Amish Romance Box Set: Finding Home Read online

  Finding Home

  An Amish Romance Box Set

  Brenda Maxfield

  Contents

  Personal Word from the Author

  Mellie’s Sweet Shop

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Leaving Hollybrook

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  The Fire

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Byler’s Bed & Breakfast

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  The Englischer Stayed Twice

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Naomi’s Choice

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Epilogue

  Continue Reading…

  Thank you for Reading

  More Hollybrook Amish Romances for You

  About the Author

  Personal Word from the Author

  Dearest Readers,

  Thank you so much for reading one of my books! Your kinds words and loving readership make my day. As a thank you, I would like to give you a simple gift of my two favorite Amish recipes and keep you up-to-date with new releases and special offers.

  Click Here To Get Your Free Recipes

  Mellie’s Sweet Shop

  by Brenda Maxfield

  Chapter One

  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

  Hebrews 11:1 KJV

  Mellie straightened the packages of cinnamon rolls until they lined up perfectly with the dozens of cookies. She stood back and squinted at the display, pleased with the aesthetics. The bell over the door tinkled, and Caleb Glick entered.

  Mellie’s face immediately went hot, and she tucked a loose blond curl under her kapp with shaking fingers.

  “Hello Mellie,” he said with a wide smile. “How’s business?”

  His blue eyes twinkled, and their color reminded her of Edmund’s Pond on a hot summer day. He stepped to the counter and fingered a wrapped loaf of sweet bread.

  “It’s gut,” she said, feeling a sudden need to fan herself. “What can I do for you?”

  She didn’t know why she asked him, she already knew the answer. He would be looking for her sister Beth.

  It was his turn to flush. “I was looking for your sister. Truth be told, I was hoping she was here with you.”

  Of course, he was hoping that Beth would be there. It wouldn’t do for him to approach the main house and ask for her. That wasn’t to be done—even though everyone in the family knew they were courting.

  “Nee, she’s not here.” Ach! What a stupid comment. It was obvious Beth wasn’t there. The man had eyes, didn’t he? “Uh, I think she’s doing some mending on the front porch.”

  He bit the corner of his lip. “Will you tell her I stopped by?”

  Mellie nodded.

  “I was wondering about this Sunday night. The singing, you know.”

  She knew. He wanted to take Beth in his courting buggy to the youth singing. Afterwards, they’d take the long way home, and Beth would come sneaking in at some late hour, no doubt giggling as she climbed into bed. Mellie let out a long sigh.

  Caleb picked up a covered tin of chocolate chip cookies. “I’ll take these,” he said. He handed Mellie the money. When she took it, his fingers grazed hers, and the resulting jolt that flashed through her hand nearly caused her to drop the cash.

  Her heart burned with both longing and shame as she tucked his money inside the cash box.

  “Did you bake these?” he asked, pausing for another moment at the counter.

  “Jah,” she murmured.

  “Gut. Then I know they’ll be delicious.” He smiled at her and turned to go. At the door, he hesitated and looked back.

  “Something else?” she asked.

  He blinked and shook his head, looking flustered. “Nee. Nothing else,” he muttered. With that, he left the shop, the tinkling of the bell following him out.

  Mellie leaned heavily against the back wall and worked to calm her breathing. What was the matter with her? To act like such a fool in front of her sister’s beau… Her mind raced back over everything she’d said. Had she appeared too eager? No, no. Surely not. Had she acted too shy? Did Caleb think her silly? Or even stupid?

  Oh, she hoped not.

  She sank onto the stool she kept in the back corner. Why should she care what Caleb thought about her anyway? What possible difference did it make to anything in her life? He was interested in her sister, not her. Mellie felt tears pricking the back of her eyelids. Why couldn’t Caleb be interested in her? He liked her baking. Why couldn’t he like her?

  Guilt rushed through her. Such thoughts could only lead to heartache. And shame. God would not be pleased with her, not at all.

  The door chimed, and she looked up to see Beth waltz through. Mellie jolted up, wondering if her errant thoughts had summoned her sister to the shop.

  “Mellie, wait till you hear this,” Beth announced, marching straight to the counter. “Dan has come by. Again. He says he’s ready to move his family into the big house as soon as possible.”

  Mellie frowned. “What? But there’s no room for them. Where are we supposed to stay? You and me and Faith and Gabe and Eli? Is he going to throw us all out on the street?”

  Beth grimaced. “He is our brother. I doubt he expects us to camp on the street.”

  “But still… What does Mamm say?”

  Beth shook her head and exhaled loudly. “I don’t think she knows about it. And I’m not going to be the one to tell her. She has enough trouble.”

  “Did she get up today? At all?”

  “Nee. I took breakfast up to her. She’s bad today, Mellie. Can hardly shift a finger without pain. I adjusted her pillows, and she moaned even at that smallest movement.” Tears filled Beth’s eyes. “Then she tried to make light of it, saying it wasn’t so bad. But it is.”

