges. These challenges generate inherent conflict. Conflict is key to a good story. I hope you've enjoyed
Plain Threats
. If you want to read more about Apple Creek, please consider checking out
Plain Pursuit
and
Plain Peril
.

As a reader, what draws you to Amish fiction? I'd love to hear from you via email at
[email protected]
or you can write to me at Alison Stone, P.O. Box 333, Buffalo, NY 14051.

Live, Love, Laugh,

http://www.harlequin.com/harlequinexperience

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