Table Of ContentThe Ultimate Amish Romance Boxed Set Collection
Becca Fisher
Copyright 2012 by Becca Fisher
Smashwords Edition
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Heavenly Blessing
"You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
Abigail Kaufman couldn't believe her ears. She had
always believed such words were reserved for women far more
captivating than her. Women that probably weren't adorned
in a bonnet and apron. Being Amish, modesty didn't just
come naturally, it was ingrained in every fiber of Abi's
being. Yet an unmistakable hunk stood before her with no
intent to retract his statement.
And what a fetching man Abi had caught the eye of. The
man had a body that looked like it was a gift from God.
Perfectly sculpted. Designed to make a woman's heart skip
a beat. He had a warm, comforting smile. Dazzling deep
blue eyes. And soft kissable lips.
Abigail was instantly smitten. She could tell that life
would be a blessing with such a man in her life. That her
days would be filled with wonder. And that her nights
would never be short of passion. Such a find was nearly
impossible in Amish country, so it came as no surprise that
Abigail found her dream man while exploring the outer
suburbs of Philadelphia.
Amazingly enough, the world had not collapsed with
Abigail's departure from Lancaster county. She did not
have a God shaped hole in her heart. Abi's life was still
full of faith. She felt enriched. Like she was able to
experience the world as it was intended to be.
Abi and the man laid in the grass, peering into each
others eyes while holding one another. A brisk breeze gave
Abigail goose bumps and gave her a good excuse to cozy up.
The flowers were in bloom around them, adding an
intoxicating perfume scent to the air. It was perfect.
"How many women have you seen?" Abigail joked.
"Enough to know that I want to spend the rest of my life
with you," the man answered. He had all the right answers.
"How lucky am I to have a man like you in my life?" Abi
asked.
"Trust me. The pleasure is all mine," the man responded.
There was no keeping a smile off of Abi's face at that
point. It was almost too good to be true. "Do you ever
feel like you're living in a dream?"
"I am. Your dream," the man answered.
"What?" Abigail asked.
"Abi, this is all a dream," the man continued.
Before Abigail knew it, she awoke back at her parents
farm in Lancaster with no dream man in sight. It was the
most rude of awakenings. And reality hardly planned to
take it easy on Abi.
***
Amish culture was based around living a plain and simple
life. But there was nothing simple about the human heart.
And Abigail Kaufman was finding out just how complicated
things could get. Even as a child, even before she started
dreaming about it, Abi wondered about life beyond Lancaster
County. She wanted to know what the outside world had to
offer. She wanted to explore more than just a tiny nook of
God's kingdom. She wanted to fall in love for real.
Abi's yearnings were in complete contrast to her father's
though. Samuel Kaufman had plans for his first child.
There were expectations for Abi's future. She was to be
groomed to eventually take over the families quilt shop.
And if all went according to Samuel's plan, Abi would marry
Nathan Jones.
Nathan came from a good family. He could provide Abi
with security, stature, and all manner of things that did
nothing to get a young woman's heart aflutter. But while
Abi's father cared only for her to be wedded to a local man
in good standing, Abi longed for a man that didn't bore her
to tears. Nathan was not that man.
Abigail had no intention of marrying Nathan, although
convincing others of that was more difficult a task than it
seemed. It was almost a foregone conclusion that Abi was
to wed the bore next door. Never mind that none of those
plans took into account Abigail's feelings. Abigail hadn't
been consulted in the slightest about her own future. It
was as if her opinion was irrelevant. But all that was
about to change.
***
"I'm not marrying Nathan," Abigail declared.
Dinner would never be the same. But Abi didn't care.
She was tired of being a spectator in her own life. And if
that meant unpleasantries at the kitchen table, so be it.
Abigail's cavalier attitude did not extend to the rest of
her family though. Abi's younger sisters Allison and
Miriam both braced themselves for a doozy of a duel while
Emma Kaufman looked over at her husband boiling over.
"Excuse me," Samuel replied, having trouble chewing on
such a revelation.
"I refuse to marry a man I don't love," Abigail
continued.
"There's more to marriage than love," Samuel insisted.
"Says the man who's more in love with his wife than
anyone I've ever met," Abi fired back.
"I got lucky," Samuel replied. "But though you do not
love Nathan now, perhaps you will grow to in the future."
"I thought the whole point of marriage was the union of
two people that couldn't imagine spending the rest of their
lives apart. Not two people trying to figure out how to
pass the time together."
