Her Amish Secret (PAPERBACK)

Chapter 1.
It was night when the hired car pulled up at the Baker Apple Orchard. Cherish had been granted the misfortune of traveling the whole way back from the wedding, trapped in the car with her mother and Ada. They were the lead car in the convoy of two. The second car with the rest of the girls was still nowhere in sight.
Cherish got out of the vehicle and stood tall. It was a relief to stand at last. In the light from the open front door, she saw Samuel and Levi standing on the porch.
“I’m happy you’re all home,” Levi said in a booming voice.
“We’re all happy to be home too, I’m sure.” Cherish was the one who replied since Ada and her mother were still in the car. “The other car might be a while yet. Debbie was carsick, so they had to stop.”
“Ah, that’s not good.” Samuel hurried to help the driver, who was now lifting the bags out of the trunk. 
Levi stepped down from the porch. “You didn’t wait for them?” 
“No.” She resisted telling him that it had been Ada’s decision. At least this was one thing for which she wouldn’t get the blame. 
Cherish opened the back door for her mother and then ran around to open Ada’s door. 
“Thank you, Cherish,” Ada said.
“Your loving husband awaits you.”
Ada grinned while smoothing down her dress. “I’ve missed him.” She stretched her arms in the air. 
Cherish leaned in and whispered, “Please, no kissing him in front of me.”
Ada’s mouth dropped open. “I would never…”
“I saw you kissing before we left, and that’s an image I’ve had to try hard to scrub from my mind.”
Ada laughed. “That was nothing. It was just a quick goodbye peck.”
“If you say so.” Cherish stood in the middle of the driveway while Ada and Mamm reunited with their husbands.
Cherish looked down the driveway, standing on her tiptoes and craning her neck, looking for the second car’s headlights. 
“No sign of them?” Levi called out. 
“No.”
“Who knows how long they’ll be with Debbie holding them up,” Mamm said. 
“She can’t help it,” Levi told her. 
“Didn’t say she could.”
“I know one thing for sure.” Cherish grabbed her suitcase that Samuel had moved to the porch. “I’m not waiting up for them. I’m going straight to bed.” 
Caramel came bounding from the direction of the barn, weaving in and out of Ada and Mamm. Cherish dropped her suitcase and leaned down to hug him. “Thank you for looking after him, Samuel.”
“I just did as you asked.”
“You did just fine. How’s Timmy?”
“Go inside and see for yourself. He’s still there.”
Inwardly, she heaved a sigh of relief. Timmy was still alive. She picked up her bag again and dropped it just inside the door. Then with Caramel close behind her, she made her way to the kitchen. 
Timmy’s cage was tucked away at the end of the kitchen, where it always was. His night-time sheet was over his cage. She lifted the sheet a little and peeked in. There he was, all fuzzy with his feathers sticking out and his head neatly tucked under the white and gray feathers of his wing. It was good to see him. The bright blue color on his chest always made her feel happy. Careful not to wake him, she put the sheet back where it had been and moved back into the living room. Just as she did so, she heard the car drive away.
Samuel moved Ada and Wilma’s bags into the house. No one let Levi do any heavy lifting since his heart problems. 
“I’m exhausted,” Cherish announced to them all. 
Samuel chuckled. “You’ve been sitting down for hours. How could you be?”
“It was tiring.” She couldn’t tell him that she was more irritated than tired— irritated with her traveling companions and their endless annoying chatter. 
It seemed Ada and Samuel were staying the night. That was practical with it being so late, and Samuel wouldn’t have known the time they were arriving. 
Typically, Cherish would’ve inquired about who was doing what, but tonight, she didn’t care about anything except how fast she could get into her comfortable bed. She headed upstairs to her room. 
When she walked in, the air was a little stale from being closed up, but it was still her peaceful place. Her bedroom was her sanctuary, her hiding place away from everyone. 
She was in the middle of changing into her nightgown when Caramel nosed his way into the room. He wagged his tail so fast it resembled a propeller blade.
“I’m so happy to see you, boy. Did I tell you that already.” She patted around his midsection. “Hmm, it seems you’ve put on a bit of weight. Samuel’s been feeding you well. Get up on the bed.”
Caramel did what he was told, and then Cherish proceeded to unpack her bag. Even though she was tired, she didn’t want to leave that task until morning. While she pushed her clean clothes into the drawers, she realized her mother still hadn’t given her the gift—the book about gingerbread houses. 
She chuckled to herself. Why didn’t they give her a more useful gift? She never said she liked gingerbread houses, not once. It was Ada who was in love with them. Ever since Ada had come back from the trip to Cherish’s farm, she couldn’t stop talking about them. Hopefully, the book would get lost somewhere, or possibly left in the hired car.
After she completed the task of emptying her suitcase, she closed it and, standing on her tiptoes, popped it on top of her free-standing closet. After a quick trip to the bathroom, she was ready for bed. She slipped between the sheets and pulled the quilt over her head. 
The second car still hadn’t arrived. If it had, she would’ve heard it. 

