An Amish Nanny
Caring for her late cousin’s young kinder is Jessie Miller’s duty—even if it means seeing their father again. Years ago, she thought Caleb King might be her husband—until he met her cousin and Jessie’s dream was cut short. Laid up with a broken leg and a demanding dairy farm, Caleb needs her. But Caleb wants no woman around...and no reminder of the wife who abandoned her family before her death. Especially since he fears Jessie will throw a wrench in his plan to remain a single dad. She’s gentle and kind, and if Caleb isn’t careful, she may be just what his little Amish family needs.
There was a clatter at the back door as the kinder came in.
Jessie folded the mending. “I’ll go up and get things ready for bed.”
When she came downstairs afterward, Timothy was on the floor, showing his daadi something about his farm animal set, while Becky cuddled on Caleb’s lap.
He smoothed back the strands of hair that had slipped out of Becky’s braids, and the tender look on his face told Jessie everything was all right between them now.
Even as she thought it, Caleb’s gaze moved to her face with a smiling acknowledgment that her words had helped. Her heart swelled. Perhaps they could be friends one day.
Caleb glanced at the clock. “Time you young ones were in bed.”
When she bent over to reach for Timothy, Caleb caught her wrist. She raised startled eyes to his, wondering if he could feel her pulse pounding.
“Denke,” he said.
He let go, looked away, and Jessie hurried after the kinder who were already scrambling up the stairs. She couldn’t let Caleb imagine she had any feelings for him. She just couldn’t.
Thank you so much for deciding to read my latest story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did creating it!
I have always been touched by the importance with which the Amish view forgiveness. Their firm belief that they will be forgiven in the same measure they forgive others is at the bedrock of faith.
That doesn’t mean it is easier for the Amish than it is for any other Christian. All of us must surely struggle with forgiving the wrongs that have been done to us and to our loved ones. Sometimes I think I must forgive the same things over and over again, every day, until at last I realize that the forgiveness sticks!
Caleb and Jessie struggle with this concept of forgiveness in my story, and it doesn’t come easy for either of them. I hope you were moved by their struggles, and you feel they’d earned their happy ending when they finally succeeded.
I’d love to hear what you think of my story. You can contact me at my website, www.martaperry.com, find me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/MartaPerryBooks, or write to me at [email protected] or in care of Love Inspired Books, 195 Broadway, 24th Fl, New York, NY 10007. I’ll be happy to send you a signed bookmark and my brochure of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes.
Blessings,
Marta Perry
A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage led MARTA PERRY to write about the Plain People who add so much richness to her home state. Marta has seen nearly sixty of her books published, with over six million books in print. She and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a central Pennsylvania valley. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, traveling, baking or enjoying her six beautiful grandchildren.
Second Chance Amish Bride
Marta Perry
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
—Luke 6:37
This story is dedicated to my husband, Brian, with much love.
Contents