After a month of hard-core writing, I finally finished Book 3 of the Amish Friendships series. I’ve submitted it to my editor, and am targeting the launch date for the last week of June!
Amish Blessings centers around two new characters, Abram and Miriam. Up until now, they were minor characters who showed up every once in a while, mostly to annoy Mercy or Hannah. Miriam and Mercy have a rather unpleasant history–in Amish Valentine, Miriam and Mercy competed ferociously for the same boy, Samuel. However, Miriam is all grown up now and married to Abram, and the two have just started a bed and breakfast and buggy tour business. They receive an unexpected guest, a runaway boy who is different than what he seems. His identity–and the favor he asks of them–jeopardize their position in the community.
Before the book comes out, I’m excited to share an excerpt with you. Check out Chapter One of Amish Blessings. I’d love to hear what you think!
Amish Blessings takes place in the fall. Here’s a beautiful picture of Amish country in the autumn to get you in the mood. š
Chapter One: Miriam
Ā Autumn in Amish country brings many blessings: freshly picked apples and warm cider, piping-hot pies smelling of cinnamon and sugar, crisp breezes through colorful leaves, and tourists who want to enjoy these things.
My mann Abram and I figured out a way to take advantage of this; weāve just started a bed and breakfast and a tour business, charging for relaxing buggy rides through the country. When weād visited family in Lancaster last year, Iād noticed the long lines of Englischers waiting for the Amish tours, and had suggested that we start something similar. However, we didnāt have the money to do so until recently, when Abramās poor vadder died and left us an inheritance.
Setting up the business was the easy part; actually running it is another story. Sure, Abram is doing well with the tours, but the bed and breakfast seems as though it will take a great deal of work and patience to get off the ground.
Iāve always had an easy time keeping haus, first at home with my parents, bruders, and schweschders, and then later on with Abram and our growing family. However, English tourists are more demanding than Iād ever imagined.
This morning, Iāve just fed Henry, my one-year-old bobbel, and am starting to prepare a breakfast casserole and some coffee soup for the Quigleys, English guests who will be arriving soon.
The telltale crackle of thick tires on the gravel driveway tells me that theyāre here. I tug aside the front curtains and peer out. A huge, truck-like vehicle, which Iāve heard Englischers call an SUV, has rolled in. Seconds later, a family emerges: a maemm, a daed, and twin girls who look about five years old. I have no idea why such a small family needs such a large car; Iād grown up packed into a buggy with my parents and eight bruders and schweschders, and I hadnāt minded at all.
No matter, though. Who am I to judge the Englischersā worldly excess? Holding Henry in one hand and placing the other under my belly, I rush to the front door to greet the guests.
I fling open the door and smile brightly. āHello. You must be the Quigleys. Iām Miriam, and I will be taking care of you.ā
āHi, Miriam,ā the Quigleys chorus. The little girls hop up and down, peppering their parents with questions as they follow me into the living room. Abram hurries downstairs and carries in the familyās bags, dragging them up the stairs to the guest room. After we exchange pleasantries, Abram vanishes outside to prepare the buggy for todayās tour schedule.
As I lead the Quigleys back downstairs and motion for them to have a seat on the large couch in the living room, Mrs. Quigley gives Henry and me a quick once-over with narrowed eyes. I feel instantly self-conscious. Does she doubt my ability to run a bed and breakfast with a small bobbel and another on the way? Iāll just have to prove her wrong.
So, I paste on a broad grin. āWould you care for some coffee soup?ā I ask. āAnd I have fresh apple cider for the little ones.ā
āIs the cider organic?ā Mrs. Quigley asks. āMia and Sophie only drink organic.ā
Thankfully, I know a bit about this because my neighbor Samuel is heavily into organic farming. So, I answer with confidence, āJah.ā
āAll right then,ā she says. āTwo of those, please, and what is coffee soup?ā
She screws up her face as I explain that itās coffee made with plenty of cream and sugar, and either toasted bread or crumbled-up soda crackers floating inside. I prefer it with bread, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Everyone says my coffee soup is the best.
But Mrs. Quigley seems unimpressed. āHoly carbs,ā she says. āLetās skip that. Black coffee for me.ā
āIām having the coffee soup,ā Mr. Quigley says. When his fraa raises her eyebrows, he throws up his hands and says, āWhat? Iām on vacation.ā
āAll right then,ā I interrupt smoothly. āTwo juices, a black coffee, and a coffee soup, coming right up. And perhaps after youāve enjoyed your refreshments, youād like to follow me into the dining room for breakfast.ā
Before Iām even out of earshot, Mrs. Quigley says, āI donāt know about this place, hon. Letās check it out before we commit to staying here. Thereās a Holiday Inn not far away.ā
When I return with the tray of drinks, Iām not surprised that Mrs. Quigley demands a full tour of the haus. So, I place a bleary-eyed Henry in his crib for his morning nap, and oblige.
Drinks in hand, Mrs. Quigley, her mann, and the girls follow me through the haus, commenting on each room. Unfortunately, they donāt have much gut to say.
āWhere are the TVs?ā one of the girls lisps when I show her the guest bedroom. I bite my tongue when I notice that sheās dribbling little drops of cider all over my grandmotherās hand-hooked rug.
āTheyāre Amish, Sophie,ā Mrs. Quigley says. āThey donāt watch TV.ā
āWhere are the potties?ā Mia asks.
āNow thatās a good question,ā her maemm says.
I point out the window. āWhen nature calls, we use that outhouse out back.ā
āThen Iām afraid to ask about showers,ā Mr. Quigley says with a laugh.
I gesture to our best claw-footed tub in the corner. āI can boil you some water if youād like to wash up. And I made the soap myself.ā
Mr. Quigley nods, but his fraa looks at him and says, āJack, I just canāt do this. I mean, I knew weād be roughing it, but this is crazy.ā
The girls instantly begin to moan, and Mr. Quigley says, āAngela, canāt we talk about this?ā
I slip out of the room and call from the doorway, āIāll give you some privacy.ā
I stop by Henryās crib to check on him. The bobbel has rolled from his back to his stomach, and is sleeping soundly, snoring and making occasional happy coos. By the time Iāve tugged the quilt back around him, the Quigleys have appeared in the doorway.
āWe wonāt be staying after all,ā Mr. Quigley says, clearing his throat and looking down at the ground as though heās embarrassed.
I force my lips into a grin, hoping that Iām hiding my disappointment. āWonāt you at least stay for breakfast? I made authentic Amish casserole, with bacon and eggsāā
āNo thank you,ā Mrs. Quigley interrupts with a pinch-lipped smile. āWeāre watching our diet. Weāll just get continental breakfast at the hotel.ā
āBut we still want the buggy tour,ā Mr. Quigley says in an apologetic voice.
āVery well,ā I say, leading them downstairs. āAbram will be happy to take you out.ā
As the Quigleys tromp out the door, I head into the kitchen and cut myself a hefty slice of breakfast casserole, enjoying the first meaty, cheesy, salty bite. My portion fills an entire plate, but Iām stuck with the whole thing now, and besides, I am eating for twoāthree if you count Henry, who is still breastfeeding a few times a day.
However, when the pleasure of that first mouthful wears off, I drop my head into my hands. We need to figure out some way to make the bed and breakfast more attractive to the Englischers, but how?