Suzanne Woods Fisher - The Choice

LANCASTER COUNTY SECRETS
Book 1

The CHOICE

A NOVEL

Suzanne Woods Fisher

2010 by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

E-book edition created 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN 978-1-4412-0746-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Scripture used in this book, whether quoted or paraphrased by the characters, is taken from the King James Version of the Bible; or The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Published in association with Joyce Hart of the Hartline Literary Agency, LLC.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

To my family, whom I love.

Contents

Carrie Weaver tucked a loose curl into her cap as she glanced up at the bell tower in Lancasters Central Market. The clock had struck 2:00 p.m. more than ten minutes ago, and an English couple was haggling with her stepsister Emma over the price of a crate of strawberries. After all, the man was saying, the market was closing for the weekend. Certainly, you Plain folks wouldnt want this fruit to go to waste now, would you? Tomorrow being Sunday and all? He rested his hands on his round belly and fixed his gaze on Emma, a satisfied look on his red faceas red and ripe as a late summer tomatoas he waited for her to buckle.

But this red-faced English man didnt know Emma.

Carrie saw Emma purse her lips and hook her hands on her hips in that determined way and knew where this standoff was headed. Emma wouldnt drop the price of her strawberries to anyone, much less an Englisher whom, she was convinced, had a lost and corrupted soul. Her sister would plant her big feet and squabble over the price of strawberries until the sun set.

Carrie picked up the crate and handed it to the man. Abg-schlagge! Sold!

The man and his wife, surprised and delighted, hurried off with the strawberries as Emma spun to face Carrie. She lifted her hands, palms out. Have you lost your mind? My strawberries are worth twice that price! What were you thinking?

Im thinking that its past two and the market has closed and the van is waiting. Carrie pushed the leftover crates of red ripe strawberries into the back of the van of the hired driver and slammed the door shut, pinching her thumbnail. Wincing from the pain, she knew she didnt dare stop to get ice. There wasnt a moment to waste.

Dummel dich net! Emma muttered as Carrie opened the passenger seat door for her. Dont be in such a hurry! Youve been as jumpy as a jackrabbit all morning.

Carrie reached out an arm to clasp her younger brother on the shoulder, pulling him back as he started to climb in the van behind Emma. I need to run an errand and take the bus home later today. Andys coming with me.

Andys eyes went round as shoe buttons, but he followed Carries lead and hopped back out of the van.

Emma twisted around on the seat. What errand? she asked, eyes narrowed with suspicion. You know your dad wants you home to visit with Daniel Miller.

Carrie blew out a big sigh. Silent, solemn Daniel Miller. He and his father, Eli, were staying with the Jacob Weavers this summer. Eli Miller and Jacob Weaver made no secret of the fact that they had a hope for her and Daniel. Well, they could hope all they liked but Carries heart was already spoken for. Spoken for and claimed, and the thought warmed her.

Daniels mighty fine looking, Carrie, Emma said. Your dad is hoping youll think so too.

If you think Daniel is such a looker, why dont you visit with him? Carrie stepped back from the van to close the door. That had been mean, what she said to Emma, and she reached out to give her sisters arm a gentle squeeze in apology before she swung the door closed and the driver pulled away. Dear Emma, nearly twenty-seven and terrified that she would end up an old maid. Carrie felt a smile pull at her mouth and fought it back, as an unbidden image of a large celery patch popped into her mindEmma and her mother, Esther, grew celery in the family garden in hopes that this would be Emmas year.

Carrie shook off her musing and grabbed Andys hand and hurried to the bus stop. She wanted to reach the Lancaster Barnstormers stadium before Solomon Riehl would start pitching. Last night, Sol told her he might be a closing pitcher in todays scrimmage, so she should be in the stands by the last few innings.

What kind of errand? Andy asked Carrie.

She shaded her eyes from the sun to watch for the bus. Its a surprise for your birthday.

I wont turn nine til October.

Carrie looked at him and tousled his hair. Consider it an early birthday present. She knew she wouldnt be here on his birthday.

As Carrie and Andy climbed on the bus and sat among the English, she felt the happiness of her secret spill over her. She didnt even mind the pain radiating from her throbbing thumb. She was entirely preoccupied with the conversations she had been having with Sol lately. Last week, he called her at midnight, as planned, from the phone shanty across the road from his fathers farm. During that call, he had talked to her about leaving the community and trying to make a living as a baseball player. And he told her he wanted her by his side, as his wife.

Sol had been crazy about baseball ever since he first held a ball in his hand. Although competition was discouraged on the schoolyard, Sol stood out. He could throw a ball faster, farther, and with more accuracy than anyone.

Just a few months ago, a baseball scout happened to be driving past their youth gathering and had pulled his car over to watch Sol pitch, mesmerized. The scout had quietly slipped a business card into Sols hand and whispered something to him.

On the buggy ride home from the youth gathering, Sol had pulled out the card and showed it to Carrie. Theyre having open tryouts next week. He wants to clock my pitch. He said he hasnt seen a fastball like mine in years.

Stunned, Carrie turned the card over. You arent serious. Sol, you cant try out for professional baseball. You shouldnt even go to a game! You know that. The elders will be at your folks door by days end.

Not if they dont find out, Sol said, grinning mischievously. Then his face tightened and the smile disappeared. Im tired of all the shouldnts and cants in my life. Cant go to the movies. Shouldnt listen to the radio. Cant ride a bicycle. Cant own a car.

Carrie gave him a sideways glance. All Sol talked about lately was how smothered he felt, being born and raised Amish. At first she felt alarmed by such talk. But shed grown used to it and didnt take his complaints too seriously. She was sure he couldnt really leave his family and church behind. Or her. He would never leave her behind. Of that she was confident. Not being allowed to own a car sure hasnt stopped you. I still dont know how youve kept that heap-of-rust you call a car hidden from your folks for so long.