Leigh Bale - Runaway Amish Bride

His Amish bride arrives…but he never proposed!

Surprises await in Colorado Amish Courtships

Widower Jakob Fisher isn’t interested in remarrying, even to pretty Abigail Miller. But thanks to his daed ’s meddling, Abby’s sitting in his Colorado farmhouse, expecting to be wed. While Jakob can’t offer marriage, he can give Abby a job caring for his young children. But when he starts to fall for her, could Abby make Jakob’s familye happy and whole once again?

LEIGH BALEis a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart® Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com.

Also By Leigh Bale Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse 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 Extract About the Publisher

Love Inspired

Colorado Amish Courtships

Runaway Amish Bride

Men of Wildfire

Her Firefighter Hero

Wildfire Sweethearts

Reunited by a Secret Child

The Road to Forgiveness

The Forest Ranger’s Promise

The Forest Ranger’s Husband

The Forest Ranger’s Child

Falling for the Forest Ranger

Healing the Forest Ranger

The Forest Ranger’s Return

The Forest Ranger’s Christmas

The Forest Ranger’s Rescue

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk

Runaway Amish Bride

Leigh Bale

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-08590-8

RUNAWAY AMISH BRIDE

© 2018 Lora Lee Bale

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.

® 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

“I may never marry at all,” Abby said, her voice sounding noncommittal.

Jakob jerked his head up, blinking at her in surprise. Not marry? Ever? The idea was alien to him.

“You should marry. It is what Gott would want.”

“I know you really believe that. I’m not so sure anymore.”

Hmm, he didn’t like the sound of that. And yet, how could he fault Abby when he was shunning marriage for himself?

“Of course you will marry one day,” he said.

She smiled and Jakob felt a new awareness sweep over him. Abby wasn’t just a girl from his past. She was now a beautiful woman. He hurried to his feet and moved away. He couldn’t face the disloyalty he felt toward his late wife. Never once had he been tempted by another woman.

Until now.

He was definitely attracted to her, but that wasn’t enough. After everything Abby had been through, she deserved for someone to adore her.

But that someone couldn’t be him.

Dear Reader Contents Cover Back Cover Text About the Author Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse 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 Extract About the Publisher ,

Have you ever been abused, either verbally or physically? I’m guessing the answer is yes. We each have experienced abuse to some degree. Likewise, I believe we each are guilty of abusing others, whether by a harsh word or unkind treatment. But in this story, Abby’s situation is quite serious. As a child and then a young woman, she didn’t just suffer hurt feelings, but rather, she experienced daily severe abuse that scarred her both mentally and physically.

When someone has been the victim of long-term abuse, it becomes difficult for them to trust others. It can break their heart and spirit and lead to low self-esteem. I hope if you or someone you know is in this predicament, you will reach out for help, both from the Lord and also someone in a position of authority who can assist you in changing the situation. And if you are an abuser, please recognize that you need help, too.

God wants us to be happy. He wants us to reach our full potential and serve others with works of goodness. We cannot serve Him if we are in an abusive situation. Remember that you are a child of God. He loves you and you are of infinite worth.

I hope you enjoyed reading this story, and I invite you to visit my website at www.LeighBale.com to learn more about my books.

May you find peace in the Lord’s words!

Leigh Bale

…See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

—1 Peter 1:22

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text His Amish bride arrives…but he never proposed! Surprises await in Colorado Amish Courtships Widower Jakob Fisher isn’t interested in remarrying, even to pretty Abigail Miller. But thanks to his daed ’s meddling, Abby’s sitting in his Colorado farmhouse, expecting to be wed. While Jakob can’t offer marriage, he can give Abby a job caring for his young children. But when he starts to fall for her, could Abby make Jakob’s familye happy and whole once again?

About the Author LEIGH BALE is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart® Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com .

Booklist Also By Leigh Bale Booklist Title Page Copyright Introduction Dear Reader Bible Verse 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 Extract About the Publisher Love Inspired Colorado Amish Courtships Runaway Amish Bride Men of Wildfire Her Firefighter Hero Wildfire Sweethearts Reunited by a Secret Child The Road to Forgiveness The Forest Ranger’s Promise The Forest Ranger’s Husband The Forest Ranger’s Child Falling for the Forest Ranger Healing the Forest Ranger The Forest Ranger’s Return The Forest Ranger’s Christmas The Forest Ranger’s Rescue Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk