Hey friends, and welcome!

I’ve been writing, editing, and publishing several things lately. It’s been a busy (but also fun) season! I’ve got a free chapter to share with you in just a minute, but first, I’d love to tell you some exciting news.

On Saturday, my books surpassed 1,000,000 KU page reads. Like, is this even real? If you’ve ever read any of my books, I’d like to thank you so much. This is seriously a dream come true! I’ve been walking on a cloud.

As many of you know, I really enjoy writing Amish fiction, and the first book in my Hope in Hickory Hills series releases in June. It’s now available to pre-order.

It takes place in the southern Appalachians, and is a second chance romance that includes a secret baby! Faith is woven throughout the book, and I hope after reading it you feel uplifted and encouraged.

Click Here to Pre-Order The Amish Mother’s Secret

You can read the first chapter below. I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter One

“Mamm, I’m getting hungry. Are we gonna be picked up soon?”

“Ja. Emily will be coming for us soon, Lizzie. Hold your horses, and try your best to be patient.”

“But I’m hungry now.”

Anna Miller sighed as she began to rummage through her satchel that could use a gut mending, looking for a snack.

“Will cheese crackers hold you over until our next meal?”

“They’ll do just fine.”

Elizabeth took the bag of crackers from her mother’s outstretched hand, and offered her a toothless grin. At five-years-old, the girl was fun, witty, and smart, and Anna didn’t know what she’d ever done to deserve such a delightful daughter.

Especially after she’d run from Hickory Hills six years ago, without telling a soul where she was going or why she’d left.

Anna’s eyes brushed over the busy Appalachian town as she leaned against the worn bench seat that lined the sidewalk in front of the bus station. Both Amish and Englisch residents bustled about, paying no mind to Anna nor her daughter, who was now happily munching on a handful of crackers. Anna had made them in their tiny apartment in Lancaster County just before they’d been forced to leave. She closed her eyes, trying to wish the memory away.

And now with her meager savings tucked carefully into her bag, both she and Lizzie had returned to the town where Anna had been raised. She rubbed her hands against both of her temples absentmindedly, since they were beginning to throb. When Anna had left, she’d been in the early stages of pregnancy. But now the tiny life growing inside of her was a healthy little girl, ready to take on the world and everything it threw at her.

One day, Lizzie would learn that life wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows. But for now, Anna would continue to give her the best life an Amish, unmarried mother could.

She smiled wryly. It wasn’t much, but Anna was determined to try. Lizzie seemed to always enjoy their time together, even though whatever they did usually involved little money. Anna’s relationship with her daughter was important, and she wanted to provide Lizzie with many gut memories to look back on, just like she had with her own mother. Anna had always held the relationship with her own mamm dear to her heart, even though she’d left town as soon as she’d learned a bobbeli was on the way.

It was best for everyone…except for Anna. 

Anna had decided that shielding both her mother and boyfriend’s family from the scandal of an unexpected pregnancy was the best choice to make. It was better for her to suffer the consequences of her actions alone, instead of dragging the rest of her loved ones along, too. And that included keeping the boyfriend that she’d hoped to marry one day in the dark, as well.

But after Anna was settled in Lancaster, her mamm had died. A little pain zipped through her heart at the thought. Lizzie would never get to meet her grandmother. Although this was Anna’s choice, it still felt grievous.

Lizzie had been a welcome ray of hope to Anna’s life, much to her surprise. As an only child, she didn’t have experience with kinner. All of that changed as soon as Elizabeth entered the picture and Anna learned what it meant to become a mamm.

As Lizzie finished off the rest of her snack, Anna scanned the road, hoping that her friend Emily Byler would be coming soon. Once her landlord in Lancaster told her that she’d have to move since the apartment she lived in needed extensive renovations and she was laid off from the Amish market she’d been working at in the self-same week, Anna took it as a sign to move on. Since she had no one else to turn to, she’d reluctantly asked Emily if she was in need of any help at her bed and breakfast, The Magnolia Inn, by letter. 

It turned out that yes, Emily did need assistance during the busy summer season since one of her employees, Rebekah Yoder, was heading to Lancaster for a few months to care for her ailing grossmammi who’d kumm down with a serious case of shingles. Anna found it ironic that the two women had literally switched places location wise, except Rebekah had stability in her life, while Anna did not. But as soon as her friend offered her room and board as part of her payment, Anna had accepted while sighing with relief. 

