A Hope Springs Christmas

Season Of Second Chances

Amish widow Sarah Wyse does not see wedding bells in her future. Still, she can’t think of a better way to spend the Christmas season than helping her handsome, shy neighbor Levi Beachy find a wife. But once the single ladies of Hope Springs start visiting his buggy shop, Levi sends the town’s eligible men Sarah’s way. Neither expects to find love—but with help from the close-knit community, they just might mend each other’s broken heart.

Levi wondered if Sarah realized how pretty she was with the new morning light streaming through the window bathing her face in golden light.

To his eyes, she grew more beautiful with each passing year. It was no wonder Daniel had fallen in love with her.

Levi dropped his gaze to his feet, afraid his thoughts would somehow show in his eyes. “Do you mind?”

“Do I mind what?” she asked at last with an odd inflection in her tone.

He waved his arm to indicate the shop. “That I made changes?”

“Nee, it is your work space,” she said quickly.

“Goot.”

“What needs doing in here today that Grace would normally do? I’m at your beck and call, so put me to work.”

“I don’t need anything.” What he wanted was for her to go home. The workshop was his sanctuary. How could it be a place of peace with Sarah in it?

PATRICIA DAVIDS

After thirty-five years as a nurse, Pat has hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her new free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long-overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her on the web at www.patriciadavids.com.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

—Matthew 5:16

This book is lovingly dedicated to my daughter Kathy and her husband, Tony. Thank you for

your help and love. You both mean the world to me.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

“You can tell me the truth, dear. How are you really?”

Sarah Wyse dropped her gaze to the pile of mending in front of her on the scrubbed pine kitchen table without answering her aunt. How was she? Frightened.

“Tell me,” her aunt persisted. Emma Lapp didn’t believe in beating around the bush. She had a sharp eye and a gift for two things, matchmaking and uncovering gossip. How had she found out so quickly?

Sarah had expected to have a few days before having this conversation, but that wasn’t to be. “I’m fine, Aenti Emma. Why do you ask?”

“You put on such a brave face, child. I know how hard the holiday season is for you. To lose your job on top of everything, my heart goes out to you. You must remember the Lord never gives us more than we can bear. Put your trust in Him.”

“All is as God wills, even when we cannot comprehend His ways.”

Christmas brought Sarah more painful memories than joy. Too many of her holidays had been marked by funerals. She dreaded the arrival of winter each year with its long, dark, lonely nights. It was her job that kept her sane. Had kept her sane.

What would she do now? What if the crippling depression she struggled to overcome got the upper hand?

“How will you manage?” Emma asked.

Sarah raised her chin and answered with a conviction she didn’t feel. “As best I can. Would you like some tea?”

“That would be lovely.”

Her aunt’s sudden arrival was a blessing in disguise. Sarah had been sitting alone in her kitchen, wallowing in self-pity. It solved nothing. She needed to be busy.

She rose and crossed to the cupboard. Taking down a pair of white mugs, she carried them to the stove and filled them with hot water from the kettle steaming on the back of the cooktop.

“I know how you depend on the income from your job, Sarah, being a widow and all. Your onkel and I will help if you need it.”

“Don’t fret for me. It’s only for a few months. Janet is moving her mother to Florida and wants to make sure she is settled before coming back. She plans to reopen Pins and Needles after Easter.” Surely, she could hang on that long.

Emma cocked an eyebrow. “Will she be back? I heard she might stay.”

A flash of panic hit Sarah, but she suppressed it. Janet would be back. Then things would return to normal.

“I’m sure she’ll be back. Her business is successful. She enjoys the shop and loves the town. I have ample savings and the income from the rent of the buggy shop. I’ll be fine.”

Things would be tight, but Sarah would manage financially. Emotionally, that was another story.

Emma said, “Pins and Needles is successful because of the long hours you put into it. Anyway, you can depend on your family and the church to provide for you.”