Jocelyn McClay - The Amish Bachelor's Choice

She had every reason to go...

Until he gave her one to stay

After her father’s passing, Ruth Fisher is required to sell her family furniture business. She plans to leave the Amish community to pursue an Englisch education—until she meets the new owner. Malachi Schrock has ambitious plans for her father’s store, but when the transition sparks an unexpected attraction, could following her heart mean staying in Miller’s Creek forever?

Growing up on a farm, JOCELYN McCLAYenjoyed livestock and pursued a degree in agriculture. She met her husband while weightlifting in a small town—he “spotted” her. After thirty years in business management, they moved to an acreage in southeastern Missouri to be closer to family when their eldest of three daughters made them grandparents. When not writing, she keeps busy hiking, bike riding, gardening, knitting and substitute teaching.

Also By Jocelyn McClay

The Amish Bachelor’s Choice

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

The Amish Bachelor’s Choice

Jocelyn McClay

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09677-5

THE AMISH BACHELOR’S CHOICE

© 2019 Jocelyn McClay

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.

® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

This ebook contains the following accessibility features which, if supported by your device, can be accessed via your ereader/accessibility settings:

Change of font size and line height

Change of background and font colours

Change of font

Change justification

Text to speech

“I see you don’t have sense enough to keep blankets in your buggy.”

Malachi buckled the halter, and then the oat bag, over Kip’s head. “I’ve been doing a number of things over the past few days. Thinking about blankets hasn’t been very high on the list.”

Ruth huffed. “Wisconsin weather will take a heavy toll on the unprepared.”

“Unprepared? Like not having dog food when you have a dog?”

Ruth scooped up the puppy that trailed at her heels and crossed to Malachi, her hand outstretched for the grocery bags. He shook his head and retained possession of them.

“I’ll help you get to the house. With this wind and your small sizes, the two of you could end up in the next county.”

Aware that he had a point, she didn’t argue. They headed for the exit. “I...I want to thank you for going out of your way and following me home, even though I didn’t need it.”

“You’re welcome.” Ruth could hear the smile in his voice.

Dear Reader,

What you are holding is the realization of a dream!

As soon as I was old enough to fold an 8.5 x 11 paper into a quarter of its size and draw a horse on the front, I have wanted to write stories. It took a little while, and my artistic skills haven’t improved any, but God has helped me realize my writing dream. Everything is better when we trust in Him.

My first interaction with Amish life was when I was at a family reunion in Wisconsin near the location of the fictional Miller’s Creek. We were playing volleyball while listening to the clip-clop of horse hooves traveling the nearby highway when two buggies pulled into my uncle’s property and two young Amish men hopped out to join our game. And that was my introduction to rumspringa . I have been intrigued ever since.

I hope you enjoyed Malachi and Ruth’s romance. I grew quite fond of them, especially because Ruth was my grandmother’s name. I look forward to exploring the relationships of their siblings and friends in Miller’s Creek. I hope you’ll join me.

Thank you again for the great honor you’ve given me of reading my first book. May it be only the beginning of a wonderful adventure together.

Jocelyn McClay

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

—Jeremiah 29:11

First, I thank God for this amazing opportunity. Thanks always to my wonderfully supportive husband, Kevin. Thanks also to my beta readers, particularly Alyson, who noted to the Iowa crew that my interest in romance novels was more than just a way of avoiding doing dishes years ago. But this is for you, Genna. I couldn’t have done it without you. May there be many more to come.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

“I wonder if the new owner will change the name? It’d be strange to have it no longer be Fisher Furniture.” Jacob’s words were barely audible over the humming of the lathe.

The blood drained from Ruth Fisher’s face. She hadn’t considered that possibility. Oh, Daed , if missing you wasn’t enough, how can I bear to see your name removed from the business you built? The end of her nose prickled as she swallowed against the lump in her throat.