Rumspringa Romance

By Deidra Scott

Leah is an Amish young woman who pines for the handsome Enos but he pays her no mind. Meanwhile, she is being courted by the overweight Luke but she ignores him in the same way the Enos is ignoring her. Over time, Enos finally demonstrates some interest in Leah but not before the sweet Luke does something that touches her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trellis Publishing
• Release date: Jul 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201678708

Book preview

HEISTS OF THE HEART

MONICA MARKS

The sound of raised voices was enough to stop Claudia in her tracks even though the sound was not unfamiliar to her. She did not need to hear the words to know what was going on in the front room but she stood still all the same.

I have had enough! Jack howled. This is all I can take!

Mind your tone, Jack, Anne replied nervously, her dark eyes darting around but she did not see her sister lingering in the shadows. Claudia’s hands trembled as she held the tea tray in her hands. It was a wonder that she did not rattle them in her dismay for Claudia was certain that Jack was speaking of her. There was so little else which could cause her brother-in-law such aggravation. 

What difference will it make if I lower my tone? Jack scoffed furiously. There is nowhere I can be inside my own home where your sister is not! No matter how quietly or loudly I speak, she is apt to hear!

Come, now, darling. It is not so bad—

I am growing disgusted with having this same argument with you, Anne as though you are deliberately being daft.

Claudia cringed at the harsh words toward her sister. It was one matter for Jack to be angry with her but quite another to be rude with Anne who had only ever tried to do her best. There was a deep intake of air before Anne replied, her own nerves apparently as taut as her husband’s.

Jack, what would you have me do? She hasn’t anywhere else to be—

I am fully aware of the situation, Anne, Jack growled. Why do you think I have not cast her from the house already?

There was a heavy silence until Anne sighed deeply again.

She means well, Jack. She does not know what she does only causes friction.

Well someone need tell her to stop with her ‘well-meaning’ and mind her own issues. Why can she not look for a husband?

Jack, she is painfully shy, as you know. Any efforts I have made to match her with someone have been disastrous.

Anne, is she meant to stay here forever? Even the bashful get married! Your parents failed you both, none more so than Claudia. How could they not have had suitors aligned for her, even in her youth? I...

Jack paused, his breaths ragged and Claudia could hear him struggling to keep his composure.

What will I do about the missing horses now? he grumbled. "This is the second time she has let

them out this year alone. We cannot afford new horses every season, Anne."

Perhaps a neighbor will find them, Anne offered weakly. She only wished to help with the livestock...

I do not need to be reminded what your sister was attempting to do, Jack said sternly. Tell her to stick to her poor sewing and housework. The stables are no longer a territory where she is permitted to go without a hand or me. Am I clear?

I will tell her, Anne muttered but Claudia knew her sister would never breathe a word of their discussion to her.

She still sees me as a girl who needs protection from the world, not a grown woman.

Not that Claudia could fault Anne. After all, there had been so many mishaps over the years, so many well-intended tasks that had gone terribly awry despite Claudia’s best efforts.

It is a small wonder that Anne deems me a child still. Is she wrong to look at me as such?

Claudia waited, ensuring that enough time had lapsed and that Jack was not about to start in on another diatribe before making her presence known in the sitting room.

Anne looked to her guiltily from her spot by the hearth but Claudia avoided her sister’s eyes and lay the tray of tea upon a sleek tabletop.

Claudia! Anne gasped, looking nervously toward her husband. I-I had forgotten you had promised us tea.

Half an hour ago, Jack scoffed, spinning to leave the room as though Claudia’s mere attendance was enough to drive him out of his well-loved front room.

Claudia did not respond, keeping her light blue eyes cast toward the ground as she shuffled back, blinking the tears from her eyes before Anne could see them but she was too late; her sister’s gaze was fixed on her face.

What is the matter? Anne asked with alarm. Are you crying?

Claudia shook her head, trying to shift her head so that she would not be observed but it was far too late under Anne’s honed gaze.

You heard Jack, Anne sighed and Claudia had no choice but to nod. You must understand, Claudia—

I understand, Claudia insisted without raising her unkempt head of hair. Loose strands of dark blonde fell about her face, shielding the humiliated blush upon her cheeks.

I understand that you have gone over and above for me, taking me in following Mother and Father’s death. You did not need to open your home to me and it has been far too long that I have been living here under your charity. You should have let me fend for myself.

There was no pity in Claudia’s voice, only a deep regret that her sister had endured so much at her expense.

Do not be foolish, Claudia, Anne snapped. You are family and that is what we do for one another.

I am a burden, Claudia replied shortly, finally raising her eyes to meet her older sister’s. One who has overstayed her welcome in this home.

Before Anne could speak another word, Claudia gathered her skirts in her hand and spun to escape the suddenly suffocating confines of the small room, her pulse racing.

Claudia! Anne called plaintively after her but she did not slow her gait, hurrying out the back entrance of the small house and making her way into Anne’s prized gardens.

It was not a new conversation, after all. For five years, Claudia had lived with her sister and brother-in-law. When she had first accepted the offer to live among them, there had been little other choice, Claudia being barely fifteen and not yet old enough to marry.