* * *

Cherish woke at first light. After she showered and dressed, she headed down to the kitchen, thinking she’d be the first one awake. 
It wasn’t to be. 
Mamm and Ada were sitting at the table drinking hot tea, looking wide awake as though it was the middle of the day.
“Good morning. You stayed here last night, Ada?” Cherish walked over and took Timmy’s cover off and smiled as he woke, chirping. Before she could fold the cover, he was flying from one perch to the other. “I’m pleased to see you too, Timmy. You missed me, didn’t you?”
“Couldn’t you have left that on for a bit longer?” Mamm asked.
“No. You should’ve taken it off as soon as you came down here. He likes to see what’s going on.”
Mamm shook her head and said nothing more. 
Then Ada started. “You really need to get him a bigger cage or let him go back into the wild. It’s cruel keeping him like that.” 
Cherish couldn’t tell them that she let him fly around the house when no one else was home. “If I did that, the other birds would kill him. They’re very territorial, you know. He’d be all by himself with nowhere to go.”
“There are trees. He can build himself a nest.”
“He wouldn’t know how. He’s never been in the wild.” Cherish shook her head. “It’d be cruel to let him out. He’d die.”
“Please yourself.”
Wilma sighed. “When can I ever just have a peaceful morning?”
Ada frowned at her. “You’re talking so much, Wilma, that I didn’t get a chance to answer Cherish’s question about staying here last night.” 
Wilma’s mouth fell open. “I’m not talking a lot. That’s all I said.”
Cherish sat down in front of Ada. “Well, did you?”
“No. I drove over here early this morning because I had nothing better to do.”
Cherish stared at Ada, trying to work out if she was being sarcastic. 
Then Ada’s thin lips curved up at the corners. “Yes, I stayed here last night, Cherish. Along with Samuel.”
“I thought you might have.”
“I was just making a joke, but it seems you have no sense of humor.”
“Not today, I don’t.”
“I believe it.” 
“It made sense they stay here,” Wilma said. “We got home so late thanks to Debbie.” 
“Oh, Wilma, the girl can’t help it if she had food poisoning. I just don’t know why no one else got it too.”
“Just as well. It wouldn’t do to have us all sick at the same time.”
“No,” Cherish said, “It’s better if we can take turns.”
Mamm scowled at Cherish and then talked to Ada. “She must’ve eaten something that no one else did unless she has a very weak stomach. Oh dear. I hope this won’t happen all the time with her.”
Ada seemed to agree with Mamm. “If it’s not one thing with her, it’s another. She hasn’t been well since she got here if my memory’s not failing me.”
“I’m starting to see why her parents sent her to us. A more useless girl I couldn’t imagine. I might as well make a start on breakfast since my quiet time is ruined. Would you like some eggs, Cherish?” Mamm asked.
“Yes, please. I’ll cook if you like, and you can talk to Ada.”
“No, I’ll do it. Levi likes it when I cook for everyone. You can cut the last of the bread.” Wilma got to her feet and walked over and flipped open the bread bin. “This is the last loaf and it’s not one of ours. Seems the men bought it from the store. We have to bake more this morning.”
When her mother moved over to the bowl of eggs, Cherish retrieved the loaf from the bread bin and then took the bread knife from the utensils drawer. “So, what’s happening today? Are we working in the orchard or baking bread?”
“Debbie and I will make the bread, if she’s well and able. You and the girls can work in the orchard.”
“So things are back to normal, then?”
Ada chuckled. “As normal as things can be around here.”
Mamm pursed her lips. “Oh, Ada, that’s not very nice.”
“I didn’t even hear the second car get here. Were they very late?” Cherish asked.
“They arrived two whole hours after us. Can you believe it?”
“How is Debbie?” Cherish asked.
“Much better when she got here. She must’ve got over whatever she had.”
“They were all very tired. We waited up for them, didn’t we, Wilma?”
“We did. Someone had to.”
“I’m glad to hear she’s better. Am I slicing it all, Mamm?” Cherish asked about the bread.
“You might as well. It’ll all be eaten.”
Ada poured herself some more tea from the pot. “You and the girls should show Debbie around the town, Cherish.”
Wilma pursed her lips as she cracked the eggs. “She’s seen enough of it, hasn’t she? There’s not that much to see.”
“Wilma, you should give the girls a day off. You said Florence doesn’t get home until the day after tomorrow.”
Cherish had to wonder why Ada was being so nice. Or was there a reason she wanted them gone for the day? “I thought Florence would already be home.”
“No. They told me they were going somewhere else after the wedding. Carter had to see someone about some business thing.” Mamm turned on the gas stove, then she prepared the over-sized frying pan by smothering the bottom with a layer of butter.
Cherish looked up from slicing the bread. “Could we have the day off, Mamm?”
“I don’t know about that.” Mamm poured a little milk into the bowl and whisked the eggs. “How about you do a few hours of work this morning? That way, Debbie can help me in the kitchen and then you girls can have the afternoon off.”
“A day would be better,” said Ada.
“We have the orchard to run, Ada. It’s constant work.”
“I’m not saying it’s not, but what will one day matter? The girls will be tired today, and with Debbie being sick…”
“It will matter a lot to Florence when she comes back and sees nothing’s been done. Without saying it outright, she hinted that we shouldn’t be lazy just because she’s not around.”
Ada said, “I can’t imagine Florence hinting at anything. She normally says whatever’s on her mind no matter who it will upset. She speaks first and thinks about it later. Reminds me of someone else I know.”
Cherish turned around and looked at Ada. “Who me?”
“I didn’t say it.”
“Oh. I didn’t know I was like that.” Then Cherish said to her mother. “Leave the orchard work to me, I’ll check out everything and see how everything is. Don’t worry.”
Ada laughed. “Jah, leave everything to Cherish. That’ll stop you worrying, Wilma.”
“Exactly,” Cherish agreed. “I’m reliable,” she added in case Ada was being sarcastic again. “What time are you leaving, Ada?”
Ada placed her cup on the saucer and looked across at Cherish, who’d just sat down. “Can I at least eat my breakfast first?”
“Yes, I didn’t mean I wanted you to leave. I’m just asking.”
