Plain Peace (A Daughters of the Promise Novel)
What readers are saying about the Daughters of the Promise seriesn
“In the fast paced world we live in, it is a blessing to be able to pick up the Daughters of the Promise series and be taken away mentally to a place where life is so much more. The love of family and friends, the bond that unites them all to one another and to God. Being able to focus on those precious moments in our lives that we typically let pass us by or take for granted. Beth Wiseman has such a gift in not only sharing this simpler way of life, but a way of truly putting us, the readers, there with them.”
—Erin B.
“The story line and the people draw you into the story, it’s written in such a way that you feel as though you are right there each and every day with them. The intrigue and the day-to-day living can be seen and felt with each and every word. It’s a relief to let the worries of today dissolve as you are drawn back into a world of contentment and peace.”
—Lori M.
“The Daughters of the Promise series is all about family, faith, friendship, and hard work. I love that the series gave you a look inside the Amish way of life, the closeness of community, simplicity, and how to live your best life outside what is happening in the world. Beth Wiseman brings each character to life in a way where you almost feel like you are there. Once you start this series, you look forward to the next one!”
—Cookie D.
“From the first sentence of the first Daughters of the Promise book, I was drawn into a lovely place where old friends and family reside. I feel happy there, I feel relaxed there, I am home there. Each book is like a welcome home hug. These books are so much more than books . . . they are blessings.”
—Mandy B.
“I have and reread this series. The characters come alive in these books and you find yourself right there with them and rooting for them. Beth is a gifted writer, transporting you into the story. You won’t be able to put these books down.”
—Cheryl B.
Also by Beth Wiseman
T
HE
D
AUGHTERS
OF
THE
P
ROMISE
NOVELS
Plain Perfect
Plain Pursuit
Plain Promise
Plain Paradise
Plain Proposal
T
HE
L
AND
OF
C
ANAAN
NOVELS
Seek Me With All Your Heart
The Wonder of Your Love
His Love Endures Forever
N
OVELLAS
INCLUDED
IN
An Amish Christmas
An Amish Gathering
An Amish Love
An Amish Wedding
An Amish Kitchen
An Amish Miracle
Need You Now
The House That Love Built
© 2013 by Elizabeth Wiseman Mackey
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].
Publisher’s Note: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Wiseman, Beth, 1962–
Plain Peace / Beth Wiseman.
pages cm. — (A Daughters of the Promise Novel)
Summary: “Anna’s grandfather seems determined to ruin her Rumspringa and any hopes she has of finding a husband. Anna Byler should be enjoying her Rumspringa as allowed by her faith. But because of the strict rules enforced by her grandfather, the available suitors in town are afraid to court her. Even Anna’s grandmother is keeping a big secret from Anna’s grandfather in an effort to keep the peace. Under her grandfather’s oppressive watch, Anna begins to feel her faith slipping and wonders if God has forsaken her. Jacob Hostetler and his family have relocated to Lancaster County following a family tragedy in Ohio. As his family struggles to rebuild their lives, Jacob is forced to act as head of the household when his father is unable to cope with recent events. It’s been a long time since Jacob has felt any joy. Until he meets Anna Byler. But will Anna’s grandfather succeed at keeping them apart? And can Jacob put the past behind him and open his heart?”— Provided by publisher.
ISBN 978-1-4016-8594-2 (Trade Paper)
1. Amish—Fiction. 2. Lancaster County (Pa.)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3623.I83P565 2013
813'.6—dc23
2013023671
Printed in the United States of America
13 14 15 16 17 18 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Richard Gabler
Contents
An Excerpt from
The House That Love Built
Daughters of the Promise Community Tree
Aamen
—Amen
ach
—oh
boppli
—baby or babies
bruder/brieder
—brother/brothers
daadi
—grandfather
daed
—dad
danki
—thank you
dochder
—daughter
Englisch
—a non-Amish person (in Lancaster County)
fraa
—wife
gut
—good
haus
—house
kaffi
—coffee
kapp
—prayer covering or cap
kinner
—child, children or grandchildren
lieb
—love
maedel
—girl
mamm
—mom
mammi
—grandmother
mei
—my
mudder
—mother
Nee
—no
onkel
—uncle
Ordnung
—the written and unwritten rules of the Amish; the understood behavior by which the Amish are expected to live, passed down from generation to generation. Most Amish know the rules by heart.
Pennsylvania Deitsch
—the language most commonly used by the Amish. Although commonly known as Pennsylvania Dutch, the language is actually a form of German (
Deutsch)
.
rumschpringe
—running-around period when a teenager turns sixteen years old
schweschder/schweschdere—
sister/sisters
sohn
—son
Wie bischt?
—How are you?
wunderbaar
—wonderful
ya
—yes
Yankee
—a non-Amish person (in Middlefield, Ohio)
A
NNA WATCHED OUT THE WINDOW AND WAITED UNTIL
her grandfather’s buggy rounded the corner before she pulled the bottle of pills from her apron pocket. She handed the prescription to her grandmother, resolved that she would never live the way her grandparents did—keeping secrets from each other. Even if her future husband did end up being the bishop like her grandfather.
“
Danki
, Anna.” Marianne Byler popped two pills in her mouth and followed them down with a glass of water, then stashed the pills in her own apron pocket. Anna knew she wouldn’t see the bottle again until it was empty and time for more, and she’d often wondered where her grandmother hid the bottle.
“The pharmacist said you’ve been out of refills for a few months, but Dr. Noah kept approving it. He won’t fill it again, though, until you come for an office visit, and this isn’t the full prescription.” Anna began gathering up the dirty dinner dishes, glancing at her
mammi
a couple of times before adding, “So what will you do?” She piled the plates on the counter next to the sink and folded her arms across her chest.
Mammi
dipped a dishrag into the soapy water and looked over her shoulder. “The Lord will provide.”
“I sure hope so.”
Mammi
never got worked up about anything, but sometimes Anna thought maybe she should.
It had been eight months since her grandfather had forbidden everyone in their district to visit Dr. Noah Stoltzfus’s clinic. Anna wondered if
Daadi
would have made such a decision if he’d known that his own wife was so dependent on Dr. Noah, a secret
Mammi
had been keeping since way before the official ban. Anna glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Can I go now?” She tucked a strand of loose brown hair beneath her
kapp
, then smoothed the wrinkles from her black apron. “The volleyball game at the Lapps’
haus
started at one.”
Mammi
turned around, dried her hands on a kitchen towel, and leaned against the counter. “
Ya
, but be home in time to help with supper.” She smiled, defining the lines around her tiny mouth and those feathering from the corners of her eyes. “And have fun.”
Anna nodded, then hurried through the living room to the front door.
The Lapp farm was in walking distance. By the time she arrived, the court was filled with players.
“Come be on our side, Anna!” Emma Lapp waved, and once Anna was in place, she stared through the net at an unfamiliar face. She gawked long enough to almost get hit in the head with the ball but awkwardly bounced it away with her elbow instead. Luckily Emma got underneath it and made the point.