Hey friends, and welcome to the blog!

On October 1st I released the 6th book in my Amish of Appalachia series. I’ve really enjoyed writing this series so far, and I thought you might like to read a free chapter.

While this book is part of a series, it also stands completely on its own. You can start reading the books at any point and the story will make sense.

I hope you enjoy it! If you’d like to purchase Her Surprise Amish Match, you can find it here.

Chapter One

A gentle fall breeze slipped through Emma Mast’s open bedroom window as she placed a piece of packing tape across a big, brown box. She felt her insides knot while looking it over. This was one of the last boxes Emma needed to pack before her parents expected her to leave her beloved town of Clear Creek, and she was not too happy about it.

It had been nearly two months since her family had moved to the Sea Islands of South Carolina, and had left her behind. Her mamm and daed had wanted Emma to kumm right along with them, but with pleading eyes she’d asked if she could live in the family home until it sold. Since Emma was their oldest child and had a job in the area, they’d reluctantly agreed.

But now, Emma’s time was up. A nice Englisch family had purchased her childhood home, and she was expected to skedaddle to South Carolina. Unfortunately, this was the last thing she wanted to do.

Couldn’t her parents understand she belonged in North Georgia? She’d lived here all of her life, and had put down deep roots. Well, as deep as a young Amish woman could, at least. Since Emma was unmarried and paid no mind to the prospects knocking on her door, her daed expected her to live under his roof until she was properly cared for by another man. Whether she liked it or not, this was the Amish way.

“Ach, I can hardly believe you’re leaving us, Emma. Though I’m mighty jealous of the sunshine you’ll soon be getting.” Elsie Lantz pushed a box with all of her might towards Emma’s bedroom door. Once it was in line with the rest of her boxes, she straightened to smooth a wrinkle from her light blue cape dress. “It’s been so much fun spending time with you over the last few months. I surely will miss it.”

“I will miss it, too. I wish there was some way I could stay.” A frown tugged on Emma’s lips as she thought about her predicament. As much as she wished she could stay in Clear Creek, it looked like she was out of options. Her haus had officially sold, and the new owners would begin moving their things in tomorrow. Emma had worked her last day as a cashier at the Yoder Blacksmith Shop two days ago, and after a teary send-off party she’d said her goodbyes to the Yoder family. Ach, John and Grace Yoder had been so gut to her through the years. Though she was only in her early twenties, she’d worked at the shop for at least four years now, and she knew it like the back of her hand.

More than anything, she wished she could stay. And while Emma tried not to be bitter about her parents’ decision for her to leave, she couldn’t help but feel a little put out with them.

“Well, you could get married. That would keep you safe and sound in Clear Creek.”

Emma let out a laugh while looking at her friend incredulously. “And who do you expect I will marry? Elsie, you know gut and well I’d rather not do that. I think I’m out of luck. I’ll be heading to Harbor Bay kumm morning.”

Though Emma had always caught the eye of young suitors, she felt self-conscious around men. While she’d been able to hold down a job and enjoy life with friends, she experienced debilitating headaches and foggy thinking sometimes, which made her cautious about dating. When she was a young child, Emma’s pony had delivered a kick to her head, and she’d suffered the ill-effects of the injury ever since. Unfortunately, her daed didn’t understand the severity of Emma’s symptoms at times, and had refused to take her to the doctor. She’d been told to bear it to the best of her ability and was offered natural remedies.

And bear it, Emma had. So while she enjoyed holding down a simple job and spending time with friends, Emma didn’t think she’d be a very good frau. What husband would want a wife who was in pain most of the time? So Emma quietly bore her burden, without giving men a second thought.

And without letting her friends know about her reasoning, either. She didn’t want them to worry about her, so her lips were sealed. Emma had lived with her condition for this long, and could continue to do so if she had to…though sometimes she didn’t know if she could endure it. Emma’s headaches had increased substantially over the past couple of months, probably because the thought of moving was absolutely wretched. Drinking extra water, resting in a darkened room, and applying peppermint oil to her temples simply didn’t help anymore.

