Snark & Sensibility

PLEASE WELCOME

RACHEL GOOD

TO

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY

Excerpt from The Amish Midwife’s Secret

by Rachel J. Good

The bells jangled on the door, and Leah peeked out. How pretty she appeared in the moonlight. What was it about Amish girls that made them so appealing?

Enough, Kyle. Do the delivery and get out of here. Go back to the city. You’ll forget this attraction soon enough.

“Kyle?” Leah’s voice wavered. “What are you doing here? And at this time of night?”

He stepped from the car. “I, um…” Why did seeing her drive all other thoughts from his head?

She glanced behind him, and her eyes narrowed. “Are those boxes in your car yours?” Without waiting for an answer, she plunged on. “You took our delivery? I thought you didn’t believe in herbal medicines.”

Kyle was uncertain which question to answer first, but she gave him no chance to explain.

Sucking in a breath, Leah put her hands on her hips. “You planned to destroy them?”

“Leah,” Kyle managed to wedge the word into her accusations. “Wait a minute. If you’d let me answer, I can explain.”

“Fine.” Leah pinched her lips together, but her eyes still condemned him.

“Esther Hess asked me to pick up a few things.” Kyle reached into his pocket and pulled out the wrinkled list.

“You agreed to come to a natural products store?”

“Leah? Are you going to let me tell you?”

“Sorry,” she muttered, but she did look contrite, and she remained silent as he described how he’d rescued the boxes.

“You did it to help us? But, but—”

Kyle couldn’t help being hurt. “You don’t believe I’m capable of doing something nice?”

“Of course, you are. I just didn’t expect you to do it for me.”

“Why?”

Most of the fight leaked out of her, and her words, when they came, were tinged with sadness. “I thought you hated me and everything I stand for.”

“I don’t hate you.” Quite the opposite. “Just because I disagree with you about treating patients doesn’t mean I’d let that affect my actions. You wouldn’t hold a grudge like that, would you?”

“Of course not.”

“But you thought I’d destroy your merchandise?”

“I’m so sorry. I have a bad habit of jumping to conclusions. Please forgive me.”

Kyle nodded. “Now do you want me to bring the boxes in? I rescued them from the cold so they wouldn’t freeze and explode, but we’ve been talking so long, they soon might.”

Leah hung her head. “That’s my fault.” She headed toward the car. “You don’t have to carry them in. I’ll take care of it. You’ve done enough already.”

“Now we’re going to argue over who carries in the boxes, and meanwhile they’ll all explode.”

Leah burst out laughing. “I told you I’m argumentative.”

“No, you didn’t. You said you jump to conclusions.”

Leah reached the car door before Kyle. “I do both, and I’m also stubborn.” She yanked the door open and grabbed a box.

“Maybe you’ve met your match.” Kyle reached in and hefted two boxes. “Because I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

After Leah hung her battery-powered lantern in the store so they could see, they unloaded the car in silence, with Kyle bringing in two or three boxes for every one of Leah’s. Twice, he noticed her bend over and wince.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “I can get the rest of the boxes if these are too heavy for you.”

Leah crossed her arms over her stomach and turned away from him. She sounded as though she were speaking through clenched teeth. “I’m fine.”

Kyle wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her. He unloaded the boxes even faster to keep her from having to do so much when she appeared to be in pain.

He walked through the door with the last two boxes to find her hunched over, her eyes squeezed shut. The minute the door jangled shut behind him, she forced herself to a standing position and managed a stiff smile.

“You’re hurting.” He could be as stubborn as she was, and he refused to take her denials as truth when his doctor’s eye had detected a problem.

*~*~*

Leah tried to ignore Kyle, but he stepped around the edge of the counter until he could see her face. She ducked her head and concentrated on forming numbers.

Putting a gentle finger under her chin, he tilted her face up until he could look directly into her eyes. “Are those tears? You’re hurting. I can see it in your face.”

Leah tried to turn away, but he cupped her face in his hands and continued to examine her. “Did you pull something when you lifted those heavy boxes?”

“No, no.”

“You’re flushed too,” Kyle said. “Do you have a fever?” He laid his hand against her forehead.

“No, please,” Leah begged, unsure whether she wanted him to remove his hand or continue touching her. His gentle fingers created strange sensations that zinged through her, making her pulse gallop. Could he hear her thumping heartbeat? She had to get away before she did something foolish.

With a quick jerk, Leah untangled herself from his fingers, but the warmth and tingling he’d started continued even after she stepped back.

ABOUT THE AMISH MIDWIFE’S SECRET

Leah, an Amish midwife whose family owns a natural products store, clashes with Kyle, the new Englisch doctor in town. Kyle champions hospitalization and medicine; Leah pushes home births and herbal remedies. Kyle doesn’t believe in God; Leah’s whole life revolves around her church and faith. Put the two together and sparks fly.

After they deliver a baby during a blizzard, though, they must make a decision that may tie them together for the future, but how can they reconcile their differences?

ABOUT RACHEL J. GOOD

Inspirational author Rachel J. Good writes life-changing, heart-tugging stories of faith, hope, and forgiveness. The author of several Amish romance series, she grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her novels. Striving to be as authentic as possible, she spends time with her Amish friends, doing chores on their farm and attending family events.

Rachel’s Amish series include Sisters & Friends (Charisma House & Harlequin), Love & Promises (Hachette/Grand Central), Hearts of Amish Country (Annie’s Book Club), and the forthcoming Surprised by Love and Unexpected Amish Blessings (Kensington). She also has several anthologies in print as well as the Amish Quilts Coloring Book. To learn more about Rachel, visit her website and sign up for her newsletter

Buy links: https://books2read.com/u/bWzJoY

https://www.christianbook.com/the-amish-midwifes-secret/rachel-good/9781538711286/pd/711286