  “What about the herbs Old Mae gave her yesterday. Aren’t they helping at all?”

  “Don’t seem to be.”

  “She needs to go to an Englisch doctor.”

  Beth’s head snapped up. “She won’t. Don’t you even mention it to her. She’s upset enough.”

  “But an Englisch doctor might help. I heard of someone else who has rheumatoid arthritis. My friend Betty’s uncle, I think it was. He went to an Englisch doctor and got some medicine that really helped.”

  “Maybe so. But Mamm won’t hear of it, and you know it.”

  Mellie pursed her lips. Mamm’s stubbornness was a well-known fact to the whole family, and in this case, Mellie thought it was misplaced. Her mamm hadn’t been able to function with any sense of normalcy for almost two years. Two years of constant pain was enough to make a person lose their mind.

  “How are sales today?” Beth asked.

  “So so.” Mellie looked at her sister’s gentle face with its soft features. She wished her face looked more like Beth’s. Her own profile was pointed and thin. When she gaz
ed at herself in the hand mirror, she thought her features were too strong-looking. Her blond hair softened the look some, but since it was pulled tightly back in a bun to accommodate her kapp, it didn’t do much good.

  Her eyes widened. Now was she spending her thoughts on her own personal appearance? She was having quite a morning.

  “Caleb came by,” she said, wanting to get the message out and over with.

  “Oh?” Beth cocked one of her brows.

  “He said something about this Sunday night.”

  “Oh?” Beth repeated. “I suppose he wants to escort me to the youth singing.”

  “That would be my guess.” Mellie bit her lip and then asked. “Do you want to go with him?”

  Beth smiled. “He’s really quite funny. Did you know that? At first, I thought he was a bit shy, but once you get to know him, he’s funny.”

  Mellie would have guessed that. More than once, he’d brought a giggle to her lips. “But do you want to go with him?”

  Beth gave her an intense look. “Why? Have I been obvious?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She coughed and shuffled her feet. “Nothing.”

  “Beth, tell me. What do you mean?”

  “It’s just, well, oh, nothing. Never mind.” She walked back to the door of the shop. “Dan is coming for supper tonight.”

  “With his whole family?”

  “Nee. Just him, I guess. He wants to talk about moving in.”

  Mellie shook her head. “I still don’t see where he’s going to put all of us. We can’t all squeeze into the daadi haus with Daadi.”

  “You’re right. Let’s just see what he has to say, all right?”

  “All right,” Mellie reluctantly agreed.

  Beth gave her a wave and left the shop. Mellie watched her go, first through the front and then through the side window. Beth was carrying a book, like usual. Mellie hadn’t noticed it when she had first walked in, but it was no surprise. Beth sneaked in reading time whenever she could. It used to irritate their dat no end when he was alive. “Get outside! Weed the garden. You’re wasting precious time with your nose in that book!” he’d say. Beth would obediently stash her book and go outside. But the minute he wasn’t looking, there she’d be, back at it, glued to her story.

  Mellie gave a bittersweet smile. She missed their dat. Oh, he could be mighty bossy at times, but he used to push her in the tire swing so high, she touched heaven itself.

  Three years he’d been gone. It was hard to believe. Mellie opened the cash box back up and counted her profits for the day. Sixty-six dollars and seventy-five cents. Not bad. She looked over her stock and wished a few more customers would show up before she closed at six o’clock that evening. If they didn’t come and buy up some of the remaining goods, she’d be forced to give them away or take them back to the house. They wouldn’t be sufficiently fresh come morning. Well, her brothers would be glad of it. They happily gobbled up any of her baked goods considered too old to sell.

  She wandered across the tiny shop back to the front window. She wished Caleb would drive by again. She wouldn’t mind admiring his strong profile and the easy way he managed his horse.

  And just what had Beth meant with her comment about being obvious?

  It wasn’t their way to broadcast their romantic interests. Fact was, Amish youth sneaked around most of the time, keeping their affections secret. It only became obvious during Sunday night youth singings or if someone spotted a couple in a courting buggy.

  Most folks knew of Caleb’s interest in Beth. They’d been seen together on various occasions. So Beth’s comment really didn’t make sense.

  Had something happened? Had Caleb proposed to her? Mellie’s knees went weak, and she felt a sudden need to sit down. Wouldn’t Beth have told her if she was engaged? They often shared their deepest feelings with each other. With only eighteen months between them, they’d grown up close. Much closer than either of them felt to Faith, who was three years younger than Mellie. Mellie gripped the window sill with both hands. Is Caleb engaged? She mentally went over each word he’d spoken to her earlier.

  He’d given no indication of something so serious with Beth.

  Mellie fought the tears that threatened to spill. Why did she continually do this to herself? Why did she continually think of her sister’s beau? It was tortuous and did absolutely no good at all. It only served to make her upset.

