Loree Lough - Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania

BY LOREE LOUGH

summe RSI de

PRESS

Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
2009 by Loree Lough

ISBN 978-1-934770-66-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

The town depicted in this book is a real place, but all characters are fictional. Any resemblances to actual people or events are purely coincidental.

Cover and Interior Design by Mllerhaus Publishing Group www.mullerhaus.net

Published by Summerside Press, Inc., 11024 Quebec Circle, Bloomington, Minnesota 55438 | www.summersidepress.com

Fall in love with Summerside.

Printed in the USA.

Dedication

For Larry, light of my life and stirrer of my soul, for whom Im happy to obey 1 C ORINTHIANS 7:10: Let not the wife depart from her husband.

Special mention to Rachel and Connie, the best editors ever; to Jason and Carlton, who welcomed this humble author with open arms; to my once-abused and now-spoiled dog, who put aside his Frisbee addiction long enough for me to write this story; and last but certainly not least, to Sandie Bricker, the first to say, Send something to Summerside!

W HEN F RENCH H UGUENOT SETTLERS ARRIVED in southeastern Pennsylvania in 1712, they must have suspected that their beautiful new homeland might one day be called Paradise. The name was chosen by one of the towns founders, David Witmer, who was a friend to George Washington and supervisor of a section of the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. Today, that road is Lincoln Highway, where historic inns and restaurants like Revere Tavern have stood since the 1700s. Steeped in rich history, the towns friendly people and peaceful vistas inspired the 1994 film Trapped in Paradise, which stars Nicholas Cage. Home to the National Christmas Center and the National Toy Train Museum, Paradise boasts dozens of gift and craft shops, antiques stores, delightful eateries, quaint B and Bs, and a thriving Amish community. Visitors to Paradise can view acres of rolling green countryside while steaming along the tracks of the Strasburg Rail Road and wave to Amish farmers who travel in traditional horse-drawn buggies. Few leave this township without tipping their hats to David Witmer, for he truly understood the meaning of Paradise.

Prologue

A warm wind whiffled through the open car window, mussing Julias hair. Turning onto Lincoln Highway, she drove past shops and businesses still bustling with activity, though the workday had nearly ended. Cars and minivans bearing license plates from all over the country still sat in the Basketville parking lot, and even the Amish Trader still seemed to be doing a brisk business. Julia couldnt help but smile.

Before returning to her birthplace, shed gone out of her way to avoid crowds. When shed first come back home, shed taken long roundabout routes to get to and from her job in Lancaster just to avoid the noise and traffic that went hand in hand with the flutter of tourists who flocked to Paradise every day of the year. And now? Julia laughed to herself, because shed gotten almost as caught up in the happy beehive of activity as the sightseers themselves!

After steering onto Pine Hill Road, she turned up the volume to the song playing on WJTLthe only radio station her old beat-up sedan could pull in. Why not sing along? Just because her attitude toward church and God had changed over the years didnt mean she couldnt enjoy her favorite hymn.

Should she credit Amazing Grace for the calm that settled over her? Or was it the knowledge that just over the next lush green hill, her house would come into view? The questions broadened her grin. If anyone had told her six months ago that shed move back to Paradise, Julia wouldve pooh-poohed the idea. And if theyd suggested shed be happy here? Id have laughed out loud!

No matter how hectic her day had been, pulling into the driveway of her very own place felt goodso good that Julia almost felt guilty. What had she done in her twenty-eight years to earn three rambling acres and a two-story house, complete with a white picket fence? Nothing, thats what, she told herself.

And just that fast, an all-too-familiar sadness pricked at her consciousness. Shake it off, Julia. Put it out of your mind, right now! Her take-it-on-the-chin attitude about the hard knocks shed survived resurfaced as she took another breath of clean country air. So what if she didnt have a single living family member? And so what if her dreams of a husband and children could never come true? Shed met some wonderful people, and she had a good job and her four-legged friends at the Wolf Sanctuary. Lots of people would count themselves lucky to have her life. Some aspects of it, anyway.

Chapter One

Why would anybody do such a thing?

Simon had no idea how to answer the five-year-old boy, so he shrugged helplessly. Hed stopped by to visit Levithe closest thing to a son hed likely ever haveand came to a halt when he realized what had commanded the Gundens full attention.

Levis father ran a hand over the bullet holes that had pierced his white-painted barn. Gottes wille, he said, nodding.

Simon stared slack-jawed at William Gunden. Having known the Gundens more than a decade, he considered this man a friend; but while he had a lot in common with the family, the differences between them and him never seemed more obvious than at times like this. Far be it from him to tell William how to raise his children, but his conscience hammered at him to say something, anything, that might erase the look of shock and fear from Levis face. The world can be a strange place, he said, and not everybody is kind and loving. Simon got onto one knee and plopped a palm onto each of the boys shoulders. Sometimes people make bad choices, choices that hurt others.

Levis blond brows drew together. Shooting at our barn wasnt a bad choice, he snapped. It was mean.

While Simon couldnt have agreed more, he didnt say so. Already hed overstepped his bounds, as evidenced by the stern expression on Williams face.

It is hard, I know, William said, to understand such things. But God does not call us to understand. He calls us only to obey.

Crossing both arms over his chest, Levi shook his head. If the look on Levis face was any indicator, the boy wouldve given anything to state the opposite. Loudly.

It is by Gods grace, William continued, that they were such poor shots. Winking at Simon, he added, Missed the cows, there, and the horses, too. Then he pointed at his youngest son. Levi, go to the house and see if your mama needs help collecting the eggs. And tell her I will be up soon for lunch.