Ja, Emma could hardly handle the pain sometimes. But to remain respectful to her daed, this was her only option.

Elsie sighed while sitting down on the edge of Emma’s mattress. Pieces of blonde hair sprung from her kapp, and a golden beam of sunlight sliced through the window and across her body.

“There are a lot of men who’d be happy to marry you, Emma. Eli Stolzfus and Henry Tanner were making moon eyes at you at church just this Sunday.”

“Maybe so, but I’m not looking for a love connection right now. I think I’m out of time, and will be on my way to the beach kumm morning.” Emma continued to straighten her boxes as a niggling pain zipped through her head. As always, she ignored it while continuing with her task.

“I’ll be on my way to see you soon. In fact, I think it will be a gut time to visit once fall passes and winter sets in. I’m looking forward to visiting Harbor Bay, for sure and for certain. I’ve heard it’s different from Tybee Island. I go there a lot to visit my sister.”

“Ja, it’s different, but mostly because of the large Amish community there. I think my parents and siblings are having a fine time in our new bungalow by the sea.”

When Brody and Elvira Mast had decided to move their brood to Harbor Bay, Emma had been shocked. They’d given no indication of being unhappy with their life in Clear Creek, and the Mast family had a long history in the quaint, mountain community. Emma couldn’t understand why they would decide to leave all of their friends and family, no matter how appealing living close to the ocean may be.

And now Emma was expected to follow them there.

Her stomach pinched at the thought. Along with her headache, Emma felt poorly, indeed.

“So, the moving truck is coming this evening?”

Emma sighed. “Ja, that’s right. The hired movers will load what’s left in the haus tonight, and then both it and I will be on our way in the morning. My bus ticket is for ten o’clock sharp.”

“My daed will take both of us to the station, and I’ll send you off there.”

“Sounds, gut. Denki for being here for me, Elsie.”

“Of course. You’re one of my best friends. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

Tears burned the back of Emma’s eyes as she slid the last box into place. She scanned the room, giving it a once-over. It looked like her pretty childhood room, painted a minty green, was ready for the new owners. She’d sleep in her bed one last time, and then pack her bedding and pillows once morning came.

Emma’s ears perked when she heard pounding coming from the front door. Her eyes cut towards Elsie, who was looking towards the sound, too.

“I wonder what that’s all about? You’re not expecting anyone, right?” Elsie rose from her perch and started to walk out the door.

Emma was close behind. “No, I doubt the movers would be here already. And if they were, they wouldn’t be in such a hurry for someone to open the door.”

Worry ate at Emma’s stomach as the two women quickly moved down the staircase and towards the front of the home. She hoped everything was alright with her family. Emma shook her head, knowing that must not be it. Her family was long gone, and she’d spoken to her mamm by using the shanty close to her haus just this morning. Everything had been as right as rain, so likely, this was a different problem.

Pound, pound, pound!

Emma brushed past Elsie, and scooted towards the door as quickly as her feet could carry her. Not only was she curious about who was at the door, she wanted to make the pounding stop as quickly as possible because it wasn’t helping headache any.

After reaching the door, Emma tugged on the heavy doorknob and pulled it open. She took a step back in surprise once she saw who was standing on her doorstep.

It was Dan Beachy.

Emma’s eyebrows crunched together. What was Dan doing there? Though she spent oodles of time with him long ago in their one room school haus, she’d rarely seen him after he finished the eighth grade. Well, maybe that wasn’t exactly true. She’d spoken to Dan at a couple of singings long ago, too. Though she always tried to avoid the men there, he had a way of seeking her out. Ach, she was very glad to not bother with such things anymore. Emma finally put her foot down and stopped going, though her mamm continued to suggest she try to find her match at the loud and lively gatherings.

