Bryce Horton was a guest at the Froggy Amish B&B, and he was about to cause a very big stir in the Amish community. He was a big, burly biker, and he’d developed quite a crush on the Amish schoolteacher, Brenda Hershberger.
“I won’t be gone too long,” Bryce said. “I promised Brenda a ride on my Harley, so I’m going to her place to pick her up.”
There wasn’t anything else to say! They’d warned Bryce that Brenda couldn’t date him, and that was all they could really do as conscientious B&B hosts.
So Bryce when roaring off on his bike, and Amelia and George looked at each other.
“What if we… took a bike ride of our own?” George asked with a mischievous smile.
“You mean… what if we snooped?” Amelia asked.
“Is it so terrible?” George asked. “I’d like to see what happens, and if we just happen to be pedalling past…”
“I suppose getting some fresh air and exercise is good for Brigette,” Amelia said. “We’d be providing a pleasant afternoon for our baby.”
“Then it’s decided!”
So George, Amelia and little Brigette got into their bicycle built for three. Amelia had to pedal because of George’s broken leg, but she didn’t mind. They headed down the gravel road in the direction that Bryce had gone. And soon enough, they spotted Bryce on the way back down the road with Brenda on the seat behind him, her kapp strings fluttering out behind her.
Amelia pulled over to the side of the road so they could watch them pass. And then they spotted a buggy coming down the road, and who should be driving it but the bishop!
“Uh oh,” Amelia said. “I wonder what the bishop will say?”
George, Amelia, little Brigette, and Bishop Abraham Yoder watched as Bryce and Brenda drove up and down the road on his Harley Davidson.
“What do you say, Bishop?” George asked. “Is this against the rules?”
“Actually?” The bishop shrugged. “If Brenda were driving the motorbike, that would be a problem. But she is only riding. And we accept rides from English people all the time. We even hire drivers to take us places. So Brenda is not breaking any rules.”
Bryce and Brenda went roaring past again, and the bishop pursed his lips thoughtfully.
“I thought you’d be very upset,” Amelia admitted.
“Sometimes a person needs to get something out of their system,” the bishop said. “Now that she’s had a ride, she can forget about it and get back to being a sober and pious teacher.”
Except this was about more than a motorcycle, and Amelia knew it. Bryce and Brenda were at the very beginning of a whirlwind romance. Amelia had a sense for these things.
When Bryce stopped in front of the little group of observers, he shot the bishop a friendly smile.
“Would you like a ride, Bishop?” Bryce asked. “I’d be happy to give you one. I’ll go more slowly, too, so that you can enjoy the beautiful view.”
Oh, Bryce knew how to sweet talk a bishop, all right! So Brenda got off the bike, and Bishop Yoder got onto it, and the bike roared off again–although Bryce was true to his word and drove more slowly.
“Is it fun?” Amelia asked Brenda.
“It’s… it’s… wonderful!” Brenda sighed.
The next time Bryce when roaring past, the bishop’s black hat went flying off and Amelia rushed to pick it up before it got dirty. And if she didn’t see Bishop Yoder with great big silly grin on his face!
If she didn’t know better, Bishop Yoder was having fun!
That evening, Amelia had editing to for Patricia Johns. This was Amelia’s day job–editing books for her author friend. She was very good at her job, and Patricia appreciated her to no end. But this evening, Amelia was thinking about Bryce and Brenda.
“George?” Amelia called. “In HER AMISH COUNTRY HUSBAND, there is an electrician who falls in love with an Amish girl.”
“Oh?” George came into the dining room where Amelia was all set up with her laptop. “What do they do?”
“I can’t ruin the story for you…” Amelia sighed. “But trust me–there are WAYS! There are SOLUTIONS.”
“An electrician?” George shook his head. “I don’t see a way through that!”
Amelia gave him a coy little smile.
“I’m going to have to read that book…” George murmured. (And George would be able to just as soon as the book released May 27th through Harlequin Heartwarming.)
“I was so surprised that the bishop wasn’t upset about the motorbike,” Amelia said.
“Well, he did say that Bryce wasn’t to give any more rides,” George said. “But I feel awful for Bryce. Before we left, Bryce told me that Brenda explained that she can’t date an English man. And he said that he’s going to be her friend then. He very dear, very devoted friend.”
“He’s going to pine,” Amelia said.
“Afraid so.”
She sighed. “This might be the start of a really beautiful friendship.”
“That’s a good thing, Amelia!” George said.
“George, you know it as well as I do,” Amelia replied. “A friendship is lovely, but it isn’t half good enough!”
If you’d like to read Her Amish Country Husband and find out what happens when an ex-husband and wife are thrown back together again… AND what happens when Trent’s electrical apprentice falls in love with Trent’s Amish cousin, you can pre-order your copy! I hope you’ll pick it up. It’s available through all book retailers.
Happy reading!
❤
Patricia Johns 
Your comments make me feel warm and fuzzy. Seriously!