Promised to Another
What Others Are Saying…
Promised to Another is an edge-of-the-seat story in which Laura Hilton spares no part of Amish life. The reader will be delighted with the surprise twist at the end.
—June Foster
Author, the Bellewood Series
We are swept off our feet once again with the third book in The Amish of Seymour series. Promised to Another is a story that will keep you riveted to the end. There are enough twists and turns to resemble a Missouri highway, with a plot that just seems to mesmerize. Laura Hilton’s books continually surprise and delight me.
—Cindy Loven
Blogger, Cindy’s Book Reviews (
www.cindylovenreviews.blogspot.com
)
When I reached the end of Promised to Another, I was shedding tears. Why? Let me just say I was caught off guard by the emotion. It touched my very soul. The Amish of Seymour is a fantastic series. I can’t wait to see what Laura Hilton publishes next!
—Judy Burgi
Avid Amish fiction reader
Publisher’s Note:
This novel is a work of fiction. References to real events, organizations, or places are used in a fictional context. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.
All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Promised to Another
The Amish of Seymour ~ Book Three
ISBN: 978-1-60374-257-3
Printed in the United States of America
© 2012 by Laura V. Hilton
Whitaker House
1030 Hunt Valley Circle
New Kensington, PA 15068
www.whitakerhouse.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hilton, Laura V., 1963–
Promised to another / by Laura V. Hilton.
pages cm. — (The Amish of Seymour ; book 3)
ISBN 978-1-60374-257-3 (trade pbk.)
1. Amish youth—Fiction. 2. Seymour (Mo.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3608.I4665P76 2012
813'.6—dc23
2011053420
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical—including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system—without permission in writing from the publisher. Please direct your inquiries to [email protected].
Dedicated to:
Steve, my best friend,
Loundy, my favorite song,
Michael, my adventurous one,
Kristin, my precious daughter,
Jenna, my sunshine,
Kaeli, my shower of blessing,
And God, who has blessed me with these.
In loving memory of Allan and Janice Price, my parents; my grandmother, Mertie; and my uncle Loundy, each of whom has blessed me with some knowledge of our Pennsylvania Dutch ancestors.
Also, to Tamela, my agent, for not letting me give up and for giving sage advice.
I’d like to offer my heartfelt thanks to the following:
The residents of Seymour, for answering my questions and pointing me in the right directions.
My Sunday school class, for keeping me in prayer while I wrote.
The amazing team at Whitaker House—Christine, Courtney, and Cathy. You are wonderful.
My agent, for believing in me all these years.
My critique group—you know who you are. You are amazing and knew how to ask the right questions when more detail was needed. Also, thanks for the encouragement.
My husband, Steve, for being a tireless proofreader and cheering section. And my sons, Michael and Loundy, for taking over the kitchen duties when I was deep in the story.
And in memory of my parents, Allan and Janice, my uncle Loundy, and my grandmother, Mertie, all of whom talked about their Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.
ach — oh
aent — aunt
“Ain’t so?” — a phrase commonly used at the end of a sentence to invite agreement
boppli — baby or babies
bu — boy
buwe — boys
daed — dad
danki — thank you
dawdi-haus — a home built for grandparents to live in once they retire
Englischer — a non-Amish person
frau — wife
grossmammi — grandmother
gut — good
gut nacht — good night
haus — house
“Ich liebe dich” — “I love you”
jah — yes
kapp — prayer covering or cap
kinner — children
kum — come
maidal — an unmarried woman
mamm — mom
nein — no
onkel — uncle
Ordnung — the rules by which an Amish community lives
rumschpringe — “running around time,” a period of adolescence after which Amish teens choose either to be baptized in the Amish church or to leave the community
ser gut — very good
verboden — forbidden
welkum — welcome
wunderbaar — wonderful
May I take you home from the singing?”
Annie Beiler’s breath hitched, and her gaze shot from the dusty toes of her powder-blue tennis shoes to the drop-dead-gorgeous man standing not three feet in front of her. Unfortunately, his tentative smile wasn’t aimed in her direction.
Nein, Joshua Esh’s hazel eyes were locked on Rachel Lapp. Annie had to admit Rachel was cute, with her strawberry blonde hair and green dress that perfectly matched her eyes.
