Read A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) Online

Authors: Diane Craver

A Joyful Break (Dreams of Plain Daughters) (26 page)

As she turned into their driveway, Aunt Carrie said, “I enjoyed your visit a lot. I’m glad you have a phone so we can stay in touch. We can talk a couple of times a month.”

She nodded. “I like that.”

* * *

Rachel wasn’t surprised when her brothers yelled from the porch, “Samuel’s here.” She knew he’d stop by after closing the store.

Judith laughed. “We definitely don’t need a doorbell with those two boys around. Nothing or anyone gets past them.”

“He’s checking to see if Nick’s here.”

“Why would Samuel think Nick’s here? You said he left Fields Corner.”

“Nick left with me to meet you, Noah, and Matthew, so Samuel might think we invited him here. I made sure Katie knew why I left with Nick so she’d tell Samuel.” She shrugged. “But obviously Samuel’s checking to see if Nick has really left.”

“Or he just wants to spend time with you.” Judith grinned. “He knows you love him. You came back. You didn’t run after Nick.”

She removed a butterscotch pie from the gas refrigerator and placed it on the kitchen counter.

Judith smiled. “You whipped up that pie fast.”

“I had time since you already had a casserole in the oven for supper.”

Judith’ smile widened in approval. “I can see why you made Samuel’s favorite dessert. It should help to lighten his mood.”

She nodded. “I hope so. I don’t think you have to worry about your cooking skills any longer. Sometime we’ll work on desserts and I’ll give you some pie-making tips.”

“I can now cook two recipes without ruining them. I have a lot to learn yet.”

“We should make a yummy dessert together so you have something to take to the Sunday sing.”

Noah opened the kitchen door with Samuel behind him. “Your boyfriend’s here, Rachel.”

Judith gave Noah a push. “Let’s go in the living room and let these two chat. Where’s Matthew?”

“He went to the barn to see
Daed
.”

Over his shoulder, Noah said, “I can’t wait until you marry Rachel.”

Samuel arched his eyebrows. “Why’s that?”

“Because it’ll be fun to have another guy around here. We don’t see Peter enough since he got married. Judith said you’ll live here until your house is built.”

“I hope so.” After Judith and Noah had left, Samuel gave her a mischievous look. “Do I get a piece or are you going to throw the pie at me instead?”

She put her hands on her hips. “That depends. Did you come for my pie or to see if I’m hiding Nick?”

“I know Nick’s not here.” Samuel took her hand in his big one. “If things would have been reversed and a photographer had taken pictures of me with a beautiful English woman on the beach, wouldn’t you have questioned me about what had happened?”

“I suppose so. Especially if she’d came to Fields Corner to see you like Nick did.” She rolled her eyes at him. “What about Mary Zook? She’s Amish and she’s certainly been after you while I’ve been gone.”

Samuel laughed. “It’s good you’re back to save me from Mary’s clutches.”

I better make sure Samuel knows Nick understands that he doesn’t have a chance with me.
“I made it clear to Nick that nothing will ever happen between us. I told him again how I love you. And I never led him on at all on the beach.”

“I wish I could’ve been the one to help you move on with your life. It was hard to hear another man was the one to help you with your grief. That was selfish of me.”

“Oh, Samuel. You’ve always been my rock. Your constant prayers for me were helpful. And God was with me here in Fields Corner, but on the beach I was able to feel His presence and love even more.”

“I’m glad you had a break from your daily routine. It was a blessing.”

She felt fully alive with happiness and squeezed Samuel’s hand.

“I can see why Nick fell for you. You’re a beautiful woman. Not just on the outside but on the inside too.” He pulled her into his arms. “Rachel, I love you.”

She felt the strength in his muscled arms. Even though, he worked hours on building furniture, helping his
daed
and
bruder
on the farm kept his body toned. His touch sent warmth through her body.

He bent down and kissed her for an unbelievably long moment. His wonderful kiss felt like a warm summer breeze that is perfect in every way.

“That was some kiss.” She gazed into his blue eyes. “I love you, Samuel. I can’t wait until we marry and have lots of
bopplin
.”

“How about a November wedding?”

“That sounds
wunderbaar
.” She touched his chin. “I’m trying to picture you with a beard.”

He brushed his lips against her forehead. “We’ll have a
gut
life.”

“Would you like a piece of pie now?”

“The pie can wait. I want to kiss you again before your family pops in here.”

As his warm lips met hers, she had only one thought. God had blessed her greatly. She’d grown up in a
wunderbaar
, Christian family and now she gave thanks to Him for her Samuel.

My inspiration for writing this book came from my sweet late mother, Laoma Oberly Wilson. She lived a long Christian life and enjoyed being a wife, mother and grandmother. Her grandfather was a Mennonite minister, and she shared many stories about him. Even though she wasn’t Amish and later wasn’t Mennonite, she kept many of their Christian beliefs while attending a Protestant church. I’m sharing a favorite family cookie recipe of hers. I hope you enjoy my mother’s thumbprint cookie recipe.

Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup soft shortening

½ c. brown sugar packed

2 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

½ tsp. salt

2 egg whites

¾ c. nuts

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix shortening, brown sugar, egg yolks and vanilla. Mix together flour and salt. Stir in other ingredients.

Roll 1 tsp. dough into ball. Dip in slightly beaten egg white. Roll in nuts and put on baking sheet.

Press thumb in center of each cookie.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool. You can put confectionary frosting or candied fruit in center. My mother always put white frosting in the center.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diane graduated with a degree in English and Speech Education from The Ohio State University. Before writing her books, she was a schoolteacher and play director. She met her husband, the love of her life, while teaching at an orphanage. While raising their six children in southwestern Ohio, Diane started writing nonfiction. Several nonfiction articles of Diane's have been published in
Woman’s World Weekly
,
The Catholic Telegraph
,
Virtue
,
Down Syndrome Today
,
WritersWeekly.com
, and several other publications. Her nonfiction is published by Booklocker.com Later, she decided it would be a nice escape to write fiction.

Diane has published through a variety of houses, including Samhain, Whimsical Publications, Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery, Booklocker.com and Victory Tales Press. She writes fun and inspiring stories filled with memorable characters. Diane gives thanks to God daily for all her wonderful blessings and for the recent birth of her first grandchild. Her dream vacation is going to the beach. Her husband is supportive of her writing career as well as her awesome children.

Other Books by Diane Craver

Inspirational Romance

No Greater Loss

Marrying Mallory

Chick-Lit Mystery

A Fiery Secret

Contemporary Romance

Whitney in Charge

Never the Same

The Proposal – as a short and also in A Christmas Collection: Anthology

Your Place or Mine

Historical Fiction and Inspirational