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  Hope: An Amish Romance Novella

  Ruth Hartzler

  Hope: An Amish Romance Novella

  (The Amish Buggy Horse, Book 2)

  Ruth Hartzler

  Copyright © 2015 Ruth Hartzler

  All Rights Reserved

  ISBN 9781925689785

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The personal names have been invented by the author, and any likeness to the name of any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Glossary

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Connect with Ruth Hartzler

  Next Book in This Series

  Other Books by Ruth Hartzler

  About Ruth Hartzler

  Glossary

  Pennsylvania Dutch is a dialect, not a language, because it has no standard written form. It is written as it sounds, which is why you will see the same word written several different ways. All are permissible.

  The word ‘Dutch’ has nothing to do with Holland, but rather is likely a corruption of the German word ‘Deitsch’ or ‘Deutsch’.

  Glossary

  ab im kopp - addled in the head

  Ach! (also, Ack!) - Oh!

  aenti - aunt

  appeditlich - delicious

  Ausbund - Amish hymn book

  bedauerlich - sad

  bloobier - blueberry

  boppli - baby

  bopplin - babies

  bro - bread

  bruder(s) - brother(s)

  bu - boy

  Budget, The - weekly newspaper for Amish and Mennonite communities. Based on Sugarcreek, Ohio, and has 2 versions, Local and National.

  buwe - boys

  daag - day

  Daed, Datt, Dat (vocative) - Dad

  Diary, The - Lancaster County based Amish newspaper. Focus is on Old Order Amish.

  Dawdi (also, Daadi) (vocative) - Grandfather

  dawdi haus (also, daadi haus, grossdawdi haus) - grandfather’s or grandparents’ house (often a small house behind the main house)

  de Bo - boyfriend

  Die Botschaft - Amish weekly newspaper. Based in PA but its focus is nation-wide.

  demut - humility

  denki (or danki) - thank you

  Der Herr - The Lord

  dochder - daughter

  dokter - doctor

  doplich - clumsy

  dumm - dumb

  dummkopf - idiot, dummy

  Dutch Blitz - Amish card game

  English (or Englisch) (adjective) - A non-Amish person

  Englischer (noun) - A non-Amish person

  familye - family

  ferhoodled - foolish, crazy

  fraa - wife, woman

  froh - happy

  freind - friend

  freinden - friends

  gegisch - silly

  geh - go

  gern gheschen (also, gern gschehne) - you’re welcome

  Gott (also, Gotte) - God

  grank - sick, ill

  grossboppli - grandbaby

  grossdawdi (also, dawdi, daadi haus, gross dawdi) - grandfather, or, in some communities, great grandfather

  grosskinskind - great-grandchild

  grosskinskinner - great-grandchildren

  grossmammi (or grossmudder) - grandmother

  gross-sohn - grandson

  grossvadder - grandfather (see also grossdawdi)

  gude mariye - good morning

  guten nacht (also, gut nacht) - good night

  gude nochmiddaag - good afternoon

  gut - good

  haus - house

  Herr - Mr.

  Hiya - Hi

  hochmut - pride

  Hullo (also, Hallo) - Hello

  hungerich - hungry

  Ich liebe dich - I love you

  jah (also ya) - yes

  kaffi (also, kaffee) - coffee

  kapp - prayer covering worn by women

  kichli - cookie

  kichlin - cookies

  kinn (also, kind) - child

  kinner - children

  kinskinner - Grandchildren

  Kumme (or Kumm) - Come

  lieb - love, sweetheart

  liewe - a term of endearment, dear, love

  liede - song

  maid (also, maed) - girls

  maidel (also, maedel) - girl

  Mamm (also, Mammi) - Mother, Mom

  Mammi - Grandmother

  mann - man

  mariye-esse - breakfast

  mei - my

  meidung - shunning

  mei lieb - my love

  mein liewe - my dear, my love

  menner - men

  mudder - mother

  naerfich - nervous

  naut (also, nacht) - night

  nee (also nein) - no

  nix - nothing

  nohma - name

  onkel - uncle

  Ordnung - “Order”, the unwritten Amish set of rules, different in each community

  piffle (also, piddle) - to waste time or kill time

  Plain - referring to the Amish way of life

  rett (also, redd) - to put (items) away or to clean up.

  rootsh (also, ruch) - not being able to sit still.

  rumspringa (also, rumschpringe) - Running around years - when Amish youth (usually around the age of sixteen) leave the community for time and can be English, and decide whether to commit to the Amish way of life and be baptized.

  schatzi - honey

  schee - pretty, handsome

  schecklich - scary

  schmaert - smart

  schtupp - family room

  schweschder - sister

  schweschdern - sisters

  schwoger - brother-in-law

  seltsam - strange, unnatural

  sohn - son

  vadder - father

  verboten - forbidden

  Vorsinger - Song leader

  was its let - what is the matter?

  wie gehts - how are you?

  wilkum (also, wilkom) - welcome

  wunderbar (also, wunderbaar) - wonderful

  yer - you

  yourself - yourself

  youngie (also, young) - the youth

  yung - young

  Chapter 1

  Melissa fidgeted with her bonnet. It was all quite a shock.

