Second Chance Proposal

Second Chance Proposal
Anna Schmidt

HOMECOMING REUNIONJohn Amman left his Amish community and sweetheart Lydia Goodloe to make his fortune in the outside world, while Lydia stayed behind to devote herself to teaching. She can accept spinsterhood, and even face the closure of her beloved school. But John’s return after eight years tests her faith anew.Lydia hasn’t forgotten a single thing about John Amman—including the way he broke her heart. John risked becoming an outcast to give Lydia everything she deserved. He couldn’t see that what she really wanted was a simple life—with him. Lydia is no longer the girl he knew. Now she’s the woman who can help him reclaim their long-ago dream of home and family…if he can only win her trust once more.Amish Brides of Celery Fields: Love awaits these Amish women.

Homecoming Reunion

John Amman left his Amish community and sweetheart Lydia Goodloe to make his fortune in the outside world, while Lydia stayed behind to devote herself to teaching. She can accept spinsterhood, and even face the closure of her beloved school. But John’s return after eight years tests her faith anew. Lydia hasn’t forgotten a single thing about John Amman—including the way he broke her heart.

John risked becoming an outcast to give Lydia everything she deserved. He couldn’t see that what she really wanted was a simple life—with him. Lydia is no longer the girl he knew. Now she’s the woman who can help him reclaim their long-ago dream of home and family…if he can only win her trust once more

“Do not say things you will regret,” Lydia whispered.

“Please. You are too soon trying to set things the way you remember them—the way you want them to be. But you are not the boy who left here, John. And I am not that girl. We cannot go back in this world—only forward.”

She pulled away from him and continued walking back to her house—her house, her school, her life.

“We could be if you’re willing to work things out with me,” John said and was gratified to see her step falter. “We could find a way to…”

She turned around, but her features remained in shadow. “I am glad that you’ve come home, John. Is that not enough for now?”

“It’s a beginning,” he admitted. “But—”

“And that’s the point, John Amman. We are beginning again, and you must allow time for things to develop according to God’s will.” She took half a step toward him, but stopped. “You must think of me as someone you are just getting to know, John.”

“Is that how you see me? As some stranger?”

“Not a stranger exactly. Just not…” Her voice trailed off.

“Just not the same person you once loved?”

ANNA SCHMIDT

is an award-winning author of more than twenty-five works of historical and contemporary fiction. She is a two-time finalist for a coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America, as well as a four-time finalist for an RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award. Her most recent RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice nomination was for her 2008 Love Inspired Historical novel, Seaside Cinderella, which is the first of a series of four historical novels set on the romantic island of Nantucket. Critics have called Anna “a natural writer, spinning tales reminiscent of old favorites like Miracle on 34th Street. class="roman">” Her characters have been called “realistic” and “endearing” and one reviewer raved, “I love Anna Schmidt’s style of writing!”

Second Chance Proposal

Anna Schmidt

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Show me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

—Psalms 25:4

To all who have believed in the power of love.

Contents

Chapter One (#u8230486f-1106-565c-ac16-5bd8886540b7)

Chapter Two (#ub03bdf81-fe68-540a-b3a1-e7f0a50efe54)

Chapter Three (#ub439bca5-687c-5445-bdbe-d3f250f82cc7)

Chapter Four (#uff10e36c-d46e-5522-a579-dcd15c25fafd)

Chapter Five (#u69666dd9-04dd-5e30-9dc9-9ed73df13c14)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

Celery Fields, Florida

January 1938

L ydia Goodloe. Was he seeing things?

Sweet Liddy.

John Amman closed his eyes, which were crusty with lack of sleep and the dust of days he’d spent making his way west across Florida from one coast to the other. Surely this was nothing more than a mirage born of exhaustion and the need for a solid meal.

But no, there could be no doubt. There she was walking across a fallow field from her father’s house to the school. He watched as she entered the school and then a minute later came outside again. She pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and began stacking firewood in her arms. They might be in Florida, but it was January and an unseasonably cold one at that. John pulled up the collar of his canvas jacket to block the wind that swept across the open fields.