Patricia Davids - The Amish Nanny

A Family In Need

A reclusive Amish logger, Ethan Gingerich is more comfortable around his draft horses than the orphaned niece and nephews he’s taken in. Yet he’s determined to provide the children with a good, loving home. The little ones, including a defiant eight-year-old, need a proper nanny. But when Ethan hires shy Amishwoman Clara Barkman, he never expects her temporary position to have such a lasting hold on all of them. Now this man of few words must convince Clara she’s found her forever home and family.

Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.

“It’s been a good week for me, Clara,” Ethan said.

Clara blushed. “For me, too.”

“If I had known how much easier my life would be with a nanny I would have hired one weeks ago.”

A nanny. Any nanny. Not specially Clara Barkman. She couldn’t suppress the small twinge his words caused, but she quickly told herself it didn’t matter. She wasn’t seeking praise. He was right. Another woman could have done the job as well as she. It was prideful to think otherwise. If she was hired as the new teacher, another woman would take her place with this family.

No one mentioned that Clara might become too attached to the family. She needed to keep her emotions in check. She was the nanny, nothing more.

“Is everything all right, Clara?” Ethan was watching her closely.

“Of course,” she managed to say.

Ethan was slowly finding his way to becoming a parent, and she was glad for him. He would be a good father if he just gave himself a chance. He needed someone to believe in him.

PATRICIA DAVIDS

After thirty-five years as a nurse, Pat hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her new free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long-overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her online at www.patriciadavids.com.

The Amish Nanny

Patricia Davids

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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.

Who can find a virtuous woman?

For her price is far above rubies.

—Proverbs 31:10

The book is lovingly dedicated to teachers everywhere.

The hardest job in the world brings forth

the greatest rewards.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text A Family In Need A reclusive Amish logger, Ethan Gingerich is more comfortable around his draft horses than the orphaned niece and nephews he’s taken in. Yet he’s determined to provide the children with a good, loving home. The little ones, including a defiant eight-year-old, need a proper nanny. But when Ethan hires shy Amishwoman Clara Barkman, he never expects her temporary position to have such a lasting hold on all of them. Now this man of few words must convince Clara she’s found her forever home and family. Brides of Amish Country: Finding true love in the land of the Plain People.

Introduction “It’s been a good week for me, Clara,” Ethan said. Clara blushed. “For me, too.” “If I had known how much easier my life would be with a nanny I would have hired one weeks ago.” A nanny. Any nanny. Not specially Clara Barkman. She couldn’t suppress the small twinge his words caused, but she quickly told herself it didn’t matter. She wasn’t seeking praise. He was right. Another woman could have done the job as well as she. It was prideful to think otherwise. If she was hired as the new teacher, another woman would take her place with this family. No one mentioned that Clara might become too attached to the family. She needed to keep her emotions in check. She was the nanny, nothing more. “Is everything all right, Clara?” Ethan was watching her closely. “Of course,” she managed to say. Ethan was slowly finding his way to becoming a parent, and she was glad for him. He would be a good father if he just gave himself a chance. He needed someone to believe in him.

About the Author PATRICIA DAVIDS After thirty-five years as a nurse, Pat hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her new free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long-overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her online at www.patriciadavids.com .

Title Page The Amish Nanny Patricia Davids www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. —Proverbs 31:10

Dedication The book is lovingly dedicated to teachers everywhere. The hardest job in the world brings forth the greatest rewards.

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

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Ethan Gingerich led his draft horses out of their stalls and started to slide open the large door of his barn, but he stopped when he saw two irate women standing just outside. At second glance, only the one gripping his nephew Micah’s collar looked irate. It was Faith Lapp, his neighbor’s wife. He didn’t recognize the pretty young woman standing behind Faith. She looked scared. Her bright blue eyes were wide with apprehension.

Faith pointed to the child in her grasp. “Ethan Gingerich, do you know what your boy has done?”

He’d never seen the mild-mannered woman with such fire in her eyes. And what was that horrible smell? It seemed to be coming from his nephew. “I reckon I’d be the one holding him by the collar if I knew. What did you do this time, sohn?”

Micah glared at him. “I’m not your son.”

“That’s neither here nor there. You did something to upset Mrs. Lapp. What was it?”

Micah looked down at his bare toes. “Nothing.”

Faith let go of his shirt and gestured toward the woman standing with her. “This is my friend Clara Barkman. Clara saw him jump out of a tree onto one of my alpacas.”

Ethan flinched. He’d heard stories about the way Faith Lapp valued her strange animals. She treated them almost like family. How much would an alpaca cost if he had to replace one? He could barely afford to feed the family and his horses as it was. He hadn’t been able to go logging in weeks. Not since his brother’s children had come to live with him over a month ago. No cut timber to sell meant zero income.

Micah raked his bare toes through the dirt. “I just wanted to ride one. I didn’t mean any harm.”

Faith scowled at him. “They’re very delicate animals. They can’t carry a rider bigger than a two-year-old. Had you asked permission to ride one of them, I would have told you that. You could have seriously injured Myrtle.”

“Or you might have been injured yourself,” Clara added in a small voice.

He liked that she was thinking of the child. The recent deaths of his brother and sister-in-law had left him in charge of their three small children. He gazed at Micah’s belligerent face. They were still finding their way with each other. Micah was having a much harder time than his younger brother and sister.