Rebecca Kertz - Her Amish Christmas Gift

She wants a husband, not a keeper

A Women of Lancaster County Story

After his brother is injured while their family’s away, Nathaniel Peachy needs help on the farm—even if the only option is young, carefree Charlotte Stoltzfus. No longer the irresponsible girl Nate remembers, Charlie wishes he could see her as a woman worthy of love. Because with the holidays approaching, she’s starting to believe Nate might just be her perfect holiday gift.

REBECCA KERTZwas first introduced to the Amish when her husband took a job with an Amish construction crew. She enjoyed watching the Amish foreman’s children at play and swapping recipes with his wife. Rebecca resides in Delaware with her husband and dog. She has a strong faith in God and feels blessed to have family nearby. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, doing crafts and visiting Lancaster County.

Also By Rebecca Kertz

Women of Lancaster County

A Secret Amish Love

Her Amish Christmas Sweetheart

Her Forgiving Amish Heart

Her Amish Christmas Gift

Lancaster County Weddings

Noah’s Sweetheart

Jedidiah’s Bride

A Wife for Jacob

Elijah and the Widow

Loving Isaac

Lancaster Courtships

The Amish Mother

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Her Amish Christmas Gift

Rebecca Kertz

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08643-1

HER AMISH CHRISTMAS GIFT

© 2018 Rebecca Kertz

Published in Great Britain 2018

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.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

“You’re bleeding. Come with me.”

She glanced down, saw a trail of blood down her right leg. “I’ll be fine.”

“Ja, you will,” he said, “after I put a bandage on it.”

“I don’t need your help.”

His eyes narrowed and he looked annoyed. He heaved a sigh. “Would you like me to pick you up and throw you over my shoulder?” he murmured for her ears alone.

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Wouldn’t I?”

Face flushing, Charlie glanced around and saw that no one found it odd that she and Nate were having a conversation. The last thing she wanted to do was to cause a scene. She’d done enough impulsive things in her life that had given her parents undue worry. “Fine. Let’s not make a big thing of it,” she muttered, meeting his gaze.

To her relief, he simply nodded. He didn’t look smug that he’d won their argument. In fact, she felt an odd little flutter in her chest when she saw the way he continued to eye her with concern.

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Happiness, Pennsylvania. In my Women of Lancaster County series, we’ve met three Stoltzfus sisters so far: Nell, Meg and Leah. Her Amish Christmas Gift tells the story of Charlie Stoltzfus, the youngest of the five sisters, and the man she longs for, Nathaniel Peachy. Charlie was considered a wild child during her youth but she’s older and wiser now. Unfortunately, Nate considers her nothing more than an impulsive young girl whose actions often get her into trouble. While he thinks about the possibility of finding her a suitable husband, he never follows through, because the thought of Charlie with another man greatly disturbs him. And when his brother’s accident suddenly brings them into close contact while his brother heals, Nate finds himself looking forward to seeing Charlie each day. But as his feelings for her grow, so does the realization that he isn’t the right man for her. Or is he?

I hope you enjoy Charlie and Nate’s story as much as I did writing it. If you haven’t read the books about Charlie’s sisters, you may want to pick up copies of Her Secret Amish Love (Nell), Her Amish Christmas Sweetheart (Meg) and Her Forgiving Amish Heart (Leah). Each sister struggles to find her own special love. Sometimes the road to happiness is a bumpy one, but the journey of love’s discovery is well worth it in the end.

Blessings and love,

Rebecca Kertz

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

—John 15:7

For my family…those I’ve known forever and those I’ve been happy to meet recently.

And for my ancestors—without you, I wouldn’t be here.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

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

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

Charlotte Stoltzfus stood near home plate in the makeshift baseball diamond on Abram Peachy’s back lawn with the bat inches away from her right shoulder.

“Come on, Charlie!” Joseph shouted. “You can do this, cousin. Keep your eye on the ball and bring Jed and me home.”

Meeting his eyes across the distance, she gave a jerk of her head. She wiggled into her stance. And focused. She breathed deeply as she stared at the pitcher, her cousin Noah, and watched him swing back his arm to let the ball fly.

“Aren’t you tired of playing with boys?” a male voice said behind her just as she swung her bat.

She growled as she missed. Heart beating wildly, she turned to glare at the man who’d spoken. “Nathaniel Peachy, mind your own business and stop trying to distract me.” She was furious. Determined to ignore the one man who got her back up more than anyone on this earth, Charlie breathed to calm herself and got ready for the next pitch.

“Why would I distract you?” Nate said as she swung the bat. She swung and missed again, then she gasped and glared at him.

“Go away,” she snapped.