Amy Clipston - A Promise of Hope

A Promise of Hope

Amy Clipston

B OOK T WO

ZONDERVAN

A Promise of Hope

Copyright 2010 by Amy Clipston

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, 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 Zondervan.

ePub Edition MARCH 2010 ISBN: 978-0-310-56396-9

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

---

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Clipston, Amy.

A promise of hope / Amy Clipston. p. cm.-(Kauffman Amish bakery series ; bk. 2) Summary: An Amish widow with newborn twins discovers her deceased husband had disturbing secrets. As she tries to come to grips with the past, she considers a loveless marriage to ensure stability for her young familywith her faith in God hanging in the balance. ISBN 978-0-310-28984-5 (softcover) 1. AmishFiction. I. Title. PS3603.L58P76 2010 813.6dc22 2009051036

---

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version-. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

In loving memory of my father-in-law, Joseph Martin Clipston Jr., who left us too soon. Youre forever in our hearts.

While this novel is set against the real backdrop of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the characters are fictional. There is no intended resemblance between the characters in this book and any real members of the Amish and Mennonite communities. As with any work of fiction, Ive taken license in some areas of research as a means of creating the necessary circumstances for my characters. My research was thorough; however, it would be impossible to be completely accurate in details and description, since each and every community differs. Therefore, any inaccuracies in the Amish and Mennonite lifestyles portrayed in this book are completely due to fictional license.

Table of Contents

L uke Troyer blew out a sigh and wiped his brow. The sweltering heat of the carpentry shop choked the air. The heaviness of sawdust, the pungent odor of stain, and the sweet smell of wood filled his nostrils. Tools and loud voices blared while a dozen other men created custom cabinets in the large work area surrounding him.

He placed his hammer next to the cabinets hed been sanding and headed toward the small break room in the back of the shop. It held a long table with chairs, a refrigerator, and a counter with a sink. He fetched his lunch pail from the large refrigerator and pulled out a can of Coke.

How are those cabinets coming along? Mel Stoltzfus asked, leaning in the doorway.

Luke shrugged and gulped his cool, carbonated beverage. All right, I guess. Im about halfway through. Lowering himself into the chair at the small table, he glanced across at a folded copy of The Budget, the Amish newspaper, and sudden memories of his father gripped him. Pop had read The Budget cover to cover every Wednesday.

You have plans tonight? Moving into the room, Mel sat on the chair across from Luke and opened his bottle of iced tea. Sally told me to invite you for supper. Shes making her famous chicken and dumplings.

Danki, but I have plans. Luke unfolded the paper and skimmed the articles.

Ya. Sure. Mel snorted. I can imagine what your plans are. Youre going to work three hours past closing, go home, make yourself a turkey sandwich, and then putter around your shed until midnight. Then youll go to bed and start all over again tomorrow.

Grimacing, Luke met his friends pointed stare. I dont do that every night.

Ya, you do. Youve done the same thing every night since your dat passed away. Mel set his bottle down and tapped the table for emphasis. You nursed your dat for eight years. Its time you started living again. Youre young, so start acting like it.

Luke blew out a sigh and turned his attention to the paper. Hed heard this lecture from Mel several times since Pop passed away eight months ago. Although Luke knew his friend was right, he just didnt know how to move on. Hed nursed Pop since he was twenty-one, so Luke didnt know how to act young.

You know I speak the truth, Mel said. You should leave work on time tonight and come to my house. Enjoy an evening of friends, not solitude.

Luke shook his head and opened his mouth to respond, but the whooshing of the door opening derailed his train of thought. He gaped when he found a ghost from his past standing in the doorway.

DeLana? Luke stood, examining the tall, thin woman dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket. Her long, dark hair framed her attractive face, which was outlined with makeup.

Long time, no see. She gave him a wry smile, her brown eyes sparkling. How long has it been? Eight years?

Luke nodded. I reckon so. He motioned toward Mel. DeLana Maloney, this is my good friend Mel Stoltzfus.

She smiled at Mel. Nice to meet you.

Mel nodded, speechless.

She honed her gaze in on Luke. Any chance we can talk? Alone? She looked back at Mel again. No offense.

Uh, its no trouble at all. Mel stood and started toward the door. He glanced back at Luke, looking puzzled, then closed the door.

Luke turned his attention to DeLana. How have you been? he asked.

Good. She nodded. How about you?

Gut. He cleared his throat. Its a surprise to see you here.

I bet you thought youd never see me again, huh? She adjusted her leather purse on her shoulder.

Luke motioned toward the table. Would you like to have a seat? I have a spare Coke if youre thirsty.

No, thanks. I cant stay long. DeLana rooted around in her purse and pulled out an envelope. I wanted to ask you about Peter.

Peter? Luke narrowed his eyes in question. What do you mean?

I havent heard from him in a few months. Ive written him a few times, but the letters from him have stopped. She handed him the envelope. I was going to mail this to him, but I was wondering if its even worth it since hes cut me off. Do you know why?

Luke stared down at letters addressed to Peter Troyer in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. No, I dont. I havent heard from him in years.

Its strange. She shook her head, her diamond-studded earrings sparkling in the light of the gas lamps. I heard from him every month like clockwork and then it all stopped about five months ago.

He glanced at the envelope again, his mind clicking with questions. Bird-in-Hand? Is that where hes living?

Yeah. He said he worked at some Amish furniture place in town. She folded her arms, pondering. Shoot, I cant remember the name of it.

His brow furrowed in disbelief. Hes working in an Amish furniture store? Are you certain?

Oh, yeah, Im certain. He mentioned it often, talking about the different projects he was working on. She pursed her lips. So you dont know anything?

Luke shook his head, processing the information. Peter was living in Pennsylvania and working in an Amish furniture store.

Next page