Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 107(@200wpm)___ 85(@250wpm)___ 71(@300wpm)
Growing up Amish, our life is simple and non-cumbersome. We make our own food, clothing, and furniture. We live by a strict law, and we don’t socialize with the English. My people consider them worldly and not following the way of God. I don’t agree. On my trips to the town to retrieve flour and such, I have met some nice people, one of which is how I have a way out of here.
“Are you sure this is how you want to do it?” Lavinia asks, passing me a piece of pie.
“Absolutely. I might be unworldly, sister, but I am not stupid. There is no way I would make it out there on my own. No, marrying is the best option.”
“Yes, but to someone you have never met?” I definitely don’t need her to point it out. As it is, my head has not stopped pounding since I placed the ad in the paper. But, I would rather follow my own destiny than one picked out for me.
“I know it is unorthodox.”
“To say the least,” Miriam says, mouth full of apple cobbler.
“But, it is the path I am choosing. Not you. Stay here. Fulfill the path Daed and Mamm have set for you and live happily, sisters, in peace.” I touch each of their hands letting them know I expect nothing from them. I want them to live their dream, whatever that is, knowing it is what they chose. Even if it is here in our community where I will never step foot again once my ad is answered, for I will be under the Bahn and shunned my entire family and community.
“How will you know if someone has answered?” Ada asks.
“I am going to go to the general store once a week to check with Charlie. She has agreed to collect the letters for me and keep them.” Charlie is the granddaughter of the nice old lady who runs the store in town. We go there to buy flour and such since we don’t have our own mill.
One day I went there, and my eye was caught on a magazine of a young girl staring at the New York skyline. I couldn’t help it, I was transfixed. Charlie noticed and struck up a conversation. An hour later I had told her my true wish. To leave this place. I don’t want to go somewhere extravagant like New York by any means, I am not tough enough for that, but to a small town like this where I can find my way.
She told me about mail order brides and what it means. I thought it over for weeks, terrified and unsure. I mean it is a stranger. Then one night, my father came in and told me my husband would be Jacob Lapp and I thought I would die. He is the worst. The absolute worst. He is lazy, disgustingly unclean, and dare I say unattractive. My mind was made up then.
The next day I went to Charlie, she helped me write an ad and mailed it for me. I came home immediately and told my sisters. “You have to know we are coming with you, Sadie.”
“Hannah, you don’t have to.” I want them to be sure.
“We know we don’t have to, but it wouldn’t be the same without you and if you leave, father will be obligated to promise one of us to Jacob and none of us want that.” She has a point.
“So, what are you proposing?” I ask them, wondering if they have a plan.
“Help us make ads as well.” Well that is not what I was expecting them to say.
“Are you sure? All of you?” They all nod with serious looks on their faces.
“Alright then. Let’s do this together.”
Thank God for that.
Chapter One
Jasper
I stare at the handwritten response to my ad, which I still haven’t seen by the way, and marvel at the neatly written words. The rose-colored paper even smells like roses. I can’t help but imagine her sitting at a little writing desk, writing and rewriting this letter, getting it just right. The fact that it’s handwritten stirs something in me. She’s a simple woman and I want her sight unseen. I never thought about getting married, but I never thought I’d get this opportunity. The fierceness I feel about that makes me think that it’s destiny or some such shit. I never gave much credence to fate but I’m coming around on that.
Ranch life is harsh. Life on Mine Creek Ranch is no different. I’m not saying we don’t have internet and cable, but the hours are long, and the animals depend on us to keep them fed and safe. In turn, they provide my living which I share with my brother and my parents. We have horses, sheep, goats, even an emu named Peter Parker. We also have cows for slaughter as well as dairy cows. It’s the balance that keeps us in harmony. I also have a stud farm for my horses. People come from all over for a chance for their mares to breed my horses, especially Thor’s Hammer, my thoroughbred Arabian. He’s a Triple Crown winner and his breeding rights go for $150,000 per live foal. I’ve made the money work for my family through investments and improvements to the ranch.