  “And so,” Melissa’s boss, Harriet Blackwell, continued, “you can see why I have to leave you in charge of the difficult clients. There’s just no time to look for someone to replace me, and I don’t know how long I’ll be away.”

  “I don’t feel confident speaking with clients,” Melissa said. “Ever since I started working here at the Marriage Minded Agency, all I have done is filing. I haven’t met a single client.”

  Harriet waved her concerns aside. “Nonsense. We don’t have many difficult clients, and Milly will do all the other face-to-face work. The
clients will be more respectful of you because you’re Amish. They won’t give you a hard time. You will simply have to watch what you say. Please try not to be as forthright as you usually are.”

  Melissa sighed. “I’ll do my best.” She knew there was no use arguing with Harriet, and besides, with Harriet’s son suffering a badly broken leg in a motorcycle accident in Barcelona, and Harriet having to leave so suddenly, it would be selfish of her not to help out.

  “Why can’t Milly handle the difficult clients?” Melissa knew that Harriet’s mind made was made up, but it was worth one more try.

  Harriet frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. “Melissa, Milly handles all the face-to-face work with the clients, and she’s overwhelmed as it is. More to the point, if a client progresses to the place where they need more input, they need to see someone different, and it’s always been me. Now it will have to be you, at least until I get back.”

  Melissa nodded. I don’t have any choice, she thought, but perhaps it won’t be as hard as I think.

  “And Melissa,” Harriet continued, “can you work five days a week while I’m away?”

  Melissa thought for a moment. “Sure, I suppose that will be okay with my mother.”

  Harriet shoved some papers into her briefcase. “Great, I’m so thankful, Melissa. Now I’ve got to run. Take the rest of the day off, but be here for an early start tomorrow. I’ll call you when I get to Barcelona.” She hesitated. “Well, I’ll call you tomorrow some time. You’ll be fine.” With that, Harriet snatched up her briefcase and rushed out the door.

  Melissa sighed. She thought of the Scripture, Proverbs chapter twenty seven, verse one - Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

  That’s for sure, Melissa thought. I never really thought about that verse before. I do hope this is all in Gott’s plan. I had no time to pray and think before agreeing to what Harriet wanted. All I can do is hope.

  The afternoon off was a small consolation to the thought of working five days a week and dealing with the agency’s difficult clients, but at least the afternoon off would give Melissa a chance to catch up with her gut friend, Isabel.

  Melissa hurried the few blocks to where Isobel worked, hoping to catch her in time for lunch. The Old Candle Store was always dimly lit, a fact Melissa always found amusing. After all, one would expect that a candle store would be bright. The brick walls and small, front windows added to the atmosphere, and the fragrance was delightfully overwhelming. Aged, wooden tables were crammed with every manner of candle, as were the old, wooden dressers which lined the walls.

  Isabel looked up from behind the counter. “Melissa!” she exclaimed. “What are you doing here? It’s not our day for lunch.”

  “Do you have time for lunch today? I’ve lots to tell you.”

  Isabel scrunched up her face. “Oh, that sounds exciting. I was about to go to lunch soon. I’ll just ask my boss if I can go now. Won’t be a minute.”

  Isabel disappeared into the back room, and soon returned. “Jah, Mr. Harrison says I can go right now.”

  The two friends walked to the nearby café where they met for lunch once a week. Unlike the candle store, the café had bright lighting and was modern, all sleek and sophisticated. The girls sat at their usual table, which was right by the floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the street.

  “What’s all this about?” Isabel asked as soon as they sat down.

  “We had better order first, and then I’ll tell you everything. You know how they don’t like to wait for anyone to decide.”

  Isabel chuckled, and nodded at the waitress who was already making her way over. “I’m going to have the same as I always have,” she said to Melissa, and then to the waitress whose pen was already hovering over her notepad, “The smoked ham, cold sandwich on multi-grain, sunflower bread please, and a chai tea latte.”

  “And I’ll have the smoked salmon bagel, and a sugar and spice latte, please.”

  When the waitress left, Isabel laughed. “We’re creatures of habit. Always ordering the same thing.”

  Melissa shrugged. “Well, we know it’s good.” Taking in her friend’s impatient expression, Melissa hurried to tell her the whole morning’s events, an explanation that lasted half way through their meal.

  “Are you sure you’ll be all right with the difficult clients?” Isabel asked through sips of her latte.