Though she still didn’t have a long-term plan, at least she and Lizzie were not homeless. Spending the summer at an inn tucked deep inside the Appalachian mountainssounded like as gut of a plan as any. There was only one person in Hickory Hills that knew about Anna’s unplanned pregnancy, and she was unlikely to run into her again since they lived in two different worlds. Her secret seemed safe enough, and Anna hoped Lizzie would make oodles of good memories as they lived in her childhood town over the summer.

Anna hoped she might make a gut memory or two, too. That is, if she could forget about the bad ones.

And would they stay after that? Only time would tell.

Anna’s heart tapped a little faster as she saw a familiar buggy pull to the curb. Could this be Emily? Anna didn’t have to wonder for long. A petite woman with curly blonde hair springing from her kapp waved her closer while offering what looked to be a genuine smile. 

“Emily’s kumm for us, Lizzie. Now then, gather your things and let’s be on our way.

“Goody! I was gettin’ tired of sitting here for so long.”

Anna smiled wryly while shaking her head. It was just like Lizzie to be a little dramatic. They’d been sitting outside of the bus station for fifteen minutes, tops, and she personally thought enjoying the cool mountain breeze for a spell felt nice.

Worry swirled in Anna’s stomach as they stepped closer to the open air buggy. She hoped they could pick up right where they’d left off, but how could they after the way Anna had left in the night so long ago?

“Well, if it isn’t Anna Miller! It is so gut to see you again! And it looks like you brought someone else that I’ve been dying to meet.” Emily’s blue eyes crinkled into a smile as she offered her hand to Lizzie and helped pull her into the buggy. “What’s your name, little one?”

Lizzie straightened to her full height once both of her feet were firmly planted on the buggy’s floor. “I’m Elizabeth Miller, but everyone calls me Lizzie. I like cats, kittens, and I love to draw.”

Emily eyed her seriously. “Is that so? Well then, you’re in luck. My cat, Primrose, just had a litter of kittens two weeks ago. They are residents of The Magnolia Inn too, and their favorite place to sleep is in a nook right next to your room. Would you be willing to help me take care of them, Lizzie?”

Lizzie’s head bobbed up and down at a dizzying pace. “You bet I would!”

Emily laughed, as she gave the girl’s arm a gentle squeeze. “I’m very grateful your mamm has brought you my way, then.”

Anna caught Emily’s eye over Lizzie’s head. Relief seeped from her lungs as she realized that her dear friend hadn’t changed one bit. She always had a way of making others feel at ease, and Anna felt like maybe, the two would remain gut friends.

“How are you doing, Em?”

“As right as rain. Business at my bed and breakfast has been wunderbar this season, and I’m very glad you have arrived. I desperately need reinforcements.”

Anna smiled as Emily pulled her buggy onto the wide shoulder of the road, created especially for the Amish to use as they rode through town. Of course her friend would act as if she was the one doing her a favor, when actually, it was the other way around.

“I’m looking forward to helping you out at your inn this summer. I think spending time outdoors will be gut for my daughter, too.”

Anna took in a deep breath of fresh mountain air as the buggy left the center of Hickory Hills behind and began to move towards the Magnolia’s location, which was just a couple of miles outside of town. She remembered how she spent her days as a child wading in mountain streams, or searching for wildlife in the rugged, Appalachian landscape. Though Anna didn’t want to venture deep into the forest because painful memories of her time spent there as a young adult threatened to consume her, she hoped Lizzie might be able to create some wunderbar memories over the next few months.

So far, most of Lizzie’s memories involved being cooped up in their small apartment on the outskirts of Lancaster. Whenever Anna wasn’t working, she’d tried to take her child to a local park, but unfortunately, those occurrences were few and far between.

Emily’s mouth tipped into a grin. “There will be plenty of opportunities for Lizzie to explore the outdoors at the Magnolia. I can’t wait to show you the grounds, and all the inn has to offer.”

“Me, too.” Hope welled up inside of Anna’s heart as the buggy crested a hill, and the bed and breakfast came into view. Emily had purchased it from the previous owners when they’d decided to retire around two years ago. Though it used to be thoroughly Englisch, Emily had excitedly penned in one of her recent letters to Anna that she’d put an Amish touch on it. The New Order Amish community of Hickory Hills permitted electricity in their businesses and homes, but still required its members to travel by horse and buggy. So while Em had kept the electricity line intact, she’d made the main areas of the inn look perfectly plain, which drew in tourists from all over the southeastern United States.