She looked him over as he stood on the porch, his eyes crinkled in concern. Dan was on the tall and thin side. His auburn hair poked out from underneath a straw hat, and his face almost matched his hair color. While Emma had never considered Dan to be handsome in the past, he’d definitely matured to become just that over the past year or two. Gone was the lanky teenager, and in his place was a grown man with the strong and tanned arms of a farmer. Embarrassed of thinking such things, Emma trained her gaze to the floor as her stomach flip-flopped.

“Dan…what are you doing here? Is everything alright?”

“No, it’s not. There’s been an accident, and Amelia requested that I fetch you.”

Dan Beachy lived right next door to Abram and Amelia Miller, who’d recently expanded their apple operation all the way to their property line. It made sense that if there was an accident, he’d know about it.

Emma clutched Elsie’s arm as fear rose to her throat. “Ach, is everything okay with Amelia? I know she was so excited to be expecting another bobbeli, and I hope everything is alright.”

Dan bobbed his head. “Everything is fine with Amelia. The problem lies with her husband, Abram. He was driving the tractor towards the hayride area of their apple orchard. Something happened, and it turned over on him. Thankfully, no other people were on board. But Abram sustained substantial injuries, and she asked that you kumm to her.”

“Oh, no,” Emma groaned. “This is terrible. I’m sure Amelia is scared to death, especially since she lost her twin to a farming accident. Let’s be on our way right now.” She pinched her forehead while pain zipped across it.

“Sure thing. I can bring both you and Elsie to the hospital in my buggy.”

“It will be alright, Emma.” Elsie squeezed Emma’s arm in reassurance as she fairly pulled her down the porch steps.

“Denki for fetching us, Dan.” Emma tried to ignore her headache as Dan hopped into his buggy first, and then pulled her up like she weighed next to nothing. She moved away from him quickly, deciding to sit on the farthest part of the worn bench seat. Elsie bumped into her, and Emma felt worn wooden bars press into her back. Her moving woes were all but forgotten as Dan urged his horse forward as soon as the two women were safely seated.

“Don’t mention it. Now then, let’s get you to the hospital quickly. Amelia is pretty upset, and needs some support. Her sister Grace is out of town today with Lydia and Hannah, and she requested that I find you and Elsie specifically.” A little smile tilted his lips. “It’s gut you were both together so we can get to town quickly.”

Emma’s headache really began to roar when they hit a bump in the road while curving around a mountain covered in autumnal shades that danced across the tree canopy. She hoped with all of her heart, Abram would be alright.

***

“Any news yet?” Dan quietly asked the question while scrubbing his hand across his face. There wasn’t a hint of a whisker there, since he was an unmarried man. Bishop Fisher looked him over with a strained expression in his eyes.

“Nee, I’m afraid not. Abram should be in surgery now, and hopefully we will get word soon.”

Dan blanched as he thought about watching his friend nearly be crushed by his tractor. He’d been tending to the soybean fields he and his daed had planted while he watched the accident unfold before his very eyes. He’d hopped the fence in a jiffy, and then rushed to Abram’s side while dodging the rows of neatly planted apple trees that were the main staple of the Miller Orchard. By nothing less of a miracle, Dan had been able to pull Abram out from underneath the tractor before calling for help.

“Well, I hope we get word soon. Abram and his family mean a lot to me, and I want Abram to be back on his feet as soon as possible.”

“That’s putting the buggy before the horse, Dan. We don’t even know if he’ll make it out of surgery just yet. Let’s commit ourselves to pray for Abram’s life at the time being. His feet can come later.” Bishop Fisher gently patted Dan’s shoulder before walking towards Dan’s daed, Amos.

Dan blew out a sigh as he took a seat in his very own living room. As the Miller’s neighbors, the Beachy family had offered their home as a meeting place for the prayer vigil that had been quickly arranged. His mother, Betsy, had asked his sisters, Nora and Sadie, to assist her in getting the haus suitable for company. A cleaning frenzy had ensued, and the women had been able to get the home in tip-top shape before members of the church district began to arrive. Dan had helped his family by moving furniture in a way to accommodate more people, much like he did whenever it was their turn to hold church inside of their home.

