The Amish Doll: Amish Knitting Novel (Bonus Knitting Pattern Included) by Karen Anna Vogel Read Free Book Online Page A

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…Maybe it was true?
    As she pulled up to Hannah’s house, she remembered Joshua taking her here for ice cream, and warmth filled her heart. Raven went up the front steps and knocked. The blue curtains in the two large windows on either side of the door shook and swayed. Soon several small children were smiling at her and waving. The door opened and Hannah smiled. “The children aren’t used to anyone knocking on the front door. We Amish use the backdoor.” She motioned for Raven to come in. “Would you like some coffee to warm you up? The juncos have their feathers fluffed out, so the temperature’s going down.”
    Raven knew a junco was also called a snowbird. She noticed how the Amish were so connected to nature, as were Native Americans. “I’d love some coffee. Thank you.” She looked at the sparsely furnished living room, so similar to the Yoder’s. When they went into the kitchen, she was surprised to see the long table with matching china closet. It was just like Susanna’s. She mentioned the similarity to Hannah.
    “Oh, the same man made them,” she said.
    “He’s a good craftsman. What’s his name?”
    Hannah’s eyes darkened. “He lives next to Susanna. Eb. Made the furniture ages ago.” She put a cup of coffee on the table and motioned for Raven to sit down. “My husband will be in shortly. Harvest time is so busy.”
    Raven ran her fingers over the fine oak grain of the table. Eb was a master carpenter. He was a shunned man, and from what she’d been reading about the Amish, he was not to be spoken to, so he’d repent. But she could talk about him, she supposed. “Eb helped me milk the cow the other night.  He’s very nice.”
    “He was at my sister’s house?” Hannah’s eyes were round as saucers.
    “I drove your sister to the hospital and told Joshua I’d milk the cow, but I had a problem. Eb helped me.”
    Hannah nodded. “Would you like some doughnuts? I made them this morning.”
    She put her hand up. “I stopped by to visit Susanna yesterday and had some oatmeal cookies Joshua made. I need to watch my figure.”
    “My sister is blessed to have such a son. I do worry, though. He’s twenty-four and not married.”
    Raven gasped. “I’m twenty-four and not married, too. The Amish get married young compared to the English, as you call us. Joshua’s young.”
    “Lottie Miller’s the one for him,” she said. “When my sister’s better, I’m sure they’ll court again.” Hannah’s eyes mellowed. “Lottie’s a dear girl.”
    “Self-absorbed, I’d say,” Raven said without thinking. She cupped her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry. I should keep my opinions to myself. “
    Hannah tilted her head to one side. “You don’t know Lottie. What makes you say such a thing?”
    “She stopped dating Joshua because he didn’t give her enough attention. Doesn’t she realize how ill Susanna is?”
    “My nephew told you something so personal? Was it part of his interview for the foster program?”
    “He told me when we came over for ice cream, when I first met you.”
    Raven saw coldness in Hannah’s eyes. “Amish men aren’t supposed to share such things with…”
    “…Outsiders?” Raven finished. “We ‘Outsiders’ can learn a lot from you Amish. I know I have. Joshua’s been a great friend to me in a difficult time.” She was glad when a tall, lanky man with a black beard came into the kitchen. 
    “Hello there, I’m Hannah’s husband, David. You’re the social worker, jah ?”
    Raven looked up and smiled. “Yes, I’m Raven Meadows. Nice to meet you, David.”
    She went through the necessary questions and their answers were sufficient. They wanted to be foster homes because Susanna told them there was a shortage of them. That was true. Many foster children now lived in group homes. They had the resources and their children all looked happy and healthy. Everything was fine, except Hannah now acted