The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club - 02 - The Tattered Quilt
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Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Tags: #General, #Romance, #Fiction, #Christian
© 2013 by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Print ISBN 978-1-61626-086-6
eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-62416-447-7
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-62416-446-0
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
All German-Dutch words are taken from the
Revised Pennsylvania German Dictionary
found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, and/or events is purely coincidental.
Cover photography: Brandon Hill Photos
For more information about Wanda E. Brunstetter, please access the author’s website at the following Internet address:
www.wandabrunstetter.com
Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683,
www.barbourbooks.com
Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses
.
Printed in the United States of America.
EDICATION
In memory of my mother, Thelma Cumby,
who many years ago gave me her mother’s tattered quilt.
If we love one another, God dwelleth in us
,
and his love is perfected in us
.
I
J
OHN
4:12
PROLOGUE
Shipshewana, Indiana
E
mma Miller’s husband, Lamar, plunked a bottle of suntan lotion on the kitchen table in front of her and said, “How’d you like to take a little
feierdaag
and get away from these chilly days we’ve been having this fall?”
Her eyes widened. “You want us to go on a holiday?”
“That’s right. I was thinking we could go down to Florida for a while. We can rent a place in Pinecraft.” Lamar’s green eyes sparkled as he drew his fingers through the ends of his full gray beard. “Just think how nice it would be to spend a little time on the beach.”
Emma patted Lamar’s hand affectionately. “That’s a nice idea, but have you forgotten that I recently placed an ad for another six-week quilting class?”
“Jah
, I know, but no one’s answered the ad yet, so maybe you won’t have any students this time.”
Emma took a sip of hot tea. “I suppose that’s a possibility, but I was looking forward to us teaching another class together. Weren’t you, Lamar?”
“Of course; all the classes we’ve taught for the past year and a half have been great.” Lamar leaned closer to Emma and touched her arm. “If no one signs up by the end of the week, will you go to Florida with me?”
Emma mulled things over, then finally nodded. “I suppose it would be nice to get a little sunshine and take some long walks on the beach, but we can’t go until we get our roof fixed,” she quickly added. “With all the rain we’ve had so far this fall, it could start to leak at any time if we don’t get a new roof put on.”
Plink! Plunk! Plink!
Three drops of water landed in Emma’s cup. She looked up at the ceiling and groaned. “Oh dear, I spoke too soon. I’m afraid it’s already leaking.”
“Not to worry.” Lamar gave Emma a wide smile. “I called your roofer friend, Jan Sweet, and he and his coworker will start in on it next week.”
Emma reached for her husband’s calloused hand and gave his long fingers a tender squeeze. “Is it any wonder I said jah when you asked me to marry you? You’re such a
schmaert
man.”
“And you, Emma dear, are the best wife any man could want.” Lamar leaned over and kissed Emma, causing her cheeks to warm. Even after more than a year of marriage, he could still make her blush.
CHAPTER
1
Middlebury, Indiana
A
nna Lambright wanted her freedom. She’d turned eighteen a week ago, but her parents were holding her back. Most of the young people she knew had at least started their
rumschpringe
, but not Anna. Her folks held a tight rein and had forbidden Anna to do any of the things other kids did during their running-around years.
“What are they worried about? Do they think I’ll get into trouble?” Anna mumbled as she tromped through the damp grass toward the barn to feed the cats. It wasn’t fair that she couldn’t have the freedom most of her friends had to experience some of the things English teenagers did.
When Anna entered the barn, the pungent odor of hay mixed with horse manure made her sneeze.
If I weren’t Amish, what would I be doing right now?
she wondered, rubbing her eyes as they began to itch and water.
To make matters worse, Anna’s mother thought Anna should do everything expected of an Amish woman. Anna didn’t enjoy cooking, and sewing. They just weren’t her thing. She’d tried sewing a dress and had made a mess of it. She couldn’t even manage to sew something as simple as a pair of pillowcases without making stupid mistakes. Mom had tried teaching Anna to quilt, but Anna was all thumbs. Her stitches were uneven and much too big.