While at the hospital, Bishop Fisher had mentioned that many people wanted to kumm and hold a vigil in Abram’s honor. And come, they had. Buggies were parked outside of the Beachy residence as far as the eye could see, and Dan could hardly believe the turnout was so gut.

He should’ve known better, though. Abram was a well-loved member of the community, along with his entire family. A frown marred Dan’s expression. Abram was several years older than him, and he’d always looked up to the man, especially since he only had sisters. It had been hard on him when Abram left the Amish world to pursue a career in music for a few years. Dan remembered the happy day when they were baptized at the same time, and hoped better times were still yet to come.

That is, if Abram’s surgery went well.

Dan had stayed at the hospital for a while after bringing Emma and Elsie to Amelia, but after a few hours, it became evident the crowded waiting room was putting a strain on the small community hospital. The bishop then arranged for the gathering to move to the Beachy home, while only a few key people remained at the Gilmer Mountainside Hospital. For the time being, Emma and Elsie stayed by Amelia’s side. Amelia wanted her friends’ support, and they’d gladly dropped everything to give it to her.

Sadie scooted towards Dan’s side, and nudged him to move over a little so she could join him on their couch.

“How are you doing, bruder?”

“I’ve been better. It wasn’t pleasant to watch Abram be pinned underneath his tractor. I thought he was a goner, right then and there.”

Sadie tucked a piece of her auburn hair back into her kapp while chewing on her lip. “I know that must’ve been hard for you to watch. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“Don’t be. At least I was able to help Abram in his time of need. If I wouldn’t have seen it happen, the outcome could’ve been far worse.”

“Ja, I guess you’re right. I’m sure Amelia is awfully glad you were there to help. She and Jane depend on Abram for so much, and not to mention she’s carrying another bobbeli now.”

Dan sank into the worn fabric lining the piece of furniture while thinking of the gravity of the situation. After Abram and Amelia had their daughter, Jane, they’d experienced problems conceiving again. The entire family had been overjoyed once they realized Amelia was expecting a bobbeli a couple of months ago. Now was not the time for Abram to become seriously injured.

“Well, I plan to help the Millers in any way possible. Even if that means extra farm chores for myself.”

“Spending time away from our farm might be gut for you too, ain’t so? I know tensions have run high between you and daed lately.”

A frustrated sigh blew out of Dan’s lips. He’d been annoyed with his daed recently, alright. He’d been told all of his life that once he became a man and showed his proficiency at farming the land, he’d be given forty acres of the property. Dan had spent his entire childhood thinking and dreaming about owning his own land, and his plans had ramped up all the more over the past few years.

But at twenty four years of age, his daed has thrown a wrench into his aspirations. Now that Dan was fully capable of farming himself, he upped the ante. Amos Beachy declared that for Dan to be given the land, he must get married.

Dan could hardly believe it when the words had left his father’s mouth. His family knew good and well that Dan had zero prospects on the horizon, and had always struck out in the love department. Not that Dan didn’t try. But the women in his district always seemed to choose someone else over himself, and though he’d been excited about the prospect of courting and marriage as soon as he became baptized, nobody had returned his interest for the past six years.

Especially not Emma Mast. He’d had an eye on Emma ever since they were in grade school, but she never looked his way. Nor had she at any of the singings they’d attended together years ago. Dan had hopefully tried to strike up conversation with the petite woman with wide brown eyes and beautiful hair to match, but she never wanted to have much to do with him. He’d nearly forgotten all about her, since they both stopped attending singings some time ago. But she did catch his eye whenever he’d seen her in church, and he often wondered how she was doing.

As Dan was muddling through his thoughts, the front door opened wide and a few more visitors stepped inside.