Mamm answered for Ada, “She’ll leave when she’s good and ready.”
Cherish knew she wouldn’t win with those two. “Okay. I won’t ask again. I won’t ask anything. I won’t even speak anymore… for the whole day.”
“Are you glad to be home, Cherish?” Ada asked.
“I am. Samuel did a great job looking after Timmy and Caramel.”
Ada chuckled. “Not speaking for the whole day, eh?”
Cherish pouted. Ada had tricked her. Anyway, how could Ada be so chirpy in the morning?
Ada wagged a finger in Cherish’s face. “I told you he’s good with animals. They sense he’s got a kind heart. Animals can often read people.”
“I’ll have to do something nice for him. I’ll get him a present.”
Ada shook her head. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. He was happy to stay here with Levi and help out.”
“All the same, I’d like to get him something.”
“You could bake him a cake,” Wilma suggested.
Cherish grimaced. “I was thinking of buying him something. He eats Ada’s cakes all the time. Mine would taste awful after that.” That was Cherish’s way of giving Ada a compliment. Perhaps then she’d be agreeable. Also, baking a cake meant cleaning up afterward. It was so much easier to select something from a store.
“With what money are you going to buy this gift?” Wilma stared at her, blinking.
“With my pay from the café.”
“Hmm, toast smells ready,” Ada said.
Both Cherish and Wilma jumped to their feet. Cherish had a habit of daydreaming and burning the toast. She managed to save this lot before it burned, although it was very dark.
“Butter the toast for me, Cherish, while I dish out the eggs.” 
“Sure.”
“You’re still working there, at the cafe?” Ada’s beady eyes followed Cherish as she lifted the toast out of the grill. 
“Sure am. I love it. I’d do it every day if I was allowed. I’m working tomorrow.”
“Cherish, you said every day. Does that mean you’d do it on a Sunday, our day of rest?”
“No, Ada.” Cherish chuckled. “I didn’t mean that. Of course not. I’d do it every day apart from Sundays if Levi and Mamm allowed it.” 
Mamm had dished out the eggs onto the plates and stood over Cherish, waiting while she buttered the hot toast. “I don’t care what you do. It’s Florence who’s your boss now. She’s the boss of us all, it seems.”
Cherish placed a piece of toast on each of the three plates. Then Mamm carried hers and Ada’s to the table while Cherish carried her own. As soon as Cherish sat, she said to Ada, “I want to buy Samuel a present. What do you think he’d like?”
“Just make him something. You don’t have to buy it.” Ada picked up her knife and fork. “Denke for this, Wilma. I’ll bring more eggs over for you this afternoon.”
“That would be lovely. Our chickens aren’t laying much anymore. Your eggs are bigger and better anyway.”
“So, Ada, help me out by telling me what Samuel likes.”
Ada popped a forkful of food in her mouth and then after chewing it thoroughly, she swallowed. “He likes food.”
“I could’ve guessed that. Everybody likes food. I mean, what can I buy him from a store that he might like? Can you think of anything, hmm?” She stared at Ada, hoping she’d get a sensible answer and not some wisecrack.
“Maybe some hard candy. Wait!” Ada held her hand up in the air. “He did eat some chocolate coated ginger once, and he loved it.”
“Perfect. That’s what I’ll get him, if I can find it. Where would I be able to get that from?”
“A candy shop I suppose,” Mamm said.
“I was thinking about a supermarket, but a candy shop would be a better idea. There are plenty of those around. There’s one not far from the café.”
“Good, I’m glad that’s sorted,” Mamm said.
As Cherish ate, she thought some more about Ada’s suggestion. “Is it a coincidence you said he likes ginger and you’re obsessed with gingerbread houses?”
Ada stared at her for a moment before she spoke. “I’m not obsessed with anything. That would be a sin.”
“Just checking.” Cherish held in her laughter. 
Mamm was thinking about something else altogether. “As I was saying before, Florence is boss of us all now. I never thought when I married your father that my young stepdaughter would be running my life in my middle age.”
“You should be happy about that. She’s taking the pressure off you and Levi. Anyway, aren’t you older than middle-age?” Cherish asked.
“No. I’m not past middle-age.”
Ada butted in, “Our dear parents, if they were still alive, would be classed as old-aged. Wilma and I are middle-aged.”
“Okay. Thanks for clearing that up.” Cherish continued eating her breakfast.
Mamm glared at Cherish. “Why should I be happy about someone running my life?”
“You’re looking at it the wrong way. She’s not running your life. She’s just helping out. Yes, she’s one of the owners of the orchard, but everybody agreed to that. Besides, didn’t Dat want her to own the whole orchard by herself?”
Cherish held her breath when that slipped out of her mouth. 
It didn’t pass by Ada unnoticed either. Ada shook her fork at her. “See what I mean about talking without thinking?”
Cherish was silent, waiting to see what her mother had to say. The worst thing she’d done was go snooping through her mother’s things one day only to find their father’s will that had been kept hidden. Finding that will had changed everything. 
“You should watch what you say, Cherish. If your vadder had known your half schweschder would leave the community, do you think he would’ve left her the orchard?”
“Probably not, but if he hadn’t died, maybe she wouldn’t have left.”
“You’ve got an answer for everything, Cherish. We’ll never know, will we?” Ada said. 
“Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Mamm grumbled.
“I’m not the one complaining about Florence. Sorry for being rude, Mamm. Sorry you had to hear me being rude, Ada.” Cherish kept her head down and kept eating.
“I forgive you,” Ada said. “You’re only young. You’ll learn. You have a good heart and you do try to be kind.”
Mamm plunked her knife and fork down on the table. “I don’t care anymore. I’m going to keep out of it. If Florence is running the orchard and she doesn’t get back until the day after tomorrow, then you girls don’t have to work until then. That seems fair to me.”
That moment, Levi walked into the room. He always walked in at the very wrong moment. “What’s this about?” Then he sniffed the air. “What’s burnt?”
“Toast!” Ada told him. “Cherish burnt all the toast.”
“I didn’t. Not completely. It was still all right to eat.”
“I don’t mind eating toast well-done. What did you say about the orchard, Wilma?”