“This is it, ja?”

Emily’s eyes sparkled. “Yep, this is the place. You remember when we used to play volleyball just down the way when we were teenagers, ain’t so?”

Anna nodded while chewing on her lip. Yes, she remembered…how could she forget? She met Caleb while playing volleyball shortly after her daed had died from cancer. Fortunately, while this particular memory followed her to this side of Hickory Hills, Caleb’s haus and land sat firmly across town and through a couple of mountain passes. This was one of the reasons Anna had accepted Emily’s proposal readily. Plus, he lived in an entirely different church district, which was her old district, too. There was little chance she’d run into Caleb Stoltzfus here since they were no longer youngies playing volleyball. He was certainly working hard at the cattle farm whenever he could.

Anna clutched the side of the buggy seat as Lizzie squealed with glee.

“This is where we are going to live? I can hardly believe it!”

Anna’s eyes grew wide as she took in the scenery as the horse’s hooves tapped down the narrow lane that led to the inn. White and lavender crape myrtles draped over the edges of the road, creating a cozy ambiance. Large white and pink hydrangeas full of large blooms surrounded the last of the small trees, and then followed the lane to the large, white inn framed by rolling hills on three sides. Magnolia trees which looked both full and wild dotted the property.

It was perfect. Absolutely perfect.

Anna let out a gasp as the buggy lurched to a stop next to a welcoming stable at the right side of the bread and breakfast. She could hardly believe this was to be her home for the next few months, either.

If only she could stay forever.

“Hey Em, I’ve got Daisy. You and your guests can make your way to the inn if you’d like.”

Anna sat frozen as she heard a familiar, masculine voice. Slowly, she cut her eyes in the direction of the man who’d just emerged from the stable. Her nerves felt jangly as she recognized his deep brown eyes that matched the hair peeking out from his straw cap. Her gaze fell to his nose, and yes, it was just a little crooked from the farming accident he’d endured years ago. His steps were sure as he walked towards the horse, but Anna felt like curling into a ball, and hiding underneath one of the boulders on the Appalachian hillside as he moved closer.

What was Caleb Stoltzfus doing here?

***

Caleb avoided eye contact with Emily’s guests as he walked towards the horse and buggy. It had been a long day, and all he wanted was to retreat to the quarters that had been assigned to him since he’d become the official groundskeeper at The Magnolia Inn.

First, one of the newest arrivals to the inn had decided to educate him on all of the ways he could improve the property’s landscaping. Charles Walker had followed him around for hours that morning, and by lunchtime, he had a pounding headache. Caleb had tried his best to be cordial to the elderly gentleman, but when he handed him an itemized list of improvements he should consider, it had been the last straw. Or almost the last straw, rather. As Emily’s employee, he knew he must be accommodating to the guests at all costs. So Caleb had been, though he wished he could’ve given the visitor a piece of his mind.

Then, a pipe inside the Magnolia had broken, and caused a huge mess in the kitchen almost as soon as Emily had left to pick up her new guests from the Hickory Hills Bus Station. Though Caleb had temporarily repaired it as quickly as he could, there were still a few things he needed to finish up to complete the job. Which was why he’d run to the stable to fetch a few tools. He’d hoped to have fixed the problem before Em arrived back, but unfortunately, he was out of luck.

Caleb didn’t have much luck with anything these days.

Ever since he’d called his daed out for tax evasion one year ago and told him that he could keep the spread of farming land that was to be deeded to him one day, Caleb felt like he didn’t have anything going for him anymore. But his father’s underhanded dealings were not something Caleb wanted anything to do with. Even if it meant giving up the swath of land he’d been told was his ever since he was a young kind, along with his half-built haus.

So when Caleb saw the advertisement Emily had run in the paper for a groundskeeper at her inn last year, he’d jumped at the chance. Ja, groundskeeping wasn’t farming, but it kept him working in the great outdoors. Not to mention that Em was a great boss who gave him a lot of leeway with his schedule. And for that, he was thankful.

