Finding Her Amish Home by Pamela Desmond Wright

Author:Pamela Desmond Wright
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-03-26T13:30:02+00:00

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On Saturday night, the roller rink was full. People of all ages came to enjoy the facility, filling it to maximum capacity.

The kinder were having a wonderful time, laughing and teasing each other. It also gave the adults a chance to unwind and catch up on visiting.

Skates rented, the youngies headed out onto the floor. Rather than blast modern pop music, the rink DJ played old-time country tunes to keep the participants moving. A mix of Englisch and Amish children sped around, some coming perilously close to colliding and going down in a heap. An adult supervisor made sure the trouble got toned down when some of the older boys started racing around the less experienced skaters.

Abram leaned against the rail, enjoying the time with his familie. Most of his brothers and sisters had come out for the evening. Only Rolf and his wife, Violet, were missing. Their infant, Hannah, was teething and feeling fussy. Their oldest daughter, Trisha, was keeping an eye on her younger brother, Henry. Annalise had bought Zeke and Eli, leaving her ehmann at home. Samuel’s wife, Frannie, had also stayed home to get things ready for Hiram and Hershel’s birthday party, which would take place Sunday evening after church.

He turned an ear toward the conversation. He was glad Maddie had agreed to join them, as it gave him a chance to spend time with her in a social setting. She stood, chatting with his younger siblings. He hoped, given time, they would come to like her as much as he did.

“Ach, those kids,” Lavinia said, rolling her eyes. “Looks like I need to get out there and get them under control.”

“You skate?” Maddie asked.

Lavinia grinned. “You bet I do.” She looked at Josiah. “Remember when we were courting? We’d skate together holding hands.”

Quiet and reserved, Josiah Simmons gave his young wife a shy look. “I sure do. I thought I’d have to spend forever on that rink to get you to marry me.”

Maddie smiled. “What a wonderful story.”

Annalise reached for Sophie. “I’ll hold her while you skate. Remind Zeke and Eli they’re to be careful. I don’t need another broken arm to deal with.”

Sitting on a nearby bench, Samuel slipped on his own skates. “Hiram and Hershel always want to race.” He glanced at Abram. “You skating tonight?”

Abram looked at Maddie. “Want to put on a pair?” He nodded toward the skate counter.

Waving her hands, Maddie shook her head. “I never learned. My grandparents were very strict as to what we could and could not do,” she explained. “Skating would have been scandalous to my maummi. And aside from singing in church, music wasn’t allowed.”

“You couldn’t even listen to the radio?”

“Nope. Not at all. Opa said silence was golden and gave us more time to reflect on the Lord.”

Lavinia gave her a look. “You never got to do anything?”

“There was always something to do,” Maddie replied. “Maummi made sure we were kept busy. Idle hands were the devil’s playground, she said. Cooking, cleaning, mending clothes—”

“Is all work,” Annalise countered, cradling her niece in her arms.

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