THE AMISH BONNET SISTERS

Book 1 Amish Mercy

Book 2 Amish Honor

Book 3 A Simple Kiss

Book 4 Amish Joy

Book 5 Amish Family Secrets

Book 6 The Englisher

Book 7 Missing Florence

Book 8 Their Amish Stepfather

Book 9 A Baby For Florence

Book 10 Amish Bliss

Book 11 Amish Apple Harvest

Book 12 Amish Mayhem

Book 13 The Cost of Lies

Book 14 Amish Winter of Hope

Book 15 A Baby For Joy

Book 16 The Amish Meddler

Book 17 The Unsuitable Amish Bride

Book 18 Her Amish Farm

Book 19 The Unsuitable Amish Wedding

Book 20 Her Amish Secret

Book 21 Amish Harvest Mayhem

Book 22 Amish Family Quilt

Book 23 Hope's Amish Wedding

Book 24 A Heart of Hope

Book 25 A Season for Change

Book 26 Amish Farm Mayhem

Book 27 The Stolen Amish Wedding

Book 28 A Season for Second Chances

Book 29 A Change of Heart

Book 30 The Last Wedding

Book 31 Starting Over

Book 32 Love and Cherish

Book 33 Amish Neighbors

Book 34 Her Amish Quilt

Book 35 A Home of Their Own

Book 36 A Chance for Love

Book 37 Her Amish Wish

Book 38 Amish Harvest Time

Book 39 Whispers of Change

Book 40 Her Hopeful Heart

Book 41 Return to Love's Promise

Book 42 Amish Circle of Blessings