"Abigail, do you know how many woman in this village
would count themselves as lucky to have Nathan's hand in
marriage?" Emma chimed in.
"Then let them," Abi replied. "I want to marry a man
that brings a smile to my face every time I see him."
"And what man does that for you in Lancaster?" Emma
asked.
"There isn't one. Which is part of the reason I'm going
to Philadelphia," Abigail admitted.
The bombs kept dropping, leaving the whole family aghast.
"Under who's authority?" Samuel asked.
"My own," Abi continued.
"Oh no you most certainly are not," Emma replied.
"I fully intend to return," Abigail insisted. "But you
see, there's a whole world out there, and I'd be remiss in
my heart were I not to explore it."
"What have we done to make your heart so restless?" Emma
asked, with hurt weighing heavy in her eyes.
"How could you betray our family in such a manner?"
Samuel barked. "Do you not realize how hard your mother
and I have worked to give you the best chance for success?
All that we've sacrificed at your expense?"
"There's no need for your words to be so harsh," Abi
insisted. "I fully intend to come back."
"And we intended to have you married and running the
quilt shop. That's why intentions mean little. Behavior,
or misbehavior is how our lives are truly judged," Samuel
continued.
"True, but it should be the Lord doing the judging. And
my faith has not wavered. I will not dishonor this family,
nor my reputation in God's eyes just because I'm going to
Philadelphia," Abi replied.
"I'm afraid my faith is not nearly as steadfast as yours
when it comes to this matter," Emma added.
"No. This is not happening. I will not allow this to
happen," Samuel continued.
"Father, I am at the age where I can make my own
decisions," Abigail said. "And although I was hoping for
your blessing, I do not need it. I'm going to
Philadelphia. I shall return when my curiosity is
satiated."
***
"Is it your wish to tear this family apart?" Allison
asked.
Allison and Abigail were only two years apart in age,
ensuring an endless sibling rivalry. But the rivalry was
rather one-sided. Allison had always felt like a runner up
around Abigail. Like she'd never gotten enough attention.
Enough acclaim. Enough of the spotlight. Like she
perpetually lived in the shadows. And if approaching full
blown adulthood wasn't hard enough already, the sisters had
raging hormones to contend with their already heated
rivalry.
"I was certain you would be the most pleased with my
news," Abigail remarked.
"Abigail, we have not been without our differences,"
Allison stated.
"Glaring differences--"
"But that does not mean I wish for our family to
fracture," Allison continued.
"I do not wish that either. Which is I hope father would
have been more understanding," Abi responded.
"Who could be understanding of betrayal?" Allison
replied.
"Allison, have you never wondered what is beyond
Lancaster?"
"All I wonder is how I can be of the best service to
God."
"You don't have to be Amish to serve God," Abigail
insisted. "Not everyone outside of this village is a
heathen.
"But father has found you a husband. He's preparing you
to run the quilt shop."
"I cannot do what does not feel right in my heart,"
Abigail explained.
Allison ramped up her disdain. "Your heart betrays you.
Do you know how lucky you are to be chosen as inheritor of
the quilt shop? To have father find a husband of stature
for you?" Allison pleaded.
"If you like my life so much, it's yours."
"Much to my chagrin, you are father's favorite," Allison
remarked. "I can never bring him the joy that you can, nor
break his heart so thoroughly."
"There has been much talk of father's heart break, but
what of my own?" Abigail asked. "I only wish to give my
dreams a chance to come true. And yet my own parents treat
me like I've committed some sin. Imagine how that makes me
feel."
***
Everyone took Abigail's departure their own way. While
Allison had made her disdain for the situation completely
clear, Emma meanwhile had tempered her disapproval, letting
her matronly instincts take hold. She gave her daughter a
hug and the well wishes for a safe journey. Miriam
meanwhile was the most vocal. As the youngest daughter,
Miriam had no control over her emotions. The nine year old
cried her eyes out, hugging Abigail uncontrollably.
"I don't want you to go," Miriam insisted.
"I have to," Abigail replied.
"But I don't understand."
"I just have to go away for a while is all."
"When will you be back?" Miriam asked.
"In a little bit."
"Are you sure?"
"I promise with all my heart."
"You better," Miriam said.
Still, there was one big no show at Abigail's send off.
"Is he really not going to say goodbye?" Abigail asked,
looking back at the house for her father.
