An Amish Christmas Journey
Their Holiday AdventureToby Yoder promised to care for his orphaned little sister the rest of her life. After all, the tragedy that took their parents and left her injured was his fault. Now he must make a three-hundred-mile trip from the hospital to the Amish community where they'll settle down. But as they share a hired van with pretty Greta Barkman, an Amish woman with a similar harrowing past, Toby can't bear for the trip to end. Suddenly, there's joy, a rescued cat named Christmas and hope for their journey to continue together forever.Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain PeopleToby Yoder promised to care for his orphaned little sister the rest of her life. After all, the tragedy that took their parents and left her injured was his fault. Now he must make a three-hundred-mile trip from the hospital to the Amish community where they'll settle down. But as they share a hired van with pretty Greta Barkman, an Amish woman with a similar harrowing past, Toby can't bear for the trip to end. Suddenly, there's joy, a rescued cat named Christmas and hope for their journey to continue together forever.Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People
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Their Holiday Adventure
Toby Yoder promised to care for his orphaned little sister the rest of her life. After all, the tragedy that took their parents and left her injured was his fault. Now he must make a three-hundred-mile trip from the hospital to the Amish community where theyâll settle down. But as they share a hired van with pretty Greta Barkman, an Amish woman with a similar harrowing past, Toby canât bear for the trip to end. Suddenly, thereâs joy, a rescued cat named Christmas and hope for their journey to continue together forever.
Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People
âDo you do that often?â Greta asked.
He opened his eyes and frowned. âDo I do what?â
âRefuse help when you need it?â
He gave her a wry smile. âAm I guilty of being prideful? I have been, but Iâm learning that I canât do everything.â
Greta gathered her things. âThen stretch out on this bench and take a nap. I will keep an eye on your sister and wake you if she needs anything.â
He nodded his consent. Greta moved up to one of the single seats where she could keep an eye on Marianne and on Toby. He folded his long legs on the seat and pillowed his head on his coat. It wasnât long before his breathing became deep and even and she knew he was asleep.
She had never watched a man sleeping before. At least no one younger than the elders who sometimes nodded off during the long church services.
At leisure to study him, Greta assessed his features one by one, trying to decide why she was so attracted to him.
The lines of strain around Tobyâs eyes touched a chord within her. She wanted to see them soothed away.
PATRICIA DAVIDS
After thirty-five years as a nurse, Pat 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 online at www.patriciadavids.com.
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities,
O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
âPsalms 130:3â5
This book is dedicated to women and men
everywhere who seek to mend fences and to right wrongs within their families.
Blessed are the peacemakers:
for they shall be called the children of God. âMatthew 5:9
Contents
âI suppose we must do it.â Greta Barkman almost choked on her words.
It was the right thing to say. The only decision her Amish faith would let her make, but sheâd rather walk through the snow barefoot...all winter...than spend one hour with her uncle Morris. Bringing him home to stay with them for a few months would be unbearable. Surely God would not ask this of her and her sisters after all they had endured.
Betsy, the youngest at eighteen, slapped the letter facedown on the table. âItâs not as if Onkel Morris can expect us to drop everything and rush to his side. We escaped his cruelness by the grace of God. Besides, itâs almost Christmas. It will be our first happy Christmas together. I donât want him to spoil it.â
He will spoil it. I know that as surely as I know itâs cold outside.
Greta glanced at the kitchen window. The late-afternoon sun shone brightly beyond the frost-covered glass, but it added little warmth to the December day. The dusting of snow that had arrived in the night blew around, sparkling like glitter in the breeze. She shivered and looked back at the people seated around her grandfatherâs table. Her three sisters, her grandfather and his new wife, and two of her sistersâ husbands were gathered for this family meeting.
Clara, the oldest sister, picked up the letter. âI agree with Greta. We have to do this. His bishop would not write asking us to take Morris in if our uncleâs condition were not serious.â She glanced at her husband seated beside her. âI will go, if you agree, Ethan.â
He covered her hand with his own. âI wonât pretend that I like the idea, but you must do what you think best. The children and I will manage without you for a few days.â
âI can go.â Lizzie, the second sister, looked as though she would rather eat dirt.
Carl, Lizzieâs husband, laid his hand on her arm. âI wonât agree to it. You have to think of the babe. Such a long car ride will not be good for you.â
