Patricia Johns

“George, I don’t think this is a road!” Amelia said.

There were several hints, the biggest of which was the small herd of cows that had come over to see what this family of knitted frogs was doing in the middle of their pasture.

George and Amelia Frog, along with their pollywog Brigette, were on their way to the Froggy Amish B&B. They were the new owners now that George had inherited it from his great-aunt Agatha, and they were looking forward to learning all about running the business.

But somewhere they had missed a turn, and George had turned onto what had looked like a narrow road and had turned out to be something else completely, because they were now looking some cows in the face.

Brigette was delighted, and she looked at the cows with her big, round eyes. The cows mooed in curiosity.

“Hello, hello!” a gruff male voice called, and they spotted a frog wearing suspenders and a straw hat marching in their direction.

“Thank goodness!” Amelia breathed.

The frog had a beard on his chin and a sparkle in his eye, and he reached over and shook George’s hand firmly, and touched the brim of his hat in a hello to Amelia.

“Are you the new owners of the B&B?” the man asked.

“That’s us,” George said. “We seem to have gotten lost.”

“My name’s Mose, and I’m your nearest neighbor,” the frog said. “And these here are your cattle.”

“Ours?” Amelia gasped. The cows looked back at her.

“Yours.” Mose gave them a nod. “Glad to meet you. Now, if you’ll drive back the way you came, out the pasture, onto the road, and take left. You’ll drive to the next stop sign and take another left…”

George turned the car around, and the cows wandered after them as they drove back the way they’d come.

“This is it!” George said. “Are you ready?”

“I’ll have to be,” Amelia said, holding Brigette a little tighter as the pollywog leaned over her shoulder toward the cattle, but she cast her husband a smile. “I’m excited, George.”

This was going to be an adventure of a lifetime!

---

When George, Amelia and Brigette arrived at the Froggy Amish B&B, they were tired, a little hungry, and their legs were cramped from all the driving.

They stepped through the side door–the front door was for strangers, they were informed–and looked at the Amish kitchen. A big, black wood stove dominated one wall, and kitchen cupboards lined the the other one.

George looked around himself. He was going to be the manager of this B&B. His wife, Amelia, was a book editor for Patricia Johns, and she’d be working long distance with Patricia. George was told this old B&B had wi-fi, and he sincerely hoped that was true, because Amelia’s career was very important to both of them… and to Patricia Johns!

He opened a cupboard and looked inside. It was empty and clean. Someone had left a pile of wood next to the wood stove, too.

“Well…” George said.

“Are you all right, George?” Amelia asked.

“I’m beginning to realize how much work this is going to be,” George admitted.

“We’ll be fine,” Amelia said cheerfully. “This place is beautiful! Did you hear what Mose said? We have cattle! George, we’re frogs with CATTLE!”

George chuckled. “I did notice that.”

“I wonder what other animals we have now,” Amelia said. “Oh, George, this is going to be fun!”

And George agreed that it would be fun, but when they’d taken on this responsibility, they’d agreed that George would take over the bulk of the B&B work because Amelia had to do her editing for Patricia. So that meant that he needed to think about the details. Like how to care for cattle.

There was a tap on the door, and Mose poked his head inside.

“Hello, hello,” Mose said. “Just wanted to let you know that I’m going to take you around for chores tonight to show you everything that needs doing. I’ll do the same thing tomorrow morning. Do you have rubber boots?”

“Uh–” George stared at Mose.

“Never mind,” Mose said. “I’ll give you a pair to get you started. I’ll be by at seven with boots. Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty!”

And Mose belted out a cheery laugh and headed back out again, his boots thunking down the stairs outside.

“I feel like he thinks we’re city slickers,” George said.

“We are,” Amelia replied.

True enough. They were. But they were now city slickers with a B&B to run… a B&B with CATTLE!

---

George and Amelia explored the big old Amish house for the next hour. From the cellar to the top floor guest bedrooms, the house was large and very simply furnished. Their own furniture had been put in the first floor rooms.

When Amelia found the bedroom with her and George’s bed inside, she spotted something extra–an Amish dress hanging from a hook on the wall. It was complete with a white apron. It was beautiful!

“George?” Amelia called.

George’s footsteps came down the hallway, and he appeared in the doorway.

“That must be one of my great-aunt’s old dresses,” George said.

“Do you like it?” Amelia asked. “Would it be terrible if I tried it on?”

“I think she would have liked that,” George said. “That’s just my thought, at least. I think you’d look very pretty in that dress.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Amelia said with a grin. “I’ll try on the dress if you find yourself some suspenders.”

“I’ll do you one better,” George said. “I’ll find suspenders and a straw hat. It’s only right that we fit in, don’t you think?”

“When in Rome?” Amelia asked.

“When in Pennsylvania Amish Country,” he replied with a chuckle.

And Amelia agreed. They were there to run an Amish establishment for Englisher guests who wanted to experience an authentic Amish stay. And part of that authenticity, would be in their appearance.

But she wouldn’t wear a prayer kapp. That wouldn’t be right, seeing as she wasn’t Amish. But she could certainly wear the dress.

---

Welcome to the Froggy Amish B&B! I’m thrilled share these little stories with you as my free gift. I like to be able to give something back to my readers, and this is my humble offering.

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