She stared at him not being able to say the same. Their lives were so different. It wasn’t that they had differing opinions of things. It wasn’t that simple. Summoning all her strength, she withdrew her hand and stood up. “I’ll have to think about everything you’ve just told me. It’s a lot to take in at once.”
He stood up and placed his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Don’t leave me, Florence. I don’t want to spend another day wondering what’s in our future. I want us to be together, and that’s why I asked you to marry me.”
She was relieved he was serious about her. If only he were an Amish man. Why was life so challenging? “I’ve got lots to consider.”
“Like what?”
“There’s the orchard. If I’m with you, my family might turn their backs on me if I leave the community.”
“I’ll buy you ten more orchards. We can start our own family. All we need is each other.”
She bit her lip wondering what her life would be like if she turned her back on everyone. How would Wilma cope with the girls, and everything else? They all relied on her. “I need time. I’m sorry.” She walked away and grabbed the front door handle.
“Florence, if you walk away from me now, I’m going to sell out and move away.”
She spun around to face him. “No! Just give me time. That’s all I’m asking. Time to think on how this will work.”
He stepped closer. “This is ripping me apart. Every day without you is an eternity. I’m not going to let more years pass, hoping.”
“I can’t think that quickly. Just give me—”
“No! Days will turn into weeks, weeks into months and then before we know it, years would’ve gone by.”
“But you said you want to live here to be near family.”
“It’s too hard for me. Come with me, Florence. Choose me! Choose me now—today!”
He walked toward her and she desperately wanted to run into his arms and tell him yes.
She had Wilma, she had responsibilities. If she left, she might never be welcome at home—never see Mercy’s baby or any of her step-sisters’ or her brothers’ future children. “I can’t.” She turned and ran from him. Somehow, she got through the wire fence without the usual trouble, and then she kept running until she got to the first row of trees.
With her heart racing and sweat beading on her forehead, she leaned against a tree. Her mind swirled with choices while she became filled with the fear of making the wrong one.
With Carter, she could have her own family and a future. They could start their own orchard, their very own.
Back at the house, she was nothing more than a caretaker of others—the extended family of her father.
Her mother’s letter jumped into her mind. Choose with your heart, sometimes. This was one of those times, but she was Amish. How could she choose to marry an outsider? It was against everything she’d been raised to believe.
Looking at her beautiful trees, she didn’t want to leave them behind, but neither could she live with herself if she lost the only man she’d ever loved. It was a huge thing to leave the community but she’d never been baptized; technically, she wasn’t a full member yet. She’d become one of the people she’d looked down upon—the people who’d left the community for love. Her heart opened to them. Now she knew how harsh her judgment of them had been.
Leading with her heart, she hurried back to Carter longing to be in his arms. Now she’d made her decision, it felt good.
She was surprised to see him at the fence line between their two properties. He had his head down looking at something.
He looked up at her. “I’m stuck,” he called out.
She walked over, smiling. “What were you doing?”
“Coming to get you.”
“You were?” She giggled at him while her heart bubbled over with joy. She’d made the right choice.
“Yes. I’m not taking no for an answer, just as soon as I get unstuck from here.” He raised his hands in the air.
She covered her mouth with her fingertips and giggled again. “I can’t believe you were coming to get me.”
While she walked closer, he managed to set himself free, and then he stepped through to her side of the fence. “Wait. You’ve come back, does that mean …”
She nodded.
“You’ll marry me?” he asked.
“I will, Carter Braithwaite, son of Iris, my step-aunt, and son of Gerald Braithwaite.”
He laughed, picked her up and spun her around in a circle with her long dress flying in the breeze. In that moment, she closed her eyes and knew she’d have happiness always.
He set her down on her feet and held both of her hands. “You’ve made a sacrifice and I know it was a hard decision. I’ll make it up to you in every possible way I can.”
She was too overwhelmed to speak. There were so many questions about how they’d work everything out and what would happen. Now that they’d made that full commitment to one another she’d stick to it with no turning back, no matter what. All she had to do now was break the news to her family.
They’d be shocked—really shocked. And Ada would be horrified. Ezekiel would be justified. Her step-sisters might be secretly pleased for her. Wilma would be overwhelmed with taking over so many tasks.
But, this was her life to live and this time she was going to put herself and Carter first.
“I love you, Florence Baker.”
She opened her mouth in shock. “You do?”
For his answer, he lowered his mouth to hers and they shared their first proper kiss.
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Thank you for reading Amish Joy.
I do hope you are enjoying the series.
Samantha Price
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Book 5
Amish Family Secrets
Lies have been told.
Secrets have been kept.
What will Florence do when she learns the truth that her stepmother has been keeping from her for many years?