“Ach, it looks like Emma and Elsie have arrived. I wonder if they have any updates on Abram since they’ve been at the hospital.”

Sadie stood to her feet, and padded towards the new arrivals. While Dan felt awkward around the two women, he decided to follow suit. Curiosity nudged him, and he wanted to know if there was any news just as much as Sadie did.

“Please, kumm in and take a load off. I know you must be tired after visiting the hospital all day.”

“I don’t mind if I do. I’ve been standing for most of the day, and my feet are awfully tired. Actually, I feel poorly all over.”

Worry zipped through Dan as he watched Emma plop onto a metal chair he’d pulled in for the gathering. He wished he could do something to make her feel more comfortable.

“Would you like to sit on the couch?”

Emma brushed away his question with a wave of her hand. “No, I’m fine. I just have a lot of worries on my mind right about now.”

Recognition dawned on Sadie’s face. “Ja, that’s right. Not only was Abram’s accident a huge shock, you’re supposed to be moving soon, right?”

Emma nodded. “That’s right. Tomorrow, in fact. I was supposed to meet the movers at my haus this afternoon, but I missed them. I’m not sure how my parents will feel about that, since the new owners are supposed to occupy our home in less than twenty four hours. This whole day had been less than ideal. But I know my problems are trivial compared to what Amelia is facing.”

Dan’s eyes grew wide as he listened to what Emma had to say. He didn’t know she was moving, and though he didn’t know why, he hoped she wouldn’t be going far.

“So how is Abram doing? I thought you two might have more information since you’ve been at the hospital for so long.”

“Well, he’s gone into surgery now to repair some of the damage that was done by the tractor. Lydia and Grace finally arrived to comfort Amelia, so Emma and I hired a driver to bring us here,” Elsie said.

“Ja, we were gonna go back to my haus, but we heard about the prayer vigil happening here. Since I already missed the movers, we decided to head this way instead.” Emma looked at Dan and Sadie meaningfully, and his heart caught just a little. “Prayer will help Abram more than anything, ain’t so?”

“I agree with you, there.” Dan locked eyes with Emma, and they exchanged a little smile.

“Elsie, kumm with me. I’m sure the bishop would like to hear all you have to say about your time at the hospital.” Sadie motioned for her to follow as she began to step away. “Emma can sit for a while since she’s not feeling so gut.”

Dan’s eyes continued to rest on Emma as the other women walked away. He hoped she was feeling alright, and spending the day at the hospital hadn’t been too hard on her.

He’d been surprised when Amelia requested that he bring Emma and Elsie to her, but he’d gladly complied. Dan would do just about anything for Amelia, and riding with Emma in his buggy wasn’t a chore, either.

“So, is there anything I can get for you? Sweet tea…water? I hate that you’re feeling poorly.”

“Ach, don’t worry about me, Dan. I’m used to it.”

“What do you mean, ‘you’re used to it?’”

Emma’s eyes grew stormy as she moved her gaze away from Dan’s face and to the worn wooden floor. “It’s a long story. I…I don’t know if I’d like to talk about it right now. But please don’t worry about me.”

“Vell, I am worried about you. You’ve had a long day and I want to help you feel better.” Dan’s eyes squeezed in concern as another couple came through the door and scooted past him. The room was growing very crowded, and Dan moved a little closer to Emma to make room for the others.

He bumped into her side, and Emma let out a little gasp. She pressed her fingers into her temples and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I’m sorry Dan, but I think I’d like to be left alone right now. If you don’t mind, could you find someone else to talk to?”“Ja…I’m sorry to have bothered you.” Dan frowned before stepping into the crowd, deciding to look for Sadie and Elsie. He wondered if he’d ever find the right thing to say to the women of Clear Creek. It looked highly unlikely. Emma’s rejection stung, but due to a heap of experience, Dan knew he shouldn’t expect anything less.

Thanks so much for reading this free chapter, friends! You can find Her Surprise Amish Match on Amazon here.