Will a baby girl bring them together at last?
She’ll do anything for her niece...
Even marry the man who broke her heart.
Nothing can keep May Bender in her Amish hometown—except caring for her baby niece. But the bishop insists that May also marry her widowed brother-in-law, Thad Hochstedler—the beau who jilted her to wed her sister. Can May risk her heart long enough to learn the real reason for Thad’s first marriage...and possibly rediscover their love?
MARIE E. BAST grew up on a farm in northern Illinois. In the solitude of country life, she often read or made up stories. She earned a BA, an MBA and an MA in general theology and enjoyed a career with the federal government, but characters kept whispering her name. She retired and now pursues her passion of full-time writing. Marie loves walking, golfing with her husband of twenty-seven years and baking. Visit Marie at mariebast.Blogspot.com.
The Amish Baker
The Amish Marriage Bargain
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.
The Amish Marriage Bargain
Marie E. Bast
ISBN: 978-0-008-90071-7
THE AMISH MARRIAGE BARGAIN
© 2019 Marie Elizabeth Bast
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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“May, are you upset with me?”
“Why should there be something wrong?” she huffed.
“Why does your tone say differently?” Thad tried to search her eyes.
“Listen, Thad.” May’s voice lowered to a controlled tone. “You made a fool of me once before. You’re not going to do it again. I’m moving to Indiana. I suggest you have someone else care for Leah.”
He took a couple steps backward. “May, I’m not seeing anyone.”
She shook her head. “Your personal life is none of my business. I’ll watch Leah until you can find someone else. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She closed the kitchen door and that was that.
Stunned, Thad stared at the door. He carried Leah down the porch steps to the buggy and set her bassinet on the seat. It was his fault trying to rekindle their relationship. There would always be that doubt in May’s heart. He’d never be able to convince her that he did care for her. That he had always cared for her...
Like many small farmers in the Midwest, many Amish farmers are feeling the squeeze from their competitors, the large producers out west. Feeling the pinch, many small farmers have sold out and left the farm.
Thad Hochstetler is a young Amish farmer in Iowa, who banded together with other small Amish farmers to form a cooperative in order to compete and sell their milk to the big chain stores. After losing his wife shortly after childbirth, having a tornado rip through his farm, and the obligation on his mortgage, Thad is overwhelmed with debt.
May Bender’s dream had been to marry her beau, Thad Hochstetler, until it turns to dust when he jilted her and married her sister April. After April’s death, May helped care for their daughter, Leah, for a year. But with hard feelings still brewing, she decided it was time to move on with her life and relocate to Indiana. That is, until Thad offered her a marriage bargain. Now May is about to discover “that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).
I love to hear from readers. Tell me what you enjoyed, what inspired you, or your favorite character. Email me at [email protected], visit me at mariebast.blogspot.com and facebook.com/marie.bast, or mariebastauthor.com, or follow me on Twitter @mariebast1.
Blessings,
Marie E. Bast
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
—Matthew 6:15
To past and present dairy farmers in my life: my husband, Darrell; brothers Robert and Richard; and my extended family, Jesus Návar.
In loving memory of Michael, my brother, and Richard Walline, my father, who wisely raised me on a milking farm—one of the best times of my life. I love you both dearly and miss you.
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