Will this change Florence's plans?
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Other books in the series:
Book 1.
Amish Mercy
Book 2.
Amish Honor
Book 3.
A Simple Kiss
For more Samantha Price books, visit:
www.SamanthaPrice Author.com
Other books by Samantha Price:
AMISH MAIDS TRILOGY
Book 1 His Amish Nanny
Book 2 The Amish Maid’s Sweetheart
Book 3 The Amish Deacon’s Daughter
ETTIE SMITH AMISH MYSTERIES
Book 1 Secrets Come Home
Book 2 Amish Murder
Book 3 Murder in the Amish Bakery
Book 4 Amish Murder Too Close
Book 5 Amish Quilt Shop Mystery
Book 6 Amish Baby Mystery
Book 7 Betrayed
Book 8: Amish False Witness
Book 9: Amish Barn Murders
Book 10 Amish Christmas Mystery
Book 11 Who Killed Uncle Alfie?
Book 12 Lost: Amish Mystery
Book 13 Amish Cover-Up
Book 14 Amish Crossword Murder
Book 15 Old Promises
Book 16 Amish Mystery at Rose Cottage
Book 17 Amish Mystery: Plain Secrets
Book 18 Amish Mystery: Fear Thy Neighbor
Book 1 The Amish Girl Who Never Belonged
Book 2 The Amish Spinster
Book 3 The Amish Bishop’s Daughter
Book 4 The Amish Single Mother
Book 5 The Temporary Amish Nanny
Book 6 Jeremiah’s Daughter
Book 7 My Brother’s Keeper
AMISH LOVE BLOOMS
Book 1 Amish Rose
Book 2 Amish Tulip
Book 3 Amish Daisy
Book 4 Amish Lily
Book 5 Amish Violet
Book 6 Amish Willow
S
EVEN AMISH BACHELORS
Book 1 The Amish Bachelor
Book 2 His Amish Romance
Book 3 Joshua’s Choice
Book 4 Forbidden Amish Romance
Book 5 The Quiet Amish Bachelor
Book 6 The Determined Amish Bachelor
Book 7 Amish Bachelor’s Secret
EXPECTANT AMISH WIDOWS
Book 1 Amish Widow's Hope
Book 2 The Pregnant Amish Widow
Book 3 Amish Widow's Faith
Book 4 Their Son's Amish Baby
Book 5 Amish Widow's Proposal
Book 6 The Pregnant Amish Nanny
Book 7 A Pregnant Widow's Amish Vacation
Book 8 The Amish Firefighter's Widow
Book 9 Amish Widow's Secret
Book 10 The Middle-Aged Amish Widow
Book 11 Amish Widow's Escape
Book 12 Amish Widow's Christmas
Book 13 Amish Widow’s New Hope
Book 14 Amish Widow’s Story
Book 15 Amish Widow’s Decision
Book 16 Amish Widow’s Trust
Book 17 The Amish Potato Farmer’s Widow
AMISH ROMANCE SECRETS
Book 1 A Simple Choice
Book 3 A Small Secret
Book 4 Ephraim’s Chance
Book 5 A Second Chance
Book 6 Choosing Amish
AMISH WEDDING SEASON
Book 1 Impossible Love
Book 2 Love at First
Book 3 Faith’s Love
Book 4 The Trials of Mrs. Fisher
Book 5 A Simple Change
AMISH BABY COLLECTION
Book 1 The Gambler’s Amish Baby
Book 2 The Promise
Book 3 Abandoned
Book 4 Amish Baby Surprise
Book 5 Amish Baby Gift
Book 6 Amish Christmas Baby Gone
AMISH TWIN HEARTS
Book 1 Amish Trading Places
Book 2 Amish Truth Be Told
Book 3 The Big Beautiful Amish Woman
Book 4 The Amish Widow and The Millionaire
For more books by Samantha Price, check her website:
www.samanthapriceauthor.com
About Samantha Price
A prolific author of Amish fiction, Samantha Price wrote stories from a young age, but it wasn't until later in life that she took up writing full time. Formally an artist, she exchanged her paintbrush for the computer and, many best-selling book series later, has never looked back.
Samantha is happiest on her computer lost in the world of her characters.
To date, Samantha has received several All Stars Awards; Harlequin has published her Amish Love Blooms series, and Amazon Studios have produced several of her books in audio.
Samantha is best known for the Ettie Smith Amish Mysteries series and the Expectant Amish Widows series.
To learn more about Samantha Price and her books visit:
www.samanthapriceauthor.com
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Samantha loves to hear from her readers. Connect with her at:
samanthaprice333@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/SamanthaPriceAuthor
Follow Samantha Price on BookBub
Twitter @ AmishRomance