Being outdoors helped Caleb to clear his head, and keep his mind off of his family’s business. Which was all he thought about, besides Anna Miller. Though Anna had left him six years ago, he still thought about her nearly day and night. Caleb shook his head, feeling very foolish, indeed. What kind of man still pined after his girlfriendthough she’d disappeared into the mountain mist without even leaving a letter as to why?

Caleb sat down his tool bag to clutch Daisy’s reins after Emily tossed them his way. It looked like the kitchen repair would have to wait until the mare was returned to her stall. But really, what were a few more minutes?

“I can hardly wait to see my room! Emily, could you please take me there soon?”

Caleb’s ears perked as he heard the voice of a young child pierce the air from the buggy’s seat. A smile tilted his lips. He most definitely preferred spending time around children rather than grumpy guests, like Mr. Walker.

“Ja dear one, we’ll do that soon. I’ll help Anna grab your bags, and then we’ll be on our way.

Caleb’s smile turned upside down as soon as he heard the word Anna. The name had put a sour taste in his mouth ever since his girlfriend had left. He’d planned to propose marriage to her, and thought they’d have a cozy mountain wedding full of happy friends and family.

Perhaps it was best that she’d left. Since he’d become the family outcast, he had nothing to offer a woman now. Maybe Anna had sensed this would someday come to pass, and had left before he’d been given the chance to make a fool of himself by asking for her hand.

She surely would’ve turned him down anyway.

Curiosity nudged him. The Anna Emily was talking to couldn’t be his Anna. Could it? He squeezed his gaze past the horse and into the buggy.

Heat rose from his stomach and settled into his chest. Caleb’s jaw clenched as his eyes locked with the woman whose face he’d memorized. The curve of her mouth and the tilt of the cheeks remained the same. His eyes moved towards her hair, noticing the way the sun played off its chestnut tint, making it look almost golden. He’d run his fingers through her hair just once, when they’d gotten caught in a tender moment and had taken their relationship too far. His breath caught at the memory.

There was no need to think about that now. He’d already made peace with Gott about the incident, which was all that mattered.

“It’s just not my day, is it?” Caleb muttered.

“What was that, Caleb?” Emily looked at him curiously as she hopped down from the buggy.

“Nothing…nothing.” Caleb stood frozen as he tried to decide what to do next. He didn’t anticipate coming face to face with his old girl today, for sure and for certain.

Realization bloomed inside of him as his gaze darted between Anna and the child snuggled by her side.

This must be Anna’s child. He did a quick calculation in his head while approximating the young girl’s age. Anna didn’t waste any time finding someone else after she’d left him.

Just more proof that he was gut for nothing.

“Caleb, you remember Anna, right? She’ll be working for me over the summer. And oh, meet Lizzie. Anna is her mamm.”

Anna elbowed Emily in the ribs after she’d descended from the buggy herself. “Of course Caleb remembers me…vell, I hope he does at least. And why didn’t you tell me he would be here?” She then turned towards Caleb, her knuckles burning white as she clenched her worn bag. “Why in the world are you at The Magnolia Inn, anyhow? I thought you’d be spending all of your time at the family farm.”

Her words sounded cool, but they cut through him like a knife. Now twenty-five-years old just like himself, Caleb could tell by looking in her eyes that something was deeply bothering her. During their rumspringa Caleb had learned how to read Anna like a book, and he knew that deep down, she was suffering just like he was.

“I’m helping Em out for the summer, too.” His eyes cut towards Emily. He hoped she wouldn’t mention that his employment was actually full time, and that he’d decided to walk away from the farm. He was embarrassed by what his family had come to, and didn’t want her to know about his decision. Plus, after Anna had left him like she did, what right did she have to know the intimate details of his life?

In his opinion, she had none.

Thankfully, Emily’s lips remained sealed as Anna helped her child to the ground. He hoped they would stay that way.

“Ach, I honestly don’t know what to say then…I’m afraid I’ve gotten my dochder and I into a pickle. Staying at The Magnolia might not be the best idea for us, after all. Kumm, Lizzie. Let’s get to our room and ready ourselves for dinner. Then, I have a lot of thinking to do.”

Caleb’s shoulders slumped as he watched Anna and Lizzie head towards the inn, with Emily close on their heels. The kitchen repairs forgotten, he slowly led Daisy into her stall. He didn’t know if he could handle many more days like today, especially if they ended with a horrid blast from the past like this one.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to pre-order The Amish Mother’s Secret, click here.