Anne had sworn to her new husband that she would find her sister a proper suitor when the time was right but it seemed that every time a man was brought to the house for Claudia’s approval, something catastrophic would happen.

She is doing it on purpose! Jack would shriek. She is sabotaging her own future so that she might stay here forever!

Nonsense! Anne countered. What woman would not wish to see herself with husband and family of her own? This has simply been a series of unfortunate events.

Yet as the years passed, Claudia quickly earned herself the reputation of a woman who would take sick or perform poorly at introduction suppers and soon, the invitations faded until there were no men left for her to accept. In the slowly-growing frontier town of Bracebridge, the eligible men were far and few between.

At one moment, Anne had suggested the matrimonial columns but when Claudia had written the men, she had received no response, as though her letters were poorly written or unworthy of reply.

Claudia did not think she intended to scare away her potential suitors, any more than she had purposefully allowed the horses from the stables or to burn down the kitchen that one instance. Sometimes she wondered if God was mocking her but others, she considered that Jack was right.

Do I sabotage my future happiness for some reason I cannot comprehend? It is the only thing which makes sense when I consider how badly matters have become since I arrived here.

It was a daunting thought, one which she could not easily accept yet there she was, almost one and twenty, without the prospects of a husband and living in a tumultuous situation which only seemed to grow worse day by day.

I must find a way out of this, Claudia thought mournfully, her legs carrying her as fast as she could away from her sister’s modest farm and toward the center of town. It was not a far walk and she did not know where she was going specifically. There were no friends to speak of, no job waiting for her. All she knew for a fact was that she would certainly be back at the Dutton house, living under a roof of animus and apprehension. Claudia knew she could not simply run away, even if it was in her nature to entertain such an idea. She had no money, no place to start anew. In a few hours time, she would return to the house, her head lowered in shame and her heart heavy.

There must be a way for me to alleviate the burden on Jack and Anne. But how? Every time I try to make things better, I invariably make them worse.

In the deepest part of her soul, Claudia knew the only way to end the tension was for her to leave.

~ ~ ~

Sheriff, we have it on good authority that Randy Rivers is headed this way, Spencer Burke told him, lounging against the swinging doors of the stationhouse, his high hat hanging in his hand. We must be vigilant.

Tex scoffed and shook his head disdainfully. The words were empty, meaningless to his ears and he said as much aloud.

We have been hearing reports about that man for weeks, the Sheriff replied, flopping back against the hard back of his chair. I will believe it when I see him in Bracebridge.

I understand your skepticism, Tex, but he is a dangerous man. In the last three towns he has taken, Rivers appeared and disappeared within two days and you know what he did there. We ain’t gonna know he is here until he is here.

I have been expecting him! Tex roared, slamming his fists down against the desk. I have been working day and night expecting that ruffian to show his ugly scruff around these parts but all that is doing is losing me sleep and time away from my children!

Spencer clucked his tongue sympathetically and shrugged his sinewy shoulders almost indifferently as if he, too, had heard the same words endlessly.

You know, Sheriff, you ain’t gotta go at this alone. Me and the boys, we are happy to take the shifts too, what with the little ones—

I do not need your pity, Burke! Tex interjected. I do not need help doing my job, thank you kindly.

His words were dismissive and Spencer took them as much but before he could take a step out of the small stationhouse, there was a commotion outside, followed by a shriek of terrified screams.

What the devil...? Tex asked but as the exclamation left his lips, his eyes tore about the one roomed structure for signs of his children. In seconds, he was flying out of his seat and into the street, his face gaunt as he took in the scene.

Two carriages had collided not twenty paces from the entranceway of the precinct. A small crowd had gathered but Tex fought his way through, his eyes frantically peeling through the throng of gathering people.

Papa! Joey yelled. Papa!

Tex’s head jerked toward the sound of his son’s voice, relief flooding his body as his gaze fell upon both his children in the arms of a young woman. They stood mere feet from the accident and Tex rushed toward them.

What in God’s name happened? Tex demanded, staring down at his son and daughter for signs of injury. I told you both to stay put inside the stationhouse!

We grew bored, Papa, Penelope sighed, her hazel eyes wide and scared. We came outside to play.

They are fine, Sheriff, the woman told him quickly. I managed to get them out of the way in just enough time.

Tex turned his attention toward the pale-faced blonde who was visibly shaking in the aftermath.

She saved us, Papa! Joey called, smiling admiringly at the comely woman with shining eyes. Penny almost got trampled by that horse.

Joey pointed toward one of the upset beasts, snuffling against the dirt nearby.

I-thank you, Miss, Tex managed to say, nodding toward her as his children moved from her arms into his. They should not have been outside.

We were idle, Papa, Penny whined. All you do is blather about Randy Rivers and his inevitable appearance in Bracebridge.

Tex scowled at the five-year-old child.

Mind your mouth, Penny! The sheriff barked. Back inside, the both of you. I have an accident to investigate now.

Oh, Papa, can we not stay with you? Joey cried. It is so stuffy inside!

I have work to do! Tex growled. Enough with your backtalk!

I would not mind to watch them, the stranger offered and Tex whipped