"Your father is wrestling with a lot of emotions," Emma
explained.
Abigail had heard far too many excuses for her father.
But there was no excusing not seeing off your own daughter.
No amount of stewing that validated giving your family so
cold of a shoulder. And no axe that needed that much
grinding. At least that's what Abigail thought.
Then again, Abigail had planned on smoothing over the
edges. To bury the hatchet that had divided them. But it
was clear that wasn't going to happen. Abigail would have
to carry her hurt with her.
"But I'm his daughter," Abigail pleaded.
***
The road to Philadelphia became like a museum of the
past. Every landmark out of Lancaster was fraught with
memories. But Abigail soldiered on, hoping the future
would bring the spoils she had hoped for.
***
The world brought many surprises to Abigail's life. At
first the clash of cultures seemed daunting, but Abi soon
settled in to a rhythm. As always, God proved to be a
timeless comfort. And just as Abigail suspected, the
Lord's will could be done just fine even in Philadelphia.
Despite her father's rabid worries, the city had not
turned Abigail into a Godless heathen. She had not
indulged in any illicit affairs or sordid temptations that
would shame her families name. Instead Abi found herself
most at home with a local church group. And even more than
South Street, Independence Hall, or the Liberty Bell, Abi's
favorite attraction in Philadelphia was Isaac Jennings.
Isaac was the pastor's son at the local church and was
eager to follow in his father's footsteps. But Isaac had
more going for him than just his faith. Isaac was the
rarest form of hunk. One who didn't realize just how weak
he made women's knees. It was a breath of fresh air to
meet a man so devoid of pretension. A man that made Abi
feel like an old friend five minutes after first meeting
her.
That's exactly what he did to Abigail without even
realizing it. Abi was instantly smitten. Her heart
swooned. It was the kind of experience Amish country had
never brought to her. A sensation she had only felt in her
dreams. Only it was real--at least for Abi.
Isaac's feelings were harder to gauge. He was nice to
everyone. And Abigail was not the only girl whose mind was
filled with thoughts of Isaac. But as Abi found her eyes
constantly drifting Isaac's way during their youth group,
she knew her feelings couldn't stay bottled up any longer.
Abi needed to know if his soft lips would ever press
against hers. If she'd ever be able to run her hands down
his hard body, his bulging biceps, his amazing abs. If
Isaac's deep blue eyes would ever smolder with desire for
her. And for better or for worse, Abi was about to find
out.
"It's amazing to think that some people don't believe in
God," Isaac remarked, looking up at the sky.
It was a warm day with a slight breeze outside the church
as the youth group started making their way to the parking
lot. But Isaac had stayed behind, transfixed by the
pillowy clouds that seemed to dance across the sky.
"He's right there in the sky smiling down on us. He's
given us this blessed day. He's in your smile."
Abi started to blush. "My smile?"
"Of course. You have an amazing smile," Isaac replied.
Isaac had a way of effortlessly complimenting someone.
It was quite exquisite, especially when you were the
beneficiary. But Isaac wasn't done.
"By the way Abi, I've been meaning to talk to you," Isaac
continued.
Abigail was beyond intrigued. She couldn't remember
saying anything terribly remarkable in the past that begged
for further discussion. If anything, it was Isaac who was
the enchanting one.
"Really? About what?" Abi asked.
"About how you're adjusting to life in the city. I can
imagine things are quite different here then they were in
Lancaster," Isaac continued.
"True. But it's also very exciting. My mind has not
stopped racing since I met you--" Uh oh. Did Abi really
say that aloud? Judging by Isaac's red face, she certainly
did. Abigail quickly corrected herself.
"I meant since I came to town."
"Well, I know my mind hasn't stopped racing since you
came to town," Isaac admitted, with no retraction in sight.
Abigail's mind was on fire more than ever. The line
between dream and reality was quickly evaporating.
"Isaac, you have no idea how much I'm praying that you
weren't joking," Abigail responded.
"I find nothing funny about my feelings for you. Abi, I
find myself wanting to spend a great deal more time with
you. And if you are interested, I'd like to take you out
to dinner."
Sweeter words Abi had not heard. But Abi's smile was all
the answer Isaac needed.
***
"Oh my God, they're so beautiful," Abigail said, looking
at the flowers Isaac had shown up with.
Abigail had never been given flowers before. Of course,
she'd never gone on a date with a boy from the outside
world either. Abi was liking all the new firsts in her
life.