  “Nee, nee, that’s what I’m worried about. Milly and Harriet are always talking about the difficult clients, how they’re never satisfied. The difficult clients all have deep issues but don’t know it, and Harriet is always telling them straight.”

  “But you’re good at setting people straight,” Isabel said. “You’re quite blunt and say what you think.”

  Melissa cringed. “That’s just it. Everyone’s always telling me that I’m not tactful, yet I don’t think I’ll be able to say anything blunt to these Englischers.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Isabel said, but her tone was not convincing in the slightest.

  Chapter 2

  The following morning, Melissa and Milly stood over by the Nespresso coffee machine in the tiny, office kitchen. “I’ll have to order more coffee soon,” Milly said, throwing an empty packet of Livanto capsules into the trash. “Hey, Melissa, you’re a million miles away.”

  Melissa bit her lip. “I’m worried about the difficult clients.”

  “I would be too, if I were you.” When Melissa raised her eyes, Milly laughed. “Sorry, but there’s no point sugar coating it, as you’ll find out soon enough what you’ve gotten yourself into.” Milly chuckled to herself.

  “I didn’t volunteer, that’s for sure! Harriet said I had to do it. I’ve always been happy just doing the filing,” Melissa said, “especially after all the stories you’ve told me about some of the clients. Seriously, that’s why I don’t want to get married—ever.”

  Milly shrugged. “They’re not all that bad. It’s just that some of them… oh well, you’ll see.”

  Melissa took a mouthful of coffee and looked at the clock on the side wall. It was nearly nine, almost time for her first appointment. She made her way to Harriet’s office and turned on the computer. “I really don’t want to do this,” she said aloud to herself.

  The notes on the computer screen in front of her told her that her first appointment was Brian Adams. He was thirty two years old and, according to the notes, the agency had sent him on many dates and he had found none of the women suitable in the slightest.

  Milly had attached a note to the file stating that Brian Adams was one of the most difficult clients that the agency had ever had. The note stated that Brian Adams was unhappy with the agency and was looking to go elsewhere. Melissa had to keep him happy by finding the perfect woman for him, or at least, a woman close enough to perfect to keep him at the agency. Harriet did not like to lose a single client and took such matters personally.

  While Melissa was pondering the pressure under which her boss had placed her, there was a knock on the office door. She looked up to see Milly, along with a man standing behind her. “Brian Adams is here to see you, Melissa.”

  “Denki.” Melissa coughed to cover up the fact that, in her nervousness, she had just spoken in Pennsylvania Dutch. No one else at the agency was Amish, so they would have no idea what she was saying. She amended her words to, “Thank you, Milly.”

  Melissa stood up and smiled at Brian. “Hello, Brian. Take a seat, please.”

  Brian sat heavily in the chair in front of Melissa’s desk.

  “Mrs. Blackwell has been called away on a family emergency. I hope you don’t mind me helping you while she’s away.”

  Brian’s face contorted into a deep frown. “Humph, you couldn’t do a worse job,” he said rudely.

  Melissa was taken aback by his attitude. “I see,” she said slowly. “I’ve looked at your file and see that we’ve sent you on quite a few dates. Can you tell me your problem with these ladies?”

&nb
sp; Brian crossed one leg over the other and waved his hands in the air as he spoke. “It’s like this, none of the women were up to my standard in the looks department.”

  Melissa had heard that Englischers focused heavily on looks, and working at the Marriage Minded Agency led her to believe that what she heard was entirely true. “Brian, if you don’t mind me speaking candidly to you...”

  “Go right ahead,” he snapped.

  “Looks don’t last.”

  Brian breathed out heavily and avoided eye contact with Melissa. “I need to be attracted to a woman, or it just doesn’t work for me. I know people age and all that, but it would be good if they had looks to start with. I’m only attracted to younger women, but the agency keeps sending me on dates with women my own age. You know?”

  Melissa nodded her head. What else could she do? She was working in a matchmaking agency after all, and from what Milly always told her, most of the men were the same. They all wanted young, attractive women who looked as though they were models. However, Brian Adams was not attractive at all. Melissa fought the urge to tell him that he was older and unattractive, so why would an extremely attractive, younger woman find him appealing? It made no sense to her, but apparently it made sense to Brian Adams.

  Melissa gritted her teeth, knowing she had to do her job. “I’m sorry we’ve been unable to match you successfully so far, but there are two new women on the books that I can match you with.” Melissa pushed forward the two photographs for him to look at.

  He uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Now that’s what I’m talking about.” He chuckled in a predatory way, which made Melissa feel quite sick to the stomach.

  He pushed the photograph of the blonde woman toward Melissa. “I’ll start with that one. Can you arrange for us to meet soon?”

  Melissa nodded and forced a smile. “Certainly. I’ll arrange it and email you the details.”