The Amish Doll: Amish Knitting Novel (Bonus Knitting Pattern Included) by Karen Anna Vogel Page B

help.”
    He saw the tension in Raven’s face ease. “Joshua, you can count on me to help, too. You’re mom has helped me in many ways and I’d be happy to come over and repay her kindness.”
    Without hesitation, Lottie blurted out, “What has Susanna done for you? She’s too ill to do anything. Did you ask her to teach you to quilt, like so many Englishers do?”
    He saw Raven bite her lower lip and look down. She slowly looked up with misty eyes. “Susanna’s shown me the love of God. She made Him real to me.” Raven looked over at Joshua. “Now, Lawrence is teaching me the Bible.”
    Joshua’s eyes locked with Raven’s. “I’ll tell my mamm what you said. She’ll be mighty encouraged. She can’t do much but pray and love…”
    Lawrence looked at him in admiration. “Those are the two most important things to do.” He reached out to shake Joshua’s hand. “Tell her we have our church and half the town praying for her.”
    Joshua smiled and shook his hand firmly. “ Danki .”
    ~*~
    Joshua was relieved to get home. Lottie unnerved him to his core. She was so emotional and lacked purity.  Amish girls didn’t throw themselves at their boyfriends. By yanking on his neck and trying to kiss him, when they were no longer courting, was not attractive. In the buggy she’d made the most preposterous suggestion. They get married as soon as possible?  It was like being in a bad nightmare.
    Seeing Raven was like seeing the first spring rain: totally refreshing. So his mamm’s love was affecting her, helping her receive God’s love. He thought of the hard look she gave him when they first met. Miracles still happened because Raven was a different person. Her inner beauty now matched her outer. He remembered what his daed said about his mamm . It was her loving spirit that made him pursue her. How could he, though? Should he just tell her how he feels and ask her to be Amish? She seemed too attached to her electronics and modern ways.
    He was shaken from his thoughts when he heard a car pull in the driveway and honk a horn. Joshua ran down the stairs and saw it was Lawrence and Raven. He ran to the car, barefoot, and saw terror in Raven’s eyes and ran to her side. She opened the door and stepped out. “Appleton’s on fire. We just got a call. Can you come with us and help?”
    Eb ran over from the house. “What’s the matter, dear one?” When Eb reached her she fell into his arms and clung to Eb.
    ~*~
    Raven gasped when they pulled into the driveway, and the tears ran freely down her cheeks. All the boys were outside, and she ran and embraced them. They were all staring motionless, in shock.
    “Where are Marilyn and Jim?” Lawrence asked.
    “In the hospital,” Bud said, in a monotone voice. “Marilyn left the pan on the stove and it caught on fire.  They tried to put it out. ”
    “They told us to run outside,” Toby said, teeth chattering. “I stayed back and kept telling them to leave. Mr. Rowe said he had to get the box.”
    Raven got down on her knees. Mr. Rowe could have been seriously injured, but he was thinking of the boys. What love and dedication. The box held all the boys’ paperwork. Without it, they’d be put into emergency foster homes. All the documents she needed to get the boys in good homes was in what Jim called the “Important Box”.
    She felt someone get down in the snow beside her. It was Eb. She embraced him and sobbed. “Did you lose a lot of your stuff, Raven?”
    She hadn’t even thought of her things. Then Raven remembered her doll, and all the clothes she’d knit for it over the years. Horror-stricken, she screamed, “My doll!” Her side of the house wasn’t on fire, and she charged toward it. A firefighter tried to stop her, but she got around him and ran into the building, and charged up the stairs. She felt the heat pour into her lungs and she gasped for air, and then two arms pulled her from behind.
    ~*~
    She woke up and saw Joshua holding her hand. A