"Not as beautiful as you," Isaac insisted.
Flattery seemed to come naturally to Isaac, although
accepting it did not come naturally to Abi. After spending
her whole life dressing as plain and simply as possible,
Abi had taken the better part of an hour to try and find an
outfit that best suited her date. But apparently all her
fussing had paid off. Isaac seemed to love Abigail's
dress.
Tasteful apparel soon took a backseat to the weak in the
knees realization that Abigail was really going on a date
with Isaac. It was one thing to daydream about the man,
but having him smile at her in person was quite another.
"Isaac, why do I get the feeling that this is going to be
a date I'll never forget?" Abigail replied.
"I sure hope I can live up to those expectations," Isaac
remarked.
"Trust me. Whatever expectations I had have far been
exceeded," Abigail replied.
"Then let us create some new expectations," Isaac said
with a smile.
***
So much of Amish life was based around the family dinner
table that eating out felt like such a special occasion.
Making Abi feel special was becoming quite a habit for
Isaac though. He took her to a local Italian restaurant.
But the food itself was only an appetizer. Getting to know
Isaac better was the main course.
One thing was clear--Isaac was a great listener. Whereas
so many people just waited for their turn to talk, Isaac
focused intently on every word Abigail had to say. He made
her feel like the most important woman in the room. Like
she was the center of his universe. And growing up in a
family of five, that was a luxury Abigail could never tire
of.
"I'm just dying to know. How did you find yourself
wanting to leave Amish country for Philadelphia?" Isaac
asked.
"There has always been a curiosity in my heart," Abigail
explained. "To explore God's kingdom. A yearning to know
what else was out there."
"And now that you're here, do you regret your decision?"
Isaac asked.
"If I did, I wouldn't be on this date with you, would I?"
"You know, there's far more to the world than a dinner
date with me."
"True. But do you really believe now is the time to be
selling yourself short?" Abi countered.
"Abi, do you know why I'm so attracted to you?" Isaac
asked.
"That, I'm dying to know," Abi replied.
"What the Amish call living plain and simply is what I
call knowing what's important. Faith and family are
everything. Not everyone realizes that. But you do."
"Is that the only reason you're attracted to me?" Abi
asked.
"Of course there's the fact that you're the prettiest
girl I've ever seen," Isaac added.
Abigail couldn't stop blushing. "That is certainly the
nicest thing anyone has ever said about me."
"It's the God's honest truth though," Isaac continued.
"It brings great joy to my heart just being around you."
Abi was quick to deflect. "You were wrong about
something though."
"Oh really?"
"It's not just faith and family that's important.
There's one other essential key to life," Abi corrected.
"And what's that?"
"Romantic love."
"You're right," Isaac admitted. "Who could live without
that kind of love?"
***
"It's amazing to think what a difference a change of
perspective makes," Abigail ruminated.
Isaac and Abigail had spent their entire date upright.
But suddenly they found themselves on their backs looking
up at the breathtaking sky. The moon was full and a feast
for the senses. And seeing such a blanket of stars got the
mind wandering.
"The view is pretty spectacular, isn't it?" Isaac
replied.
"I meant in my life," Abigail corrected. "I grew up with
my father blocking my view of the truth. He tried
desperately to convince me that the outside world would
bring nothing but trouble. But I've found such peace with
you."
"Life is all about perspective. If you seek out trouble,
you will have no trouble finding it. But if it's your wish
to enrich your soul, God will light your way whether you
are in Amish country or Philadelphia."
"You know, I've been told that life is what you make of
it many times before, but it has found new meaning in the
last couple of weeks," Abigail insisted.
"The Bible is that way as well. The passages are
timeless. The words never change, but how they change you
is endless. Depending on where you are in your life,
different verses grab you when you need them most."
"You seem to have no shortage of wisdom yourself,"
Abigail joked.
"My father had his beliefs as well. He used to always
say that the tools for both success and failure are
available to us all. But it's up to us to pick the right
ones."
"The question is, which are the right ones?" Abigail
asked.
"When in doubt, turn to the Bible."
"I don't know. God's blessings seem to be at work quite
well right here," Abigail remarked, giving Isaac a big
smile.
***
"You sure know how to show a girl a good time," Abigail
remarked, returning to her doorstep. She had seen a lot of
sights on her date. But the sight Abi was most impressed