Joshua was what her Englisch friends called a “player,” for sure. Everyone talked about how he never took the same girl home from singings twice. And Annie couldn’t help hoping that he would eventually make his way to her.
Rachel’s face lit up. “Danki, Joshua. I’d love a ride.”
Annie scowled. If and when he got around to asking her, she’d turn him down. Someone should have the willpower to say nein. Just that evening, Rachel had been talking with Annie and some other girls about Joshua’s flirtatious ways. It appeared that she’d merely been jealous since he hadn’t asked to take her home.
Okay, to be honest, Annie did feel a bit envious, too. Make that more than a bit. And it wasn’t just because of Joshua, although he had played a big part in it. The truth was, none of the buwe who’d come from Pennsylvania in the man swap had ever offered to give her a ride. Not a single one.
She didn’t consider herself that unfortunate-looking.
Annie brushed past Joshua and Rachel and left the barn. Immediately, she regretted having gone outside, because she did need to find a way home—unless she rode along with another couple. But she didn’t think she could stand there alone by the barn doors, hopeful, when all the buwe she noticed didn’t seem to know she was alive.
Like Joshua Esh.
Especially Joshua Esh.
Annie kicked a rock and winced when it didn’t budge.
“Annie? Is that you?” A familiar male voice sounded from out of the darkness ahead of her.
She jumped. She hadn’t expected to hear that voice. Not in a month of singings. She frowned. “Luke?”
“Jah.” He moved into the circle of light from the lanterns hanging around the barn.
Annie planted her fists on her hips. She wouldn’t make the mistake of falling for Luke Schwartz twice—not that she’d really fallen for him the first time. It was just that he’d asked. And a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, right? Okay, she’d realized he wasn’t what she wanted—he wouldn’t make her top-ten list of the dreamiest Amish men—but he was better than nothing. She pulled in a deep breath, steeling herself. “What are you doing here?”
“Ach, that’s a wunderbaar way to welkum me. I’ve kum home.”
She stilled, her hope building, despite her internal warnings. “For how long?” She didn’t want to spend her life alone. Didn’t want to rely on the kindness of other couples for rides. Didn’t want to be the only girl left unattached, unaccepted, unwanted.
Unloved.
But, then again, she didn’t want to settle for just anyone, either.
Luke didn’t quite meet her eyes. “You wound me.”
Ach. Not for gut, then.
The pencil fell from behind her ear, and she stooped to pick it up, careful not to glance at him as she rose.
“Never without that ever-present pencil, I see.”
She winced, hating that he mocked her. It wasn’t common to take a pencil to singings, she knew, but what if she wanted to write something down? The name of a book she’d like to read, perhaps, or something she wanted to mention to her students the following week. Maybe even the initials of her number one dream guy, who stood somewhere nearby but didn’t pay any attention to her. Who didn’t know she was alive. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”
He sighed. “May I give you a ride home? Looks like things are breaking up.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but I already have a ride. Maybe another time.”
Luke laughed. “Right. I heard how popular you are. Having to beat the buwe off with a stick, ain’t so?”
Annie stiffened. “So, you couldn’t pay rent on that run-down trailer and ran home to your parents, jah?”
Someone moved up beside her, and she turned her head. Whoever it was didn’t register. What she did notice was that others were gathering around her and Luke, watching their exchange.
She was in enough trouble already, having nearly gotten dismissed from her teaching post. The school board had permitted her to continue teaching, provided she was put on probation. All she needed was for one of these eavesdroppers to go home and tell his or her folks. She’d be out of a job so fast, a racing horse and buggy wouldn’t be able to keep pace. She searched for something to say, something to defuse the situation.
Luke’s glance slid from her to whoever had stepped up to offer wordless support. He sneered, then backed up a space. “Well, since you have a ride, I’ll just catch you later, then. Gut to see you, Annie.”
She forced a smile. “Glad you’re back, Luke.”
He turned and disappeared into the darkness.
***
Joshua stood beside Annie for a moment. Silent. Wishing he could say something to salve the hurt she must feel. He sensed the pain radiating from her as she watched the redheaded man walk away.
The whole situation confused him. He’d been attracted to Annie the moment he’d met her, but when he’d fished for more information about her, he’d found out she was taken. Off limits. All but engaged to Luke Schwartz, who had vowed to return for her someday. Apparently, that day was now.