  Mellie sniffed loudly and raised her chin. Enough. She was finished with it. Caleb would someday be her brother-in-law, not her beau, and it was time she faced it. Faced it square on. Truth was, Obadiah Westman had taken a fancy to her. She’d never paid him any heed, but perhaps she should.

  Yes. Perhaps she should.

  Faith scurried from the stovetop to the sink and back again. Sweat beaded on her upper lip, and her cheeks were flushed. “He’ll be here any minute,” she warned.

  Mellie finished putting the pickles into the serving bowl. “Ach, Faith. It’s only Dan. He’s our brother, not the bishop.”

  “Still, I want everything to go well.” Faith sighed and tossed a hot pad onto the counter. “You know why he’s coming, don’t you?”

  “He wants to move in,” Mellie said. “Where he plans for us to go is a mystery.”

  Faith’s eyes welled with tears. “He’s the eldest. He’ll get his way.”

  Mellie shrugged. In truth, she was just as upset as her sister, but she didn’t need to show it. “Is Mamm coming down to eat with us?”

  “I hope so. Maybe she can talk some sense into Dan.”

  Beth wandered into the kitchen. “What can I do?”

  “Dish up the potatoes, would you?” Faith asked.

  “Why does this look like dinner instead of supper?” Beth asked. “What’s the special occasion?”

  “Faith is hoping to coax Dan not to throw us out on the street,” Mellie replied.

  “I am not! And we’re not being thrown to the street!” Faith grabbed up her hot pad again and took the pot of green beans from the stove.

  “Anybody here?”

  Mellie recognized Dan’s rich bass tone coming from the front room.

  “In here,” she called back. “Supper’s almost ready.”

  “Supper,” Beth repeated with a sniff.

  “Beth, be nice. Please,” Faith pleaded.

  All three brothers were already seated on the long dining table bench. Gabe and Eli were chatting about their new milk cow, and Dan was listening intently. The girls served the food, and Mellie noticed Mamm’s chair was empty.

  “I’m going upstairs to see if Mamm’s feeling up to coming down,” she said. Without waiting for a reply, she hurried to the stairs and took the steps two at a time up to her mother’s room. She knocked gently on the half-open door and stepped inside. Mamm was sitting on the edge of her bed, an ashen look on her face.

  “Mamm!” Mellie cried, rushing to her. “Are you getting up on your own? Do you need to use the bathroom? Can I help you?”

  Mamm held up her thin hand. The knuckles of her fingers were swollen and misshapen, so much so that she looked much older than her forty-nine years. “Nee.” She took a long rasping breath. “I want to come down for supper.”

  “You sure, Mamm?” Worry laced through Mellie’s heart. Her mother looked awful, as if she could hardly breathe, let alone move.

  “I’m sure.” Mamm held out her arm and Mellie gently cupped her elbow. She eased her up from the bed and together, they shuffled to the door.

  “Dan’s here,” Mellie said, injecting a bright note in her voice.

  Mamm gave her a sharp look. “I know.”

  Mellie hesitated. “You know why he’s here, then?”

  “He wants to move his family in.”

  “What do you think?”

  Mamm shook her head. “We need help. Farm’s too big for Gabe and Eli. And Eli’s soon to be married.”

  “We’ve been doing all right.”

  Mamm began to shuffle forward again, and
Mellie helped her.

  “My sweet shop is doing fine.”

  Mamm gave her a feeble smile. “Gut. That’s gut, Mellie girl.”

  It took them many long minutes to make it down the stairs. Months earlier, Mellie had offered to have Mamm carried up and down the stairs, but Mamm had vehemently opposed it. She said she was perfectly capable of going up and down the steps on her own. She wouldn’t even consider being carried. Now, as they descended one painful step at a time, Mellie realized how much her mother’s condition had deteriorated. Again, she wished with all her heart that her mother would agree to see an Englisch doctor.

  Perhaps she’d bring it up again later. Mellie sighed. It wouldn’t do any good. Despite her physical condition, Mamm’s spirit was as stubborn as ever. She’d never agree to it.

  Mellie feared the food would be cold by the time they got to the table, but when they arrived, no one said a word. They all welcomed Mamm, making a fuss over how happy they were to see her sitting there with them, and how much better she looked.

  Mamm gave them her best smile, which by any standards, was a sad sight. After Dan led them in the silent blessing, they began eating.

  “Why isn’t Daadi here?” Dan asked, between mouthfuls of potatoes.

  “I don’t know.” Faith looked at Beth. “You asked him to come, didn’t you?”

  Beth’s face turned bright red. “I thought you did.”

  “He usually joins us for supper anyway,” Mellie remarked. “So, where is he?”

  Gabe climbed from the bench. “I’ll get him.” He hustled off through the washroom to the side door. Mellie heard the screen slam behind him. Within a few minutes, Gabe returned with their grandfather.

  “So, you’re having a family meal without me, huh?” Daadi asked with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Daadi!” Faith said. “Beth was supposed to ask you to come over.”

  “Sorry, Daadi. I thought you’d come anyway,” Beth said.